Ryse a major launch title for next generation Xbox - report

Ryse is a next-generation Xbox launch title according to a report on The Verge.

Microsoft revealed Crytek's gladiator-style Ryse, formerly known as Codename Kingdoms, during E3 2011, and according to the report, the game with Kinect functionality has been reworked for next-gen. Ryse will also take advantage of Kinect's upgraded tracking.

Rumors that the game would skip Xbox 360 first surfaced in December 2011, claiming it would instead be released on next-gen. At the time, Crytek CEO Cevat Yerli wouldn’t be drawn on the rumor which stemmed from a LinkedIn profile belonging to the game’s senior level designer who left Crytek for Ubisoft.

Yerli said at the time: “We’re still working with Microsoft, so obviously we can’t change platforms. But if you mean within Microsoft – that I can’t comment on.”

It has also been suggested the game will contain multiplayer.

The report also states that four "major launch titles" for the next Xbox will include a Forza title with "super life-like" graphics, a zombie game, and a Pixar movie-style game starring a family living on an island. The later will use Kinect to scan the player and input it as virtual character in-game.

Third-party support is also "strong in the first-person-shooter genre," and improvements to Xbox Live have been made along with a "switch to currency" instead of MS Points.

Other third party games, unsurprisingly, said to be coming to the console are Ubisoft's Watch Dogs and Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag, according to a LinkedIn profile belonging to one of the firm's gameplay programmers and marketing artists (thanks, woe).

MS is expected to reveal the console in May and a full reveal is expected at E3 in June.

Thanks, DrDamn.