Microsoft and Bethesda show off the next 12 months for Xbox and PC - The UpStream

Hero Image

Microsoft and Bethesda show off the next 12 months for Xbox and PC

posted Monday Jun 13, 2022 by Scott Ertz

Microsoft and Bethesda show off the next 12 months for Xbox and PC

Rounding out the Summer Games Fest 2022, Microsoft showed off what they and Bethesda feel will be the biggest draws for the next 12 months at the Xbox & Bethesda Showcase. There were a lot of major announcements from studios from Activision to Riot Games - and even Rick and Morty creator Justin Roiland. However, the games were not the only major aspect of the presentation.

Platform Focus

The major takeaway from this year's Xbox & Bethesda Showcase is that platforms are a big part of the company's future.

Cloud Gaming

While the focus was on the games, the biggest takeaway was that Microsoft's Cloud Gaming (Project xCloud) is a big part of the company's future. In fact, nearly every game that was shown off or announced was shown to support Cloud Gaming. This is important for two reasons, both of which involve expanding the Xbox brand beyond the Xbox consoles. The first is because it brings the full gaming experience to lower end devices, including older desktops and laptops.

The second is because it also brings the experience to devices that are not directly designed for it, including smartphones and TVs. We know that Microsoft has been working on a Cloud Gaming-focused streaming device for a few years, and this week they announced that 2022 Samsung smart TVs would also support Cloud Gaming. This would make the Xbox ecosystem more accessible to a wider audience than any other gaming platform.

Game Pass

The other aspect of platforms that was a focus for the company was Game Pass. As with Cloud Gaming, nearly every game that was shown off o announced will be available on Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass. To purchase all of the nearly 40 titles that were on display would cost $2280, assuming each title is $60. However, to purchase the next 12 months of Game Pass Ultimate costs only $180. This is a major discount, and you get the games on day 1, same as if you were to purchase them outright. Plus, there are tons of other games already available and other titles coming in the future.

The Games

Some major games were shown off during the Xbox & Bethesda Showcase. Some were completely new. Some were updates on known projects. One was just a tease about something that will be announced later. However, these games certainly created a lot of hype.

Redfall (Bethesda)

The game seems like an interesting mix between Left4Dead and Stranger Things. It's a 4-player co-op title, but instead of fighting zombies, you're fighting vampires. The game takes place in an island town where the water has been pushed back, so you're seemingly still trapped but you have more space in which to explore and fight.

Redfall will be coming to Xbox, PC, Cloud, and Steam in 2023.

Hollow Knight: Silksong

The game appears to be a ninja bunny in a Limbo-style game. The studio describes it as "lethal acrobatic action" for main character Hornet. The game takes place after Hornet is captured and taken to a distant land with the goal of ascending to the peak of a haunted kingdom.

Hollow Knight: Silksong will be coming to Xbox, PC, and Cloud in the next 12 months.

HIGH ON LIFE (Squanch Games)

From the same odd mind that created Rick & Morty and Solar Opposites, Justin Roiland, comes HIGH ON LIFE. The game is a first person shooter with the same visuals and humor as the popular Adult Swim series. As fans might expect, each weapon has its own name and personality, even speaking to you to give you advice. If you enjoy either of these shows, you'll almost certainly enjoy this game.

HIGH ON LIFE is coming to Xbox, PC, and Cloud in October 2022.

A Plague Tale: Requiem

Clearly a follow up to the A Plague Tale franchise. The game has a very Assassin's Creed look and feel to it, while focusing on a different situation. You'll follow Amicia and her brother Hugo on their journey through a world that doesn't care about them.

A Plague Tale: Requiem comes to Xbox, PC, and Cloud in 2022.

Forza Motorsport

The latest entry in the popular franchise will bring a host of new features. The most immediately noticeable is the implementation of dynamic time-of-day, a feature that allows the entire environment to change as the day progresses. This includes lighting, ambient temperature, and more. This will affect visibility, tire grip, etc.

The game also improves its physics simulation by 48x, which helps to implement the time-of-day feature. It also feeds into the car damage reproduction. This feature brings unbelievable realism, including tracking individual scratches and the long-term damage, including dirt buildup.

Players will also be able to fully customize their vehicles, with features like tire management and detailed individual components. This makes your vehicle fully customizable, personalizing the experience in a way that previous games did not.

Forza Motorsport comes to Xbox, PC, Cloud, and Steam in Spring 2023.

Forza Horizon 5: Hot Wheels

This is an exciting partnership brought back to reality. The game will be getting access to Hot Wheels cars and tracks, expanding the experience beyond the traditional gameplay once again. You'll be able to get all of the traditional controls and gameplay, while implementing the famous orange and blue tracks we used on our toy cars.

Forza Horizon 5: Hot Wheels will be available for Xbox, PC, Cloud, and Steam July 18, 2022.

Microsoft Flight Simulator - Halo Infinite

This free add-on to the popular flight sim brings the world and ships of Halo into your hands. Now you can fly the ships through the world and space, just as we have always wanted. This add-on is available now.

Ara: History Untold

This is a new turn-based strategy game, focused on building and developing a civilization. The game has real Age of Empires feel, and that's a good thing. The graphics are high and looks to be a lot of fun for turn-based strategy fans.

The game will be coming to PC and Steam, and an Insider Program is available now.

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn

In the medieval fantasy fighter, the gods have released a pestilence on the land, and it is your responsibility to help clean it up. The visuals are beautiful, and the game includes some truly bonkers characters and amazing gameplay.

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn comes to Xbox, PC, and Cloud early 2023.

The Last Case of Benedict Fox

In this 3D platform puzzle game, you'll relive your father's memories. If that sounds like Fragments for HoloLens, you're right. Except, in this case, the memory powers seem to be coming from a spirit rather than from technology. Also, as it is a platformer, you'll be watching from a third-person view instead of first-person. The visuals are also a little cartoonish, in a Fortnite kind of way, which makes it a more playful title.

The Last Case of Benedict Fox will be available for Xbox, PC, and Cloud Spring 2023.

As Dusk Falls

This title takes a very different approach to gameplay and storytelling. From what we see, the game appears to run similarly to a choose your own adventure book, while looking like a comic book. Innovative storytelling can lead to an amazing experience but can also be dangerous. We all remember what happened with Mirror's Edge.

As Dusk Falls comes to Xbox, PC, Cloud, and Steam July 19, 2022.

Sea of Thieves - Captains of Adventure

The Season 7 announcement, which comes in the form of a sea shanty, reveals some long-wanted features. You can soon become the captain of your own ship and take full control of it. You can customize the details of the ship, decorate your chambers, and even name the ship. You also have the ability to collect special treasures which can be displayed in your ready room. The game also adds new ways to sell loot, making it easier.

Sea of Thieves - Captains of Adventure will be available on Xbox, PC, Cloud, and Steam July 21, 2022.

Starfield

Bethesda has taken the role-playing game genre into space, bringing with it a ton of new details. As you would expect, you can create your own character, using the most detailed designer the company has ever made. You can customize your look, choose your personality, and then expand through secondary features. You can also use that customization to design your own ship. Not only do you get the customize the design, but you also get to then fly that ship throughout the game.

At the end of flying, you'll need to land. You can land on any point on any of the thousands of planets in the game's universe. That gives the game a very unique aspect, in that you can truly play exactly as you want. You are given a unique amount of freedom to explore the universe and play as you want.

Starfield is coming to Xbox, PC, Cloud, and Steam in 2023.

Other Games

To learn more about all of the games that were announced, you can head over to our full playlist featuring the entire presentation and the individual segments.

Advertisement

Login to CommentWhat You're Saying

Be the first to comment!

We're live now - Join us!
PLUGHITZ Keyz

Email

Password

Forgot password? Recover here.
Not a member? Register now.
Blog Meets Brand Stats