Microsoft At E3 2018
- Thread starter Kvally
- Start date
If this is even true, I’m sure there will be options or tiers.
Plus I recommend everyone follow CAG on Twitter. They post deals on Live all the time. I usually get a year for under $40, and this deal shows up at least every couple of months.
I think the main gold will be the same .
IF anything will be changed will be free online for silver with no party chat of any gold perks and a top tier above gold for everything to be covered.
I like BC. I think the next megaton, though, is forward compatibility. They're going to announce that the X is forward compatible, and that Halos 6, 7, and 8 are all available for download and play now through forward compatibility.
Don't get your hopes up, I bet the last hour is Halo Covenant themed Escape Room.
The best thing about BC is the One X enhanced games, honestly it's hard going back and playing straight up BC games because they are so blurry and ugly on 4K displays, the One X enhancements can make the games worth playing again though. I'd much rather have a real remaster/remake with new assets etc but if this is the best we can get for games like the Witcher 2, RDR or Oblivion I'll take it.
Right, when I say "BC," I'm really talking about the X-enhanced BC games. I've got little or no interest in straight BC. I know that even with non-X-enhanced games, there are still some significant improvements (16x AF, faster load times, more stable framerates), but that's not enough to get me to replay an old game with pretty much the same old visuals. It's the X-enhanced stuff that really impresses me.
Yeah it's really what makes BC worth doing, I played The Witcher 2 again a little before the X enhancement and I just couldn't do it. I loved it on the 360 and thought it looked great at the time but playing it on a 4K tv with it just looked terrible and took any interest I had in it away.
Yeah I did the same since Witcher 2 was already in my games list from the 360 days. It was brutal before the patch. After, it looked better than what I remember playing on my old PC.
I didn't find it that bad before (I hadn't actually played it on 360, though), but that might have been because I played the first Witcher game on my laptop in stuttering 1080p. But with the X enhancement, it definitely looked nice. I'm not much of a graphics whore anyway, though; I'll replay KOTOR every couple of years or so and until the last playthrough on the laptop it was all at the original settings.
https://www.windowscentral.com/e3-2018-xbox-predictions?amp
E3 2018 Xbox predictions: Everything we expect to see from Microsoft
It's that time of year again. E3 2018 is almost upon us, promising tons of new games, new platform announcements, and new hardware. But what does E3 2018 mean for Xbox and Microsoft this June 10th?
While the Xbox division is doing extremely well, E3 is an opportunity for Microsoft to address media and fan criticisms. Many will be wondering if the Xbox team will seek to dispel claims that the company isn't investing in first-party games as much as it could (or should) be. We also have the specter of an evolving game industry lurking in the background, where service-type games like Fortnite, and service-oriented companies like TenCent, are starting to dominate the industry. Amazon and other large tech companies are also exploring ways to disrupt the industry, in a world where Microsoft control gaming on its own, largest platform, Windows PC.
E3 2018 could be a bit of a weird one for Microsoft, as the company shifts strategyfollowing the departure of former Windows chief Terry Myerson, and the elevation of the gaming division to its own seat at the leadership table. We might not see the fruits of this reorganization at E3 2018, it's simply too early. But I expect Microsoft to outline a game plan as it moves ahead, not only towards the next generation of its Xbox consoles, but the next generation of gaming technology in general.
Games, games, games
Microsoft's E3 2018 conference is reportedly two hours long, and their E3 offerings will take place at the Microsoft Theatre this year, instead of its usual venue. That means a lot of games.
I'm not expecting a huge amount of new first-party IP to appear at this year's E3. Microsoft is still probably reluctant to announce games too early, with memories of Scalebound's cancellation still relatively fresh in the core audience's mind. Hopefully, Microsoft will tease a little more of its future roadmap, and give us an update on existing products.
Expect to see Forza Horizon 4, as the franchise's annualization continues. Forza Horizon 3 is arguably Xbox's most celebrated console exclusive this generation, and Playground Games is due to launch their next title, following the franchise's two-year cycle. There's a pretty strong rumor that Playground Games is also working on a new Fable title for Microsoft, although whether or not we'll see that at E3 is pretty uncertain, it could simply be too early. But keep an eye out!
Many fans will be wondering if there will be new Crackdown 3 stuff at E3, and it's certainly a strong possibility. However, I have heard rumors from a few places that Crackdown 3 could be delayed even further, maybe even as far as 2019. Microsoft may want to reintroduce us to the game once it has seen more updates, following a mixed reception from last year's convention season. Hopefully, we'll get an update on the project's status either way. And no, it isn't cancelled.
As pertains to Gears of War, Walmart inadvertently leaked a bunch of games a few weeks ago, one of which was "Gears of War 5." I do not expect to see Gears of War 5 this early, but I have heard credible rumors that there's some sort of Gears of War spin-off in the works. Comparisons to turn-based tactical games like XCOM have been drawn too. I have no real evidence to support this, but I'm confident enough to believe it could be true.
We could also hear about the so-called "AAAA" studio Microsoft appears to be building in the SoCal area. Darrell Gallagher joined Microsoft from Crystal Dynamics earlier this year, and we should undoubtedly hear more about his role. Leading a new studio at Xbox seems to be the most obvious, particularly when you consider the previous job listings, and the fact Gallagher is LA-based.
I also expect to see more Cuphead-like ID@Xbox exclusive partnerships, particularly as ID@Xbox seems to be hitting its stride for bringing games to UWP. Hellblade and Frostpunk surprisingly hit the Windows 10 Microsoft Store for PC a few weeks back, and I've heard rumblings that more high-profile indie Steam titles could be on the way, both for console and PC. Expect another ID@Xbox showcase, showing off several games in quick succession.
For the most part, third-party will probably do the heavy lifting at E3 this year for Xbox. There are plenty of rumors circulating that CD Projekt RED's sure-fire blockbuster Cyberpunk 2077 will get its gameplay debut on Microsoft's stage, possibly closing out the show. You can expect to see various other third-party titles on the Microsoft stage too, including games with marketing deals like Metro Exodus, Code Vein, and Anthem, showcasing Xbox One X capabilities. Other games you can expect to see more of include Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Below, No Man's Sky, Age of Empires IV, Ashen, and Sea of Thieves' and State of Decay 2's summer content. We might also see some Battlefield V, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and perhaps other new games Microsoft is partnering on from the big publishers like Ubisoft and Bethesda.
What about Halo 6? It's hard to say whether we'll see Halo 6 this year. We'll probably get a hint that Halo 6 is in development, but it'll be fairly low key. I think Microsoft could keep Halo's next big entry under wraps for that year it can truly define the conference.
I've also heard that IPs like Quantum Break and Sunset Overdrive "aren't dead," and indeed, Sunset Overdrive was recently licensed in Korea for a PC version. There are also plenty of rumors about a Perfect Dark reboot swirling around, and more Japanese titles like Nioh and Nier Automata could be making their way to Xbox, too. Maybe Microsoft will surprise us.
Xbox platform announcements
At E3 we'll likely see the new Xbox Avatars debuted for the first time, along with some of their new capabilities. The new Avatars system was built in Unity, specifically for cross-platform capabilities. Avatars will extend beyond the Xbox dashboard, into games, into Windows Mixed Reality platforms like AltSpace VR, and eventually HoloLens. Microsoft didn't invest this much into Avatars for them to simply sit on your dashboard, so expect a bigger play here.
Speaking of big plays, I still expect the Xbox "career" features to appear at E3, despite Xbox platform chief Mike Ybarra's insistence that they aren't in active development. The career system will give gamers another way to progress on Xbox Live beyond Gamerscore, which only really showcases your ability to hunt down achievements. The career features will give you a level based on the way youplay, whether it's hunting achievements, or spending 99% of your time inside Fortnite.
I also expect we'll hear what Kareem Choudary's new Xbox cloud team is working on. We've heard for some time that Microsoft is working on game streaming beyond your home network, allowing you to experience your content on a broader range of devices that might not meet hardware requirements for them to run locally. It might still be too early for that to get its big debut, but it's certainly a possibility.
Xbox Game Pass will also be a big feature at this year's E3. Microsoft may be looking to rope big third-party titles into the program too, similarly to how Netflix makes deals with some of the big networks to boost its subscriber count. I've also heard about the possibility of Xbox Game Pass extending to other devices too, beyond Xbox and PC, which could form part of the cloud streaming play.
Expect new features for Mixer to get announced during the E3 week too, and possibly enhancements to some of Microsoft's more neglected entertainment features, like Movies & TV. I've heard from a couple of places that Movies & TV could finally be getting mobile apps for non-Windows platforms, but that doesn't seem like something they'll announce at E3. I've also heard that Microsoft is working with Amazon on integration between Xbox and Amazon Echo devices, replacing the voice-enabled interactions from Kinect. The fact that ex-Xbox Console Marketing Director Albert Penello recently joined Amazon's Echo team speaks to interesting possibilities for partnerships there.
New hardware?
I have heard there will be new hardware at E3 2018 this year, but don't expect new consolesor anything like that.
Part of Microsoft's cloud streaming play could be to showcase how it runs on mobile devices, maybe even Nintendo Switch or streaming sticks. We heard Microsoft was previously working on some sort of Xbox streaming stick, and with cloud streaming on the horizon, this tech could make more sense now than it did previously.
Expect the Xbox Elite V2 controller to get a debut, alongside another showcase of the excellent Xbox Adaptive controller for accessibility needs. We might hear more about efforts Redmond is making in that space, too.
I'm not expecting a huge amount on the hardware front, but Microsoft's engineering and accessories teams are world-class and could certainly surprise us.
A relatively low-key affair
With the Xbox One X out of the door, this year's E3 will probably be a bit of a low key affair for Microsoft. While the company isinvesting in new games, it could be a while before we hear more about them.
As we head towards the "Xbox Two," you should expect this year's E3 to set the tone for the next few years of Xbox strategy. Previously, Xbox head Phil Spencer answered to Windows & Devices lead Terry Myerson, but as of last summer, Spencer and the gaming division was promoted to the senior leadership table, answering directly to CEO Satya Nadella.
Spencer is now truly leading Xbox as its own entity, rather than a subsection of the Windows operation. Truly epic times are ahead for Xbox fans, but E3 2018 might just be too early for the really good stuff. Still, there will be tons of new games and features to look forward to, and it should be an exciting show.
E3 2018 Xbox predictions: Everything we expect to see from Microsoft
It's that time of year again. E3 2018 is almost upon us, promising tons of new games, new platform announcements, and new hardware. But what does E3 2018 mean for Xbox and Microsoft this June 10th?
While the Xbox division is doing extremely well, E3 is an opportunity for Microsoft to address media and fan criticisms. Many will be wondering if the Xbox team will seek to dispel claims that the company isn't investing in first-party games as much as it could (or should) be. We also have the specter of an evolving game industry lurking in the background, where service-type games like Fortnite, and service-oriented companies like TenCent, are starting to dominate the industry. Amazon and other large tech companies are also exploring ways to disrupt the industry, in a world where Microsoft control gaming on its own, largest platform, Windows PC.
E3 2018 could be a bit of a weird one for Microsoft, as the company shifts strategyfollowing the departure of former Windows chief Terry Myerson, and the elevation of the gaming division to its own seat at the leadership table. We might not see the fruits of this reorganization at E3 2018, it's simply too early. But I expect Microsoft to outline a game plan as it moves ahead, not only towards the next generation of its Xbox consoles, but the next generation of gaming technology in general.
Games, games, games
Microsoft's E3 2018 conference is reportedly two hours long, and their E3 offerings will take place at the Microsoft Theatre this year, instead of its usual venue. That means a lot of games.
I'm not expecting a huge amount of new first-party IP to appear at this year's E3. Microsoft is still probably reluctant to announce games too early, with memories of Scalebound's cancellation still relatively fresh in the core audience's mind. Hopefully, Microsoft will tease a little more of its future roadmap, and give us an update on existing products.
Expect to see Forza Horizon 4, as the franchise's annualization continues. Forza Horizon 3 is arguably Xbox's most celebrated console exclusive this generation, and Playground Games is due to launch their next title, following the franchise's two-year cycle. There's a pretty strong rumor that Playground Games is also working on a new Fable title for Microsoft, although whether or not we'll see that at E3 is pretty uncertain, it could simply be too early. But keep an eye out!
Many fans will be wondering if there will be new Crackdown 3 stuff at E3, and it's certainly a strong possibility. However, I have heard rumors from a few places that Crackdown 3 could be delayed even further, maybe even as far as 2019. Microsoft may want to reintroduce us to the game once it has seen more updates, following a mixed reception from last year's convention season. Hopefully, we'll get an update on the project's status either way. And no, it isn't cancelled.
As pertains to Gears of War, Walmart inadvertently leaked a bunch of games a few weeks ago, one of which was "Gears of War 5." I do not expect to see Gears of War 5 this early, but I have heard credible rumors that there's some sort of Gears of War spin-off in the works. Comparisons to turn-based tactical games like XCOM have been drawn too. I have no real evidence to support this, but I'm confident enough to believe it could be true.
We could also hear about the so-called "AAAA" studio Microsoft appears to be building in the SoCal area. Darrell Gallagher joined Microsoft from Crystal Dynamics earlier this year, and we should undoubtedly hear more about his role. Leading a new studio at Xbox seems to be the most obvious, particularly when you consider the previous job listings, and the fact Gallagher is LA-based.
I also expect to see more Cuphead-like ID@Xbox exclusive partnerships, particularly as ID@Xbox seems to be hitting its stride for bringing games to UWP. Hellblade and Frostpunk surprisingly hit the Windows 10 Microsoft Store for PC a few weeks back, and I've heard rumblings that more high-profile indie Steam titles could be on the way, both for console and PC. Expect another ID@Xbox showcase, showing off several games in quick succession.
For the most part, third-party will probably do the heavy lifting at E3 this year for Xbox. There are plenty of rumors circulating that CD Projekt RED's sure-fire blockbuster Cyberpunk 2077 will get its gameplay debut on Microsoft's stage, possibly closing out the show. You can expect to see various other third-party titles on the Microsoft stage too, including games with marketing deals like Metro Exodus, Code Vein, and Anthem, showcasing Xbox One X capabilities. Other games you can expect to see more of include Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Below, No Man's Sky, Age of Empires IV, Ashen, and Sea of Thieves' and State of Decay 2's summer content. We might also see some Battlefield V, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and perhaps other new games Microsoft is partnering on from the big publishers like Ubisoft and Bethesda.
What about Halo 6? It's hard to say whether we'll see Halo 6 this year. We'll probably get a hint that Halo 6 is in development, but it'll be fairly low key. I think Microsoft could keep Halo's next big entry under wraps for that year it can truly define the conference.
I've also heard that IPs like Quantum Break and Sunset Overdrive "aren't dead," and indeed, Sunset Overdrive was recently licensed in Korea for a PC version. There are also plenty of rumors about a Perfect Dark reboot swirling around, and more Japanese titles like Nioh and Nier Automata could be making their way to Xbox, too. Maybe Microsoft will surprise us.
Xbox platform announcements
At E3 we'll likely see the new Xbox Avatars debuted for the first time, along with some of their new capabilities. The new Avatars system was built in Unity, specifically for cross-platform capabilities. Avatars will extend beyond the Xbox dashboard, into games, into Windows Mixed Reality platforms like AltSpace VR, and eventually HoloLens. Microsoft didn't invest this much into Avatars for them to simply sit on your dashboard, so expect a bigger play here.
Speaking of big plays, I still expect the Xbox "career" features to appear at E3, despite Xbox platform chief Mike Ybarra's insistence that they aren't in active development. The career system will give gamers another way to progress on Xbox Live beyond Gamerscore, which only really showcases your ability to hunt down achievements. The career features will give you a level based on the way youplay, whether it's hunting achievements, or spending 99% of your time inside Fortnite.
I also expect we'll hear what Kareem Choudary's new Xbox cloud team is working on. We've heard for some time that Microsoft is working on game streaming beyond your home network, allowing you to experience your content on a broader range of devices that might not meet hardware requirements for them to run locally. It might still be too early for that to get its big debut, but it's certainly a possibility.
Xbox Game Pass will also be a big feature at this year's E3. Microsoft may be looking to rope big third-party titles into the program too, similarly to how Netflix makes deals with some of the big networks to boost its subscriber count. I've also heard about the possibility of Xbox Game Pass extending to other devices too, beyond Xbox and PC, which could form part of the cloud streaming play.
Expect new features for Mixer to get announced during the E3 week too, and possibly enhancements to some of Microsoft's more neglected entertainment features, like Movies & TV. I've heard from a couple of places that Movies & TV could finally be getting mobile apps for non-Windows platforms, but that doesn't seem like something they'll announce at E3. I've also heard that Microsoft is working with Amazon on integration between Xbox and Amazon Echo devices, replacing the voice-enabled interactions from Kinect. The fact that ex-Xbox Console Marketing Director Albert Penello recently joined Amazon's Echo team speaks to interesting possibilities for partnerships there.
New hardware?
I have heard there will be new hardware at E3 2018 this year, but don't expect new consolesor anything like that.
Part of Microsoft's cloud streaming play could be to showcase how it runs on mobile devices, maybe even Nintendo Switch or streaming sticks. We heard Microsoft was previously working on some sort of Xbox streaming stick, and with cloud streaming on the horizon, this tech could make more sense now than it did previously.
Expect the Xbox Elite V2 controller to get a debut, alongside another showcase of the excellent Xbox Adaptive controller for accessibility needs. We might hear more about efforts Redmond is making in that space, too.
I'm not expecting a huge amount on the hardware front, but Microsoft's engineering and accessories teams are world-class and could certainly surprise us.
A relatively low-key affair
With the Xbox One X out of the door, this year's E3 will probably be a bit of a low key affair for Microsoft. While the company isinvesting in new games, it could be a while before we hear more about them.
As we head towards the "Xbox Two," you should expect this year's E3 to set the tone for the next few years of Xbox strategy. Previously, Xbox head Phil Spencer answered to Windows & Devices lead Terry Myerson, but as of last summer, Spencer and the gaming division was promoted to the senior leadership table, answering directly to CEO Satya Nadella.
Spencer is now truly leading Xbox as its own entity, rather than a subsection of the Windows operation. Truly epic times are ahead for Xbox fans, but E3 2018 might just be too early for the really good stuff. Still, there will be tons of new games and features to look forward to, and it should be an exciting show.
That’s just his opinion. The dev stated earlier this year it would definitely be coming this year. But I guess we’ll find out at E3.
Apparently like most other Microsoft 1st party games the pst few years, it was underfunded. Microsoft has ramped up the funding and wants to give this game the chance to stand out in a way they didn’t give to SOT and SOD2. It may need another year with the additional funding before it feels like a true AAA big budget game.
Takes time to deliver a great game. Crackdown 3 is going to be fire when it drops. That's a TD guarantee.
That Windows Central prediction would make for a C- conference for me, assuming he means no new big game announcements (although he's kind of vague on that point). I don't care about Gears/Forza/Crackdown or any of the service-related stuff. Halo 6 would be worthwhile but he sounds ambivalent on that. Otherwise, it's just the 3rd party stuff, and that's not MS.
Every one goes through that m8, usually in college....do what makes you happy, we’re not here to judge
C- is about what I expect. Microsoft has not done a good job managing expectations this gen and I think that’s another thing Spencer wants to do a better job with. That’s why I think they will reel in the hype train until games are closer to completion. Hyping people to buy X’s this year based on their AAA games in production that won’t release until the next Xbox would not help win back customer trust. Microsoft had at least 3 years of next to no budget for 1st party so it makes sense they have at least 3 E3s that are limited in 1st party showings. 2019 is where I expect it to look better.
I don’t think this is being negative. Just realistic.
On the flip side, 2nd half of 2018 through end of 2019 might be the best stretch for AAA 3rd party games since 2007/2008. X is the best place to play those games so there’s something to sell while their 1st party gets back on their feet.
Yooooo! You sleeping on MS, bruv! No way are they going to waste time hyping up next gen when they have 3 to 4 years to take advantage of the time now. I expect a couple of bombs come this E3. The show is nearly 2 hours this go 'round and in their own theater. That's not to just to hype for simply 3rd party deals and CGi trailers.
I think we're asking the wrong question here. We shouldn't be trying to judge what we expect from MS - we're all shooting in the dark there, honestly. We should instead try to predict the reactions from the posters here, which we really don't need anything for. E.g.
Mcmasters - A++. Will be the greatest show ever since sliced bread. Will use the letters that he seems to consider a word "bruv" frequently.
Andy - B-. He will actually probably comment intelligently about whatever is announced, even though he'll drop off the stream maybe a third of the way through to start his post-show reaction post.
Valliance - B+. They'll show something that looks like hot sex on the X, and especially if that's anthem, that might become his new obsession, to replace his former love, the PS4 exclusive Destiny.
Rollins - Incomplete. Once the show is over, he'll post the details of the sixteen games in development that weren't announced yet or shown, at least eleven of which are Indie Battle Royale shooters.
Bellybama - Will be missed.
Menace - C-. Something will be cringeworthy or worse at the show. You may forget or forgive, but Pepperidge Farms remembers and Menace is a god-damn Mint Milano.
JinCA - B. Something, something, something, something that sounds vaguely nice about MS, something, something, backhanded compliment about MS, something, something, something about how he doesn't really feel like he's getting value from the X, something, something, some negative comment about MS.
hrudey - no grade given, but will probably post a couple hundred words that, when subjected to extreme lexicographic analysis, will boil down basically to "You're all a bunch of tits." Incidentally, I heart tits.
Mcmasters - A++. Will be the greatest show ever since sliced bread. Will use the letters that he seems to consider a word "bruv" frequently.
Andy - B-. He will actually probably comment intelligently about whatever is announced, even though he'll drop off the stream maybe a third of the way through to start his post-show reaction post.
Valliance - B+. They'll show something that looks like hot sex on the X, and especially if that's anthem, that might become his new obsession, to replace his former love, the PS4 exclusive Destiny.
Rollins - Incomplete. Once the show is over, he'll post the details of the sixteen games in development that weren't announced yet or shown, at least eleven of which are Indie Battle Royale shooters.
Bellybama - Will be missed.
Menace - C-. Something will be cringeworthy or worse at the show. You may forget or forgive, but Pepperidge Farms remembers and Menace is a god-damn Mint Milano.
JinCA - B. Something, something, something, something that sounds vaguely nice about MS, something, something, backhanded compliment about MS, something, something, something about how he doesn't really feel like he's getting value from the X, something, something, some negative comment about MS.
hrudey - no grade given, but will probably post a couple hundred words that, when subjected to extreme lexicographic analysis, will boil down basically to "You're all a bunch of tits." Incidentally, I heart tits.
If there aren't new big AAA exclusive IPs announced then it will be getting an F. I don't give a crap about BC. I don't give a crap about marketing deals, elite controllers, indies, gamepass, or the same old tired exclusives. I don't give a crap about the Xbox One X or even an Xbox 2 at this point.
So, no need to guess.
Also, what the F' is a mint-milano.
Phil should have talk with Aaron "We're not holding back this year!" Greenberg.
I know. At least you've whittled down my expectations, so that if nothing big is announced, I will be less shocked than I would've been otherwise. I'll still be disappointed, but I won't be as stunned.
I don’t take anything from Xbox marketing people with any grains of salt. They just ended their pre-E3 Inside Xbox show with a 30 minute poorly acted Escape Room segment to promote their new game. Just another in a long list of embarrassments from that team. Those people are very out of touch with their target audience.