E3 2014: Xbox press conference - Crackdown, Tomb Raider, Scalebound announced
Microsoft's E3 2014 press conference was a games filled orgy for the senses as promised, with no mention of TV, apps or the like. Head onward for a full rundown of the happenings.
It's all about the games today
Microsoft kicked off its E3 2014 press conferences with Microsoft boss Phil Spencer taking the stage.
"We share a common interest with Sony and Nintendo and our fellow developers - that interest is a passion for games," said Spencer. "With two consoles released in the last year, this year is off to a great start.
"We have been humbled and amazed by tweets, comments, ideas. We are dedicating our entire briefing to games, and make Xbox One the best place to play games this generation."
Spencer then announced the continuation of Microsoft's DLC deal with Activision, which will see Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare content arrive on Xbox first. The Sledgehammer-developed shooter was then shown via a gameplay demonstration. You can pick up the new CoD offering on November 4.
Once the Advanced Warfare demo ended, Turn 10 Studios boss Dan Greenawalt took the stage to announce the Nurburgring track would be releasing today for free for Forza 5 players. But that wasn't all the Forza news for the day: Forza Horizon 2 creative director Ralph Fulton also came on stage to discuss the game's dynamic weather and the racer's 1080p prowess.
According to Fulton, Forza Horizon 2 doesn't contain lobbies and players can form their own clubs with up to 1,000 players. The game releases on Xbox One September 30.
Once the racing bits were over, and new trailer for Evolve, the shooter from Left for Dead studio Turtle Rock Studios, was shown. While it was a fancy sight to behold, no new information was provided.
Ubisoft's Vincent Pontbriand was also on hand to show a gameplay demo of Assassin's Creed Unity, which allows players to create their own Brotherbood. The demonstration showing residents of 18th century Paris running through the streets in all out revolt. The game's four-player co-op mode was also shown.
Assassin's Creed Unity is in development for PC, PS4 and Xbox One. An exact date was not provided for release, but it is expected by the end of the year.
After the Unity demo, finished a new Dragon Age: Inquisition trailer was shown - and it was lovely. The big news out of the trailer? Inquisition will have "premiere content" first on Xbox. That's all the information which was provided. The Bioware-developed title releases on October 7.
Xbox One exclusive Sunset Overdrive from Insomniac was shown via an informative and flashy trailer during the conference, with the firm's Ted Price taking controller in hand to show a gameplay demo. In it, the game's protagonist - you - was shown fighting a massive, mutated beast; hoards of enemies; and riding the rails of a roller-coaster.
Eight player mode is also part of the plan,said Price, and you can try it out come release on October 28.
DLC for Dead Rising 3 was shown next, and it is available from today. It allows you to dress up as your favorite Capcom characters and is titled: "Super Ultra Dead Rising 3 Arecade Remix Hyper Edition DX Plus Alpha". No s**t. I'm not lying. That is what it said.
Harmonix boss Alex Grillopolis was also on stage at the event to announce Xbox One exclusive Dance Central: Spotlight, a downloadable title only for Xbox One this September. It was outed by the ESRB earlier this morning.
Once Harmonix left the stage, Lionhead took the stage to announce the multiplayer beta for Fable Legends would be released this "holiday".
Players can take on the role of the villain in the game, and orchestrate how and where to target players with various powers and tricks.
A video was also shown for Project Spark which featured Conker (hell yes), and a lovely platformer called Ori & the Blind Forest which is a new, Xbox One-exclusive from Moon Studios.
Bonnie Ross, general manager and studio head of 343 Industries, took the stage after the aforementioned trailers to discuss the new Halo, after showing a rehash of the Halo story.
November 11, the Master Chief Saga will be made available in the previously rumored Master Chief Collection. It has over 100 multiplayer maps all running on the original engines at 1080p and 60fps on dedicated servers. And a 4,000 gamerscore.
As previously reported The Halo: Master Chief Collection includes: Halo: Combat Evolved (Halo 1), Halo 2, Halo 3 and Halo 4 with all add-on content.
Halo 2 in the collection will also allow you to play the original game or the updated HD version and it will include all multiplayer included in the original.
Halo Nightfall, the original digital series, will be included in the collection which leads up to the release of Halo 5.
In December you will also be able to play the Halo 5: Guardians beta as a key is included in the collection.
Everything you have seen today, according to Phil Spencer, will be playable this holiday season.
2015 and Beyond
In early 2015, you will be able to play Playdead's Inside first on Xbox. It's a 2.5D game, and looks a bit gloomy.
After the trailer, Chris Charla, director of ID@Xbox, took the stage to talk about the indie program and showed a video full of clips featuring various indie titles. A list will likely be provided by Microsoft after the presentation.
After this, a teaser for the new Tomb Raider game was shown. It's called Rise of the Tomb Raider. There was no date provided.
After the new Tomb Raider tease, CD Projekt RED took the stage to show off the sexy Geralt using a crossbow.
Once the video demonstration was over, Ken Lobb, Microsoft Studios creative director came on stage to announce Xbox One exclusive Phantom Dust which was trademarked just last month.
It's the remastered version of the original with new gameplay added. So excite!
Ubisoft Massive then took the stage to show off last year's E3 reveal, Tom Clancy's The Division, which is also in the works for not only Xbox One, but PS4 and PC as well. It's out in 2015 sometime and extra content will come first to Xbox One.
Hideki Kamiya from Platinum Games came on stage to announce Xbox One exclusive Scalebound, where this guy fights monsters and rides a dragon. It looked rather badass.
And then, a new Crackdown. Instead of titled Crackdown 3, it's just Crackdown. Spencer "promised" it was coming back, and delivered on said promise. He said the team is lead by Dave Jones who is one of the original creators.
Spencer then wrapped things up, and showed a new sizzle video of all the titles coming to Microsoft's Xbox One.
For a full run-down of the rest of the conferences and ongoing reveals and demos in LA this week, use this exhaustive E3 coverage guide, including an insane schedule from Twitch.