5 gaming trends E3 2013

Dynamic duos One screen hasn't been enough for a while now, but game developers are taking second-screen experiences to the next level with companion game apps for mobile devices that affect what's happening on a TV. Battlefield 4 turns tablets into command stations, while Tom Clancy's The Division employs them as drone controls. Project Spark invites gamers to craft virtual worlds with the swipe of a finger, and then play through them on the PlayStation 4.

Track record

With next-gen consoles, sharing gaming clips will be as easy as hitting a button, especially in the case of the PS4. The controller for Sony's next-gen console features a share button, while Microsoft has partnered with the popular streaming service Twitch to allow users to quickly upload clips the Xbox One. Nintendo is getting into the sharing act, too. Mario Kart 8 players can upload racing clips to the online service for the Wii U. 

Share the road

If youseamlessly racing against friends online, you'll have three similar new games to shift between in the next generation: Ubisoft's The Crew, Electronic Arts' Need for Speed: Rivals and Sony's DriveClub. There are also sleek new installments in Microsoft's ForzaMotorSport and Sony's Grand Turismo car enthusiast franchises. ForzaMotorSport 5 is adding a new feature that will mimics players' driving styles and allow them to zoom offline. 

Whole new worlds

Move over, Liberty City. Step aside, Azeroth. There's several new virtual worlds coming to town that will harness next-generation computing power,a zombie-ridden Los Angeles clone in Dead Rising 3 and a cartoony metropolis in the over-the-top shooter Sunset Overdrive. A few familiar franchises are also adopting an open-world policy for the first time, including Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. 

People power

The division between single- and multi-player games is blurring with Bungie'ssci-fi shooter Destiny, Respawn'smech-heavyTitanfall and Massive's post-apocalyptic third-person action game The Division. The online titles are part of a new breed of games that don't differentiate between playing alone or with a group. The Division, for example, features several methods for players to collaborate online, but its designers say it can be played completely solo.