Xbox Developer_Direct 2024 Recap
The Xbox Developer_Direct '24 offered an exciting roadmap for games into 2024 and a first look at Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.
Xbox kicked off the new year in style as gamers were treated to an excellent showing with the second Developer_Direct. The showcase promised an in-depth look at four (but surprised us with five!) eagerly awaited games coming to Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Game Pass later this year. The Direct put the developers and their studios front and centre as we got the latest look at gameplay, features and more from Avowed, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, Visions of Mana, Ara: History Untold and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Here are the highlights, trailers, and screenshots from each game features in the show:
Avowed - Release Date: Fall 2024
Obsidian’s fantasy action RPG Avowed was the first game to take the stage, with Game Director Carrie Patel, Gameplay Director Gabriel Paramo, and Art Director Matt Hansen giving us a detailed look at the game’s world, combat, and choices. Avowed is set in the Living Lands, a vibrant region of Eora, the same world as Obsidian’s Pillars of Eternity series.
The earliest tease from the story is you are on a quest to stop a mysterious plague. You’ll be able to create your own character and embark on an epic adventure, wielding magic, facing off against enemies and shape the fate of the realm. The character creation and combat look robust, we even got a look at one-character dual wielding wands. Avowed will launch in Fall 2024 for Xbox Series X|S, PC, and cloud, and will join Game Pass on day one.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II - Release Date: May 21st, 2024
Next up was Ninja Theory’s Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, the highly anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. The developers took us behind the scenes of their studio in Cambridge, UK where they showed us how they are bringing Senua’s new journey to life.
The sequel will return to rich, detailed, and dark Icelandic settings, where Senua will face new challenges, enemies, and mysteries. The game is shaping up beautifully with stunning visuals, immersive sound, and intense combat, as well as a deep and emotional looking story. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II will launch on May 21, 2024 for Xbox Series X|S, PC, and cloud, and will join Game Pass on day one.
Visions of Mana - Release Date: Summer 2024
One of the biggest surprises of the show was the appearance of Square Enix, who revealed Visions of Mana, the first new mainline entry in the beloved Mana series in 15 years, and its first ever release on Xbox platforms. Series producer Masaru Oyamada gave us a sneak peek at the beautiful new RPG, which will feature a rich and colourful world, charming characters, and an engaging story.
Visions of Mana will also retain the classic action-based combat and exploration of the Mana series, while adding new elements and features. Visions of Mana will launch in Summer 2024 for Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Ara: History Untold - Release Date: Summer 2024
We got a new, in-depth look at gameplay and systems from Ara: History Untold, a historical grand strategy game from Oxide Games. The game will let players experience history from different perspectives, as they lead their chosen civilization through the ages, from the ancient to the modern era.
Ara: History Untold will feature dynamic gameplay, realistic simulation, and deep customization, as well as a unique narrative system that will create emergent stories based on the player’s actions and decisions.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle - Release Date: 2024
The grand finale of the show was the official reveal of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, the new action-adventure game from MachineGames, the award-winning studio behind the Wolfenstein series. The game will star the iconic archaeologist, (with Harrison Ford’s likeness and voiced by Troy Baker) in a new original story, set in the 1930s. Indy will travel across the globe, uncover ancient secrets, and face dangerous foes.
The game will feature primarily first-person gameplay mixed with a third-person perspective for certain scenarios. From the first look at gameplay, we were treated to authentic locations, cinematic presentation, and some truly amazing set pieces. The involvement of Lucasfilm Games and Bethesda Game Studios’ Todd Howard as executive producer were also shared.
Developer_Direct ’24 Provides an Exciting Roadmap
That’s all the games the Xbox Developer_Direct 2024 had to kick off the new year. I thought the pacing, organization and titles featured were excellent from the looks we got to the diversity in experiences. The nearly 50-minute showcase put the creatives front and centre with their work, which was refreshing to see. You can check out the Direct here below for yourself:
What did you think of the show? Which game are you most excited for? Sound off in the comments below.
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