Microsoft’s longstanding problems with meaningful exclusive content seem to finally be coming to an end thanks to their spate of aggressive studio acquisitions over the last year or so. This was fully evident at X019 last week, but apparently, that is not the end of it—apparently, Microsoft has more in the works, unannounced games that could well be revealed by the end of the year. 

Speaking with Windows Central, Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty talked about how, finally, Microsoft has a studio network working on a critical volume of content that leads to this cadence of announcements, before teasing that those announcements may well continue into the end of the year. 

“We’re coming up on stretch here where we got Scarlett coming up, or xCloud picking up momentum. We’ve got Game Pass continuing to pick up. So I think it’s just, right now, the right time to make sure that we put a lot of our energy on delivering the games on production, making sure that all the studios are now often working on the next thing,” Booty said.

“I think all of the studios have got things teed up. We have got multiple unannounced projects that we haven’t even talked about yet going on, particularly with our publishing team. We’ve got Halo that is deep in production to launch a new Halo with Scarlett’s launch. We’ve got all of our studios working on what their next thing is. I think you’re going to see more news before the end of the year with some stuff we haven’t talked about.”

I have to imagine that this is referencing a brand new game announcement at The Game Awards, which is a canvas many publishers have used to make major announcements (curiously enough, Microsoft has not been one of them yet). As to what that announcement could be, I don’t know, but I hope against hope it ends up being a brand new Fable game, which has now been rumored for so long. 

Microsoft finally unveiled gameplay for Relic Entertainment’s Age of Empires 4 at X019 and it was something. Showcasing Medieval times, it was the perfect mix of city building, armies and stellar unit animation. Even better is the fact that the RTS won’t have any microtransactions or in-game purchases.

Speaking to PCGamesN, creative director Adam Isgreen said that, “The idea of microtransactions in a real-time strategy game isn’t a thing. DLC, expansions – all of that is things that we’re going to be exploring for Age 4.” Interestingly, the new World’s Edge team will be working on expansions for Age of Empires 4 and other titles in the series, including the recently released Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition.

Isgreen actually commented on how there won’t be any more civilizations for Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition. The current number of civilizations is 35 and players are insistent on not having more. “Our pro players are even like, please don’t add more civilizations, please do other things.” Talks are going on to see what game modes fans would like to see instead.

Age of Empires 4 is coming to PC but doesn’t have a definitive release date. Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition is currently available for PC via Steam, the Microsoft Store and Xbox Game Pass for PC.

Phil Spencer, the new head of Xbox, has been nothing if not responsive to feedback. He has explicitly admitted to the criticisms long leveled at Xbox, and has vowed to address them. In what has to be a dramatic change from routine for a corporate bigwig, he has then actually followed through on those promises. Xbox One hardware was criticized; we got the Xbox One S and Xbox One X; Microsoft’s state of exclusives and first party studios was criticized; Spencer ended up spearheading the purchase of half a dozen studios to compensate that. Microsoft’s PC gaming efforts were roundly reviled and rejected by PC gamers. Spencer addressed those problems by committing to a PC release for all Microsoft games, introducing a new store front that is far better than the train wreck that is the Microsoft Store, introducing Game Pass on PC, and also resuming Microsoft support of Steam again.

So it stands to reason that X019 would, in response to the criticism thrown at X018, be better. I was just unprepared for how much better, because in a lot of ways, it feels like one of Microsoft’s strongest showings in the last decade or so. In addressing the core complaints with X018, Spencer and company have also addressed two very substantial problems Xbox has otherwise had for a very long time now. Let’s get to them in short order. First, I want to actually talk about the show itself.

The show itself was, in a word, extremely, extremely good. It was well produced, it was paced well, it didn’t have too much filler or awkward segments that only serve to cause flagging audience interest, and the focus was largely kept on games, and gaming-related stuff. And there was actually quite a bit of substantial stuff in way of those announcements too: Obsidian and Rare each announced a new IP, the former with Grounded, which looks like a delightful, smaller-scale (pun intended) survival RPG, and the kind of game that is perfect to add to Game Pass’ library. Rare, on the other hand, had Everwild, which graphically looks stunning, taking cues from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. We actually know far less about Everwild than we do Grounded, but it looked amazing—it’s exactly the kind of exclusive game announcement Microsoft needs to have to interest people in picking up the Xbox Scarlett.

Then there was the other stuff: we got to see Age of Empires IV at last! And it looks great. Graphically, it is stunning, and in terms of setting, it appears to be going back to the medieval era—which, given that Age of Empires II was the most popular game in the series (indeed, one of the most popular games ever), it makes sense to be evoking that one. We got the announcement of Tell Me Why, a brand new Dontnod IP that, in what is an impressive coup for Microsoft, will be coming exclusively to Xbox and PC (Xbox Game Studios are publishing it, so the chances of it hitting other platforms seem low). Microsoft managed to address their Japanese game deficiency problem head on, with Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami, Yakuza Kiwami 2, and every Kingdom Hearts collection on PS4, all confirmed for Xbox One—and as Game Pass games, day and date, too! God damn.

And then there was xCloud. At a time when Stadia seems to be foundering before it is even out, thanks to what seems to be mismanagement of scope and expectations on a monumental level, Microsoft made it seem almost effortless. It’s due out next year (on PC at least, and in beta), it uses PS4 and Xbox One controllers, and Microsoft already has over 50 games confirmed for the service, at launch, which is more than the number of games Stadia has managed to have confirmed for it in total, period.

On every front, Microsoft was firing on all cylinders. They had the games, they had the services, and they painted what was, in my opinion, an extremely important picture for them to paint: the picture of a brand that’s healthy, and has renewed momentum, as well as buy in from all levels of the organization. Those things are important, because continued support for a console, even when it is failing, even when a new generation is around the corner, is what often translates into early momentum in the next gen. Just ask Sony, who stuck with the PS3, pushing out tons of impressive games and exclusives for it even into 2013, giving customers confidence in Sony enough to purchase PS4 at launch in record numbers. Microsoft, by continuing to secure all these games and deals for Xbox One, when they could just as well be ignoring that console and doubling down on trying to get the Scarlett out of the gate as strongly as possible, are in fact increasing consumer confidence and engagement in the brand, and adding a sense of momentum to it—all of which should ultimately help Xbox have a far stronger start next generation than they had this time around.

It is also impressive how X019 demonstrated Microsoft tackling one of the most common criticisms that is leveled at them: their lack of games. This has in the past been best demonstrated by their release schedule: consider, for instance, that in 2019, their releases consisted of Crackdown 3 in February, then Gears 5 in September, and that’s it. That’s all they had. This is a far cry from the games they have lined up for next year, such as Grounded, Bleeding Edge, Psychonauts 2, Halo Infinite, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Wasteland 3, Minecraft Dungeons, and Tell Me Why, at which point they’re basically pushing out one major game every two months. True, all of those are not exclusives, owing to prior commitments studios may have had before being acquired, but it points to one very important fact: Microsoft now has enough content to be able to achieve this kind of release cadence, and once their studios are done meeting their commitments they had prior to release, their slate of exclusives should swell immensely.

And, of course, I would be remiss if I did not point out how overjoyed I was at Microsoft tackling, head on, the one problem that has marked Xbox’s existence through the last two decades more than anything: the lack of meaningful Japanese support. This is a problem Phil Spencer has admitted to multiple times in the past, and he has spoken of his desire to address it. We’ve seen the problem being “fixed” in the form of major Japanese AAA games also coming to Xbox, but the smaller, more niche Japanese fare? That has continued to skip Xbox, in favor of presumed greener pastures on PlayStation and Nintendo. But the announcement of Yakuza, which, for all its cachet among gamers, remains highly niche in the real world, is a signal that that might be changing too (Kingdom Hearts is just icing on the cake), and seems to indicate that in the future, we may not be all that surprised if a Persona or Dragon Quest game also came to Xbox.

The best part is Microsoft pushing for their inclusion on Game Pass, because that to me demonstrates that they are trying to fix this problem in the long term, rather than just getting brownie points with some late ports here and now. See, the reason Japanese games often skip Xbox is because there is a common belief that there is no audience for them on the console; conversely, the reason there is no audience for them on the console is because there are no Japanese games on Xbox. Chicken and egg problem, right?

So here we are, with some of the best Japanese games on offer (Final Fantasy, Yakuza, Kingdom Hearts), all on Game Pass, which most Xbox owners already subscribe to. Now, the players who may have heard of these games but been wary of trying them out play them, and many maybe like them—enough that in the future, they will want to buy newer games in those series. Microsoft ends up sidestepping the core problem, then, by cultivating an audience on Xbox for Japanese games.

So yes, on all fronts, Microsoft was on fire yesterday. I can’t think of a single bad thing to say right now. Console warriors and brand fans will continue to spew nonsense and garbage, but they’re beyond help anyway. For normal people who are fans of the medium, the fact that Xbox is stepping its game is exciting—a rising tide lifts all boats, after all.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

Among the many reveals at Microsoft’s X019 event in London was Dontnod Entertainment’s Tell Me Why. The narrative adventure game sees twin Tyler and Alyson Ronan returning to their childhood home to deal with past traumas. At the time, it was assumed that the title would be coming to PS4, Xbox One and PC.

However, Dontnod has since confirmed that it will be exclusive to Xbox One and PC (along with a Steam launch). Xbox Game Studios will be publishing the title which will be three episodes long, as opposed to the studio’s regular five episode spread. Xbox Game Studios Publishing GM Peter Wyse said that, “We listened closely to fans of narrative adventure games, and we heard loud and clear how painful unpredictable gaps between episodes can be. We’re thrilled to announce that the entire Tell Me Why story will release in Summer 2020.”

Both Tyler and Alyson will be playable. The developer also confirmed that Tyler identifies as transgender and is working with GLAAD to properly depict his character. “Microsoft and Dontnod have approached Tyler with a real commitment to authenticity. Tyler is a fully-realized, endearing character, whose story is not reduced to simplistic trans tropes. Creating a playable lead trans character – and taking such care to get it right – raises the bar for future LGBTQ inclusion in gaming,” said Nick Adams, Director of Transgender Representation at GLAAD.

Tell Me Why will be available for Xbox Game Pass at launch as well. Stay tuned for more details especially how one’s decisions will affect the overall story.

The Molasses Flood, of all studios, debuted a new title at X019 with Drake Hollow. Coming to Xbox One and PC in 2020, the title sees players protecting diminutive villagers known as Drakes. Check out the reveal trailer below.

What are you protecting the Drakes from? Strange creatures affected by blight who are none too friendly. Though the studio is known for the roguelike survival The Flame in the Flood, Drake Hollow seems to emphasize supply gathering and building than outright survival. The trailer also indicates co-op support for up to four players because of course it would.

The title doesn’t have a firm release date but there is an official website with a mailing list that you can sign up for. Despite the similarities with Fortnite’s Save the World mode, Drake Hollow does have its own charming aesthetic. We’ll have to wait for more details to see if there’s anything else that sets it apart.

You might vaguely remember The Artful Escape, an indie platformer by Beethoven and Dinosaur that was about navigating a landscape of music seemingly brought to life. While it’s been rather quiet over the past few years, the title was re-revealed at X019. Check out the latest trailer (be warned: It’s still very trippy).

Not much has changed with the story. It’s still about Francis Vendetti, whose uncle was a legendary folk singer, and his struggles to reconcile with that legacy before his own performance. To do this, Francis will explore a myriad of strange landscapes within his mind for inspiration, rocking out the whole way through.

Along with Xbox One, The Artful Escape is also coming to Apple Arcade in 2020. It’s in line with other Annapurna Interactive titles like Sayonara Wild Hearts coming to Apple’s game service and should fit right in. Stay tuned for more details in the meantime and check out our interview with creator Johnny Galvatron here.

Of all the appearances we expected at X019, Ron Perlman in Raw Fury’s West of Dead wasn’t one of them. The twin-stick shooter is about William Mason who’s back from the dead with a vengeance. It’s not a Fallout title but it’ll do especially given how smooth Perlman’s delivery is. Check out the trailer below.

Mason is seeking a mysterious “figure in black” and must fight through Purgatory, which is full of procedurally generated areas and dastardly foes. You’ll shoot and dodge while also utilizing cover to make it through. If you’re keen on trying West of Dead for yourself, then good news – the open beta is currently available for Xbox One.

It’ll only be live till November 25th though so better hurry. West of Dead will be coming to Xbox One and Xbox Game Pass but is also slated for PS4, Nintendo Switch and PC release next year. Stay tuned for more details in the meantime.

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.

At X019, Square Enix was on hand to announce that numerous Final Fantasy titles would be coming to Xbox Game Pass. This includes Final Fantasy 7, Final Fantasy 8 Remastered, Final Fantasy 9, Final Fantasy 10 and 10-2, Final Fantasy 12: The Zodiac Age, Final Fantasy 13/13-2/Lightning Returns and Final Fantasy 15. But wait, there’s more.

For the first time ever, Kingdom Hearts will be coming to Xbox One, with Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix and Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue coming to the platform. Even more amazing is that there will be a demo for Kingdom Hearts 3 available today.

The above Final Fantasy games will arrive on Game Pass, along with the Kingdom Hearts titles on Xbox One, some time in 2020. Kingdom Hearts 3 is currently available for Xbox One and PS4 and will receive some new DLC in December with ReMind. This adds new story content, new bosses and additional scenarios to play as other characters. Stay tuned for more details and updates from X019 in the meantime.

As leaked by the Microsoft Store, Ninja Theory’s Bleeding Edge will be releasing on March 24th 2020 for Xbox One and PC. Check out the latest gameplay trailer below, which offers a short highlight of the different fighters. Our money is on the mechanical snake moving a corpse around.

Bleeding Edge is a 4v4 multiplayer title where players choose their fighter and duke it in small arenas. Each fighter can equip mods (all earned through gameplay) to alter their abilities and suit one’s play-style. And if you want to get creative, it’s possible to lure enemies into environmental hazards like trains and electric fences.

Pre-orders are currently live and provide access to the closed beta. Xbox Game Pass subscribers can also pre-install the game to try the beta when it goes live. Though it’s a significant departure from Ninja Theory’s story-based Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, Bleeding Edge looks pretty sharp so far (and could receive some single-player campaigns in the future). Stay tuned for more details.