Microsoft & Bethesda’s Showcase Was Better Than I Expected

Well, Microsoft and Bethesda, I didn’t expect that. Not only unveiling 30 new games, all from across the multitude of studios Microsoft has slowly acquired the past few years, but also all these games will be released within the next 12 months.

Yes, you read that right. 30 new games to be released over the next 12 months. That includes Diablo IV, Redfall, Overwatch 2, Hollow Knight: Silksong…and Starfield. Finally, we can get our hands on Starfield after what feels like eons of just hearing about how “the game will be next gen” or “it is still in the development stages” or worse yet “coming soon”. Now we know exactly when it is coming: 2023.

Clearly, I’m most excited for Starfield, though that was not the only game that caught my eye. Redfall looked a lot better than the last time we saw it as there was actually gameplay footage this time. I’m hoping it is a mix of DOOM/COD/and a little Destiny 2, though that may be asking for too much. I just hope it isn’t a pay-to-win, buggy mess that I stop playing after the first three hours.

Diablo IV looked good too. With the introduction of the new Necromancer class, I will finally be able to take on Lilith and her hordes of Fallen Ones (who annoying always are running away) with hordes of undead of my own. The most interesting thing was that Diablo IV is going to be an “open world game”. Gone are the days when you would gone through one dungeon-like environment at a time.

Now, you can explore any combination of a hundred or so dungeon-environments which all converge upon one final, linear act. This game has so much potential, I really hope it is good.

Hollow Knight: Silksong and Overwatch 2 may be intersting to check out as well. Without playing the first Hollow Knight, I am going into this game blind, but also open. I’ve seen that the first game was “soulslike” (which is good) in its design, while the developers said their inspiration was, “a couple of games that we played on the NES, things like Zelda 2 or Faxanadu. You know the original Zelda,” (gamingbolt.com). While watching Silksong’s trailer, the game remined me a lot of the old Super Mario games on the Nintendo DS.

So, it seems I’m going to be pulling my hair out in frustration (a good frustration, I should add) with another “soulslike” game, while also experiencing a good dose of nostalgia with the Super Mario references (even if unintended by the developers).

A Plague Tale: Requiem was probably the wildcard that threw me off the most. I haven’t played the first Plague Tale game, so I had no idea what to expect with Requiem’s trailer. I knew the first game was good, I just didn’t think that the second would look this good.

If it plays like a Last of Us/Assassin’s Creed, has the same gameplay and graphics I saw in the trailer, and has a good story, then it might just be an outsider for Game of The Year. I almost have to play the first one now, don’t I?

Minecraft is becoming an RPG, I guess. I’m not a huge Minecraft fan but having to fight back hordes of invading pigs against my castles, bunkers, homes, skyscrapers is almost too awesome to pass up on. I’m just hoping that I can lead the mobs of villagers against the invading pigs and invade their nether portals. Would bring back some Oblivion memories.

Speaking of Oblivion, where was the ELDER SCROLLS 6! You may be wondering how long has it been since Todd Howard stood on that Bethesda E3 showcase stage and revealed that landscape trailer of the new Elder Scrolls title? 4 years. 4 LONG YEARS!

I’m starving for new Elder Scrolls content. And I’m not the only one. The chat on the XBOX watch along stream of the showcase nearly rioted when Elder Scrolls 6 was not even mentioned by Todd.

And where is an Oblivion or Morrowind remake? It’s been twenty years since Morrowind came out, and sixteen for Oblivion. If Skyrim can get 10,000 remakes, then Oblivion and Morrowind deserve at least one. I’m just glad the ESO: High Isle expansion is already out for PC and coming out June 21 for console.

Oh, I almost forgot, Hideo Kojima (Kojima Productions) and Microsoft are now partners. Yeah, I know, crazy! Does that mean there is another Death Stranding coming out soon? Like I said earlier, Microsoft really are becoming the superpower of the gaming world.

If you missed the stream and want to watch, I embed the video below:

[embedpress]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_I_kNE9hoKA[/embedpress]

Image Sources: Feature Image: Starfield Gameplay Reveal (bethesda.net), Starfield: Official Gameplay Reveal – YouTube