Microsoft E3 press conference wrapped up and here are the highlights

To open they demoed Halo 5 which looks like Halo 4. This time they seem to really focused on getting the story right.  343 Industries also announced a new multiplayer mood called Warzone a massive PVP multiplayer level

The best part of the conference judging by audience applause was the addition of Backwards compatiblity for xbox 360 games.  They announced they will have 100 games at launch but if you are in the preview program you can launch it today with 10 or so games. If you have existing titles they will just show up in your library or just pop in a retail disc.  Now I can get back into Viva Piñata. Its already paying dividends as the Xbox One versions of Fallout 4 and Rainbow 6 Siege will come with their previous generation additions, exclusive to Xbox One.

Then they showed off the Xbox Elite Controller. The video showed a ton of adjustments that can made to the controller. Replacing the traditional d-pad will help with platforms and fighting games as the one that ships on the controller has been stated numerous times as not good.  As someone who’s sticks on PS4 and Xbox controllers are worn down love the ability to swap those and get the new controller feeling with having to replace the whole controller.  Also those paddles and super sensitive triggers were made for Forza and Halo. Out this fall.

To honor the 30th anniversary of Rare. Microsoft also announced Rare Replay coming August 4 featuring 30 games for $30 dollars. games include Rare classics such as Banjo Kazooie,, Conker’s Bad Fur Day, Battle Toads and Perfect Dark.

They also showed off a bunch of titles including none gameplay trailers for Forza 6, The Division, Dark Souls 3, and Fable Legends. They also showed off New IP in Recore a shooter with an A.I. partner Gigantic which reminded me of Team Fortress meets Giants: Citizen Kabuto.  Sea of Thieves is a pirate game with big bright graphics.  They also had a big run of indie titles including the darling of last E3 the 1930’s animated art with 16 bit mechanics Cuphead.

Wow thats pretty

They Also announced they made a deal with Valve VR to support that headset through the xbox app on Windows 10.  Following the deal they made with Oculus to include the Xbox One controller with the Oculus Rift last week, Microsoft, even though indirectly, supports all the existing VR standards except Sony’s Project Mobius.

Speaking of Headsets, Microsoft also showed off their Hololens and how it would be used in Minecraft.  Was great demo but curious if it would work with something featuring more action.

They closed out with the worst kept secret of E3 the Gears of War 1 remastered edition coming August 25 and the new Gears of War 4 coming holiday 2016.

Overall Microsoft added that helped grow their audience with new IP and VR support and preached to the choir with backward compatibility as well new Halo and Gears.  Sony responds at 9pm