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DOOM, Dishonored 2, and Fallout 4. Only a handful of games were relevant to PlayStation at Bethesda's E3 2015 press conference, and this minimal focus was perhaps key to the publisher's incredibly successful showing. By concentrating almost purely on its biggest releases, the company crafted a presser that was devoid of filler, and absolutely crammed full of gameplay footage.

Kicking things off with a very lengthy DOOM gameplay demo, id Software's latest project set the tone for the rest of the event. It was professional, bombastic, and exactly what fans wanted to see. The demo stretched on for a solid ten minutes or so, and for most of that time, the location was filled with cheers and rapturous applause. We honestly don't think it could have gone any better.

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That wasn't the end for DOOM, though. Once the Mars-based gameplay was over, the studio representative revealed the upcoming shooter's Snapmap capabilities, which essentially allow you to create your own content for the release. It was a surprising announcement that settled the pace just enough - a presentation technique that the publisher would utilise again later in the show.

However, a DOOM showcase was only ever going to end with a bang, so the reveal stormed on. Jumping back into some single player gameplay once again, the fresh demo took us on a tour through Hell, as the protagonist battled off hordes of grotesque demons in some seriously hectic shootouts. At this point, any more DOOM may have been overkill, but the publisher got it just right when it cut from another cliff-hanger to end the gore-'em-up's presentation.

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Slowing things down a little, Arkane Studios took to the stage to announce Dishonored 2 with a snazzy CG trailer. Despite the noticeable change of tone, the stylish clip still managed to carry the momentum of the event forward, and that's always key when you're approaching a presser's halfway point. The Dishonored love-in was topped off by the announcement of Dishonored: Definitive Edition, which turned out to be a great little addition to proceedings as it capped what was essentially the midway point with something tangible - a game that was coming later this year.

Throughout the conference, the on-stage presenters were spot on. Bethesda's own Pete Hines orchestrated things near perfectly, but it was studio lead Todd Howard who arguably stole the show. Howard is no stranger to explaining his ambitious projects in front of large, live audiences, but he really did himself proud with his Fallout 4 commentary.

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Detailing everything from the opening events of the game to the absolutely ridiculous crafting system, Howard took us on a hype-fuelled ride that lasted over half an hour. Again, like with DOOM's Snapmap, proceedings were calmed with the reveal of the charming Fallout Shelter, an iPhone title, but the pace was quickly ramped back up as Fallout 4's most explosive gameplay trailer yet was shown, complete with rocket-fuelled power armour and deathclaw finishers.

The back and forth momentum was a highlight of the presser, and overall, it worked incredibly well for Bethesda, as it allowed the publisher to dictate the ebb and flow of its showcase. As such, it always felt like the pacing was almost inch perfect.

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No E3 press conference is complete without a suitably shocking megaton announcement to round things off, and Bethesda managed to nail this aspect, too. After the audience was left in awe of Fallout 4's colossal presentation, Howard dropped the news that the post-apocalyptic adventure would be releasing this year. It goes without saying that the crowd went into overdrive, signalling the ideal endpoint for the show.

For its first ever E3 presser, Bethesda smashed all expectations out of the park. By focussing on three core titles, the publisher was able to establish a momentum that we doubt can be replicated at the conferences that are yet to come. The company gave us exactly what we wanted: meaty gameplay segments that weren't bogged down by corporate spiel, and for that, Bethesda deserves a lot of credit. All in all, E3 2015's opening show could prove to be very, very difficult to outdo.


What did you make of Bethesda's presser? Do you think that it can be topped? Survive the massive amount of hype radiation in the comments section below.