The Xbox briefing stage - E3
Microsoft was the first big developer to kick off the gaming showcase that is E3 in Los Angeles, California, and bombarded those attending with a host of AAA titles and interesting indie games galore.
With hundreds of games being announced or debuted at the E3 Conference this week, here is a look at some of the most eye-catching titles to be launched exclusively on the Xbox One and Xbox 360 this year and even in 2015.
Halo: Master Chief Collection
At every E3 there seems to be some announcement for Microsoft’s largest gaming franchise Halo and this year was no different.
In fact, more hype had been built towards this year’s gaming event, as E3 2014 is the first event of its kind to be held following the launch of the next-gen consoles last November.
In this case, Microsoft and 343 Industries, who have taken over the sci-fi franchise from Bungie Studios, have decided to stick to what the fans know with the Master Chief Collection, which is going to bring all four games of the series to the next-gen console with all the mod-cons of 1080p resolution at 60 frames per second (fps) gameplay.
Halo 2 has been singled out for special treatment, as it’s about to celebrate its 10-year anniversary by giving players the ability to dive into nostalgia by flicking and back and forth at will between the graphics settings of the original game and the updated one.
But perhaps what all Halo fans wanted to see was the brief teaser trailer for Halo 5 Guardians and news that buyers of the collection will get access to the online multiplayer beta in December.
Halo Master Chief Collection
Halo 5 Guardians trailer
Forza Horizon 2
As Microsoft’s competitor to Sony’s Gran Turismo racing series, the Forza series has been quite literally overtaking its Japanese counterpart as Gran Turismo’s production times regularly push its titles out almost to the point of no return and as of yet has no game to be released on next-gen consoles.
Forza Horizon 2, meanwhile, is the second of the series to hit the Xbox One and is scheduled for release on 30 September and promises all the usual bells and whistles of improved graphics, new cars and tracks.
Meanwhile, those who already own Forza Motorsport 5 will soon be getting the free bonus of the addition of the Nurburgring track, one of the most famous and deadly in motorsport.
Super Ultra Dead Rising 3 Arcade Remix Hyper Edition EX Plus Alpha
No, that is not a joke, this is actually the game’s title.
The Xbox Live DLC exclusive and companion to the tongue-in-cheek zombie survival game Dead Rising 3 has decided to celebrate Capcom’s, er, 31st anniversary by bringing back the lead characters from all the previous Dead Rising games and make it into a game that seems more like a sensory overload than a game with an emphasis on storyline.
In the trailer, there even appears to be an appearance, or at least a Dead Rising character in the guise of Ryu from the legendary Streetfighter game.
Inside
Aside from some of the more familiar names, Microsoft showcased some fascinating-looking indie titles, including the eagerly anticipated follow up to cult classic Limbo that followed a child through a stunningly beautiful 2.5D world as he tries to find his way out of Limbo.
Now the team at Playdead studios have showcased Inside, a game which appears to show another child traversing a dangerous dystopian-like world.
No other details aside from the teaser trailer have been released, but the game is due to be released on the Xbox One and other consoles sometime in 2015.
Ori and the Blind Forest
In a similar fashion to Inside, another Xbox 2D exclusive was showcased that impressed those viewing at the event as much as those live streaming online.
The incredibly beautiful game will feature a lot more colour than anything seen in Limbo, but will no doubt have an equally good storyline once it’s released by Moon Studios in time for Christmas.
