14 DAY TRIAL // As promised, Microsoft focused on video games for E3 2014 and showed some of the biggest titles that players would be able to play on the Xbox One in the coming year, while leaving more details about the entertainment options of the home console for future events.
The company’s booth gave special placement to Sunset Overdrive, the third-person shooter from Insomniac Games that is a platform exclusive, and it spared no expense in order to show how the title could revolutionize the genre when launched, on October 28 of this year.
Interest in the game was high and the company gave plenty of players room to try out the experience, while also using the actor featured in the first few trailers to talk about its core nature and explain why it was different from other games offered on the market.
Forza Horizon 2 also stood out, mainly because of the impressive Lamborghini Huracan that was presented near the demo stations, as Microsoft tries to make sure that racing fans have something new to try out on the Xbox One.
Fable Legends and Project Spark also had bigger than expected presences at the E3 2014 booth, despite the fact that both titles offer somewhat niche experiences and will probably only appeal to a limited number of fans.
Interestingly, for the first time in many years, Halo was not the focus of the Microsoft E3 2014 presence, which probably means that the company is still in the planning stages for the coming Guardians title.
The fact that there was no attempt to show off the other entertainment apps associated with the Xbox One is a sign of courage on the company’s part, which has talked so much about the way its new device will mix traditional gaming and new experiences.
Microsoft clearly trusts the new, lower price of the device, which no longer includes the Kinect motion tracking sensor, to generate higher sales and make the install base larger before Christmas this year.
At the same time, the company needs to make sure that it delivers a variety of titles on the Xbox One and does not only focus on high-end AAA titles.
Fans are also expecting to hear more about Halo as soon as possible, even if the game is only offered in late 2015.
E3 2014 Highlight: Sunset Overdrive – Insomniac has clearly drawn on its rich history of innovation for the game and the colorful design, the crazy weapons and the free-running gameplay will probably lead to the development of a solid, long-term fan base for the coming shooter.