“The Empire won’t stop until every Jedi is purged from the galaxy. As a young Padawan on the run, the odds are against you—but the Force is with you. Discover the Jedi abilities you must master to survive.”
That was the compelling yet somehow familiar rallying call that went with the unveil of the new trailer (above) for the upcoming Star Wars game Jedi: Fallen Order, during this weekend’s E3 games expo in Los Angeles.
It was one of a flood of E3 unveils from Electronic Arts, which also debuted additional extras for Apex Legends, Anthem, The Sims 4, Battlefield V, and new EA Sports games.
A highlight was an announcement from EA and Maxis that The Sims 4 Island Living Expansion Pack is coming to PC and Mac on June 21 and to Xbox One and PlayStation 4 on July 16.
In The Sims 4 Island Living, players can trade in the hustle and bustle of city life in exchange for a laid-back lifestyle on the tropical island of Sulani, where Sims can relax on the beach, enjoy water activities on a glistening ocean, become a conservationist to help keep the beaches in pristine condition and experience all of the cultural traditions this island has to offer.
“With Island Living, the development team wanted to give players the chance to escape with their Sims to a peaceful, unique paradise and truly connect with nature,” said Mike Duke, Senior Producer of The Sims 4. “This expansion will enable fans and their Sims to find their bliss, whether it is relaxing under a palm tree on the beach, befriending a mermaid along the coral reefs, or protecting the Sulani environment and ensuring that the island becomes more beautiful than ever.”
The expansion pack introduces the beautiful, sun-soaked world of Sulani, where Sims can enjoy activities in the clear blue waters surrounding the island, setting sail in a peaceful canoe or going on a wild aqua zip ride alongside pods of playful dolphins that surround the island. Sims can also swim, build sandcastles on the shore, or kick back and relax under the sun. Sims immerse themselves into the Sulani lifestyle by learning local folklore, tasting traditional delicacies, dressing in tropical garb or decorating their new oasis with objects inspired by the local culture.
Players can try out a new conservationist career for Sims who want to make a change in their newfound home. The more Sims clean up and care for their environment, the more lush and full of explosive nature it becomes. Or Sims will take on protecting beachgoers as a lifeguard, taking on odd jobs or fishing for their next meal.
Alongside the reveal of The Sims 4 Island Living, The Sims is also celebrating the LGBTQ+ community with a new partnership with the It Gets Better Project, a non-profit organisation and global movement to provide hope and encouragement to LGBTQ+ youth.
Beginning on June 18, players will be able to access exclusive It Gets Better and pride in-game clothing in The Sims 4 onPC, The Sims FreePlay and The Sims Mobile, as well as a variety of pride items, including a gender-neutral bathroom door in The Sims 4. Look for this content to come to The Sims 4 on consoles in July.
Click here to read about EA Sports FIFA 20, Volta Football, Battlefield V maps and new independent games.
EA SPORTS FIFA 20, VOLTA Football
EA announced a new experience in EA SPORTS FIFA 20, Volta Football, a mode inspired by the small-sided form of football played in the streets, cages and futsal courts across the world, launching worldwide on 27 September 2019 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
Volta Football lets players build their own character, express their individual style, and immerse themselves in a realistic street football experience. A new style of gameplay grounded in football realism immerses players in the flow of the street with new tools, including simplified flicks and skill moves, new flair animations, or using the wall as a teammate. Learn more about the new features and modes for Volta coming to FIFA 20.
“This year, we are embedding a whole new experience with Volta Football into the game that reflects how many footballers started out their careers in the streets,” said Aaron McHardy, executive producer for EA Sports FIFA.“This is a unique aspect of the sport that gives our players an experience unlike anything they have ever seen before in EA Sports FIFA. We’ve also focused on delivering key gameplay updates that raise the level of realism and quality across the game. And with small sided football ingrained in FIFA 20, players can take the learnings from the streets and apply them to the stadium or vice versa.”
Football Intelligence delivers a new approach to gameplay that raises the quality bar in FIFA 20, leveling up the authenticity players experience on the virtual pitch. Authentic Game Flow puts more emphasis on user-controlled play by giving AI more awareness around time, space and a player’s position on the pitch. Decisive Moments are comprised of the new Composed Finishing which overhauls the fundamentals of shooting to give players more consistent and clinical finishing, and Controlled Tackling that utilises the Active Touch System to add a variety of new tackling animations. Finally, Ball Physics adds a new level of realism with varied shot trajectories, more realistic tackle interactions, and physics driven behavior.
Click here to read about new Battlefield V maps and independent projects from EA partners.
New maps for Battlefield V Chapter 4
World War II rages on this year with four new maps as DICE announced Chapter 4: Defying the Oddsstarting 27 June. From huge sandbox all-out vehicle warfare to smaller infantry battles, Battlefield Vis giving players new multiplayer map experiences.
Kicking off the new content are two new large 64-player maps. The first coming at the start of Chapter 4 is the Al Sundan map, built for classic multiplayer action, focusing on big distances, vehicle-based teamplay, and battles across all ranges. This map is based on the single player war story in the game, Under No Flag, in the vast North African desert. The Marita map comes next in July, bringing the second of the two Greece maps, after Mercury launched in Chapter 3: Trial by Fire, and sees the Battle of Greecerage on. Marita transports players to a gorgeous mountainside with cobblestone roads overlooking a river, and features infantry-focused combat where Allied forces are making a last stand to halt the Axis army.
Frantic close-quarters fights comes later in the summer with two maps tailored for intimate infantry combat. Players will try to destroy an explosives production factory in Lofoten Islands, and unseat the Axis occupation in Provence.
In October, between Chapters 4 and 5, Operation Undergroundcomes into play. Inspired by the iconic Battlefield 3map Operation Métro, this map will feature fierce man-to-man combat across diverse play areas like urban streets, courtyards, the plaza area, service tunnels, train platforms and more.
- For more information on Battlefield V, visit www.battlefield.com
Click here to read about new independent games from EA partners.
Independent games from EA partners
EA and partners Zoink Games, Glowmade and Hazelight Studios announced three new independent development projects coming to consoles and PC. Lost in Random is Zoink’s next game after releasing Fe, offering a new spin on puzzles and combat. RustHeart is Glowmade’s EA Originals debut, where players can forge an endearing friendship with a courageous robot hero. Hazelight’s follow up to the critically-acclaimed A Way Out builds on the studio’s expertise and success, with a new cooperative experience that will be named at a later date.
“We continue to connect innovative and creatively distinct new games from the best and boldest independent game makers to a global audience of players,” said Matt Bilbey, EVP Strategic Growth. “We want to offer our players the broadest, highest quality content possible, with the best access possible. Whether you join us to play EA’s biggest franchises like Apex Legends, one of the more than 200 games available from more than 85 content partners in our Origin Access subscription, or for innovative EA Originals titles like A Way Out, we have something compelling to offer.”
EA Originals supports up-and-coming studios by showcasing innovative games to more players on all platforms. Following the success of Coldwood Studios’ Unravel, the label has built a proven track record with the BAFTA-winning A Way Out by Hazelight and Fe by Zoink, blazing the trail for games like Sea of Solitude by Jo-Mei Games launching on 5 July 2019. The success of these partnerships has expanded the collaborative charter with new independent developers, such as the recently announced RustHeart from Glowmade and new EA Partner Velan Studios for more inspiring future titles.
EA is also offering more quality games from some of best developers in the industry through its subscription services. With EA Access on PlayStation 4 launching this July in addition to Xbox One and PC services, EA says, it will offer subscriptions on more platforms than any other gaming company.
EA’s Origin Access on PC features more than 200 games from more than 85 content partners boasting an average Metacritic score of 80. The library features games from award-winning studios like 11bit, who will release Frostpunk and Moonlighter into the service later this year, to narrative-driven indie darlings like Supergiant Games’ Pyre, new releases like Tropico 6, Mutant Year Zero, Breathedge, alongside EA franchises like Battlefield and FIFA.
To learn more about the content available as an Origin Access subscriber on PC, visit www.origin.com/origin-access.
Click here to read about the new games from Zoink, Glowmade and Hazelight.
Information on the new independent games supplied by EA:
Zoink Games
Zoink’s Lost in Random is another stand out fantasy action adventure from the studio that brought you the magical EA Originals title, Fe. Lost in Random brings a brand-new spin on the genre, in a blend of strategy and action that explores the notion of chance and possibility, set within a beautifully dark and vivid world.
Glowmade
A co-op Action-RPG, RustHeart follows the player and their handmade robot sidekick as they adventure across a vibrant, alien multiverse. Glowmade’s RustHeart taps into the simple joy of creating in a uniquely cooperative setting: a compelling mix of tactical action-roleplay gameplay, player invention and spray paint.
Hazelight Studios
Hazelight Studios’ continues to cement their reputation for delivering story-driven, co-operative, and highly unexpected experiences, following the success of EA Originals title, A Way Out. Returning with a completely new title, Hazelight’s unannounced game promises to give players a fresh new take on the challenges of working together.
For more information on EA Originals, visit www.ea.com/ea-originals