Microsoft E3 recap.

So officially E3 kicked off today with the Microsoft pres conference. Here you will find a rundown on everything they announced. The show opened up with this

Xbox One - E3 Jump ahead trailer

1.) First thing they showed was Halo 5 Gameplay and reviled that Nathan Fillion will be in the game

2.) Next up was Halo 5 multiplayer demo Halo 5 Warzone Trailer
Halo 5 Warzone Trailer. XBOX ONE EXCLUSIVE. Revealed at E3, this all new multiplayer mode is a brand-new multiplayer experience more ambitious than anything ever introduced in Halo, combining the best elements of Halo gameplay into one, gigantic multiplayer mode. Available October 27, 2015 in Halo 5: Guardians.

3.) Next Microsoft dropped a bomb shall 

Backward compatibility becoming available for the Xbox one! Play all your 360 Retail Dices and digital download coming holiday 15 for free! And you can broadcast your 360 games

                                   

With over 100 titles available by this holiday, and more coming in the future, retail disks will also work with the Xbox One. During the announcement, Mass Effect was shown running on the Xbox One.

4.) ReCore an XBOX ONE EXCLUSIVE from the legendary creator Keiji Inafune and the makers of Metroid Prime.

Presenting ReCore an XBOX ONE EXCLUSIVE from the legendary creator Keiji Inafune and the makers of Metroid Prime. As one of the last remaining humans, forge friendships with courageous robot companions and lead them on an epic adventure through a mysterious, dynamic world.

5.) Next up was Bethesda Game Studios' Todd Howard.

Todd Howard took to the stage to show some more Fallout 4 in-game footage and to announce that mods that are made on the PC version will transfer to Xbox one version coming 11-10-15


During today's Microsoft E3 conference, Bethesda's Todd Howard took the stage to share an extended Fallout 4 demo. Along the bottom of the screen, a note quickly popped up confirming that Fallout 3 will be included with Fallout 4 on Xbox One. It was not made clear whether this will be a remastered version or one that makes use of Microsoft's new backward-compatibility technology, or whether it will make use of the same mod compatibility we'll see in Fallout 4


(In case you missed Bethesda conference last night, here's a 30 min gameplay recap of Fallout 4)

6.) Next up was EA access, EA exec Peter Moore

Madden 16 is coming August 25th if you have EA access you can play it the 20th.

Also Titanfall and Dragon Age Inquisition are coming to EA access as well.

Also All Xbox Live Gold members will be able to play EA Access Vault games for the next week,

EA announced at Microsoft's press conference today.
Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 is coming to Xbox One, EA revealed during Microsoft's E3 media briefing today. EA's website confirms PVZGW2 will also come to PlayStation 4 and PC.

7.) Next up was Forza 6

Experience unrelenting action in the most beautiful and comprehensive racing game of this generation, available exclusively on Xbox One beginning September 15th, 2015. Collect, customize, and race over 450 Forzavista cars, all with working cockpits, opening doors and full damage, including the all-new Ford GT. Compete in epic 24-player races across 26 world-famous locales. Master wet weather and night racing on your road to victory.

8.) Dark Souls 3

The next game in the popular series, published by Bandai Namco, is slated for release early 2016.

The trailer revealed people walking with sticks across a barren wasteland and a giant castle looms over them. The trademark creepy environments of the souls series were front and center, with the trailer's climax featuring a giant man wielding a massive cleaver at the end.                                                                                  

The game's publisher, Bandai Namco, stated in European press release: "We are blessed to have such a supportive and loving community, and we are happy to dedicate this final episode to them!”


7.) Microsoft introduced a new generation controller for Windows 10 and Xbox One

Microsoft introduced a new generation controller for Windows 10 and Xbox One with the Xbox Elite Controller during its E3 2015 press conference today.

The Xbox Elite Controller offers a slew of new features, such as hair-trigger locks and improved thumbstick sensitivity. Physically, it features swappable components and a different D-pad. Players can also take advantage of paddle remapping along with button remapping.

The Elite controller is different from the device Microsoft previously revealed. The "new Xbox One controller" is due for release in June, and its main distinguishing feature is a standard headphone port on the base.                        

                            

8.) Ubisoft

Tom Clancy's: The Division's beta will begin on Xbox One this December, Ubisoft's Laurent Detoc announced on Microsoft's E3 stage today.and During the Microsoft E3 2015 Press Conference, Ubisoft revealed that those who purchase Siege when its released on October 13 will be able to download the pair of Xbox 360 shooters for free.  If you buy Rainbow Six Siege on Xbox One this Fall, you'll get free copies of Rainbow Six Vegas 1 and 2.

9.) A lot of indie games coming

Xbox is finally jumping on the indie band wagon over a thousand Indies coming to Xbox one within the next year. ARK is one

Also A new game from the creator of DayZ, titled Ion, was announced during Microsoft's E3 2015 press conference. Its coming first to Xbox One and PC, and it's coming to Game Preview as well.

Developer Fullbright's follow up to Gone Home, Tacoma, is coming to consoles first on Xbox One and PC.

The Gigantic beta will begin in August 2015 on Xbox One and Windows 10.

Cuphead, a run-and-gun platformer with a 1930s art style, is coming to Xbox One in 2016.

Developed by indie dev StudioMDHR, we haven't seen much of the game since E3 and Gamescom last year. An extended stage demo was shown at Microsoft's E3 2015 press conference, ending with the release year above

10.) Rise of the Tomb Raider Gameplay and release date

At today's Xbox E3 conference, it was revealed that Rise of the Tomb Raider is coming November 10, 2015.

The release date was preceded by a long demo showing Lara's harrowing ascent up an icy cliff. In true, over-the-top Tomb Raider fashion, the cliff begins to crack and fall apart.

                                 

11.) Gears of War: Ultimate Edition

A remake of the Gears of War is coming to Xbox One on August 25 as Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, Microsoft has officially announced.

Gears of War: Ultimate Edition's week-long public beta begins today. The remaster runs 1080p at 60 frames per second and includes 90 additional minutes of content previously exclusive to the PC version..

12.) Rare Replay

Microsoft is releasing Rare Replay, 30 games for $30. It will include many classic games from Rare's history including Conker's Bad Fur Day, Perfect Dark, Banjo Kazooie and Battletoads. Comes out August 4th for the Xbox One!

Rare turns 30 this year, and to mark the occasion it’s looking back, collecting together 30 of its most iconic games into Rare Replay. When I first heard about it, it sounded like one of those compilations where a bunch of games are thrown onto a single disc, but it’s a very different type of collection from the others I’ve played. Tellingly, the project hasn’t been outsource, with a third-party porting over titles. Rare is in total control, not only selecting the games but combining them into an experience full of the character and charm associated with its original output. And there’s more than just the games themselves, with additional challenges, cheats, and behind-the-scenes extras, creating a premium box-set experience.

Also Rare has announced Sea of Thieves, a first-person, multiplayer pirate adventure game coming to Xbox One and PC Holiday 2016.

13.) Gears of War 4

During its E3 2015 Press Conference, Microsoft revealed that Gears of War 4 is coming Holiday 2016.
Gears of War 4 XBOX ONE EXCLUSIVE. Live from E3, the world premiere gameplay preview of the upcoming Gears of War 4. A new saga begins, coming Holiday 2016

Now some Honorable mentions

1.) Lionhead's Fable Legends is finally coming out of beta, and will release on Xbox One and PC during the holiday months of 2015.

2.) During Microsoft's E3 2015 press conference, third-person action RPG Ashen was confirmed to be a console exclusive for Xbox One.

Developed by New Zealand-based studio Aurora44, Ashen is about a wanderer in search of a place to call home. In a short stage demonstration, the game depicted stylish, faceless characters in a cel-shaded world, with glimpses of flying serpentine monsters and skeleton foes.

Windows Holographic coming soon Play Minecraft in real life!

Microsoft has just revealed its next great innovation: Windows Holographic! It's an augmented reality experience that employs a headset, much like all the VR goggles that are currently rising in popularity, but Microsoft's solution adds holograms to the world around you. The HoloLens headset is described as "the most advanced holographic computer the world has ever seen."

Minecraft Sold and Markus ‘Notch’ Persson Gone..

Mojang has confirmed it's being sold to Microsoft for $2.5 billion.

The news was confirmed on the developer's official site, in which it also went into some of the reasons for the decision. As has previously been discussed, a large part of it centers on founder Markus ‘Notch’ Persson growing tired of working for such a big organisation. He and the two other founders, Carl and Jakob are all leaving the company following the deal.

"Minecraft has grown from a simple game to a project of monumental significance. Though we’re massively proud of what

Minecraft has become, it was never Notch’s intention for it to get this big," a statement reads. "As you might already know, Notch is the creator of Minecraft and the majority shareholder at Mojang. He’s decided that he doesn't want the responsibility of owning a company of such global significance. Over the past few years he’s made attempts to work on smaller projects, but the pressure of owning Minecraft became too much for him to handle. The only option was to sell Mojang. He’ll continue to do cool stuff though. Don’t worry about that.

"There are only a handful of potential buyers with the resources to grow Minecraft on a scale that it deserves. We’ve worked closely with Microsoft since 2012, and have been impressed by their continued dedication to our game and its development. We’re confident that Minecraft will continue to grow in an awesome way."

As had been reported, the PC, Mac, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4, Vita, iOS, and Android editions will continue to be supported and developed as they currently are, despite the deal. While the blog post promises things will continue to develop, it's unlikely to stop players from making videos, mods or anything else that makes Minecraft so special today. The post concludes by explaining its unclear where this leaves other projects, like Scrolls, but it seems Minecraft is Microsoft's main focus.

Microsoft expects to break even on its Mojang acquisition by the end of June 2015, according to an investor relations release.

Games Industry reports that the press release explains the company "expects the acquisition to be break even in FY15 on a GAAP basis." The acquisition should close later this year.

"Gaming is a top activity spanning devices, from PCs and consoles to tablets and mobile, with billions of hours spent each year," said Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. "Minecraft is more than a great game franchise - it is an open world platform, driven by a vibrant community we care deeply about, and rich with new opportunities for that community and for Microsoft."

Why Microsoft wanted Tomb Raider

Following the recent outcry surrounding Rise of the Tomb Raider's Xbox exclusivity, Eurogamer has released the full transcript of the Gamescom discussion it had with Xbox head Phil Spencer about the deal between Microsoft and Square Enix.

"I knew there would be some push back when we came out. Certain people won't believe this: [the acquisition] doesn't come from an evil space.

"It comes from a space where there's an opportunity that maps really well with what we need in terms of the genre, and a partner that's looking for a partnership," Spencer said in an effort to dispel the idea that Microsoft acquired the deal to spite owners of other platforms. "Other people can do the deal, but it was a deal that fit well with us. And I think it could help the franchise in the long run and help Crystal and Square and us."

Because the exclusivity is timed and Microsoft does not own the IP, Rise of the Tomb Raider could possibly release on other platforms in the future. Spencer was hesitant to say anything about that, however, focusing on the fact that the Tomb Raider IP is not his property.


"I don't own the IP," he said. "So then when certain people start talking to me about, well, what is the future of the Tomb Raider franchise, it's not really something I can talk to. Just like if you were going to ask me what's going on with Dead Rising 6, I don't own that. So, when people want me to say, well can you tell us when or if it's coming to other platforms, it's not my job. My job is not to talk about games I don't own."


In response to a question of whether or not the acquisition is a response to Uncharted 4, Spencer confirmed that he was looking to build the Xbox portfolio and add something to compete with Sony's action-adventure series.


"I'm a big fan of Uncharted, and I wish we had an action adventure game of that ilk. We've started some, and we've looked at them. But we don't have one today of that quality. This is an opportunity," he said. "... When you think about our portfolio, if it was a sci-fi shooter, I probably wouldn't do that! I've got one of those! Or if it's a Gears competitor, or a Forza competitor, there are things I wouldn't go after. But this is one that clearly fit in our portfolio really well."


He continued to express his optimism about the future of the franchise on Xbox platforms. "I think it's a win/win. It's good for us. We've got certain needs out of it. I think it could be good for them [Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics].


"And, frankly and I know a lot of people won't like this but I'll say it I think it can be good for the franchise and good for gaming all up, because it's a franchise that's meant something, and we're going to be able to work with them and invest and try to put the marketing and everything else at a level, and we're active in working with them on the development of the game as well, to try to make it one of those franchises that stands out."

Microsoft has announced Forza Horizon 2

Microsoft has announced Forza Horizon 2, the next installment in their flagship racing series. Forza Horizon 2 is in development for Xbox One and Xbox 360 and due for release this fall. What do you think? is it to early to release another Forza?

Games with Gold this Month Halo: Spartan Assault and more

Microsoft is preparing big changes for June, as not only will it debut the new and cheaper Xbox One bundle without the Kienct, but also start giving away free games to Xbox Live Gold subscribers on Xbox One as well as Xbox 360.

According to an announcement on the Xbox Wire, throughout next month, Xbox One owners with Gold subscriptions can download and play
Halo: Spartan Assault and Max: The Curse of Brotherhood.

No exact dates have been set, so expect Microsoft to make another announcement soon enough.

Microsoft is giving fans a chance to attend the Xbox E3 media briefing this year

Microsoft is giving fans a chance to attend the Xbox E3 media briefing this year

The company will be hosting a pre-E3 event at the Century City Microsoft Store. It will be held on Sunday, June 8 from 1-3pm, and participants can start lining up at 11am. Of the attendees, 100 raffle winners will be given access to the media briefing and post-show. The pre-E3 event itself will also have teasers for ID@Xbox games, Microsoft's indie program.

A $399.99 Kinect Free version of Xbox One set for 6/9/14 release Plus more.

A $399.99 Kinect Free version of Xbox One set for 6/9/14 release. Plus more! Reed below.

Spencer says the introduction of a Kinect-free Xbox One does not mean Microsoft will stop supporting the sensor, first introduced on the Xbox 360 in 2010. "To be clear, as we introduce this new Xbox One console option, Kinect remains an important part of our vision," says Spencer.
Along with the less expensive console,

Microsoft announced Xbox apps such as Netflix, Hulu and ESPN will be available to all Xbox One and Xbox 360 owners. Previously, access to apps required users to have an Xbox Live Gold subscription, which costs $60 a year. Microsoft will add the Games With Gold service to Xbox One next month as well. The service will provide access to free games for Xbox One users.

Ascend: Hand of Kul free for Xbox Live Gold accounts

Microsoft has announced that Ascend: Hand of Kul will be released this week for Xbox 360. The free-to-play action role-playing game will be available beginning September 25, 2013. Of course to play the game, users must have a Xbox Live Gold account. 

New Xbox One News

Microsoft has announced that the Xbox One console will not support vertical orientation. The company stated that gamers who choose to stand the console vertically will risk damaging it. The statement comes after the company realized that the Xbox 360 console, which supported vertical orientation, would make owners think that the Xbox One will do the same. Xbox One will be available starting November 22, 2013 for North America and most European markets. 

Microsoft glasses?!

Microsoft may have plans to release a head-mounted display device in the future, if a newly filed patent is any indication. The device comes in the form of glasses and may be equipped with things like a microphone, an eye-tracking system, a depth camera, and a camera capable of recognizing the faces of other players. The patent describes it as being intended for multiplayer gaming applications, such as being able to use a voice commands or eye-tracking data to send a game invitation to another player, who could then use his or her glasses to respond. Limiting a device like this to sending game invites might seem like a very narrow use of such a thing. While that is the sort of functionality the patent primarily describes, it notes that this is not the extent of what Microsoft may use it for.

One section of the patent refers to users interacting with the device through gestures, which could in theory then be passed on to the game you're playing as a method of input. Or, more mundanely, it could be used as the patent describes in order to allow a nod to accept an invitation sent by another player. Some sections talk about allowing players to designate which players will be on what teams through voice commands. Others refer to the different applications for the transparent display situated in front of users' eyes. As with all patents, it's unclear whether Microsoft actually has any definitive plans for this device. It bears noting that a document leaked last year allegedly detailing Microsoft's plans for what we now know is the Xbox One included mentions of Fortaleza Glasses that could be what's seen in this patent. Those included support for Wi-Fi, 4G, and augmented reality features, and could be used both with the Xbox One and, more notably, away from it, almost like Google Glass. The document, which reportedly dated back to August 2010, mentioned a 2014 launch for the glasses, suggesting the lack of any official word on them to date may be part of Microsoft's plans to roll them out sometime next year. That is, of course, assuming the document was entirely legitimate and that this new patent is not for one of the countless devices we'll never see.

What do you think of the possibility of AR glasses that could be used with and without the Xbox One? Do you see any possible uses for such a thing that would interest you? Let us know in the comments.