Merrily E3 rolls along—and today it rolled into the joint Microsoft/Bethesda press conference, and marked the first major confirmation that the Maryland-based game publisher’s titles would start to become Xbox and PC exclusives.
The press conference also proved to be a shot in the arm for the already-beefed-up Xbox Game Pass. A number of titles like Starfield and Redfall will be available on the subscription service on day 1.
There were plenty of other titles on display, including a new look at the long-delayed Halo Infinite. Here’s a list of the major announcements.
Developer: Bethesda Studios
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Release date: November 11th, 2022.
Last teased in 2020, Starfield was finally unveiled to the world (slightly early, due to a hiccup in the Washington Post’s content management system) as an Xbox/PC exclusive. More intriguingly, the game will be playable on Xbox Game Pass on day one—a big move for Microsoft to try and get more players on their subscription service.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2: Heart of Chernobyl
Developer: GSC Game World
Publisher: GSC Game World
Release Date: April 28, 2022
The Russian post-apocalyptic series’ next entry was announced as being another PC/Xbox exclusive, and would also be available immediately on Xbox Game Pass.
Developer: Turtle Rock Studios
Publisher: WB Games
Just a note that Turtle Rock’s Left 4 Dead-inspired title will also be available on Xbox Game Pass immediately on launch.
Developer: Avalanche Studios
Xbox Game Studios
Release date: 2022
The developers of the Just Cause series teased a new co-op open world game that yes, will also be available immediately on Xbox Game Pass on launch. It’s also an Xbox console exclusive.
Sea of Thieves: A Pirate’s Life
Developer: Rare
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Release date: June 22nd, 2021
Sea of Thieves is getting in on the “metaverse” business with an official Pirates of the Caribbean tie-in courtesy of Disney.
Developer: Double Fine Entertainment
Release Date: August 25, 2021
The long-awaited, long-in-development Psychonauts 2 got a new trailer and release date.
Developer: Recreate Games
Release Date: 2020
Plush, Gang Beasts-like multiplayer brawler Party Animals will be an Xbox console exclusive.
Developer: Jump Ship
Release date: 2022
Developer Jump Ship debuted a moody alien invasion/exploration game titled Somerville.
Developer: 343 Industries
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Release Date: Holiday 2021
343 boss Bonnie Ross announced that Halo Infinite’s multiplayer mode would be free-to-play, then followed with a new preview for this fall’s shooter release.
Developer: Asobo Studios
Publisher: Focus Home
Release Date: 2022
Asobo Studios’ A Plague Tale: Innocence got a surprise sequel announcement as an Xbox Console….something something.
Developer/Publisher: Monomi Park
Monomi Park’s Slime Rancher gets a sequel laser-aimed at Xbox Game Pass.
Developer: Foampunch
Release Date: Maybe December 2021
Ubisoft’s not the only developer debuting an extreme sports title this year—developer Foam Punch showed off a serene-looking snowboarding game called Shredders.
Developer: Sad Cat Studios, Coat Sink
Release date: 2022
It was a good day for moody-looking games, as developers Sad Cat Studios and Coat Sink showed off Replaced, a 2D action game with a huge sense of style. And yes, it’s another day-one-GamePass release.
Developer: Innersloth
Publisher: Innersloth
Release Date: “Coming soon”
Innersloth announced it’s bringing the megapopular Among Us to Xbox “soon,” along with new expanded lobby sizes.
Developer: Relic Entertainment
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Release Date: October 28th.
It’s been a long time since the phrase “Age of Empires sequel” was relevant, but here we are. Microsoft showed off gameplay for a new Age of Empires game, and confirmed it would also be coming to Game Pass.
Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Release Date: Unknown
Obsidian Entertainment debuted the sequel to The Outer Worlds as an Xbox exclusive that will be available on GamePass in a self-aware trailer that kind of undermined how neat and funny The Outer worlds is.
Developer: Asobo Studios
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Release date: July 27th, 2020
Microsoft Flight Simulator is finally landing on Xbox Series X/S, and is coming with another movie-tie-in—a promo for the upcoming Top Gun sequel.
Developer: Playground Games
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Release date: November 9th
It’s not an Xbox conference without a Forza Horizon appearance. The series is headed to Mexico, and of course, Xbox Game Pass.
Developer: Arkane Studios
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Release date: Summer 2022
Arkane Austin showed off what it’s been working on while its sister studio plugs away on Deathloop. It’s a multiplayer vampire hunting game exclusively on Xbox consoles, and available day one on Xbox Game Pass.
It goes without saying that the word “Xbox Game Pass” was allover this conference—Microsoft definitely looks to be interested in boosting that service as much as it can in 2021-2022.