So it’s getting close to that time of year where the first big releases drop and you start to look at your old gaming PC and wonder, is it time? Do wait a little longer or do I bite the bullet and just get it now? Well, lets see if any of the up coming releases are enough to tempt you.
Although a lot of the titles that will be landing in Q4 this year may have not been officially announced, there is still plenty look forward to that we already know about. Far too many to cover in a single article but we’ve polled the team and chosen a few of our most anticipated games of 2018.
Despite a few of the trailers being plastered with XBOX logos by Microsoft marketing departments, these games are definitely coming to PC and in most cases the PC version will be the flag-ship, lead platform and definitive edition.
Metal Gear : Survive
What is it : After a 30 year run, this is the first installment since Kojima (the series creator) has stepped down from his own studio. Survive is set (at least partially) between the events of Ground Zero and Phantom Pain and doesn’t feature the series main protagonist (Snake) at all! Instead this time around custom characters fight for survival after being sucked in to a wormhole and landing in an alternate universe full of, yep, you guessed it. Zombies.
Why it could be awesome one you wait for reviews of first : Rumors have it even single player contains micro-transactions and requires and ‘always online’ DRM requirement. That plus it’s the first Metal Gear game without the oversight or direction of Hideo Kojima, so it’s not necessarily an instant winner even for the most die-hard fans of the franchise.
When? February 20th
Far Cry 5
What is it : Running on the latest version of the always beautiful Crytek game engine, the 5th installment in the main franchise is set in back country Montana pitting religious cults, anti-government separatists and the locals against each other with plenty of bullets, explosions, fire and deadly wildlife the serious is known for.
Why it could be awesome : A pretty good franchise track record, a massive budget, a game engine that can look absolutely stunning when executed right and plenty of game-play trailers floating around that look like the developers might have done just that. If your a Far Cry fan and have been putting off upgrading your old gaming PC, this might be the game that pushes you over the edge. You’re going to want to crank the settings up to high on this one to get the full effect.
When? March 27th
Crackdown 3
What is it : Featuring the voice of Terry Crews as a playable character, this sci-fi over the top GTA’esc open world action game features a single player campaign, co-op and competitive multiplayer modes and a boasts a fully destructible city.
Why it could be awesome : For those who know and love the Crackdown series, it looks like more of the same, dialed up to 11, a little Terry Crews, more destruction and mayhem and actually getting a day 1 PC release!
When? TBD Q2 2018 (Delayed from November 2017)
Age of Empires 4
What is it : A long (loooooooong) awaiting installment in the franchise with fans waiting since the launch of the 3rd game in 2005. Real time strategy games are few and far between these days which is a real shame of those of us who love them and it’s sufficed to say anyone who does is really looking forward to this one.
Why it could be awesome : Hopefully staying true to it’s roots and not straying too far the core mechanics that made AOE3 such a classic, this one is being developed by Relic. You may know these guys as the developers behind Dawn of War and Company of Heroes which is arguably two of the best RTS franchises of recent memory (although granted there isn’t many to choose from).
When? TBD 2018
Anthem
What is it : A fantasy sci fi open world action shooter with RPG elements reminiscent of the Destiny games. Not too else much is known about the game at this stage aside from a trailer released last year but it’s enough to give you an idea of the look and feel the developers are going for.
Why it could be awesome : Developing it is the same Bioware team that is responsible for the Mass Effect, Dragon Age and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic games.
When? TBD Q3 2018
Jurassic World Evolution
What is it : Imagine a theme park tycoon game with a it’s core mechanic being essentially a business simulator as you adjust ticket prices, build attractions and make sure your gift shop is placed right at exit. Now add giant murderous dinosaurs and a chance that if you mess up, your main attractions could violently murder all your customers.
Why it could be awesome : Who better to develop a game like this than the team behind RollerCoaster Tycoon. We can rest assured at the very least the theme park sim mechanics will be pretty sound. Let’s just hope they get the murderous dinosaur violence right too.
When? Q3 2018
The Crew 2
What is it : Something for you racing fans to be excited for, this time around with boats and planes! The trailers set a high bar, lets hope Ubisoft can live up to the hype they are building and that it’s not packed full of micro-transactions.
Why it could be awesome : The developers are ex Eden Games who worked on Need for Speed, Test Drive Unlimited, the original The Crew and V-Rally so their qualifications check out. Visuals look great and if they don’t mess up the core mechanics or force those of us who just want to stick to the cars and bikes to have to grind through boat or plane races to progress, it should be a winner.
When? Q2-Q3 2018
Honorable Mentions
Not too much is known about these titles, some don’t have solid release dates or even release windows to expect but they are all due sometime this year.
- Dead Island 2
- Quake Champions
- Unreal Tournament
- Metro Exodus
- State of Decay 2
- Dark Souls Remastered
- System Shock 3 (Maybe)
- Monster Hunter : World
- Sea of Thieves
- Vampyr
Final Note
There are so many more titles than we mentioned here in this article, and probably a few absolute gems too. We just wanted to highlight a few of the ones on our own radar for anyone who hasn’t already in the know.
So is it time for a new custom gaming PC?
In case you haven’t guessed, that’s what we do around here, and we do it dam well. If your gaming PC just ins’t holding up and you want to be ready to go the moment your most anticipated game of 2018 hits, head on over to our store page ( evatech.com.au ) and check out our custom PC builder. Your just a few clicks away from getting a brand new, fully custom rig built to order and delivered to your door by Australia’s #1 gaming PC retailer.