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New information claiming to be leaked reports from Rockstar Games says GTA 6 had to be reworked after the fan response to Red Dead Redemption 2.

There have been a ton of rumors about Grand Theft Auto 6 lately, and it looks like new alleged leaks not only confirm a few of the things other reports have already said, but also reveals that Rockstar has taken fan response to some of the decisions made in Red Dead Redemption 2 very seriously. Red Dead Redemption 2 was a massive game, containing all kinds of activities for players to engage with and giant animals to hunt, but some players could not get behind the purposefully slow pace Rockstar seemed determine to set.

One of the things Grand Theft Auto fans love the most about the franchise is the feeling of freedom and discovery that it gives players, as well as the ability to engage in all kinds of playful and destructive mischief. Grand Theft Auto V has given players everything from hidden item quests to crazy, in-depth UFO theories culminating in a gigantic alien invasion in GTA Online, and some people may be worried that after Red Dead Redemption 2 Rockstar is planning on taking away even more player freedom in their next game. However, according to new rumors, this doesn’t appear to be the case.

Related: New GTA 6 Theory Explains Why Grand Theft Auto Online’s Economy Is Crashing

As described in a recent post on Reddit by a user who goes by u/LoremIpsumLoremIpsu, the next Grand Theft Auto game had to be reworked after Rockstar began getting feedback from fans about Red Dead Redemption 2. While the information in the leak (which is embedded below in full) remains unconfirmed and is likely yet another attempt at gas-lighting fans, the idea of Rockstar altering Grand Theft Auto 6 after some of the more tedious aspects of Red Dead Redemption 2 proved to be so publicly divisive is probably (or at least, hopefully) true. Check out the new alleged Grand Theft Auto 6 leaks here:

According to the above message, “Rockstar really took the Feedback to RDRII to heart,” and that while the company didn’t have to delay the game’s announcement “constant GTA Online revenue” allows them to do so. Rockstar’s new Grand Theft Auto game is reportedly somewhere between sixty and seventy percent completed and had an original target release window between October 2021 and February 2022.

It’s unlikely that anyone with access to information on Grand Theft Auto 6 would allow it to be posted on the internet, but stranger things have happened in the past. As Michael De Santa’s voice actor recently said, no one should believe any alleged leaks or rumors about Grand Theft Auto 6 unless it’s coming from an official Rockstar source. However, whether the above information is true or not, hopefully the company is taking the time to apply feedback from Red Dead Redemption 2 anyway.

Next: How To Find GTA Online’s Alien Costume (So You Can Join An Alien Gang)

Source: LoremIpsumLoremIpsu/Reddit

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Will Be Shorter & Smaller To Address Odyssey Complaints

About The Author

Christopher J. Teuton is an author, journalist, film director, producer, and video game developer based out of Savannah, GA, in the United States. He has developed multiple short story collections as well as two video games and one award-winning short film, and his Savannah-based media company Filthy & Free Publishing is responsible for a number of music videos, tours, books, and digital/physical media produced in the southeastern United States, including the popular two player sword-fighting card game, En Carde. Periodic updates on Filthy & Free Publishing’s latest projects, as well as unscripted and generally informative video game analyses, let’s plays, and retrospectives/spotlights are available via Filthy & Free Publishing’s YouTube page, and locally-produced physical media such as books, CDs, and En Carde decks can be purchased at filthyandfreepublishing.com.
 
When not working on his various projects or spending time with his family, Christopher J. Teuton mostly enjoys playing with dogs and climbing on trees.

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Second Extinction is an Xbox Series X co-op live service shooter that lets up to three players fight off hordes of dinosaurs with heavy weapons.

Second Extinction’s premise – a first-person shooter that pits a team of players against hordes of dinosaurs – sounds like a game dreamed up by kids on a playground, and that’s exactly what made its Xbox Series X gameplay reveal so exciting. The game is being developed by Systemic Reaction, the same developer behind last year’s co-op robot shooter Generation Zero.

Systemic Reaction debuted its Second Extinction trailer during the Inside Xbox May 2020 presentation, where it was one of the few games that actually showed off a decent amount of gameplay. Despite getting a glimpse of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla gameplay, the stars of the show ended up being smaller, newly revealed games like co-op cyberpunk RPG The Ascent and psychological horror game The Medium, which features music by legendary Silent Hill composer Akiro Yamoka.

Related: The Ascent Trailer: A Next-Gen Cyberpunk Diablo With Co-op

Second Extinction may not have that kind of pedigree behind it, but its trailer still made it look like an absolute blast. It will let teams of up to three players pick up weapons ranging from assault rifles to miniguns as they fight hordes of mutated dinosaurs that have overrun Earth, which was shown to full effect in the fast-paced, bloody trailer. Players will be able to choose from a suite of weapons and abilities to build their own perfect team. According to Systemic Reaction, Second Extinction will be a live game that changes over time based on the actions of the community in-game.

During the presentation, Second Extinction definitely stood out, and not just because it had the only trailer filled to the brim with dinosaurs. Between its gorgeous lighting effects and massive explosions, it certainly looks like a next-gen game in a way that hasn’t been seen often yet. While excitement is high for the next-generation Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, there’s still not a lot of concrete information out there about launch titles or how the consoles will improve on their predecessors in practice, aside from their specs. Second Extinction gives a glimpse at what a real next-generation game might look like. Systemic Reaction hasn’t announced a launch date for Second Extinction, which will also be available on the Xbox One and PC, but it does have a closed beta on Steam scheduled for this summer.

Microsoft and Sony have been quieter than a lot of players would like about their plans for next-gen consoles, but at least some bright spots are starting to appear. Second Extinction’s absurd premise and over-the-top action definitely make it a game to watch once the Xbox Series X launches this winter.

Next: Bright Memory Infinite Trailer: Titanfall Meets Cyberpunk and… RYSE?

Source: Systemic Reaction

GTA 6 Theory: Why A 1970’s Setting Would Be Better Than Present Day

Due to complaints about Odyssey being overstuffed, Ubisoft promises that the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will be smaller and shorter.

In response to fan complaints regarding past entries in the Assassin’s Creed series, the epic Viking journey depicted in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla won’t take quite as long or cover as much territory. The previous installment of Ubisoft’s history-based sandbox franchise, 2018’s Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, had a plot running upwards of 60 hours and featured a massive gameplay map to match, much to the detriment of some players who felt the game was overstuffed.

While Assassin’s Creed Odyssey had a warm reception overall when it was released two years ago, players still had their complaints regarding the game, such as a tedious amount of level grinding and an overall plot that, while generally considered to be well-done, seemed to take too long to tell across too large an in-game world. This in turn left many to think that its emotional moments were diluted in the process. Luckily, it appears that Ubisoft will be addressing this issue in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.

Related: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Should Bring Back The Cultist System

According to a post by Ubisoft Middle East head of communications Malek Teffaha on Twitter earlier this week, which in turn was translated by VG 24/7, the developers of Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla are keeping the criticism regarding Odyssey’s length in mind while crafting their newest game. “FYI, it won’t be the longest or biggest game in the series,” Teffaha assured fans. “They addressed criticism on this one.” That isn’t to say that Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla will be lacking in content, as the game’s map will still consist of the four Kingdoms of England and a good chunk of Norway, as well as a number of historic locales like Stonehenge.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will have much to do even with that reduced map, as while the trailer shown at today’s Xbox 20/20 event was light on the previously promised gameplay footage, Ubisoft has already announced that the game will have a multitude of features. Some of these include the option to determine lead protagonist Eivor’s gender, a fully-realized Viking settlement that grows and develops based on player choices throughout the game, and even historically accurate rap battles in the form of “flyting,” or a contest of insults. Very little is known about Assassin Creed Valhalla’s story to date, but it will depict the aforementioned settlement as they fight to protect their land from the British Army looking to reclaim it.

While players usually desire a great deal of plot and gameplay from their $60 video game purchases, there is such a thing as over-delivering and possibly dulling the overall experience with needless filler. It’s a fine tightrope to walk, and Ubisoft hopes to follow the lessons learned from Assassin’s Creed Odyssey to deliver an experience just as rich and rewarding without wearing out its welcome in the next game. Players will find out if they succeeded in that goal when Assassin’s Creed Valhalla arrives on both current and next-generation consoles later this year.

More: Why Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Fans Are Worried About Its RPG Elements

Source: VG 24/7, Malek Teffaha (via Twitter)

GTA 6 Theory: Why A 1970’s Setting Would Be Better Than Present Day

About The Author

J. Brodie Shirey is just a simple man trying to make his way in the universe, but aren’t we all? He currently lives in York, Pennsylvania and works as a dishwasher at Shallow Brook Intermediate School. He is a big comic book, video game, and science fiction fan, and likes writing reviews on his blog during his off-hours, at least when he’s not writing articles for ScreenRant or scripts for some of his crazy TV show ideas.

A graduate from York County School of Technology, he’s self-published several books on Amazon, and once won 1st place at a regional computer fair for a CGI animated short. He might post it on Youtube someday. He hopes that working for this site will be his first step into the larger universe of online writing, since Megazord technology hasn’t been invented yet and he doesn’t seem to have any Force powers. You can check out his work at The Uncanny Fox, purchase his books on Amazon.com, see his posted scripts on Script Revolution, or see his portfolio here or here. He can also be followed on Twitter @FoxUncanny.

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Renowned Silent Hill series composer Akira Yamaoka has been tapped by horror studio Bloober Team for their upcoming next-gen game, The Medium.

In today’s Xbox Series X games showcase, horror game The Medium was revealed to have music from the legendary Silent Hill 2 composer Akira Yamoka. This is a huge step-up for Bloober Team, the studio behind titles like the Layers of Fear franchise and last year’s Blair Witch, the well-recevied adaptation of the found footage cult classic.

Akira Yamaoka’s disconcerting music tracks remain one of the most vivid and memorable parts of Silent Hill 2 that sticks with players to this day, so a relatively small Polish studio getting the opportunity to work with a survival horror icon is nothing short of impressive, and they’re just as excited as prospective players. With its frequent output of horror titles that garner a range of mixed and acclaimed receptions, Bloober Team is quickly blossoming into one of its nations best-known developers alongside Cyberpunk 2077 studio CD Projekt Red. Adding to the prestige and hype surrounding Yamaoka’s work on The Medium is the possible long-awaited revival of the Silent Hill franchise, which, if true, means the next console generation is shaping up to be an excellent one for horror fans.

Related: Japanese Manga Artist Sparks Silent Hills Rumors Again With Instagram Story

Producer Jacek Zieba proudly announced Bloober Team’s partnership with Akira Yamaoka on the game’s soundtrack during the May 7 Xbox Series X games showcase. Protagonist Marianne is the titular medium, capable of perceiving an additional layer of reality of eldritch horror beyond our own, closely resembling the dual realities of the Silent Hill series. Zieba says Yamaoka was a logical fit, saying, “Silent Hill 2, for most of our team, is the best horror game ever, and its one of our main references when we think about atmosphere in The Medium.” Working alongside their in-house composer to create distinct sounds for the game’s two realities, Zieba shares that Yamaoka’s compositions are “heavy, disturbing, oppressive, and in another way it can be nostalgic, emotional, and melodic,” and a short snippet of one of his new songs sounds like pure nightmare fuel.

This story is developing…

Next: Blair Witch: How To Find The Secret Ending

Source: Xbox

GTA 6 Theory: Why A 1970’s Setting Would Be Better Than Present Day

About The Author

Phillip Tinner is a member of the Screen Rant gaming news team, and he has written about all things film, TV, and gaming for the site since 2018. Phillip has a B.A. in History from Texas A&M University and is fascinated by the many areas where the virtual and real worlds meet. A Texas native, he’s likely to be found enjoying a Shiner Bock or devouring Tex-Mex – often both at the same time! Mostly, though, he just plays and writes about video games.
He hopes readers enjoy his content as much as he does researching and producing it. Publishers, creators, and readers alike can reach him anytime on Twitter @PhilKimTin, or they can do so in a slightly less fun capacity via LinkedIn.

More About Phillip Tinner

Xbox reveals that Bright Memory: Infinite is coming to Xbox Series X with a new trailer of the game that debuted during Inside Xbox today.

Xbox revealed that Bright Memory: Infinite is coming to Xbox Series X in its Inside Xbox Presentation earlier today. The game has been in development for quite a while now, with the original Bright Memory coming out of Early Access in March.

Bright Memory made its debut on Steam in January 2019. The game was only a thirty-minute demo, but it was enough to make the community aware of Xiancheng Zeng, the head of the one-man studio FYQD behind Bright Memory. The initial demo of Bright Memory: Infinite had everything players would want from a futuristic shooter game and takes it one step forward by introducing a wide array of combat mechanics. Launching enemies into the air, grappling onto them, finishing them with a sword, and unleashing an assault rifle on the rest of a horde of combatants is just one of the numerous ways players can battle.

Related: The Ascent Trailer: A Next-Gen Cyberpunk Diablo With Co-op

The first trailer for Bright Memory: Infinite on Xbox Series X was released today by Xbox during the Inside Xbox May 2020 presentation. Showcasing the graphical prowess of the Unreal Engine a la Crysis along with RYSE-style first-person combat and Titanfall parkour elements in the game, the trailer made a compelling case for the game’s future on the next-gen console. The trailer also features a sequence in which the character is driving a vehicle that looks like it’s inspired by Cyberpunk 2077, an entirely new element that wasn’t present in FYQD’s previous work.

Bright Memory: Infinite follows the story of Shelia, an agent of the Supernatural Science Research Organization, who embarks on a journey to investigate a strange phenomenon that has affected the skies across the world. The player has to unravel a mystery that will apparently span multiple worlds. Bright Memory: Infinite seems, at first glance, to amalgamate multiple elements together, from various combat mechanics to RPG elements – though it remains to be seen how this will play out on the Xbox Series X.

Bright Memory: Infinite clearly looks to build upon the interest generated from FYQD’s previous showcases. The game’s Xbox Series X reveal is not totally surprising, given that FYQD had already stated that it planned to bring Bright Memory: Infinite to both next-gen consoles. With so many different inspirations at play – and those inspirations looking like they’ve been implemented well – Bright Memory: Infinite looks like exactly the type of title required to help build out the Xbox Series X launch library into something compelling that appeals to a wide demographic of fans.

Next: EVERY Xbox Series X Game Revealed During The Inside Xbox Presentation

Source: Xbox

GTA 6 Theory: Why A 1970’s Setting Would Be Better Than Present Day

Inside Xbox May 2020 pulled back the curtain on several Xbox Series X launch games, including the heavily anticipated Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, during an hour-long presentation that helped map out the next-gen console’s release. The Xbox Series X games reveal is part of a larger content plan from Microsoft for the brand, which will host Xbox 20/20 events every month for the rest of the year in the build-up to the console’s launch during holiday season 2020.

Fans were subjected to the usual rampant speculation and rumor-mongering that comes with pre-announced announcements, but the Xbox Series X has already been detailed a lot more than its counterpart, the PlayStation 5, and that has helped temper expectations for future reveals. What fans do know is exciting – the Xbox Series X will be supported, of course, by Xbox Game Pass, the best subscription service in video gaming right now, and will be the home of games like Halo: Infinite.

Related: Assassin’s Creed’s Best Dev Team is Working on Valhalla

While that title was conspicuously absent, the Inside Xbox May 2020 presentation was still full of Xbox Series X games that fans can now begin getting excited about. Interestingly enough, many of these titles weren’t outright Xbox Series X exclusives – rather, most of these next-gen games are also coming to current-gen consoles, which means they will inevitably not be taking full advantage of the more powerful tech available in the newer Xbox. Xbox stressed, however, that all of these games will be “Xbox Series X Optimized“, which means they will all leverage the technology available in the console to the best of their ability to improve things like graphics resolution and accelerated load times. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla was certainly the headliner, but the presentation also unveiled several other titles, listed here:

• Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (Ubisoft)
• Madden NFL 21 (EA)
• Vampire: The Masquerade 2 – Bloodlines 2 (Paradox Interactive)
• Yakuza: Like A Dragon (SEGA)
• DiRT 5 (Codemasters)
• Bright Memory Infinite (Playism)
• Call of the Sea (Raw Fury)
• Chorus (Deep Silver)
• Scarlet Nexus (Bandai Namco Entertainment)
• Scorn (Ebb)
• Second Extinction (Systemic Reaction)
• The Ascent (Neon Giant/Curve Digital)
• The Medium (Bloober Team)

In addition, nine of those titles – including Valhalla, Yakuza, and Bloodlines 2 – will support Smart Delivery, which means players will only need to buy the titles once across their Xbox consoles and remain confident they’ll be getting the best version of the game for each platform they play it on within the Microsoft family of devices. Overall, the showcase was an intriguing look at what next-gen technology offers developers in terms of graphical output, but it’s notable also for the lack of true next-gen titles: many of these games will also be arriving on current-gen consoles, which means there’s likely still a lot left to show for Xbox Series X in the coming months.

As far as Inside Xbox May 2020 goes, though, it was definitely a success for the Xbox Series X games library. Even if there weren’t any bombshell announcements for next-gen titles, it’s a solid roster of some intriguing smaller games accompanied by true giants that are a welcome addition to the roster even if they aren’t exclusive to either Xbox or next-gen. With a presentation scheduled for every month in 2020, it’s also certain that Xbox is sandbagging some of its biggest reveals for closer to the launch date of the Xbox Series X. With that in mind, it’s exciting to see 13 titles already revealed – if that’s how Xbox 20/20 begins, it’s going to be a wild ride until it ends with the launch of the Xbox Series X.

Next: Phil Spencer’s Love Of One Classic Xbox Franchise Could Bring It Back

Source: Inside Xbox May 2020

GTA 6 Theory: Why A 1970’s Setting Would Be Better Than Present Day

About The Author

Cody is Screen Rant’s Games Editor. He joined the team in 2018 and has been reporting on games pretty well every day since – except on weekends, where he’s typically playing them instead. He covers pretty much anything related to video games but has an especially large soft spot for JRPGs, MMOs, and card games.

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Revealed during the Xbox Series X gameplay livestream dedicated to third-party titles getting enhancements on the next-gen Xbox, The Ascent is a next-gen Diablo-style RPG. Featuting solo and co-op play and embracing a cyberpunk theme, The Ascent looks gorgeous from its rendered in-game footage.

The Ascent is currently in development from Neon Giant and Curve Digital alongside the Xbox Series X so footage in the reveal trailer is rendered in-game and represents what gameplay is expected to look like. The game will also be available on Xbox One later this year.

Related: Why The PS5 & Xbox Series X Launch Is Different From Past Console Gens

Watch The Ascent reveal trailer here:

Official synopsis for The Ascent:

The Ascent is a solo and co-op action RPG set in a cyberpunk world. The mega corporation that owns you and everyone, The Ascent Group, has just collapsed. Confusion and chaos ensue, security and order are in disarray, and without protection, everyone is left to fend for themselves. Stop gangs and hostile corporations from taking over and discover what really happened in this explosive sci-fi shooter.

Writing on the official Xbox Wire today, Jack Gosling, Senior Digital Marketing Manager at Curve Digital, describes The Ascent as a “real love letter to the sci-fi and cyberpunk worlds many of us grew up with.” The game can be played online or offline (local) with up to four players and the RPG gameplay will let players loot enemies for gear, upgrade, and customize their bodies with a “host of slick cyberware.“

As for the next-gen gameplay on the Series X, The Ascent’s effects hint at this in the reveal trailer but environments feature destructibility, compared to the infamous lobby fight sequence in The Matrix where bullet fire will wreak havoc on walls and objects.

The isometric camera angle, and co-op RPG gameplay immediately sparks comparison to Diablo but The Ascent is trying to be as unique as possible by borrowing cyberpunk elements for its alien-esque sci-fi backdrop. There are aliens and creatures from all over the galaxy, and Gosling explains that, “it’s up to you to stop rival corporations and crime syndicates from seizing control – by any means necessary,” within The Ascent Group, the self-contained GTA6.Mobipolis on Planet Veles where the game takes place.

Next: The first look at Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Gameplay (Sort of…)

The Ascent is coming to Xbox One and Xbox Series X later this year.

GTA 6 Theory: Why A 1970’s Setting Would Be Better Than Present Day

About The Author

Rob Keyes manages content, business development, HR models, social media, strategic partnerships, and PR for Screen Rant and helps oversee its sister site, Comic Book Resources (CBR). You may know also him from various television and radio appearances covering the superhero beat, co-hosting the Screen Rant Underground and Total Geekall podcasts or founding and building Game Rant back in the day. Find Rob on Twitter @rob_keyes or @failcube and if you need to reach either site, he’s your guy rob [at] GTA6.Mobi [dot] com.

Rob Keyes is Canadian, the longest serving member of Screen Rant, has a Masters Degree in Economics and degrees is marketing and computer science, is an Adjudicator for the Canadian Videogame Awards, and is the world’s best TIE Interceptor pilot. You can see and chat with Rob live in the evenings at twitch.tv/failcube or see his videos at youtube.com/failcube.

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We’re starting to hear more about Xbox Series X games as the next-gen console’s launch date creeps ever closer. Faster and capable of more advanced graphics than its predecessors, Microsoft’s next-generation hardware promises to be the most powerful games console in the world when it launches late in 2020 – even more so than the PS5, which is expected to hit shelves around the same time.

We’ve now had a somewhat-substantial first look at the Xbox Series X game lineup, with a number of third-party titles having been announced – and shown off with in-engine gameplay – on the latest Inside Xbox’s Xbox Series X gameplay reveal. We’ve detailed each new game below, alongside Assassin’s Creed Valhalla which was announced a few days previously – and which we now know will benefit from Xbox’s innovative Smart Delivery feature. 

To know what you’re going to be playing on the next-gen console, here’s every Xbox Series X game Microsoft has confirmed so far – and some other that we hope, expect, or demand to see.

First look: new Xbox Series X games confirmed

We had our first Xbox Series X gameplay reveal on May 7, and got a number of new Xbox Series game announcements along with it. They’re all third-oarty games, but you can check out the announced titles below, with previously confirmed titles (like Halo Infinite, for one) below that. We’ll be sure to update these entries as more information on each of these games becomes available.

Bright Memory Infinite

Chinese FYQD Studio is behind the first game to be shown off in the May 7 Inside Xbox stream, Bright Memory Infinite.

It has a very sci-fi feel, but with swords and shields mixing with assault rifles and… magical beams of light acting as a grappling hook? There are even futuristic car chase sequences right out of blade runner – and while we don’t know much about the game, our first in-engine look of the game running on Xbox Series X definitely got out attention. (The game is reportedly made by a single person, too.)

We know it’s coming to PC, too, and that owners of the previous Bright Memory title will get the new title for free.

Xbox Series X Optimised? Yes.

Dirt 5

A new Dirt game! Dirt is a classic racing game series from developer Codemasters, and we’re not surprised to see it make the way to next-gen consoles. Expect… fast cars? Racing? With only a brief look so far, we can’t say much more, but it’s sure to be rendered beautifully, and have the smooth drifting we’d expect from a next-gen console and Xbox Series X controller.

Xbox Series X Optimised? Yes.

Scorn

Oh boy, this trailer was disconcerting. Scorn appears to take place in a grim, gray, and bloody world, with mysterious stone statues and intestine-lookalike worms combining for… something. We got some serious Alien / Prometheus vibes – and know it’s a first-person horror game – but will update you as we find out more about the title.

Xbox Series X Optimised? Yes.

MADDEN ’21

That’s right! The next Madden game is coming to Xbox Series X. The NFL game will bring American football to your console with high-quality graphics and (hopefully) super smooth gameplay on the high-spec console.

Xbox Series X Optimised? Yes.

Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines 2

The sequel to Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines is here! With telekinesis, monstrous puppets, and (of course) plenty of vampirism, this looks like a must-buy game for Xbox Series X. It sounds like it will have a banging soundtrack too.

Xbox Series X Optimised? Yes.

Call of the Sea

Call of the Sea looks like a narrative-led mystery game, with a lyrical perspective and beautiful animation style – and it’s already confirmed for Xbox Game Pass. We’ll update you as we find out more.

Xbox Series X Optimised? Yes.

The Ascent

If Cyberpunk 2077 isn’t enough dystopian sci-fi for you, The Ascent may have you covered. With dirty, high-tech cities, alien populations living side by side, and talk of supernovas causing havoc, will The Ascent be an imitator or an innovator? We’ll find out soon enough.

Xbox Series X Optimised? Yes.

The Medium

The Medium is a next-gen psychological horror game – with the composer behind the Silent Hill series helping to score the action. We can pretty much guarantee it will sound terrifying, and with it being so many years since a Silent Hill game, we can’t wait to see if The Medium is a worthy successor.

Xbox Series X Optimised? Yes.

Scarlet Nexus

From Bandai Namco, this unsettling action game sees you fighting off flowery enemies to protect humanity. It has an art style clearly informed by modern 3D anime, with a teenage protagonist with the gift of ‘psychokinesis’, laying waste to some sort of sentient plant life – with human legs? We don’t get it, but from the outset this looks like a hack-and-slash adventure worth a lazy afternoon.

Xbox Series X Optimised? Yes.

Second Extinction

Earth has fallen. Rally your squad. Shoot dinosaurs. This FPS game sees you gunning down dinos to help retake earth from these scaly beasties. The name isn’t inspiring, but the trailer suggests there may be some cooperative or competitive element to keep things interesting.

Xbox Series X Optimised? Yes.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon

This hugely exciting entry in the Yakuza franchise will be available from launch on Xbox Series X, and is sure to get a lot of attention.

It follows a young man Ichi as he navigates the organizes crime world of urban Japan, and fans of the franchise will surely have plenty to be excited about.

Xbox Series X Optimised? Yes.

Want to know what else you can play on Xbox Series X? Here are all the games that had previously been confirmed for the next-gen console – with some rumored or speculated titles below that.

Confirmed Xbox Series X titles

Halo Infinite

Halo Infinite is was the first title that Microsoft confirmed for Xbox Series X – so we definitely know Master Chief is making the jump to the next-generation console. 

Not only that, but Halo Infinite will be a launch title for Series X, releasing in Holiday 2020 alongside the console (or consoles). It’s not particularly a surprise, considering Master Chief has served as the face of Xbox for nearly 18 years… 

According to Microsoft, Halo Infinite (like all exclusive Xbox game Studios titles) will use the new Smart Delivery feature. That means you only have to purchase the game once, and you’ll have the access to the best available version for whichever Xbox console you choose to play on. 

Warframe

Leyou Technology, parent company of Warframe developer Digital Extremes, has revealed that its free-to-play online sci-fi shooter Warframe will be coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X. 

In an earnings report by Leyou Technology, the company stated that it’s “preparing to expand Warframe to more platforms, such as the next-generation consoles and other devices”.

However, there’s no indication of when Warframe will land on PS5 or Xbox Series X.

Cyberpunk 2077

CD Projekt Red was reticent to say whether or not its upcoming title will be releasing on the next generation of consoles. Thanks to a tweet by the developer, we now have confirmation that Cyberpunk 2077 will be coming to Xbox Series X – and the game will even make use of Microsoft’s new Smart Delivery feature, allowing players to upgrade their Xbox One version of the game to the Xbox Series X version for free.

In addition, a “proper, full-blown next-gen version” of Cyberpunk 2077 will come to Xbox Series X – but it won’t be available on the console at launch.

That’s according to CD Projekt, the parent company of Cyberpunk 2077 developer CD Projekt Red, who revealed during an earnings call (via VGC) that, while the game will still release in September and will be available on Xbox Series X “from the get-go”, an enhanced, next-gen version will be released at a later date.

“In terms of Microsoft’s console, like I said, we have officially confirmed both the update and the cross-gen availability, meaning that you’ll be able to play the game from the get-go on the next-gen,” CD Projekt SVP of business development Michal Nowakowski said during the call.

“However, when it comes to a proper, full-blown next-gen version, that’s going to come later, we haven’t announced when and I don’t have a new comment here on that.”

A CD Projekt Red spokesperson confirmed to VGC that the “full-blown next-gen version” Nowakowski referred to is the previously announced Xbox Series X upgrade.

Gothic

After gauging interest with a playable teaser, developer THQ Nordic has confirmed that it’s going to remake its 2001 cult classic and bring it to Xbox Series X.

Nordic is planning to “stay as faithfully as possible to the original experience” and modernise gameplay mechanics but it’s also promised fans that it’ll be playing close attention to player feedback from the playable teaser; already the developer has said that it’s hearing calls for a “grittier and less colourful world”.

Development is still in the very early stages, though, and we shouldn’t expect to see it launch on Microsoft’s console in 2020.

Rainbow Six Siege

Rainbow Six Siege director, Leroy Athanassof, has confirmed in an interview with Windows Central that Ubisoft’s plan is to have the online tactical shooter be available on Xbox Series X from the console’s launch day. 

Ubisoft doesn’t want players to face being split up from their friends just because some have jumped into the new generation when others haven’t so it’s also been confirmed that the game will support cross-gen play. That means Xbox Series X players will still be able to play with the Xbox One friends. 

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2

Xbox Series X’s name and design was officially revealed during the Game Awards 2019. Alongside a look at the next-gen console we also recieved an official announcement that there’s another Hellblade on the way – and it’s coming to the next Xbox. 

We don’t know much about what Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 will be about but the announcement trailer, harnessing the Series X’s next-gen technology, was extremely impressive – and it’s likely the game will make use of Smart Delivery.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

Ubisoft has confirmed that the next chapter in the Assassin’s Creed series is coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla sees players take on the role of Viking raider Eivor, who leads their clan from their native home of Norway to the the shores of Dark Ages England – with a hope of settling for good. But resistance from the Saxons won’t exactly make it easy.

This new Assassin’s Creed game leans more into RPG elements, allowing players to build and management settlements, raid towns for resources, form alliances and even customize their character. 

Ubisoft has confirmed we’ll see Assassin’s Creed Valhalla gameplay for the first time at the Xbox Series X gameplay reveal on May 7. 

Outriders

People Can Fly has confirmed that its upcoming co-op shooter Outriders will land on both PS5 and Xbox Series X in “Holiday 2020” (AKA between October and December this year) – the same release window that we have for both next-gen consoles.

We don’t know a huge amount about Outriders just yet, but the developer has described it as “a co-op RPG shooter for a new generation set in an original, dark and desperate sci-fi universe”.

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum

Announced in March 2019, Daedalic’s Gollum game has now been confirmed for PS5 and Xbox Series X. 

The developer confirmed to Edge, that The Lord of the Rings: Gollum will be a “stunning next-gen adventure”. Previously Daedlic confirmed Gollum will release in 2021 for PC and “all relevant console platforms at that time”. Whether the game will be cross-generation (releasing on PS4 and Xbox One also) is still unconfirmed however.

But what will the game actually be about? Gollum is an action-adventure which focuses on the ring-obsessed creature. According to Daedalic, the narrative-driven game”tells Gollum’s story from a perspective never seen before … while staying true to the legendary books.”

Gods and Monsters

Just like Watch Dogs Legion, Gods and Monsters is another title from Ubisoft announced for Xbox at E3 2019 that’s been delayed from its original early 2020 release into the next financial year. 

Knowing now that we could see Gods and Monsters released any time between April 2020 and March 2021, we’ve long thought it’s likely that the title will make an appearance on the Xbox Series X platform. 

This has now been officially confirmed. Along with Rainbow Six Quarantine and Wathdogs: Legion, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has said it will be coming to the next-gen platform.

Battlefield 6

Electronic Arts has confirmed that Battlefield 6 is coming to Xbox Series X and PS5 in 2021. 

Speaking to GameSpot, EA said that Battlefield 6 will be “targeting new innovation that will be enabled by next-gen platforms”. We’re still largely in the dark about what Battlefield 6 is about, and whether it’ll also be available on current-gen consoles, but we can’t wait to find out more.

Rainbow Six Quarantine

Rainbow Six Quarantine was first confirmed during Ubisoft’s E3 2019 press conference. It was never given a solid release date but it has since been delayed into the 2020-2021 financial year. 

So, while we still don’t know a release date, this delay has pushed the game closer to the Xbox Series X launch and increases the likelihood we’ll see it playable on the next generation of consoles. Of course this has now been officially confirmed by Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot in an earnings call to investors in November, 2019.

Watchdogs: Legion

First announced at E3 2019, Watch Dogs Legion was initially confirmed for a March 2020 release. However, since then Ubisoft has confirmed that the game will now be delayed into the next financial year which runs from April 2020 to March April 2021, meaning Watch Dogs Legion could see a delay of as little as a month or up to a year. 

This delay does, however, make it more likely than ever that Watch Dogs Legion will launch for Xbox Series X as a cross-generation title. Which has now been officially confirmed by Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot in an earnings call to investors in November, 2019. Watchdogs: Legion will be joining Rainbow Six Quarantine and Gods and Monsters on the next-gen platform.

WRC 9

It’s been officially confirmed that the latest version of the FIA World Rally Championship will officially hit Xbox Series X and PS5. The racing title will release in September 2020 for PC, Switch, Xbox One and PS4, but will also release on next-gen consoles. 

“The introduction of new-generation gaming consoles is a wonderfully exciting step and we’re delighted WRC 9 will be the first rally game to become available to gamers on such platforms,” WRC Promoter managing director Oliver Ciesla said.

According to the game’s website, WRC 9 will feature rallies in Kenya, New Zealand and Japan from the 2020 WRC calendar, alongside over 400km of roads from all 13 scheduled rounds of the 2020 season.

WRC 10 and WRC 11 have also been confirmed.

Dying Light 2

During an interview with Wccftech at E3 2019, developer Techland confirmed Dying Light 2 is set for next-gen consoles. 

“Techland always has an eye on the latest new toys!” Techland’s chief technology officer, Pawel Rohleder, said. “To be more specific – yes, the plan since the beginning of production has been to make Dying Light 2 a cross-generation title.”

Suspected Xbox Series X titles

Everwild

A surprise announcement during XO19 was Rare’s next original title: Everwild. This game is still in the very early stages of its development and there’s no release date just yet. This certainly suggests that the game could be a cross-generational title, launching on Series X and Xbox One as an exclusive. 

We don’t know much about Everwild just yet but Rare has said that it will “give you memorable, engaging and meaningful experiences for players everywhere to share.”

Starfield

Bethesda has quite a lot of projects in the works, but the one we seem to know the least about is Starfield. All we know so far is that Starfield is the gaming behemoth’s first new IP in 25 years and will be a single player RPG set in outer space.

Having only seen an announcement trailer, we don’t expect Starfield to release until at least 2020 which means it will land in the prime window to become an Xbox Series X game. Bethesda hasn’t let slip if this will be the case, but it seems likely we will be venturing into Bethesda’s galaxy on next-generation consoles.

As we said, Bethesda has been pretty busy behind the scenes since E3 2018. Not only is Starfield on the cards, but the long-awaited Elder Scrolls 6 has also been confirmed to be in the works. 

Bethesda’s Todd Howard has already stated that The Elder Scrolls 6 won’t be coming out until after Starfield. So it’ll be a while before we venture into Tamriel again, likely on next-generation consoles. 

Grand Theft Auto 6

Ok, yes, we are being a bit hopeful here – mainly because Grand Theft Auto 6 has not been announced by Rockstar Games. But it’s almost guaranteed that we will see a new instalation in the Grand Theft Auto series, and it’s not going to be for a while. 

Therefore, it is likely that a release date will fall into the next generation, making GTA 6 an Xbox Series X game.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake

Again, the Final Fantasy 7 Remake has not been confirmed to be an Xbox Series X game but Square Enix has confirmed the title will come to PS4 first – with an Xbox One and PC release likely in the future .

Given the age of the Xbox One, and the ambitious nature of the game – it’s coming in multiple episodes across a multi-year release schedule – a cross-generation title with next-gen platforms isn’t out of the question. So we’re definitely hoping to see the Final Fantasy 7 Remake on Xbox Series X.

Check out everything we know so far about Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2.