After what seems like an age since the Playstation 5 Reveal Event in June, we got the Xbox response in the form of the Xbox Games Showcase on July 23rd. It promised to deliver exclusive game reveals and Xbox Series X gameplay, and in a literal sense it did just that. Whether it did it well or not is up for debate, and I’ll try to give my opinion on the event in this piece. On the face of it, we got less game trailers in this event when compared to Playstation’s event, but Xbox included a lot more talk from developers & members of the Xbox team, that now famous “World Premiere” voice made a return too, as well as a good look at real gameplay from the upcoming Halo Infinite. Speaking of Halo Infinite, that’s where the event begins.
Halo Infinite – 343 Industries – Xbox Series X/Xbox One/Windows Exclusive – Holiday 2020
The definition of a safe bet, a Halo trailer at an Xbox event. The big green guy that isn’t The Hulk made his appearance during the first trailer of the day, we got a look at Halo Infinite’s take on the Master Chief’s spartan armour which looks to me like a throwback to the pre-Halo 4 days. That trailer then transitioned nicely into the Halo Infinite demo, which looks to pick up from the trailer we first saw back in 2019. Masterchef & his friend land on a Halo ring and the big guy heads out to destroy some anti-aircraft cannons. In short, the gameplay shown off looks quite good in my opinion. As a massive fan of Halo 3 and not a fan of Halo 4, i’m glad to say Infinite really looks like it plays like 3 more than 4. In terms of looks, it doesn’t look massively next-gen unfortunately. The Halo games have always looked great and this is no exception, but does it look graphically different to Halo 5 on Xbox One? I have to say no. It makes me wonder was the demo actually running on Series X hardware or was it captured on Xbox One, since it will launch on both systems. By no means an underwhelming start, but if it was meant to show off what the Series X can do, it didn’t do it well. A 7/10 for me.
State Of Decay 3 – Undead Labs – Xbox Series X/Windows Exclusive – Release TBA
Next up was a teaser for the next installment in Undead Labs’ zombie-survival series of games that are exclusive to the Xbox platform & PC. State Of Decay 3 was originally hinted at in 2019, but this is the first bit of confirmation we’ve gotten in the form of a teaser. While it doesn’t show much, it does show that the series will be introducing zombie animals to the world for the player to deal with along with hordes of zombies too presumably. I can’t comment too much on this one, we don’t get any gameplay with it being a teaser, and I’ve never played a State Of Decay game, but what’s interesting is the end slate to the teaser. More specifically, what systems it will be released on or even more specifically, what it won’t release on. State Of Decay 3 will be an Xbox Series X & Windows exclusive with no Xbox One release and no release date given. This probably means that it’s still in very early development and we probably won’t see it released until late 2021 or 2022. I’ll give this a 5/10, it looked good but it’s a pre-rendered video that doesn’t show anything off.
Forza Motorsport – Turn10 Studios – Xbox Series X/Windows Exclusive – Release TBA
Remember that thing I said about Halo at an Xbox event being a safe bet? Well, you’d also keep your money betting on Forza showing up. Microsoft’s other favourite mascot, car, was bound to show up at some point and wow does it look good. Everyone’s favourite Xbox man Phil Spencer was delighted to say the upcoming Forza Motorsport will run natively at 4K and at 60fps on Xbox Series X, with the trailer for the 8th installment in the series we were shown captured on Series X hardware. Once a thorn in Gran Turismo’s side, Forza has arguably become the best racing sim series on console both in terms of looks, sound and gameplay. Turn10 has always strived to push Xbox hardware to its limits in terms of graphical capabilities and Forza Motorsport looks like it will be doing the same on Series X. Whilst I’m more of a fan of the ‘Forza Horizon’ spinoff series, this look at Forza Motorsport was seriously impressive and will be a system seller for Xbox when Series X launches. 8/10.
Everwild – Rare – Xbox Series X/Windows Exclusive – Release TBA
Next up was a look at a new game from veteran developer Rare. Everwild looks, in terms of artstyle at least, to take inspiration from Breath Of The Wild with a pleasant stylized look to it. For gameplay, it seems to be an exploration adventure game that revolves around using animals and nature to fuel magic powers. In the trailer there are 3 human characters so it could possibly be a multiplayer story but that’s just speculation on my part. It’s nice to see Rare working on something that isn’t Sea Of Thieves, and Everwild looks like it could be a fun little exclusive for Xbox & Windows whenever it launches. 7/10.
Tell Me Why – Dontnod – Xbox Series X/Xbox One/Windows – August 27th 2020
Now we get to the first drop in quality in my opinion with a trailer for Tell Me Why, a new game from Dontnod Entertainment (not a Backstreet Boys game), the developers of the Life Is Strange series. This looks to be another episodic narrative driven game similar to Life Is Strange, but this one looks to focus on a brother & sister solving a murder mystery, with some supernatural elements involved. Personally I was a big fan of the Life Is Strange series, there were some genuine emotional moments in that game and the storytelling was amazing, so it’s a real shame that this game just doesn’t look anywhere near as good. Now, of course, there’s only so much you can take from a 2 minute trailer, but in terms of animation and voice-acting, I was not impressed. Tell Me Why looks to be using the same game engine as Life Is Strange, so it doesn’t look very next-gen, and the voice acting for me just sounded very forced and cheesy when it was trying to sound sincere and emotional. Overall, I just wasn’t impressed with this. 6/10 for me.
I think it’s worth pointing out that Tell Me Why’s protagonist Tyler is openly transgender which is a great step forward for the gaming community in terms of LGBT+ representation and acceptance, with Dontnod keen to make sure players know that the character’s gender has nothing to do with the story progression.
Ori & The Will Of The Wisps – Moon Studios – Xbox Series X – 2020
Next up, a look at something that I think we’ll be seeing a lot of with Xbox Smart Delivery for Series X. A trailer for a Series X-enhanced version for Ori & The Will Of The Wisps. This is a game that went down a storm on Xbox One & PC when it launched initially, Moon Studios are taking full advantage of Smart Delivery by developing a Series X specific version of the game that’s upgraded in every way. The Series X version will run natively at 4K HDR vs 1080p HD on Xbox One, and will run at 120 frames per second compared to the 60fps on Xbox One. An already gorgeous game will absolutely look even better on Series X and with Smart Delivery, if you own the Xbox One version already, you get the Series X enhanced version for free when it launches. Not so much a reveal trailer, but a good look into what Series X will be able to do. 7/10.
Outer Worlds: Peril on Gorgon – Private Division – Xbox Series X/Xbox One/Windows – Sept 9th 2020
Microsoft shocked the gaming world when they announced they had bought development studio Obsidian, the creators of The Outer Worlds, and this announcement of a DLC expansion to The Outer Worlds will be their first as an Xbox Games Studio. Presented in a 1950’s style movie trailer, we got a look at “Peril on Gorgon” which looks to extend the already expansive story of The Outer Worlds. With this being part of The Outer Worlds, it has comedy elements to it and multiple branching paths that promises good replayability for those who pick it up. As a fan of Fallout I’m a little annoyed I haven’t had the time to play The Outer Wilds yet but this expansion looks interesting and could be a lot of fun. Im going to give this a 6/10 but that’s not a bad score by any means, I just can’t give it more having not played the base game myself.
Grounded – Obsidian – Xbox Series X/Xbox One/Windows – July 28th Beta
Ok so who here has seen “Honey, I Shrunk The Kids”? Remember that part in the garden with the ant and scorpion? Well, picture that scene but as a whole game. That’s basically what Obsidian’s new IP, Grounded, is. In Grounded, you take control of a tiny person who has found themselves in a back garden & are trying to survive against the elements and the creatures that also live in the grass. Your goal is to build a community with your friends or alone, while revealing secrets within the garden and try to find a way to get home. This one looks like it’s stupid fun, think Fallout 76 but actually good. For such a short trailer, we got a great idea of what this game is all about and a nice touch at the end was that it’s going to be playable from July 28th as part of Xbox Game Preview (a beta version if you don’t know what Xbox Game Preview is). A solid 8/10 for me.
Avowed – Obsidian – Xbox Series X/Windows – Release TBA
To round out the Obsidian showcase, we got a quick look at their next big RPG adventure game called Avowed. There’s not a whole lot to talk about here, we only got a very quick teaser for this so it’s still very early on in development but I think if you enjoy Elder Scrolls games this is a game you need to follow. Built exclusively for Series X & PC, it looks to be a medieval-fantasy RPG in the same vein as Skyrim with a bigger emphasis on medieval mythology rather than Norse. With it being built for Series X, this could be a benchmark game for the system and it’s one to keep an eye on. 7/10.
As Dusk Falls – Interior/Night – Xbox Series X/Windows – Release TBA
As Dusk Falls is the debut game from newly formed studio Interior/Night, which is lead by the former lead game designer of Quantic Dream, the developers of Heavy Rain. This game looks to emulate the likes of Life Is Strange & Telltale’s The Walking Dead over Heavy Rain though, with the game being a narrative driven interactive story told through comic-book style images rather than fully rendered 3D models & environments. The game follows the lives of 2 families that end up involved in a story that spans over generations, with members of each family crossing paths at various points in their lives. Personally, this one didn’t peak my interest, the art style and presentation just aren’t my cup of tea but this one will certainly have it’s fans when it launches. It will be interesting to see if this new studio can pull off a good narrative story or if it will become another forgotten indie that never made it big. 6/10.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 – Ninja Theory – Xbox Series X/Windows – Release TBA
Next up was an extremely brief look at the previously announced Senua’s Saga Hellblade 2, which was originally revealed in November 2019 at the Game Awards. Being developed by Xbox’s own Ninja Theory exclusively for Series X & PC, we were told that the game is going to be set in Iceland, and were treated to some nice cinematic shots of the various landscapes we can expect to see in game when it launches. We got no launch date at this event but various media sources are predicting this to either launch alongside Series X or launch very shortly after, meaning this will probably be hitting store shelves by the end of the year or early 2021. Unfortunately I have never played Hellblade 1 so apart from it looking good, this one really didn’t draw much interest from me. Ill give it a solid 5/10 because we saw nothing in regards to gameplay or story & I know nothing about the franchise.
Psychonauts 2 – DoubleFine Productions – Xbox Series X/Xbox One/Windows – Release TBA
Another game from an Xbox-owned studio, this time a look at the highly anticipated Psychonauts 2 from DoubleFine. In typical DoubleFine style, the game looks insane….but in a good way. The gameplay trailer we got was a psychedelic trip through one of the game’s levels accompanied by an equally psychedelic song performed by none other than Jack Black. In all honesty, I really dont think words can do this trailer justice, you really have to see it to understand just how weird and wonderful it is. I’ll leave a link here so you can experience it yourself, but for a sequel to a cult-classic PS2 game that most people thought they’d never see, it really does look incredible. No need to panic about DoubleFine being an Xbox Games Studio now either though, as this one will be heading to PC & PS4 as well as Series X & Xbox One when it launches. 7/10.
*UPDATE* Just after the Showcase, it was announced the game would be delayed until 2021 so it presumably wont be launching on PS4 and will more likely be on PS5 instead, but I still expect to see it on Xbox One with Smart Delivery.
Destiny 2 Enhanced – Bungie – Xbox Series X – Fall 2020
In an effort to really push Xbox Game Pass, Sarah Bond from Xbox came on to announce that Destiny 2 would be arriving on Xbox Series X and Game Pass, with Game Pass members getting all expansions included with the game. It was also announced that Bungie are developing a version of Destiny 2 exclusively optimized for Series X that will launch later this year. Although it wasn’t totally confirmed at the event, Bungie later confirmed themselves that players on Xbox One and PS4 will get free upgrades to the Series X and PS5 versions of the game. No rating for this one, not really a reveal but an advert for Game Pass & Smart Delivery.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2 – Game World – Xbox Series X/Windows Exclusive – Release TBA
In writing this article, I really noticed a pattern that I didn’t notice when watching the event. A lot of the game announcements at this showcase are for sequels or follow-ups to games that I’ve never played. Stalker 2 is no exception to this. In fact, not only have I never played the first game, I had never heard of it before now. According to PC Gamer: “The first-person survival shooter series is known for its bleak atmosphere, terrifying monsters and mutants, and extremely unforgiving combat, and fans…..have been waiting for a decade for the sequel that was originally announced in 2010.” From the trailer, this certainly looks like a game I should be interested in and I just might go back and look at the original to see what I missed out on. While we don’t get to see any gameplay or story for Stalker 2 in the trailer, it definitely looks creepy and if you’re a fan of open world & survival horror games this one might be one to keep an eye on. No release date yet, but it will be exclusive to Xbox Series X & PC. 7/10.
Warhammer 40k: Darktide – Fatshark – Xbox Series X/Windows Exclusive – 2021
Warhammer 40k Darktide is an upcoming game in the Warhammer 40k series of games from the developers of Warhammer 40k Vermintide. As per usual, I haven’t played Vermintide, but I do know a little about it. With it being a game in the same vein as Vermintide, Darktide is set to be a 4-player co-op first person shooter in which you’ll have to fight through hoardes of enemies & bosses to get to your objective. If you’re unfamiliar to the series, think of Left 4 Dead in terms of gameplay mechanics. Warhammer never really interested me, Vermintide is not a bad game by any stretch and if you enjoy co-op shooters you will more than likely enjoy Darktide when it comes out regardless of if you enjoy Warhammer or not, but it’s just not my kind of game. 6/10 for me.
Tetris Effect: Connected – Enhance – Xbox Series X/Xbox One/Windows – Holiday 2020
Y’know what was missing from this Xbox Games Showcase that is always a guarantee at live events? A dance number. Tetris Effect tried it’s best to fill that gap with a trailer for Tetris Effect: Connected and I will take this over a cringey Dance Central performance every time. A very feel-good trailer for an immensely popular version of the classic game, Connected takes the Tetris Effect formula of playing along to catchy music and stunning visuals and combines it with the multiplayer elements of Tetris 99. Both the original Tetris Effect and Tetris 99 were insanely popular at launch and I really don’t see Connected being any different, and it’s a big win for Xbox as it will be exclusive to Xbox platforms until Summer 2021. Seriously if you haven’t seen gameplay for Tetris Effect before now, I really recommend looking it up because it’s so good. 8/10.
The Gunk – Thunderful Games – Xbox Series X/Xbox One/Windows – 2021
Im going to include a quote directly from the developers of The Gunk here to explain what the game is about, because to be honest it describes it way better than I could.
“The Gunk is a game about two friends who run a small scavenging outfit together, and who travel from one space rock to another in search for resources they can harvest and sell. One day they land on a planet that looks dead from a distance, turns out to be unlike any other they’ve set foot on. A slimy parasite — or gunk — covers vast areas and seems to corrupt the otherwise vibrant nature and wildlife. It’s clear that they must fight this gunk to understand what’s happened and to save the dying planet. But this also creates a rift between them; on one hand, the planet will die if we don’t rid the planet of the gunk. On the other, we’ve got problems of our own and surely this isn’t our fight to begin with. So, who cares… right? Do we have to?”
With a cartoon inspired artstyle to go alongside the exploration-based story driven game, this is a game that is going for something that is quite unique. Not a mature game by any stretch, but it looks to deal with conflict and real-world issues through a cartoon lens and if Thunderful Games can pull it off it could be a real hit for Xbox as it will be exclusive to the platform. 8/10.
The Medium – Bloober Team – Xbox Series X/Windows Exclusive – Release TBA
Now for my personal highlight of the event, the upcoming Xbox Exclusive psychological horror game The Medium. First revealed at Xbox 20/20, this one has stuck with me and I was dying to see more about it and I really wasn’t disappointed with this new trailer. Very reminiscent of the Silent Hill games, the story revolves around a woman named Marianne who is able to live in both the real world and the so-called “spirit world”. In the game you’ll be solving a mystery through puzzles in both world whilst also fighting the monsters that live in the spirit world. What really impresses me though is that both world will be rendered at the same time, with the developers pushing the fact that there will be no visible loading times between the two.
“At different points in the game, players will find themselves playing in either of the worlds, or within both at the same time, with the game purposefully designed in this way to ensure variety and surprise.” – A quote from Wojciech Piejko the game’s lead designer there, giving a hint on what the devs are aiming for with The Medium. I seriously, seriously recommend giving this and the previous trailer a watch especially if you’re a fan of the early Silent Hill games. This game is one of the main reasons I will more than likely be getting a Series X over PS5, with the game due to launch later this year with Xbox Series X. 9/10.
Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis – Xbox Series X/Xbox One/Windows – 2021
I don’t like JRPGs. I don’t like online JRPGs. I have absolutely zero interest in Phantasy Star Online. At all. Watch the trailer if you do, but I can’t write about it because I know nothing about it and really don’t want to know about it. Not gonna give it a rating because that wouldn’t be fair but to be honest if it wasn’t for the really over the top anime music in this, I would’ve fallen asleep during this.
CrossfireX – Remedy Entertainment & Smilegate – Xbox Series X/Xbox One – 2020
A bit of an interesting concept with CrossfireX. For those who don’t know (that included me before researching for this article) the Crossfire series is an extremely popular multiplayer military shooter primarily in China and Korea. In an effort to bring the franchise to the west, Smilegate reached out to Control developers Remedy Entertainment to create a single-player campaign for the upcoming CrossfireX, which is a first for the series. Whilst your mind may liken this approach to the Call Of Duty series, you would be wrong, at least according to Remedy art director Mikko Kinnunen who likens the Crossfire universe to that of Hideo Kojima’s Metal Gear Solid universe. While the Call Of Duty series has largely bland and forgettable characters, the Crossfire series has tonnes of over-the-top characters and plotlines for Remedy to create a single-player story worth playing. Im interested to see where this one goes, knowing nothing about the series before now I’ll be looking at this with fresh eyes. 7/10.
Fable – Playground Games – Xbox Series X/Windows – Release TBA
A fairly big announcement to end the show was the return of the Fable series. A game series that most thought was dead at the hands of Microsoft after Fable Legends was cancelled looks to have been given a new start with Playground Games at the helm, since series creators Lionhead Studios were shut down in 2016. We only got a teaser to announce the game, but the teaser was very Fable. It was classic fairytale setup and nice visuals, with some Lionhead humour thrown in for good measure. Im happy to see Fable get the reboot treatment since Fable 3 was one of my favourite Xbox 360 games, but i’m hesitant to get too excited since the new developers, Playground Games, are mostly known for being the devs of the Forza Horizon series which aren’t exactly rich in story. At least we know the game will look good? 6/10.
And that was it for the Xbox Games Showcase. As a response to the Playstation 5 Reveal Event, did it do better? I would have to say no, and I would imagine most would agree. As it’s own event though, it was fine. Certainly not a bad event, we got some great reveals and closer looks at already revealed games and we finally got to see some Xbox exclusives, which Xbox fans have been crying out for since the Xbox One launched. Microsoft have already confirmed we’ll see another showcase before Series X launches later this year, and although Sony haven’t done the same I’d expect to see another event from them too before PS5 launches. We still have no launch price for either console or a launch date for that matter, so expect to have them revealed at each platforms next event.
Sources:
Halo Infinite – Xbox.com ¦¦¦ State Of Decay 3 – Gamespot ¦¦¦ Forza Motorsport – Engadget
Tell Me Why – Gamespot ¦¦¦ The Outer Worlds – Gamesradar ¦¦¦ As Dusk Falls – Engadget
Senua’s Saga Hellblade 2 – Techradar ¦¦¦ Psychonauts 2 – Gamesradar ¦¦¦ Destiny 2 – The Verge
Stalker 2 – PC Gamer ¦¦¦ Warhammer Darktide – Eurogamer ¦¦¦ Tetris Effect Connected – The Verge
The Gunk – Xbox.com ¦¦¦ CrossfireX – The Verge ¦¦¦ Fable – IGN
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