It’s starting to really feel loads like E3—or not less than, as a lot as it will probably this yr. This morning Microsoft hosted the primary of its Xbox 20/20 occasions, exhibiting off the primary ever footage of video games operating on the upcoming Xbox Series X. (And sure, most of those will make their technique to the PC, too.) As an indication of the instances, it was…fairly an fascinating occasion. No massive stage, no crowds, only a bunch of Xbox executives chatting from probably the most aesthetically pleasing rooms of their home.
Or, for those who’re Aaron Greenberg, your “kitchen,” full with an Xbox Series X fridge.
Anyway, we’ve rounded up all of the bulletins and trailers from right this moment’s occasion, together with Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, Yakuza: Like A Dragon, and a slew of fascinating-looking others. My total emotions? They look about on par with trendy PC video games—however actually fairly PC video games.’
Bright Memory Infinite
Let’s be actual, not every little thing we noticed right this moment is in-game footage. In-engine, possibly. That’s arguably the case with the primary sport to kick off the Xbox 20/20 occasion, Bright Memory Infinite. It’s a shooter, and…nicely, it’s a shooter. I’ll be sincere, at numerous factors on this trailer I assumed it was Crysis, Shadow Warrior, and a few half dozen different video games, which says loads about how generic it seemed. Still, a really fairly trailer to begin off with.
Dirt 5
If it’s a next-gen system, you realize it’s gotta have vehicles. I count on Forza can be Microsoft’s massive showcase title, however Codemasters’s Dirt 5 actually isn’t slacking. It appears to be like a bit like a Forza Horizon sport truly, although possibly that’s simply the thumping music and the colourful emblem giving me that impression. One enjoyable truth: In a post-reveal interview, Codemasters seemingly confirmed that Dirt 5 runs at both 4K and 60 frames per second or 1080p and 120 frames per second on Xbox Series X. Maybe we’ll lastly see builders prioritize framerate on next-gen consoles.
Scorn
Scorn had simply probably the most engaging and unsettling trailer of the occasion. Lots of fleshless folks, unusual flesh-machines, flesh-blooms. Lots of flesh. It appears to be like like one thing out of a Clive Barker movie, and I’m 100 % on-board. I do not know the way it performs, however hopefully it continues within the vein of Frictional and Bloober’s current horror successes.
Chorus
Looking like a cross between Mass Effect and Hellblade, the trailer for Chorus is about as enigmatic as that for Scorn. There’s an exploding planet, a really dour-looking woman, a spaceship. I don’t know. These teasers are about as teaser-y as they get, however I’m not less than curious to see extra.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2
Once upon a time I assumed we’d be taking part in Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 by now. Then Paradox pushed it again to the autumn, and…nicely, what’s six extra months of ready after greater than a decade? The newest trailer makes the delay appear value it, with a variety of fashionable blood-sucking and a snazzy soundtrack. Keep your fingers crossed.
Call of the Sea
For a second—only a second—I assumed this was a trailer for the canceled In the Valley of Gods. It has that look, the Firewatch crossed with pulp archaeology. Call of the Sea is attractive although, with what appears to be like like a mix of landlubbing adventures and tranquil underwater dives.
The Ascent
The Ascent is fascinating. It appears to be like like the primary of (possibly) many video games to try to mimic the success of the Divinity: Original Sin formulation, a solo or co-op RPG with turn-based tactical fight. The essential distinction is that The Ascent is ready in a cyberpunk world of mechs and monsters, nearly as a lot a successor to Harebrained’s Shadowpunk video games as it’s to Divinity. And hey, throwing round names like Shadowpunk and Divinity whereas writing up one among these preview blurbs? I assume I’m .
The Medium
Speaking of Bloober Team, The Medium is the newest sport from the developer of Layers of Fear and Observer. This trailer reveals nearly nothing, besides that it appears to be like vaguely like The Omen thematically. There’s a woman, a knife, a detective, after which every little thing is annihilated. Bloober’s announcement says you play as the woman, a medium, who can see each the true world and the spirit world and draw conclusions from each. It sounds just like the quicker load instances on the Xbox Series X will will let you swap between the 2 worlds at will with no delay, which might be actually neat. And hey, it’s Bloober. I’ve obtained religion in them.
Scarlet Nexus
Bandai Namco calls Scarlet Nexus ”mind punk” and I’ll admit, I’ve no clue what the hell meaning. Judging by the trailer although, it includes flower-people, creepy faceless canine, and flashy fight. Scarlet Nexus has some fairly neat-looking enemies and a few very spectacular psionic powers, and that’s about all I can say about it.
Second Extinction
You need Turok? Well, you get Second Extinction. This trailer was simply dinosaur homicide after dinosaur homicide—and hey, it labored within the ‘90s proper? If mowing down velociraptors with machine weapons seems like your thought of an excellent time, maintain a watch out for this one.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon
The greatest a part of Yakuza: Like a Dragon is it’s confirmed day-and-date for Windows 10. No extra ready on ports like second-class residents. The sequel-reboot ditches the real-time brawling to emulate a turn-based RPG, which I’m a bit hesitant about, however every little thing I’ve seen of Like a Dragon’s story to this point appears to be like like traditional Yakuza. Friendship, betrayal, homicide, it’s all there. Now let’s hope Sega will get Yakuza 3 by means of 6 ported over to PC earlier than Like a Dragon releases.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
It appears to be like like Assassin’s Creed, however Vikings. That’s all I would like actually. Coming off Origins and Odyssey, I’m very excited to see what Ubisoft does subsequent—and excited they’re leaning into the otherworldly “Gods on Earth” features explored within the Curse of the Pharaohs DLC. That mentioned, it’s very a lot another-one-of-those-games, and this so-called gameplay reveal isn’t going to blow your thoughts. It’s lower than two minutes lengthy, and appears precisely such as you’d count on, which is to say it appears to be like loads like Odyssey did on PC. Maybe barely…moodier?