Oh thank god! Thank you! Thank You! Microsoft, in a unprecedented move, actually had video games at their conference! After EA’s abysmal showing, I feel like I just found a f@#king oasis in a f@#king desert! Yes! YES!
That’s right- Microsoft actually showed off actual games. I know- I’m surprised too! Let’s break down the plethora of new game coming for both the Xbox One, as well as the PC and PS4!
GOOD
Games, games, and more games!– Unlike EA’s horrid dry presentation of stale bread, Microsoft said, “Here. Have a buffet!”. Some many games to list here- Forza Horizon 4, Halo Infinity, Gears 5, Dying Light 2, Ori 2, F@#KING BATTLETOADS- I mean, damn. How the f@#k can Sony and Nintendo show Microsoft up? ( I can think of a few ways, but I won’t tell you until I cover each of them later!)
Continued strong support of the Xbox Game Pass– Not only is Microsoft adding new games like Forza Horizon 4 and Gears 5 available day one, they are also working on new ways to deliver this games, and is even working on streaming for multiple devices. We may be able to play Halo on smartphones. What a time to be alive!
Announcing anticipated games before anyone else!– From Software’s New game, Sekiro, Kingdom Hearts III, and Fallout 76 all got new trailers at this conference, which is both a bold and unprecedented choice. What has Bethesda have to show now? This just shows how serious Microsoft was about their conference- securing a new KH III trailer, a series mostly know to be on Sony hardware, is just nuts (but raises a few questions as well….)
MEH
Vague Information– A new Halo game was announced….. and we know nothing about it. The only lead we have is that the game looks to be open-world. Another Battle Royale game? Breath of Master Chief? Who knows?
Forza Horizon 4 is not set in Japan– While not a huge issue, I was really looking for the supposed leak about Horizon 4 being set in Japan/Hong Kong. More of a personal thing, really.
Ports and other “Meh” content– PubG is getting new maps. Okay, I guess. Nier Automata is coming to Xbox One. Should of it been released simultaneously with the PS4 and PC versions? Life is strange gets a spinoff. It’s free, so thats good… but I don’t know who asked for this. Yeah, just a lot of stuff I really don’t care for…..
Devil May Cry 5 teeters dangerously on DmC territory– Before E3 began, I actually joked that DMC 5 would actually be a sequel to the polarizing reboot, DmC. The moment I saw Nero (yes, Nero. That’s not Dante!) I felt my stomach drop. Why I haven’t really played any DMC game, I hope its like the games fans like- and I’ll never joke about bad sequels ever again!
Releasing the end of a trilogy on a system that never had it– Yeah. Why are they releasing Kingdom Hearts III on the Xbox One? None of the other games are on the system, so whoever buys this day one and has never played a KH game is going to be pretty lost. Maybe they’ll have a refresher at the beginning to bring the player up to speed? KH has such a convoluted story line…. Now sure if this is a good idea….
BAD
Gears of War Funko Pop Mobile Game– Do I have to say anything? Who asked for this?
Sea of Thieves still looks underwhelming– I tried to play Sea of Thieves, but only got frustrated and just stopped playing. The new content does nothing for me. I just have no interest.
Shows BFV… and still no gameplay!– EA shows that can try still to ruin things by merely existing. The pre rendered cutscenes for BFV showed us nothing. What a waste!
Rumored Superman game is nowhere to be seen– Okay, so this ones cheating, as you can’t really blame a conference for not showing a game you want- if that’s the case, it would be a laundry list of games with the sub fix “it was a no-show! Disappointing!” However, there were strong rumors of a Superman game, developed by none other then Rocksteady, said to be shown at Microsoft’s conference. Who knows…. Maybe the PS4 conference has it?
MAJOR AWARDS
WINNERS- Forza Horizon 4, Battletoads, Halo Infinite, CyberPunk 2077
LOSER– Gears of War Funko Pop
JUDGEMENT CALL
After EA’s dismal showing, Microsoft provide some fresh air in the guise of a perpetual s@#t ton of games! Some were good- CyberPunk 2077, Forza Horizon 4. Some left us with questions- Halo Infinite, Devil May Cry 5, and some even made us groan out loud- F@#KING FUNKO POPS. But at the end of the day, Microsoft did what it needed to do- show us that it actually has games! Even though most of their showings seem far away (most games in the conference being early 2019 titles) Microsoft showed us that they are a force to be reckoned with! I give them a 5 out of 7!
Do you agree? Do you think they could have done better, or was it pretty good? Let me know below!
Gamer's Edge 