The Xbox Inside event for May had recently wrapped up, revealing a handful of new and exciting games coming to the Xbox Series X in the near future. Although it consisted strictly of trailers, some cinematic while others are revealing actual gameplay, it painted a bright and shiny future for the next Xbox.
The event was a showcase dedicated to third party developers, bearing fruit from the trees that Microsoft's partners had planted over the years to stock the Xbox Series X's upcoming library of games with. So what exactly were these new and exciting titles? Read on...
'Asassin's Creed: Valhalla' (Ubisoft)
Ubisoft’s AC train keeps chugging on with the focus on another assassin in another era. This time, players are cast as Eivor, a legend among Vikings who stalks the lands of England during the Dark Ages. As Eivor, players will go on raids, build settlements, and engage in Viking politics to carve out a name for themselves. There’s even a raven acting as the watchful eye of Odin and an inspirational device.
'Bright Memory Infinite' (Playism)
FYQD-Studio's new futuristic first-person shooter takes players on a quest through time to stop an anomaly from destroying everything. As a member of The Supernatural Science Research Organization (SRO), the player will have access to advanced weaponry, skills, and abilities that can be chained together for devastating combos in battle. There's also vehicles to drive and some ancient warriors to kill.
'Call of the Sea' (Raw Fury)
This one's a promising first-person puzzler set in the 1930s on a mysterious South Pacific island. In Raw Fury's "Call of the Sea," players take on the role of Norah, a woman searching for her husband gone missing during an expedition and will uncover unbelievable secrets along the way.
'Chorus' (Deep Silver)
Deep Silver might no longer be working "Dead Island 2," but the studio has something else in mind for the Xbox Series X. "Chorus" is an immersive single-player experience that tells a mature and dark tale of redemption. Take control of Nara, an ace pilot who takes flight ina sentient starfighter to hunt down the cult that created her.
'DiRT 5' (Codemasters)
The "DiRT" series is back with fresh new paint in time for the next generation. "DiRT 5" takes the series on an off-road trip with new visuals and features. The racing game is set to launch in October on Xbox One.
'Madden NFL 21' (Electronic Arts)
Another year, another "Madden." This time, however, "Madden NFL 21" joins the ranks of next-gen titles, ushering a new and improved storied experience and other features to redefine how NFL is played on the couch.
'Scarlet Nexus' (Bandai Namco Entertainment)
Namco Bandai's new anime-styled action game "Scarlet Nexus" casts players as Yuito Sumeragi, a psychic soldier waging war in the futuristic city of New Himuka where science and psionics are cohesive.
'Scorn' (Ebb)
When gamers last heard of "Scorn," the macabre styled first-person shooter from Ebb Software, it had reached its second Kickstarter goal in 2017. Now, it's decided to rear its grotesque head once again as an exclusive for the Xbox Series X. The premise remains the same: players will explore interconnected regions, each with their own theme and puzzle, and acquire weapons and upgrades to deal death to abominations as they try to piece together the horrific reality before them.
'Second Extinction' (Systemic Reaction)
"Second Extinction" is a co-op first-person shooter that allows for up to three players to mow down mutated dinosaurs that have overrun the Earth in the modern age. Players must rely on teamwork, skills, and an array of weapons to mow down hordes dressed in scales, razor-sharp claws, and rows of teeth.
'The Ascent' (Neon Giant / Curve Digital)
"The Ascent " is a cyberpunk-styled, top-down RPG where players must fight for survival following the devastation of the corporation they served. Players can go solo or group up in multiplayer as they fend off rival gangs and corporations during their investigation for the truth.
'The Medium' (Bloober Team)
From the maker of "Layers of Fear" and "Blair Witch" comes "The Medium," a new head trip of a horror game that seems to take a few pages out of "The Shining" novel. The player takes on the role of Marianne, who mediates between the living world and that of the dead. She's on a quest to uncover the truth at a haunted hotel after she experiences a vision of a child's murder.
'Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2' (Paradox Interactive)
Although "Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2" was already announced before this event, the latest cinematic trailer shown here is unlike anything many would come to expect. Like the previous game, players will join a vampiric community divided into factions, each with their own rules and hierarchy. But the trailer paints an even darker, grittier world with new powers, combat, and dancing?!
'Yakuza: Like a Dragon' (SEGA)
The next installment in the Yakuza franchise is a tinking time bomb winding down to the console's launch. Yes, it will be available day one and will come with Smart Delivery, meaning Xbox One owners who purchase the game will receive a free upgrade to the Xbox Series X version.