Devolver Digital and PC round-up | E3 2019

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The mania of Devolver Digital returned for a third year running and there were fistfuls of games on display at the PC Gaming Show. Here are some of the highlights.

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by James Michael Parry

​@james_parry

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Devolver goes straight to video with Devolver Direct

Devolver likes to take a bit of a different approach with its shows, choosing to poke fun at the industry and its many tropes.

This year, Devolver’s fictional Chief Synergy Officer, Nina Struthers (played by Mahria Zook), who was brutally gunned down at last year’s show, has been pieced back together but is in no fit state to take the stage. Instead, a new strategy is suggested: Devolver Direct, because “press conferences are a thing of the past”.

What follows is a deeply surreal journey through game announcements and other self-referential snark which all takes place within Nina’s head. We’d highly recommend watching the video to see for yourself, along with the previous two to brush up on your Devolver lore.
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In terms of actual announcements though, Devolver did have a few things to share, including Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout from Mediatonic, a colourful every-blob-for-itself party game, Devolver Bootleg, which is a meta rip-off of Devolver’s own catalogue, and even an honest-to-goodness Enter the Gungeon arcade cabinet.

PC Gaming Show brings a whole host of games​

At the PC Gaming Show, an altogether more sedate affair, but one which feels less showy than other high-budget presentations, there were tons of games on show.

First up was a trailer for Rebellion’s Evil Genius 2: World Domination, a follow up to the long-dormant Bond villain management game which is set for Steam.

In terms of high profile announcements, we had a release date - and Epic Store exclusivity - for Shenmue 3, which will debut on 19 November and feature martial arts training on a boat...​

Elsewhere there was a Q&A with Borderlands 3 Creative Director Paul Sage, who gave us a few nuggets and expanded on things we already knew about the game, which comes out on 13 September.

Badass ranks have been expanded to become guardian ranks, which allow for endless character progression over time, regardless of standard level, and will unlock bonus skins. This time Vault Hunters will have 50 levels to play with at launch, with familiar mechanics like golden loot boxes and shift codes returning for the game. There’ll also be “some PvP type stuff”.

Baldur’s Gate III, which had its teaser trailer release a few days before, didn’t have much new to offer despite being saved for the end of the show. The strongest message was an important one - the game will be released when it’s ready, so the team aren’t committing to a specific ship date at the moment.​

Become a creature of the night

There were plenty of other games on show as well, perhaps most notable among which was long-anticipated sequel Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2. The gameplay reveal showed a darker version of our world where vampires must keep themselves a secret and “maintain the masquerade” in order to survive.

Players will be able to see the mood potential blood-sucking targets are in, so, whether they’re filled with feelings of fear or desire, they’ll give you different buffs when you devour them.

Turning won’t be a quick and easy process either, with you needing to adapt to your new life as a member of the undead and maintain fragile relationships with your former friends and family, dependant on your desire to put them at risk.​

Lots of new indies are coming

Also announced were: Starmancer, a space station sim from Chucklefish with a 16-bit isometric viewpoint; Chivalry 2, a collaboration between Torn Banner and Tripwire coming in early 2020, aiming to bring Game of Thrones-style battles to life; and Midnight Ghost Hunt, a riff on Prop Hunt from Gary’s Mod where the props fight back.

There was also a surprise from Funcom, who revealed the game they teased back on April Fool’s Day, Conan Chop Chop, is in fact a real thing. Not only that, but the Zelda-esque roguelike is coming to Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PS4 and PC on 3 September.

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Did you check out the PC Gaming Show? Were you amused by Devolver’s insane antics? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.