EA did a show. There was a dog.

Our live coverage of this event has finished.

14:35 pm UTC Well hello, and don't *you* look just lovely this afternoon. Martin Robinson 14:37 pm UTC Commendably, someone at EA is a bit fuzzy on how time zones work, and so while the start time of this is advertised as 6.30pm CET - which is 6.30pm BST - we believe they actually mean 6.30pm CEST, which translates as 5.30pm over here. Martin Robinson 14:37 pm UTC I mean, it's not as if such details are that important, right? Martin Robinson 14:38 pm UTC The mind boggles at the incompetency on display. Martin Robinson 14:39 pm UTC Anyway, EA! In the spirit of last year's gamescom show - and indeed last night's Microsoft show - let's go into this one expecting absolutely nothing. Martin Robinson 14:39 pm UTC The bar has been set low, and it's now up to EA to limbo under it. Martin Robinson 14:39 pm UTC

GamesConnoisseur: I think EA going to be shown in a far better light after last night anti-climatic of a show! Still went and preordered Xbox One X though!

Ha, that's the spirit! If I had the money I'd have done the same too.

Martin Robinson 14:41 pm UTC Peter is no Moore, of course, so I'm expecting a healthy helping of Patrick Söderlund. Martin Robinson 14:41 pm UTC We are due a look at Battlefront 2's space battles, which does excite me (and yes, it has leaked a little already), plus maybe something on the new Need for Speed, which excites me a little less. Martin Robinson 14:43 pm UTC I'm going downstairs to the shop below the Brighton office in a tick. Are those new cookie dough KitKats alright with you? Martin Robinson 14:57 pm UTC And here's footage of those Star Wars Battlefront 2 space battles. Martin Robinson 14:57 pm UTC Good lord that looks incredible. I don't even mind if they just show that again a bit later on. Martin Robinson 15:31 pm UTC

Kami: I'm here and I brought caramel bars for everyone.

Bless you.

Martin Robinson 15:46 pm UTC

Baritone: Alright Martimoomoo. What's the big breaking news coming out of gamescom right now?

The breaking news is that I'm broken and it's only Monday. And I'm not even in Germany.

Martin Robinson 15:46 pm UTC

spongebob: How likely is it that we get new game announcements?

Let's just say not very likely at all, and if anything happens we can all be pleasantly surprised.

Martin Robinson 15:56 pm UTC

ihnm_aims: Martin, did the wine last night break you?

I only had like a glass! Or two. What broke me was not being able to sleep from all the excitement of it all, then having to get up at 5.15am to come down to Brighton.

Martin Robinson 15:57 pm UTC 34 minutes to go! In the meantime Blizzard is having a little stream of its own, for what we believe will be a new Overwatch map. Think of it as an aperitif. Martin Robinson 15:57 pm UTC 'Aperitif? What do I want those for? I've already got a pair of teeth' etc etc. Martin Robinson 16:05 pm UTC Oooooh, look everyone! An auditorium, with chairs all facing a stage! Martin Robinson 16:07 pm UTC Probably, I steal most of my stuff off him. All of which reminds me of this, for some reason. Martin Robinson 16:08 pm UTC It already looks more like a conference than last year's event. Though it's definitely not a conference. Stop calling it a conference! Martin Robinson 16:11 pm UTC

spamdangled: Martin, are you on the wine again? I'm trying to decide between pear cider and and a glass of merlot.

I'm in the office, so I'm on the tap water. It's probably more intoxicating, to be honest.

Martin Robinson 16:12 pm UTC This countdown confirms that the published times were out of whack. Martin Robinson 16:12 pm UTC Which makes me curiously furious. Ooooooh, I'm going to write one hell of a hot take on this. Martin Robinson 16:13 pm UTC If you're wondering what you're missing out on with the Blizzard stream, all the Blizzard nerds in the office are watching with headphones on and giving disapproving looks and tutting at their screens. Martin Robinson 16:14 pm UTC And we're about to get the Overwatch tease - Junkertown, a new map, has been confirmed. Martin Robinson 16:14 pm UTC Sorry to hijack the EA report. Just keeping you informed, innit. Martin Robinson 16:15 pm UTC Under 15 minutes! Martin Robinson 16:17 pm UTC

Malek86: Well, this can't be worse than the MS conference. However, if they also go with reheated E3 trailers, it can still be on par. Which is what I'm expecting, for the most part.

Let's set the bar a little lower. I'm expecting trailers from last year's E3. All being streamed at 240p.

Martin Robinson 16:22 pm UTC

Malek86: You know, maybe the problem doesn't lie with the companies, but with the number of trade shows. Within three months you have E3, Gamescom and TGS. There's only so many new games you can develop and announce within that time. And if you dare miss one of the shows, everyone will be like "wtf, why did they not partecipate? Do they have no confidence in their lineup?"

I also think these events are becoming largely irrelevant and it's an increasingly old-fashioned model that shouldn't really exist anymore.

Martin Robinson 16:22 pm UTC But I really like a bit of corporate theatre so a part of me never wants them to die. Martin Robinson 16:25 pm UTC

DSporacht: Should we expect major announcements here? I'm guessing some Sims stuff and some Battlefront stuff, but not much in the way of big news.

I think your expectations are set about right.

Martin Robinson 16:27 pm UTC Three minutes! And already I can hear TIE Fighters. Martin Robinson 16:27 pm UTC Oooooh, I was trying not to get excited. Martin Robinson 16:28 pm UTC Because I know how it always ends. First with the anticipation, then the disappointment and the snark and finally that horrible empty feeling. Martin Robinson 16:28 pm UTC Not today. Martin Robinson 16:29 pm UTC Watching this timer run down is both intoxicating and a little bit *too* exciting. My heart is genuinely racing. Martin Robinson 16:29 pm UTC Phew, it's gone. Martin Robinson 16:29 pm UTC And we have the sizzzzle. Star Wars, FIFA, Need for Speed, NBA and Madden - all the usual suspects. Martin Robinson 16:30 pm UTC We're go, straight into a FIFA trailer. Martin Robinson 16:30 pm UTC It's no PES, but yeah it does look alright. Martin Robinson 16:31 pm UTC Don't see Usain Bolt in this, do you? Martin Robinson 16:32 pm UTC That's a very upbeat trailer. And now, Patrick Söderlund. Martin Robinson 16:32 pm UTC It's a 60 minute show, clock watchers. Martin Robinson 16:33 pm UTC They put the teleprompter a bit too high, I think. He's not a short lad, this Patrick, but he's having to crane his neck and gaze upwards to catch his lines. Martin Robinson 16:34 pm UTC Bet whoever placed it was the same person who made the CET/CEST poo-poo. Martin Robinson 16:34 pm UTC Here's Battlefront 2 though! Martin Robinson 16:35 pm UTC This is the trailer we saw already - a mucky version leaked ahead of time, so EA pushed the proper one live early. Martin Robinson 16:35 pm UTC I'm perfectly happy to watch it again, mind. Martin Robinson 16:36 pm UTC And we've a shoutcaster, along with a producer from Criterion - those Burnout chaps who now do the vehicles in Star Wars games. Martin Robinson 16:37 pm UTC We're about to see some proper gameplay. It won't be brief, so settle in. Martin Robinson 16:37 pm UTC This is pre-recorded, by the way. We start on an A-Wing, then see a TIE Bomber. This is more objective based than what we saw in vanilla Battlefront. Martin Robinson 16:38 pm UTC I had a real soft spot for Fighter Squadron in the original Battlefront. It was the simplest part of an already pretty straightforward game, but the spectacle was something else. Martin Robinson 16:39 pm UTC Also, unless we're going to get one hell of a reveal at the end of this, it looks like the air-to-ground combat that everyone was hoping for from this sequel - a mainstay of the originals, of course - isn't going to feature. Martin Robinson 16:39 pm UTC I mean, never say never. But yeah. Martin Robinson 16:40 pm UTC We're onto the next phase of the fight, with the rebels having to penetrate the base. Martin Robinson 16:41 pm UTC There are more defined hero ships - Poe Dameron's X-Wing, Darth Maul's invisible fighter and Boba Fett's Slave One, all fighting together. Martin Robinson 16:43 pm UTC

spamdangled: Love me a bit of rebel penetration.

Oi oi!

Martin Robinson 16:44 pm UTC With Phase 2 done and the shield protectors down, the rebels now have to take down power couplings to expose the core. Martin Robinson 16:44 pm UTC I'm a Star Wars idiot so I was always going to be partial to this, but... This looks splendid. Martin Robinson 16:46 pm UTC AI corvettes are part of the show too, moving slowly through the map to assist the Rebels. Martin Robinson 16:46 pm UTC And with the Star Destroyer done, that's victory for the Rebels. Martin Robinson 16:47 pm UTC And that's quite a fine looking video game. Martin Robinson 16:47 pm UTC

spamdangled: Just imagine if they had 64 (or 128) player battles fought simultaneously on the ground and in space. What a glorious thing that would be.

Madness. It could never happen.

Martin Robinson 16:47 pm UTC That was Battlefront 2. And now an advert for... BMW? Martin Robinson 16:48 pm UTC Oh, it's DTM driver Bruno Spengler! Martin Robinson 16:48 pm UTC No relation to Egon, of course. Martin Robinson 16:48 pm UTC This is awkward. Martin Robinson 16:48 pm UTC Do they know that none of us watching this can actually afford a car - let alone a new shiny one like this? Martin Robinson 16:49 pm UTC I'm pretty convinced I'm the only person watching this who knew who Bruno Spengler was before this. Martin Robinson 16:49 pm UTC And even I'm not that impressed. Martin Robinson 16:50 pm UTC Need for Speed everyone! They've only gone and locked up a BMW. Martin Robinson 16:50 pm UTC It's okay, it's free now and is driving around the auditorium. Martin Robinson 16:50 pm UTC This is some old school press conference awkwardness. Martin Robinson 16:50 pm UTC This is what I live for. This is what I wake up in the morning and pray for. Martin Robinson 16:51 pm UTC A DTM driver looking really awkward on stage next to a BMW he just drove really slowly some 4 metres. Martin Robinson 16:51 pm UTC I dream of moments like this. Martin Robinson 16:51 pm UTC And when I dream them, Bruno says exactly what he just said there. Martin Robinson 16:52 pm UTC Bruno clearly wants to be elsewhere. If only he knew how happy he's just made me. Martin Robinson 16:52 pm UTC That was wonderfully naff. Not quite Pele, but baby steps - we're getting back to that level of artful inanity. Martin Robinson 16:52 pm UTC Good job EA. Martin Robinson 16:53 pm UTC I was so lost in the moment I forgot there's a game they're talking about. Need for Speed Payback, the next part in EA's continuing quest to attempt to channel some of the cash-printing magic that is the Fast & Furious film franchise. Martin Robinson 16:54 pm UTC This time out their answer is returning to the dramatics and storytelling of Need for Speed: The Run, as fans have been requesting for years. Martin Robinson 16:56 pm UTC I'm still going to play the socks off that when it comes out in November. It looks brilliant in parts, awful in others. We wouldn't want it any other way with Need for Speed, really. Martin Robinson 16:56 pm UTC Now, an announcement for The Sims 4. Martin Robinson 16:57 pm UTC The Sims 4 is coming to console, and The Sims Mobile is also featuring at Gamescom. Martin Robinson 16:57 pm UTC Here's the big announcement though - The Sims 4 Cats & Dogs expansion pack. Martin Robinson 16:58 pm UTC I don't know this dog. Martin Robinson 16:58 pm UTC This is incredible. Martin Robinson 16:58 pm UTC It's a celebrity dog. Martin Robinson 16:59 pm UTC Good lord. This is press conference gold. Martin Robinson 16:59 pm UTC This is up there with Pele's monologue. Martin Robinson 17:00 pm UTC Genuinely made up. Martin Robinson 17:00 pm UTC Jiff Pom. Martin Robinson 17:01 pm UTC I just got away from googling the dog and turned back to the stream and now the dog is gone. Martin Robinson 17:01 pm UTC Bring back the dog. Martin Robinson 17:01 pm UTC Wes tells me that Jiff Pom previously featured in a Katy Perry video. Martin Robinson 17:02 pm UTC Here's Jiff Pom in action. Martin Robinson 17:02 pm UTC I'm sorry Mr. Caffeine, I'm now officially over you. It's Jiff Pom and Jiff Pom only from now on for me. Martin Robinson 17:04 pm UTC It's time for EA Originals, and we're getting another look at Fe. Martin Robinson 17:05 pm UTC Isn't that all of them? Martin Robinson 17:05 pm UTC Here's Fe - which is now also coming to Switch. Martin Robinson 17:06 pm UTC I'm still thinking about that dog. Martin Robinson 17:08 pm UTC That was EA's now regular section of its conferences where it finds a dishevelled man from the local coffee shop and gets him to come out on stage and show us all whatever he was working on on his MacBook. Martin Robinson 17:09 pm UTC Fe is perhaps the most self-aware title for a game with indie aspirations. It's, well, fey. Martin Robinson 17:09 pm UTC Battlefield 1 expansion now thanks. Martin Robinson 17:10 pm UTC There's a new mode coming that's tailored towards spectating as much as it is competing - so a play for the ol' esports? Martin Robinson 17:10 pm UTC Incursions is the name. Martin Robinson 17:10 pm UTC 5v5 battles. It's an ooosppprt. Martin Robinson 17:11 pm UTC Players get to choose their kits before they head into battle - oooh, it's hard to get a bead on any detail in this really. Martin Robinson 17:12 pm UTC Beneath the vague buzzwords, it's basically a boiled-down competitive mode for Battlefield that's designed to be more palatable for spectators. It does look rather good. Martin Robinson 17:12 pm UTC Closed alpha coming in September. Martin Robinson 17:13 pm UTC That was a surprise - this is something we know a little about, In The Name of The Tsar, the new expansion. Martin Robinson 17:14 pm UTC We're going to see some gameplay from a new map. Martin Robinson 17:15 pm UTC And there's a Game of the Year edition called Battlefield Revolution. It includes the base game and all four expansion packs. Martin Robinson 17:15 pm UTC I really need to go back to Battlefield 1. Martin Robinson 17:15 pm UTC

GavinUK86: DS2 is the best DS

3DS is the best! Oh, wait...

Martin Robinson 17:16 pm UTC Shoutcasters next! Martin Robinson 17:18 pm UTC We're seeing the new map, and a game of Conquest. Martin Robinson 17:20 pm UTC I think this stream will see us out of what's been a low key show, but you know what - I've kind of enjoyed it. Martin Robinson 17:20 pm UTC We've had a proper look at some new games, some detailed updates. Martin Robinson 17:20 pm UTC And they got a dog out on stage. Martin Robinson 17:20 pm UTC Not just any dog! Jiff Pom. Martin Robinson 17:21 pm UTC I think we're about to see a new arms race when it comes to shows like this, and it's going to be all about Pomeranians. Martin Robinson 17:22 pm UTC

dirigiblebill: In case anybody's wondering, the eclipse has better shoutcasters.

I hope you're shoutcasting it yourself.

Martin Robinson 17:26 pm UTC It is rather, isn't it? Battlefield maps have never been the punchiest affairs, and I think they're going to show the whole thing here. Martin Robinson 17:26 pm UTC Lovely cathedral, though. Martin Robinson 17:28 pm UTC We're running out of time for any glimpses of Anthem. Martin Robinson 17:29 pm UTC Battlefield matches can go on a bit too long when you're playing them. When you're just watching them... Martin Robinson 17:30 pm UTC Well, that was Battlefield 1. Martin Robinson 17:30 pm UTC A fine game, a great looking expansion. But maybe a bit *too* much gameplay. Martin Robinson 17:30 pm UTC There's a balance that can be struck, is all I'm saying. Martin Robinson 17:31 pm UTC Still some nice surprises with the Incursions for Battlefield 1. I'll take that. Martin Robinson 17:31 pm UTC I think that's a wrap. Martin Robinson 17:31 pm UTC Do you remember that dog though? Martin Robinson 17:32 pm UTC Martin Robinson 17:32 pm UTC Look at that little chap go! Martin Robinson 17:33 pm UTC Martin Robinson 17:33 pm UTC I mean, I could do this all night. Martin Robinson 17:33 pm UTC Martin Robinson 17:33 pm UTC Actually, it's quite likely I will do this all night. It's me, you and a bottle of cheap red wine tonight, google image search. Martin Robinson 17:34 pm UTC And with that, I bid you farewell. See you tomorrow for more Gamescom, and have a grand night. Martin Robinson 17:35 pm UTC Martin Robinson Load more comments Loading