10 Anticipated Console Exclusives for the Xbox One S

The Xbox One S console became available in August 2016, offering a slimmer version of the original Xbox One with new features like 4K video playback and High Dynamic Range (HDR) support for gaming. For those who purchased the new hardware, a slate of console-exclusive games was on the horizon, spanning established franchises and entirely new properties. These titles represented a significant part of the platform’s upcoming software library.

Major Franchise Sequels

Gears of War 4 was positioned as a major evolution for the series. Developed by a new team, The Coalition, the game shifted the focus to a new protagonist, J.D. Fenix, and was set many years after the original trilogy. A notable gameplay addition was the introduction of dynamic weather. Players would have to contend with environmental hazards like severe windstorms and lightning, which were designed to alter combat encounters and create unpredictable challenges. The third-person shooter was scheduled for release on October 11, 2016.

Halo Wars 2 was the long-awaited sequel to the successful Xbox 360 real-time strategy game. It aimed to prove once again that the RTS genre could work effectively on a console. The game’s single-player campaign was set to include over a dozen missions taking place after the events of Halo 5: Guardians. For multiplayer, it offered chaotic three-versus-three online battles, building on the foundation of its predecessor. Halo Wars 2 had a scheduled release date of February 21, 2017.

Forza Horizon 3 continued the open-world arcade racing sub-series. Set in Australia, the game world was reported to be twice the size of the map in Forza Horizon 2. The vehicle roster was extensive, featuring over 350 cars at launch. A key feature was the ability for up to four players to play through the main campaign cooperatively. The racer was slated to launch in North America on September 23, 2016.

State of Decay 2 was announced as an expansion of the original open-world survival horror game. It promised more dynamic gameplay elements centered on rescuing survivors, building and managing bases, and scavenging for resources in a world overrun by zombies. The most significant new feature was the addition of online multiplayer, allowing up to four players to explore the hostile world and survive together cooperatively. The sequel was expected to arrive in 2017.

Crackdown 3 was set to bring back the chaotic, open-world action of the Xbox 360 original. The core gameplay involved hunting down gang leaders in a futuristic city while upgrading the player character’s abilities to superhuman levels. A major technical showcase for the sequel was its use of Microsoft’s Azure cloud servers to render massive environmental destruction. This feature was planned for both the single-player campaign and the online multiplayer modes, promising a new level of mayhem. Its release was anticipated for 2017.

New Properties and Experiences

Sea of Thieves was a new title from developer Rare, representing a potential return to form for the acclaimed studio. The game was an open-world pirate adventure where players could team up with friends to form a crew, sail a ship, and seek treasure. The shared world meant that player crews could encounter each other, leading to naval combat and other interactions. It was being developed as a definitive pirate fantasy experience and was scheduled for a 2017 release.

Scalebound was a new intellectual property from PlatinumGames, directed by Hideki Kamiya, known for his work on Devil May Cry and Resident Evil 2. This open-world action RPG gave players a unique partner: a giant, rideable dragon. The gameplay focused on the synergy between the human character and their draconic companion in combat. The game also supported four-player online co-op, allowing friends to explore its world and fight massive creatures together. Scalebound was planned for a 2017 launch.

Recore was an action-adventure game developed by a team that included Mark Pacini, the director of the Metroid Prime trilogy. The game centered on a protagonist named Joule exploring a mysterious desert world. She was accompanied by multiple robotic companions, each with unique abilities essential for combat and puzzle-solving. With its pedigree and intriguing premise, Recore was shaping up to be a notable exclusive for the platform. It was scheduled to be released on September 13, 2016.

Cuphead stood out immediately with its striking art style, which faithfully recreated the aesthetics of 1930s cartoons. Developed by Studio MDHR, the game began as a run-and-gun boss-rush title. During development, its scope expanded to include traditional platforming stages to further flesh out the experience. The game also featured two-player local co-op, allowing a second player to join the action. Cuphead was expected to be released later in 2016.

Phantom Dust was a planned re-release of an underrated title from the original Xbox. The game was a unique hybrid of a third-person arena shooter and a collectible card game, where players used card-like abilities to fight opponents. The Xbox One version was set to feature improved graphics and a reworked multiplayer component designed for the modern Xbox Live infrastructure, giving a new audience a chance to experience the cult classic. The re-release was expected in 2017.