Industry Context and Expectations
Indie Games Rise, Over the weekend, the annual gaming preview marathon showcased a multitude of new titles. Despite an industry grappling with layoffs and uncertainty about its future, anticipation for blockbuster reveals was notably low this year.
Microsoft Steals the Spotlight
An Impressive Showcase
Microsoft concluded the main events with an impressive showcase, while Call of Duty fans enjoyed an extended preview of the upcoming Black Ops 6 set in the 1990s. Although the lines between console exclusives are increasingly blurred, the showcase season wouldn’t be complete without the perennial debate over which company “won.” Most agreed that Microsoft delivered a robust presentation.
Addressing Recent Challenges
This was crucial for Microsoft, as Xbox’s 2024 has so far been overshadowed by headlines about mass layoffs and the closure of four in-house studios. The showcase didn’t address these issues directly but highlighted Microsoft’s significant influence in the AAA games industry following its $65 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
Key Highlights
Freed from merger restrictions, Microsoft kicked off with a montage from Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, followed by a dedicated preview. The action continued with a trailer for Doom: The Dark Ages and featured flagship franchises like Warcraft, Diablo, Elder Scrolls Online, and the revitalized Fallout 76. It felt like a greatest hits reel, underscored by the closing preview of a new Gears of War game, featuring Gary Jules’s “Mad World,” a nod to the original 2006 game’s influential trailer—a full-circle moment.
Fans also glimpsed titles like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Fable, the Perfect Dark reboot, and Ukraine-developed STALKER 2. While critics might argue the showcase lacked variety, focusing heavily on open-world action, RPGs, and first-person shooters, fans noted that these are the genres that built Xbox’s brand. The diversity in characters was also praised, with many games featuring female protagonists and ethnic minorities as main characters.
Shifting the Conversation
Microsoft’s gaming division has faced accusations of lacking direction, raising questions about Xbox’s future and the survival of its studios. However, for one night, it successfully shifted the conversation back to its games. The upcoming Gears of War will be the first in the series on Xbox Game Pass, aiming to overcome the poor reception of last year’s Modern Warfare III campaign.
BBC Newsbeat covered the weekend’s hours of announcement livestreams to highlight key moments.
Summer Game Fest: Underpromised and Delivered
Keighley’s Cautious Approach
Host Geoff Keighley warned fans that the Summer Game Fest showcase would be a “light” affair with no big surprises, a promise largely kept. Apart from a guest appearance by Remedy Entertainment’s Sam Lake announcing new content for Alan Wake 2, the event lacked major revelations.
Notable Mentions
Notable mentions included Civilization VII, a new Sonic game, and the announcement that Valorant is coming to consoles. We also saw brief previews of Harry Potter Quidditch Championship, a star-studded trailer for Killer Bean, and the first games from horror movie studio Blumhouse, including a new title from Bafta-winning game director Sam Barlow.
Sony and Lego Collaboration
Sony and Lego announced their collaboration based on PlayStation’s Horizon series will also come to PC and Nintendo Switch, but not Xbox.
2024: The Year of Indie Games
Breakout Success Stories
This year 2024, most breakout success stories, such as Palworld, Helldivers II, and Animal Well, have come from smaller studios. The Xbox showcase’s perceived sameness was balanced by a variety of indie trailerfests. Dedicated streams highlighted women-led games, titles from Latin American developers, and Wholesome Direct, celebrating “uplifting, compassionate, cozy games.”
Innersloth’s New Initiative
Among Us developer Innersloth unveiled Outersloth, a funding project to help indie developers. Outerloop Games, creators of Thirsty Suitors, is among the first to receive funding. Co-founder Chandana Ekanayake praised the initiative for supporting indie studios seeking alternatives to traditional publishing deals.
Tempering Expectations
Pre-Showcase Rumors
Rumors and speculation fueled pre-showcase hype, with mixed results. A rumored Microsoft handheld didn’t appear, though Xbox boss Phil Spencer hinted at future hardware announcements. New releases in the Resident Evil franchise and Borderlands 4 were absent, though we saw a brief clip from the upcoming movie adaptation.
A Vibrant and Evolving Landscape
Despite the industry’s challenges, this weekend highlighted a vibrant and evolving gaming landscape.
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