At the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3 2015, there were several unveiled announcements regarding the Xbox One, including new games, early access to upcoming titles, backward compatibility and many more.
New Games and Services
Much of the hype surrounding the announcements for the Xbox One is centered on the new games that are coming out for the gaming console. Some of the most notable ones include Halo 5, Fallout 4, Gears of War 4, ReCore and Rise of Tomb Raider.
Other titles that were announced that will soon be released for the Xbox One are Dark Souls III, Cuphead, Fable Legends and The Division.
Electronic Arts also revealed that it will be launching a new video gaming service for the gaming console named EA Access. The service will function like a gaming vault, from which users can play games indefinitely for a monthly fee of $5. Users that subscribe to EA Access will also be able to play games that are both new and old, from classics such as Titan Fall to the upcoming Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2.
The Xbox One will also introduce Rare Replay, which is a collection of games from Rare. The bundle, which will have a price of $30 and will be released in August, will include titles such as Banjo-Kazooie, Battletoads and Perfect Dark.
Early Access to Upcoming Titles
Microsoft also announced the Game Preview feature, which will allow gamers to try out upcoming Xbox One titles before they are released. Users will be allowed to purchase and try out unfinished versions of titles, which will effectively turn them into beta testers for games. The Game Preview program will begin with Elite: Dangerous and The Long Dark.
Backward Compatibility
While the Xbox One was in development, Microsoft did not indicate that the gaming console will be able to play Xbox 360 titles. However, the company is now releasing backward compatibility for the Xbox One, with the first group of about 100 Xbox 360 titles to be made available for the current generation consoles. In addition, Microsoft said that gamers will not have to pay again for titles that they already own.
Elite Wireless Controller
Microsoft unveiled the Elite Wireless Controller, which has been designed for the Xbox One and Windows 10. The controller features massive customization options, with components that can be swapped out to allow gamers to create their personal control configurations. The controller will sell for $149.99 once it is released in October.
Minecraft for HoloLens
In a demonstration, Microsoft has revealed a new Minecraft version for the HoloLens augmented reality headset. This new version will allow users to play the game on any surface, using their voice and hands.
