After a long wait, Microsoft has finally unveiled a series of first-party titles that will be making their way to the Xbox Series X. This includes the likes of AAA games such as the highly-anticipated Halo Infinite and a new Fable project, as well as newly-unveiled titles such as Tetris Effect: Connected and The Gunk. We even got to see the world premiere of Undead Lab’s State of Decay 3.
Here is a quick recap of all the games that were announced at Microsoft’s recent Xbox Series X Games Showcase.
Halo Infinite (Holiday 2020)
The highly-anticipated Halo Infinite came as a great appetiser to the showcase. Master Chief makes a welcome (re)-appearance, alongside several familiar elements, such as the iconic planet of Warthog, and mowing down grunts and elites with a pistol. Pure Halo goodness.
343 Industries seems to have also struck a good balance between nostalgia and novelty, bringing back the needler, but rolling out a futuristic revolver for the first time. The rumoured grappling hook-slash-gun is a confirmed presence in the game, which means Master Chief will be able to haul himself to high places, pull enemies and objects towards himself, or use it for easy maneuvering around tough terrain.
The map is more fleshed out as well, with more upgrades, collectibles, and missions to be hunted down. More importantly, Halo Infinite heralds a change towards the action-adventure direction, and offers a campaign that’s several times larger than the last two titles in the series. Go full-on 60FPS this Holiday.
Fable (TBA)
The rumours are true – Fable will be getting a fresh lease of life, this time with new developer Playground Games taking over from the now-defunct Lionhead Studios. Described to be a “new beginning” for the fantasy-fuelled franchise, the beloved RPG comes with the expectations many fans of the original games with it after the tragic decline of the franchise in recent years. Though not much is known about it, let’s just hope it’s the proper sequel many have hoped for.
State of Decay 3 (TBA)
The debut trailer for Undead Lab’s third instalment in its third-person open-world zombie-survival action game series State of Decay showed a woman all alone, armed with only a crossbow, encountering a zombie-fied deer in the forest. Yikes.
Forza Motorsport (TBA)
Racing series Forza is back with its newest entry, Forza Motorsport, which comes with promises of 4K 60FPS gameplay along with more realistic ray-tracing lighting that allows the surfaces of cars to reflect off one another. Get your seat belts ready.
Everwild (TBA)
A magical, untamed world to lose yourself in. Everwild features a place to be eternal where all living things, both flora and fauna, are connected.
Tell Me Why (27 August 2020)
Made by Dontnod Entertainment, Tell Me Why centres on a pair of siblings who continue to look back in hopes of moving forward. It’s a narrative we’ve seen the studio undertake with Life is Strange, so we won’t be surprised if the duo’s journey ends up to be as emotional and choice-dependent. The first chapter of the game is slated to drop on 27 August.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps (TBA)
Everyone’s favourite platform-adventure Metroidvania video game Ori and the Will of the Wisps will be heading to the Xbox Series X. What’s more, players will be able to enjoy the game in ultra-smooth 120FPS, a feature that will only be available on the Xbox, while owners of an existing Xbox One copy will be entitled to a free upgrade to the Xbox Series X version with the Xbox Smart Delivery service.
The Outer Worlds: The Peril on Gorgon (9 September 2020)
Get to investigate mysteries on lawless asteroid colonies with Obsidian Entertainment’s upcoming expansion for its sci-fi role-playing adventure game The Outer Worlds, titled The Peril on Gorgon. Expect plenty of combat thrills, gunfire action, and athletic feats when it arrives on 9 September.
Grounded (28 July 2020)
In Grounded, you play as one of four tiny humans made to fight and survive in a garden filled with bugs. It’s time to go big or go home against these dastardly insects on 28 August.
Avowed (TBA)
Obsidian Entertainment is on a roll with another title for the Xbox Series X. Avowed is a first-person role-playing game set in the fantasy world of Eora. Not much is shown about Avowed’s gameplay but we get to see our protagonist wielding a sword in one hand and a spell in another.
As Dusk Falls (TBA)
A multi-generational story set in the American Southwest, As Dusk Falls tells the story of two families trapped in a hostage situation over the course of decades, exploring the past, present, and future of that one fateful night and the ramifications of it.
Psychonauts 2 (TBA)
Double Fine’s upcoming trippy platforming game Psychonauts 2 will not only be released for the PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, but also the Xbox Series X. More notably, the developers behind the game have also brought on Jack Black to sing a new song for the game. A+ decisions.
Destiny 2: Beyond Light (10 November 2020)
Microsoft will be partnering up with Bungie to bring Destiny 2 to the Xbox Game Pass. The game will be optimized with 4K resolution support and 60FPS. Players will get access to previous expansions as well as the upcoming Beyond Light DLC when 10 November swings around..
S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2 (2021)
The atmospheric trailer to the sequel to S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Shadow of Chernobyl opens to a grimy looking door and soon brings us to the abandoned wasteland in the Pripyat Amusement Park featuring Chernobyl’s iconic ferris wheel. We also get to see some of the series’ iconic features such as a red glowing rock, a cloud of static electricity, and a gravitational orb that’s capable of crushing cars.
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide (2021)
The makers of Vermintide are back with its third entry in the Warhammer universe. Only instead of medieval worlds, Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is set in a futuristic sci-fi setting. Unlike other typical first-person shooter games, this Xbox Series X exclusive launch will require players to make use of both melee and ranged abilities to take down their enemies and move forward.
Tetris Effect: Connected (Holiday 2020)
Get to show off your superb Tetris skills with Tetris Effect’s newest multiplayer expansion that is also an Xbox Series X exclusive, titled Tetris Effect: Connected. You will be able to choose between co-op or multiplayer mode. In co-op mode, you can choose to connect with players locally or online, or play against up to two AIs in your match. Meanwhile, you will be able to face off against other players in either local or online matches, with the option to choose between ranked or unranked gameplay.
The Gunk (TBA)
Yes, you read that right. The Gunk is a sci-fi title featuring a monster-infested extraterrestrial world covered in…well, gunk, where players will step into the shoes of a lone explorer to clean everything up. It’s hard work, but its unconventional premise has gotten us gunk-ho for further details.
The Medium (Holiday 2020)
Bloober Team’s upcoming horror game The Medium centres around protagonist Marianne, who has the ability to traverse between both our physical world and the spiritual realm. As such, the game comes with a unique “dual-reality” gameplay mechanic that looks both amazingly cool and incredibly terrifying.
Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis (TBA)
In what seems to be a complete overhaul of Phantasy Star Online 2, New Genesis puts players in a much-improved in-game environment that boasts sharper detail, more modern aesthetics, and a new user interface. Expect fights to get hectic real quick – if the teaser trailer is anything to go by.
Crossfire X (2020)
We got our first look at Crossfire X’s upcoming single-player campaign which will see players journeying across Asia and Latin America. You’ll even get to earn a suit that turns you invisible, something Call of Duty fans should be very familiar with. The CrossfireX single-player campaign will be available in a Premium Battle Pass at launch later in 2020.
And that wraps up the Xbox Series X Games Showcase for 2020. It looks like there are a heck ton of games for us to look forward to in the coming years, and we can’t wait to see what other great games come to the console in the future. Apart from the above titles, Microsoft also dropped new trailers for Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age, EXOMECHA, Watch Dogs: Legion, Echo Generation, Hello Neighbor 2, and Balan Wonderworld prior to the showcase, all of which may be viewed on the Xbox Youtube channel.
Germaine is a fun-sized introvert who loves nothing better than sleeping in on rainy days. She can be found reading fanfiction and manga while still waiting for her Hogwarts acceptance letter. It’ll come eventually.
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