MICROSOFT have kicked off their Xbox 20/20 programme with an Inside Xbox Livestream unveiling more than a dozen new games coming to the Xbox Series X.
The console is still apparently on track for release in the lead-up to Christmas, despite the chaos COVID-19 has been causing to the world at large.
Microsoft have said the Inside Xbox episode will kick off Xbox 20/20, “a way to engage, connect and celebrate with our global community about what is in store for the next generation of gaming. Each month will bring something different but will feature our biggest news about Xbox Series X, Xbox Game Studios, Xbox Game Pass and Project xCloud”.
As part of the livestream, 13 new games were officially confirmed as being optimised for the Xbox Series X:
- Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (Ubisoft)
- Bright Memory Infinite (Playism)
- Call of the Sea (Raw Fury)
- Chorus (Deep Silver)
- DiRT 5 (Codemasters)
- Madden NFL 21 (Electronic Arts)
- Scarlet Nexus (Bandai Namco Entertainment)
- Scorn (Ebb)
- Second Extinction (Systemic Reaction)
- The Ascent (Neon Giant / Curve Digital)
- The Medium (Bloober Team)
- Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 (Paradox Interactive)
- Yakuza: Like a Dragon (SEGA)
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Call of the Sea, Chorus, DiRT 5, Scarlet Nexus, Second Extinction, The Ascent, Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines 2 and Yakuza: Like A Dragon have all been confirmed as using the Smart Delivery mechanism, meaning you only have to buy the game once and it will download the appropriate version for whichever console you’re using.
Here’s some info on the announced games, courtesy of (and directly from) Xbox Wire:
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: (Ubisoft)
In
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, become Eivor, a legendary Viking raider on a quest
for glory. Explore a dynamic and beautiful open world set against the brutal
backdrop of England’s Dark Ages. Raid your enemies, grow your settlement, and
build your political power in the quest
to earn a place among the gods in Valhalla.
Bright Memory Infinite (Playism)
Bright Memory: Infinite is an all-new lightning-fast fusion of the FPS and action genres,
created by FYQD-Studio. Combine a wide variety of skills and abilities to
unleash dazzling combo attacks. Bright
Memory: Infinite is set in a sprawling, futuristic metropolis in the year
2036.
A strange phenomenon for which scientists
can find no explanation has occurred in the skies
around the world. The Supernatural Science Research Organization (SRO) has sent
agents out to various
regions to investigate this phenomenon. It is soon discovered that these
strange occurrences are
connected to an archaic mystery – an as-of-yet unknown history of two worlds,
about to come to light…
Call of the Sea (Raw Fury)
Call
of the Sea is a first-person adventure puzzle game
set in the 1930s that
tells the story of Norah, a woman on the trail of her missing husband’s
expedition. The search takes place on a strange but beautiful island in the
South Pacific, filled with secrets waiting to be unearthed. It is an otherworldly
tale of mystery, adventure, and self-discovery.
Chorus (Deep Silver)
Discover Chorus, an immersive single-player experience that tells a mature
and
dark tale of redemption. Take control of Nara, an ace pilot with a haunted past
and Forsaken, her sentient starfighter, as they embark on a personal, redemptive
journey to challenge a relentless foe and take down the dark cult that made
her. This is a true evolution of the space combat shooter.
DiRT 5 (Codemasters)
Ushering in the next generation of racing, DiRT 5 writes a new chapter in the legacy
of DiRT – bolder and braver than ever
before. New features, new innovations and a fresh approach
make DiRT 5 a hub of amplified
off-road racing, style and culture, where no two races are ever the same.
Madden NFL 21 (Electronic Arts)
EA Sports’ Madden NFL is the defining
experience for simulated NFL action, enabling fans to play out their NFL
fantasy on the virtual gridiron. For more than three decades, since the
original release of John Madden Football in 1988, Madden NFL has continued to
evolve and innovate to deliver an even more authentic and fun experience for
players. The storied franchise continues
with Madden NFL 21, which will make fans feel next level on Xbox Series X.
Scarlet Nexus (Bandai Namco Entertainment)
Take on the role of Yuito Sumeragi, a new
recruit to the OSF aiming to become an elite psionic like the one who saved him
as a child. Armed with a talent in psycho-kinesis, explore the futuristic city
of New Himuka and uncover the mysteries of a Brain Punk future
caught between technology and psychic abilities in Scarlet Nexus.
Scorn (Ebb)
Scorn is an atmospheric first-person horror
adventure game set in a nightmarish universe of
odd forms and somber tapestry. It is designed around the idea of “being
thrown into the world”. Isolated and lost inside this dream-like world,
you will explore different interconnected regions in a non-linear fashion. The
unsettling environment is a character itself. Every location contains its own
theme (story), puzzles and characters that are integral in creating a cohesive
world. Throughout the game you will open up new areas, acquire different skill
sets, weapons, various items and try to comprehend the sights presented to you.
Second Extinction (Systemic Reaction)
Second
Extinction is an intense three-player cooperative
shooter, where your goal is to wipe out the mutated dinosaurs that have taken
over the planet. Teamwork is vital as you adopt the role of one of the
survivors, using a unique combination of weapons, abilities and skills to take
on the vast number of enemies. Fight through a maelstrom of bullets, bombs,
teeth, claws and
gore – it’s up to you to reclaim Earth.
The Ascent (Neon Giant / Curve Digital)
The
Ascent is a solo and co-op action RPG set in a
cyberpunk world. The mega corporation that owns you and everyone, The Ascent
Group, has just collapsed. Confusion and chaos ensue, security and order are in
disarray, and without protection, everyone is left to fend for themselves. Stop
gangs and hostile corporations from taking over and discover what really
happened in this explosive sci-fi shooter.
The Medium (Bloober Team)
The Medium is a next-gen psychological
horror game from Bloober Team, the makers of Blair Witch, Observer, and Layers
of Fear. You play as Marianne, a medium living in two
worlds: the real and the spirit one. Haunted by a vision of a child’s murder,
you travel to an abandoned hotel resort, which many years ago became the stage
of an unthinkable tragedy. There you begin your search for difficult answers. The Medium’s soundtrack is a
collaboration between two composers – Bloober Team’s Arkadiusz Reikowski and
Akira Yamaoka of Silent Hill fame –
reflecting the game’s most important theme: duality.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 (Paradox Interactive)
What monster will you be? Enter the World
of Darkness and rise through vampire society. Experience Seattle – a city full
of alluring, dangerous characters and factions. In this sequel to the cult
classic, your choices, plots and schemes will change the balance of power.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon (Sega)
Just announced today, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, an explosive new entry point in the
acclaimed Yakuza series, will be releasing as a launch title on Xbox Series X.
We are also
excited to announce that Yakuza: Like a
Dragon will support Xbox Series X Smart Delivery immediately on release.
This means that players who purchase the Xbox One version of Yakuza: Like a Dragon will be entitled
to a free upgrade to the Xbox Series X version. Cross-save functionality
between Xbox One and Xbox Series X is also supported, so no matter when players
decide to upgrade, they never have to start over from rock bottom.
**
There’s certainly some very interesting games announced, several of which have tickled my fancy, so I’m looking forward to seeing more of them (and hopefully playing them!) in the near future.
#gameonAUS
