Author: Trafficblast

The Microsoft Xbox E3 2019 press conference–one of the several major publisher and developer E3 streams that precede the actual show–just dropped a bomb shell. Phantasy Star Online 2, previously exclusive to Japan, is finally getting an international release.

Fans of the original Phantasy Star Online have been clamoring for an international release. The game sees you take on the role of one of 12 different characters and descend upon an alien planet to discover the fate of the inhabitants of Pioneer 1 so that the citizens of Pioneer 2 know whether it’s safe to land. It’s not, of course. Phantasy Star Online 2 opens up the previous title’s gameplay with new mechanics, weapons, and magical abilities. It first released in 2012.

Prior to E3, Microsoft said it was “going big,” covering 14 first-party Xbox One titles and several third-party games. Microsoft has not disappointed when it comes to Game Pass either, revealing several new games for its subscription service, though several leaked beforehand. The company also finally gave us our first look at its next-gen console too.

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Microsoft’s new game streaming service, Project xCloud will bring cloud-based game streaming to consoles in October. Microsoft confirmed this during its Xbox E3 2019 press conference today, but didn’t share many more details about the platform.

There Microsoft’s Xbox press conference contained a lot of other big news like the official reveal of the From Software and George RR Martin collaboration game Elden Ring, and details on the next Xbox called still under the name Project Scarlett which is the most powerful console that Microsoft has ever designed coming in 2020.

Microsoft’s E3 2019 press conference finally confirmed Namco Bandai’s latest entry in its long-running Tales of franchise. Titled Tales of Arise, the game was initially leaked earlier this week. However, the presentation finally confirmed its existence on an official capacity with a brief debut trailer.

With the tagline “Rise Up,” Tales of Arise looks to be taking a step in a new direction with the series. While previous games had action-RPG combat systems, this new game seems to be leaning further into those systems, resembling games like Monster Hunter World or God Eater with seamless combat and no trace of separate battle encounters. Another interesting difference is that there seems to be a greater focus on exploration with a larger open world to run around.

On the other hand, story details were revealed in the debut trailer, but we do know that you’ll be playing a silver-haired protagonist who appears to on the run from something. The game is set to launch on Xbox One and PC sometime in 2020.

For more E3 news, previews, trailers, and gameplay, be sure to check out our E3 2019 hub. If you’re curious about the other press conferences, check out our full E3 press conference schedule.

Microsoft’s E3 2019 press conference brought us plenty of news, but perhaps the biggest thing we learned was that the company’s new console, Scarlett, is real. For now, it’s known as Project Scarlett, and Microsoft confirmed the new Xbox device will launch in Holiday 2020.

The company also announced Halo: Infinite will be a Scarlett launch title, which marks the first time a Halo game has been a launch Xbox game since the original Halo: Combat Evolved for the first Xbox.

Microsoft kept many of its Scarlett cards close to its chest, electing instead to mostly talk about its internal hardware. The console, which is yet to receive a final name, will be “four times” more powerful than the Xbox One X, Microsoft says. The company went on to say Scarlett contains a custom-engineered AMD processor and will be capable of both 8K and 120 frames per second.

For more on the new device, read our exhaustive look at Scarlett’s hardware specs or our comprehensive article from before E3 on everything we know about Xbox Scarlett–including the rumored budget alternative. For everything else, stay tuned to GameSpot’s E3 roundup hub.

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We’ve know for a while that there would be two big pieces of expansion content coming for Forza Horizon 4, Playground Games’ open-world racing game set in Britain. The first, Fortune Island, released late last year, and now the next chapter has been announced at the Xbox E3 2019 press conference. If you thought the Forza Horizon 3: Hot Wheels expansion was wild–well, buckle up.

Titled Lego Speed Champions, the expansion will turn Forza’s vehicles, maps, and landscapes into, well, Lego. The debut trailer showed Lego cars and Lego racers smashing through buildings and each other in explosions of bricks and color, and tracks adorned with Lego metropolises, pirate ships, Lego forests, and cute little Lego houses. It’s all set to the tune of “Everything Is Awesome”, the infectious song featured in The Lego Movie. Take a look:

Forza fans certainly won’t have to wait very long to play this one, as Playground Games announced that Lego Speed Champions would be available very soon on June 13, 2019.

In the leadup to E3, Microsoft said it was “going big” at the show, using its big presentation to cover 14 first-party Xbox One titles and several third-party games. Microsoft has not disappointed when it comes to Game Pass either, revealing several new games for its subscription service.

For continuing news on E3 2019, be sure to stay tuned to GameSpot’s ongoing coverage, featuring news, features, and live shows.