Xbox showed off a selection of games releasing in 2024 at their Developer_Direct event on Thursday, including Ninja Theory’s Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, Obsidian’s Avowed, ARA: History Untold from Oxide, and the highly anticipated Indiana Jones title, now known as Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, from LucasFilm Games and MachineGames. A surprise appearance was also made by Square-Enix, showing off the first Mana title in fifteen years and the first to appear on Xbox, Visions of Mana. Overall, this presentation gave Xbox fans a taste at what’s to come in what looks to be a packed year for the console. Let’s take a look at what was shown.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II – Ninja Theory
Ninja Theory’s highly anticipated Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II was the first major title revealed alongside the Xbox Series X at The Game Awards in 2019 and has quickly set the visual standard for Xbox games and Unreal Engine 5. The combat looks more aggressive and brutal than the first game, looking for each battle to tell it’s own story of strength and perseverance. It also looks to add to complex environmental puzzles with real world influence, new characters in a tribe Senua has embraced as her own, and continues the haunting sound design that its predecessor was known for led by Audio Director David Garcia Diaz.
The presentation also took a deep dive into the studio’s process for creating their incredible visuals with Studio Head Don Matthews, mocap direction with Scriptwriter and Performance Capture Director Lara Dirham, and how they brought Senua back to life with the actress herself, Melina Jeurgens. The attention to detail is some of the deepest in the business this side of maybe Naughty Dog or Nintendo. As if I wasn’t impressed enough before, I am even more blown away by it now. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II has been on my most anticipated game list for years, and it now sits at number one.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is coming exclusively Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Game Pass on May 21, 2024 as a digital-only release.
Avowed – Obsidian Entertainment
Obsidian Entertainment showed an in-depth look at Avowed, their fantasy RPG set in the realm of the Living Lands. Though at first glance it resembles the studio’s take on The Elder Scrolls, it is anything but. At the heart of the adventure, players will be tasked with fighting the Spiritual Plague, a force that is corrupting the beings of this universe. Game Director Carrie Patel explains their blend of the believable and the fantastic, blending their vibrant world with player choice in quests, combat, and exploration.
During their segment of the Developer Direct, the focus was on largely on gameplay and the choices players have. Gabriel Pamaro, the Gameplay Director, discussed the various combat styles and the ability to create loadouts so you can swap out your weapons and abilities when enemy encounters change. These included fast-paced magic attacks, dual-wielding weapons, showcasing the use of shields and parries, and brutal up-close melee combat. Additionally, special attacks were highlighted, such as the Tanglefoot ability, designed to trap enemies and help players manage swarming foes.
The main draw in Avowed, however, is the choices you get to make during your adventure in the Living Lands. This especially applies to quests. The whole story of any given quest can shift based on your early interactions with quest givers and NPCs. Sometimes, it’s not so simple as a clear good or bad choice – things can get a bit tricky. Morality might not be as clear as it looks at first. I loved what I played of one of their previous titles, The Outer Worlds, as it stuck to what it knew and cut out the fluff. This looks to do the same and I am all here for it.
Avowed is set for release this fall on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Game Pass.
Visions of Mana – Square-Enix
As suspected, a major surprise dropped in the middle of the Developer_Direct from none other than the RPG masters at Square-Enix. The Japanese publishing giant presented Visions of Mana, the first new Mana game in over fifteen years. Though the game wasn’t initially announced here, it was a significant showing as many Xbox fans know the company has been hesitant to release their major titles on the platform.
Mana Series Director Masaru Oyamada walked viewers through the studio, discussing design decisions, showing off the vibrant character designs and environments, and why they are happy to be releasing the game on the Xbox platform. Visions of Mana looks to have a weapon-based action combat system and a large cast of characters to meet throughout the adventure.
Though I am pretty unfamiliar with early Mana games, I did like what I played of Trials of Mana on the Nintendo Switch. This looks to be an evolution of that design philosophy, but now taking advantage of the features the Xbox can offer. Count me in when Visions of Mana arrives on Xbox Series X|S and PC, as well as other platforms, this summer.
ARA: History Untold – Oxide Games
Oxide Games opened its doors in 2013 with a vision to build more than just another strategy game. Built on the foundation of Civilization developers and other strategy game veterans, President Marc Meyer and the team have created a new game that aims to defy genre expectations in ARA: History Untold. On the surface it looks a lot like classic Civilization games, down to the looks of each of the cultures. It is anything but.
Lead Designer Michael Califf and Design Director Michelle Menard took viewers on a deep dive into their innovative Living World, a procedurally generated Earth teeming with life and vegetation, beautiful landscapes, and the ability to chart your own course through them. Building a society reflects the way players want to rule, with deep systems that encourage exploration and making strategic choices, all scored by their unique Prestige system.
As someone who always wanted an Age of Empires that didn’t focus on combat, Civilization always called to me. I am looking forward to seeing what Oxide’s vision can deliver later this year on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Game Pass.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle – MachineGames and LucasFilm Games
As many people who have followed me over the years know, Indiana Jones is my favorite movie franchise of all time. From the moment the ball chased Indy out of the cave in Raiders of the Lost Ark all the way to when he discovered the Dial of Destiny in his last theatrical adventure, I have always been drawn to the character. When Wolfenstein developer MachineGames and legendary game designer Todd Howard announced they would be partnering with LucasFilm Games to bring the character to life in a new game for the Xbox, I was so excited.
Titled Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, this latest adventure takes Indy and his new companion, investigative reporter Gina, on a quest to see why someone stole a seemingly useless artifact from the university and how it ties into a greater mystery. The game seems to have a stylized art direction, but it fits the upbeat adventurous personality of Dr. Jones perfectly.
We saw the first bits of gameplay as well. The title will be a first person action adventure game, not unlike the Wolfenstein titles before it, with puzzles, environmental traversal, and cutscenes all done in third-person. And what is a MachineGames game without knocking out a bunch of Nazis? Yes, Nazi Germany is at the center of this story as well, with Emmerich Voss taking centerstage as the villain. He has similar interest in the artifact as Indy, but with wildly different intentions.
I am beyond excited to see what MachineGames has done with Indiana Jones. Though I would have preferred a third-person action adventure title like Uncharted or Tomb Raider, I trust MachineGames knows what they’re doing and a first person adventure may be exactly what it needs to stay clear of those comparisons. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle hits Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Game Pass this year.
Our Take
Xbox showed that they still have surprises to show us. Four first party titles and one major third party JRPG from Square-Enix made this Developer_Direct more than a success, but a major turning point in the narrative about the platform. I was excited for most of these games before this presentation, but now I am on board for all five titles shown today.
Are you excited for any of these games? Which ones are you most interested in? Let us know in Let us know in our Discord or in our Facebook Community!
Source: Xbox on YouTube
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