Kinect: MS to "serve hardcore" at E3

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 13 May, 2011

Kinect Sports 2, Dance Central 2, more.

At least 10 non-sequel Kinect games will be announced at trade show E3 next month, Eurogamer can reveal.

One source told us these games "won't be obvious". Another source said Microsoft is expected to "serve the hardcore" at E3 with its Kinect announcements.

This is in addition to planned announcements of sequels to Kinect games, Eurogamer sources have indicated.

Rare will unveil Kinect Sports 2, set for release Christmas 2011, Eurogamer understands.

Rare is also hard at work on a second Kinect game, although this is under wraps. We do know, however, that this game is not associated with any of Rare's established characters, such as Banjo.

An announcement relating to Xbox 360 Christmas 2011 launch exclusivity for Dance Central 2 is "highly likely", Eurogamer has been told.

Elsewhere, two new Kinect games from a developer that has already launched Kinect games will be announced at the show. The developer wished to remain anonymous.

Microsoft has set up a London Soho Studio that Eurogamer has been told is hard at work on a Kinect game "aimed at the younger audience".

A new studio, MGS Family, has been set up close to Microsoft's Redmond HQ.

According to job descriptions spotted by 123Kinect, this studio is focused on "highly experimental gameplay" for Xbox 360 and Kinect.

It is already known that MGS Vancouver is looking for staff to work on a triple-A shooter Kinect game project.

Microsoft plans to triple the number of games available for Kinect by the end of 2011.

Meanwhile, Eurogamer has heard an open world driving game called Forza World is in development at UK developer Playground Games, helmed by ex-Codemasters racing studio executive producer Gavin Raeburn.

Raeburn's LinkedIn profile reveals he's "working on an unannounced AAA title for a major publisher". During his time at Codemasters he helped reboot the Dirt and Grid series.

Forza 4, from US developer Turn 10, is due out this autumn. It features Kinect support and will form a part of Microsoft's E3 presence.

At E3 Microsoft is also expected to announce a Halo 1 remake, rumoured to be built using the Halo: Reach engine by TimeShift maker Sabre Interactive and due out November 2011.

Microsoft is also expected to show off its Kinect Star Wars game, quietly in development at Ghostbusters: The Videogame creator Terminal Reality. This is due out Christmas 2011.

Crytek's Codename: Kingdoms, a first-person melee game for Kinect, is also set for a full E3 reveal.

Microsoft told Eurogamer it "does not comment on rumour and speculation".

Picture of Wesley.

About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

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Comments (70) Latest comment 9 months ago

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  • Koozer #1 9 months ago

    How I pity you Rare.

  • repeater #2 9 months ago

    Elsewhere, two new Kinect games from a developer that has already launched Kinect games will be announced at the show. The developer wished to remain anonymous.

    Who can blame them, really?

  • Mister-Wario #3 9 months ago

    "Microsoft plans to triple the number of games available for Kinect by the end of 2011".

    My first thought being: "But will they be any good?" Also, it's sad to see Rare making naff Kinect titles after the brilliance that was Nuts and Bolts.

  • Retro_ #4 9 months ago

    Highly experimental gameplay...... that actually does not sound good, it sounds like standard methods of gameplay doesn't work with Kinect so they need to marry what does work, which, as we know, is fine for dance along games but hard core games? come on!!

  • kitsuneyo #5 9 months ago

    Kinect: MS to "serve hardcore" at E3
    Kinect Sports 2, Dance Central 2, more

    Bit of a mismatch there, surely.

  • AcidSnake #6 9 months ago

    Well MS claimed Kinect Joyride or whatever was hardcore...

    Also I predict Rare's mystery game will be Kinect Fit...

  • HyperTails #7 9 months ago

    Well we'll see soon enough.

    TBH though, what i'm expecting is Microsoft to flood E3 with casual crap for Kinect, then reveal about 2-3 games made made by studios that don't make casual games and Microsoft will shout 'Hardcore Kinect games are coming'.

    Just what I think though.

  • the_dudefather #8 9 months ago

    Do they mean that like a 'you got served' style dance battle in Dance central 2?

  • Shikasama #9 9 months ago

    Kitsuneyo - Only if you didn't read the article

  • Darren #10 9 months ago

    Speaking for myself, I don't care whether Microsoft cater for core gamers or not with Kinect as I still would not buy it. The games I've seen so far have been dreadfully disappointing and it's all too reminiscent of the Wii IMO. I'm oddly apathetic toward motion-controlled gaming these days anyway, perhaps because after five years of owning a Wii I've come to consider such control schemes to be inaccurate/frustrating/stupid and just end up wanting to play the game with a standard controller! It's far more relaxing played that way and I play games to relax not get a workout, throwing my arms, body and legs about. I certainly would not want to play a shooter or racing game with Kinect but each to their own.

  • Shinetop #11 9 months ago

    Highly experimental gameplay...... that actually does not sound good, it sounds like standard methods of gameplay doesn't work with Kinect

    For standard methods of gameplay we have a thing called a controller. The whole point of Kinect is enabling stuff that isn't standard.

    I honestly don't get some people. It was such a dissapointment that the first batch of Kinect games was a bunch of run of the mill Wii game clones instead of the completely new gameplay that was promised, and now that somebody is making something "highly experimental", we're complaining that it's "not standard"? For fuck's sake.

  • Syrette #12 9 months ago

    Serve the rest of us - you know, the majority, who don't own Kinect - with hardcore games, new IPs as well you utter twats.

    Don't get me wrong, Kinect needs some 'core' games, but don't alienate those of us without it. Which you're doing a fine job of doing.

  • raloB #13 9 months ago

    I was expecting a Kinect Tennis game after reading headline....

    Maybe I still should.. ;)

  • -cerberus- #14 9 months ago

    Doesn't matter what they come up with, I'm never buying their 32x equivalent.

  • GamesConnoisseur #15 9 months ago

    I WANT hardcore non Kinect games please MS?

    Or shall I be better off in reasonably expecting to see a number of hardcore non Move games from Sony?

  • StuDevo #16 9 months ago

    Still not buying Kinect

  • sfp_noodle #17 9 months ago

    The headline is misleading. Hardcore games and hardcore Kinect games are not the same thing. Hardcore Kinect games means forking out for a Kinect and that's something I will never do. C'mon MS give us guys some love. The Gears 3 beta was excellent and has left me wanting a lot more but it's 4 months until it's released and I can honestly say that it will be the only game I will be buying on my 360 this year.

    Please show us non-Kinect guys something exciting at E3 that is far away from your "you are the controller" bullshit. We don't want to be the controller. I tend to smash mines up on ocassion during frustrating moments so it isn't healthy. I just want something new, exciting, that I can kick back with on a Sunday evening and enjoy.

  • CallousB #18 9 months ago

    I still struggle to see how Kinect can really provide core games in a variety of genres..without including some form of additional peripheral.

    When it comes down to it you still need to include some form of analogue stick to move a character well....otherwise you're pretty much restricted to on-rails experiences or having the action take place in one static location. Even if they did an on-rails shooter...I'd still prefer to hold a gun peripheral over just pointing my hand. With a lightsaber game..I'd still prefer to be holding a Wii/Move controller or something similar.

  • darkmorgado #19 9 months ago

    After remembering when they claimed that Joyride was a core game, I'm not sure I trust that MS even know what the term means anymore.

  • Zero Beat #20 9 months ago

    When the input device itself isn't sufficient for serving the hardcore, how are the games for it supposed to?

  • disappointed #21 9 months ago

    I'd give Kinect a chance (if I owned an xbox, which I don't). MS aren't stupid - they made their name off of the likes of Halo and Forza and they know the current Kinect crop ain't doing it for that crowd. Sony's Move may currently have the edge but they've yet to come out with a slam dunk, killer app of a Move game. We'll see who's winning by Christmas, assuming the Wii2 announcement doesn't render all this moot.

  • Freek #22 9 months ago

    Sounds interesting but that still doesn't change the fact that i'd need re-arange my entire living room in order for Kinect to even function.

  • DB2k #23 9 months ago

    Kameo Kinect

  • Eighthours #24 9 months ago

    Kinect Sports 2? Bring it on. The original has some UI flaws, but is highly underrated imo.

    I wonder if everyone will be copying the Dance Central "swipe" UI in future, as the standard "hold to select" is so slow?

  • P1GEONPOO #25 9 months ago

    can somebody please tell me what is kinect for ?

  • Zero Beat #26 9 months ago

    Oh yes, as others have said. RIP Rare. :(

    English developers are going down the drain. I hope EA don't kill off Criterion with bi-yearly Need For Speed games next.

  • Shinetop #27 9 months ago

    Serve the rest of us - you know, the majority, who don't own Kinect - with hardcore games, new IPs as well you utter twats.

    Don't get me wrong, Kinect needs some 'core' games, but don't alienate those of us without it. Which you're doing a fine job of doing.

    Yes, Portal 2, Call of Duty Black Ops, Brink, Crysis 2, and the upcoming L.A. Noire, Gears of War 3, Skyrim, and Mass Effect 3 coming out for 360 are all signs of Microsoft alienating people who don't have Kinects.

    Jesus Christ.

  • digoutyoursoul #28 9 months ago

    instead of trying to balance kinect and controller exclusive games they are swaying a lot towards kinect as a majority. i really like the 360 but its exclusive core portfolio is anorexic compared to the competition and considering i already own a ps3 i'd be tempted to switch to project cafe if that impresses and ms continue via this route.

  • Lunastra78 #29 9 months ago

    It's like my grampa said: Kinect will never be complete without a tentacle porn game.

  • SteveHolt #30 9 months ago

    STEEL BATTALION!!!

  • alimokrane #31 9 months ago

    No Thanks. I need a new Halo, a new Alan Wake and a new fable and I dont want Kinect to have anythig to do with those three.

  • HyperTails #32 9 months ago

    @Zero Beat

    I agree with you about English devs to some extent. Its clear that our devs are being overshadowed by those in America and Japan, and to a lesser extent Canada, but we do still have some top talent. While Molyneux can still crank out a classic like Fable 2, and Ninja Theory continue to be one of the most talented devs in the world IMO, then we're still good.

  • Freki #33 9 months ago

    I really like Kinect. Not as a gaming device, though my wife and daughter frind it fun. But as a bit of tech it is absolutely lovely. I am still mulling over doing something with it for my dissertation in a couple of years time.

  • Toothball #34 9 months ago

    I'm very keen for more from Dance Central. I really quite like the first one, although admittedly don't play it as often as I should.

    @Eighthours

    Yeah, I really hope that more developers will pick up on the Dance Central menus, including Microsoft. The Kinect Hub is nice and all, but really quite slow

  • LHH #35 9 months ago

    The headline on this article made it sound as though MS would be making hardcore kinect games :/

  • sfp_noodle #36 9 months ago

    @ Shinetop

    Out of your list, only Gears of War 3 is 360 exclusive/MS published. The other games you listed, whilst good, are NOT MS published/developed and are available on other consoles. MS ARE alienating their customers. They have no first party studios and it's starting to bite them in the arse now. Turn 10 and Rare are the only decent ones, although a lot will argue that Rare's original talent left long ago.

    Think about it - That list you mentioned is strong, but if another console had all those titles, plus the likes of Uncharted 3, Killzone 3, The Last Gaurdian, Infamous 2, Motorstorm Apocalypse and many others, what console would you choose to game on? I'm not trying to start a flame war here, I own both consoles (check my profile) and enjoy both. But you cannot hide the fact that over the last couple of years MS has started to slack in the core gaming department.

    All they seem to do is push Kinect and COD. Halo, their own frachise is a billion times better than COD yet they spent more of an effort promoting COD last year like it was a console exclusive for them. There's a reason why 360 owners are complaining. The third party list is strong, but when other console owners can also play those plus the games I mentioned earlier in the post, it's easy to see why we're angry and annoyed. MS need to deliver at this year's E3, as last year's was easilly their most embarrasing ever. It was on par with Sony's rubbish event of 2006, and that's saying something.

  • oceanmotion #37 9 months ago

    I think this is a good thing because whether you want to know or not, we will find out if Kinect can really offer anything great to the core games. Might as well get it over and done with. Let MS and others develop the games and the customers will judge for themselves.

  • GamesProgrammer Verified Games Team Programmer, Eutechnyx Ltd. #38 9 months ago

    You sure they didn't say "Sever the hardcore" not "serve hardcore"

  • des #39 9 months ago

    Kinect butthurt brigade is coming out of woodwork only to get annihilated by Kinect,history repeats .This E3 will be so fun...:)

  • Mentat_Idaho #40 9 months ago

    @Shinetop

    Gears 3 is the only 360 exclusive you mentioned. I would like to see some non-kinect exclusive games.

  • MattEdWithCheese #41 9 months ago

    well, if Diabolical Pitch, Kingdoms, Draco and Steel Battalion are shown and look good; I'll buy kinect at the 85 or so quid i saw it for in a certain wholsaler in time for Child of Eden.

  • ronuds #42 9 months ago

    *Insert random hateful Kinect comment here*

    Personally, I'd rather see hardcore "regular" 360 games, but I wouldn't be one of the cool kids if I didn't spout some random nonsense about how much Kinect sucks because it isn't for me - right?

  • coolbritannia #43 9 months ago

    "How I pity you Rare."

    Save it. They're raking it in.

  • Sunyavadin #44 9 months ago

    I'm guessing by serving "hardcore" they refer to the music included in Dance Central 2, then? Surely something more suited to PS Move with its glowstick peripherals, than to Kinect?

  • 32768Colours #45 9 months ago

    So hardcore Kinect games are likely to be regular games (Forza, Halo) that have regular control schemes but an optional (and probably nerfed) Kinect scheme on top. A bit like KZ3 with optional Move support?

    I suppose that's the best solution to dealing with not everyone having Kinect. Plus it'd mitigate any potential criticism of the motion control elements if they can be turned off.

    E3 should be interesting this year. MS on one hand offering justification for motion control to the hardcore, whilst Nintendo may be potentially offering yet another game-changer; one that might just make Kinect look a bit old hat before its even really got started. No maybe not... I don't know...!

    Roll on 7th June!!
    Edited by 1 at 16/05/11 @ 13:40

  • dirtysteve #46 9 months ago

    I just can't see the point of the Halo remake. Prettier graphics? What else will they add to make it worthwhile?

  • Markitron #47 9 months ago

    I got Kinect as a christmas present and have had some on/off fun with it (dance central is great at parties), I honestly wouldnt mind something that appealed to me more. Heavy rain and Killzone 3 were awesome with move, It can be done

  • Mr_Brown #48 9 months ago

    Well its not looking promising with those titles. Though to be fair, at least they are serving somebody with Kinect games, with the lack released since launch.

    All I know is that they won't be serving me, it would take a big game to win me over to it.

  • Weezer #49 9 months ago

    Please, please, please - if you remake Halo, redesign the mirrored levels so they're not so frigging tedious. Thank you.

  • Machetazo #50 9 months ago

    I'm not seeing the "Hardcore" here, in the slightest. Must be the kinect bit. I don't believe that device has any capability to add enough to a non-Kinect specific game. It kind of reminds me of Sony's adding of interactive elements to Killzone, where you turn valves, or activate switches using the sixaxis - daft maybe, but harmless and maybe it leads to other stuff - KEY difference, there though, is that it's part of the controller anyway, I haven't had to buy a peripheral specifically to enable the feature on the specific game(s) that I'd want to play that make use of it.

    Since I was on the point of Sony, it's not allowed Move to dilute and take over the existing. Move's added to it. It's there if you want it, and it's supported for those that do. It can integrate with any game for which it's programmed, and the control precision suits its intended environment. PS3+Move, versus, 360/Kinect. It's an interesting contrast to Microsoft's plan going in to this console cycle, to offer multiple hardware skus, that now MS is facing a situation looking as if, we're possibly going to have an "everything with chips" situation.

    Is a bullet-point on the back of the box, Microsoft's end-game for Kinect Goes Hardcore?

    You're looking for a Wii2? Microsoft jumped right on it, already. That, and they continue to show no solid direction, along with putting on a standout routine of wheelspinning and noncommitment.

  • lockload #51 9 months ago

    Im still interested in the combination of kinect and a controller but i do not believe kinect alone will every fulfill the need of a hardcore gamers however hard they try, the control precision/complexity just isn there

    A halo remake does make a lot of sense as the multiplayer was LAN only and pre-live i think a lot of people especially in the USA wpuld be interested
    Edited by 1 at 16/05/11 @ 14:09

  • carlitoswagon #52 9 months ago

    Anything that invloves me using more than just my hands while sitting comfortably won't get a look in. Just call me old fashioned....or lazy.

  • Shinetop #53 9 months ago

    Ah, right. So first the complaint is that Microsoft is ignoring people who don't have a Kinect, and then when it is pointed out that there's a shitload of non-Kinect titles already out for 360 and more on their way, the complaint is suddenly "butbutbut they have to be first party excluuuusiiiiiives."

    What's the next random criterium going to be? "Out of all the titles you mentioned, only one has a cover image that's predominantly white. I want more white-covered non-Kinect titles, dammit! YOU OWE ME MICROSOFT!"
    Edited by 1 at 16/05/11 @ 14:25

  • chrisjm #54 9 months ago

    these comments are whineyer than amy winehouse in a wine bar.

  • mkreku #55 9 months ago

    I wonder if any of this Kinect hardcore is the promised PC drivers for Kinect?

  • edhe #56 9 months ago

    Rare scores their biggest sales in years, most popular game in ages and people are wishing them to rest in peace?

    ...don't get it.

  • Widge #57 9 months ago

    Because its great for Rare, people are wanting Rare to make games like they used to in the past.

    Some people.

  • handsonhips101 #58 9 months ago

    AAA racer. AAA Shooter. Revolutionary gameplay. Devs talk some crap sometimes.

  • RoaringPanda #59 9 months ago

    I'm sorry, why are so many non-kinect gamers complaining? There's hardly any Kinect games out, there is zero for you to whine about.

  • youhavenomail #60 9 months ago

    No matter how good Kinect games become, I'll never be able to play them in my modest room. So they better carry on being shit.

  • RodHull #61 9 months ago

    Sigh...Rare reduced to shovelling out yearly updates. Don't get me wrong, I loved Kinect Sports but any studio could be roped in to add a few more sports and events. Hopefully the new IP Rare are working on will be something original and Rare-esque, not just a Wii clone. I'd still rather see Blast Corps Kinect though...

  • Sid-Nice #62 9 months ago

    This is so exciting; I can't wait to turn Kinect on again, the poor little thing is amazing. I haven't turned it on since Christmas yet it has hardly gathered any dust; fantastic technology.

  • Inmediasress #63 9 months ago

    Well kinect is not suitable and never will for truly HC games nothign sort of the things you see in sci-fi movies is suitable for it.
    Sooner or later there will be technology for that purpose but not kinect nor any other now available gimmicky things.
    The only thing that remains is for now to define what is HC to you and developers and the between layer of marketing and casual gamers and whatnot.

  • rudedudejude #64 9 months ago

    I find it quite strange that MS spend so much time and investment in a product like Kinect, software development and the lot, to have 10 fooking games for it, the majority of which are total crap.

    I've pretty much played Adventures to death, and something other than dancing or fitness would be nice.

    And driving games? wtf? Really making full use of the tech there I must say. Kinect joyride just makes your arms ache after 20 mins play.

  • Sid-Nice #65 9 months ago

    Is there any actual "Hardcore Games" on the Xbox 360? People seem to refer mainstream to hardcore nowadays.

  • RedSparrows #66 9 months ago

    So, people moan when Kinect has no games.

    Then Kinect games galore are announced/rumored and still you moan?

    Ok.

    There's nothing to say that some of these games are Kinect 'only', as it were. Some will be, no doubt. There's also nothing to say non-Kinect titles will not be revealed.

  • orangpelupa #67 9 months ago

    child of eden!!

    hmmph... hoping more and more kinect game is supporting play while sit.

    currently the game that i still play is Kinect Sports Table Tennis, due to its fun and i can play standing and when tired i can play while sit.

  • bladdard #68 9 months ago

    Kinect is great fun, it's a casual party platform and I don't understand the obsession with building hardcore games for it. The only thing I don't like about kinect is the clunky navigation and stupid on screen in game prompts when you're stood in the wrong position, other than that it's great. All hardcore gamers should give it a go, you never know you might actually enjoy yourselves.

  • The-Jack-Burton #69 9 months ago

    "Crytek's Codename: Kingdoms, a first-person melee game for Kinect"

    Are you fucking kidding me? What the fuck MS!

  • Collymilad #70 9 months ago

    Come on MS. Serve me.

    Serve me good.

    Not Sid Nice though. No one can serve him. He's just too hardcore.
    Edited by 1 at 17/05/11 @ 02:42