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The Electronic Entertainment Expo runs between the 5th and 7th of June andGadget Helpline will be following all the major hardware and software announcements from big industry names such as Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony – as well as offering a Daily Recap on many areas of this year’s show!
With Microsoft showing its cards earlier in the day at the E3 expo in Los Angeles, it soon became Sony’s turn to show off all things new –albeit at the ungodly hour of 2am in the UK.
As with Microsoft, Sony didn’t reveal a new console as many had hoped. However, it did have a hardware accessory and plenty of new games and trailers in store for us.
PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale Trailer
We’ve known about this game for a little while now – Sony’s answer to Nintendo’s excellent Super Smash Brothers series. An all-out smash-‘em-up featuring some legendary characters from PlayStation games old and new, All-Stars Battle Royale looks very exciting.
Sony proudly showed off the first official trailer last night at E3, which you can check out below. It reveals two new playable characters: Nathan Drake from the Uncharted games, and Big Daddy from the BioShock series.
PS Vita Gets PSone Classic Games This Summer
Sony moved on to its most recent console, the handheld PS Vita. We can already download and play old PSP and PSP Go games on the Vita, and soon we’ll have a pick of a catalogue of original PSone titles.
Legendary games such as Tomb Raider and Final Fantasy 7 will be available to buy and download directly to your Vita from the PlayStation Store.
PS Plus Overhauled – Free Games!
Sony’s PS Plus service is set for an overhaul and big improvement, Sony US boss Jack Tretton revealed during their conference last night. Full PS3 games will be available for subscribers to download and play, with subscriptions costing $5 per month. The update launches today with 12 full and free games available to new subscribers, including LittleBigPlanet 2, Saints Row 2 and Just Cause 2.
PlayStation Move Racing Wheel Revealed
We didn’t see this one coming: Sony revealed a Wii-style steering wheel accessory for its PlayStation Move motion accessory. The wheel isn’t round like the Wii version – rather it features two handles on the left and right, with the Move controller slotting vertically in the middle. The wheel accessory features the D-Pad, four classic PlayStation buttons and Select and Start keys.
Two paddles sit either side of the docked Move controller for gear changing in racing games, and Sony says the wheel can even be tilted and held horizontally to act as handlebars for when controlling a motorbike in game. Sony hasn’t yet revealed a launch date or price for the Move Racing Wheel.
Assassin’s Creed 3 Coming to PS Vita, PS3 Gets Exclusive DLC
Sony welcomed Ubisoft to the stage during its conference, to announce exclusive content deals for PlayStation gamers. Firstly there will be exclusive Assassin’s Creed 3 downloadable content for PS3 gamers when it launches in October.
Secondly, Ubisoft revealed that a new Assassin’s Creed title would launch for the PS Vita later in the year. Assassin’s Creed 3: Liberation is a title completely different to the PS3 version, featuring a female assassin rather than a male, and based in New Orleans.
Gamers will be able to connect their PS Vita with Liberation to a PS3 playing Assassin’s Creed 3 to unlock exclusive content, including a Tomahawk and an exclusive player skin. Check out the release trailer for Liberation below.
Use Your PS Vita to Control LittleBigPlanet 2
Sony revealed that a DLC pack would launch later in the year, allowing users to use a PS Vita as a touchscreen controller for the PlayStation 3 title, LittleBigPlanet 2.
The update will also add new story content that utilises the PS Vita and new stickers to collect in game. No launch date or price for the DLC pack has yet been given.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified Coming to PS Vita
Sony announced a brand new and exclusive Call of Duty title for the PS Vita, which will launch later in the year. We’ve heard of Black Ops 2 coming to the PlayStation 3 and other consoles, but Black Ops Declassified is a whole new title specifically for Sony’s latest handheld console.
Unfortunately Sony spared precious few details about the upcoming game, so we’ll have to wait for more information and a trailer.
‘Wonderbook’ Interactive Storybook Feature Revealed
Sony unveiled an interesting new feature called Wonderbook last night. It uses the PlayStation Move controller and augmented reality tech with the PlayStation Eye webcam to bring books to life.
Aimed more at children, Wonderbook will allow kids to read stories on the PS3 and interact with them using the Move controller, which can alter the path a storybook can take. Sony also revealed it is working with Harry Potter author J.K Rowling to create the first Wonderbook publication: Book of Spells.
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