Xbox Introduces New Games, Hardware And Backward Compatiblity
By Edward Cardenas
SOUTHFIELD (CBS Detroit) - Microsoft's Xbox had center stage Monday at the Electronic Entertainment Expo to unveil new and updated games, hardware and gaming abilities for the Xbox One gaming system.
During a live stream from Los Angeles, Xbox provided a preview new games and updates for the Xbox One. Among the new features unveiled Monday is the ability for Xbox One owners to have the older Xbox 360 will be able to play older games through backward compatibility. These games can be played with the disc, or by downloading more than 100 titles this holiday.
One of the biggest game announcements from the event was the release date for the latest installment of the popular Halo series. Halo 5 will be released Oct. 27, and come with the ability to have up to 24 players in the multi-player function.
EA also announced the EA Access subscription service for the Xbox One that will give subscribers early access to games, such as Madden NFL 16 and Titanfall.
New Tom Clancy games will also be released this year. Hostage rescue game Rainbow Six: Siege, will be available Oct. 13. A second game, The Division, which is based in a postapocalyptic New York after a weaponized virus is spread, will have a beta version available later this year. There will also be Rainbow Six: Siege, which will be released Oct. 13.
Other new games and offerings coming on the horizon include:
- Forza 6 video game, which features a Ford GT on the cover, will launch Sept. 16,
- Video game Recore will be available Spring 2016,
- Plants Vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2 video game in Spring 2016,
- Dark Souls 3 video game will be released in 2016,
- A number of games from Xbox's independent developer group - including the Cuphead game which has 1930s-era cartoon illustrations - will be released in coming months,
- Rise of the Tomb Raider will be released holiday 2015,
- Xbox Game Preview, which gives subscribers early access to play and contribute to games under development,
- An elite wireless controller with extra buttons for Xbox One.
Xbox also moves into virtual world with Oculus Rift virtual reality system which will play Xbox One games.
Microsoft's HoloLens will also be compatible with the new version of Minecraft. With the HoloLens, which wraps around the eyes of the users, game players will be able to have 3D versions of the game and have an overview of the landscape created in Minecraft.
More details about advancement in Minecraft will be announced in July at Minecon in London.