Xbox Partner Preview Impressions 10/17/24

Mouse: PI for Hire by Fumi Games and PlaySide

If the name didn’t give it away, today’s Xbox presentation was focused on their “partners” (this means no titles from their first party studios–which I understand can be confusing with Microsoft’s bottomless hunger for acquisitions. What even counts anymore?). The planners managed to fit 15 announcements in a tight 25 minutes. There was almost no filler and, mercifully, no talking about “striving” and “giving the best value to the players.” 

Here are my first, gut impressions on everything revealed. 

Alan Wake 2: The Lakehouse DLC - 10/22/24

I never finished Control or Alan Wake 2 and I’m still excited for this expansion. The shot of the painting enemy peeling itself away from its impressionistic camouflage gave me a jolt of pure dopamine. I’ll be booking at the Lakehouse–it’ll just have to be later this year (or January?) instead of later this month. 

FBC: Firebreak - 2025

Even though this was shown much later in the presentation, it makes sense to discuss it now. 

For me, the most interesting thing about the games Remedy has released over the last decade are their worlds (though they’re no slouch in the gameplay department). A co-op shooter set in the Oldest House feels like a winner. I could see some fans being irked with the less serious direction this seems to be taking, but it’s not like their other projects are completely devoid of humor. 

I’m optimistic. 

Cronos: The New Dawn - 2025

Bloober Team (not “Blooper” despite what the Twitter masses seem to think) is fresh off the release of the excellent  Silent Hill 2 Remake (review coming soon–though not too soon–that game is long). I’m hoping they use the confidence they built in that project as a springboard to continue to improve their combat design. I don’t want to jump to conclusions and say this is a spiritual successor to Dead Space (but it appears to have a lot in common with Dead Space).

Blindfire - Early Access today

The jerky conflict between the camera and the player movements made me almost believe this was a VR game (Xbox doesn’t do VR). It’s a shooter and the entire premise seems to be built around combat in the dark (the stage featured in the trailer is a few soda stains shy of being a pizza scented laser tag arena). It hits early access today so we’ll thankfully have more info soon (this teaser gives us almost nothing to work with). 

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii - 2/21/25

I’m constantly impressed by RGG studio’s work ethic. Yakuza (now Like a Dragon) has always been a franchise I’ve admired from afar. 10+ games in and they keep finding new ways to get weird with it (this entry is pirate themed). 

I’m going to play this. 

Mouse: PI for Hire - 2025

I’ve been all in on Mouse since it was first revealed (it’s a first-person shooter with rubber hose/Cuphead-like animation). This trailer hints at the detective work (and puns) we can expect in the full experience. It has the style, I just hope that we continue to be drip fed substance until its release. 

Subnautica 2 - 2025

This is a big announcement wrapped in a very weird cinematic. Luckily, the sea monsters appear (rightfully) to be the star of the show. 

Animal Well - Today

This announcement was numbed by a deeply unfunny monologue about shadows. Animal Well, a mysterious Metroidvania with a unique graphical style,  is almost universally considered one of the best games of this year. PlayStation got it at launch, but this is a nice win for Xbox, nonetheless. 

I need to give it another shot. 

Edens Zero

Any time we get a title based on an anime that is NOT strictly a fighting game is cause for celebration. The fewer combos I have to memorize the more likely it’s a possible entry point into a series I know nothing about. 

Eternal Strands - 2025

This trailer focuses entirely on elemental combat. Fire spells burning the shrubs and blackening the grass looks cool, but how much will it actually affect gameplay? This one is coming to Game Pass so there’s almost no risk in figuring it out firsthand. 

Mistfall Hunter - 2025

I appreciate the clips that imply that bow and stealth builds are viable. The art direction is also compelling (I’m a fan of the creature with a sort of bird nest spiral for a face). The mention of extraction mechanics makes me a bit hesitant but everything else looks like my brand of fast combat and dark fantasy. 

Wheel World - 2025

Wheel World is a customization and exploration adventure that you experience from the seat of a bicycle. The flat colors and laid-back atmosphere give it a similar vibe to Sable. It looks like a perfect nominee to chill out for a couple hours before bed.

Oh yeah, go play Sable. 

Go listen to Japanese Breakfast.

Go read Crying in H Mart. 

Phasmophobia - 10/29/24

I’ve spent less time channel surfing Twitch the last few years so Phasmophobia is mostly a mystery to me. It looks terrifying–but my equally terrifying  lack of friends to play it with means this might continue to remain lurking in the darkness. 

The Legend of Baboo - 2025

Here we have the low point of the presentation (again, this is only my opinion). The environments are pretty but I don’t care for the character or creature design, at all. Generic fantasy doesn’t excite me. At least it has a big fluffy dog (named Baboo, I guess this is his legend).We still have a year to figure out what makes this unique. Of course, I’d love to be wrong. 

WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers - 2025

I’m not sold on the voice acting that framed this trailer but I love everything else about it. The attention to detail as the villain admires his collection of hung bodies in the opening scene. The dazzling weather and combat effects. I’m not burnt out on soulsbornes yet (this is an assumption by me, there’s no HUD, and therefore, no stamina bar), but this being another Game Pass game means the cost of entry is low. 

October and November are ground zero for some of the year’s biggest  releases (and I’m literally playing 12 games right now). I’m ready for things to slow down and get cozy over the next few months before 2025 is also inevitably packed. Who knows how long this fake break will last with Nintendo still playing cute about their Switch successor and the Game Awards on the horizon. 

Have mercy Keighley and Miyamoto, I need to get seven more endings in Silent Hill 2.