Xbox and Bethesda recently held a Developer Direct showcase and as promised, we got some in-depth looks at a handful of exciting upcoming Xbox exclusives along with a surprise appearance from Square Enix which shared new gameplay for the upcoming action RPG, Visions of Mana. We also got glimpses of Avowed, Ara: History Untold, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 and finally, Indiana Jones and The Great Circle. Here are all the announcements and trailers from the event.
The event opened with Obsidian Entertainment presenting its new action RPG, Avowed, which borrows some elements from Skyrim but mostly puts its own unique spin on the gameplay. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is set to be another visually stunning adventure from Ninja Theory (with a divisively shorter length than the first game), while MachineGames’ Indiana Jones game is bringing the beloved movie icon to gaming in a big way.
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Here are all the announcements and the accompanying trailers that were presented during the Xbox Developer Direct showcase:
Avowed
The event opened up with new gameplay for Avowed, an ambitious RPG from Obsidian Entertainment, the developers behind Fallout: New Vegas and The Outer Worlds. We got a look at how the first-person gameplay will flow as it blends melee combat with ranged combat and magic. You can even dual-wield pistols and wands, making it a very different kind of fantasy RPG than we’re used to seeing. Avowed is set to launch in Fall 2024.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
Ninja Theory took the spotlight next to showcase Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, the long-awaited sequel to 2017’s Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. Not straying too far from the first game, the follow-up promises to be a very cinematic experience that explores the depths of Senua’s psyche a little more, along with the hellish environment she finds herself in. The game will arrive on 21 May 2024.
Visions of Mana
The Developer Direct got a surprise appearance from Square Enix and the team behind the long-running Mana RPG franchise. The latest entry, Visions of Mana, promises to put the “action” in “action RPG”, delivering a familiar but exciting art style with stylish gameplay that I’m sure fans of the genre will appreciate. Visions of Mana is currently expected to launch in Fall 2024.
Ara: History Untold
Shifting gears to another genre, Ara: History Untold was presented by developer Oxide Games. It’s a turn-based grand strategy game that spans the globe and recounts historical figures and events in a rather unique way. A release window of Fall 2024 also accompanied the new deep dive into the gameplay and various mechanics of this intricate strategy title.
Indiana Jones and The Great Circle
The event closed off with Indiana Jones and The Great Circle from Wolfenstein developer MachineGames and story ideas from Bethesda’s Todd Howard. The gameplay will tackle a first-person perspective, focusing on puzzle-solving and action involving Indiana’s trademark versatile whip. Unfortunately, it wasn’t given a release date or window except for a vague 2024 release frame, though we suspect that this ambitious title might stretch into 2025.
Source: Xbox
