“Thank you for 25” appears on the screen. I’m in shock and have to quickly search for this information. “Well there you have it…” I think. November 2001 was when the Microsoft XBOX went to market in North America. And ever since, it has maintained a strong position in the country. Maybe it’s brand loyalty for something that may be born and bred in America. Maybe they just wanted a broader market. Or it could be that that damned Call of Duty really took up a tonne of space in the hearts and minds of Western gamers.
While the brand has lost some of its prestige in the most recent generations, with the XBOX One showcase in 2013 often cited as confirmation of this fall off, the Series…series has done a great job of restoring trust in gamers who were unsure of what folly or success Xbox may have next.
And then Asha Sharma swooped in. After a mostly unceremonious departure from Phil Spencer, Sharma set their vision for XBOX from day one. “No more Copilot”. A saying which shares the same heft as PlayStation’s 1995 E3 announcement:
“$299”.
They then argued that XBOX needed exclusive titles to maintain its competitive edge. And they attempted to act on this promise during today’s XBOX Games Showcase. Although games like Forza Horizon 6, Halo Campaign Evolved, and Fable are likely too far along in development, ultimately, Gears of War: E-Day serves as the clearest example of this shift. Announced as a multiplatform title, it is now an XBOX Exclusive, meaning Gears of War is once again home on the XBOX Series X/S.
Leading the charge for the XBOX Showcase, Marcus Fenix and Delta Squad head back to Emergence Day. And it has never looked better. Unreal Engine 5 is powering the potential revival of the beloved franchise. And it ends with the first of many “Play it Day One with Game Pass” titles.
With 25 games being announced, it makes me wonder what’s ahead.
And I don’t have to wait long as the showcase wastes no time:
- Fable (Day One Game Pass) [Multiplatform]
- Halo Campaign Evolved (Day One Game Pass) [Multiplatform]
- Resonance A Plague Tale Legacy (Day One Game Pass) [Multiplatform]
- Persona 4 Revival (Day One Game Pass) [Multiplatform]
- State Of Decay 3 (Day One Game Pass) [Multiplatform]
- Sea of Thieves: Custom Seas (Day One Game Pass) [Multiplatform]
- Metro 2039 [Multiplatform]
As the first game to skip a Day One Game Pass release, it precedes the ‘you’ll always be famous’ WORLD PREMIERE announcement. If you don’t know, before the end of E3’s time at the top, it became a staple for practically 90% of XBOX’s show to be a world premiere, so this is a nice change of pace.
- Bad Magpie (Day One Game Pass) [Multiplatform]
- Wo Long 2: Wings Of Ember (Day One Game Pass) [Multiplatform]
- Join Us (Day One Game Pass) [Multiplatform]
- Senua (Day One Game Pass) [Multiplatform]
- Fallout 76 – Infestations (Day One Game Pass) [Multiplatform]
- Doom: The Dark Ages – Revelations (Day One Game Pass) [Multiplatform]
The Offspring blare on to the screen, heralding one of the events first controversies: Crazy Taxi and Generative AI. With Sharma so big on removing Copilot from the platform, just what is gen AI’s place on it? And how much do companies need…or SHOULD disclose about their use of it?
We’d love to hear your thoughts on it, so feel free to comment below. In an almost brilliant piece of marketing, the game is followed by one of the events biggest announcements: The Translucent XBOX 25 Series X:
A return to a simpler time, were the original XBOX and its Crystal series of shells decorated many a home entertainment suite. And honestly, I feel very Day One for picking up one myself.
But back into the announcements!
- Age Of Empires IV – Raiders Of The North (Day One Game Pass) [Multiplatform]
- Minecraft Dungeons II (Day One Game Pass) [Multiplatform]
- Magicians: The Devil’s Deal (Day One Game Pass) [Multiplatform]
- Valor Mortis (Day One Game Pass) [Multiplatform]
- The Elder Scrolls Online (Day One Game Pass) [Multiplatform]
And this is the second time during this event where Bethesda have avoided announcing anything about The Elder Scrolls VI. Which was announced 2,918 days ago. But who’s counting right?
- Flight Simulator 2024 – National Championship Air Races (Day One Game Pass) [Multiplatform]
- Where Winds Meet – Hidden Mountain (Day One Game Pass) [Multiplatform]
- Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse (Day One Game Pass) [Multiplatform]
- Vivarium (Day One Game Pass) [Multiplatform]
- Persona 6 (Day One Game Pass) [Multiplatform]
- Spyro: A Realm Beyond (Day One Game Pass) [Multiplatform]
- Clockwork Revolution (Day One Game Pass)
Which feels like the first Exclusive I’ve seen since Gears of War? And it is succeeded by…Call of Duty. If you ask me, XBOX is just staying on-brand by having this as the last title for their showcase.
So can XBOX come back?
I think between the current AI pricing crisis, and a handful of choices from Sony, the space is absolutely open for competition. Nintendo are still doing their own thing while growing a wider library of titles they can now play. Which means it’s a key period for XBOX to make a move, and I think this showcase reflects that. And it helps that their fanbase is rewarded for staying onboard like this:
If they keep this messaging and delivery consistent, then the next part of gaming could be a very exciting time for all of us.
