New games for Xbox and PC: All announcements and trailers from the Xbox Developer Direct
Developers from Xbox Game Studios have presented new trailers and gameplay impressions from upcoming Xbox-exclusive games. There was also a big surprise.
Microsoft launched a new livestreaming format on Wednesday evening. The Xbox Developer Direct gives developers a chance to present their games with detailed gameplay videos.
In the run-up to the event, Microsoft emphasised that we shouldn't expect a big show with countless new games and surprises - the focus of the first Developer Direct would be on four games: "Redfall", "Forza Motorsport", "The Elder Scrolls Online" and "Minecraft Legends". But there was still one big surprise. The "Evil Within" developer studio Tango Gameworks unexpectedly unveiled a new game, which was available to download that very evening.
Phil and I watched the event and commented on it.
No time for the whole livestream? You can find all the videos and information from the Developer Direct summarised here.
"Hi-Fi Rush" - the big surprise of the evening
"Hi-Fi Rush" is visually reminiscent of the Dreamcast classic "Jet Set Radio". You take on the role of a wannabe rock star and have to fight your way through hordes of killer robots. The special thing about it is that the combat system is designed to match the rhythm of the music. Instead of randomly hammering on buttons, you have to beat up the nasty robots to the beat of the song currently playing. In addition to licensed songs from Nine Inch Nails, The Black Keys and The Prodigy, "Hi-Fi Rush" also includes a number of new songs composed especially for the game.
The game was developed by Tango Gameworks. The studio from "Resident Evil" creator Shinji Mikami is otherwise known for dark horror games such as "The Evil Within". As if that wasn't surprising enough, John Johanas, the game's director, announced that "Hi-Fi Rush" is now available. You can download it in the Xbox Game Pass or on Steam.
"Redfall" - finally a release date for the vampire shooter
Arkane Austin got the most space at the Developer Direct with an eleven-minute gameplay presentation for "Redfall". The development studio is known for immersive sim games such as "Dishonored" and "Prey", which give you a lot of freedom and combination options in gameplay. This also seems to be the case with "Redfall".
"Redfall" is a story-based shooter that you can play either alone or in co-op mode with three other players. You must save the island of Redfall, overrun by bloodthirsty killer vampires, from destruction. Each of the four playable characters has their own special abilities, which you can develop further in an extensive skill tree. The featured weapons, supernatural abilities and the beautifully staged open world will definitely whet your appetite for more.
Arkane has also revealed a specific release date. "Redfall" will be released on 2 May 2023 for Xbox Series X/S, Steam and Epic Games Store.
"Forza Motorsport" - The graphical highlight
The eighth instalment in the Forza racing game series is set to be the "most technically advanced racing game of all time" according to Turn 10 Studios. The game was developed from the ground up for the new console generation and is set to run with ray tracing in 4K and 60 FPS. In comparison to the Playstation competitor "Gran Turismo 7", ray tracing reflections are not only available in replays and in the garage, but also during the races. The material shown at the Developer Direct certainly looks promising.
There is a slight disappointment regarding the release date. The game was originally announced for spring 2023. The new launch window has been extended to sometime this year. I expect a release in autumn for Xbox Series X/S, Steam and Epic Games Store.
"The Elder Scrolls Online" - new fodder for MMO fans
Zenimax Online has presented a new expansion for the now nine-year-old MMO "The Elder Scrolls Online" - or "ESO" for short. The new chapter is called "Necrom" and takes you to the unexplored realms of Morrowind. There is also a new playable class, the Arcanist.
Do you find the trailer exciting, but are you afraid to dive into such a large and overwhelming MMO? For a short time, a free trial version of the game gives you access to all the expansions released so far and allows you to experience the fantasy world for yourself. This should make it easier for new ESO adventurers to get started.
After the Developer Direct, a separate deep dive video on the expansion was released. "Necrom" will be released on 20 June 2023 for Xbox Series X/S, Steam and Mac.
"Minecraft Legends" - PvP chaos with tower defence elements
In addition to the story-based single-player campaign, "Minecraft Legends" also offers a PvP mode for eight players. Your team must collect resources and build a base to fend off the opposing team's attacks. At the same time, your team must try to capture the opposing team's base. The procedurally generated game worlds ensure that every online battle is unpredictable. The chaotic multiplayer gameplay already looks very fun and has made me very curious as a Minecraft noob.
Mojang Studios has also revealed an official release date. "Minecraft Legends" will be released on 18 April 2023 for the last- and current-gen consoles of Xbox and Playstation as well as on Steam and on the Nintendo Switch.
My love of video games was unleashed at the tender age of five by the original Gameboy. Over the years, it's grown in leaps and bounds.