If the recent Xbox Summer showcase confirmed something it is that the Microsoft-owned brand is winning the console wars by a large margin. The showcase was a blend of beloved franchises and new games, giving a glimpse into the future. In a recent interview with Variety, Xbox chief Matt Booty discussed the showcase, the post-Activision Blizzard merger, and the future of such franchises as Gears of War, Halo, and Forza.
Although a couple of these heavy hitters weren’t a part of the showcase, these aren’t forgotten and have a future within the company and might be a part of the next summer showcase.
Gears of War Stole the Show at Xbox Games Showcase
The 2024 Xbox Games Showcase was a turning point for Microsoft Gaming. Since the integration of studios from Activision Blizzard and Bethesda, the event offered a wide variety of titles, larger than ever before.
As Matt Booty described it, it was a critical mass of announcements, as the event gave fans insights into the latest Gears of War installment, a prequel set years before the original game, then the new State of Decay 3 and the highly-anticipated Starfield: Shattered Space DLC.
He has said that these announcements are a key factor for both the brand and fans, as Xbox is finding the rhythm. He continued to say that he anticipates an even stronger showing at next year’s showcase since the showcase was missing a few of their go-to franchises.
Fans Want to Know About New Halo and Forza Horizon 6 Future
While the Xbox Games Showcase had a rather rich lineup, some fans were left wondering about the established first-party titles. In the interview with Variety, Matt Booty talked about reading an article that questions the future of these popular titles. He addressed the question, assuring fans that these titles aren’t abandoned and that there is a future for them.
“I read an article where someone pointed out that this was a year that we didn’t have some of the traditional heavy hitters from Xbox, like ‘Halo,’ like ‘Forza’ — and of course, we’ve got teams working on those projects, and we’ve got a lot of cool stuff to share when the time is right,”
Booty confirmed that development teams are working on both games. Both of these franchises have a rich history. For instance, the first Halo game came out in 2001, under the title Combat Evolved, and the latest main title in the franchise was Halo Infinite from late 2021 which received favorable reviews and is deemed a return to the familiar form.
On the other hand, the first Forza Motorsport was released in 2005, while the last racing game was released in 2023, and is a reboot of the first game. Moreover, Horizon 5 came out in 2021 and won the Best Sports/Racing Game award at the Game Awards of that year.
Do you feel like Forza and Halo were left out of the Xbox Games Showcase? What are your thoughts, will there be any new installments in these franchises soon? Let us know in the comments.
