Monthly Archives: June 2018
Xbox Exec on Letting Studios Explore New Ideas
Microsoft is providing its studios the creative freedom to explore new franchises and ideas, and Microsoft Studios head Matt Booty spoke to IGN about the company's approach going forward.
"It really comes back to people and ideas. I can't get into specifics, but I'll say that every one of our studios has got some kind of incubation going on and has got some kind of ideas," Booty told IGN. "I think it has less to do with sort of a franchise and kind of this sort of set path, and more to do with 'is there a core of an idea that's out there?'"
Booty went on to note that he worked with Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boone, and discussed what he learned during that time and how it applies to Microsoft Studios' approach going forward.
E3 2018: Cyberpunk 2077 Trailer Message Reveals Release Date Details, Free DLC, No DRM
The debut trailer for Cyberpunk 2077 came at the end of Microsoft's E3 2018 press conference, and developer CD Projekt Red snuck in a full FAQ for their upcoming game, a possible alternate reality game, along with a bunch of download codes for The Witcher 3.
The hidden FAQ could be read by combining messages hidden in two frames near the end of the video.
A transcription of the text is as follows:
Halo Infinite Announced, Will Focus on Master Chief
Microsoft revealed a new Halo game at the start of its E3 2018 briefing, Halo Infinite.
As Microsoft detailed, Infinite will employ the new Slipspace Engine, which was created by 343 Industries specifically for Halo. Check out the reveal trailer below:
According to a post on Halo Waypoint, the studio heard "loud and clear" that players weren't fond of how little time Master Chief was featured as a playable character in Halo 5. As such, Halo Infinite will center around Master Chief and continue his story after what transpires in Guardians.
Additionally, Halo Infinite will feature a new, modernized art style—showcased by Master Chief's new Helmet in the trailer—that pulls from the "most iconic and historic parts of the Halo franchise" as well as feedback from players.
E3 2018: All News, Trailers, and Gameplay From the Microsoft Press Conference
Microsoft’s E3 2018 press conference kicked off on Sunday, June 10 at 1pm PT in Los Angeles with tons of teasers, news, announcements, and trailers for new and returning games. Xbox staples like Halo and Gears of War made highly-anticipated returns, we got our first substantial look at Cyberpunk 2077, we learned more about Fallout 76, the new game from Dark Souls developer FromSoftware made a surprise appearance, and so much more.
Below you’ll find a breakdown of all the major announcements from Microsoft’s E3 2018 press conference and where to watch all the new trailers and gameplay demos shown off.
The Drastic and Unexpected Changes Coming to Battlefield 5
Recently, I ransacked the IGN game library for physical copies of every Battlefield going all the way back to 1942. As I worked my way through the series, a pattern began to emerge: for every innovative entry there was an iterative one. For every Battlefield 2, there was a Battlefield 2142 that, while thematically distinct, did little to advance the series mechanically. So when I sat down to play Battlefield V at EA Play I was fully expecting Battlefield 1 with building. What I got was a sneak peek at the most revolutionary Battlefield in the last decade.
The sheer number of major gameplay changes in the build that I played was staggering. Health no longer regenerates past a certain point without aid, ammo reserves are drastically reduced, anyone can revive a downed squadmate, and enemies can no longer be marked using the spotting system. Gone are the days of shooting the red doritos. Hitting the spot key now tags a location that’s useful for enemy snipers and tanks, but mostly useless for infantry on the move.
Just Cause 4 Has Physics Like You’ve Never Seen Before
Just Cause 4 reminds me of Tim Allen’s old standup act, where he’d complain about a power tool in his yard or garage not having enough power, and then the punchline would be, “So I rewired it” with that animalistic grunt for a chaser. Just Cause has always been a potent sandbox -- a power tool in its own right -- rife with possibility for players to wreak untold havoc and destruction. But Just Cause 4 doesn’t just offer more ways to wreck shop. Instead, developer Avalanche Studios rewired the whole damn thing.
And by that I mean they threw away their old game engine, which had been added on and upgraded to for years, and installed the bespoke APEX engine -- complete with physics-based rendering, actual wind, and a totally new animation system. And though I didn’t get to play it myself, I did see the team’s most recent build running in real-time on a PC, and it is no joke. When I sat down to see Just Cause 4, I expected more of the playground of destruction that the series is known for. But I honestly wasn’t expecting Avalanche to have taken it this far. There’s even a tornado! (More on that shortly.)
The Superhero-Like Mysteries In Captain Spirit
The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit is a game set in the Life Is Strange universe, taking place in a snowy town called Beaver Creek in eastern Oregon, 15 days before Christmas. It follows the story of a 10-year-old boy named Chris who either is a superhero or just truly believes he’s one - without finishing the game, I can’t tell you which is true. The demo I saw started out with Chris in his beautifully detailed bedroom, with comic books and action figures from those comic books strewn across the floor.
He’s actually playing with two action figures, fully narrating their fight in a childlike ‘character voice’, and, when he goes to put one of them in a spaceship, he lifts it up from his desk with his mind. That’s where my uncertainty arises, and the developers at Dontnod met me with nothing but silence when I asked, “Is he actually doing that, or is he just imagining it?” The first real interactivity in the cinematic Life Is Strange-style spin-off is when Chris starts drawing his inner hero, Captain Spirit. The game lets you choose between a helmet or a mask, heavy armor or light, and if you want the suit to be drawn plainly or colourfully, and then Chris signs it off as Captain Spirit and pins it to his wall, amongst myriad other drawings.
Cyberpunk 2077 Revealed During Microsoft Conference
CD Projekt Red gave us our first glimpse at the world of Cyberpunk 2077 during the Microsoft E3 2018 Xbox briefing. The game was shown running in-engine, showing off the world and the characters.
Developer CD Projekt RED is best known for its Witcher series. The Witcher 3 was released in May 2015 to critical and commercial acclaim, and went on to win our Game of the Year 2015 award.
After being announced in May 2012, CD Projekt RED went mostly quiet on Cyberpunk 2077 for years. But just recently, talk of the game bubbled back up, with the company's president hinting that we'll finally get to see the game in action at this year's E3.
Gears Tactics Revealed for PC
Gears Tactics, a realtime strategy game, was announced as a new addition to the Gears of War franchise at the E3 2018 Microsoft press conference.
The new title will be released on PC, the Coalition studio head Rod Ferguson revealed. In it, "you create a whole new squad in a completely different genre 12 years before the events of Gears of War 1 as they hunt the locust monster maker responsible for destroying whole cities.
"It's our take on the classic turn-based strategy genre with a character-driven story, faster, more aggressive gameplay and a customizable squad and equipment," he added, confirming Gears Tactics will also have "massive boss battles."
Gears Tactics is just one of three Gears of War games announced during the Microsoft conference. Additionally, Gears of War Pop was revealed, as well as the hotly anticipated Gears of War 5.
Gears 5 Announced
Gears 5 has been announced for Xbox One.
The Coalition revealed the game during Microsoft's Xbox E3 showcase. In Gears 5, you'll play as Kait Diaz, one of the key characters from Gears of War 4. Unlike prior entries in the franchise, it appears Microsoft has dropped "of War" for the series' fifth main entry.
Gears 5 will be released for Xbox One in 2019. The game will be available via Xbox Game Pass at launch.
This wasn't the only new Gears game announced during Microsoft's E3 showcase, as Gears Tactics and Gears Pop are also on the way.