A last-minute Zelda segment capped a Nintendo showcase which left some fans disappointed.
Nintendo showed off more of the hotly-anticipated sequel to its Zelda: Breath of the Wild in its E3 show.
New game footage revealed that the game will involve floating islands, skydiving, and new powers in the same world as its predecessor.
But it will not release this year, and is currently pencilled in for a 2022 release date.
There was also no reveal of a widely-rumoured “Switch Pro” console, which Nintendo has yet to confirm.
The Japanese firm had sought to play down reports from several news outlets that the company was set to show off a revised model of the Switch at E3.
When it announced the date of its E3 show, it stressed it would be software only.
Nintendo also ruffled feathers in the streamer community when it clarified early in the day that it was not granting permission for “co-streaming” – where gaming personalities can stream the presentation on their own channels with their own commentary.
Some creators opted to take the copyright risk and do it anyway – while streaming site Twitch boycotted the stream from its own gaming channel in solidarity with disappointed streamers.
Nintendo was still able to broadcast the show on its own Twitch channel.
Nintendo’s presentation was the same pre-recorded video format the company has used in recent years.
And while the trailers for games came thick and fast, many were for smaller or previously announced titles.
Expectations had been high for a glimpse of the new Zelda title, as this year marks the franchise’s 35th anniversary.
The new footage for the next title – a sequel to the 2017 game which was widely reviewed as a masterpiece – came in the last few minutes of the 40-minute show.
It showed the existence of floating islands and in-game skydiving, and a new ability which seemed to show the hero Link moving through solid objects as if made of water.