The Game Awards is ostensibly the equivalent of the Oscars for the video game industry, but the biggest names in interactive entertainment have never been known to turn down a good marketing opportunity. So The Game Awards have also evolved into a jam-packed news event, with new trailers, game announcements, and other surprises packed in between the night’s slate of prizes.

This year was no different, and The Game Awards were home to some big announcements from Fortnite creator Epic Games, Ubisoft, and a slew of indie developers. If you weren’t able to watch it live, here’s the biggest news from the show:

Image: Simogo

Simogo announces Sayonara Wild Hearts for the Nintendo Switch

Simogo, the Swedish studio behind cult hits Device 6 and The Sailor’s Dream, is making a stylish new game called Sayonara Wild Hearts, confirmed to be coming out for the Nintendo Switch next year. It’s described as “a euphoric music video dream about being awesome, riding motorcycles, skateboarding, dance battling, shooting lasers, wielding swords, and breaking hearts at 200mph.” That sounds quite promising.

Image: Epic Games

Epic launches its Steam competitor

Epic made a big splash earlier this year when it announced it would be opening a digital storefront for PC and Mac games to compete with Valve’s Steam. Just two days later, that store is now live, with a surprise launch during the Game Awards with a slate of high-profile indie titles, including Annapurna Interactive and A44’s Ashen, old hits like Super Meat Boy, and newer titles like Darksiders 3.

Image: Annapurna Interactive

Ashen is out now for Xbox One and PC

Ashen has been more than four years in the making, having first been announced as an Xbox console exclusive back in 2014. The fantasy adventure game, which looks to be inspired by Dark Souls and Team Ico classics, is from developer A45 and published by Annapurna’s game development arm. It’s out now with a surprise launch on both the Xbox One and Epic’s new game store.

Image: thatgamecompany

Journey makes its PC debut on Epic’s new store

Thatgamecompany’s Journey became an instant indie classic when it released on the PlayStation 3 in 2012. The game’s mystic narrative, stunning visuals, and ingenious multiplayer element that paired players with silent, anonymous strangers over the internet made it a truly transcendent experience gaming hadn’t seen before. Prior to today, it’s been a PlayStation exclusive, having only been ported to the PlayStation 4 in the years since. Now, it’s going to be available on PC for the very first time through Epic’s new store sometime next year.

Supergiant Games’ newest title is called Hades

Supergiant Giant became an indie darling with its isometric, action role-playing game Bastion, which became a huge fixture of the Xbox 360 era of indie games when it came out in 2011. Since then, Supergiant released the similar cyberpunk game Transistor, and it later switched gears with a bizarre and fascinating fantasy take on basketball called Pyre.

Now, the company appears to be going back to its roots. The new game is called Hades, and it looks like you’ll be fighting your way through the underworld in Transistor style. The game is available now in early access from Epic’s game store for $19.99.

Image: Ubisoft

The next Far Cry game is a post-apocalyptic sequel to Far Cry 5

One of the highest-profile trailers to air during the Game Awards officially took the wraps off Far Cry: New Dawn, Ubisoft’s next installment in the open-world series. Set after the events of Far Cry 5, in which villain Joseph Seed sets off a nuclear bomb, New Dawn looks to feature a drastic change in tone and style. The good news is the game is coming soon — be it comes out on February 15th for $39.99 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Nintendo gets a Marvel exclusive with The Black Order

The Switch’s first Marvel exclusive is a new title from Ninja Gaiden and Nioh developer Team Ninja called Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order. That’s a platform-developer combination we haven’t seen 2010’s Metroid: Other M, and it should have Marvel-loving Switch owners very excited.

Obisdian’s newest game is called The Outer Worlds

The RPG legends at Obsidian Entertainment have a new game coming out called The Outer Worlds featuring intergalactic travel and all manner of sci-fi technology. Having become a major force in the genre through Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II, Fallout: New Vegas, and Pillars of Eternity, Obsidian has been a carrier of the traditional RPG flame for years now. Now, it looks like The Outer Worlds will be all-new territory for the studio.

The creators of No Man’s Sky have a new game coming called The Last Campfire

Developer Hello Games has been hard at work turning No Man’s Sky into one of the most ambitious and expansive exploration games ever made. But with The Last Campfire, Hello and studio head Sean Murray are taking a more intimate and carefully animated approach to storytelling, inspired by Pixar shorts.

Mortal Kombat 11 announced

There’s a new Mortal Kombat on the way, and it looks just as gruesome as ever. Unfortunately that’s about all we know about Mortal Kombat 11, which was revealed on-stage at the awards show. But it shouldn’t be long before we find out: the game is launching on April 23rd, with a proper reveal event on January 17th.

A new Dragon Age is on the way

After showing off a story trailer for Anthem, BioWare made sure to let fans know that its fantasy role-playing series is still alive as well. The developer showed off the briefest of teasers for the next Dragon Age; so brief, in fact, we don’t even know the proper title or when it’s coming out.

Fortnite highlights player creations on The Block

Not content with launching a new season and a creative mode, Fortnite developer Epic also decided to change the game’s map during The Game Awards. Risky Reels is gone, replaced by a new area called The Block, which will put a spotlight on some of the best stuff players are making.

Joker is looking cool… in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Nintendo revealed the first downloadable character for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and it’s a huge surprise: Joker from Persona 5. The game isn’t even available on a Nintendo platform, but that said, the slick and stylish Joker does seem like a fun addition to the lineup. At least he’ll come with some great music.

https://www.theverge.com/2018/12/6/18126130/game-awards-2018-trailers-announcements-news-ps4-xbox-pc-nintendo-switch