What is your most anticipated game next year? Biggest bust?

[Necromancerx69]

Most Anticipated: Library of Ruina by Project Moon Studio
[ The Sequel of Lobotomy Corporation (Hope this time they get a good translator). ]

[Last_Dragoon]

The Last of Us 2
Cyberpunk 2077
The Outer Worlds

Biggest bust: Anthem - I played the alpha, so I know it is a bust for me.

Since you said you played the Alpha is it possible to give any impressions such as gameplay, quest, etc. I'm just curious because I know games media people/youtubers have stated they played the alpha but I haven't heard much about it.

[JackofTears]

Without getting myself in trouble with the NDA, Anthem plays like a cross between Destiny and a flight simulator. Unless the demo in February impresses me in ways the Alpha did not, I will be skipping this game and would be surprised to see it last longer than a year, much less the ten year timeplay EA is planning on.

[Last_Dragoon]

JackofTears okay thank you for the info. If it plays like that it can at least sound interesting. I did hear the "10 year plan' thing and eye rolled so hard. Of all the publishers in the world EA is the least likely to hold on to a 10 year plan for one game.

[Last_Dragoon]

Cyberpunk 2077 if it releases in 2019 is the clear winner. After that, I think for me it's going to be a question of if Anthem manages to be good or not. If it is, then great, it gets the slot! If it isn't, then Mechwarrior 5 is my big ticket hopeful.

The likely bust I'm hoping I'm wrong about is Anthem, likely victim of publisher interference. One game project (however doomed it might have been) already died trying to see this to fruition. The 'new' Bioware has this one chance to build their own legacy by beating the odds, long as they are. I hope they do.

Do you think Anthem is Bioware's sink or swim project. As a fan of the ME trilogy and the first Dragon Age game (2 had potential but rushed, and 3 was alright), it would sadden me if Bioware shuts down because of what looks to be a destiny clone.

[JackofTears]

I've heard insiders claim that Anthem is not Bioware's last chance but, realistically, it totally is. If they cannot hit it out of the park with Anthem, there won't be an audience waiting for the next DA game; Bioware is not what it used to be and most people are aware of that now.

[Sorain]

I'd say it is sink or swim for them. For two reasons. Firstly, they need to succeed to get some credibility, to gain consumer trust and loyalty. This is not the old Bioware and everyone knows it, which for me means I am willing to give them a chance to earn loyalty. It's not their fault they bear the name of a now broken company, but if they make of this good things, I'll praise them for their efforts.

Secondly, they need a sustainable stream of income to keep EA off their back. If they can manage to set things up in a manner where it isn't anti-consumer and show EA they make money with it, that is enough for EA to ease off on them. Back before Wilson Lootboxes, EA worked simply: You sign up with us, we fund you and leave you alone as long as you are in the black. Fail to be in the black and there are consequences. The new Bioware is essentially trying to get into that position, with the anchor around their neck of Andromeda making this a struggle. If they show EA they have a money stream, they can have some limited autonomy to be themselves. If that fails, they will be torn apart by EA.

Signing up with EA used to be a deal with a Mob boss. It was dangerous, but only if you didn't deliver on your end of the bargain and then get out. Dependency on said mob boss ended badly because eventually you failed to deliver and got owned by them. Modern EA has been like making a deal with the Devil, your 'partner' is actively looking for a way to claim you failed and raid you for everything you are worth. The current Bioware may manage to appease their EA overlords enough to be allowed to manage their own affairs, especially as EA has bigger fish to fry (Hi Belgium!) which gives them the chance to actually be a good studio doing good things.

But I do not hold out hope beyond that. If they do well, if EA lets them do it? It will succeed. But even then the specter of EA deciding 'if it's making money now, you should throw more MTX into it.' and pressuring them to do so after launch remains. A wise EA would see that their fight with governments over lootboxes ends only one way and see a successful Anthem as a chance to establish a new brand name free of that negative PR. A place to peddle their MTX without gambling and build future profits. But alas, those who lead EA do not seem to be willing to face the reality that when a business fights governments on matters of authority, governments win. Not even the East India Company, the closest thing in history to a cyberpunk style mega-corporation, which had it's own military and fought it's own wars, could stand before government intervention.

[Last_Dragoon]

Anticipated: Dreams and Sekiro.
Bust: Crackdown 3.

I was thinking of Crackdown 3 but I feel the hype for that game has just dropped to historical lows for a AAA title.

[DarknessFX]

Indeed the hype is low, MS always delaying and XBO fans waiting for so long but still it can become a solid disappoint since it's the only 2019 AAA XBO exclusive.

[MadMummy76]

Since you said you played the Alpha is it possible to give any impressions such as gameplay, quest, etc. I'm just curious because I know games media people/youtubers have stated they played the alpha but I haven't heard much about it.

You haven't heard much because it is under NDA. It reminded me of all things Hellgate London. It felt dated. And the flight controls were really bad with a mouse. The story and narrative is administered in the social hub between generic MMO style missions. So it's a distraction to players who just want an MP game, and the gameplay is a distraction to the players who just want to experience the story.

[ryvrdrgn14]

Mechwarrior 5. Still looks rough at the moment, but I'm hoping they pull it together before release.

[ScurvyRat]

Mount & Blade Bannerlord. I'm just hoping that it will be as good as Warband.

[Saskia]

Most anticipated: Aion 7.0 and the new Painter class, because I have an urgent need to cover everybody in splooshy paint! lol

[Sol]

Looking forward to Cyberpunk and Outer Worlds. Both look like they'll be incredible. Also looking forward to Total War: Three Kingdoms, Hope it doesn't become a letdown. Have to agree on the biggest bust being Anthem. It just looks boring and bland. No real love went into that game other than look at the pretty graphics! nature!

[Turbonutter]

I really want the Borderlands 3 rumors to be true, and I'm really hoping Gearbox pulls their collected heads out of their bums and make a good game again... but I'm not holding out too much hope.

As for busts, I'm going to jump on the bandwagon and say Anthem. I'll be shocked if nu-Bioware can pull off anything decent at all.

[Seth The Cartographer]

Either the last of us 2, Cyberpunk2077 or the new Obsidian game in space. LoU2 im really just excited about the story, Cyberpunk i cant wait to just be some basass future mercenary with all the cool tech and the obsidian title that just was announced because its going to be a really good RPG

[Hallc]

For me Sekiro by fromsoft is a game I've been waiting for since it's " Shadows die twice" trailer

[Nella_Bolt]

Borderlands 3 booooiiii

[ThyToaster]

I think my most anticipated game next year is probably going to be Metro: Exodus, followed by Warhammer: Chaosbane. I love the Metro games, so I'm really excited to see how this one's going to turn out. And I Just love Warhammer.

Biggest bust, I think I'd have to agree with the bandwagon. Anthem is being over hyped and I don't see the current mega game companies producing good games anymore. Battlefield 5 was trash, Call of Duty is just repeats, Destiny was a huge flop for me, Bungie shit on fans with Diablo Immortal. I can't say I have much hope for Anthem.