Yahoo Finance E3 2018 Microsoft Xbox conference: Halo Infinite, Gears of War 5 confirmed, and new Xbox in production
E3 2018 is officially underway. Electronic Arts kicked off the gaming industry's biggest show in earnest yesterday, showcasing games like Anthem, Battlefield V and FIFA 19, and there is plenty more to come. From today, it is the platform-holders turn to showcase their wares, with the Xbox and PlayStation conferences the best place for the biggest announcements.
Microsoft hosts its press conference at 9pm BST today, where it is expected to unveil a fresh slate of titles for PC and its Xbox console, including Halo, Gears of War and Forza Horizon. Microsoft has turned around the fortunes of Xbox since the release of its excellent Xbox One X upgrade, but now needs games to showcase that console's power. Join us as we find out if the US giant has the titles it needs to fire momentum for its home console.
It's all over
That's it for another year. Microsoft put on quite the show, but nothing particularly unexpected. Don't forget, we'll be covering the Bethesda conference from 2:30 am (if you're awake).
Cyberpunk 2077 world premiere
Finally! Our first proper look at CD Projekt RED's upcoming steampunk RPG Cyberpunk 2077.
Something strange is happening
As Big Phil is wrapping up, the screen has been taken over my code. It's going to be big.
Microsoft are working on being able to stream on all devices
That means we will eventually get console quality games on mobile.
Gears of War 5
The rumours were true. Kate has had some bad news - not a great start. The expansive new world seems to be primarily frozen and the Kryll are back. The excitement in the conference hall, and here in my living room, is evident.
Gears Tactics and Gears Pop!
Rod Ferguson from the Coalition is here. There's a mobile game called Gears Pop! (yes, like the figures) coming and a new Gears of War RTS - Gears Tactics.
Just Cause 4
Get ready to blow even more stuff up in the new Just Cause. Due for release December 4, 2018.
Battletoads
It involves toads and couch co-op. I don't even know guys, I'm sorry. They can't all be good ones.
Dying Light 2
The sequel to survival horror Dying Light. Dying Light 2 is choice-driven, with all your decisions impacting the gameplay and world around you. Obviously, because it's Dying Light, you also have to deal with the infected trying to eat you at night time.
Jump Force
A new title from Bandai Namco which seems to be a mash up of every fighting anime character ever including Naruto and Goku. Due for release next year. Seems to be a classic fighting game.
World premiere games from here on
Big Phil has promised we will be seeing all new games from this point on. Ooooh exciting.
Tunic
Who is this foxy boy then? An exclusive look at a new charming adventure called Tunic. Imagine Zelda, but with a fox. So definitely better.
Cuphead DLC
The Delicious Last Course, new DLC for Cuphead that brings new playable characters, levels, and weapons.
Devil May Cry 5
It's finally confirmed by Capcom, though we kind of knew already. It looks visually breathtaking.
Coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC in Spring 2019.
Black Desert
We already knew this fantasy MMORPG is coming to Xbox One. One for a fans of World of Warcraft, who don't mind a bit of a grind.
Session
Is it the ninetines or early noughties? Because we just saw a trailer for a new skateboarding game due next year,
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
A new trailer for Shadow of the Tomb Raider. This time Lara is off to Latin America to look for a Mayan relic connected to her late father. Of course, she wouldn't be the Tomb Raider if things were that simple.
Due for release September 14, 2018.
Tom Clancy's The Division 2
World premiere. In-game footage shows team working their way through overgrown, jungle-like world before heading into an intense firefight around a crashed plane. Enemies seem to be a mix of drones, tankier armoured fellows, and classic grunts.
Releasing March 15, 2019.
PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds
Seems to be getting a snow map this winter from that teaser trailer? Alongside war mode.
We Happy Few
A closer look at We Happy Few from Compulsion Games. Classic British weirdness and humour - now part of the Microsoft family.
Brand new Microsoft studio - The Initiative
Microsoft have also bought Playground Games, Ninja Theory, Compulsion Games, and Undead Labs.
Forza Horizon 4
As expected, here's the trailer for Forza Horizon - set in Britain. Some nice little British beauties in there along with some stunning scenery. We're zooming past windmills, lavender fields, snowy woods, and the cobbled streets of Edinburgh.
Ralph Fulton from Playground Games is on the main stage explaining it's a shared open world with seasons which change the world around you. The audience currently have autumn leaves falling on them to symbolise this. That'll be a pain to brush off.
Forza Horizon 4 is due for release October 2 and will be available on Xbox Games Pass.
Sea of Thieves
It seems skeleton crews are hitting Sea of Thieves. Sea of Thieves Cursed Sails lands in July and Forsaken Shores is due in September.
Kingdom Hearts 3
A glimpse at Kingdom Hearts 3. We're getting a look at the Frozen, Monster Inc, Tangled, Toy Story, and Hercules worlds.
Metro Exodus
Post-apocalyptic Metro Exodus looks incredible. We'll be getting trailers and pictures up soon but Microsoft aren't intent on giving us a break this evening. Out February 22.
Crackdown 3
Terry Crewes voices the lead character in Crackdown 3. Due for release February 2019.
The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit
A new title set in the Life is Strange universe! What? Seems to focus on a young boy with a very active imagination but with an underlying emotional current.
Free from June 26th on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4.
Fallout 76 world premiere
"It is our biggest one yet," says Todd Howard. Fallout 76 is "four times the size of Fallout 4. It's a prequel set in West Virginia and you are the first to emerge to an untamed and different wasteland. Pre-order is available from June 15th on Xbox Store. There's definitely a more country vibe to Fallout 76 - could be because "Country Roads" is playing in the trailer.
Bethesda's Todd Howard is here
Think he's got the wrong show? No, it seems not, Fallout 4 is coming to the Xbox Game Pass today.
Big Phil hits the main stage
Phil Spencer is introducing the show, calling gaming "the great unifier." 50 games, 15 world premieres, and 18 Xbox exclusives are on the cards for tonight.
Halo Infinite confirmed
Straight off the bat, we've got a teaser for the new Halo. It looks stunning, in a whole new lush and beautiful world with animals. Not quite like anything we've seen before.
It's kick-off time
That's what the sport folks say right? The ones who don't spend all day in front of a computer screen?
Still looks like there's quite a queue to get in
Less than ten minutes to go and everyone still isn't in - including Hoggins, who's quickly turning into a lobster. Hopefully everything still kicks off on time. Make sure to grab your snacks, have a loo break, and get the kettle on, because it's going to be a late night.
Still in a big old queue for the Xbox briefing. And it is TOASTY. pic.twitter.com/pRD3rsqMQe
— Tomagotchi (@TomHoggins) June 10, 2018
The conference is filling up nicely
Larry Hyrb AKA Major Nelson has shared a tweet showing the conference hall is filling up nicely. Queues are a bit long and temperatures are at least 26 degrees, so lets hope Hoggins makes it in without major sunburn.
Getting ready #xboxe3pic.twitter.com/MTaBw3qpjr
— Larry Hryb @ E3 (@majornelson) June 10, 2018
Tom Hoggins has entered the building
Hoggins has headed into the Xbox conference, which is due to start in an hour. So, while he's absorbing the information first hand, I'll be here to take you through the conference as it happens. According to my sources, we are in for a very exciting show.
What do YOU want, dear reader?
We have heard the rumours of Halo, Gears and Fable, of course, but what would you like to see on stage? An all new IP? CD Projekt Red to show off Cyberpunk 2077? Remedy Entertainment's new game? The return of Kinect? Let us know in the comments below.
Big Phil promising a big show
Head of Xbox Phil Spencer has tweeted that Microsoft are going to be premiering at least fifteen games at the Xbox conference. Should be a good one, then, but will be interesting to see just how many of those are Xbox exclusives.
Just wrapped our final #XboxE3 rehearsal. Feeling great about the show. Excited to world premiere 15 games tomorrow and much, much more #E32018pic.twitter.com/NxPreEOXfw
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) June 10, 2018
Good evening from Los Angeles
Hello all. Tom Hoggins here, live from LA, where I will be shortly heading off to Microsoft's Xbox conference. There is plenty of chatter here in California that Xbox are about to have one of their biggest and best E3 conferences yet. Rumours of Halo, Gears of War and much more abound.
A good thing too, Microsoft are in need of a fresh slate of exclusives to compete with PlayStation's sterling first-party line-up. It has been relatively slim pickings on Xbox in comparison, but this could well be their year. Stay tuned to find out.
