TanaDax

Perhaps they should have called it the 'Game Pass Showcase' then, been more upfront about it.

Certainly I see no need - at present - to get a PS5 or XSX day one. My One X (barely 2 months old) will continue to get stuff on gamepass for then next year or so, and while I'd like to give Spiderman miles morales a spin, I'm not paying for a new console for just one (glorified dlc) game. Will make that jump when the proper next gen stuff starts to build up / be released. That said I'll be getting Series X first when I do.

FABLE and Halo Infinite. Avowed also has me curious.. a new elder scrolls before ES VI? If so, nice.

Looking forward to giving it a go this christmas

@KelticDevil Yeah, MS already said they are holding back quite a few things for the third event. Really hope Perfect Dark is part of that.

Also, anyone else getting a 'Sony style' game vibe from State of Decay 3?

@graysoncharles given the supposed power of the new machines I think they are both capable of much more than either side has shown. I agree with your other points, MS finally killing the 'XBOX HAS NO GAMES' thing dead for sure. It's also the nice thing about Game Pass - I many not have gone crazy over every game shown yesterday as I'm not sure about certain aspects of them, but with game pass I'll be able to try them all out without putting down £40-50 for each title, and may just end up enjoying a few titles I never expected to.

@BlueOcean agreed, and how long have people waited for FF7 remake or Cyberpunk for example? I'm more than happy to see time given to polish and perfect games. By the time PS5 and XSX hit with some launch stuff it will be weeks away from 2021, 2022 won't seem as far off. That's the way I'm looking at it anyway.

@GunValkyrie indeed, the moment she met her demise via a big fat frog with a posh English narrator going on about not all endings being happy, I knew playground wasn't going grim dark and keeping fables humor and soul a bit daft. Overall delighted by that reveal! My first ever xbox 360 game was Fable 2, and it gave me escapism and laughs during a very depressing part of my life, it means a lot to see it come back

@Jaxx420 Aye, no keyboard warriors to deal with

@BlueOcean Hah, you have fine taste my friend, Sonic 3 + Knuckles is perhaps the finest moment of the megadrives existance (imho) and Sonic & Knuckles is the best birthday present I ever got as a kid, well maybe that and Pirate Lego! But likewise when SNES came out with Starfox and Donkey Kong Country oh how I wanted one. Maybe I'll pick up a SNES mini one day and fulfill that dream

@BlueOcean I don't read aggro in your comment, just frustration, and I don't blame you. It would really be nice if all fans could wish each other well and just simply enjoy gaming on their platform of choice (or try more than one like some of us do!). Hardcore Fanbois (and girls) always bring gaming down a few pegs from what it could be.

Makes me wonder what Sega vs Nintendo wars would have looked like in the 90's if the internet had been around. I mean debates at school could get pretty spicy... (MEGADRIVE FTW!)

@Dezzy70 indeed mate, I actually got my Robot White Xbox One X for just £240 at the start of June, could not believe the price. Just as well I did given the discontinue. So glad to be back with Xbox - the One X is a fantastic machine and glad to see the brand thrive considering all the pro consumer moves its made in the last few years.

@TimG13 Same here, actually started an 8 day holiday from work today, so woo, go us!

This will also be the first time I've watched a live Xbox Event as it happens since the 2013 xbox one reveal. Ugh what a dark day that was. Hope this one smashes it! In Phil we trust? Bring on the Event!

At least stick the Optimised Rupee in a corner if you must insist on it microsoft! Looks so weird floating around just off the center of these box arts. Cover's also a bit of a riot with or without. Maybe this is a ploy to make everyone go digital for Fifa - have the physical copy be an eyesore.

Agree with you all, that art just radiates a classic Halo, early 2000's vibe. I really hope this game delivers and marks a great start to the Series X era.

My experience so far:

9 Monkeys of Shaolin (not my thing)
Telsa Force (fun at first, but didn't hold my attention long)
Cris Tales (surprised by how much I liked it)
Sail Forth (It's arlight)
Destroy All Humans (looking wonderful, feels like old school gameplay, for better or worse)

Intend to try:

Darkestville Castle and Haven.

Must say Cris Tales was a real surprise for me - first scene I saw the little girl and talking frog and thought 'this ain't my cup of tea, chief'. Then it ended and I was annoyed because I wanted MORE! Beautiful art, music, fun time jump mechanic. So yeah. getting that one for sure thanks to trying the demo.

Wish more games had demos like this, I'd most likely end up trying a more diverse library of games and genres.

@Jaxx420 Hah! I haven't been like that since the PS1 era, reminds me of playing some random clunky fireman game I picked up from a bargain bin in woollies (when that was a thing) and getting strange enjoyment out of it. Here's to old school random purchases!

It's not Push Square that's putting me off sony (they certainly don't help), it is Sony themselves. Increasing censorship, a lacking PS Now, questioning journalists when they don't give their exclusives 10/10, some arrogant remarks from sony and 1st parties over the last few years especially towards backwards compatibility. Selling an overpriced DLC for Spiderman as a next gen exclusive.

And this brings me on topic - in comparison I feel Xbox, as many here do, have done much to repair their shattered '2013 Mattrick TVTVTV' image of late, and are being pro consumer in a way I still find hard to believe - because, you know... its micro$oft lol. But I appreciate it, and I appreciate that microsoft seems to listen to critical response with some maturity and I would hope they are listening now to concerns about what Free Multiplayer will mean for our old benefits on gold. Overall I would welcome free multiplayer, and I trust they won't screw it up with some bad pr pricing move in same announcement. I doubt they wish any repeat of ill feeling that surrounded the 360 > Xbox One transition. I feel if it happens it's going to be the jam.

I'm also really looking forward to the 23rd July Event. Hyped you might say.

I've been leaving my controller laying around flat on the table when these exist? For shame. Must correct.

@KratosMD If PureXBox becomes like that it would be a sad day indeed, this is overall one of the most pleasant gaming forums I've browsed and joined in a long time.

@WesEds Thanks for the insight, based on that I think I'll hold off on them for now then while I get through a backlog of other stuff. Cheers.

@WesEds Same here, great memories of playing through the entire gow trilogy with my now brother in law via coop on Hardcore. Good times. You played gears 4/5 yet? I'm really not sure if I should give them a go.

@WesEds You and me are in exactly the same boat then! I played Halo 3 back in 2009 without knowing much about the series and the story confused the snot out of me. I was one of those 'MASS EFFECT BEATS HALO!!!' fanboys. Then last year picked up Reach on 360 after hearing it was the 'first' in terms of story. Enjoyed the game enough to start binging on the lore on various sites, and now consider myself a 'late to the party' Halo fan. Even picked up a Xbox One X recently mainly for MCC (and whoever said xbox has no games lied to me). Anyway I'd say jump in when you're ready, it really is an awesome collection (after much fixing).

Halo CE Anniversary on MCC, much ground to cover before Infinite!

The rumors of Fable 4 (aka Microsofts worst kept secret) is what started me on my journey back to the Xbox family, so my vote goes there.