Xbox Developer Direct 25th Jan

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Xbox Developer Direct has just finished and if you missed the latest news, we’ve got it all right here for your perusal.

If you’d prefer to watch the showcase in full you can do so right here, but below is a full rundown of all the news.

Kicking of 2023 direct from the Devs.

Minecraft Legends.

Release Date: 18th April 2023

An inside look at the forthcoming Minecraft Legends outlining the PvP modes.
Minecraft Legends will also be cross-platform with players able to link up with their friends on other systems.

Forza Motorsport

Release Date: Coming 2023

A look at the forthcoming racer form Turn 10 studios, promising 4k 60fps with real-time ray-tracing.
Over 500 cars, advancements on the physics model, with new materials and shaders built from the ground up. (So everything we expected to hear)

The developer showcase also promises the most realistic audio ever in a Forza title.
20 environments. dynamic weather and temperatures that have a greater impact than purely aesthetic.

Sadly the one piece of information fans have been waiting for was nowhere to be seen, so we didn’t get a fixed release date, we do have “Forza Monthly” due tomorrow, which might shed a little more light.
I expected an April release, but without a date, I fear we are waiting on Xbox and Bethesda to agree on a date for Starfield..

If Starfield gets delayed, I think Forza will be 23rd May, If Xbox get their way and release Starfield then, Forza would drop to June.

H-Fi Rush

Release Date: Out Now (A few hours after the show)

The “surprise” of the show, especially with the stealth release.

With a quick look at gameplay followed by an explanation of how the “Rythm action” gameplay comes to a life (in a system not to dissimilar to Metal: Hellsinger). though it doesn’t look quite as punishing as the heavy metal alternative, which promises to make Hi-Fi Rush more accessible regardless of your ability to stick on beat.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom

Release Date: 20th June 2023

A look at the new forthcoming class the “Arcanist” and a new area. as well as an overview of ESO and it’s campaign and co-operative options. With all chapters and previous DLC currently available for free.

There’s more from Zenimax and the next chapter for ESO straight after the show (available above).

Redfall

Release Date: 2nd May 2023

A look at some of the areas you’ll visit in the highly anticipated vampire shooter from Arkane.
There’s also plenty of gameplay showcasing the world, and how missions offer various paths as well as multiple options on how you approach the task at hand.

There’s plenty to digest about Redfall, but with plenty of aspects of titles like Dishonoured and Far Cry, it’s clearly far, far more than the Back 4 Blood alternative some people were anticipating.

And that wraps up the Developer Direct,
I can 100% get behind what Microsoft and Xbox are hoping to do, and we were warned not to expect anything beyond the 4 main titles, so while Hi-Fi Rush was a lovely surprise, I do feel there’s a big missed opportunity when the stage was set to really make Developer Direct something more than an information dump.

The Hits…

Redfall: is looking very good and the 2nd May release date is exactly what I predicted.

Minecraft Legends: looks much more complex and strategic than I was expecting, and while the release is a little later than I anticipated, I’ll definitely check that out upon release.

Hi-Fi Rush:, Technically a hit, as It’s great to have a surprise, especially launching the same day, but it’s not a game that excites me and while I’ll happily give it a shot, it just doesn’t tickle the testacles.

The Misses…

Forza Motorsport: Failed to show us anything we didn’t expect, and the lack of a release date is a major letdown. Fingers crossed we get something better tomorrow from Forza Monthly.

ESO: Necrom: I’m sure fans of ESO will appreciate it, but for most people, knowing Diablo IV will arrive 2 weeks earlier is enough to lower excitement for the new chapter of ESO.

Xbox Gamepass: More a personal preference, but this was a massive missed opportunity to showcase what’s coming to Gamepass and the long-awaited Friends and Family plan.