Scorpio Releases in November for $449
Microsoft at E3 2017
The fact that we’re going to find out more about the Scorpio is pretty much common knowledge now after Microsoft confirmed it a while back. However, what we don’t know the specifics for are the system’s price and release date. That’s where we’re focusing our Scorpio predictions on, and we’re going with a $449 price point and a November release date.
With Sony’s 4K capable PS4 Pro currently on the market for $399.99, we can’t see Microsoft coming out with a price point that’s over $50 more, even if the system is a fair bit more powerful than Sony’s. Microsoft has a lot of confidence in the Scorpio and so they won’t want an off-putting price point to get in the way of their envisioned success for it. Of course, they can’t sell these things at a huge loss, so $449 seems reasonable for the slight edge it has on Sony’s system.
As for the release date, we know it’s coming sometime this Holiday season from its initial reveal. Considering both the Xbox One, PS4, and PS4 Pro all released in November, we think it’s a fair assumption Microsoft will drop the next iteration of their flagship system in the same month. Plus, then it’ll be out for Christmas shopping, and we’re sure the Scorpio will be on the lists of many this year.
 State of Decay 2
Microsoft at E3 2017
The original State of Decay became a bit of a whirlwind success when it released back in 2013, and its upcoming sequel got a very warm reception when it was revealed at last year’s E3. Just like its predecessor, State of Decay 2 is all about telling your own story in a zombie apocalypse. However, this time you can join up with up to three other players to take on the undead horde and survive as a team.
With the game due to release sometime this year, you can bet your bottom dollar that Microsoft will be showing off way more of the game than just the trailer we saw last year. In fact, with the game completely playable in co-op, we wouldn’t be surprised if we got an on-stage live gameplay demonstration. Alongside that, we’re predicting an August release date and for the first game to be announced as a pre-order incentive thanks to the Xbox One’s backwards compatibility.
Crackdown 3 Is a Scorpio Launch Title
Microsoft at E3 2017
Crackdown 3 was first announced back in 2013 and fans have since been patiently awaiting the title to arrive on the Xbox One. With the “power of the cloud” being utilized for completely destructible multiplayer environments, Crackdown 3 is one of the more ambitious projects on the horizon of video games. Plus, who doesn’t want to base jump off the top of skyscrapers or sprint at supernatural speeds after criminals through city streets?
With Microsoft’s exclusive lineup so far this year being somewhat subpar (and sparse), we have a feeling that Crackdown 3 will become a launch title for the Scorpio. It’s certainly a title capable of enticing potential buyers into picking up a Scorpio, as well as demonstrating just what the Scorpio is capable of. After all, what better way to make use of all that power than with huge explosions and crumbling buildings on-screen at a wonderful native 4K resolution?
That Halo Announcement
Microsoft at E3 2017
343 Studios has already confirmed that they’ll be at E3, but that Halo 6 will not be. With Halo Wars 2 already out, and those Halo 3 Anniversary rumors having been shot down, fans may be a little puzzled over exactly what it could be.
We’ve got a couple of ideas as to what 343 Studios may have been teasing just a few weeks back. First is that Steven Spielberg Halo TV show that was announced back in like 2015, but was confirmed to be still alive last year. Whether it’s a first look or a confirmed release date, fans would definitely be intrigued to see how Spielberg has worked his magic on their beloved IP.
Alternatively, there’s always the chance that 343 is talking about a collaborative effort with Creative Assembly in the form of Halo Wars 2 DLC. However, we do have one more theory on what this mystery Halo announcement could be, but it is a bit out there.
Remember at E3 2015 when Microsoft was showing off its Hololens for the first time on stage with Minecraft? Well, some critics went behind closed doors to get a Hololens experience that saw Cortana talking them through a mission brief. While we’re not sure exactly what form this would take as a consumer product, it’d certainly get Halo fans hyped to hook a Hololens up to their Scorpio. Is this a pipedream? Possibly. But it’s a damn interesting one.
Cuphead, Below, and Sea of Thieves Reappear
Microsoft at E3 2017
Microsoft has a trio of exclusives that have been talked about for a good few years now, but we’re still waiting to finally get our hands on them. Cuphead’s 1950s-inspired art-style captured the hearts of many, while its gameplay punished those not up to the challenge. Sea of Thieves invites everyone to grab their friends and set sail to enjoy the pirate’s life, and the intriguing roguelike dungeon-crawler, Below has been shrouded largely in mystery since it was unveiled, but was delayed indefinitely in August last year.
With the Xbox One in dire need of some exclusives to bolster its library of releases this year, Microsoft will be eager to get them in the hands of gamers before Christmas. While we’re not convinced we’ll be getting release dates for these (and if we did that they wouldn’t be delayed again), we’re pretty sure they’ll at least get some screen time during Microsoft’s E3 2017 conference.
Whether they’ll ultimately release before the Scorpio, or alongside it to really make the system’s release a major event in the industry calendar remains to be seen.
Forza Motorsport 7
Microsoft at E3 2017
By this point, a new entry into the more general Forza arrives each year like clockwork. In fact, ever since the Xbox One released back in 2013, Turn10 Studios and Playground Games have been releasing some of the finest racing games on consoles annually without fail, alternating between the Motorsport and Horizon sub-series. As such, it almost feels like a surefire bet that we’ll be seeing the folks from Turn10 on stage during Microsoft’s E3 presentation.
The Forza games are some of the best-looking, most realistic titles on the Xbox One, and as a first-party studio, the next entry will be sure to run in native 4K resolution on the Scorpio. If Microsoft is wanting to really showcase what their new powerhouse is capable of, a new Forza would absolutely do that.
Published: May 31, 2017 11:12 am