Xbox has saved console gaming and I’m just as surprised as you

A reader is surprised to find out how much he enjoyed the Xbox Games Showcase and explains why it has renewed his optimism about games.

As far as I’m concerned, Xbox is a really hard brand to like. From that horrible shade of green they use on everything, to the animatronic business executives pretending to be human, who are in charge of it all, I just never got it. There’s something aggressive and unapproachable about the way Xbox is marketed that has always done it a disservice. His obsession with shooters and his refusal to properly engage with Japanese developers, or in any way change his approach to Europe, has always been troubling to me.

I say this despite owning an Xbox 360, which everyone I knew did at the time, and being so impressed by the Xbox Games Showcase on Sunday that it almost instantly put all my fears to rest current in the industry.

This is not hyperbole. I’m sure if you’re reading this you probably saw it yourself and thought it was good, but it was an extremely impressive showcase, with quality game after quality game, some of which were even a surprise – if happens not to have read any of the rumours.

I don’t want to go into the games individually, because whether or not you’re personally interested in them isn’t really the point. I couldn’t tell a fic about Gears Of War or Fable unless they are radically different from the old ones, but the point is that they are proper big budget games. They have a story, they can be played with one player without restrictions, and they have a specific ending. In short, they are not straight service games.

Apart from Call Of Duty, there didn’t seem to be any, instead you got over 30 actual games, mostly from Microsoft, but also some great looking 3rd party titles (I really like the look of that Expedition 33).

I’m one of those people who misses E3 a lot and this feels like a PlayStation showcase from about eight years ago. This was clearly exactly what Microsoft was trying to copy, but fair play to them, they got it right. Which means they understand why they worked.

Five minutes of exciting looking gameplay with actual gameplay, or at least a good representation of it. Then another and another and another. If you don’t like one, you’ll probably like the other, and even if you don’t like most of them, you’ll at least get proof that your console of choice is putting in the work and churning out a steady stream of new titles. exclusive, where you’re sure to like something eventually.

Compare this to Sony’s event, where they spent half the time on a game everyone was obviously going to hate (Concord might be a hit, but not with long-term fans), and Summer Game Fest where it was just a drag to sit through endless, swappable pre-rendered trailers and weird little indie games where all you can do is sit back and wish they’d get on with it.

I have nothing against indie games, I love them, but they aren’t what create the buzz at these kinds of shows, and understanding is important.

I have no love for Xbox, and I hate that Microsoft’s secret weapon, after decades of failure, is to simply buy anyone they can. But we are in a bad situation here. Sony is asleep at the wheel and the entire industry feels like it’s veering off course. But the Xbox Games Showcase turned all those problems around.

Maybe Microsoft will screw things up later, they usually do, but for me this was the most optimistic I’ve been about gaming in a long time. So much so that I might even buy an Xbox Series X, which I’m pretty sure is exactly what Microsoft was going for.

From the Purple Ranger reader

Reader features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.

You can submit your reader feature of 500 to 600 words at any time, which if used will be published in the appropriate slot next weekend. Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you won’t need to send an email.

MORE: The problem with Xbox is that it always follows and never leads – Reader’s Feature

MORE: Xbox is making handheld games and more formats, admits Phil Spencer

MORE : Doom: The Dark Ages is on Xbox and PS5 and it looks super metal

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.