They got right down to discussing what everybody came to hear about: the upgraded XBox One formerly known as Scorpio, now referred to as the XBox One X. The machine will be out November 7, 2017 at a cost of $499. The trailer below contains no game footage, just hype for the product. Also, existing games for the XBox One will get free 4K upgrades on X, similar to what Sony has done for the PS4 Pro.
Given recent cringeworthy comments from a higher-up at Sony, it’s a relief to see Microsoft’s continued devotion to backwards compatibility. At E3 they announced they will soon be expanding their BC program to include discs for the original XBox. No specific titles have been revealed yet, but a few Halos and a handful of Rare games (which were already remastered for Rare Replay) should be a given.
https://youtu.be/Dokpy_KIuyA?list=PL0il2l-B_Wwa6GfRKWiQ_ARje9-QwB7Qc
When the game footage began rolling we got to see what XOX graphics look like. Forza Motorsport 7 came first, since cars are some of the nicest-looking things to render on new hardware. It’s actually coming out one month before the XOX is, but will take full advantage of the new hardware once it’s accessible, running at 60FPS while displaying in 4K.
Ori and the Blind Forest, one of the big reasons to own an XBox, is getting a sequel titled Ori and the Will of the Wisps. Assuming this is running on XBox One X hardware, it’s an even better graphical showcase than Forza 7.
https://youtu.be/Dj-2Q4nCMAw
Square’s offering? Life Is Strange: Before The Storm, a prequel to the original revealing how the characters met. It’s been confirmed that Dontnod Entertainment (the studio behind the original) is working on a sequel, but this isn’t it. Instead it’s a different game being created by Deck Nine Games, a studio based out of Denver. Reportedly Dontnod’s sequel does not use any of the original characters. But you can meet them again here….
https://youtu.be/Nq_Q77bJ3H0
Is it necessary for Minecraft to be capable of a graphical upgrade when displayed on the Xbox One X? Not really, but Microsoft owns the brand and can do whatever they want with it. Fortunately, they know not to mess with the mega-popular formula too much. Minecraft will still boast cross-play between the original PC version, the tablet app version and consoles. By “consoles” they mean every console that will allow it. Guess what….the XBox One version and the Switch version will be cross-compatible. Krazy!
Here’s a new peek at Rare’s Sea of Thieves, the long-awaited open-world online pirate adventure from Rare. Enjoy nine minutes of simulated gameplay with a fourth-wall-breaking old salt providing commentary. It’s expected in early 2018, but another delay wouldn’t surprise us.
Tired of Assassin’s Creed yet? Ubisoft will tell you when you’ve had enough! Thanks to leaks, just about everyone in the audience knew this game was coming, but even without the name revealed ahead of time, Assassin’s Creed has been an annual franchise for quite some time. Not a shock, this one.
If nothing particularly interested you, it’s far from over. Tomorrow Sony will be showing their cards, followed by Nintendo the morning after.
