With E3 behind us, Microsoft decided to delve deeper into its recently announced updates and titles at a post-event Xbox Games Showcase. Not only did we see more gameplay from upcoming Xbox games, but we also got more information on the decisions and work behind the scenes on certain titles, along with a few release date reminders and some surprises. We look at some of the biggest announcements from the recent Xbox Games Showcase.
Forza Horizon 5 early access
Forza Horizon 5 is already a must-have for racing game fans and now they can get early access if they so choose. By purchasing the premium edition or the premium edition add-ons, players will be able to play the new Forza days before its November 9 holiday season release.
Xbox Design Lab is back for the Xbox Series X Generation
After a short hiatus, Microsoft has confirmed that Xbox Design Lab is officially back, which will now allow Xbox Series X/S owners to design the controller of their dreams. While there are two featured designs based on Psychonauts 2 and Grounded, those interested can now go to the Xbox Design Lab website to create theirs now!
Age of Empires 4
While everyone is looking forward to the new Age of Empires 4, the team is still looking out for players of the older titles as well. Age of Empires 2 is receiving an update that adds two more civilisations, the Bohemians and the Pulse, and three new campaigns. This expansion can be paid for separately, but it also comes free to those who pre-order Age of Empires 4. Age of Empires 3 will also receive an expansion of the future featuring new civilisations and campaigns, though they aren’t ready to be detailed just yet.
Age of Empires 4 also revealed its remaining launch civilisations, the Holy Roman Empire and the Rus, as well as its campaigns, “The Rise of Moscow” and “The Mongol Empire.” This gives the title a total of eight civilisations and four campaigns on launch.
Xbox Game Pass
Microsoft has also announced a whole slate of games that will be joining Xbox Game Pass today, with 11 new titles available on the subscription service via Xbox and PC. The lion’s share comes from Bethesda, which adds 10 more titles to the service, in addition to the 20 Bethesda titles added to the service since it was acquired by Microsoft earlier this year. Six of these titles will also be accessible via Xbox, PC, and xCloud. PC players will also have access to Fallout: New Vegas starting today.
Here’s the full list of newly announced Xbox Game Pass games:
- Arx Fatalis (PC)
- Fallout (PC)
- Fallout 2 (PC)
- Fallout: Tactics (PC)
- Fallout 3 (console, PC, Cloud)
- Fallout: New Vegas (PC)
- Dishonored: Death of the Outsider (console, PC, Cloud)
- The Evil Within 2 (console, PC, Cloud)
- Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus (console, PC, Cloud)
- RAGE (console, PC, Cloud)
- Doom (2016) (console, Cloud)
- Yakuza: Like A Dragon (console, PC, Cloud)
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