Microsoft kicked off E3 2018 the right way by presenting a slew of new games in a surprisingly good press conference.  Although E3 2018 has just begun, Microsoft is firmly in the lead, after giving fans a great lineup of new stuff to get excited for.  The 2018 holiday is looking a bit weak for big Microsoft exclusives, but if promises are kept, 2019 might just be the year of the Xbox.  Without further ado, here’s all the announcements Microsoft made at their press conference.

Microsoft E3 2018 Press Conference Wrap Up

Halo Infinite

Although not much was revealed about this title, Halo: Infinite seems to be a spinoff of the main Halo franchise.  The Spartan armor we saw in the trailer seems to be a bit dated, calling back to (or taking place during) the original Halo: Combat Evolved.  We’ll have to wait a bit longer to see what the deal with this Halo title is, but my bet is on some sort of online-focused experience, be it a more traditional MMO or one based on user generated content.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps

We got another trailer for the much anticipated sequel to Ori and the Blind Forest, called Ori and the Will of the Wisps.  The trailer was full of color and looks like tons of fun, but we’ll have to wait until 2019 for this one.

Sekiro

Usually reserved for Sony’s stage, developer From Software announced their newest IP, Sekiro.  It looks like it meshes the expected combat style of their previous games like Bloodborne and Dark Souls and the samurai aesthetic of Tenchu.  We’ll have to wait until 2019 for this one, but hype levels are already exceptionally high.

The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit

The developers of Life is Strange, DontNod, are back with another heartwarming and supernatural story.  The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit looks to capture a more magical portion of childhood, trading in the sorrowful story of Life is Strange for a lighthearted adventure.  This game takes place in the same universe as Life is Strange, so it will undoubtedly be a bit trippy, emotional, and heavy with moral choices.  The game will be free to download on June 26th.

Crackdown 3

We also got a fresh trailer for Crackdown 3, as well as the new (delayed) release date of February 2019.  The game looks to be shaping up well, but I’m a bit hesitant after hearing of the lackluster demo that was shown at previous E3 shows.  Hopefully the delay will give the developers long enough to polish the game.

Nier: Automata – Become as Gods Edition

The cult hit Nier: Automata will be coming to Xbox One on June 26th, with this ultimate edition that includes previously released DLC.

Metro Exodus

Microsoft also debuted a new trailer for Metro: Exodus, the third game in the popular first person shooter franchise.  The trailer shows off one mission of the game, giving us a look at the beautiful environment and hectic action that the series is known for.  Metro: Exodus is set to launch on February 22nd, 2019.

Kingdom Hearts III

In a pretty stunning move, Microsoft re-confirmed that Kingdom Hearts III will be available on the Xbox One.  This franchise has previously been a Sony exclusive, and with hype for the third game at an unbelievable level, this is a surefire win for Microsoft.  Kingdom Hearts III is set to release on January 29th, 2019.

Sea of Thieves DLC

Fans of the recently released Sea of Thieves can look forward to new content, with two new expansion packs being announced.  A brief trailer was shown, but not too much information was detailed about what to expect from the expansions.  You can expect developer Rare to give us more info soon.

Forza Horizon 4

This is a game that I’m extremely excited for, Forza Horizon 4.  The vast open world racing game will take place in England, and feature an excess of multiplayer and solo content to enjoy.  The Xbox One X will boast 60FPS as well, providing smooth and beautiful graphical performance.  The game is available on October 2nd, 2018.  It will also be available on Xbox Game Pass the same day as release.

New Developers Joining Microsoft Studios

Microsoft also took the time to announce the acquisition of five new developers.  Notably, Playground Games (developers of Forza Horizon), Ninja Theory, and Compulsion Games have been added to the Microsoft Studios team.  They capped off this announcement with a new trailer for the long awaited game, We Happy Few, which will arrive on August 10th, 2018.

PUBG Content First on Xbox

Although multiple maps have been available on the PC version for some time, those maps have yet to see release on consoles.  Microsoft announced that PUBG will launch their additional maps on Xbox One first, which is an interesting announcement considering the game isn’t on any other platforms.  This announcement is nice, but insinuates something more notable, that PUBG will most likely be coming to the Playstation 4.  We’ll have to wait and see if confirmation occurs at Sony’s press conference.  They also teased a winter map as well.

Tales of Vesperia Definitive Edition

If there is one genre that the Xbox is consistently lacking, its the JRPG.  Thankfully, this fantastic JRPG will see a remaster on the Xbox One, hopefully giving fans a reason to hop back in.  Although the game is a bit old at this point, it’s nice to see Microsoft attempting to please gamers of all sorts, not just fans of first person shooters.  The remaster will be available sometime this winter.

Tom Clancy’s The Division 2

Ubisoft showed off their newest sequel, The Division 2.  It takes place in Washington DC, and continues the story of a deadly virus that alters civilization as we know it.  The mix of third person shooting, RPG mechanics, and cooperative play will surely keep fans entertained when the game launches on March 15th, 2019.

Fastload and More Xbox Game Pass

We also got a nice update on the Xbox Game pass, with a few new titles available right now (Elder Scrolls Online, The Division, Fallout 4).  They announced that Halo: The Master Chief Collection will appear on the service later this year as well.  Besides new games, Microsoft also announced that they are working on new technology that will boot your games twice as fast.  If you’re interested, you can check out the Xbox Game Pass with a free trial, or pony up $10 a month.

ID @ Xbox Lineup

As usual, we got a sizzle reel that highlights all the best looking indie games launching soon for Xbox One.  Of them, there are quite a few that peak my interest, but we’ll have to see more on some of these titles before I get too excited.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

We also saw a new trailer for Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the third game in the recent reboot trilogy that sees heroine Lara Croft on exciting adventures.  Things seem to be a bit heavy in the supernatural department, but that’s some of my favorite stuff in Tomb Raider, so consider me excited.  The game launches on September 14th, 2018.

Session

There was a nice teaser trailer for a skating game called Session, which seems to borrow from the more realistic Skate franchise.  No release date has been announced yet.

Devil May Cry 5

Capcom popped up for the announcement of Devil May Cry 5, and there was a lengthy trailer to accompany the announcement.  Fans of demon slaying, high octane action, and stylish graphics are sure to be in for a treat.  The game is set to launch in Spring 2019.

Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course

Indie darling Cuphead got a DLC announcement, with The Delicious Last Course containing a new playable character, new bosses, and new upgrades.  The new content will be launching sometime in 2019.

Tunic

This indie game looks like an isometric take on Zelda, except you play as a cute and boxy fox.  The crisp graphics and charming nature look to be a winning combo, but we’ll have to wait a while longer to play it.

Jump Force

Anime fans rejoice, as your favorite Shonen Jump characters will be battling it out in a new crossover fighting game!  Characters from shows like Naruto, One Piece, and Dragonball Z will be battling it out in this fantastic looking fighter.  It will be available at some point in 2019.

Dying Light 2

Developer Techland showed up to announce Dying Light 2, the sequel to their parkour/zombie slaying/loot based first person shooter.  The sequel will focus on player choices that drastically change the environment, as well as an even more important day and night cycle.  There is no release date for the game yet.

Battletoads

Although the announcement was sparse on details, we have confirmation that a new Battletoads game is in the works!  Fans and the internet at large have been clamoring for a sequel, and despite hints at the game’s existence for the past few years, this announcement completely took me by surprise.  The beat ’em up will feature three player couch coop, as well as a hefty amount of humor.  It launches sometime in 2019.

Just Cause 4

If the realism of games like Grand Theft Auto and Watch Dogs put you off, but you like the mayhem they provide, then Just Cause is the game series for you.  We got a look at the fourth installment in this wacky destruction-based series, and it’s looking better than ever.  Few franchises provide such an unfiltered and excessive action experience as Just Cause, and I’m super excited to hop back in.  It launches on December 4th, 2018.

3 New Gears of War Games

The Gears of War franchise game out swinging with three new game announcements.  First, you can play a cutesy mobile version of Gears with Gears Pop, a very unexpected crossover between the Gears of War franchise and the excessively collected Funko Pop figurine brand.  I’m not exactly sure how this will work out, but considering its a mobile game, I wouldn’t hold my breath for anything super exciting.

There’s also a more tactical Gears of War title coming called Gears of War: Tactics.  Although not much was said about the game, we got a good chunk of gameplay to check out.  It basically looks like a Gears version of X-COM, which is something fans should get excited for.

We also got our first look at Gears of War 5, which is looking better than ever.  There seems to be a focus on frozen landscapes, which will most likely push the weather system to the max.  We’ll definitely see more on this at E3 2019, as Gears of War 5 is set to launch sometime in 2019.

Cyberpunk 2077

Fans of The Witcher 3 should start getting excited, as we got the first look at developer CD Projekt Red’s newest game, Cyberpunk 2077.  The cinematic trailer showed off the futuristic world, and was full of incredible tech, inventive violence, and some truly awe inspiring visuals.  There’s no release date yet, but some speculate that it will launch in late 2019.  Definitely keep your eyes on this one, as it’s shaping up to be a real heavy hitter.

That’s it!  Besides a few small details, that’s pretty much the entirety of what Microsoft had to show at E3.  We’ll definitely see more information on some of these games as the week continues, whereas some will have at least another year in the dark.  Either way, Microsoft absolutely knocked it out of the park this year, with a great number of exclusives, new announcements, and a variety of content for gamers of all sorts.

Keep tuned to the site and our social media for more E3 2018 news!  You can also check out our Youtube and watch along with us for select conferences!