Microsoft kicked off E3 2017 in style today with a briefing packed full of exciting game and console news. Not only did we get our first look at the new Xbox One X, but there was an absolute load of new games and console exclusive news to boot. Here's a look at the top six announcements from Microsoft's Xbox One X E3 briefing.
Xbox One X
It goes without saying that the reveal of Microsoft's newest entry in the Xbox lineup, the Xbox One X, was at the top of everyone's minds going into today. With true 4K gaming, and plenty of horsepower to back it up, the former "Project Scorpio" is already looking pretty hot. If you can stomach the $499 price tag, Xbox One X is looking like a must-have when it launches on November 7.
Original Xbox Games on Backward Compatibility
That's right: original Xbox games are coming to Xbox One backward compatibility. Combined with the already-available Xbox 360 backward compatible titles, that means all games from the entirety of Xbox's storied history will be playable on the newest hardware. This is a manual process, so it will be a slow drip of additions, to be sure. But fans of games past and present should be stoked.
22 Console Exclusives
Even before the stream of game trailers and announcements started coming, Microsoft addressed one of the biggest complaints about the Xbox One: console exclusives. In total, Microsoft showed off 42 games on stage. The kicker, however, is that a full 22 new games were announced as exclusives for the Xbox One platform. If you've found yourself a little green with jealousy over exclusives on a certain other platform, then take heart.
Forza Motorsport 7
That we would get a look at the next Forza was basically a foregone conclusion going into the conference. Still, seeing the gorgeous visuals of Forza Motorsport 7 running on Xbox One X was quite the treat. The game will include 700 cars, 30 circuits, dynamic weather, and more. But let's be honest: the real draw is the 4K resolution running at 60 frames per second.
Playerunknown's Battlegrounds is a console launch exclusive for Xbox
Playerunknown's Battlegrounds, the battle royale that is tearing up the gaming world at the moment, is coming to Xbox One later this year as a console exclusive. It'll arrive later in 2017, and a later patch will add support for 4K and better visuals on Xbox One X. We can't say for sure whether it will always be exclusive to Xbox, but it's a good catch for sure.
Metro Exodus
Another big reveal was the next entry in the popular Metro series, Metro Exodus. Set in the remains of Russia after a nuclear war, the survival shooter looks like a pretty spooky romp. The game will hit Xbox One and Windows 10 in 2018 with, of course, 4K visuals at 60 frames per second on Xbox One X.
Minecraft is killing fragmentation
Lastly, Minecraft is finally addressing one of its biggest issues: fragmentation. Thanks to a new bedrock engine, Microsoft is uniting players from all modern versions of Minecraft Realms, letting them play together across Windows 10, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and mobile version. Only the PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 versions are left out, but most players should still be covered. There's no word on when this is set to roll out, but the game is also getting the 4K treatment this fall on Windows 10 and Xbox One X.
Your thoughts?
What were your favorite parts of Microsoft's E3 2017 briefing? Did we skip anything you're looking forward to? Let us know below, and be sure to keep it locked to Windows Central for more from E3.
