Microsoft did not talk about its motion-sensing Xbox peripheral Kinect during the company'sand offered the camera as an optional add-on. Greenberg stressed that consumers having a choice is an important part of the overall Xbox One strategy.
"We really want Kinect to be a choice for customers. For me, I love it; I turn my Xbox One with Kinect; I use it for entertainment; I use it to do screenshots and all that," he said. "I like to be able to have my hands on the controller and use voice commands. But, frankly, a lot of people also want a better value and don't want to have to pay for it. So we're not going to force people to do that. We give people the choice."
You can watch our full interview with Greenberg below.
Microsoft did not talk about its motion-sensing Xbox peripheral Kinect during the company'sand offered the camera as an optional add-on. Greenberg stressed that consumers having a choice is an important part of the overall Xbox One strategy.
"We really want Kinect to be a choice for customers. For me, I love it; I turn my Xbox One with Kinect; I use it for entertainment; I use it to do screenshots and all that," he said. "I like to be able to have my hands on the controller and use voice commands. But, frankly, a lot of people also want a better value and don't want to have to pay for it. So we're not going to force people to do that. We give people the choice."
You can watch our full interview with Greenberg below.
Among the initial backer rewards for , the Shenmue III Kickstarter has already raised more than $3.25 million. That far exceeds the crowdfunding campaign's goal of $2 million (which was met in less than 12 hours), and with almost a full month still to go, it's likely to go even higher.
These are the most exciting, promising games coming out of E3 according to GameSpot's editors, and the ones we're most excited to play more of. When deciding these, our only condition is that gameplay must be shown off--so trailers don't count. Regardless, here's our results.
Star Wars Battlefront
Star Wars Battlefront has been a long time coming for Star Wars game fans, ourselves included. Seeing the new gameplay at E3 2015 depicting famous battle at Hoth was incredibly exciting to see in action. With more historical Star Wars battles promised to be on the way, we certainly can't wait to jump into the game with laser blasters blazing when it launches in November.
Just Cause 3
Just Cause 3 is looking exactly like what you'd expect it to be. But that's part of the appeal. Where else can you play a game where you can blow up military complexes, grapple hook onto active missiles, or fly a jet into the statue of an evil dictator? These reasons among many others are why Just Cause 3 is one of the best games we saw at E3 2015.
Fallout 4
Fallout 4's debut gameplay was finally shown, and we are super looking forward to getting our hands on it. Set in Boston, Massachusetts, the game is filled to the brim with new features, including weapon modification, base building, mod support, and more. If you're fan of RPGs, Fallout 4 is absolutely a game that you need keep an eye on.
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain still has us very excited. Innovating the franchise with its open world structure, base building mechanics, and emphasis on stealth exploration, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is shaping up to be the best game in the series so far. We seriously can't wait to play it once it launches in September.
Rise of the Tomb Raider
After watching the E3 2015 Rise of the Tomb Raider gameplay, there is no doubt that the game looks absolutely wonderful. Its wintry tundras and ancient tombs complimented by its tense dramatic set-pieces make the game a marvelous display of gaming. Rise of the Tomb Raider had our curiosity at first, but now it certainly has our attention.
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Wildlands
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: WIldlands came as a surprise when it was revealed at the end of the Ubisoft E3 2015 press conference. It takes the series' signature tactical multiplayer gameplay and plants it into an open world setting. It's quite an unexpected move for the series, and this new Ghost Recon has us super intrigued
Halo 5: Guardians
We finally got to check out Halo 5: Guardians at E3 this year, and there's no denying the series' pedigree. The game takes the series' classic gameplay and innovates it with its new cooperative elements and MOBA-like Warzone multiplayer mode. Without a doubt, Halo 5: Guardians is definitely one of our top picks.
Horizon: Zero Dawn
Guerrilla Games' new IP Horizon: Zero Dawn is an open world game that has seized our attention. The game offers a unique aesthetic spin mixing natural world characters with sci-fi robotic creatures. From what was shown at E3, we are very excited to see what more comes of Horizon: Zero Dawn in the coming months.
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End's E3 2015 gameplay once again delivered on the series' non-stop trademark set-pieces. It was a shining example of why Naughty Dog is one of the best developers around at constructing amazing action sequences. Without a doubt, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End was one of the strongest showings this year.
The Last Guardian
Sony's E3 2015 press conference saw the return of The Last Guardian, a game that has been absent from E3 since 2009. And the game looks even more impressive than it did when we first saw it. Featuring Fumito Ueda's signature poetic feel and puzzle based gameplay, The Last Guardian is looking to be one of our most anticipated titles of 2016.
Minecraft Hololens
The Minecraft Hololens stage demonstration was one of the most impressive things we saw at E3 2015. What was shown was an interactive area of Minecraft displayed onto a table that could be modified in real time. It was one of the most unique displays of VR we've ever seen. You really need to see it to believe it.
Super Mario Maker
Super Mario Maker lets players create and customize their own levels across different Mario styles throughout Nintendo history. The realm of possibility offered by the game alone makes it one of the most charming and captivating showings at E3 2015.
Mirror's Edge: Catalyst
Mirror's Edge: Catalyst is a solid pick for us at E3 2015. Scrapping the linear level design of its predecessor, Mirror's Edge: Catalyst is going full open world. Players can now freely parkhour through the series' signature primary colored totalitarian world to their heart's content. If that doesn't get you excited, then we don't know what will.
Destiny: The Taken King
Destiny's ever expanding universe of content is getting another expansion this year. Previous packs gave us interesting content in the past, but The Taken King is going even further with new subclasses, weapons, and maps. From what we played at E3 2015, we can't wait to sink our teeth into what's in store.
XCOM 2
XCOM 2 is a sequel that we've been waiting on for quite some time. It's E3 2015 showings made it clear that its tough turn-based battles and even tougher moral choices are back again. From what we got to play at E3 2015, it looks like the previous game's issues are appearing to be addressed. Regardless, XCOM 2 is looking to show a whole lot of promise.
The , and backward compatibility will all be available on Xbox One before the end of the year.
"And so we think having all of that coming this holiday; we expect we're going to see a massive migration," he added. "We expect millions of Xbox 360 owners to migrate and move to Xbox One. We see that the majority of people who buy an Xbox One today own an Xbox 360. So our fanbase has stayed very loyal. And frankly, they're waiting for those new releases to come this year."
Greenberg stressed that you should not underestimate how pivotal backwards compatibility will be in encouraging people to upgrade from an Xbox 360 to an Xbox One.
You can watch our full interview with Greenberg below.
A little over a year ago, Square Enix Montreal released , a new take on the mobile puzzle game featuring Tomb Raider's iconic heroine. But while Lara's puzzle journey borrows key elements from Agent 47's, the experience is vastly different thanks to new obstacles, tools, and enemies.
For one thing, Lara Croft Go's art style doesn't follow the same boardgame aesthetic as Hitman Go. It looks like a cartoon, with little Lara (of the original series, not the reboot) running from space to space, climbing up walls, and sometimes even backflipping between points. You view Lara's journey as though you're peeking at her through a canopy of trees, with the silhouettes of bugs and rustling leaves moving around in the foreground. In the distance, beyond Lara's current puzzle, you'll sometimes see something move--something large and sinister, a creature Lara may encounter in later levels.
Lara Croft Go also ditches Hitman Go's flat horizontal plane for a varied series of cliff faces, steps, and other vertical change-ups. Sometimes puzzles require Lara to move to a space and pull a lever that will alternate the terrain; walls shift up or down and platforms move into place to give Lara a clear path out. Some puzzles have spaces peppered with cracks; Lara can only walk over these cracked spaces once, as a second step will shatter the stone and send Lara falling to her demise. This adds another strategy element to an already cleverly-designed puzzle set, as it prevents you from backtracking in some areas and requires you to really think your moves carefully.
Other neat obstacles include deadly creatures. In the hands-on demo I saw, the spaces were filled with snakes. Like in Hitman Go, you can only dispatch enemies by approaching them from the side or the back. Facing a snake head on means certain death for Lara. Later puzzles introduced enemies that chase you if you move two spaces near them. Sometimes you can take these enemies out by luring them over cracked spaces and trapping them in holes, or throwing a spear at them. Spears are a one-use item that can be collected on the board, then thrown at an enemy two spaces away. Other puzzles include multiple enemies facing Lara at the beginning, so you have to choose carefully which one to use your precious spear on.
Navigating Lara through these puzzles doesn't feel like a simple puzzle game at all; I feel like I'm playing a true Tomb Raider game. A narrative connects each puzzle Lara faces, and without spoiling it I can say that it involves what she does best: treasure hunting. Players won't just be solving environmental challenges and moving pieces around, they'll be actively guiding Lara on an adventure in a new, innovative way. There's something special happening in Lara Croft Go, and it's hard to explain without getting your hands on it. It's the same Hitman Go magic, but with a twist that is unmistakably Tomb Raider-y in nature.
Lara Croft Go innovates on Hitman Go in some very entertaining ways, and I'm eager to get my hands on more. There is currently no date for the mobile game's release, but it's already looking like another high point in Square Montreal's string of creative mobile games.
In our demo, Elverdam pointed out a series of barges floating on the river surrounding the mansion. At the end of the fashion show, these launch fireworks to illuminate the night sky and dazzle guests. However, with a little effort, Agent 47 can also set these off early to lure guests out of the mansion, spread a little confusion among the guards, and slip through the cracks in the security unseen.
There have also been a number of other smart tweaks in other areas. The Instinct mode, for example, is less about telling the player exactly what to do and what’s around them, and instead now represents Agent 47’s innate assassin’s intuition. It shows enemies in his immediate surroundings that he could conceivable hear or see, and points of interaction that he’d naturally gravitate to.
Of course, since it is based on Contract modes, that means other players around the world can create new scenarios and designate the dozens of other NPCs in the area as a new target for Agent 47. Which means the sheer variety of strategies available to players is almost overwhelming.
What we’ve seen so far is highly promising. Using Absolution’s Contracts mode as a foundation on which to rebuild the classic Hitman experience has obviously worked for IO Interactive. Even this early, it seems the studio has confidently struck a balance between the approachability of Absolution, and Blood Money’s depth and freedom.
Devolver Digital has released a new trailer for Mother Russia Bleeds, a side-scrolling beat-em-up in the same vein as Streets of Rage, but with an aesthetic style reminiscent of Hotline Miami.
The game was shown at Sony's E3 press conference, and has been described as an "ultra-violent co-op brawler."
Mother Russia Bleeds is set in an alternate U.S.S.R. where a group of imprisoned street fighters rally against an oppressive criminal authority and crippling drug addictions. Naturally, they do these through the medium of punching, kicking, and inflicting an alarming amount of violence on others.
Check out the trailer below.
Devolver has released a fact sheet describing the game's features.
Merciless Struggle: Pull yourself up from the cold, hard ground to punch, claw, and stab your way through the mostperverse elements of society from a wretched human testing laboratory to decadent S&M club.
Powerful Narcotics: Embrace your crippling addiction with a quick injection to crush skulls, snap necks, and tear fleshfrom bone in a drug-fueled maniacal rage. Find your next fix flowing through the veins of your fallen foes and jam yourneedle into their convulsing bodies to fill your beloved syringe.
Savage Game Modes: Bust skulls and break some jaws in a slew of intense gameplay modes including the classicarcade campaign, the brutal survival mode, and the soul-crushing boss rush mode.
Online Co-Op: Crack your knuckles and select a combatant to go it alone or rumble alongside friends in an ultraviolentco-op ruckus with up to four players online or locally.
As E3 2015 draws to a close, The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), which organizes the event, announced on Thursday that the show drew more than 52,200 total attendees. This includes developers, analysts, journalists, and enthusiasts from 109 countries around the world. Even was named winner of the 2015 E3 College Game Competition.
What was your highlight of E3 this year? Let us know in the comments below.
Danny sits down with Marketing Head of Xbox, Aaron Greenberg, to discuss the the strong lineup for Xbox One later this fall, this year's Microsoft E3 Press Conference, and much more.
I thought that last year would be the last time I purchased a Call of Duty game. But then I sat down and tried Black Ops 3 multiplayer, and something clicked again. I didn't have to dedicate my mind to constantly thinking about mechanics, movement, or weapons. I could just play, I could rely on Modern Warfare muscle memory.
The changes extend naturally into the core of the gameplay; the new, slow jetpack jump is ancillary to the movement rather than front and center, the new character skills enhance but don't dominate games, and the handful of new grenades are simply slight tweaks on old ideas. It's a better game than past Call of Duty titles, but it's not radically different.
Playing Black Ops 3 made me realize that maybe the key to revitalizing Call of Duty isn't to dramatically change it, but rather to jettison some of the accumulated elements that weigh it down. That's what Black Ops 3 does. There aren't an overwhelming amount of different perks or attachments, but rather the exact ones that you want and expect to be there. All of the weapons fit into the Call of Duty mold.
When my demo ended, I said, "Call of Duty is back." And that's what it feels like. Black Ops 3 seems to channel the experience of old Call of Duty games. It's the first time I've ever thought that incremental changes have made a game significantly better. Its small refinements are what make Black Ops 3 so fun.
And when you do get into combat, its turn-based system immediately forces you to make strategies and think through your actions. This is where Bedlam breaks with FTL and makes its own mark: Its combat is difficult from the beginning of the game, and it feels most like chess in its execution. Your characters have no set order and you can move twice a turn. I was most impressed with the style of the combat, however: your characters finish enemies off with flourishing, brutal animations. My favorite was when my mutant character spat green slime on an enemy, dissolving it to bones. Unfortunately, the simple act of selecting and moving your characters can be frustrating; I often clicked wrongly and wasted moves, or accidentally attacked an enemy that I wanted to inspect.
Problematic controls aside, Bedlam's combat shows great promise. Every encounter is a chess match, requiring all of your wits to line up shots properly and protect your characters. It's way more strategic than FTL, and it actually makes battles interesting and suspenseful rather than chores that you want to avoid.
Bedlam shines most in its exploration, however. I continually wanted to drive my Dozer deeper into the Mad Max-inspired wasteland and to see what was in the next sector. The little stories told at every junction fleshed out the world and added humor to my bumbling, ill-fated expedition. The developer has added small, amusing additions to the framework of the game, making something as simple as selecting your crew or jumping into a battle funny and interesting.
Bedlam channels FTL and Mad Max to great effect, but it also differentiates itself and brings an original take to the roguelike formula. I found myself drawn into the world and immersed in the tactics of combat, and I felt genuinely motivated to play again and push it further when I ran out of gas and died. If the developer tightens up the controls, Bedlam could inspire the passion in players to keep coming back and to forge their own stories in the game.
Kinda Funny talks about Halo 5: Guardians new modes including warzone.
The first single player mission of the upcoming Destiny expansion surprised us with its horror vibes, epic scenery and interesting enemies.
Greg and Nick sit down with Brandon Routh of Arrow and Superman Returns fame at the actor's first E3.
Keita Takahashi and Robin Hunicke drop by the GameSpot stage at E3 2015 to give us an extended demo of their new digital playground game.
Kinda Funny breaks down the Horizon Zero Dawn trailer.
Danny sits down with Marketing Head of Xbox, Aaron Greenberg, to discuss the the strong lineup for Xbox One later this fall, this year's Microsoft E3 Press Conference, and much more.
GameSpot played as rebels and imperials on planet Hoth in the upcoming DICE title.
