Wah-Wahoo!
Well, EA set a very low bar, but Xbox is coming for it. Can they beat it? (the answer is yes)
The following, from the Xbox official news site:
Microsoft announced it is doubling its game development studios by adding five new creative teams to the Microsoft Studios family. New investments include the formation of a brand-new studio, The Initiative, the acquisition of Playground Games, and letters of intent to acquire Ninja Theory, Undead Labs and Compulsion Games.
- The Initiative. Based in Santa Monica, Calif., The Initiative is a brand-new Microsoft game development studio headed by industry veteran Darrell Gallagher that is working to create groundbreaking new worlds, characters and game experiences.
- Playground Games. Microsoft has acquired U.K.-based Playground Games, a development partner since 2010 that has helped grow the Forza franchise to new heights. In addition to its work on this year’s Forza Horizon 4, Playground Games will have a team dedicated to bringing their open-world expertise to an entirely new project.
- Ninja Theory. The relationship between Ninja Theory and Microsoft started in 2000 when Kung Fu Chaos was in development for the original Xbox and culminated in the release of Hellblade on Xbox One earlier this year. Microsoft’s intent to acquire Ninja Theory will help ensure the creative team has the resources and freedom to bring more ambitious games like Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice to fans.
- Undead Labs. Seattle-based Undead Labs is the creator of the popular State of Decay franchise, enjoyed by millions of fans worldwide. In the first two weeks since State of Decay 2 launched, more than two million fans joined the fight to survive and took down more than two billion zombies. By entering into a letter of intent to acquire Undead Labs, Microsoft is signaling its commitment to growing the franchise and taking the zombie survival-fantasy genre to new
- Compulsion Games. As We Happy Few nears its full, multiplatform release on Aug. 10, Microsoft has entered into a letter of intent to acquire Montreal-based Compulsion Games. By joining the team at Microsoft Studios, Compulsion will have the resources, platform and freedom to take even bigger creative risks and create even more ambitious worlds with its future projects.
“The original games we create at Microsoft Studios are some of our biggest assets,” said Matt Booty, corporate vice president of Microsoft Studios. “Our growth strategy is to continue to expand the worlds that players love, while developing all-new exclusive games that deepen their engagement with our platform. We are thrilled to welcome five new studios into the Microsoft family. We believe these teams have the collective creative power and operational excellence to deliver the next industry game changers.”
They’re also expanding the Xbox Game Pass Catalogue to games like Forza Horizon 4, Fallout 4, Tom Clancy’s The Division and The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited. Not to mention FastStart, which is meant to help you jump into games twice as fast as you used to on your Xbox One.
Rounding out the non-game announcements is the Xbox Adaptive Controller. Designed for players with limited mobility, the Adaptive Controller offers a number of configurations. It’s as adaptive as is possible for a controller, and it’s essentially plug-and-play. Pre-orders open up at 9a.m. June 11th, and retail for $99.99 US. While it’s a bit too rich for my blood, this is cool, because every once in a while I’ll see post from disabled people searching for a way to play games. So kudos for that.
The Games, man.
But We’re really about the games round this time of year. And this is where they not only did better than EA, but better than last year.
Battlefield V
See: EA.
Black Desert
An MMO that’s been out for years, and was part of their presentation last year. GIVE ME THE GOOD SHIT, GUYS!
Battletoads
YES! YES! YES! IT’S HAPPENING! i AM SO TURGID RIGHT NOW! START CALLING GAMESTOP, YOU BITCHES!!!111!
YOU ASSHOLES DIDN’T EVEN EMPHASIZE IT ON THE NEWS SITE, SO I’M COMPENSATING FOR THAT!
Crackdown 3
Join Terry Crews on a magical adventure involving space guns and superpowers. You know you want it.
Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course
Cuphead DLC? I’m sure Dean will have a whole lot of trouble with it. But I love everything about it. Even the style of the trailer.
Cyberpunk 2077
CD Projekt Red’s long-teased game adaptation finally sees the light of day. Don’t dip into cyberpsychosis, boys and girls.
Devil May Cry 5
A true followup to Devil May Cry 4. It’s bringing everything you want back. The demonic apocalypse has never been so badass.
Dying Light 2
See how your choices will decide the fate of a decaying City in the Gameplay World Premiere footage of Dying Light 2.
Fallout 76
We knew about this already. Can’t wait to clip through walls and terrain. Next!
Forza Horizon 4
Honestly, I prefer the original version of The Who’s I Can See For Miles. But to each their own.
Gears of War 5, Gears Tactics, and Gears POP!
The first two, fine. I’d imagine a tactical game suits the universe, so whatever. But, uh, who the hell wanted Gears POP!
Just… what?
Halo Infinite
Now those bathroom kids have something to sing about.
Hyper Universe
Jump Force
THIS one’s a surprise, because getting all of these licenses together in the US is usually a massive hangup.
I’m floored.
Just Cause 4
Why? Just ‘Cause.
Kingdom Hearts III
Metro Exodus
Nier: Automata Become As Gods Edition
Androids with gigantic slappable asses, plus all the DLC. What’s not to like?
Ori and The Will Of The Wisps
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds
Boy, there sure is a lot happening with this game.
Sea Of Thieves
Sea of Thieves, the shared-world multiplayer game that provides the quintessential pirate experience, returns with additional content that continues to grow and evolve the game. Releasing in July, Cursed Sails will bring a new threat to the seas in the form of terrifying skeleton ships. In September, Forsaken Shores will reveal a perilous new part of the world, filled with dangers that will test the skill and nerve of even the most hardened crews. Each update will be accompanied by a time-limited campaign that introduces content in a fun, engaging and memorable way. Sea of Thieves is now available on Xbox One, Windows 10 and Xbox Game Pass as an Xbox Play Anywhere title.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Bless you, FromSoftware.
Session
Miss skateboarding games? Well, now you won’t.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition
The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit
Aside from being incredibly fuzzy (in a good way), this is yet another game that will be free on launch. You can download it June 26, this year.
Tom Clancy’s The Division 2
Get stuck at the same door as everyone else: The Sequel
Tunic
Remember that Solarus engine? This is what one person was able to do with it.
We Happy Few
And that’s your lot. And I have to say, it’s been quite the 180 for Microsoft. But stay tuned; there’s more on the way.
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