Microsoft have been at the centre of attention over the past few weeks, and not for the right reasons. E3 was Microsoft’s chance to prove to millions of people watching worldwide why they should choose their console over the PS4.

How did they do? Let’s go through it.

The Start

The show started with a play through of the latest title in the Metal Gear franchise, The Phantom Pain (or Metal Gear Solid V: The PhantomPain). After the announcement last week that the new voice of Solid Snake will be 24’s Kiefer Sutherland, the hype factor for this game was definitely on. This is the first true Metal Gear title to feature on the Xbox platform (not including Metal Gear: Rising out last year that was more of a spin-off) and was a very interesting way for Microsoft to start its press conference. Gameplay looked good, fluid and the most immersive stealth looking experience on the platform, if that short piece of footage is anything to go by.

Xbox 360

To begin Microsoft saw fit to do the segment on the 360 first, fair enough. People was expecting a price drop on the current gen hardware but instead a new model was released that looks similar to the Xbox One. The price is expected to drop from its current £199 price tag before the holiday.

On top of this, an announcement was made to an update to Xbox Live. Starting from July 2013 Xbox Live Gold Members will receive two free game downloads a month, though details on this was thin with only two titles shown that will be available in the coming months (Halo 3 and Assassins Creed 2).

The free to play World of Tanks is also coming to Xbox 360 this year, though this wasn’t made clear whether it will be ported over to the Xbox One at a later date.

Xbox One

After all this information regarding the 360, we now move onto Xbox One. The first game we was shown was ‘Ryse: Son of Rome’. We first saw this game back at E3 2011 and was originally a Kinect only game. It’s fair to say that this game is looking a lot healthier than its predecessor of a trailer. If you want to compare the two, both are below. 

Ryse original trailer from 2011

Ryse new trailer from 2013

Graphically Ryse did look interesting and this is a genre that hasn’t really made it on the Xbox. But it appeared robotic at times and very unnatural movements made the AI seem unrealistic. For this to be dubbed Xbox’s answer to God of War, I doubt it is a fight it will be able to win.  Saying that it could still be great but more needs to be shown in order to win the masses over.

The Killer Instinct reboot to Rare’s 1995 fighting game was then introduced on stage, though without Rare’s presence. The new fighting game is being developed by Double Helix and after the press conference it was confirmed that it will be free to download on the Xbox One at launch. Though it’s free to download, you will only have access to one character, Jago, and then required to pay a fee to access the rest of the characters.

Insomniac then introduced the trailer to their new an exclusive Xbox One game Sunset Overdrive and following that we had another look at Forza 5. Forza looked beautiful and so far looks the best racing game, graphically at E3 this year. New features included a smart AI system that involved the computer learning from your in-game behaviour and playing whilst you not even at your console. Clever yes, but the benefit to this wasn’t really explained. Why buy a game that plays for you after a few days of game time?

With the current gen arcade titles not being compatible on the ‘One’, Microsoft saw to solve the problem of transferring the most downloaded XBLA title to the new Xbox, Minecraft. This is bound to allow more freedom and a bigger world for players to expand their creative side. It’s still highly unlikely to be as big as the PC version but it would be anything more of a disappointment if it wasn’t an improvement on the current updated version of the XBLA title. A release date wasn’t announced and neither was the price. I’m sure more details will follow very soon.

At the Xbox One unveiling a few weeks back we got a quick glimpse at the Xbox One exclusive title, Quantum Break. This took to the stage to show us some footage running in engine on the ‘One’, though no gameplay was shown. Quantum break is seeking to be like a TV show and hopefully it’s more of a success than the last Xbox game to attempt such a challenge, 2008’s Alone in the Dark reboot.

On top of this we got the announcement of a new exclusive title called D4 and then a demo of the impressive creative game Spark. Again and Xbox exclusive, Spark showcased a creative experience for players to build and create a game within a short few minutes. It will be interesting to see what can be done in a week of playing. The demo showed how landscapes can be moulded into whatever you like and turning rocks into warriors. Also to note the Kinect was used with this game via voice controls and a tablet so expect a Smart Glass integration for Project Spark.

Xbox Features Segment

Xbox Smart Glass then got a few moments of attention though the majority of this part was ignored and quickly forgotten due to the cringe worthy Killer Instinct fight involving the producer of the game. One new feature showcased was Smart Match that allowed you to jump straight into a match instantly after playing another.  Microsoft also used this segment to announce their new partnership with the streaming service Twitch, this will be available on the Xbox One come its release.

The long outdated and limited 100 friend rule was also quashed. The Xbox One will allow an unlimited number of friends on the new console along with the extinction of Microsoft Points. From soon onwards real currency will take the place of MS points.

Apart from this no other information regarding the system features was announced. We didn’t get clarification behind why used games may require a fee and this always online saga. A lot of people including myself was hoping Microsoft addressed these issues before Sony’s press conference at the end of the day.

Back to Games

Once we got back to the games we got a visual video of Crimson Dragon, I say visual video as the sound completely failed at this point and we was left with nothing but the visuals. This fault returned for Battlefield’s presence on stage when showing a level in the campaign, creating the most awkward moment of E3. Battlefield also announced that, like COD map packs will be available first on Xbox One. View the awkward moment below:

Dead Rising returned to give us a grittier instalment to the previously comedic take on a zombie game. Another exclusive to Xbox One and again no details if this is a launch title. The same can be said about Witcher 3 that was showcased imminently after Dead Rising. The Witcher looked good and like the majority of other games shown was graphically great.

Microsoft announced that they are also investing in five new studios and assembling an all-star team to produce these exclusive triple A games for the Xbox One to create games with these memorable characters like Master Chief.

Speaking of Master Chief, the next Halo was teased to us, though out in 2014. Trailer below 

Price and Release Date

Now came the pricing. Microsoft announced that the Xbox One will be out in November this year and will retail at $499 and £429. Then there was that awkward pause where people didn’t know what to do until you heard a short unconvincing applaud. Plus Microsoft currency calculator appears to be broken because if we in the UK wish to purchase the Xbox One we will be paying the equivalent of $666 and with no explanation why there is that much of an extra cost, hardily fair for Xbox’s UK fans. Microsoft had a stubborn few days especially when Don Mattrick’s interview with Gametrailers.com host Geoff Keighley, that was aired yesterday but conducted prior to E3. See the calamity below:- 

Yes Don did just say that if you don’t have an internet connection then buy a 360. A PR disaster of a statement to make especially as this was aired after the PlayStation conference where they undercut the Xbox price and said they won’t charge for used games nor will they require an always online connection. A dumb move Microsoft.

We ended on Titanfall, Respawn’s exclusive title for Xbox coming in 2014. It looked great but it felt overshadowed by the price news shown momentarily before. Titanfall looks an exciting game and currently looks a must have if you are going to own an Xbox One.

Overall I would give the Microsoft press conference a 7/10. When it comes to games yes it delivered and for once we didn’t see all these Kinect games, that only appeal to the minority, shown on stage in the middle of showcasing different TV features. People have been complying that Microsoft hasn't done enough for gamer's by showing little exclusive games. Xbox One has some great exclusives and the biggest line-up of exclusives as long as I can remember. Third party content is well supported but this wasn’t the year people wanting solely this. This approach to E3 would be perfect next or last year, but this year we needed answers to the questions that have been damaging Microsoft’s reputation over the past few weeks as they stood by as the ship sunk. We need some positivity instead of restrictions. We need to know the benefits of having consoles always online and having used game fees. A simple ‘we will require a fee for used games but when new games are released they will be half the price’ is what can win people over. By not showing their hand they have allowed people to pre-order the PS4. This is a disaster at a business point of view as they are losing out to their competitor. Microsoft need another press conference to go through everything about this console and why they think this is the right direction to head towards. And no a simple press release wont suffice, as we have seen over the past few weeks that Microsoft clearly has a problem of making things clear in writing where they create more confusion than detail information 

Microsoft have unveiled an exclusive commemorative controller available to people that pre-order the Xbox One console.

Microsoft said: “Reserve your Day One Edition today and in addition to the best console we've ever made, you'll also receive a commemorative controller and an exclusive achievement.”

The controller is labeled "Day One 2013", but it has been stated that these controlers are "available in limited quantities while supplies last, at select retailers."

No it’s not some fancy looking thing that is easily recognizable but on top of that, people who pre-order will receive an exclusive achievement towards their Gamerscore, which will cross over to the Xbox One.

The Xbox One is out in November this year in the US, retailing at $499 and in the UK at £429. 

Sony released a video after their  E3 press conference on Monday via their official YouTube channel (Playstation). This video completely twists the knife that Sony firmly planted into Microsoft following their landslide victory after the two press conferences in LA at E3 2013.

 

The video follows the whole one minute applause from the crowd, attending their press conference, after Sony officially announced  that the Playstation 4 will not restrict or charge a fee for used games. 

Microsoft has suffered somewhat of a PR disaster since their unveiling three weeks ago and failed to address the problems that has been circulating the Xbox One's policy's around used games and always online. 

Microsoft need to hold another conference showcasing the Xbox One, showing their plan and explain what benefit it is to the consumer to have these features, other than just a press release that is likely to contradict its self, as it has in the past few weeks.