Microsoft this year had something of an advantage seeing how Playstation choose to host its own conference amidst rumours of a PS5 announcement. And of course Nintendo at this point has long since dropped out of the conference scene to host their yearly treehouse event instead. That gives Microsoft all eyes and ears.
The show was once more about the gamers, ensuring that they would be getting the best experience now and in the future. In true Microsoft fashion it was another shock and awe experience with a bombardment of trailers and (thankfully) minimal chat. Game Pass got a big push with the host of Day 1 additions heading to their ever-rotating library of titles as well as the availability to PC gamers … and this was even before the tantalising information on news of their own next gen console. Here’s the rundown of what we got to see as part of this year’s conference.
The Outer Worlds
Kicking off the show was the trailer for this sci-fi first person shooter with RPG elements from Obsidian Entertainment, the player will be able to mold the story based on their choices with the usual paths of evil or good being open to the player. The Outer Worlds is set to release on October 25, 2019.
World Premiere: Bleeding Edge
Last year, Microsoft announced their partnership with several independent studios as part of their X-force. Bleeding Edge sees Ninja Theory moving into a completely new style of game for them with this 4v4 arena fighting game which shares the same colourful eye for characters that Overwatch has become renown for while thankfully from the eccentric cast where are introduced to in the trailer showing that the team are certainly not short on their own ideas. The technical alpha starts June 27th, 2019 and is available for sign up now.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
The original Ori was certainly a favourite of ours with its immersive world design and side scrolling platform action, this first trailer felt like more of a boss reel than showing us too much of the new areas we will be getting to explore but certainly the game looks as stunning at the first. At the same time, it certainly reveals more than we have seen before especially sharing, after (what seems like) two years of teaser trailers, a release date. It will be available from Feb 11, 2020 as with all Xbox exclusives it will be also be available through Game Pass at launch. Check out our review of Ori and the Blind Forest HERE.
Minecraft Dungeons
Sure, we might not be big Minecraft players but the game has certainly lost none of its appeal since its release as its fanbase continue to find ever more creative ways to use its sandbox with this latest installment introducing a Dungeons and Dragons angle to the fun. Offering 4 player local co-op & online co-op the game, it will be available through Game Pass when it’s unleashed in Spring 2020.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
After the gameplay demo at yesterday’s EA Play, Xbox got to showcase the trailer which focused a lot more on the story of the game which will take place after the events of Revenge of the Sith with the game following Jedi Padawan Cal Kestis as he attempts to escape from the Imperial Inquisitor known as Second Sister. The trailer certainly shows us some exciting footage not only of Cal climbing an AT-AT in motion but many of the fighting and force mechanics within the game which demonstrate a lot more freedom and flow than we have seen previously. Stars Wars Jedi: Fallen Order will release on November 15, 2019.
World Premiere: Blair Witch
Seemingly someone feels there is life in the Blair Witch franchise to take another crack at adapting it into a game after the trilogy of survival horror games released by Terminal Reality back in 2000. Certainly from the trailer it would seem that it’s heading in a similar direction to the Outlast games with both its first person elements and flashlight and camcorder wielding protagonist set in an eerie environment with lots of stealth and escape involved. This game will be available to play with Xbox Game Pass at launch.
Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 is one of the first big pops of the night as its anticipation runs high. Adding onto this, Keanu Reeves makes a surprise reveal with his involvement in the game as he continues to turn up in ever more interesting places. Certainly since the first trailer dropped, there has been a lot of hype and excitement surrounding the game and with Keanu’s presentation it only served to push it to fever pitch. It promises an open world with branching storylines as well as the options to to customize your characters through in-game choices and body modification. Lets just hope it can live up to the hype when it finally releases on April 16, 2020.
World Premiere: Spiritfarer
Thunder Lotus Games has taken its gamers into different worlds and different genres with their previous games, Jotun and Sundered respectively. Their next project Spiritfarer is a cozy management game about dying where you play as a ferrymaster to the dead. She can build her boat and explore the world while befriending ghosts until they are to be released into the afterlife. It doesn’t only boast a beautiful and unique animation style but also offers a two-player co-op mode where her cat Daffodil joins into the adventure. Spiritfarer is expected to release next year and will be available to play at launch on Xbox Game Pass.
Battletoads
This cult favourite returns with a new graphical style which gives it a more comic book feel while retaining many of the elements, such as the enlarged limbs and toad cycles all being present and accounted for in the trailer, that the fans will no doubt be keen to check it out when it lands on game pass at launch
RPG Time! The Legend of Wright
The Legend of Wright is another of those games which reminds us just how far we have come with gaming as here it taps into the same homemade/crafts project style of Little Big Planet and Tearaway. While it’s not overly clear from the trailer what the goal is, certainly it was one of the more visually engrossing titles of the presentation. There is no specific release yet but it will be coming in 2020.
ID@Xbox
A diverse showcase from ID all of which will be available at launch through Game Pass ensuring that subscribers will have plenty to keep themselves busy including most excitingly Afterparty which is already one of our most anticipated titles so to get it through game pass on day one is only an added bonus.
- DeadStatic Drive
- Star Renegades
- Afterparty
- Tabs
- The Good Life
- Cross Code
- Creature in the Well
- Killer Queen Black
- Riverbond
- Unto the End
- Blazing Chrome
- Felix the Reaper
- Undermine
- Supermarket Shriek
- Secret Neighbor
- Ikenfell
- Lord of the Rings – card game
- Night Call
- Totem Teller
World Premiere: Microsoft Flight Simulator
Microsoft Flight Simulator is the longest-running software product line dating back to 1982 with its first game. Suffice to say, since its PC days, it has not quite had a whole lot of action. The last time it made any appearance was when Flight Simulator X was ported to Steam. However, new graphics and a very genuine look at the world from above, breathes life into this flight simulator. The trailer definitely boasts beautiful landscapes that look almost like the real deal.
Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition
A surprising choice to receive the re-master treatment but with fully re-mastered audio and a new campaign, this definitive edition will hopefully enable a new wave of gamers to discover it when it lands on Game Pass in the Fall.
Wasteland 3
Wasteland 2 was a real hidden gem of an RPG so it’s great to see it getting a much deserved sequel which this time will take place out of the desert and into the snowy wastelands of Colorado. Here’s hoping that it can still capture the spirit of the previous game when it lands on Game Pass.
Psychonauts 2
DoubleFine Productions joining Xbox is a great addition to their studio collective especially when they are leading with this much anticipated title. Certainly with their back catalogue, it will be interesting to see what Tim Schafer and his team bring to Xbox while this follow up to the cult classic certainly seems to have retain the warped sense of humour and quirky dream worlds which made the original so special. As with all Xbox exclusives, it will be available through Game Pass at launch.
Lego Star Wars The Skywalker Saga
Set to bring the Lego gameplay to all Nine Star Wars movies, it was fun to see the games still poking fun at the franchise such as Kylo Ren and his Darth Vader snowman. We doubt that the game will offer anything new in terms of gameplay but considering how immensely popular these Lego film adaptations have been, why fix what’s not broken.
Dragonball Project Z: Kakarot
For Dragonball Z fans, the game seems to offer them the chance to replay many of the classic fights of the legendary anime and while it might not have the same hand drawn style of Dragonball Fighters Z, it still has the same high energetic feel to it.
12 Minutes
A heavily stylised thriller about a man trapped in a time loop certainly stood out with its top-down perspective as the game flashes back and forth between past and present. The game will play out in real time as you attempt to gather clues around the apartment to uncover the reasons behind your wife’s imminent arrest.
Way to the Woods
Another unique title which sees you playing as a pair of deer attempting to make their way home through the city. Developed by independent designer Anthony Tan, this is another title set for a day one release on game pass in 2020.
Gears 5
Set for release on September 10, 2019, this much anticipated sequel will not only pick up from the cliffhanger ending of Gears 4 with Kait Diaz and her strange connection to the locust set to be explored further. While promising that you will be able to do things never seen before including the 3 player co-op escape mode and a pre-order bonus of a Terminator: Dark Fate skin pack. You can also keep your eyes out for upcoming modes to be announced throughout the summer via betas such as July 17th with their tech test for versus multiplayer mode as well as Gamescon in August with horde mode.
Dying Light 2
Available from Spring 2020, the free running zombie slaying antics of the original this time takes place in a post-apocalyptic where your choices will affect not only the story but also how the world is shaped.
Forza Horizon 4 Lego Speed Champions (Expansion)
Launching this week, this addition will either come off as pointless or the greatest thing ever depending on your feelings on Lego games.
Gears Pop!
Last year offered a first teaser on this upcoming mobile game addition to the Gears of War franchise, this E3 offers a trailer with some gameplay. Gears Pop! Is available for pre-order soon.
State of Decay 2: Heartland
The biggest DLC to date for the zombie sim which not only will open up a new area to explore but also offer two new stories to playthrough as well as a host of new areas to explore and inhabit. Check out our review of State of Decay 2 HERE.
World Premiere: Phantasy Star Online 2
The highly influential game finally gets a sequel as the online action combat now comes with cross-play, opening up its endless quest system to a whole new generation of gamers.
World Premiere: CrossFire X
South Korea-based developer Smilegate’s free to play shooter Crossfire where players can fight for two mercenary factions is announced to arrive here to be released first to console on Xbox One in 2020.
World Premiere: Tales of Arise
The next “Tales of” game has been announced and is set for release in 2020 with a new story and characters.
Borderlands 3
Another exciting new trailer which introduced us to the four playable heroes of this latest installment in the series, having previously showcased the world in the first trailer, these new characters look set to be as much fun as their predecessors while for those wanting to set the table for part 3, they can play Commander Lilith Battle for Sanctuary DLC as part of the handsome collection now added to Game Pass ahead of its release on September 13th. You can also get Borderlands: The Handsome Collection as part of the PS Plus Free Games for June.
World Premiere: Elden Ring
Bringing together the creator of Game of Thrones with the Dark Souls developer who are already promising one of their biggest games to date, which no doubt will be more than enough to get both fanbases excited to see what fruit this collaboration bears.
Wrapping up the show was of course the latest hardware announcements with Project XCloud which will see Xbox entering into the streaming market while unquestionably the big announcement of the night was Project Scarlett which promises to be 4 times more powerful than Xbox One X, 120 Frame rate, 8K capability and Halo Infinite as its launch title whose trailer closed out the show.
Halo Infinite
An exhausting yet exhilarating experience which really took the naysayers to task about this year’s E3 by ensuring that the future is unquestionably looking rosey for Xbox owners.