Xbox E3 2016 Conference Recap

Xbox E3 2016 Conference Recap

Xbox head honcho, Phil Spencer takes to the stage to introduce the newest member of the Xbox family. The Xbox One Slim. The new model will be 40% smaller than the original, and will also come with a new controller that has increased range,bluetooth connectivity and an ergonomic grip on the back. To a great reaction, Spencer then reveals that the Xbox One S will support 4K video and the new console will cost less than $300. 

Gears of War 4

Gears of War 4 will be one of the very first games to be a part of the Xbox Play Anywhere program. The new initiative means that you will only have to buy the game once, in order to play it on your Xbox One or your Windows 10 PC. You now have the ability to save your game on the Xbox and pick up from where you left off on your Windows 10 PC.

Gears 4 will also come with cross-platform play in the co-operative campaign, multiplayer and the all new hoard mode. Along with this title, a limited edition Wireless Elite Controller has been created. Covered in blood, the new controller is the perfect way to enjoy the game.

Gears 4 will be released on October 11th 2016.

Killer Instinct

The ever popular fighting game receives great applause from the audience. Sticking with the theme of Gears of War, the KI team reveal their latest addition to a packed roster of well-known characters from across various Xbox franchises. General Raam will be the newest member of the Killer Instinct character roster and is available right now!

Forza Horizon 3

Ralph Fulton walks onto the stage to announce the latest instalment in the Forza Horizon series. Also available on Xbox Play Anywhere, the new racer will be set in Australia, in a map which is twice the size of the previous title, Forza Horizon 2.

For the first time in the franchise, there will be a four-player co-op campaign, so you can race with your friends with one press of a button. The game will come with 350 cars at launch, with many more to be added as DLC throughout the year.

The game is scheduled to be released on September 27th. 

Final Fantasy 15

The iconic action role-playing game returns to console this year with yet another visual masterpiece from developer, Square Enix. The 15th title in the franchise will be set on Eos, a planet similar to Earth and will consist of both open world elements and battle sequences similar to the Kingdom Hearts series.

The current release date for FFXV is September 30th. 

Tom Clancy's The Division

The latest expansion for Ubisoft's popular shooter has been revealed. The Underground expansion will see the Division Agents take on opposition in the deserted underground infrastructure of New York.

The expansion will be available first on Xbox One on June 28th. 

Battlefield 1

At EA Play in Los Angeles, gamers across the world got a first look at Battlefield 1. The WW1 shooter is set to be one of the biggest releases of 2016, with a lot of expectations for its 64 vs 64 multiplayer battles. On October 13th, Xbox players with EA Access will be able to play Battlefield 1 a week earlier than everyone else. 

For those without an Xbox and EA Access, Battlefield 1 is slated for release on October 21st. 

Xbox Live

Xbox Live has been the hub for online gaming since 2002 and has paved the way for online console gaming from the outset. Today, Microsoft revealed the next step for Xbox Live, as they announced a series of upcoming feature to improve the user’s multiplayer experience, including, the addition of increased dedicated servers and the introduction of background music, so you can now listen to your favourite music while gaming at the same time. Also announced was the introduction of the Language Region Choice, so players can select a different language to the region they are currently located in.

Coming this autumn, Microsoft also announced Xbox Live Clubs. A social hub for players to discuss and join players who share similar interests. In addition to this, there will be a "Looking for Group" feature. Players will have the ability to look for fellow FIFA enthusiasts or Minecraft creators, as Xbox Live becomes even more social.

Xbox have always been at the core of console eSports. The brand new Xbox Live arena will enable players to compete in a diverse variety of titles, whether it's on your own or as a team. During this announcement, it was revealed that EA will be bringing several titles to the XBL Arena, including FIFA.

Minecraft

One of the most iconic games of our generation, Microsoft and Mojang have definitely been busy. New levels of cross-network play enable even more connectivity between players. Players on Pocket Edition on iPad and Microsoft Surface can play with others who are on their Xbox One. Also revealed was the addition of dedicated servers. Even when players are offline, people can still connect to your world and continue playing. After blowing minds with the HoloLens last year, players can now immerse themselves in Minecraft, with VR headset capabilities.

The focus of the demo seemed to be heavily featured on the Pocket Edition of the game, with the announcement that texture packs will also be coming to Pocket Edition and Windows 10. The direction of Minecraft seems to be heading to a "fully moddable future" which has the potential to be amazing!

Xbox Design Lab

Customisable controllers have become a must have accessory over recent years. Now Xbox have taken the plunge with the Xbox Design Lab. You can create your unique Xbox One controller. With over 8 million possible combinations, your controller can truly represent you.

ID@Xbox

The indie support program, founded by Microsoft, has enable some of the best indie games to be published on one of the biggest consoles around. Inside is a new title created by the developers of Limbo and will be available on June 29th, free for all Xbox Live Gold members. In addition to this, Microsoft s also revealed that popular title Ark: Survival Evolved will join Xbox Play Anywhere later in the year.

One of the more interesting titles from the conference is We Happy Few. Set in 1960s England, people appear to be under the influence of a pill named ‘Joy’. The main protagonist refuses to take the pill and has an entirely different perspective on the world that he lives in. The game will be available first on Xbox Game Preview.

Gwent

The iconic card game within The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt seems to have a few fans! CD Projekt Red have been working on their "secret passion" since numerous fans have become such huge supporters of Gwent. The game will have cross-platform play between Xbox and Windows 10 PC. There will be a closed beta coming in September and if you want to be involved, check out playgwent.com for all the details.

Tekken 7

The popularity of fighting games over the past years have rocketed. The classic 1 vs 1 combat will be combined with all new cut-scenes featuring some iconic characters from the series. For Xbox Live Gold members, Tekken Tag Tournament 2 is FREE this week, so get your hands on it while you can!

The game is currently slated for release in early 2017.

Dead Rising 4

An unusually seasonal trailer appeared on screen before snow started falling on the audience! Frank West is officially back. The ultimate zombie slayer returns with the same classic gameplay and even more outlandish and innovative ways to slay the undead. The game will be able to be played on both Xbox One and Windows 10 PC.

Dead Rising 4 is scheduled for release this Christmas.

Sea of Thieves

Developer Rare Studios call it their most ambitions title to date. Sea of Thieves is all about being a pirate, which means hunting for buried treasure, sailing your ship with fellow players and fighting enemy crews trying to steal your loot. Sea of Thieves will be on Xbox Play Anywhere but there is still no news on a release date.

Scalebound

From critically acclaimed developers Platinum Games, Scalebound puts players in a world where your character and dragon fight some incredible monsters in large-scale fights. Co-op play enables other players to tackle some of the largest bosses ever seen on a console title. The next great adventure will be available on Xbox Play Anywhere and is set to be one of the most anticipated titles on Xbox.

Halo Wars 2

The rumours have been confirmed. The sequel to the popular RTS is here! Developed by 343 Industries and Creative Assembly, the game will be available on Xbox Play Anywhere and will be playable on both Xbox One and Windows 10 PC. Going on right now, there's a week-long open beta, which will run until June 20th.

The game is scheduled for release on February 27th 2017. 

Project Scorpio

Dubbed the most powerful console ever made, Project Scorpio was revealed to the world by Phil Spencer to conclude the conference. Fitted with a whopping 8-core processor and a ridiculously powerful graphics card, Project Scorpio looks to be the console that both developers and players have been waiting for.

Built with 4K gaming in mind, Fallout 4 will be able to run in 4K at 60hz. Although there is no news on a price, Project Scorpio is looking to be the console that changes how we view video games.

A lot of new titles and two brand new consoles, the Xbox conference has pulled some hefty punches. Over to you Sony.

What did you think of the Xbox conference? Let us know in the comments below!

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