SUMMARY
- Xbox Direct 2024 kickstarts the year for gaming.
- The developer direct gave us looks at some of the biggest titles coming out including Avowed and Indiana Jones.
Just a few weeks into 2024, Microsoft hosted the first game-related event of the year, its annual Xbox Developer Direct 2024. The event kicked off things in style with “a deep-dive into some of the biggest games coming to Xbox platforms.”
Xbox is all set to receive some big and anticipated games in 2024. The announcements made at the Xbox Developers Direct were added to the list. There were several announcements, and notably, none of them disappointed fans. Apart from gameplay and first looks, the community also received release dates and release windows for games.
Xbox Developer Direct 2024
Xbox Developer Direct 2024 kicked off on January 18, 2024, at 3 PM ET. It was a huge success and fans got the announcements they wanted. Some of the biggest announcements included Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, the Indiana Jones game, among a couple more titles. Fans were most enthusiastic about the Indiana Jones game and Avowed because of its unique concept.
There was a lot of content displayed at the 50-minute odd Xbox Developer Direct 2024, from gameplay, combat, and first look to the release dates of the long-awaited games. The event was streamed live on multiple platforms including YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook.
Avowed
Obsidian’s next big fantasy-action-RPG adventure, Avowed, kicked off the event. The gameplay director Gabriel Paramo shed light on the game’s combat system, which will allow players to switch between melee weaponry and spellcasting or sharpshooting on the fly.
Missed out on the Developer Direct? Here’s a closer look at what’s coming to Avowed from our developers at the studio.
Welcome to the Living Lands. #avowed #obsidian #xbox pic.twitter.com/XG1ZJOZ703
— Avowed (@AvowedtheGame) January 18, 2024
The game will also feature side quests called Skatterskarp. The announcement also stresses the dialogue system of the game paired with its superb voice acting. Besides, it also features tons of areas including deserts, forests, biomes, volcanoes, and more.
The presentation concluded with the confirmation that the game arrives as a Day One release for the Xbox Game Pass on Xbox X/S as well as PC in Fall 2024. The devs also promised more updates in the coming months.
Hellblade 2: Senua’s Saga
Hellblade 2: Senua’s Saga gave glimpses of a new and improved Senua who seems to have made peace with her past and no longer argues with the voices she hears. Set in 10th-century Iceland, the Ninja Theory adds an authentic history touch to the game.
The segment included Hellblade 2’s improved combat system, designed to make players feel like they hardly survived every battle she faced. It will have new companions who will help Senua in her journey, shifting focus from merely the voices in her mind to involving the people around her.
The audio design of the game shown at the event shows the inclusion of a new spatial audio technology that creates binaural sounds and music. The developer team also emphasized the partnership with Scandinavian folk band Heilung. It was confirmed that the game would launch on May 21, 2024.
Visions of Mana
Square Enix, also took the opportunity to present a new look at their upcoming RPG Visions Of Mana. Notably, this will be the first-ever Mana title to be released on an Xbox console.
The game also marks the first title in the franchise in 15 years. Nevertheless, it will have multiple returning monsters and creatures from the franchise. Besides, it will also include newer companions, such as a massive canine-like creature called a Pikul which the player can utilize to travel across the game’s world.
The devs then revealed the game’s soundtrack, featuring over 100 tracks across the adventure. A special shoutout was given to the music’s dynamic nature, as it can potentially shift between normal and battle music instantly. Lastly, the devs presented the first look at Vision Of Mana’s combat which combines land and aerial combat in real-time battles. Visions Of Mana is scheduled for a Summer 2024 release, although the exact date was not revealed.
Ara: History Untold
The next game to be presented at the Xbox Developer Direct 2024 was Ara: History Untold. This game is developer, Oxide Games’ take on the grand strategy genre. The game will have real-world history and culture focusing on the different perspectives throughout a match.
Every turn in Ara: History Untold will be enjoyed in real-time, meaning players will not be required to wait for other players to complete their actions to continue their own progress. The game will have the Living World, an alternate version of Earth. This world is affected by the decisions of the player in real-time.
As players go on to expand their empires, the world will either flourish or fade based on how the progress is made. The fictional world also includes dangerous wildlife, with cougars among the deadliest players can encounter. Ara: History Untold is also slated to launch in the Fall of 2024.
Indiana Jones And The Great Circle
The final and most awaited segment of the Developer Direct showcased the first-ever gameplay trailer for Indiana Jones And The Great Circle. It is a new Indy adventure from Wolfenstein developer MachineGames. The segment included a first look at Indiana Jones himself, who has been created to look like Harrison Ford, the performer who has played the character in every Indiana Jones film.
The game will be set between Raiders Of The Lost Ark and The Last Crusade, wherein Dr. Jones travels to The Vatican, the Pyramids of Egypt, and more. The trailer features an agile archaeologist in a precarious position, buried up to his neck in sand encircled by enemy Nazis, followed by first-person shooting, puzzle-solving, and exploration.
During the cutscenes and environmental traversal, the game pulls back into third-person views. The game has multiple optional puzzles in each environment, rewarding players who attempt to discover their secrets. The presentation also introduced Gina, an investigative reporter who joins Indy on this new adventure.
It also has a new villain, Emmerich Voss. The trailer showcased Dr. Jones fighting enemies with machine guns, torches, and the iconic whip. Confirming previous leaks, it was announced that Indiana Jones And The Great Circle will launch later this year.