A big problem with this industry is misrepresentation- I mean that in the sense that when a new video game is announced, and even afterwards, as it is being marketed, we often don’t even know what it will look or play like. This is because of the industry’s penchant for bullshit cinematic trailers and CG cutscenes over actual gameplay footage when it comes to marketing.
A lot of companies, however, have begun to push back against this trend in recent years- Nintendo, of course, always prefer to show off gameplay footage over cinematics. In recent years, they have been joined in this by Activision with Call of Duty, Bethesda, and now, apparently, Microsoft.
Speaking on Twitter, Xbox head Phil Spencer discussed the issue, assuring fans that Microsoft’s E3 showing this year would focus more on gameplay footage than cinematic trailers. “[We] had a specific focus on making sure games showed what it looks like to play the game, feel good about where we landed this year,” Spencer said.
Personally, I think that’s great- I’d rather not be excited for a game accurately presented, than get excited for one that turns out to be completely different when I do get it. That’s called misleading advertising, and in most industries and places around the world, it is illegal.