Microsoft is getting to kick start this years E3 but unfortunately I wasn’t able to watch from the very beginning, but I have gone back and watched it to see just what exactly I missed. So this post will be a quick run down on everything Microsoft did for their 2019 E3 press conference, and my opinions on it all.
Minecraft Dungeons
So this was already announced, but I don’t think they ever detaield what the project was actually going to be. This is not something I was expecting honestly. Minecraft Dungeons is a 4 player co-op Diablo style dungeon runner. It looks interesting, and I know if I didn’t already have Game Pass, I would never buy this. I can see myself giving it a shot, but it’s not something I am overly interested in. Coming Spring 2020.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Here’s another game I have legitimately zero interest in. Ori and the WIll of the Wisps is an absolutely beautifully stunning game that I have the highest respects for all the artists who have contributed to the game. The game play does nothing for me. I feel awful saying that, but I can download the first Ori game at any point right now, and I still haven’t bothered. Coming February 11th, 2020.
Bleeding Edge
We’ve already talked a little about this game when I posted a blog a few days ago about how this game got leaked. This is the 4v4 competitive multiplayer game from Ninja Theory. It literally screams too late. This edgy character ability competitive game genre has already been overrun with some many games at this point. I am calling it now, this was a bad route for Ninja Theory to take. I can’t help but feel like Microsoft pressured them into something like this. It’s disappointing to see talent kind of wasted on a game like this. I have a weird feeling this game won’t even make it to full release. Technical Alpha starts June 27th, if you care at all.
Blair Witch
Blair Witch is getting a video game, and as I watch the trailer for it, I am already beyond freaked out. Until they pop out that camera. Is it just me, os it that camera thing in horror games already kind of a boring gimmick? Even if Outlast is the only game that is using it on a higher level. Regardless, this game looks terrifying. Am I the only one who is getting Silent Hill vibes?The trailer definitely makes it seem like it’s some type of rogue-lite game. Running through the game trying to get further and further. All I want to make perfectly clear, Bullet better not die. Coming August 30th, 2019.
The Outer Worlds
The Outer Worlds has definitely been on my radar since it was announced last year. It is being brought to us by farmer Fallout developers, and I am a big fan of (most of the) Fallout games. The Outer Worlds feels like Fallout New Vegas in space. Throw in some Borderlands 2 aesthetic as well. I feel good about seeing the game play today. It seems right up my alley, and the story has me intrigued as well. Digging up dirt on the high corporate people on the space world. Also, you see that shrink ray? Fuck yeah. Coming October 25th, 2019.
Dragon ball Z Kakarot
Legit couldn’t care less about this game. I’m actually annoyed that I had to find the trailer for this on YouTube. Watch it if you want. Coming early 2020 or something.
Battletoads
I genuinely really like the art style for this remake, and the music is great. Not necessarily my type of game either, but since it will be on Game Pass I will be playing it for sure. I don’t have the nostalgia for the original title, but whatever. No release date from what I saw.
Phantasy Star Online 2
It’s great that Microsoft is bringing this to the west. This literally has zero effect on me though. Well, I know some people are excited for this. Count me out. Coming Spring 2020.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Lego Skywalker Saga
Lumping these two together because they’re both Star Wars, and also I already gave my initial impressions on Fallen Order yesterday and the EA Play Conference, Read it here. Lego is revamping all the old Star Wars games, and also doing episode 8 and 9 all in one package apparently. I like the Lego games, but I’m not sure how much I am interested in this. Not having the characters taking the voices from the movies was a smart choice though. Coming ins 2020.
Borderlands 3
I am definitely someone who is interested in playing Borderlands 3, I’ve enjoyed the past 2 games, along with the DLC, and 3 just looks like more fun. This trailer looks significantly better than the first one Randy Pitchford showed off, too. The new choose-able characters look rad as fuck, all 4 of them. Normally there is one I gravitate to, but I would be happy playing any of the 4. They also announced a new DLC campaign for Borderlands 2 today that leads into the story of the 3rd one. I’m downloading 2 right now so I can play it! Coming September 9th, 2019.
Microsoft Flight Simulator
I remember playing the Windows ’98 version of this game when I was a kid. Flight stick and all. I also remember crashing and burning constantly because I had no clue what I was doing. This is a hard out for me, but I know some people are definitely excited for this, so kudos to you Microsoft for bringing this back. Didn’t see a release date for this yet.
Forza Horizon 4 and Lego
This trailer was just pure jolliness. I enjoyed every second of it. I won’t be playing it at all, but man there was definitely a ton of work put into this expansion, and I love it. Coming sometime this month. The video gets hidden behind stupid fucking ads. Sorry.
Double Fine is Joining Xbox Game Studios, also Psychonauts 2 Gameplay
Not going to lie, it’s kind of disheartening to see indie studios bought up by big name developers. I know Microsoft seems like a really good company to work for, they seem to want what’s best for the studios they are scooping up, but it kind of sucks to see that these studios who seem to be doing great on their own feel like they have to sell themselves off. Maybe I’m just a bit pessimistic about it. Also, new Psychonauts 2 gameplay. Looks cool. Coming eventually.
Xbox Game Pass is Coming to PC
We already knew this was on its way, but it’s definitely helping Microsoft put a bigger foot hold in the PC gaming space. I love it. Game Pass is such an amazing value for gamers. You can get Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, where you can have the service on PC and on your console, for $14.99 a month. It’s a steal.
Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2
My original launch Xbox Elite Controller has been amazing. Unfortunately the grippy on the side actually came apart and has made the controller unusable. I’m not the only person who has had this issue apparently either. I would like to buy a Series 2 version of it for $179.99, but I’m worried about the integrity of the controller at this point. Who am I kidding, I’m going to preorder it now.
Elden Ring
I posted about the leak of this game the other day, but today we got to see the announcement trailer. This is the game from From Software and George R.R. Martin, the man behind Game of Thrones. We see a lot of From Software looking characters, but I’m not going to do any sort of deep dive into this trailer. we don’t see much, and we don’t know anything about this game right now. All I know is that I will probably buy it, and won’t beat it. And also we are never getting that final Game of Thrones book.
Gears 5
Talk about disappointing. Where the hell do I start. That start up teaser bit was weird, and took way too long. The presentation leading into this new Gears 5 game mode called Escape was not great, and to top it off the actual CGI trailer was terrible. I hated it. The game mode might be fin, but the music choice was absolute garbage, and not seeing actually gameplay is a horrible choice. Oh, and this stupid Terminator cross over is so fucking lame. I seriously can’t wait to play the story of Gears 5, but them moving away from the horror aspects of the franchise is killing it. Coming September 10th, 2019.
Cyberpunk 2077
Going pure CGI for this game was a weird choice for me, but I think it worked for it ultimately. Seeing your partner Jackie die in that backseat is rough to watch. It’s weird feeling an attachment to a character I’ve barely had any sort of time with. The voice acting really is spectacular though. I’m curious if this is something that doesn’t have to happen. Maybe some choices you made lead up to Jackie’s death. Man, I really hope I don’t kill him.Fighting off Techno-paths looks so sick. And what better way to end this trailer than to see Keanu Reeves as a character in the game itself! Wow. Then to have him come out and tell us we will be playing this game April 16th, 2020. I’m excited.
Halo Infinite
I’m not a Halo guy. Never have been, never will be. This CGI trailer was great though. I hate that there still was no actual gameplay, but hearing that little girl talking on the hologram almost made me cry. I guess that’s what happens to you when you have kids. People seem to be excited for this one. Can’t say much until we see th game in action though. Coming Holiday 2020.
Project Scarlett
Microsoft has finally talked about their newest console. They just had a trailer of a bunch of the console developers talking about what they’re excited for about this new console. I honestly don’t care a whole lot about this new console until I see it, and they release the actual specs. Rumors are going around that the PS5 is actually significantly more powerful than Project Scarlett though. Of course, these are rumors. I’m actually still not ready for a new console generation yet anyways. Unless they’re making the AI significantly smarter, I’m not sure what more they can do to push the envelope. I guess load times is a huge focus, so that’s cool too.
Ultimately, I don’t think Microsoft had a whole lot for this E3. They really hyped it up, talking a bout how they have to amp everything up since Sony wasn’t going to be around. I don’t think they delivered. Next year will be huge for them and Sony, but they’re just planting and watering seeds right now. I can wait another year.
The Tired Obsidian 
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