An "Indiana Jones" game and what else was shown at the Xbox livestream
Microsoft doesn't have to wait long to unleash a firework display of games in January. Among other things, the new "Indiana Jones" was unveiled at the Developer Direct. We streamed the event live from 20:45.
At the last Developer Direct, which we streamed live, the featured "Hi-Fi Rush" was surprisingly released at the end. Whether there will be another surprise release this Thursday remains to be seen. What is certain is that Microsoft, or rather the developers themselves, will show detailed gameplay for the following four games.
The Developer Direct starts at 9 pm. Our stream will start 15 minutes earlier on Twitch.
"Indiana Jones" from the makers of "Wolfenstein"
After what feels like an eternity, a new "Indiana Jones" game is finally being unveiled. Excluding the LEGO versions, the last game featuring the whip-wielding treasure hunter was released in 2009. "Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings" was originally developed for PS3 and Xbox 360. However, it eventually ended up on handhelds such as the PSP and DS, as well as on the dusty PS2 and Wii.
In 2003, there was "Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb", which aimed to build on the success of "Tomb Raider". Very few people are likely to remember that either. Apart from a Super Nintendo game, the 22-year point-and-click adventure "Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis" is generally regarded as the pinnacle of game adaptations.
With Machine Games' latest prank, this could change. The Swedish studio has made a name for itself with the remakes of "Wolfenstein". They not only delivered brilliant shooter action, but also told a crazy story about Nazi terror B.J. Blazkowicz.
Except for a short teaser, there is no information about Indy's latest adventure. Over ten minutes of gameplay are promised for the Developer Direct.
"Avowed" - Obsidian's "Skyrim"
Obsidian, the studio behind "Fallout New Vegas", "The Outer World" and "Grounded" presents a detailed insight into "Avowed". This is a fantasy action RPG in the style of "Skyrim". You can expect an open game world that reacts to your decisions. The studio has proven several times that they can master this genre.
"Ara: History Untold" - Microsoft's "Civilisation"
The studio Oxide Games has not developed any other games apart from "Ashes of the Singularity". The title is primarily known for making graphics cards sweat in benchmarks. Since then, the studio has focussed on the development of game engines. With "Ara: History Untold", a turn-based, historical strategy game is now on the agenda. It sounds and looks like "Civilisation". The parallels are no coincidence. The founders have employees from "Civilization", "Command and Conquer" and "Galactic Civilisations".
"Senua's Saga: Hellblade II"
In 2018, Microsoft acquired the studio Ninja Theory. This made it clear that the sequel to "Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice", which had been released a year earlier, would be an Xbox exclusive. The consequences of the Microsoft deal are first and foremost a significantly larger budget. Visually, the game looks almost photorealistic, especially the faces. In terms of gameplay, it should follow on from the strange psycho-trip about Nordic myths, monsters and the fight against inner demons - hopefully with slightly more mature gameplay.
Will there be another surprise release?
The surprise release of "Hi-Fi Rush" at the end of last year's Developer Direct was a real coup for Microsoft. The rhythm action game is not just a mini-game for in between. It's a real hit that has made it onto many lists of the best games of 2023.
I think it would be great if Microsoft made a tradition out of it and presented a fifth title this year - which would ideally also be playable. The company writes that at least the latter won't happen. However, as we all know, hope dies last.
Teaser image: Alphacoders
Being the game and gadget geek that I am, working at digitec and Galaxus makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop – but it does take its toll on my wallet. I enjoy tinkering with my PC in Tim Taylor fashion and talking about games on my podcast http://www.onemorelevel.ch. To satisfy my need for speed, I get on my full suspension mountain bike and set out to find some nice trails. My thirst for culture is quenched by deep conversations over a couple of cold ones at the mostly frustrating games of FC Winterthur.