Electronic Arts kicked off E3 2018 with its EA Play conference, announcing some exciting new games and debuting fresh trailers. We learned more about games like Battlefield 5, Anthem, FIFA 19 and Madden NFL 19, and also saw first footage from new games like Unravel 2. Here are the most exciting announcements from EA’s E3 2018 conference. An in-depth look at BioWare’s Anthem Anthem is BioWare’s next big game, and the game’s story received an in-depth look from the developer today. That includes a new trailer, seen above. The game is described as a “living-shared world,” which means that everyone who’s playing Anthem is seeing the same thing. Players go out on missions and then return to their home bases, where they can turn in their rewards, talk to other players and deal with the consequences of their actions, according to the development team. Storms, gigantic monsters and other external forces will threaten players, which is why they’ll have to wear special exosuits called javelins. Players will play as a Freelancer, piloting these giant suits, who will face off against their enemies called the Dominion. There are four different javelins, and each javelin will allow players to experience the game in different ways. Anthem is being designed to provide players with new experiences for years to come, meaning that lore will be a big part of Anthem’s appeal. This should please Mass Effect fans who are looking for a new, futuristic game to sink their teeth into. Anthem will be released Feb. 22, 2019, on PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One. Battle Royale mode confirmed for Battlefield 5 It should come as no surprise that EA is following the biggest trend in gaming this year by introducing a battle royale mode to Battlefield 5. The mode was rumored during Battlefield 5’s reveal a couple of weeks ago, but developer DICE didn’t comment. Today, however, the developer said Battlefield 5’s battle royale mode is “reimagined with the core pillars of destruction, team play, and vehicles,” according to a tweet from the game’s official account. “It will be unlike anything you’ve played before, and we’ll have more to talk about later this year.” Royale is coming to #Battlefield V, reimagined with the core pillars of destruction, team play, and vehicles. It will be unlike anything you’ve played before, and we’ll have more to talk about later this year. Watch the EA PLAY #Battlefield V livestream: https://t.co/heygNXz18W pic.twitter.com/eza6YLRarx — #Battlefield V (@Battlefield) June 9, 2018 Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order announced A new Star Wars game is headed your way. Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order takes place between Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope. Respawn Entertainment co-founder Vince Zampella said the game takes place during a “dark period” and, based on the name of the game, it will allow players to explore this turbulent setting as a Jedi. There’s no trailer or footage to show just yet, but Zampella said the game is expected to be released holiday 2019. Unravel 2 announced — play it now! Yarny is back! Everyone’s favorite adorable, yarn-made character is returning with Unravel 2. The platformer is a follow up to 2016’s first entry in the series, and will build on the cute aesthetic that made the first one so beloved in the first place. Unravel 2 is available to play now PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Windows PC. UEFA Champions League comes to FIFA 19 One of the biggest soccer leagues in the world, the UEFA Champions League, is officially coming to FIFA 19. EA announced the new mode with a trailer, which can be seen below. “There’s two iconic trophies that every young person dreams of winning, and for your club, it’s this one,” producer Aaron McHardy said during the presentation, before showing the World Cup trophy. The team also announced that a free trial of FIFA 18 including the free 2018 World Cup add-on is available right now for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Windows PC. Sea of Solitude gets a beautiful new trailer Sea of Solitude was first announced as an EA Originals title in 2016 and, since then, the team has taken its time to create what looks like a stunning game. A new trailer for Sea of Solitude aired during the conference today, and easily bumped into this author’s most anticipated games of early 2019. The game is being developed as part of the EA Originals branch for independent titles. We first described the game as: Sea of Solitude tells the story of Kay, a young woman so lonely that she was transmogrified into a monster. Kay putters around a deserted, partially submerged city on a small motorboat, encountering other creatures like her as she tries to understand what has happened to her. Or, as our own Colin Campbell said, “Sea of Solitude looks like a lovely game about suffering.” Sea of Solitude will be available to play on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Windows PC.<doc-sep>EA revealed new games and details about highly anticipated titles at EA Play on Saturday. The publisher kicked off E3 2018 with an abundance of news, but here’s the biggest surprises from the conference. “Battlefield V” Multiplayer Will Have Battle Royale Mode The upcoming first person shooter “Battlefield V” will have a battle royale mode for multiplayer. The latest in the “Battlefield” franchise is following in the well-treaded footsteps of “PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds” and “Fortnite” by adding a mode in which players must survive to be the last one standing. “Anthem” Story and Multiplayer Details, Release Date Revealed Bioware’s Casey Hudson and Cathleen Rootsaert gave more details on “Anthem,” while also showing off a new cinematic trailer for the upcoming action title. Lead writer Rootsaert said that the story of “Anthem” will be built in such a way that the developers “can add story for years to come.” The world of “Anthem” is upset by the arrival of “violent storms” and “mutated creatures” that the player must navigate. “We’re creating something new and mysterious for players to discover,” Rootsaert said. “Anthem” can be played alone or with friends, and each player, or freelancer, can change their Javelin, or class, depending on their strengths or preferred play-style. The Ranger, the Colossus, the Interceptor and the Storm are the Javelins players can choose from and change at any time. Bioware showed off what multiplayer will look like in pre-recorded gameplay footage. Finally, Bioware revealed that “Anthem” is coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC on Feb. 22, 2019. “Unravel Two” is Available Now “Unravel Two” was first teased back in 2016, but a whirlwind release was revealed at Saturday’s conference. The adorable co-op title was expected after a rating popped up on the ESRB website prior to the conference, but cheers erupted from the audience at EA Play when the developer announced the title is available for download immediately. In “Unravel Two,” two Yarnys must work together to make their way through intricately designed puzzles. Martin Sahlin, creative director, explained the theme of the new Yarny adventure at the conference. “‘Unravel Two’ is about the unbreakable bond between friends and how hope and love can make the world around us a better place,” Sahlin said. Players can start “Unravel Two” co-op or solo on the Xbox One, PlayStation 4 or PC right away if they have an EA Access or EA Origin account. “Command & Conquer” Coming to Mobile EA demoed a live battle of the upcoming mobile title “Command & Conquer: Rivals” early in the conference. This will be the real-time strategy series’ first title for mobile. Android users can give the free-to-play title a try today by downloading the pre-alpha build of “Command & Conquer: Rivals.” No Loot Boxes, Pay-for-Power Advantages If one message was clear from EA’s press conference, it’s that they heard their player-base loud and clear when it comes to pay-to-win policies of the past: Get them out of our games. EA is still in recovery mode after the fiasco of “Star Wars: Battlefront II” microtransaction publicity of last year. The publisher came under fire for providing a largely different experience for fans who could afford to pay for extra downloadable content beyond the standard $59.99 price point. For “Anthem” and “Battlefield V,” EA emphasized their new policy in which players will not be able to purchase anything that will give them an unfair advantage over others. For both titles, no loot boxes or premium pay advantages will be added in to the titles, in an effort to restore the sense of community play rather than a system in which some players can “pay-for-power.” BioWare further specified that “Anthem” will only offer microtransactions that impact cosmetic details, such as the customization of Javelin suits. “Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order” Teased The Jedi will be hunted in the newly announced “Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.” Respawn Entertainment, developers of “Titanfall,” revealed little about the title but expressed their enthusiasm for what’s to come. “We will maintain the stunning visuals, authenticity in the ‘Star Wars’ universe, and focus on bringing a ‘Star Wars’ story to life,” EA’s Patrick Söderlund said. “Importantly, we are shifting the game to be a broader experience that allows for more variety and player agency, leaning into the capabilities of our Frostbite engine and reimagining central elements of the game to give players a ‘Star Wars’ adventure of greater depth and breadth to explore.” “Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order” is anticipated for release sometime winter 2019. New Subscription Service Origin Access Premier Coming EA is offering up a new subscription service which will give members access to new releases as well as over 100 older EA titles. “We’re thrilled to be opening up this new way for players to access great games, with the freedom to play what they want, whenever they want,” said EA Chief Executive Officer Andrew Wilson. The new service is available for $14.99 monthly, or $99.99 per year. Follow all of Variety’s E3 2018 coverage, which includes breaking news, original interviews, and hands-on impressions, right here.<doc-sep>EA brought a number of trailers for some of its biggest games in development, including multiple trailers for Anthem and Unravel 2. For every story out of the event, head over to our full EA Play at E3 2018 coverage page. For a quick look at what went down, here are all the trailers that played during the press conference. Anthem Anthem’s trailer focuses on a storm that threatens to wipe out an entire civilization. The anthem is the only thing that remains, says a player in the game, as humans take on giant extra-terrestrial looking creatures. On a world left unfinished by the gods, humanity struggles to survive in a savage environment. Equipped with incredible Javelin exosuits, a faction known as the Freelancers seeks to tip the balance in mankind’s favor. Command and Conquer: Rivals Command and Conquer: Rivals is EA’s mobile addition to the long-running franchise. The game should appeal to RTS and mobile fans who are looking for a new game to get their hands on. Sea of Solitude Sea of Solitude is best summed up by Polygon’s own Colin Campbell, who said the trailer and game looked like “a lovely tale of sadness and suffering.” Unravel 2 Unravel 2 marks the return of everyone’s favorite — or perhaps least favorite — character constructed from yarn. The trailer for the platform’s sequel looks like it will take many of its aesthetic cues from the first game, which was released in 2016. FIFA 2019 The UEFA Champions League is coming to FIFA 19. It’s quite possibly one of the most important announcements for FIFA fans who have been asking for this mode for years. Madden NFL 19 It simply wouldn’t be an EA Play event at E3 without a trailer for a new Madden game. NBA Live 19 The new trailer for NBA Live 19 follows the Golden State Warrior’s 4-0 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, and securing the trophy for yet another year. It’s a good time to be a fan of both. Origin Access Premiere A new subscription service for PC fans was announced during EA’s keynote. Details can be found in the trailer. Battlefield 5 multiplayer More Battlefield 5 footage will be shown at Xbox’s keynote presentation on Monday, but we did get a quick look at the game’s multiplayer mode. Another look at the multiplayer mode can be seen in this NVIDIA trailer, below.<doc-sep>Electronic Arts will kick off E3 2018 with EA Play on Saturday, June 9th. The event begins in LA at 11AM PT, where the developer is expected to stream announcements, gameplay, and more. EA announced its latest game in the Battlefield series, Battlefield V, last month, but there’s still a lot to learn before its release this October. It will be on hand and playable for the first time during the event, where EA is also expected to show off more gameplay. Anthem, the next game from the creators of Mass Effect, is also expected to take the stage. BioWare’s open-world, multiplayer action-RPG was originally expected to launch this fall, but the game has since been pushed to 2019. EA Play will also feature a slew of EA Sports games. Here’s how to watch: Date: Saturday, June 9th Starting time: San Francisco: 11AM / New York: 2PM / London: 7PM / Berlin: 8PM / Moscow: 9PM / Beijing: 2AM (June 10th) / Tokyo: 3AM (June 10th) / Sydney: 4AM (June 10th). Keynote live stream: Watch on YouTube. EA’s Facebook and Twitter are also worth keeping an eye on for quick news updates.<doc-sep>
E3 2018 is officially here, and EA kicked things off by dropping some major news at its EA Play press conference. Much of the big news centered around its two biggest upcoming games: Battlefield V and BioWare's new IP, Anthem. They weren't the only games that got some attention on the big stage, though; EA also shared updates on Madden NFL 19, FIFA 19, and a (previously unannounced) platformer Unravel 2. We've rounded up all of the announcements from the briefing, and below you'll find all of our coverage of EA's kick-off event. You can also check out our EA press conference liveblog if you want to re-experience it, as well as our trailer roundup. Anthem BioWare's Anthem Gets New Trailer--Check out the first new trailer for BioWare's upcoming PS4/Xbox One/PC shooter-RPG in almost a year. Anthem Won't Use Loot Boxes--At the EA Play presentation, BioWare went into more detail about how you can (and can't) customize your Javelin mech suit. Gallery BioWare's Anthem Release Date Confirmed At EA Play--Here's when BioWare's first new IP in 10 years launches on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Battlefield V Battlefield 5 Battle Royale Mode Confirmed--It appears Battlefield 5 will be entering the fray of battle royale games later this year. New Battlefield 5 Trailer Debuts--A new Battlefield 5 trailer was just released at the EA Play event. Gallery Command & Conquer Rivals Command & Conquer Returns As Free-To-Play Mobile Title, Rivals--The upcoming mobile game is EA's latest title in the long-running strategy series. EA Origin Access EA Announces Origin Access Premiere Streaming Service, Free Origin Access Trial--A new streaming service is in the works and is slated to launch sometime this summer. FIFA 19 FIFA 19 Poaches Champions League License From Rivals Konami And PES--The upcoming soccer game will boast the Champions League license this year, after Konami and PES recently lost the same license for the first time in 10 years. FIFA 19 Release Date Confirmed--In addition to the FIFA's release date, EA provided a look at its new soccer/football game. Madden NFL 19 Madden NFL 19 Coming To PC--Alongside PS4 and Xbox One, the upcoming football game is coming to PC, making it the first game in the series to hit the platform since Madden 08. NBA Live 19 NBA Live 19 Release Date Announced Along With A New Trailer--During EA Play, the new NBA Live game was showcased with a fresh trailer showing off new features. The game is set to release this summer. Star Wars Battlefront II Star Wars Battlefront 2 Adding Clone Wars DLC--EA used its stage time during EA Play to talk about the "rough start" for Star Wars Battlefront 2 and some future plans for the game. Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order (Respawn Entertainment) Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order Will Take Place In A Darker Galaxy--E3 2018 kicked off with the EA Play presentation, which finally gave us a look at what's coming next for the Star Wars franchise. Unravel 2 EA's Newly Announced Game Unravel 2 Is Out Now--EA's E3 press conference gave us a brand-new PS4, Xbox One, and PC platformer, and it's out now.