Road to E3: Will Microsoft be able to get back on its feet thanks to the exclusives?

Road to E3: Will Microsoft be able to get back on its feet thanks to the exclusives?

Since its first official presentation, the latest addition to the Microsoft home console family has had to face endless problems that have heavily compromised its sales in the short and long term. From the disastrous marketing campaigns to the many mistakes made and titles canceled out of the blue, all contributed to placing Xbox One at a heavy disadvantage compared to its competitors. Clearly, the Redmond company has not been left with its hands on its hands and on the contrary, it is still trying to overturn the situation that has arisen with tests of strength which however appear to most as small pushes that nothing can do when there is surrounded by a Playstation 4 that grinds exclusives of the highest level and by a Nintendo Switch that has proved capable of amaze the whole world. What better time than E3 2018 in Los Angeles to show all their fans what the future has in store for them? There is now just under a month to go until the most important videogame event of the year arrives and, to pass the wait, we have decided to create a special entirely dedicated to what we would like to see at what we hope will turn out to be an unforgettable capable conference. to at least partially revive the fortunes of the Xbox brand.



Ori's dream and the Will of Wisps

After a first chapter that proved capable of surprising a skeptical audience to say the least, Microsoft decided to try the coup again with the presentation of a sequel potentially capable of improving everything that had been done with the older brother. After a trailer presented at E3 2017, however, Ori and the Will of Wisps it suddenly disappeared from all radar and never reappeared. What little we could see immediately gave us a sense of security, with the guys from Moon Studios eager to reproduce the same style of play as the predecessor, similar to a cool metroidvania, combined with a 2D platform-adventure structure characterized by a splendid artistic style. After being left with a dry mouth for a whole year, we do not struggle to believe that the new effort of the software house will return to make its return in the middle of E3 2018, perhaps accompanied by an official launch date that would fill our hearts with joy. .



Road to E3: Will Microsoft be able to get back on its feet thanks to the exclusives?The rebirth of Crackdown 3

Let's face it straight and round without mincing words; since its first presentation, Crackdown 3 has proved substantially unable to stir the spirits of the demanding videogame people in possession of a Microsoft console. Precisely in response to the cold feedback received from specialized critics and the public, the guys at Sumo Digital have therefore decided to postpone the release date of their creature - originally set to hit shelves all over the world immediately after the release of Xbox. One X - and take more time to be able to file and improve the many details that, pad in hand, many had left with too many perplexities, including developers. The dead silence that fell on the production has understandably scared many fans of the brand, now ready to find themselves with yet another project full of irremediably canceled potential, but for our part the total lack of news in this regard has been read more as a sign of bright hope than of impending failure. Microsoft, at present, cannot afford to lose any further ground and the term "failure" must be eradicated from its dictionary. The very fact that the project has not been completed but rather, has been able to count on additional resources donated directly by the Redmond company should make it clear how much the project is far from dead and, precisely for this reason, we sincerely hope that this E3 presents us with a Crackdown 3 in a totally different light.

Road to E3: Will Microsoft be able to get back on its feet thanks to the exclusives?A new Forza Horizon on the horizon?

One of the most important spearheads in the Microsoft playroom is undoubtedly the automobile epic Forza, divided into two net sections composed of Forza Motorsport and Forza Horizon. After seeing the arrival of the latest creature of Turn 10 Studios, or that Forza Motorsport 7 which proved capable of conquering critics and audiences, it would therefore be the right time to showcase the much talked about Forza Horizon 4 that some rumors would seem to indicate as a candidate title. in the line-up that Microsoft is preparing for its E3 conference. In this case we are talking about a work with a much less simulative aftertaste, all in order to focus rather on a more relaxed arcade approach based on immediate fun, a work that if it were to materialize following the right tracks could prove to be a target. undoubtedly centered for the Redmond company.



Road to E3: Will Microsoft be able to get back on its feet thanks to the exclusives?Rare to counterattack

The exit of the controversial Sea of ​​Thieves on Xbox One and PC has led to a violent chain reaction from an audience that would have expected more substance from the latest Rare project. Although the title actually presented solid foundations on which to rest, it took very little to see how the piratical epic of the software house suffered in terms of content, in fact presenting within it a general variety that is anything but enviable combined with a monotonous play structure capable of quickly coming to boredom. Fortunately, however, the guys at Rare seem to have taken the criticisms received very seriously and, in an attempt to re-stabilize the situation, have finally opted for a general overturning of the originally established plans for patches and updates to be developed, all in order to focus on what players have been clamoring for for weeks now. There was talk of new ships, new islands, new missions and much more, a clear stance that partly reassured the fans. What better time than E3 2018 to present to the world some thick news about their creature?

Road to E3: Will Microsoft be able to get back on its feet thanks to the exclusives?Master Chief, I choose you!

It has now been three years since our favorite Spartan returned to the screens of all owners of the latest Microsoft console, a comeback in grand style that to be honest was not able to convince everyone. In fact, Halo 5 represented a timid attempt to evolve the classic formula of the brand which, however, was only half successful. While the guys from 343 Industries were able to unearth a splendid online component, sufficiently varied to be able to offer many hours of good fun, his single-player campaign turned out to be a heavy hole in the water. Little variety and little courage represented the pillars on which the whole experience rested, a house of cards that unfortunately took very little to collapse. Having therefore reached the height of 2018, I could not identify a better time to present a new chapter of the brand, a new adventure this time capable of surprising from the beginning to the end. Xbox One needs its strong brands, high-sounding names that must necessarily show in great shape before the current generation comes to an end, IP of great importance which also includes the epic of Halo.



Road to E3: Will Microsoft be able to get back on its feet thanks to the exclusives?Will Gears of War be back in great shape?

And speaking of high-sounding names, how could I not mention Gears of War in this sea of ​​hopes that my heart has wanted to cling to? Personally, it must be said, Gears of War 4 turned out to be a bitter disappointment for me. Let's be clear, the new creature by Black Tusk Studios was firmly anchored to an effective and well-established play structure, but precisely the inability - or fear, if we want to say - to get out of the classic rails of the brand represented its greatest weakness; an experience that went too far into the past, unable to show its own unique character. The cold response received from Gears of War 4 could however be quickly removed from a new chapter of the IP that is truly capable of surprising, in fact guaranteeing an adventure with an undoubtedly familiar aftertaste but full of new and fascinating ideas. Dozens of rumors about an official presentation of the game at E3 2018 came out and, honestly, even a simple teaser would be enough to give me that light full of hope that, at present, Microsoft serves like bread.

Road to E3: Will Microsoft be able to get back on its feet thanks to the exclusives?The cyberpunk magic of The Last Night

While it is true that Microsoft needs large AAAs to be able to conquer the brightest spotlights of E3, on the other hand, it is equally fair to say that even indie works can play the lion's share, especially when you find yourself in front of creatures like The Last Night. A cyberpunk environment full of charm, a first-rate narrative component and an artistic side to scream in full pixel art style represent the perfect ingredients of what already at E3 2017 was able to show itself as one of the most appreciated surprises shown in the shores of Microsoft, an adventure still shrouded in mystery in many ways, but in any case already capable of showing a very high level character depth. In fact, almost a whole year has now passed since the last time the Odd Tales team wanted to unbutton their shirt to reveal some information about his creature, and I can't imagine his triumphant return to this new Los Angeles fair as well.

Road to E3: Will Microsoft be able to get back on its feet thanks to the exclusives?No Man's Sky 2.0

Well yes, it really is happening. After the disastrous launch that No Man's Sky he brought with him and followed by harsh months of harsh criticism, the Hello Games team tries their luck again with an updated and modernized version of their controversial creature. That the title is about to arrive on Xbox One is now well established, but what will be interesting to find out will concern the actual contents present in the final version of the experience. As you surely remember, the entire life cycle of No Man's Sky suffered mainly from a marketing campaign bordering on scam where promises and reassurances made from week to week suddenly disappeared into thin air, melted like snow in the sun. An early-access sold as a full title can certainly not please, but almost two years after that scorching failure, we may finally be about to see for ourselves what No Man's Sky could not become. Already now it has been declared that the title will present a true all-round multiplayer component, as well as other unannounced news have been ensured, which could however be shown during the Microsoft event. In this case more than ever, I am sincerely curious to find out how the whole story will evolve, a succession of announcements that I will follow at a safe distance anyway; after all, the wolf loses its fur, but not its vice.

Road to E3: Will Microsoft be able to get back on its feet thanks to the exclusives?The endless epic of Ashen

It is always reconnecting to the importance that even independent titles can possess, how could we ever forget about Ashen? After being presented in the now distant 2014, the experience of the Aurora44 house continued to keep us waiting, giving very little information, scattered trailers proved however capable of conquering a large slice of the public now feverishly waiting for everything to finally arrive on the shelves. The developers have in fact kept the utmost confidentiality on their interesting action-RPG, characterized in particular by an art-design that is nothing short of impressive, trying on several occasions to tease their fans with some not very incisive but still capable of general great noise. The interest that hovered around Ashen, however, is now beginning to wane and the many years that have passed since its very first announcement have begun to make themselves felt. So I hope this can prove to be the last year of waiting, with a final presentation during E3 2018 that can end with a definitive release date.

Road to E3: Will Microsoft be able to get back on its feet thanks to the exclusives?A Fable without Lionhead Studios

Among the sad deaths that occurred during the life cycle of our Xbox One are also the talented guys of Lionhead Studios, the creators of Fable. The multiplayer project they were developing did not in fact prove to be up to the high expectations of Microsoft, which with a violent stroke of the sponge decided to cancel everything and close the entire software house. With the sad goodbye of the team, many defined the Fable brand as dead and gone, a palpable fear that may have turned out to be unfounded. Just over the past few weeks Don Williamson, former lead engine programmer at Lionhead Studios, has in fact declared that an internal team at Microsoft would be working on an elusive Fable 4. The statement has obviously sparked the fans, who immediately pointed the finger at the boys of Playground Games, a team that already in the past claimed to have set to work on an unspecified Open-World RPG. There are many doubts and certainties are scarce, but if Fable 4 is really in development, it is not difficult to imagine his presentation in grand style during the Microsoft conference.

Road to E3: Will Microsoft be able to get back on its feet thanks to the exclusives?Is Quantum Break 2 Really Real?

I want to be clear right away, I personally believe that Quantum Break was a little misunderstood pearl, an experience of great value to which unfortunately Microsoft has not been able to give due credit, with a rather false marketing campaign and with a low profile for the public, largely forgotten about the title even before it all reached the stores. The relative commercial failure of the Remedy Entertainment work had therefore led many to believe that the IP would eventually fall into oblivion, but new and interesting developments of the story came knocking on the door, completely shuffling the cards on the table. In fact, from the beginning of May they began to follow one another a series of persistent rumors that seem to see Remedy currently working on a sequel to Quantum Break. Considering the several years that have passed since the release of the first chapter of the brand, it would not be difficult to imagine an official presentation of the title in the middle of E3 2018, a surprise that would undoubtedly make many users happy, including myself.

Road to E3: Will Microsoft be able to get back on its feet thanks to the exclusives?

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