Microsoft's E3 presentation was a firework of announcements. Although a large number of announcements were to be expected after the takeovers in recent years, the number is surprising: Halo, The Outer Worlds, Forza Horizon, Starfield and a Left 4 Dead with vampires were the stars of the show.
A new Forza Horizon
In Forza Horizon 5, Microsoft lets Mexico experience everything from deserts to canyons to jungles and historical ruins. The weather in each of the four seasons should now affect each of the areas differently. Heavy rain, for example, makes certain jungle areas impassable, the developers explain. The decisions of the players should also influence the outcome of story missions. In addition to the poster car of the fifth part, the Mercedes-AMG Project One, there are again hundreds of vehicles waiting in the fleet, which can now also be hidden as gifts by placing them on the map as a barn find. Ray tracing is also used in Forzavista mode.
On November 5th, Forza Horizon 5 will be released for buyers of the more expensive luxury editions, buyers of the standard version will have to wait four days longer. The platforms are interesting: The racing game appears for the Xbox Series S and X as well as for the PC, but here both in the Microsoft Store and on Steam.
Halo Infinite is coming this year
Halo Infinite and its free-to-play multiplayer will go on sale at the end of the year just in time for the holiday season, according to Microsoft. The company did not give an exact date and instead emphasized the changes to the multiplayer based on last year's criticism.
The Outer Worlds 2
Obisidian's spiritual successor to Fallout: New Vegas continues in a new solar system. The video material fits perfectly into the setting, a satire on capitalist activities: It parodies the structure of trailers and also reveals that the project is still in a very early phase. The publication must therefore only be expected in 2023.
Starfield will be released next year
Microsoft Starfield describes the first new universe that Bethesda created in 25 years. The sci-fi role-playing game now has a release date: it should be ready on November 11, 2022.
Redfall as Vampire-Left-4-Dead
The surprise of the show was Redfall, which Arkane Studios deals with in addition to the time loop shooter Deathloop, which has been postponed several times. Redfall also takes place on an island, but is designed as a cooperative shooter for up to three players who can choose their alter ego from four characters with different abilities. You can choose between an ex-sniper and a young woman with telekinesis.
From summer 2022, players will be able to move freely across the island city. It was not overrun by zombies, but by vampires. However, the developers have not yet shown the gameplay. Similarities to Valve's co-op classic Left 4 Dead are already clear: A vampire can pull players with a “psychic harpoon”, which sounds suspiciously like a smoker with his long pulling tongue.
Indie announcements
< p class = "p text-width"> The show was also full of smaller announcements. Psychonauts 2, for example, will be released on August 25th, the indie adventure A Plague Tale as well as Slime Rancher will receive a sequel.
The trailer for Atomic Heart also looked interesting. The title, which is not even anchored in a genre, is set in the Soviet Union in 1955, albeit in an alternative timeline, where the Internet, holograms and robots have already been invented. The setting is the factory, with which contact has been broken and the players explore as secret agent “P-3”.