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Gears Tactics is not dead, according to publisher Microsoft, despite its E3 2019 no-show. The Xbox One and PC game was first unveiled at E3 2018 alongside Gears 5 and Gears Pop, but while those were shown off again at Xbox’s press conference this time round, Tactics was not.

This prompted fears from some that the game was canceled or experiencing development struggles. However, the publisher has now reassured fans that the strategy title is still on the way.

Longtime series producer Rod Fergusson told Kotaku: “Last year we wanted to really talk about all three games [Gears 5, Pop, and Tactics] and show that Microsoft is tripling down on the Gears of War franchise, but now that we’ve had that we’re really trying to make sure it’s not always this three-pack … We’ll talk about Gears Tactics later.”

No release date has been revealed for Gears Tactics, while Gears 5 launches on September 10. Gears Pop, meanwhile, will come to iOS and Android in “late summer” this year.

Microsoft’s E3 2019 conference focused heavily on Gears 5, which will receive a Terminator crossover in which you can play as the T-800 himself or Sarah Connor. Players will also have a couple of chances to try out Gears 5 ahead of its release. In July, The Coalition will launch a versus multiplayer test that includes a new competitive game type called Arcade. Then the following month, on August 19, you can test out Horde Mode.

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E3 2019’s press conferences are over. The Electronic Entertainment Expo delivered some huge news, including a Zelda: Breath of the Wild sequel, a new Xbox console named Project Scarlett, and plenty more.

However, it also contained some wacky moments none of us expected, and it gave rise to some stars we never thought would shine at a gaming expo. Let’s take a look at some of the people–and animals–that have brightened up our E3.

Doug Bowser Picking A Fight With, Uh, Bowser

After Reggie Fils-Aime’s recent retirement, Nintendo needed a new star to present its E3 Directs. Thankfully, Bowser was there to take over–in style. Doug Bowser, that is.

The Koopa King thought he was the one to tell us about Nintendo’s new games at E3 2019, but it turns out there was a mistake, and D Bowser promptly put Mario’s longtime enemy in his place. Sorry, Bowser.

Keanu Reeves Is In Cyberpunk 2077

Keanu Reeves had already captured the internet’s hearts for being an all-round Good Egg. So when he emerged on-stage at Microsoft’s E3 2019 press conference, everyone understandably went wild. The actor, perhaps best known for his roles in the Matrix and John Wick franchises, is in Cyberpunk 2077. He plays a character named Johnny Silverhand, who is described by developer CD Projekt Red as a “legendary rocker boy” who gets his name from the fact that he has a robotic, silver arm. Silverhand is a “key” character in Cyberpunk 2077, so we may see a lot of him.

Reeves not only provided the voice and likeness of Silverhand, but he also performed full-body motion capture. This means Silverhand will look and act like Reeves. That’s good news, because as behind-the-scenes John Wick training videos have shown, Reeves is a talented actor who commits to his craft to ensure the best possible result.

Ubisoft Brought An Adorable Dog On Stage

Ubisoft’s E3 2019 press conference was as varied as ever, bringing us news on Watch Dogs: Legion, Rainbow Six Quarantine, and more. But by far the most adorable moment was when actor John Bernthal (The Wolf of Wall Street, Daredevil, The Punisher) arrived on stage accompanied by his dog, Bam Bam. Bernthal was there to discuss his role in Ghost Recon Breakpoint, while Bam Bam was merely there to be A Good Boy. Watch the wholesome moment above.

Ikumi Nakamura Is The Internet’s New Favorite Game Developer

The grey clouds of Activision’s reduced E3 presence and Sony’s no-show seemed ready to unleash a shower of disappointment on E3 2019. And then the Bethesda press conference happened. Tango Gameworks creative director Ikumi Nakamura took to the stage, and like a beam of light from the sun, she cut through the miasma to energize and uplift us all. Nakamura arrived on stage to announce Ghostwire: Tokyo, a new game from the studio behind The Evil Within and The Evil Within 2.

Nakamura casually strolled onto the stage with an enthusiastic, “Yayyyyyyy!” This was followed by, “Wow, wow, wow, so many people.” Obviously, Nakamura was feeling overwhelmed by the size of the audience, but at the same time, she stayed cool, calm, and collected.

Nakamura’s minor case of stage fright belies her experience in game design and development. Though she may not be a familiar name or face to the greater video game fanbase as a whole, she has been involved in the creation of some of the most beloved games of all time, including Okami and Bayonetta, and of course The Evil Within.

Over the course of a few minutes, Nakamura’s earnestness and excitement won hearts and minds. She admitted her nervousness, said she’d give speaking English–which she is doing for our benefit–a solid shot, and then delivered a charismatic pitch for her new “spooooooky” game. People are vanishing in Tokyo, and we the player must find out why, unraveling conspiracies and delving into the occult along the way. She promised we’d meet spirits that were [ominous voice] “dangerous” and [playful voice] “peaceful.”

Helen, Watch Dogs: Legion’s Killer Grandmother

Ubisoft’s E3 2019 press conference had quite a few unexpected surprises–one of which we’ve of course been over already–but none seems to have hit as hard as an octogenarian with a mean streak. Helen, one of the showcased playable characters from Watch Dogs: Legion, has captured the hearts of the internet.

That’s no small feat, because the pitch behind Legion is that anyone is a playable character. All of London’s residents you find wandering around have their own stories, backgrounds, and habits, and you can hack into their lives and learn more about them to recruit them. Many of them have specialized skills like brawling or robotics expertise. Helen, according to the trailer, is a former assassin, and the wrinkles have made her no less deadly.

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Epic’s month-long Mega Sale ends after today, but the digital store announced it’s extending one particular offer through the rest of 2019. During the Mega Sale, Epic began offering a free PC game to its users on a weekly basis (rather than biweekly, as it was doing before), and the store will continue giving one free game away every week through the rest of the year, starting with Enter the Gungeon.

Available for free starting today, Enter the Gungeon is a gunfight dungeon-crawler that takes place in the Gungeon, a “bullet-hell fortress” that’s constantly evolving and upping its challenges. The “gungeoneers” are a group of misfits with deep regrets seeking a powerful treasure at the Gungeon’s core: a legendary gun that can kill their past. The heroes must brave traps, chasms, and wave after wave of bullets to make their way through the dungeon, and a variety of wacky weapons are at your disposal, including guns that shoot lasers, cannonballs, rainbows, fish, darts, and more.

The game received a 7/10 in GameSpot’s Enter the Gungeon review, in which critic Cassidee Moser took issue with its guns feeling similar and certain gameplay elements, but praised its finely tuned shooting mechanics, challenging enemies, and dynamic visuals. “Care has been placed in the smallest details, mixing retro-inspired pixelated artwork with more contemporary styles of visual feedback,” wrote Moser.

As a reminder, you’ll need a free Epic account to claim Enter the Gungeon, and once you do add the game to your account, it’ll be yours to keep. Enter the Gungeon will be available until June 20, when it will be replaced by space adventure Rebel Galaxy.

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The dungeon-crawler Torchlight 2 is coming to consoles with extra content this fall. The original game was a PC exclusive, but now it will come to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. It’s due on September 3 for $20.

Torchlight 2 was originally developed by Runic Games, and the port is being handled by Panic Button. These console ports feature an improved targeting system and revised console-friendly UI, and new pets. The Nintendo Switch version will let up to four dungeon divers play with their friends on a local wireless connection.

The original Torchlight was released on PC and Xbox 360, and helped scratch the Diablo itch for action-RPG fans. Torchlight 2 came in 2012, and went head-to-head against Diablo 3. Torchlight is a bit lighter in tone than Blizzard’s series, though, and includes some mechanical differences.

“We’ve discovered that the core mechanics featured in Torchlight II translate really well onto consoles,” says Panic Button’s Andy Boggs. “It’s a solid multiplayer experience with fast-paced action and an almost endless progression system. Our team has been working hard on the console version to make sure that the combat feels just as fun and satisfying as it did on PC.”

GameSpot’s review of Torchlight 2 was positive, crediting its distinct character classes, enticing loot, and vibrant visuals. Publisher Perfect World is currently preparing a brand new Torchlight game, called Torchlight Frontiers.

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BAFTA has given a special award to Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite and Gears of War, among other franchises. The company was given the award in a ceremony in LA, the host city of E3 2019, for its “impact on the global games industry.”

As well as developing Fortnite and the first four Gears of War titles, Epic also counts among its achievements the Unreal Tournament series and the industry standard development tool Unreal Engine. More recently, the company opened its own storefront as a rival to Steam. It also announced in March that it’s created a $100 million fund for developers that was made possible thanks to the success of Fortnite.

“We are delighted to honor Epic Games with a BAFTA special award,” said BAFTA Games committee chair Dr Jo Twist, OBE. “Their impact on the global games industry and its evolution has been extraordinary and we are pleased to be recognizing that this evening. Epic Games have empowered and supported creativity in the industry for over 20 years and they continue to innovate on established industry practice and champion the creative community.”

Epic CEO Tim Sweeney said: “The team has worked so hard to make these things reality and create art and be recognized for it. I hope this is just the beginning of the quest. We’re trying to create a whole new world around digital entertainment and I think we’re just at the beginning of it.”

This is not the first award BAFTA has handed to Epic–Fortnite won the Evolving Game category at this year’s Game BAFTAs. The battle royale title has gone on to become one of the most successful games ever made, with over 250 million registered players. Epic continues to evolve the game, with its latest patch adding a proximity grenade launcher and a Horde Rush mode.

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During the Inside Xbox stream this week at E3 2019, Microsoft announced a unique crossover event between Sea of Thieves and Halo. A Halo-inspired Spartan Ship Set is now available in Sea of Thieves, and it looks pretty rad.

To get the Set, all you need to do is play the Sea of Thieves Arena mode before 23:59 BST on Saturday. Alternatively, everyone who plays The Arena at E3 this week gets it.

The set includes a Spartan Hull depicting Master Chief, as well as Spartan Sails that have the UNSC logo on them. The ship overall has a green tint fitting of Halo. Check out the video embedded above to see what the Set looks like in game.

Sea of Thieves appeared on GameSpot’s E3 2019 stage show today where the developers talked about the struggles and successes of the game’s first year, as well as what’s on tap for Year 2. Check out the video at the top of the page to see more.

As for the Halo series, it was a big E3 for Microsoft’s big shooter series. Microsoft showcased a new story trailer for Halo Infinite during its E3 briefing, while Microsoft also confirmed the game is coming to Project Scarlett as a launch title in 2020.

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