E3 2107 is finally here everyone and that means we’re getting announcements and more in-depth looks at the games coming in the near future. Electronic Arts had the first big conference to take the stage. If you missed it we have you covered with a rundown of the bigger announcements made at the show.

Madden NFL 18
EA kicked off their conference with one of their longest running franchises in Madden. This time around, we had a glimpse into a new mode called Longshot. Longshot appears to be a single-player story mode following a young NFL prospect named Devin Wade. Wade goes from a small town high school through the NCAA and faces trials and tribulations on and off the field. Madden NFL 18 will be released August 25 later this year.

Battlefield 1
We were shown clips of members of the Battlefield 1 community and were given details to the upcoming Battlefield 1 DLC called In the Name of the Tzar. The expansion will lead players into Russia with new maps, vehicles, and weapons. Also, In the Name of the Tzar will mark the first time female characters will be playable with the addition of the Women’s Battalion of Death. This will be available for Battlefield 1 players in September.

FIFA 18
Another of EA’s long-running franchises had a prominent role in this year’s show in FIFA 18. A gameplay trailer was shown off featuring Cristiano Ronaldo in a mocap suit, and EA utilizing data taken from him. Also, a trailer was shown for The Journey: Hunter Returns, the singleplayer mode for FIFA which follows up last year’s story mode. The protagonist appears to be at a crossroads… Should he stay with his team or look for a bigger payday somewhere else? FIFA 18 has a launch date of September 29, 2017.

Need For Speed Payback
Need For Speed Payback marked a return for EA’s street racing franchise. In NFS Payback, you’re following three characters as they take down the criminal organization The House. The trailer showed off some gameplay which included a heist mode that mixed in elements of Burnout, Need For Speed, and made it feel like something out of a Fast and Furious movie. Need For Speed Payback is scheduled to be released November 10, 2017.

A Way Out
The director of Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons started his own production company called Hazelight. Why is this important? Well, he has a new game on the horizon called A Way Out. The game will be entirely co-op, both online and local. All we are really shown is two men breaking out of jail and their lives as they are on the lam. A gameplay trailer was also shown to give an idea of what to expect from the game. A Way Out is due to be released early 2018.

Anthem
Bioware revealed their next game and not much was revealed. A trailer featuring a monster, a post-apocalyptic land, mech suits, and a wall. Not much was revealed, but more will be shown off at Microsoft’s E3 conference.

NBA Live 18
The NBA Live franchise returned with NBA Live 18. Gameplay showed off a small piece of what the right analog sticks can do on offense and defense. However, the new addition to this year’s installment is the inclusion of a career mode called The One. The One takes your player from coast to coast on the streets, the Pro-Am league, to the Pros. Each mode will offer different rewards and experiences. NBA Live 18 will have a free demo in August and should carry all your progress over into the game.

Star Wars Battlefront II
Janina Gavankar was brought out on stage to talk about Star Wars Battlefront II flanked by stormtroopers. She mentioned Battlefront 2’s single player campaign will bridge the gap from the end of the original film trilogy (Episode 6) and the beginning of the new trilogy (Episode 7). A good portion of the show was dedicated to Battlefront 2, and we got to see the trailer of the multiplayer. John Boyega also revealed Finn and Captain Phasma will be free add-on characters in December. Star Wars Battlefront II is scheduled to release November 17.

Thoughts and Reactions
Personally, I thought this was EA’s strongest conference in a while. I will admit the bar wasn’t high for EA considering the past few years. Most of them have had huge chunks of time taken by the likes of Madden and FIFA, not to mention their pro gaming tournament they host. This year was different, they had a handful of games and got right to the point and showed them off a little rather than talking about them.

Games like Battlefield 1, Madden, and FIFA aren’t my cup of tea, but it’s understandable why they’re showcased. These are the heavy hitters and annual franchises that make money for EA. I’m pulling for NBA Live to be good because a competition with 2K would be good for the fans. I’m intrigued by Need For Speed Payback, but I’m more into Burnout than I am with Need For Speed. That being said, I might give Need For Speed a try, but I’m glad the game doesn’t need a constant internet connection.

Of the games that were shown off, Star Wars Battlefront II was my best in show. The overall presentation of the game was top notch and they didn’t waste any time getting into it. They also showed off a pretty good trailer showing off the multiplayer, but I’m honestly most excited for the single player campaign. A Way Out was another game that looked really good and has my interest. Though it looks like a co-op jailbreak game, it may have more to it than that and that has me intrigued.

What do you think gamers? What was your favorite part of the EA conference? Let us know in the comment section below and stay right here to New Gamer Nation as your source for all things gaming.