QuakeCon, the annual gala event reveling in all things Quake (as well as Doom, Fallout etc) has just concluded. The highlight of the event was the upcoming games showcased by Bethesda Softworks, the different panels for various exciting games, as well as a multiday esports tournament held for The Elder Scrolls: Legends and Quake Champions. Let’s have a look at the major announcements from the keynote address at QuakeCon 2018:
Fallout 76: No NPCs, Griefer Punishments, New Perk System, Nuke Safety
The QuakeCon 2018 panel for Fallout 76 introduced a host of new features for the upcoming game, scheduled to launch on November 14, 2018, for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Some of the key highlights from the panel include:
No NPCs (Non-playable characters)
Bethesda will be removing any NPCs from the game and will be instead filling it up with more players. The main reason cited behind this was to maintain the unpredictable nature of Fallout 76, which could be possible only when there were real players (who could be friends or foes) instead of NPCs, whose pattern you can determine after prolonged hours of play.
Punishment For Grief Players
An infuriating fact about online multiplayer is that there are some people always determined to ruin your fun, known as grief players. Bethesda has included a community justice system that allows players to punish the griefers e.g. if someone is being aggressive but you are not keen to participate in the aggressor’s challenge and get killed, then your killer will be labeled as a wanted murderer and would show on everyone’s map as a red indicator as a bounty. And oh, there aren’t any rewards for the first kill, so think twice before making such a move.
New Perk System
A new perk system is being introduced in Fallout 76 through trading cards that can be unlocked in each level. Once you level up, you can allocate one point to your S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats and also have the chance to pick one perk card that has “costs” associated with them. This means if you intend to use a two-point Strength card along with a one-point Strength card, then you are required to have at least three total points in Strength.
As you progress, you will receive perk card packs that can be distributed at every other level until level 10. Once you attain ‘High Charisma’ you can share the perks with your fellow players. However, some perks also support a lone-wolf style of gameplay so it is up to you what to decide.
Nuke Safety
Players in Fallout 76 can build structures that can serve as their base of operations. Since nuking is a viable option now, you can keep your base safe by creating a blueprint of the build ahead of time. How is this done? Even if your base is nuked to smithereens, you can use the blueprint to just have it pop up at another location. You can do the same even if there is no threat of a nuclear attack.
Doom Eternal: Enhanced Doom Guy + Super Shotgun, Destructible Demons, Doom Souls
The Doom Eternal reveal at QuakeCon 2018 threw up some really exciting updates, from destructible demons to enhanced weapons and armor. The game would be releasing on the Nintendo Switch as well. Let’s have a look at all of them:
Enhanced Doom Guy
The protagonist of the game, known as ‘Doom guy’, has got a cool armor upgrade that allows him to zoom around in quick bursts, thus covering greater distances in the air. The new suit also has a wrist-mounted extending blade, in addition to a shoulder-mounted multi-tool. It will be intriguing to find out what its actual functionality is, because we saw it throwing a jet of flame during the QuakeCon footage. The suit also allows more mobility, with Doom guy being able to move onto ledges, climb along tricky walls, and grab and swing off poles.
Super Shotgun Gets An Upgrade
The upgraded Super Shotgun comes with a blistering new feature – the Meat Hook that allows you to pull yourself towards the demons, as well as attack aerial enemies and get over gaps, though this is only applicable when you are dealing with a demon.
“It’s not just ‘we added a grapple, and now you can grapple yourself up to the top of a building, or to the side of a building and hang there while the action is happening,” says executive producer Marty Stratton. “That would have been a completely different game.”
Destructible Demons
Dismembering and dissecting demons piece by piece. How does that sound? Enough to satisfy your visceral entrail-filled blood fantasies? You will be getting exactly that with the new demon destruction feature in Doom Eternal. Instead of just rushing in for some gory kills, you can target specific body parts or weapons of the demons as part of your combat tactics.
“In the case of the arachnotron for example, his turret gun on the back is his primary attack and can be very formidable,” said id creative director Hugo Martin, referring to the smaller spider-demon enemy seen in the gameplay video. “You can blow that off and disable one of his attacks.”
“Do you have to do that? No, but it will probably make your life easier,” he continued. “Do you have to shoot the Pinky in the butt to kill him? No. But you’ll save a ton of ammo if you do that because he’s so vulnerable from behind.”
Doom Souls
A particularly surprise revelation in the Doom Eternal gameplay was that players could invade each other’s campaign as demonic creatures, just like in Dark Souls. In fact, you will also be able to team up with your friends to make a Slayer Hunting part of deadly demons!
Werewolves, Swamp Creatures In New Elder Scrolls Expansions
The next expansion of The Elder’s Scrolls Online is called Wolfhunter, in which you can hunt down werewolves and the daedric prince Hircine. The subsequent expansion, called Murkmire, will take you to the Black Marsh, where the swamp dwellers Argonians reside.
Wolfhunter is slated to be released on August 13 for PC and August 28 for consoles. The release date of Murkmire is yet to be announced.
Rage 2 To Feature Vehicles on Steroids
The best thing about the original Rage was its crazy-ass muscular vehicles that you could race and crash around. In Rage 2, you get even bigger and better vehicles with each faction, and there are massive convoys that can be used fora battle where you can take down an army of vehicles. Rage 2 also includes new weapons, improved gameplay mechanics, and different factions with varying strength levels, though the machines-on-steroids battles are certainly the ones you would be looking forward to the most.
Rage 2 will launch in Spring 2019 for Windows PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
Quake Champions To Be Free-To-Play Permanently
Bethesda and id Software have announced that Quake Champions will be free-to-play on a permanent basis. Launched first in 2017, the popular arena shooter game that combines different characters from Quake, Doom, and Wolfenstein, has been free-to-play since 2017. However, the Starter and Championship pack options have been paid ones.