E3 2017 - Microsoft's presser breakdown.

Microsoft's presser was pretty darned good in terms of the games-to-yakking ratio, but I was really anticipating some first-party stuff that would blow my mind.  Instead, we got a first peek at some cool third-party multiplatform stuff, and some timed console exclusives that I am definitely gonna' snap up when they land on PS4.  Also Cuphead has a release date!

Let's break it down.

• The Scorpio's official name is the Xbox One X. 
• It launches November 7th, 2017. 
• It will cost $499 US. 
• It's smaller than any previous Xbox console. 
• Forza Motorsport 7 (exclusive) launches October 3rd. 
• Metro Exodus (multiplatform) launches 2018.
• Assassin's Creed Origins (multiplatform) launches October 27th. 
• Playerunknown's Battlegrounds (timed exclusive). 
• Dark Rock Galactic looks like a first-person co-op shooter/roguelike. 
• State of Decay 2 (exclusive) coming spring 2018 and I am jealous. 
• The Darwin Project is a Pixar-gory battle royale. 
• They showed a Dragon Ball Z game.  Seriously. 
• Black Desert Online is coming to Xbox One first (timed exclusive) in North America. 
• The Last Night (timed exclusive) is the most gorgeous pixel art game you've ever seen. WORTH WATCHING.
• The Artful Escape (timed exclusive) looks like a rockin' good time. 
• Code Vein (multiplatform) is an action title from the God Eater team. 
• They showed some still-nice-looking Sea of Thieves gameplay. 
• Space station title Tacoma will come to Xbox One before it lands on PS4. 
• Last year's VR-exclusive Rare-esque platformer Lucky's Tale is coming to Xbox One. 
• Cuphead launches September 29th. 
• They showed an indie sizzle reel. 
• Lovely dark fantasy co-op action title Ashen looks kickass. Think it might be exclusive.
• The gameplay they showed from Middle-Earth: Shadow of War actually hyped me for Middle-Earth: Shadow of War. WORTH WATCHING
• Crackdown 3's E3 trailer was very meh. 
• Ori and the Will of the Wisps (exclusive) announced, looks as gorgeous as you'd expect. 
• Life is Strange: Before the Storm (multiplat) announced. 
• Xbox's backwards compatibility will extend to original Xbox games this year, including the oft-fan-requested Crimson Skies. 
• Gameplay from BioWare's Anthem is the prettiest triple-A you'll see all day. It's like BioWare's doin' Destiny. WORTH WATCHING

And that was Microsoft's show!  

The standout triple-As - Metro, Assasin's Creed, Middle-Earth and Athema - are all notably multiplatform, third-party games.  The standout indies - The Last Night, Artful Escape, Cuphead and Ori - are all awesome-lookin', but I was expecting some ridiculously good-looking first-party game that would blow my eyes out the back of my head and sell me on buying a new console.  

You did not achieve this, Microsoft.  And I'm sorry to say it, 'cause overall this was a really nice ninety minutes of smexy games!  I give it a B. 

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