E3 is over; let’s review Microsoft’s showing.
Click through the images here for all the highlights, biggest games, and areas of improvement for Microsoft.
Highlights: Xbox One Backward Compatibility
Microsoft may have had the biggest news–across all companies–this week with its announcement of backwards compatibility for the Xbox One. Yes, the initial lineup of supported Xbox 360 games is somewhat limited, and the feature won’t roll out publicly until this fall, but it’s an exciting first step.
Highlights: Fallout 4 PC Mods on Xbox One
Through a partnership with Microsoft, Bethesda announced plans to bring Fallout 4’s PC mods to Xbox One sometime in 2016. This is a big deal, since this has never happened before on console, and it could be a way for Fallout fans to find new fun long after release. Of course, there will be some limitations on what mods make it to console, but it’s an exciting feature all the same.
Highlights: Early Access Comes to Xbox One
The Xbox Game Preview will allow developers to release in-development versions of their upcoming games on Xbox One. This has been available on PC for some time through Steam Early Access (with a fair amount of controversy), and the Xbox One becomes the first console with such a program. Your move, Sony.
Highlights: Xbox One Elite Controller
Microsoft announced a new Xbox One controller during its E3 briefing. It was a total surprise, and particularly noteworthy, too. We haven’t seen dramatic controller revisions from Microsoft before, especially not so soon after launch. The controller cost $150 and launches in October. Visit our E3 hub for more about the controller.
Needs Improvement: What’s Up With Kinect?
Microsoft had a strong E3 showing, but there is always room for improvement. Microsoft didn’t talk about Kinect whatsoever at the briefing or during E3 itself all week long. The company tells us there are still some more Kinect games in development. But people who bought an Xbox One with Kinect or purchased the camera separately probably want to know more.
Needs Improvement: Missing Games
We didn’t see exclusives like Quantum Break, Scalebound, Inside, or Crackdown at Microsoft’s E3 briefing. This was no doubt a bummer for fans who were looking forward to new footage. But you can rest assured that Microsoft will talk about these games (and probably more) during Gamescom in just two months.
Biggest Games: Gears of War 4
In addition to the Gears of War Ultimate Edition, a remastered version of the 2006 original due out in August, Microsoft announced a brand new Gears of War. Details are light at the moment, but it appears we’ll be getting new characters and a new setting. And of course, chainsaws will return. Gears 4 launches holiday 2016.
Biggest Games: ReCore
A total surprise announcement, ReCore is the next game from Mega Man and Dead Rising designer Keiji Inafune exclusively for Xbox One. The game will be developed by Inafune in collaboration with Armature Studio, the team founded by former Metroid developers. It’s early days, but the trailer alone has us excited.
Biggest Games: Rise of the Tomb Raider
We saw a thrilling new Rise of the Tomb Raider trailer this week at E3, showing Lara Croft in a snowy Russian region, using her climbing axe to scale icy walls and escaping danger. The game looks darn impressive, and Microsoft locking it up as a timed exclusive could be a big win for the company this holiday. Rise of the Tomb Raider launches November 10.
Biggest Games: Halo 5
Halo 5: Guardians isn’t new, but we learned a lot more about it this week at E3. The main takeaway was a new, massively scaled multiplayer mode called Warzone. It’s a 12v12 mode that combines PvP and PvE, a first for the series. This could end up being a big deal for Halo. You can read our impressions on the site and pick up the game on October 27.
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