June 10, 2018, 1:00 PM PT
Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles, CA

This year's Microsoft Media Briefing was probably the most straightforward in years. There was no mention of VR or Kinects, and there was little mention of new hardware or non-gaming features for the Xbox. Instead, it was a nonstop barrage of 50 games, many of which were brand new or Microsoft console exclusives. While a lot of the trailers were thin on info, it was one of the most packed years Xbox has ever had.

Halo Infinite

The Microsoft show opened up with the reveal of the latest game in the Halo franchise. The trailer was rather scant on details, but we got enough to go on with. The game will return to the iconic Spartan armor of series protagonist Master Chief, seemingly after the events of the last Halo game. With an Earth-based setting and hints of a wide-open world, there's a seemingly endless series of possibilities for the game.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Next up was the sequel to hit indie Metroidvania Ori and the Blind Forest. The sequel, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, puts players back in the platforming shoes of the adorable Ori as they once again set out to protect their forest home from danger. The snippets of gameplay promised more mobility than ever before. Everything from magnetic electric whips to riding on the back of an adorable owl companion promised more and greater depth than the original — all while retaining the same stunningly beautiful art style.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

When Tecmo-Koei's Nioh came out, many people said it resembled nothing so much as an attempt at a fast-paced samurai Dark Souls title. It seems like the reigning kings of the genre took that as a challenge. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is the latest From Software game that aims at the deadly combat of a Dark Souls-style game. In comparison to the Souls titles or even Bloodborne, this game looks lightning-fast and with a greater emphasis on mobility due to the protagonist's strange demonic arm, which can transform into anything from a grappling hook to a shield. It's hard to say exactly how significant the differences are from the traditional slow-and-weighty Souls titles, but there's a lot of potential there.

Fallout 76

Todd Howard of Bethesda appeared to show a brief world premiere trailer for the upcoming Fallout 76. It was scant on details, as most of the information about the game is being saved for the Bethesda press conference, but it did confirm that the game would be a prequel to the other Fallout games and follow the adventures of the inhabitants of Vault 76 as they set out into the fresh wasteland in an attempt to civilize it.

The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit

Dontnod's Life is Strange was a remarkably well-received adventure game that mixed murder mystery with the malaise of a dying small town. A sequel has been coming for a while, but it doesn't seem to be what anyone expected. Instead, it appears to be its own stand-alone thing, although the trailer says it is set in the same universe. This particular story seems to follow the adventures of a young but imaginative boy who lives in a small cabin with his father. While the inherent supernatural aspect of Life is Strange doesn't appear obviously in the trailer, the game seems to take advantage of the boy's imagination to show unusual landscapes and objects. It's very possible that some of the "imagination" is actually real.

Crackdown 3

Longtime E3 guest Crackdown 3 made another appearance this year, showing off more explosions that characterize the Crackdown franchise.  There wasn't a lot new to see here, but the franchise is looking to live up to its high-octane reputation when it finally comes out next year.

Nier Automata: Become As Gods

Surprise hit Nier Automata is getting a complete edition for the Xbox One X as the Become As Gods edition. It's a port of the original game with all the DLC baked in, not to mention some special upgrades for the Xbox One X. One of the more distinct games released in the past few years, Nier is a must-play, so it's not a big surprise that it's getting a further push.

Metro Exodus

The latest in the grim postapocalyptic Russian shooters is coming early next year. For those unfamiliar with the franchise, it follows a bizarre doomsday scenario and the few survivers eking out a life in the unforgiving Russian countryside. Exodus appears to follow a, well, exodus across the country. Of course, it has plenty of the same shooting, monsters and survival aspects that characterize the franchise.

Kingdom Hearts 3

The eternal wait for the latest game in the Kingdom Hearts franchise is nearly at an end. Finally coming out in January 2019, Kingdom Hearts 3 features a bevy of new Disney worlds to explore, including Monsters, Inc.; Tangled and Toy Story. The latest trailer revealed for the first time the world of Frozen, with spiky-haired hero Sora running into Elsa while she's on the run. Also returning to the franchise are the Gummi Ship shooter segments, absent since the PS2's Kingdom Hearts 2. It might be one of the weirdest franchises on the market, but it's hard to deny that Kingdom Hearts 3 looks like a boatload of fun.

Sea of Thieves

While the long-time-coming game Sea of Thieves is finally out, Microsoft has confirmed it intends to keep supporting the game for the foreseeable future. Two new expansions will be coming soon. The first is Curse Sales, coming this July, and followed by Forsaken Shores in September.

Battlefield V

We got a very brief glimpse of the latest Battlefield game. Unfortunately, the info was fairly scant. We got a glimpse of a Norwegian battlefield and a female protagonist, but more information will have to come from another source.

Forza Horizon 4

As is traditional for the Microsoft conference, we also got to see the latest Forza game. Forza Horizon 4 is aiming to be the largest and most dynamic Forza title to date. Allowing to you race everything from sports cars to hovercrafts, it's aiming to create a dynamic online experience unlike any other. The biggest new feature for Forza Horizon 4 is seasons that change the game world. A lake may be frozen in winter or paths may unexpectedly open in spring, allowing the large world to be even more fluid than ever.

New Studios

While no new games were announced, Microsoft did announce that it had acquired five new studios under the Microsoft Game Studios label. Compulsion Games (We Merry Few), Ninja Theory (Hellblade), Playground Games (Forza Horizon) and Undead Labs (State of Decay) are all now under Microsoft's umbrella. There is also a new studio called The Initiative.

Player Unknown's Battlegrounds

Quite possibly the biggest game in the world right now, Player Unknown's Battlegrounds is technically already available in a pre-release "preview" version on the Xbox One. However, the full release is coming later this year and includes new maps, new gameplay modes (such as a War mode), and other features that aim to keep it at the top of the most-played charts.

Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition

The original Tales of Vesperia was part of Microsoft's attempt to attract the JRPG audience to the 360. Remembered fondly as one of the better games in the Tales franchise, it's been unavailable for a while. A PS3 re-release with new features was previously available only in Japan. With the coming of Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition, however, the previously PS3-exclusive features will be available in North America for the first time, including playable characters Patty and Flynn.

The Division 2

The ambitious shooter The Division was a long time coming, but it seems like the sequel is on a much faster track. Taking place in the ruins of Washington, D.C., The Division 2 seems to be a more political game than the first, follow the theme of a new American Civil War in the postapocalyptic landscape following a terrifying outbreak. The core gameplay looks very similar, but there are new gadgets, new weapons, and other bits of streamlined features.

Xbox Game Pass

Throughout the presentation, we were told repeatedly that Microsoft intends to fully support the Xbox Game Pass feature to the best of its abilities. Many upcoming games will be available on launch day for the Game Pass. In addition, new games, like Halo: The Master Chief Collection and Fallout 4 will be added. They're also aiming to speed up the loading time for Xbox Game Pass games by at least double, with further improvements down the line.

ID@Xbox

The now-traditional sizzle reel for Microsoft's indie platform showed a lot of familiar games. Among the standouts were multiplayer cooperative shooter Warhammer: Vermintide II, roguelike Metroidvania Dead Cells, and grotesque and challenging platformer, Super Meat Boy Forever.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

You can't keep Lara Croft down, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider is proof of that. The latest in the rebooted adventures of tomb-raider-slash-human-wrecking-ball Lara Croft, this adventure has her seeking out an ancient artifact and accidentally unleashing a curse that threatens the entire world. In true Lara Croft fashion, she'll have to save the day by arrowing, blowing up, shooting, stabbing and otherwise maiming a small army of soldiers. Maybe she'll even find time to raid some tombs along the way.

Session

The trailer for Session promised one thing: skateboarding. It's hard to get a feel for wheter this game is going to be more Tony Hawk or Skate, but it appears to be aiming for a more traditional and down-to-earth skateboarding experience. We'll have to see how it turns out when more information shows up down the line.

Devil May Cry 5

After a lukewarm reboot of the franchise under Ninja Theory, Capcom is returning to the Devil May Cry franchise's roots for a true sequel. Players are once again put into the shoes of Devil May Cry 4 co-protagonist, Nero. Somehow or other, Nero lost his Devil Bringer arm and replaced it with a transforming mechanical one instead. The franchise's stylish action and over-the-top gameplay look to be present in full force. A more older and grizzled Dante shows up briefly at the very end, hinting that perhaps this game will also feature a two-protagonist system like Devil May Cry 4.

Cuphead

The cutest game to ever make grown men cry in frustration, Cuphead was a long time coming. Now that it's out, it isn't done yet. A new expansion will feature a new island, new bosses, new weapons, new relics, and even a new playable character (Ms. Chalice). If it's anything like the main game, you can expect it to be punishingly difficult and meticulously animated.

Jump Force

Shonen Jump fighting games aren't uncommon these days. The latest one, Jump Force, bills itself as a "fusion" of worlds and shows anime protagonists Goku, Luffy and Naruto working together to battle Dragonball Z villain Frieza in the middle of what appears to be a modern city. It wasn't anything we hadn't seen before, but the intense action and visuals should delight fans of the anime. A last-minute teaser hinted that Death Note's Light Yagami would also be a playable character.

Dying Light 2

The sequel to the terrifying zombie game Dying Light, Dying Light 2 looks to create a more dynamic and dangerous world than the first game. Rather than focusing on zombie hordes, the new game appears to spend a lot of time and energy on the idea of human enemies, encouraging players to play multiple sides for various benefits. That isn't to say that the inhuman enemies are completely gone from the world, though.

Battletoads

Perhaps the thinnest trailer at the conference, Battletoads told us nothing but that a new Battletoads game is coming and will feature three-player couch co-op. Considering the original Battletoads is best known for its insanely punishing difficulty, it will be interesting to see if this entry tries to make something intended for casual players or the hardcore crowd.

Gears

A trio of new Gears of Wars titles was announced. The first is a mobile app called Gears Pop, which focuses around collectible Funko Pop versions of the Gears heroes as they adorably blow up each other. There will also be a PC tactics game called Gears Tactics, which is a prequel to the main franchise and aims to provide a more X-COM-style experience. Finally, there will be a true Gears of War 5, following Kait from Gears of War 4 as she goes on an adventure to discover the truth about the mysterious dreams she's been having.

Cyberpunk 2077

Last but certainly not least, the final trailer was for CD Projekt Red's newest game, Cyberpunk 2077. Set in a dystopian cyberpunk future (who'd have guessed from the name?), the trailer features jaw-dropping visuals and a hint at an interesting world. Considering CD Projekt's excellent work on the morally gray and ambiguous Witcher franchise, it's no surprise that there are high hopes for this game.