5 Games Microsoft Could Still Realistically Release in 2017

Crackdown 3

It’s been quite a while since we learned about Crackdown 3, seeing as the game was announced at E3 back in 2014. Since then we’ve learned very little about the game, with only a couple trailers and pieces of information from Microsoft. They’ve been incredibly tight lipped on the game for the last couple years, something that seems more worrying in the wake of Scalebound’s cancellation. We do know that the game is using cloud computing features to help boost destruction that players can cause. This is something that, no doubt, is making the new Crackdown a complex title to make.

With the cancellation of Scalebound, there’s a spot for a new exclusive to step into for 2017. On top of that, Xbox fans want to know what they have to look forward to, and want some stellar exclusive in 2017. Luckily, Xbox head Phil Spencer did give some impressions on the game by tweeting about his experience playing it recently.  The game has been in development for over three years now, which means it has to have moved quite far through development. The Xbox One’s lineup this year doesn’t look quite as good as it has in past years, and putting Crackdown 3 at the front of the release schedule seems like a smart, and almost necessary move.

Forza Motorsport 7

A new entry in the main Forza series seems like an obvious choice for Microsoft, and something that’s happened for quite a few years now. Since 2011 Microsoft has alternated releases in the Forza series, making sure there’s a game out every single year. One year it’s a new Forza Motorsport, the next it’s a new Forza Horizon.

Although there hasn’t been another title announced as of yet, considering we got Forza Horizon 3 last year, it seems like we can expect Forza Motorsport 7 in 2017. The newest Horizon game was met with loads of critical praise in 2016, and shows that Playground Games is really getting the hang of the technology on the Xbox One. Now it’s Turn 10 Studios’ turn to wow us with another immersive and engrossing racer.

Halo 6

Halo is the headlining series Microsoft has, and it’s practically synonymous with the Xbox at this point. We know Halo Wars 2 is releasing in February, but it’s still been almost two years since the last main entry in the series. With Gears of War 4 releasing last year, a new Halo could fill the big AAA slot for 2017.

Considering Halo 5: Guardians ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, Microsoft won’t want to wait too long between releases to make sure and keep people’s interest high. Back in September 2015, Microsoft was already saying Halo 6 was undergoing “serious, real planning.” E3 2017 could be a great time for the company to come out and surprise everyone with the announcement of a new Halo coming this holiday.

With Halo Wars 2 at the start and Halo 6 at the end, 2017 could be a really strong year for Microsoft and the Xbox One.

New Remedy Title

Remedy may have just released Quantum Brake at the start of 2016, but shortly after its release we found out the studio already had two brand new games in the works. Luckily, the studio also promised that they’re focusing on deeper mechanics for their next game and the wait would be much shorter than it was for Quantum Break, which took five years to release.

Remedy is no small developer to bring out, as each new game they release always attracts attention, whether that’s Max Payne or Alan Wake. Especially if it’s a brand new IP, a Remedy game slated for release later this year could be a big title for Microsoft to put up against their competition. Last November, the studio teased that a trailer would be coming soon for a new game.

Now that its been a few months, it’s only a matter of time until we get an announcement from Remedy and Microsoft. Hopefully, whatever it is will be on its way to store shelves before too long.

Below

Below is a very interesting looking indie title developed by Capybara Games,  that we’ve been waiting a very long time for. The game was originally announced at E3 2013, and has been fairly quiet ever since. Below has been billed as a roguelike specifically designed to be difficult. The goal of the game is to explore the strange island you wake up on, which is entirely contingent on the survival of the player character. Brutal but fair combat, randomly generated environments, and permanent death are all aspects set to make Below a punishingly difficult title.

Unfortunately, it seems like the title has gotten stuck in a bit of development hell. The game was supposed to launch last Summer, but in August Capybara announced that they were delaying Below indefinitely. With recent successful indie titles like State of Decay and Ori and the Blind Forest, there’s definitely a place on the Xbox One for unique indies like Below. Capybara has surely been hard at work on the game since the delay, and with the title being announced years ago 2017 seems like a safe bet for release, even if it isn’t until the end of the year.

Cuphead and State of Decay 2 are both on their way this year, and Below would be the perfect title to round out a growing list of indies on the Xbox One. Microsoft will, no doubt, want this anticipated title released in 2017.