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XO18 Inside Xbox special live report

Acquisitions! Expansions! Some weird bit about Winnie the Pooh! All the news as it happened.

Well, that was something! Microsoft carried its powerful march towards the new generation with a good showing at XO18, with news of new studio acquisitions while it shored up the already impressive Game Pass for Xbox and plenty more besides. Here's everything as it happened.

Our live coverage of this event has finished.

Hi, hello and how do you do.

Martin Robinson

spamdangled: So, is it 8pm or 9pm? We've recently switched to daylight savings, so we are on BST, not GMT, which would place the start as 8pm. the article is a little confusing.

We're on GMT!

Martin Robinson

So the event doesn't start for another 50 minutes. I hope.

Martin Robinson

I just wanted to check in and say I'm alive, not that drunk *yet* and that, all going well, we'll be kicking off in under an hour.

Martin Robinson

Kami: And good evening to you Martin!

*waves*

Martin Robinson

Malek86: If JSRF is not announced, can I trust Martin to boo at the stage?

I'm in Lewisham for this and quite far from Mexico, but I can boo pretty loud so I'll do what I can.

Martin Robinson

Jac: Is this event likely to be interesting? Never heard of it before and what does XO stand for? X Ox? Kiss off?

It's Kiss Off 2018. All the execs, snogging each other into oblivion, live for our entertainment for two hours. It's going to be mint.

Martin Robinson

_TheDarkSide_: @Oridan lol. Exactly what I thought. Cheeky sods, insinuating we've got no lives..... /Sobs into pillow.

I was mostly talking about myself. My mum's down for the weekend and I'm using it as an excuse to head out to the office for a couple of hours.

Martin Robinson

Bionicjackass: Is there a drinking game set up for tonight? Eg: a shot every time someone mentions “worlds most powerful console”

I'm playing! I haven't thought of many rules beyond 'drink this bottle of cheap red until it's finished' but it should be fun!

Martin Robinson

Just under ten minutes to go.

Martin Robinson

Charge your glasses.

Martin Robinson

What to expect, then?

Martin Robinson

Not much, to be blunt - this isn't going to be like an E3 conference - but still I'm expecting more than what we got the last time I tuned in for one of these Inside Xbox specials for that dreadful Gamescom episode.

Martin Robinson

So some updates on existing games, a light sprinkling of news and a lot of Major Nelson doing what he does, whatever that is.

Martin Robinson

And Jet Set Radio Future to back-compat, of course.

Martin Robinson

(I think because music licensing issues that's never going to happen, sadly. Also as much as I love that game it looks too much like a ketamine hangover with its weird on-brand green palette).

Martin Robinson

Oridan: Diablo 4 is gonna get announced here, I'm sure of it.

Why not!

Martin Robinson

This pre-show tune's a banger, mind.

Martin Robinson

Where *do* they find such outstanding music?

Martin Robinson

It actually sounds like something I made on Codemasters' Music 2000.

Martin Robinson

I'm honestly excited for what the next two hours will bring, however mild it may be.

Martin Robinson

Absolutely love what Microsoft is doing at the moment, and they've managed to turn me mid-gen - the Xbox One X is now my console of choice in my living room.

Martin Robinson

Oooooh less than a minute to go. Hold on to your butts.

Martin Robinson

rep-: Is Phil Spencer at this event? To drop some news.

He is!

Martin Robinson

Going to be sporting a Blinx the Cat t-shirt, I'm sure.

Martin Robinson

And

Martin Robinson

Here

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We

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Go

Martin Robinson

Some lifestyle ad about Xbox's current proposition - whenever I see someone flying through the air in an Xbox ad I can't help but think of that unfortunate OG Xbox ad.

Martin Robinson

What on earth is that crowd on?

Martin Robinson

And also that is a very unlikely gathering that's hosting this.

Martin Robinson

Young, excitable presenters - and Major Nelson in a velvet blazer.

Martin Robinson

I'd be snarky, but in life, wherever I go, I am forever Major Nelson in a velvet blazer.

Martin Robinson

Lonewolf2002: "What on earth is that crowd on?" I want some whatever it is.

It's definitely got more pep than this *checks label* Hardy's Nottage Hill my mum bought me.

Martin Robinson

And we're straight into PUBG, which is hitting Games Pass on Monday.

Martin Robinson

That's a grand way to kick things off. Games Pass really is an incredible thing.

Martin Robinson

There's a new trial for Xbox Games Pass - one month for a dollar.

Martin Robinson

rep-: Say what you will, but this has a bit more life than the last PSX "conference".

That it does!

Martin Robinson

It also has something of a home shopping channel vibe to it too.

Martin Robinson

Which I'm also well into.

Martin Robinson

Live graffiti in the background - so it basically feels like Nathan Barley fronts QVC.

Martin Robinson

Void Bastards is an all-new game, which - I'm showing my age here - looks a lot like XIII.

Martin Robinson

(Look, it's a first-person shooter that's cel-shaded and my points of reference only extend to games that came out at the turn of the century).

Martin Robinson

Another Games Pass game, by the looks of it.

Martin Robinson

And oh look it's Terry Crews.

Martin Robinson

So we've got some Crackdown imminent.

Martin Robinson

Good lord the pacing of this is breakneck - nicely played Microsoft.

Martin Robinson

And yes they're surely rushing through all this in order to spend the last hour on Jet Set Radio Future.

Martin Robinson

Hopefully Major Nelson will take a big fat line of ket before embarking on a Let's Play.

Martin Robinson

Oh, and while I was typing that nonsense, Crackdown 3 has a release date.

Martin Robinson

(And that date is February 15th, when it'll be hitting Games Pass as well).

Martin Robinson

This is our first look at Crackdown 3's multiplayer, aka Dave Jones why did you sell us up shit's creek and leave us to actually make that demo into a real game.

Martin Robinson

Worth noting that this is a completely separate game from Sumo Digital's single-player campaign - at least as far as I'm aware.

Martin Robinson

(which is not that far, really)

Martin Robinson

There's something almost warmingly nostalgic about hearing the term 'cloud' being used in an Xbox briefing again.

Martin Robinson

It's like it's 2013 all over again. It's like the world didn't go to shit and all anyone was angry about was the idea of an always online console.

Martin Robinson

And the original Crackdown - which remains an *incredible* game - is now available for free.

Martin Robinson

Here's an American sport.

Martin Robinson

Big Phil Spencer is now being cheered on by the baying crowd.

Martin Robinson

Unfortunately I can't make out that his t-shirt is referring to any game in particular.

Martin Robinson

Although, if you stare at it long enough and let your eyes lose focus.

Martin Robinson

Is that a 'J'?

Martin Robinson

An 'S'?

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An 'R' and an 'F'? Could it be?

Martin Robinson

Innit: Ah, we get casual Phil tonight

Every night it's casual Phil. Every day it's casual Phil. I'm pretty sure he's so casual he just has a deckchair in his office.

Martin Robinson

Oh he's talking about Windows now.

Martin Robinson

So now I'm getting a QVC meets Top Gear vibe.

Martin Robinson

Which still is a much more appetising formula than The Grand Tour.

Martin Robinson

Issy543: Old or new top gear?

Old new. Not old old. Though Major Nelson may well be Xbox's Quentin Wilson.

Martin Robinson

God I realise there's not many of you old enough to know who Quentin Wilson is. Basically he's an old TV presenter who looks like a human lightbulb.

Martin Robinson

I digress! Hellblade is coming to Games Pass, which is great as I've been waiting for an excuse to check it out.

Martin Robinson

And that'll be on December 17th. Cracking way to get into the Christmas spirit, that.

Martin Robinson

Oh no. It's Kingdom Hearts 3.

Martin Robinson

rep-: I don't get Kingdom Hearts.

It's okay, neither do I.

Martin Robinson

Sweet, it's an appearance from Square's Hashimoto. Are they going to cancel something else live?

Martin Robinson

makeamazing: Bet KH3 is now cancelled Martin.

And Nomura is being sacked live on-stage.

Martin Robinson

People are cheering puzzle mini-games being included in the Winnie the Pooh section of the new Kingdom Hearts and this is all so nutty I think my heart could burst.

Martin Robinson

Oridan: The Quiet Man for Smash

YES! The campaign starts here.

Martin Robinson

And now Shinji Hashimoto is bringing out the well-worn tale of how Kingdom Hearts came to be.

Martin Robinson

Kami: Yes, I just dropped The Bouncer into this discussion. *folds arms*

*salutes*

Martin Robinson

And finally...

Martin Robinson

heaterhands: I'm cooking my dinner, with the audio for this on my headphones; the crowd's enthusiasm is a bit easier for my easily embarrassed heart to handle if I don't have to see the crowd going nuts

They're mostly nude now. Sorry, hope I haven't put you off whatever you're cooking.

Martin Robinson

Final Fantasy 13 trilogy is coming to Xbox One backwards compatibility next week.

Martin Robinson

Would you judge me if I told you...

Martin Robinson

That I quite like Final Fantasy 13. Yes, the first one.

Martin Robinson

It's *mostly* terrible. But that battle music! That battle system!

Martin Robinson

I make myself sick. Imagine *being* me.

Martin Robinson

This velvet blazer really is something.

Martin Robinson

You can feel the static fizzing from it.

Martin Robinson

Good lord this crowd is actually too much.

Martin Robinson

Anyway here are some pirates.

Martin Robinson

Also isn't saying Sea of Thieves is their best-selling new IP this gen just another way of saying 'well, it did better than Recore'?

Martin Robinson

This is the announcement of a new mode, a fast-paced PvP addition called The Arena.

Martin Robinson

So that was that, and here is some anime.

Martin Robinson

It's hard to get excited about something like this in the wake of Dragon Ball Fighterz, isn't it?

Martin Robinson

Neither do I. But as I get older I realise I don't get a lot of things.

Martin Robinson

We've still got an hour to go. Also, how else are you going to announce Jet Set Radio Future coming to back compat?

Martin Robinson

They just gave a kid an Xbox One X in the crowd and he honestly looked like he just wanted to cry. More nervous tears than anything.

Martin Robinson

A quick sizzle reel for Xbox One X - the world's most powerful console, don't you know - only really serves to remind me that Gears 5 got announced and I managed to completely forget about it. I guess Gears of War 4 was really that bland.

Martin Robinson

rep-: The X is a fantastic console.

It really is!

Martin Robinson

Z Hunter is a new add-on for State of Decay 2, it is my duty to record in this live report.

Martin Robinson

Malek86: So, is SOD2 still Avoid-worthy? Or did they fix it?

None of us have really been back to it for a while, but this looks like a good excuse to.

Martin Robinson

(After we've all played 428 Shibuya Scramble, of course).

Martin Robinson

Oh lord. They're still chanting every single game's name.

Martin Robinson

(and this time the crowd is chanting Just Cause 4, which is getting a new trailer right about now).

Martin Robinson

It's got weather in it!

Martin Robinson

Seeing as it's started to piss it down here in Lewisham, I'm out in my shed and I forgot to bring my shoes with me so will get my feet soaked after this, weather can go do one frankly.

Martin Robinson

Innit: They're idiots. They should be chanting "JSRF"

Soon.

Martin Robinson

I'm still not over Major Nelson's jacket.

Martin Robinson

The real question right now is, why aren't you?

Martin Robinson

Now you've pointed out the Nick Knowles lookalike I need to play this. I had an unfortunate addiction to 5's Company in the late 90s.

Martin Robinson

Major Nelson showing he's down with the kids by dropping a Wizard of Oz reference.

Martin Robinson

A quick shout-out to friend of Eurogamer, all-round lovely man and Edge editor Nathan Brown, who has like the rest of us made a series of unfortunate life decisions that means he is watching this live at home. Hello Nathan!

Martin Robinson

makeamazing: Wouldn't it be better to watch from home, than be in that crowd Martin, at least you can mute it.

You make a very good point.

Martin Robinson

And also a lovely charity drive from Xbox, who are putting their weight behind the splendid Special Effect.

Martin Robinson

The weird baying crowd aside, this has been a great show from Microsoft so far.

Martin Robinson

A quick succession of small but pleasant announcements. And also, in that Kingdom Hearts section, the kind of press conference awkwardness and weirdness that I live for.

Martin Robinson

A little bit more Devil May Cry 5 is up next, which can only be a good thing. Gawd bless you, Itsuno.

Martin Robinson

Oh wait it's a weird travelogue that looks like it's escaped from a mid-90s Channel 4 TV show.

Martin Robinson

'Gaming in Japan with Katie Puckrik'.

Martin Robinson

Actually I'd watch that.

Martin Robinson

makeamazing: So we're just waiting Obsidian and Armature studio purchases, anything else we can expect?

Jet Set Radio Future back compat is nailed-on by this point.

Martin Robinson

You're not talking about Katie Puckrik are you?

Martin Robinson

I've been reading the Wikipedia entry for The Word rather than paying attention to this (quite awesome looking) reveal of Devil May Cry 5 gameplay.

Martin Robinson

There are probably more noble ways to lose your job, by hey-ho.

Martin Robinson

Kami: No, we're talking about this Rylan bloke who I've only just somehow found out about.

Ah, ok! I will try and avoid that particular hole.

Martin Robinson

(I just googled Rylan, thanks for that horrendous image).

Martin Robinson

MINECRAFT THO.

Martin Robinson

Centrale1: Is JSRF actually happening or is Martin just (cruelly) joking about that?

It'll only happen if we all believe.

Martin Robinson

makeamazing: When is this finishing... I need coffee or something stronger.

We've another 45 minutes to go, by my clock.

Martin Robinson

A cute little moment where some of the Minecraft creators who've forged careers out of their work. Although it's sapping a little of the momentum of this show.

Martin Robinson

(Though this Merlot that's rapidly disappearing is also guilty of that).

Martin Robinson

Oridan: So did they announce Diablo 4 yet or what

Yeah that was at the beginning. It's a Vita exclusive. Looks good!

Martin Robinson

And a lovely, no doubt appallingly expensive ad for cats and pandas in Minecraft.

Martin Robinson

Some more Game Pass announcements - Pathlogic 2, Secret Neighbour (which is related to Hello Neighbour) and The Good Life (Swery's game, no Richard Briers unfortunately).

Martin Robinson

This'll be our first look at DLC for the new Tomb Raider - which somehow already feels like it's ancient.

Martin Robinson

Like Stardew Valley but with Felicity Kendal? That'd be ace.

Martin Robinson

Kami: Actually I'd play that, is Penelope Keith still alive?

She is. And she's starring in Jet Set Radio Future 2.

Martin Robinson

Keyboard and mouse support coming next week to Xbox One.

Martin Robinson

Razer is your official partner when it comes to mice and keyboard for Xbox One.

Martin Robinson

And Razer's boss, Min, is a wonderfully stern counter to your 'ya booiii' types. Good work.

Martin Robinson

I felt like I was being told off during that Razer announcement.

Martin Robinson

Chris Charla is here for the next segment, doing his very best not to announce a release date for Below.

Martin Robinson

Here are some other games that aren't Below, though, like After Party.

Martin Robinson

And Sable, which is also not Below but looks incredible regardless, a Moebius-inspired adventure.

Martin Robinson

And Ooblets, which is also not Below, but does also look absolutely splendid and that pretty much everyone here at Eurogamer can't wait to play.

Martin Robinson

When is Below coming out though?

Martin Robinson

Finally, it's not Below, but Tunic - the beautiful action RPG from a single developer.

Martin Robinson

And we're getting Winter of Arcade, a spin on the old Summer of Arcade that was a mainstay of Xbox Live Arcade.

Martin Robinson

They're not telling us if Below is one of those games.

Martin Robinson

Forza Horizon 4 news!

Martin Robinson

It's an expansion featuring a whole new area - complete with lots of extreme terrain.

Martin Robinson

(and it's called Fortune Island)

Martin Robinson

It looks like Forza Horizon goes Skyrim.

Martin Robinson

Which I think I can get behind.

Martin Robinson

And we're also getting some Ken Block-themed vehicles - and hopefully some Ken Block-themed challenges we can apply them to?

Martin Robinson

mcmahonman: Gav Murphy is going to pissed at still no Wales in Forza

Gav Murphy is just pissed right now. (I love you Gav).

Martin Robinson

Oooh there's only 20 minutes to go.

Martin Robinson

I think I've quite enjoyed this?

Martin Robinson

Mostly because of the lovely company I've been keeping, of course.

Martin Robinson

Is there any other type of question?

Martin Robinson

Right, on to a skit with not one but two Major Nelsons.

Martin Robinson

And he's living his best life by going full QVC.

Martin Robinson

Well, this is something.

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Well, that was something.

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It's what you've been looking forward to. ACQUISITIONS!

Martin Robinson

Is Jet Set Radio Future now considered a studio rather than a mere game?

Martin Robinson

Innit: With a name like that he must have a lovely arse

Naturally.

Martin Robinson

lostmuppet: Who?????

BOOTY.

Martin Robinson

InXile is the first acquisition.

Martin Robinson

And... Obsidian!

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Which we kind of all knew about, but hey - what a catch!

Martin Robinson

Video games are so, so strange. Can you imagine acquisitions being paraded around in front of fans like this anywhere else?

Martin Robinson

That and really awkward moments where some guy tries to talk about putting puzzles into a Winnie the Pooh level while a crowd screams hysterically.

Martin Robinson

And that's Microsoft's XO18 show.

Martin Robinson

One last thing though!

Martin Robinson

(From offstage, music starts playing)

Martin Robinson

*Understand, understand, the concept of love*

Martin Robinson

Major Nelson emerges, on skates.

Martin Robinson

And, judging by his slightly wonky gait, he's also on a mountain of ket.

Martin Robinson

It's happening everyone.

Martin Robinson

JET SET RADIO FUTURE IS NOW AVAILABLE IN 4K ON BACK COMPAT.

Martin Robinson

Sorry, I nodded off at the end there. Did I miss anything?

Martin Robinson

That was a delight. Let's do this again next Saturday night everyone?

Martin Robinson

heaterhands: Martin, I'm sorry to say, it's time to get your feet wet

)-;

Martin Robinson

Good night, and thanks for joining us!

Martin Robinson

But hey it's video games' strangeness that's why I love them so.

Martin Robinson

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