At their E3 Keynote conference, Microsoft unveiled a slew of new Xbox games and partnerships. Keeping this year's E3 focused on software, Microsoft’s gaming head Phil Spencer showcased 52 new games, 15 of which were world premiers.
Microsoft's gaming division, in an effort to intensify the fight with its fierce rival, Sony's PlayStation also announced the acquisition of 4 studios – Playground studios, Compulsion Games, Ninja Theory and Undead Labs. Xbox also announced the formation of a new startup called Initiative.
Phil Spencer also mentioned that Microsoft’s hardware team is working on a new Xbox console, not giving up any other information on the device. He also confirmed on the new streaming service that is in the works and will work on all Microsoft platforms – PCs, Xbox and mobile phones.
Our cloud engineers are building a game streaming network to unlock console gaming on any device.Phil Spencer, Gaming Head, Microsoft
This keynote was basically focused on gamers. If you are a gamer, here's what all Xbox has in store for you in the coming days, apart from the new Xbox design:
Fallout 76
One of the most anticipated games revealed at this year's E3 conference, Fallout 76 this time around has been set in the hills of West Virginia. According to the Director of Bethesda Game Studios, Todd Howard, the game is four times as big as the already huge Fallout 4.
The sequel comes in almost 3 years after the previous Fallout 4, which wasn't widely appreciated among the gaming community, despite its post-apocalyptic action setup. According to reports, Fallout 76 is mostly an online game with a focus on building settlements.
Metro: Exodus
To be launched on 22 February 2019, Metro: Exodus comes about four years after the last Metro game - Metro: Redux which was released in August 2014. The trailer looks like any other Metro game, that revolves around mutated creatures being gunned down.
According to GameSpot, the game was originally due to launch this year, but the developers needed the extra time to make it the best Metro game yet. It will be available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
Forza Horizon 4
For all the car enthusiasts out there, Microsoft also announced the latest version of their car racing game - Forza Horizon 4. With more cars and better locations, "The Best Racing Game" has improved to quite a bit from the last, Forza Motorsport 7. The graphics also get a sublte improvement.
The Forza series is Xbox's reply to PlayStation's Gran Tourismo hence, it won't be available for the PlayStation 4. Forza though, has kept the recreated racing cars this time around as well. The game will release on 2 October this year on Xbox and PC.
Tom Clancy's The Division 2
The second game in The Division series, Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 is set in Washington DC. This new Ubisoft game is more of an online survival shooter. The teaser shown at the E3 conference gives us a glimpse of the multiplayer gameplay. This time around, Ubisoft has given a more colourful feel to the whole gameplay, as opposed to the first edition. The game will be coming out on 15 March 2019.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
The latest Tomb Raider game will be out this September - 14 September, to be precise. Not much can be taken away from the trailer of the game apart from the improved graphics, better locations and that the game keeps most of the antics from the first two games.
Halo: Infinite
Halo has been one of the most successful franchises on the Xbox platform and after the Halo Wars 2 launch last year, Xbox teased the new Halo - Infinite at the E3 Keynote. According to The Verge, the game is being designed by 343 Industries and will be launched on windows PC's as well.
Microsoft has not given any release date for the game yet but are saying that it will be launched in early 2019. We are expecting a February launch given the release of the previous version was around the same time.
Just Cause 4
Square Enix revealed the fourth edition of the widely popular action-adventure video game developed by Avalanche Studios, Just Cause. The trailer opens with a landscape scene, with improved visuals, the game looks quite interesting although what remains to be seen is that some areas where it faced criticism like combat sequences have been improved or not. The game launches on 4 December across all platforms (PayStation 4, PC and Xbox).
Ori and the Will of Wisps
Ori and the Will of Wisps will be the sequel to the adventure game Ori and the Blind Forest that was highly appreciated by gamers and experts all around. The game has a 10/10 rating on steam so one has huge expectations from the sequel. Well, at least the trailer doesn't disappoint. The game is expected to be out by next year.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
The game is made in a collaboration with FromSoftware, a Japanese gaming studio and Activision, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a game that shows off proper Samurai combat bundled with dark visuals. Not much has been revealed about the game except for the trailer.
Gears of War 5
Microsoft revealed the fifth edition of Gears of War, along with two other games - one mobile game and a strategy game for PC's named Gears Tactics. The trailer did show us what all the game has to offer - improved visuals, robotic alien enemies and much more. All three games are expected to surface sometime next year.
Cyberpunk 2077
The last game revealed at this year's E3, Cyberpunk 2077. As the name suggests, the game is set in the future. The overdose of colours and action in the trailer doesn't disappoint. However, the gameplay still remains a big question mark. The release date for the game also remains unknown.
What Else Does the E3 Keynote Offer
- The widely appreciated Nier Automata game has been confirmed coming for the Xbox in June itself.
- The Sea of Thieves gets two new updates - Cursed Sails (coming in July) and the Forsaken Shores (coming in September).
- Battlefield 5 story trailer was also shown for the first time, after the reveal trailer was released last month.
- Halo: The Master Chief Collection coming to Xbox Game Pass later this year
- Gamers were also treated with another look at the promising game Tunic.
- New game mode in PUBG.
(With inputs from The Verge.)
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