Special Feature: Turns Out, Microsoft Was Serious About Funding Console Exclusives
In the early Xbox One years, following the series of Xbox 180s from Microsoft’s original plans for the system, there was concern about whether the software lineup would succumb to the same issues as the preceding Xbox 360’s. The 360 started off with a great lineup of console exclusives from development studios around the world, but the number of them dwindled as the generation continued.
It was no surprise that the same thing happened with the Xbox One. But here, Xbox Head of Studios Phil Spencer gave his word that the company would fix this, though said the games wouldn’t be ready for years. It was easy to think he might have been exaggerating in 2017, or that the titles wouldn’t debut until the next-generation Xbox arrived. Fortunately, he wasn’t, as shown through the set of promising titles shown at Microsoft’s X019 conference in London. Two of them are coming to current-generation systems.
Rare is working on a new IP known as Everwild, a title that will take place with a magical world with beautiful cel-shaded visuals. The details made it clear that the project is early in development, so details are scant about precisely what this will be. Rare has been busy providing updates to live service title Sea of Thieves while also working on this, so it’s likely just getting started. But it’s good that they’re working on an intriguing new project after years of justified complaints from their userbase saying that Microsoft was utilizing the developer poorly.
Segments in the reveal trailer showed characters travelling in a group, suggesting that this could be a multiplayer game. Furthermore, the Xbox Wire article implies that it could be another live service game, which wouldn’t be surprising given Rare’s current project. Regardless of what it turns out to be, its developments could be worth keeping an eye on.
Obsidian Entertainment’s first new title for Microsoft will be Grounded, a multiplayer survival game. Here, four players who’ve been shrunken to the size of ants in a suburban backyard will have to fend for themselves against the elements, including bugs and baseballs. Players will also have to gather resources and craft gear to survive in wilderness consisting of tall grass and areas covered in weed killer.
This will be the first Obsidian game published by Microsoft since the latter acquired the former. It was in development in tandem with first-person RPG The Outer Worlds, which was funded and published by 2K Games, though Obsidian — and thus, Microsoft — owns the IP. The budget for Grounded is clearly nowhere near that game’s level, but this should mark the first step in a potentially good relationship with their new owner. The game will release in spring 2020 for Xbox One and PC.
In an even more surprising announcement: Microsoft is working with Dontnod Entertainment for a new adventure game series called Tell Me Why. The series will occur in Alaska, and focus on the experiences of two twins, Tyler and Alyson Ronan, in a story that will highlight their past, present, and future. The series will be similar in style to this same developer’s Life is Strange titles published by Square Enix.
The most interesting current detail about this project is how Tyler is a transgender man, a rarity for a video game protagonist in any genre. Neither company involved mentioned whether any trans people are involved in the game’s development, but Dontnod cooperated with LGBTQ organization GLAAD to get the characterization right. There’s concern from the trans community about the lack of direct involvement from trans people, but the character development in the LIS titles suggests the game could be fine.
Every chapter for Tell Me Why is due for a release in summer 2020 for Xbox One and PC, meaning the game should avoid Life is Strange 2’s problem of having long waits between episode releases. This level of partnership is good for Dontnod, since one of their teams likely needed another project after LIS2 completes in December. There’s another team working on Twin Mirror, a mystery thriller series being published by Bandai Namco for PS4, XB1, and PC via the Epic Games Store, also due for a release in 2020. It’s good that they’re keeping themselves busy.
Microsoft-published titles that were previously announced were dated. Ninja Theory’s multiplayer battle game Bleeding Edge will launch on March 24th for Xbox One and PC, and a closed beta will be held before that starting on February 14th. The crowdfunded Wasteland 3 from inXile Entertainment will release on May 19th on Xbox One, PC, and PlayStation 4. They’re keeping their commitment to releasing the game on PS4 following being acquired by Microsoft.
Several of Square Enix’s Final Fantasy games, from Final Fantasy VII to XV, are coming to Xbox Game Pass staring this holiday season. It’s a bigger deal that the Kingdom Hearts games prior to Kingdom Hearts III are coming to XB1 and XGP in 2020, which were peculiarly PlayStation-exclusive despite the third game always being intended for a release on the system. A KHIII demo is also now available on PS4 and XB1. Lastly, Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami, and Yakuza Kiwami 2 are coming to XB1 and XGP in 2020, which will mark the first time the series will be coming to Xbox.
Just ahead of the Google Stadia’s launch, Microsoft confirmed that Project xCloud will expand in 2020. It will allow for players to stream games available on Xbox Game Pass directly from the Cloud on the XB1 systems, and eventually Android, iOS, and Windows 10. Several controllers will also be supported, including the DualShock 4. The streaming wars will really start heating up next year.
There was little anticipation for Microsoft’s X019 conference, after the biggest news from last year’s event involved company acquisitions. They came with good software announcements to let the audience know they plan to take these shows seriously from here on, even if this particular event wasn’t on par with one of their E3 conferences. It’s good that Microsoft wasn’t fibbing when they claimed to be funding exclusives. You know, not that I didn’t believe them.
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Geoff
News Editor | Geoff is some nerd who writes for a blog and thinks he's knowledgeable. He write a lot about video games, but is capable of writing about other subjects, too. Twitter
