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Microsoft and the Xbox One ended 2015 on a high note – flaunting the impact of what they called “the greatest games lineup in Xbox history” with titles such as Halo 5: Guardians, Rise of the Tomb Raider and Forza Horizon 6 all debuting during the fall.
But what’s even better news for Xbox fans is that just because we popped champagne at midnight on December 31st and all got new wall calendars, Microsoft is continuing the great stream of games past the end of 2015 and throughout the new year. These are the biggest Xbox One games coming during 2016.
Quantum Break
Many Xbox fans have been waiting a great deal of time for Quantum Break, Microsoft’s time-altering, third-person shooter, and the wait is finally going to end in April 2016. While this Xbox One exclusive title may have jaw-dropping graphics, it’s biggest calling card is the incorporation of its television show counterpart into its gameplay. A choice is presented to a the player right before a corresponding episode, and developer Remedy Entertainment revealed “how you play the game impacts the show, and the show informs how you play the game.” Will this new style of gameplay present a whole new method of storytelling and interactivity in gaming? Xbox One users will be the first to find out this spring.
Gears of War 4
While 2015’s Gears of War: Ultimate Edition may have helped quench gamer’s thirsts for a little while, Xbox fans are desperate for a new Gears of War title, and Gears 4 is set to deliver this year. The first new main title in the series to be developed by The Coalition. The game features two new protagonists revealed at E3 2015, JD and Kait. Gears of War fans shouldn’t fear for the series being placed in new hands; The Coalition includes studio manager Rod Fergusson, who helped create the original title at the series’ previous developer, Epic Games.
Cuphead
Cuphead may have one of the most distinctive and interesting art styles of video games coming in 2016, thanks to its classic look that is clearly inspired by the cartoons of yesterday. While Cuphead may look colorful and cute at first glance, it will quickly prove itself to be a difficult challenge for even the most veteran gamers as a ‘run and gun’ title that is presented as a series of boss fights as the title character works to repay itself in a loss in a bet with the devil. Featuring a two-player co-op mode, an RPG-style map and a ton of interesting weapons, Cuphead promises a unique and fun experience for those who take the time (and patience) to adventure through it.
ReCore
Revealed during Microsoft’s 2015 E3 press conference, ReCore is an action-adventure game being designed by studio Comcept, featuring the talents of Keiji Inafune, the mastermind behind the original three Mega Man titles. The trailer for the game revealed a post-apocalyptic world as a female protagonist accompanied by her mechanical dog companion taking on various robot enemies. ReCore, which was recently delayed until the latter half of 2016, continues to display itself as one of the Xbox One’s most unique offerings this upcoming year.
Sea of Thieves
Developer Rare is hard at work at their upcoming multiplayer title, Sea of Thieves, which Microsoft executive Kudo Tsunodo has claimed is their “best title yet.” The game will feature pirates, memorable voyages, hidden riches and a shared world for all players to explore and sail the sea in. Tsunodo emphasized the importance of user-generated content into the game’s world.
“I think what you’re gonna see in Sea of Thieves as we go forward and start talking more about the game is how [the studio is] enabling that kind of player-generated emotional and memory-driven stories that can happen within a game to happen within Sea of Thieves,” Tsunodo continued, “And I think that’s what Rare does well. That’s what we’re going to keep having them doing in the future. And Sea of Thieves is gonna be the best game that Rare has ever made.”
Whether you’ve had an Xbox One since launch day, or just joined the Microsoft family this past holiday season, there shouldn’t be any lack of games to enjoy on your system throughout this entire year.