Rockstar Games doesn't usually have a large presence at E3; it tends to announce details about its latest games on its own schedule. But seeing as Red Dead Redemption II is only a few months away, it's possible we'll hear more about the upcoming open-world Western at this year's big event. To prepare for what's ahead, let's break down what we already know about Red Dead Redemption II, and what we're hoping to see at E3 2018. What We Know So Far Red Dead Redemption II was revealed on October 20, 2016. Developer Rockstar Games had initially teased the project on social media two days prior with images in the color and theme of Red Dead Redemption, but eventually confirmed its development with a trailer. While Red Dead Redemption II is a sequel in name, it's actually a prequel to the original's story. Gallery Set 12 years before the events of Red Dead Redemption, the prequel focuses on the exploits of the infamous Van der Linde gang--who fans should already be familiar with. After a robbery in the town of Blackwater goes wrong, the gang is forced to flee. You play as outlaw Arthur Morgan, who must help keep the gang in-check in the midst of its desperate attempts to avoid the pursuit of government agents and rival gangs. It's also worth noting the gang includes a younger, less-experienced version of the original's protagonist, John Marston. Red Dead Redemption II is expected to play much like its predecessor, focusing on exploration, hunting, shoot-outs, heists, and other side-activities where you'll interact with a number of unique characters. However, it also features a far more expansive map to explore. Based on what we've learned from trailers and early previews, your impact on the world is a bigger focus. As Morgan, you'll have to handle various responsibilities, such as resource gathering, earning money, and making sure everyone in the community is happy. Average citizens and members of your gang will react to how well or how poorly you treat them from day to day. This also impacts the honor system, which makes a return from the original, but now with more complex tracking. What's Confirmed For E3? Red Dead Redemption II is not confirmed to appear at E3 2018. However, Rockstar Games has a habit of debuting new trailers for its latest games at E3 press conferences. For example, Rockstar released a trailer for Grand Theft Auto V during E3 2013. Given the sequel's upcoming release, there's potential for at least another brief look at the game at this year's show. What We Hope To See At E3 There are still unexplored mysteries about how Red Dead Redemption II actually plays. We're hoping E3 can be a place where such details are divulged. While Rockstar has typically been fine showing off trailers, a full-on gameplay demonstration could serve as a nice way of showcasing what Red Dead Redemption II's combat and exploration looks like. Customization was an underutilized aspect in Red Dead Redemption. While you could craft a few new outfits, you couldn't really alter the cosmetics of anything else. We're hoping Rockstar confirms more customization options for clothing, weapons, and even your horse. Multiplayer has been an important pillar for Rockstar's most recent games, so it would be great to get a better idea of what's in store. There's still so much we don't know about Red Dead Redemption II's multiplayer. Will the mode have heists like Grand Theft Auto Online? Will there be co-op? Hopefully, this year's show yields answers. Lastly, we're still eager to hear more details about Red Dead Redemption II's story. From the synopsis, Arthur Morgan is a conflicted individual; his loyalty to the Van der Linde gang is slowly faltering due to the extreme circumstances they're embroiled in. It would be fantastic to learn about how these elements affect Morgan's relationships with his fellow gang members and those he cares about.<doc-sep>You can insert all your *It's happening! * gif right here, folks, because Dying Light 2 is real, and it looks absolutely fantastic. The sequel to Techland's first-person shooter/action adventure game from 2015 was announced at Microsoft's E3 press conference, as one of 15 E3 2018 game reveals during Xbox's spectacular briefing. Set roughly 15 years after the events of the first game, Dying Light 2 continues the freerunning, zombie-slaying antics of the original Dying Light, with an expanded scope, new setting(s), and a revamped parkour system. But don't take my word for its brilliance, have a look at the trailer below, which shows off some off that juicy new gameplay you're almost definitely craving for at this point. Narrative designer Chris Avellone (of Prey and Fallout fame) took to the stage to explain a little bit more about what Dying Light 2 will entail for both newcomers and veterans to the series, alongside yet more direct footage of the game in action. "Dying Light 2 will be the first in its genre where choices will have genuine consequences in the game itself", explained Avellone, "from how it looks, how it plays, to the events that occur, everything in the game world will change depending on your decisions." Avellone's words were proven true by the on-screen demo of Dying Light 2, where a story mission was shown to have branching narratives depending on how the player responded to events, either with bloodlust or diplomacy. Techland look to be focusing on making its world feel more alive and reactive, with a tooth-in-nail sense of survival-based challenge, alongside everything you loved from the original game; the smooth parkour controls, unique day-night cycle, and so on. No firm release date was given for Dying Light 2, but hopefully a 2019 launch window isn't out of the picture for this much anticipated sequel, and you can expect a release for PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. For all your E3 updates, check out our E3 2018 schedule for updates on all the press conferences, and when they'll be taking place.<doc-sep>We expected to see more of The Last of Us Part II at E3 2018, and we weren't disappointed. Sony had a new gameplay trailer to show at its press conference, and it was both tender and terrifying. The trailer opened with Ellie talking to a man while watching a party going on around them. Eventually another female character appears, and leads Ellie to the dance floor, where they share a tender kiss. During their discussion, Ellie says she's, "Just a girl, not a threat." Her partner, however, replies that she thinks everyone should be terrified of Ellie. Their kiss transitions seamlessly into a shot of Ellie slitting a man's throat, mumbling "f****r" as she releases his limp, lifeless body. From there we get an extended gameplay demo, with Ellie creeping around the city, as dilapidated as in the first game, but also reclaimed by nature. After a scuffle with a couple of enemies, Ellie takes refuge in some grass, then creeping underneath a car to hide from her pursuers. A detection meter appears as they look for her, and the hiding spot is discovered, and once again chaos ensues, with Ellie once again in a brutal fight for her life. She moves from area to area, grabbing a bottle and lobbing it at an enemy before running into a shop and hiding behid a counter. Three enemies follow her in, one wielding a giant axe. They scour the room for her, but Ellie crafts an explosive arrow while slipping around them. With it made, she fires it at an enemy, setting off a huge explosion. Ellie shows herself to be more capable than ever, slipping between shelves to get around her enemies, getting the jump on them, and eventually bringing one of the bigger enemies to his knees. She's also ruthless, and sinks her axe into the now subdued enemy. The trailer then smoothly transitions back to Ellie and her dance partner kissing. It's an intense trailer that shows off the brutality of The Last of Us Part 2 that was teased in previous videos. It seems the contrast between heartfelt moments, tenderness, and innocence with the brutality of surviving is a big part of the game. The Last of Us Part II shocked the internet with a trailer in 2017 that depicted a violent scene during an apocalypse where humanity was struggling to survive. It was a dark and unsettling trailer to watch, and this E3 2018 gameplay trailer seems to suggest that this violent tone will be an integral part of the game. To stay fully updated on everything coming out at E3, be sure to stay tuned to our E3 2018 hub.<doc-sep>
While strolling through the halls of E3 2018 and taking in the booths and banners for all the games at the show, it occurred to me that we haven’t heard the smallest peep from what is sure to be the biggest title of the year, Red Dead Redemption 2. One would think as Rockstar prepares for the release of their upcoming western-themed action-adventure game this fall that they would want to build hype, and E3 is the perfect place to do that. Where Was Red Dead Redemption 2 at E3 2018? Other than a single banner spotted by the Shacknews staff (and probably thousands of others), Red Dead Redemption 2 has had no noticeable presence at E3 2018. It wasn’t featured in any of the press conferences, Rockstar doesn’t have a booth, and there have been no gameplay trailers or developer interviews to speak of. Although most publishers and developers use E3 to hype their upcoming games, the truth is Rockstar is in a position where they don’t need to do that in a traditional way. Grand Theft Auto V has been a smash hit with gamers since it released in 2013, and its success has fans eager to get their hands on Red Dead Redemption 2. Rockstar has developed a reputation for creating games of the highest quality, and that’s the best marketing strategy in the world. Truth be told, there are probably many reasons why Rockstar has opted to keep Red Dead Redemption 2 out of the E3 2018 spotlight, and it’s unlikely we’ll ever hear them. That’s fine, though. When the release date for Red Dead Redemption 2 rolls around this fall, it won’t be Rockstar’s E3 2018 presence people care about, it will be the quality of the experience.