Microsoft Studios

Recently there have been many notable platformers–in an industry with an immense history of them. So how does one go about making a platformer that feels unique, fresh, and original? Look no further than Ori and the Blind Forest, the first collaboration of Moon Studios and Microsoft Studios. By combining “Metroidvania” exploration, smooth controls, cinematic action sequences, genuine heartfelt moments, and a gorgeous score, Ori transcends the typical platformer and will likely be a fan favorite for years to come.

At long last, 343 Industries has revealed the next, new entry in the Halo franchise, Halo 5: Guardians. Last Friday, Bonnie Ross, the general manager at 343, took to xbox.com to unleash in blog post the first news of the next “Halo journey” coming to Xbox One. Ross took some time detailing what 343 is trying to achieve with a next-gen Halo entry. “‘Halo 5: Guardians’ is a bigger effort than ‘Halo 4.'” She continues to claim, “That applies to the content and scope of the game,” as well as the technology the game is being produced on and for. Ross clarifies that the game “runs at 60 frames per second, on dedicated servers, with the scope, features and scale we’ve been dreaming of for more than a decade.” November 2015 is the only date given for the anticipated release of the game.

State of Decay (2013) Developer: Undead Labs Publisher: Microsoft Studios State of Decay has enjoyed major success since its June 5th release this year. The game takes the classic zombie survival scenario that has been recycled time and time again, yet somehow brings a fresh and exciting gameplay experience that makes it almost impossible to …