Microsoft Reveals First Look At Third-Party Games Coming To Xbox Series X Console

Microsoft gave gamers a first look at the third-party games that will be making its way to the Xbox Series X console set to debut holiday 2020.

As the coronavirus pandemic rages on around the globe, Microsoft was forced to showcase some of its products via virtual presentation instead of at the annual E3 event in Los Angeles, which has been canceled this year to ensure the safety of would-be attendees.

Still, the Xbox Series X has been promised for delivery by the holidays, which has left Microsoft on the hook to show off some of the games that will be coming to the system.

There was a wide variety of games on offer, including the hotly-anticipated "Assassin's Creed: Valhalla," as well as glimpses of new titles such as the grotesque "Scorn." First off on the docket was the upcoming new racing title "Dirt 5," which will feature the voice talents of popular actors Nolan North and Troy Baker. It will allow players to race around tracks in stunning 4K resolution.

Next up was "The Medium" from indie developer Bloober Team, which will offer ray-tracing effects and music by "Silent Hill" composer Akira Yamaoka. There was also a new glimpse at the upcoming "Assassin's Creed Valhalla," as well as a chat with creative director Ashraf Ismail, who lined out some of the improvements players can expect from the game, such as the "new technology" included to create "the most immersive experience" the team can.

"To have incredibly fast loading times means we can remove some of the friction from the immersion," said Ismail. "Norway and dark-ages England are breathing, living worlds, so to be able to push them further is really wonderful for us."

While there were plenty of games to ogle, however, some fans took issue with the fact that most of the footage consisted of trailers rather than gameplay videos, as they had been led to believe.

The presentation was a curated selection of quick-cut trailers and footage that was not meant to be a 1:1 reflection of gameplay that fans can expect, but instead a facsimile. Microsoft has indicated there will be another presentation in July, where the company will show off a selection of first-party titles, including the fan-favorite "Halo Infinite" and several of its other triple-A releases.