The following titles will be available at launch:

• Among Us
• Descenders
• Dishonored 2
• Doom Eternal
• Fable Anniversary
• Fallout 4
• Fallout 76
• Forza Horizon 4
• Gears 5
• Grounded
• Halo 5: Guardians
• Halo Wars 2
• Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
• Human Fall Flat
• Inside
• Ori and The Will of the Wisps
• Psychonauts 2
• State of Decay 2
• The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

Note that the game library may vary by country. More titles will be announced before the service’s launch in September. New games will be added two to three times yearly, though how many at any given time is unknown. Those currently subscribed to Xbox Live Gold will automatically switch to the new plan with no change in pricing.

Games with Gold officially ends on September 1st. Any Xbox One games redeemed through it are still accessible if you subscribe to Game Pass Core or Game Pass Ultimate. Xbox 360 titles obtained through the same will remain in your library, even without a subscription.  Stay tuned for more details in the coming months.

#9. HALO WARS

Halo Wars definitely had some good ideas, and it was by no means a bad game. Its campaign was solid enough in its own right, online play was fun, and it was surprising how well developer Ensemble Studios managed to make a real time strategy game work on a console controller- but there just wasn’t enough here for anyone to really latch on to. For Halo fans, it was a nice distraction, but not exactly what you’d expect from a Halo game, while for RTS fans, it was far too simplified and shallow to be anything more than a decent yet largely forgettable game.

#8. HALO 5: GUARDIANS

The absolute lowest point of the Halo franchise’s numbered entries, Halo 5: Guardians represented a series that just didn’t know what to do with itself anymore. Ask any Halo fan what their least favourite campaign in the series is, and the overwhelming majority will name Halo 5, which for some reason decided to focus on Fireteam Osiris, and Master Chief receding into the background. That could have been forgiven if it at least told a good story- but of course, that was definitely not the case here. Thankfully, Halo 5: Guardians had a great multiplayer component, one that made some smart changes and improvements to the series’ formula. Aggressive monetization was a letdown here as well, but by and large, there was a lot to love in the game’s multiplayer offerings.

#7. HALO WARS 2

Much like its predecessor, Halo Wars 2 deserves credit for translating the real time strategy experience to a console gamepad with surprising ease- but again, much like its predecessor, that came with some sacrifices. As a strategy game, Halo Wars 2 was far too simplified and pared back for genre fans to really be able to get much out of it, and it didn’t help that on the multiplayer side of things, the game was largely a step back from its predecessor. That said, Halo Wars 2 had a solid campaign, with excellent production values, cinematic and flashy cutscenes, and a surprisingly compelling story that explored some interesting parts of the Halo universe. Is it a must-play for Halo fans?Maybe not. But it’s still a solid enough game in its own right.

#6. HALO 4

343 Industries and Microsoft had a lot to live up to with Halo 4. Bungie redefined the entire genre and took the industry by storm with a number of stellar games released over the course of a decade, so of course, Halo 4 had to live up to impossibly high expectations. And maybe it didn’t exactly do that- it was definitely not nearly as good as its predecessors, but it was still an excellent way to start off the series’ next era. In spite of a convoluted story that made the ill-advised decision to focus way too much on extended universe plot elements, Halo 4’s campaign was a blast to play through, with 343 Industries proving beyond a doubt that at least where the core shooting and mechanics of the series were concerned, they were more than up to the task of carrying Bungie’s legacy forward. Multiplayer, though not perfect, and though not on the same level as its recent predecessors, was still a heck of a lot of fun, and laid down solid foundations for its successors.

#5. HALO 3: ODST

A shorter expansion-style game that had relatively sparse multiplayer offerings and didn’t feature series protagonist Master Chief whatsoever? Halo 3: ODST should have been a recipe for disaster- and yet it was a masterstroke by Bungie. No, it never touched the heights of other Halo games that came around it, but as series fans will tell you every chance they get, it still deserved more of the spotlight. It had an excellent campaign that brought a very different tone and style to the series than what we had come to expect from it in previous years, while on the multiplayer front, Firefight was an addictive, tense experience that fans seemed to just never got bored of. The fact that it shipped with Halo 3’s excellent multiplayer made it that much more of a compelling experience.

#4. HALO 2

How do you follow up on one of the best, most influential games ever made? That was the question that Bungie was faced with while developing Halo 2, and in retrospect, it’s safe to say that the answers they came up with were the right ones. The sandbox shooting of Combat Evolved was taken to new heights in Halo 2, which, crucially, introduced dual wielding, while the multiplayer offerings were a huge improvement over the first game, and pretty much set the standards that Halo as a series is still following to this day. Sure, development constraints meant that Halo 2 was not without its issues – the campaign, in particular, is far from perfect, not least because of its infamously abrupt ending – but by and large, it was a worthy follow-up to its spectacular predecessor.

#3. HALO: COMBAT EVOLVED

The one that started it all, and the one that, frankly, is in so many ways what the series is still aspiring to even now. Halo: Combat Evolved was an absolute revelation, delivering a brand of sandbox shooting against vibrant and deviously intelligent enemies the likes of which were had rarely been seen in games before. Its campaign was packed full of incredible, memorable moments that captured audience’s attention and are fondly looked back on two decades from its launch, and the fact that the series still largely abides by the gameplay foundations laid down by Combat Evolved should tell you how timeless they were. Seriously, even today, going back and playing this game is an absolute joy- and that, after all, is the true mark of an unabashed masterpiece.

#2. HALO: REACH

Halo: Reach was the game that Bungie signed off with, the game that would bring about the end of an era for this massive franchise and usher in a new age at the same time- and boy did it live up to expectations. Sure, at the time it ruffled a few feathers with the introduction of abilities that many felt had no place in Halo. But once people calmed down and actually played the game, they realized that Bungie had managed to find the perfect way to implement them without compromising the series’ identity. A stellar multiplayer component was backed up by what is probably the best ever campaign in a Halo game here, all of it coming together in a game where Bungie were at their absolute best.

#1. HALO 3

Think back to the months leading up to Halo 3, and try and come up with a game that demanded as much hype, anticipation, and expectation as Halo 3 did. There aren’t many. The series was on top of the world back then, and millions upon millions were chomping at the bit to “finish the fight” with Halo 3. And without the shadow of a doubt, the game somehow managed to live up to those impossibly high expectations- it was just such a well-rounded experience. An excellent campaign that closed off the trilogy’s story in satisfactory fashion and was full of excellent levels and firefights, and a brilliant multiplayer component that commanded the attention of a deluge of players who logged in every day for a long, long time to come- to this day, in fact. Halo 3 was an absolutely incredible game that took the biggest strengths of all its predecessors and took them to their absolute zenith, to deliver the perfect refinement of Halo formula.

Though they’re not necessarily the best real time strategy titles out there, the Halo Wars games are solid experiences in their own rights, with well-executed mechanics and a thorough understanding of what makes a Halo game tick (not to mention some pretty important narrative elements for the series’ larger lore here and there). Halo Wars 2 in particular has been a fan-favourite since it launched- but can we expect another game in the not-too-distant future?

Well, unfortunately, it seems like that’s not going to be the case. Writing in a recent update on Halo Waypoint, 343 Industries community manager John Junyszek said that the studio has “no current plans” for Halo Wars 3, or even for new content updates to Halo Wars 2. Though things could obviously change in the future (“never say never,” says Junyszek), right now, 343 is focused elsewhere.

“343 Industries has no current plans for further Halo Wars 2 work including content updates, balance patches, bringing the title to other platforms, or a new game in the series. We will, however, continue to monitor the game and ensure everything is working as expected,” he wrote.

“Yes, we did use the word “currently” because it’s the truth – as of today, there is no plan for the development team to re-engage with Halo Wars 2 and we aren’t working on a new game in the series at this time. But, we’re specifically never going to say never because, well, who knows what the future may bring,” Junyszek added. “If you told me back in the day that the totality of MCC would land on Steam or Halo 3 would get content updates 14 years after launch, I’d never have believed it and yet here we are. We know constantly waiting and wondering is equal parts frustrating and exhausting, so we hope this clarity helps alleviate some of that and we want to set clear expectations that there is no work happening on Halo Wars.”

Junsyszek goes on to explain that 343 Industries is focused on other projects (such as the ongoing The Master Chief Collection and the upcoming Halo Infinite), which means there’s simply no room for more Halo Wars plans right now.

“The next question is surely ‘why?’ and it really boils down to the realities of finite time, resources, and focus for the studio,” he explained. “The 343 Publishing team has no shortage of ideas and inspiration to pursue for MCC and plenty of ongoing work to support the Halo franchise. Meanwhile, the majority of the studio is incredibly focused working towards Halo Infinite’s launch (and you may have also heard, ‘launch is only the beginning’). Given the broader impact initiatives the studio is already committed to, we unfortunately can’t devote the time and attention we’d need to deliver additional updates and content for the Halo Wars franchise.”

That’s a bit of a bummer to hear for sure, but it’s good to know that the door hasn’t been completely shut either. Here’s hoping Halo Wars makes a comeback sooner rather than later.

Microsoft’s cloud streaming service Project xCloud is growing. The company announced that the preview, which is currently free, now supports 50 games including Forza Horizon 4, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, Halo Wars 2 and much more (see the full list here). It also confirmed that xCloud will be launching sometime in 2020 for PC.

Some other interesting new details include support for DualShock 4 controllers, ensuring that even PS4 players have a chance to try out the service. The plan for xCloud is to integrate it with Xbox Game Pass down the line. Pricing has yet to be discussed but there’s still time for that.

Project xCloud’s public preview launched in October and only offered five games at the time (Halo 5: Guardians, Gears 5, Sea of Thieves and Killer Instinct). Seeing the service expand so much in terms of game selection is a good sign. It should also be a slightly worrying sign for Google Stadia which launches next week and only offers 12 games to stream at launch. More games are planned before the year is up though so stay tuned.

Crackdown 3

Okay, so Crackdown 3 isn’t the greatest open world game out there. But it offers a decently sized city with plenty to blow up and lots of different things to do. The Skills for Kills system encourages taking down foes with a variety of weapons and abilities, and hunting down different crime bosses while laying waste to their businesses can be mindless fun. It’s Crackdown-rific, and that may work for certain people.

If you’re not big on Halo’s first person shooter offerings and are more keen on other Halo-related experiences, then the Halo Wars series has some pretty good deals happening this weekend. On October 18th, till October 21st, Halo Wars: Definitive Edition will be free to play on Steam. Currently priced at $19.99, this version features all of the DLC, improved visuals, and some new achievements to earn.

Those interested in something a little more contemporary can try out Halo Wars 2. That’s available on the Xbox One from October 18th to 21st as part of the Free Play Days event. It doesn’t seem like the copious amounts of DLC released till now will be available as well. However, you can still play through the entire campaign and try out multiplayer (which presumably requires Xbox Live Gold).

343 Industries is currently working on Halo Infinite, the next mainline sequel in the Halo franchise. It will feature a new engine called SlipSpace and is being co-developed by Skybox Labs. Unfortunately, we’re going to have to wait for more information – 343 Industries confirmed that the game won’t be appearing at Microsoft’s upcoming X018 event.

NOMINEES

Destiny 2: 

Destiny 2 takes all that was great about the original game, while also fixing up its flaws, to deliver one of the standout multiplayer experiences of the year. Yes, there are problems- once again, the end game is lacking, and there are balance problems that need fixing. But Bungie has shown us previously that they know how to maintain a community over the long term- and with Destiny 2, there’s a strong foundation laid down already.

Cuphead: 

This brutally difficult, incredibly stylized and charming 2D action platformer allows you to make things a bit easier for yourself by bringing a friend along in local co-op to take on its formidable stages and bosses. Sorry, did I say easier? Like with any co-op game, the shenanigans make it harder if anything. And that’s the beauty and fun of it- working together, in spite of the urge to work against each other, to conquer a game that is truly difficult, delivers one of the standout multiplayer experiences of 2017.

Ghost Recon: Wildlands: 

GTA with friends- not GTA Online, actual GTA. That’s the pitch of Ghost Recon Wildlands, and, hey, it works! What is a middling and average open world action game is elevated into becoming hugely fun and memorable when played with friends- and throw in Ubisoft’s great support for the multiplayer, for example with the recently added PvP, and you can see why this game has taken on a life of its own.

ARMS:

Fighting games are always great- ARMS stands out because of how unique it is. The game almost plays like Smash Bros. in 3D, with an emphasis on movement and mobility options, but the exceptionally full featured suite of multiplayer options within it, as well as support for motion controls, further makes it a hugely inviting pick up and play multiplayer game that we can’t get enough of.

Fortnite: 

Epic’s newest game launched in early access, and while it stood out right away after launch, it was only when it gained its PUBG inspired battle royale mode that it gained notoriety. Fortnite is hugely fun to play, no matter what mode you pick- and with Epic’s excellent community engagement and post launch support, it is bound to get even better over time.

PUBG: 

Speaking of PUBG- PUBG. Has any other game in 2017 been as much of a sensation, or captured as much of the zeitgeist, as PUBG did? It’s such a simple concept- 100 players on an island, and the area of play keeps contracting. You’re defenceless at first, and must scramble to find something to survive with.  If you die, you die. And yet, it is so infinitely variable and thrilling and entertaining, that it has spawned an entire genre in its wake. 

For Honor: 

For Honor is another one of those games that is so unique, it stand out. Melding imaginative close range melee combat with large scale PvP like in a modern shooter, with an excellent meta game layered on top, For Honor wins points for sheer uniqueness. And while it had issues at launch, Ubisoft has since managed to iron out a lot of them, and continues to work on the remaining ones.

Call of Duty: WW2: 

The Call of Duty series struck back this year with Call of Duty: WW2, the game that took the franchise back to its roots with a new game set in the Second World War. delivering an exciting and thrilling campaign was all well and good- but getting to play classic boots on the ground Call of Duty, with none of the over the top science fiction weapons and perks that had begun to pervade the series in recent years, reminded us all why we fell in love with the franchise to begin with.

Halo Wars 2: 

Real time strategy games should flat out not work on consoles, but The Creative Assembly made it happen with Halo Wars 2, that took Bungie’s flawed original effort, and elevated it beyond what we might have imagined. The true quality of Halo Wars 2 shone in its multiplayer mode- and playing a multiplayer RTS on console was a surreal experience for sure.

Mario+Rabbids: Kingdom Battle: 

Yes, this had multiplayer! Originally just co-op, with more modes added over time, there is a delightful fun to be had playing the simplified chess that Mario+Rabbids presents you with- and the multiplayer, yet again, highlights the Switch’s strengths in the local multiplayer experiences that it, and it alone of all the hardware on the market, seems to so squarely emphasize.

WINNER:

Cuphead

Bet you didn’t see that one coming, did you? There is something about Cuphead- take the feeling you get when you overcome a hugely insurmountable challenge, or when you beat a very hard boss- but now, take that feeling, double it, and share it with your friend, who is sharing it right back with you. Cuphead gets to the spirit of cooperation in multiplayer that so many modern games have lost sight of. In a year when so many other games are about trying to be better than the other player, Cuphead is content to let you revel in simply working with your friend in taking down yet another formidable foe. That is truly admirable.

Note: GamingBolt’s Game of the Year categories, nominations and awards are selected via an internal nomination, voting and debate process. You can check the rest of categories and the respective winners here.

Note: This list is in random order.

Cuphead

The highly-praised, cup-tastic run and gun platformer Cuphead first earned notoriety for being exclusive to the Xbox One (later confirmed for Windows 10 and Steam as well). Its challenging gameplay would be another distinguishing factor but Cuphead stands out for many reasons. The Rubber hose animation style is unique and calls back to cartoons of the 40s while the boss design is great, actually leveraging the graphics to deliver compelling gameplay. If you haven’t, then Cuphead is definitely worth getting into despite its challenge.

A user at the Resetera forums has reportedly obtained an Xbox One X console ahead of time. The user known as ‘Garcia el Gringo” then went on to share images of games that were enhanced for the Xbox One X.  The games that the player shows are Halo 5, Gears of War 4, Killer Instinct, Layers of Fear and Mass Effect Andromeda. Although these games were not running at 4K resolution but only at 1080p, the result is still gorgeous.

With a number of games such as Fallout 4 and The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim being enhanced for the Xbox One X,  it is likely that these will become definitive versions of these games. Even games that aren’t being specifically enhanced for the Xbox One X should still run well on the new console. Still, it’s nice that some fan-favorites can be revisited with a significant upgrade in visual quality.

You can check out images of Halo 5, Gears of War 4 and Killer Instinct below. Furthermore, you can also check out Mass Effect Andromeda, Gears of War 4 and Layers of Fear running on the Xbox One X through these links: 1, 2, and 3.

Sources: 1, 2.

343 Industries’ Halo Wars 2 will be one of the many games to support the Xbox One X at launch, offering a higher resolution to play it along with improvements to the base game’s visuals. Senior producer Greg Stone recently spoke to Xbox Wire about the same and confirmed that high dynamic range (HDR) lighting would also be supported.

“We’re really proud of the visual effects we have in the game and with 4K support and HDR, all of the artillery fire, plasma shots, particle beams, fire and ice effects all occurring on a massive scale in each battle will really ‘pop.'”

Stone believes that 4K resolution in a real time strategy game offers a strategic as well as visual improvement. “This is because RTS players have to constantly make strategies and adjustments on the fly based on the units that they see. With 4K, you get so much more visual feedback that can actually help you improve as a player – you’ll be able to more easily discern an army composition at a glance with the increased visual fidelity, which is critical for coming up with counter strategies, recognizing key threats and more.”

Stone also confirmed that those who don’t own a 4K TV will still see better performance on the Xbox One X with Halo Wars 2. It will load faster and perform better while also having supersampled antialiasing on 1080p TV sets.

Halo Wars 2 released earlier this year and has received numerous updates and DLC throughout. Other supported titles on the Xbox One X include Halo 5: Guardians (which recently received a patch for the same), Gears of War 4, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and many more. The Xbox One X is out on November 7th and will cost $499.