Xbox Series X Gameplay Revealed: All the Big Announcements You Missed

Xbox Series X Gameplay Revealed: All the Big Announcements You Missed

Microsoft has finally revealed Xbox Series X gameplay. Today's "Inside Xbox" event, part of Microsoft's new monthly "Xbox 20/20" live stream series, focused on third-party titles and how the next wave of AAA games will benefit from 4K/60fps performance, ray tracing, instant load times The event showcased how they will benefit from.

We're curious what we missed. Click here for a list of all the games presented. You can also check out the YouTube replays below and the live blog archives for impressions of all the titles presented.

The live blog below has reactions, impressions, trailers, etc. for all the big titles announced.

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11:46 am: That's it. Overall a solid event, no major third party announcements aside from Madden (no Call of Duty or Battlefield yet), but the games we saw looked very impressive from a graphics standpoint.

It is encouraging to see that a significant portion of the games announced today are Smart Delivery compatible, which means that those who purchase the game on Xbox One will get the Series X version for free. This could be one of the defining features of the Xbox Series X. Also, developers seem to be particularly keen on reducing load times.

So when will Sony hold its own launch event? We will have to wait and see, but rumors point to June.

11:42 a.m.: Next up is The Medium, from the development team behind Layers of Fear and Blair Witch, which focuses on psychological horror and makes players question everything around them in a constantly shifting world. At this point, kudos to Microsoft for the organization of the event, which offers a large amount of gameplay in 30 minutes, plus the opportunity to learn more about each title.

11:35 am: Looks like the deep dive into the announced games continues. Next up is Dirt 5. The game will have courses spanning the entire world and will take advantage of next-generation hardware to really make things like sunlight, rain, and dirt pop. There will also be a number of online multiplayer options, but for those who stick to local multiplayer, there will also be a 4-player split screen, with the option of either 4K gameplay at 60fps or 1080p gameplay at 120fps, the latter of which should look amazingly smooth. Troy Baker and Nolan North will also appear.

11:30 am: We close the show with a fresh look at Assassin's Creed Valhalla. There wasn't as much gameplay in this game as we would have liked to see, but what was there was very impressive. The little snippets of Viking adventure looked like pre-rendered cutscenes, foreshadowing the high fidelity we will see on Microsoft's new console. Norway and the British Isles look gorgeous, but I would like to see more action.

We also got a deeper dive into the game from the creative director, who said that "Valhalla" will feature raids that promise massive battles and refined combat based on what we saw in "Origins" and "Odyssey. Ubisoft has confirmed that "Valhalla" will be compatible with Smart Delivery, so it can be purchased on Xbox One and upgraded to the Series X version for free.

11:27 am: Yakuza Time. The popular Japanese crime game is coming to the Xbox Series X. New protagonists and great character models have been added. Yakuza: Yakuza: Like a Dragon looks like more of the fan-favorite yakuza action. And it will be available at launch.

11:25 am: There are certainly a lot of spooky games at this show. Scarlet Nexus is a Japanese action game with some of the most grotesquely mutated enemies I've seen in gaming in a while, including what looks like a bouquet of flowers with legs. Combat looks speedy and fluid, and the art style definitely pops with its blend of anime and horror.

11:21 a.m.: You're watching the surreal horror adventure The Medium. Look at the particles of collapsed buildings. The song features a composer from SIlent Hill, which should make it sound extra spooky.

11:18 a.m.: Call of the Sea is a serene-looking undersea exploration game. The takeaway from this show is that the weather and water effects certainly look pretty in Series X.

11:17 a.m.: Okay, now for something completely different: the moody, creepy teaser for Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines II mixes murder, dancing, and supernatural first-person adventure. Bioshock mixed with Alan Wake. This special ability looks awesome.

11:13 am: It's Madden time. After Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes appeared on stage to confirm that Madden 21 is coming to the Xbox Series X, we were treated to a historical montage showing the visual evolution of this iconic football game. As expected, this year's game looks incredibly realistic from its brief unveiling; Madden 21 is also compatible with smart delivery.

11:11 a.m.: Look out for Chorus. It's a futuristic space shooter with a really clever art style. With stunningly realistic character models and tons of color, it is the most gorgeous game on the show to date. Smart Delivery is also available, and Xbox One owners can upgrade for free.

11:10 am: Now for a spooky topic. We are in a truly creepy tomb with what looks like remnants of the movie "Alien" lurking around the walls of flesh. The game is "Scorn" and it seems to be using the power of Series X to really creep us out.

11:08 a.m.: It wouldn't be an Xbox event without a racing game, and the off-road racer "Dirt 5" on the Xbox Series X looks absolutely gorgeous with its pops of color and impressively realistic weather and terrain effects.

11:05 am: Here we go. The first game is Bright Memory, an intense looking first-person shooter with stealth gameplay, fluid movement, and a crazy grappling hook. It has stealth gameplay, fluid movement, and one heck of a grappling hook. This game is like Titanfall meets Dark Souls meets Forza and I can't wait to play it. I can't wait to play this game.

11:00 am: We hear from Matt Booty, head of Xbox Game Studios. He stresses the importance of safety for all developers and is impressed with how well first party games are coming together from home. He also said to stay tuned for the big event in July and almost confirmed that Halo Infinite gameplay will be coming. But now it's time for third parties.

10:30 a.m.: We're just a few minutes away from the opening of the show; what will Xbox start with? Our guess is Assassin's Creed.

9:00 a.m.: Just a few more hours until showtime. Last night, Microsoft unveiled the Optimized for Xbox Series X logo.

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