Xbox faced a challenge in surprising audiences after a historically unimpressive Summer Game Fest. Yet, it was relatively easy for them to generate enthusiasm, as players are usually eager for new content, especially with a packed gaming June this year.
Despite the anticipation, the presentation wasn’t their most successful, ranking among the least impactful in recent years, precisely when a significant shake-up was expected. While there were minor tremors, like the promising Clockwork Revolution coming to Xboxโbolstering a currently sparse exclusive strategyโthe lineup of trailers was largely predictable from start to finish. The Call of Duty finale, which initially seemed like a showstopper, increasingly resembles dated traditions, much like a worn-out saying.
Nevertheless, as always, several games showcased have captured our attention. Here are our top five picks.
Gears of War: E-Day
It’s been several years since a new Gears game. The gap between the last Epic Gears and the first by The Coalition was three years, or five if you exclude spin-offs (which you shouldn’t). By the time E-Day releases, it will have been seven years since the last main entry, or six if we count spin-offs (and we should, as Gears Tactics is magnificent). The timing of releases is crucial in video games, and perhaps a saga like Gears of War resonates best with the shorter intervals seen in its first three installments, which all arrived comfortably within a single console generation.
I don’t believe E-Day aims to drastically alter the series’ direction, but personally, the prospect of experiencing the infamous Emergence Day firsthand, returning to a much younger, yet still formidable, Marcus Fenixโeven without his armorโis highly appealing. In an ideal world, where the melodramatic spirit of Gears (Emergence Day is particularly poignant for Dom, our sidekick in this new game; avoid wikis if you don’t know why) had room to flourish, a simple nod to Carmine would be met with cheers. In our reality, it’s more challenging, but not impossible.
Crazy Taxi: World Tour
I thought I was watching a Crazy Taxi remake, complete with the familiar car, music, city, and the same taxi driver. However, SEGA describes a different game on its official website: “Join Axel in this new adrenaline-fueled adventure as he chases down the mysterious masked villains who have stolen his beloved taxi! Take on extreme missions across the globe and earn a ton of cash along the way!” It also features a multiplayer mode.
Regardless of what unfolds, I’m content with returning to the hills of San Franciscoโa curious symbol of the Dreamcast era, also featured in Sonic Adventure 2โand leaping over the tram because that girl needs to meet her friends near the beach. There will be time later to ponder the whereabouts of B.D. Joe or why everyone looks like they’re from Fortnite. For now, we have a potent trailer to tell our children the story of a magical artifact called the Dreamcast.
Bad Magpie
It might not have been the most impactful announcement of the event, but it was certainly a favorite for many (myself included). Milktooth is developing an adventure starring a one-winged magpie, separated from its flock, with a natural talent for causing chaos. It’s always appreciated when new and unique proposals emerge; they always add value.
In 2027, both on PC and Xbox (and available on Game Pass at launch), players can join this charming bird in what is destined to be known as the magpie game. Hopefully, it soars as high as the goose game, Untitled Goose Game, which featured a goose terrorizing an entire neighborhood.
Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember
Team Ninja’s greatest asset is their complete lack of shame. This was explicitly demonstrated last year with Stranger of Paradise, a hilarious homage to the first Final Fantasy that blended raw surrealism with the studio’s traditional commitment to solid and impactful combat systems. Since Team Ninja decided to blend their memorable approach to action games with their reverence for Souls-like titles in Nioh (acknowledged by the director of both games, Fumihiko Yasuda, who is also the studio’s president), their prestige has been steadily returning. This comes after a period where the sharpness of the first Ninja Gaiden began to fade, and the presentation of Dead or Alive started to overshadow its substance. Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember continues this trend.
Doom: The Dark Ages โ Revelations
With its expansions, or its expansion split in two, Doom Eternal allowed for some imbalances that would have been controversial in the main game. I wonder what it will do with its expansion, Doom: The Dark Ages? Judging by the frenetic Revelations trailer, id Software has once again opted to “caricature” the base game, presenting its most striking features in a more exaggerated manner. This is all to the good: the comparatively more stoic Doom Slayer, adorned with a furry cape and shield, performs impossible jumps here, besieging hordes of enemies from land and air thanks to an interesting addition to his arsenal โ the chain spear, a weapon designed with mobility in mind. This releases very soon, on July 7th. I’m eager to see when we’ll traverse the Underhalls hinted at in the trailer.
