Microsoft’s E3 2017 Press Conference Reaction

Microsoft’s E3 2017 conference has ended, and thankfully it did not disappoint. There was truly something for everyone this year, as Phil Spencer spent most of his time showcasing all the new games that will be playable on the Xbox family.

Speaking of which, the Scorpio was formally announced as the Xbox One X, the most powerful gaming console ever made. This is the first time a console will be capable of playing games at native 4k resolution at 60 fps. The $499 price tag is also very fair, as thing is is powerful enough to go toe-to-toe with many high end gaming PCs. All Xbox One games will play better on this new beast – not just ones releasing after its inception.

However, Microsoft needed games more than anything, and they didn’t disappoint here either. They started the conference with the gorgeous Forza Motorsport 7 running on the Xbox One X. While it was visually impressive, it certainly wasn’t anything unexpected. Metro: Exodus certainly was though, and the trailer showcased the gorgeous visuals made possible by the new hardware while exciting series’ fans. The trailer showed off some exploration and combat, which looked very impressive.

Sea of Thieves and Crackdown 3 also got more attention, and both are looking to live up to the hype. The new Crackdown 3 trailer even featured Terry Crews, so hopefully he will be a voice actor in the final version of the game. Sea of Thieves had more of a gameplay trailer that focused on team based treasure hunting and ship combat. This was one of the best parts of the conference, as the players in the demo had to follow clues on a map to find the treasure and then make it back to their ship. This could easily end up being one of the best online multiplayer games on the system if this trailer is any indication of the final product.

Lots of PC games are coming to Xbox One as well. Player Unknown Battlegrounds and Black Desert were two of these, and it’s nice to see that more of these big games will be made possible on console due to the power of the Xbox One X. It’s not just PC games that are making the move, however, as many Japanese titles are getting some spotlight. A new Dragonball Z fighting game from Arc System Works called Dragon Ball Fighters Z and it looks intense, and will feature high-octane 2D battles, as well as 3 vs. 3 gameplay. The trailer showcased Frieza, Cell, Majin Buu, Goku, Vegeta, and Gohan. Code Vein will also be releasing on the console, which is a game focused around anime vampires.

Microsoft made sure to touch on a plethora of indie projects as well courtesy of the ID @ Xbox program. There was a sizzle reel featuring games like Ooblets, however the big ones got their own spotlight time. The highly anticipated Cuphead finally got a release date of September 29th, which is something that many fans have been waiting years for. The new trailer showed off some seriously cool boss fights as well, which is nice considering there hasn’t been any new information on the game in months. The developers of Gone Home are also releasing their new game, Tacoma, on August 2nd.

Now for some of the big announcements. Minecraft will being going fully multi-platform, with 4k on Xbox One X, meaning that iPad and Switch players will be able to play with Xbox One owners. The backwards compatibility program has also been extended to include original Xbox games, which came as a pleasant surprise. The Xbox had a ton of great titles that will make a great fit on the Xbox One, so it’s definitely a welcome addition. Ori and the Blind Forest is also getting a sequel called Ori and the Will of the Wisps, which was easily the most visually stunning game of the presentation. This one is sure to be a fantastic title, as the original is easily one of the best games on the system. Super Lucky’s Tale, a 3D platformer with an adorable fox as its main character, will also be coming to the system on November 7th. Fans of platformers are sure to enjoy this one, as it looks to be every bit as charming as a Nintendo title.

The conference ended with an awesome gameplay showcase of Bioware’s new IP, Anthem. The trailer showed a team of two players equipping robot suits and flying into an alien jungle landscape. They fought off some creatures and got some new weapons, which confirmed that it will include a loot system. It plays like a traditional third-person shooter during combat, so there are still many questions about the gameplay that need to be answered. Other than that, the trailer looked incredible, and Anthem is easily one of the most exciting games of this year’s conference.

Overall, the Microsoft presentation was fantastic. The Xbox One X is shaping up to be the most fully-featured home console on the market, and the plethora of newly announced games (including exclusives) is what Microsoft needed. There were a variety of other games shown that this overview didn’t cover, so the list doesn’t end here. Keep it at Goomba Stomp for all the best E3 opinion pieces and coverage!