10-games-missing-in-action-since-e3-2021

E3 may be formally canceled for 2022, however we’re nonetheless headed right into a storm of massive showcases this summer time. New bulletins abound—however what in regards to the stuff unveiled final 12 months? It’s simple to overlook what was introduced a complete 360-some days in the past, however there are a handful of no-shows that stand out once we have a look again.

Here are ten video games which were conserving a low profile since E3 2021. Whether they have been simply introduced too early, have hit growth troubles or have been axed within the intervening months, right here’s why they’re a giant deal and our greatest guess at whether or not we’ll be seeing them once more this summer time.

Check out our “E3” 2022 schedule guide in case you’re curious when these video games would possibly reemerge.

Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora

Developer: Massive Entertainment, Ubisoft Düsseldorf, Ubisoft Shanghai
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series, Stadia, Luna

Unless there’s some unexpected catastrophe in post-production, James Cameron’s long-awaited sci-fi sequel needs to be hitting theatres this December—a launch possible flanked by Ubisoft’s tie-in game. The early trailer appears to be like and sounds the half, though it additionally appears to comprise nothing resembling actual gameplay. As is Ubisoft commonplace, growth is cut up between three large studios, together with Massive Entertainment, the Swedish crew primarily liable for The Division sequence. They’ve a decent observe report, so I’m quietly hopeful. Giant smurfs using alien dinosaurs battling area marines and mechs is a method simply begging for a very good game, in spite of everything.

Odds of returning: Do Na’vi shit within the woods? Ubisoft have by no means been one to shrink back from showcasing mega-budget tasks, although it’s attainable they may be saving the publicity blitz for nearer to launch.

Redfall

Developer: Arkane
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks (now below Microsoft’s banner)
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X/S

Redfall’s debut trailer made a powerful impression final 12 months. It was purely pre-rendered hype reel stuff, positive, nevertheless it gave us a bit peek into this co-op vampire-slaying shooter’s world. The characters have been instantly memorable, the banter was charming, and among the particular powers on show appeared fairly attention-grabbing as effectively. As far as I’m involved, Arkane can do no mistaken, so I’m all on board for this immersive sim powerhouse to attempt their hand at a co-op multiplayer game. We’ve not seen something new about it previously 12 months past affirmation that it slipped to 2023 and a leak suggesting it may be a bit extra Borderlands-esque than Left 4 Dead. Still, I’m hopeful we’ll see a bit extra of it this 12 months.

Odds of returning: Sure as an Arkane game being critically praised however undersold. It received’t be launching this 12 months, nevertheless it appears a no brainer for a Microsoft showcase to drum up some hype, particularly because it’ll be on Game Pass day one. 

Harold Halibut

Developer: Slow Bros.
Publisher: Slow Bros.
Platforms: PC

One of essentially the most putting indie productions showcased final 12 months. Harold Halibut is a point-and-click journey set in a sunken colony spacecraft, and over 10 years within the works. Who wants raytracing whenever you’ve obtained a stop-motion world that wouldn’t look misplaced in an Aardman movie manufacturing? There’s barely been a peep from the builders, outdoors of a quick look in the course of the Slamdance movie competition. Still, artwork of this caliber can’t be rushed. If they’ve taken 10 (now 11) years already, what’s a couple of months extra?

Odds of returning: Fifty/fishy. It could be nice to see extra, however I’d not be shocked if this venture caught to silent working for some time longer, assuming manufacturing isn’t floundering.

The Outer Worlds 2

Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
Publisher: Microsoft
Platform: PC & Xbox on the very least

Not to be confused with that different game about bizarre area exploration, The Outer Worlds 2 was good to listen to introduced final E3, however they didn’t have a lot past the announcement and a brief (and sassy) CG trailer. Beyond the preliminary reveal (promising a ‘New Star System, New Crew, Same Outer Worlds’) Obsidian has saved this one quiet, not even letting the slightest element slip on social media. It’s anybody’s guess how this’ll end up, however we might be comparatively positive it received’t be coming to PS5.

Odds of returning: Always guess on Spacer’s Choice! While it appears unlikely that the game can be launching in 2022, a bit little bit of early gameplay footage seems like a protected guess throughout one in all Microsoft’s showcases this summer time. 

Metal Slug Tactics

Developer: Leikir Studio
Publisher: DotEmu/SNK
Platforms: PC, Switch

A little bit of a distinct segment to show an arcade traditional right into a turn-based techniques game (although not unprecedented), however I can not deny my deep and abiding pleasure for this one. The Metal Slug sequence has claimed far an excessive amount of of my spare change at varied arcades through the years for me to show away. Plus, it helps that the trailer showcased some unbelievable sprite artwork that actually captures the spirit of the run-and-gun shooters, replicating that bouncy SNK arcade type in a brand new isometric perspective. Still, there’s been scarcely a peep mentioned about this one, past affirmation that it’s coming to Switch too, hopefully in 2022.

Odds of returning: We’re breaking out the rocket lawnchair to attend for this one. So lengthy because it’s nonetheless shooting for a 2022 launch, it appears a really stable guess that we’ll see new gameplay footage. Still, it’s going up towards the remake of R-Type Tactics now, so right here’s hoping Leikir are on their A-game. 

Wizard With A Gun

Developer: Galvanic Games
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Platforms: PC & Switch

Still an excellent title, and a snazzy trailer, however little or no else has been revealed previously 12 months. All we all know is that it’s an isometric survival action-RPG about gunslinging mages. More than a bit much like Don’t Starve in its aesthetic, however considerably extra action-packed. Who wants Melf’s Acid Arrow whenever you’ve obtained loads of extremely corrosive scorching result in unfold round? Despite the radio silence, this one continues to be supposedly on observe for a 2022 launch, and given Devolver’s love of shock bulletins, something might occur.

Odds of returning: The Orb of Pondering says ‘Likely’. If there’s any game I can see unceremoniously launching right in the course of the NotE3 festivities, it’s this one. 

Replaced

Developer: Sad Cat Studio
Publisher: Coatsink
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X

Replaced made a really sturdy displaying when it debuted final E3. Gorgeously lit and animated 2D sprites towards grungy 3D backdrops, with a shaky, tilt-prone digital camera accompanying some chunky platform motion. Shades of traditional rotoscoped platformers like Fade To Black and Flashback abound, though set in a really ’80s-tinged grungy cyberpunk world. The excellent news is that there have been Twitter updates saying that Replaced continues to be coming, and can launch on Game Pass. Less good is that it’s delayed till 2023, because the studio relies throughout each Belarus and Ukraine. Needless to say, they’re firmly towards the struggle.

Odds of returning: Chances appear as grim because the game’s setting. Here’s hoping that everybody concerned can relocate to security. Much as I would like this game, the wellbeing of the creators all the time comes first. 

Vokabulantis: A Stop-Motion Love Story

Developer: Kong Orange
Publisher: Unknown

The different trendy stop-motion indie puzzle journey featured at E3 2021! Pretty wild that there have been two of them, however each look fairly nice. This one is extra of an action-puzzler designed for co-op, however playable solo. However, very similar to Harold Halibut, there’s been virtually nothing mentioned or proven of the game since its Kickstarter success and preliminary E3 displaying. The closest we’ve needed to exercise is a Kickstarter update in January, asserting that the crew was hiring for a senior programmer, a junior programmer and a senior game designer, which means that growth goes to take a very good whereas but.

Odds of returning: This one wins the ‘most likely to be absent’ award of the day. With stop-motion animation being a painfully sluggish course of, and the event crew being understaffed, I’d be shocked if we see a lot of this earlier than 2023, though I hope to be mistaken. 

Contraband

Developer: Avalanche
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Platforms: PC, Xbox

A positively mysterious displaying from E3, in some way telling us even lower than Obsidian did with The Outer Worlds 2. We know that it’s a co-op open-world game set in a fictional nation. We know that it’s developed by Just Cause studio Avalanche. The trailer means that autos are going to be concerned, and there’ll be heists involving invaluable items. Beyond that? Not a sausage. Not a snippet of gameplay. Just vibes. Cool, elegant vibes, however that’s not a lot to go on. Hopefully we’ll get to see a bit extra of Contraband this summer time.

Odds of returning: Can we even say it was right here final time? I’d give it about even odds on it making one other displaying this summer time. Maybe we would even get a snippet or two of gameplay. 

Special point out: Atomic Heart

Developer: Mundfish
Publisher: Mundfish
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, PS4 & PS5

While many of the above video games have been largely radio-silent, there’s nonetheless fairly stable odds of them turning up this Summer, even when E3 has left a little bit of a void. The much-delayed Atomic Heart, nonetheless, does appear to be alive and kicking, and with a brand new trailer launched only a few months in the past. It’s trying extra like a post-soviet Bioshock with every look, and that’s no dangerous factor. But the invasion of Ukraine might be impacting Russian studio Mundfish, no matter where they personally stand on the struggle.

Odds of returning: Mundfish would possibly find yourself displaying one thing over the summer time, however most main channels aren’t internet hosting something that appears or sounds Russian, and Mundfish final tweeted on February twenty first, three days earlier than the invasion.