Xbox’s Most well-known Franchises: Tracking the Years Since Unusual Entries
With its bolstered portfolio of studios, the first-celebration way forward for Xbox light appears to be like to be like promising. This day, alternatively, we’re having a ask on the previous and contemporary output of Microsoft’s major online game franchises, tracking how prolonged it’s been between accepted releases within the largest Xbox sequence.
(This checklist measures the time between accepted, mainline releases fully — if a derivative or remake used to be released extra no longer too prolonged within the past it is noted with an asterisk [developer Moon Studios]. Time elapsed figures are in accordance to U.S. unlock dates and are recorded as of August 2020. The checklist doesn’t encompass sequence from newly got studios — Obsidian’s Pillars of Eternity, inXile’s Desert, and heaps others.— since Microsoft had no half within the administration of those franchises thus far.)
Xbox’s Most well-known Franchise Output
0-7 Years (Xbox One, PC)
Battletoads – <1 month
Most up-to-date: Battletoads (August 2020)
This month’s Battletoads is the first released by Microsoft since it got the IP in its 2002 acquisition of Rare. Sooner than this month, the franchise had lain dormant for over 25 years, with the old unlock, Battletoads Arcade (aka Tremendous Battletoads), coming in 1994.
Microsoft Flight Simulator – <1 month
Most up-to-date: Microsoft Flight Simulator (August 2020)
The origins of Microsoft’s longest-working franchise date help forty years within the past, when the accepted Flight Simulator used to be released on the Apple II dwelling laptop. Microsoft got the franchise shortly after and went on to unlock several iterations of the sim during the ‘80s, ‘90s, and early ‘00s.
2020’s Flight Simulator is out this month for PC, with a console unlock anticipated to practice. It’ll be the first accepted entry within the sequence since Flight Simulator X in 2006.
Ori – 5 months
Most up-to-date: Ori and the Will of the Wisps (March 2020)
No topic being Microsoft’s youngest franchise at five years damaged-down, Ori (alongside Forza Horizon) has been Xbox’s most infamous IP this generation; the console variations of Blind Forest and Will of the Wisps exercise an 88 and 90 on Metacritic, respectively.
In a Reddit AMA, Ori lead designer Chris McEntee acknowledged the first two video games “urged the anecdote that [developer Moon Studios] wished to instruct,” despite the indisputable truth that they “left the door cracked originate somewhat for a potential continuation.”
Moon Studios’ next challenge is an action-RPG that will almost definitely be printed by Private Division, despite the indisputable truth that it’s additionally engaged on an Xbox Series X version of Will of the Wisps with make stronger for 120fps.
Gears of Battle – 11 months*
Most up-to-date: Gears 5 (Sept 2019)
*Since the unlock of Gears 5, Microsoft has released the very unbiased correct method spinoff Gears Tactics.
Interested by its significance to the Xbox portfolio — Gears is possible Microsoft’s most recognizable franchise next to Halo, and the corporate bought the IP outright in 2014 — future entries are a given. However, regardless of comes next will be made with out Rod Fergusson, the previous head of Microsoft’s Gears-focused studio The Coalition; Fergusson joined Blizzard earlier this 365 days to oversee Diablo.
Crackdown – 1 365 days, 6 months
Most up-to-date: Crackdown 3 (February 2019)
Microsoft released Crackdown 3 in early 2019 after years of jumpy pattern. The way forward for the cult-current franchise is possible in jeopardy after the sequence’ most up-to-date used to be released to shrimp fanfare and unhappy vital reception (it holds a 60 on Metacritic; our review scored it a 5).
Forza – 1 365 days, 10 months*
Most up-to-date: Forza Horizon 4 (October 2018)
*Forza Road, a free-to-play cell spinoff, used to be released extra no longer too prolonged within the past.
A rebooted Forza Motorsport is in pattern for Xbox Series X. An in-engine trailer used to be confirmed at Microsoft’s July showcase, despite the indisputable truth that the racer is light in “early pattern” at Flip 10 Studios without a unlock window in attach. The way of Playground’s Forza Horizon sequence, which has been gaining sales and anxious acclaim with every contemporary entry, is unknown, but it absolutely appears to be like highly at likelihood of continue.
Forza Motorsport Xbox Series X Screenshots
Tell of Decay – 2 years, 3 months
Most up-to-date: Tell of Decay 2 (May perchance presumably well 2018)
Undead Labs’ work on Tell of Decay 2 didn’t dwell with its unlock in 2018; in 2020 the studio released Tell of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition, a huge overhaul that added a host of most up-to-date insist, graphical improvements, additional song, bug fixes, and quality-of-lifestyles updates.
The franchise will continue with Tell of Decay 3, which used to be no longer too prolonged within the past equipped for Xbox Series X.
Halo – 4 years, 10 months*
Most up-to-date: Halo 5: Guardians (October 2015)
*Halo Wars 2, the franchise’s 2d RTS spinoff, used to be released in 2017.
Microsoft’s flagship franchise has been synonymous with the Xbox stamp since Wrestle Developed launched alongside the accepted console in 2001. The sequence’ next mainline entry, Halo Endless, used to be within the foundation deliberate to originate alongside Xbox Series X this vacation, alternatively, it has now been delayed to 2021.
Killer Instinct – 6 years, 9 months
Most up-to-date: Killer Instinct (November 2013)
Microsoft got the classic stopping franchise with its lift of Rare in 2002. It’d unlock its first (and thus far fully) Killer Instinct as an Xbox One originate game in 2013. Further warring parties would be added for years after, culminating in 2016’s Killer Instinct: Definitive Edition.
Developer Iron Galaxy, which took over for Double Helix following its acquisition by Amazon, is no longer engaged on a brand contemporary Killer Instinct, in accordance to the studio’s Adam Heart.
Zoo Prosperous person – 6 years, 9 months*
Most up-to-date: Zoo Prosperous person (November 2013)
*An enhanced version of 2013’s Zoo Prosperous person used to be released in 2017 as Zoo Prosperous person: Best Animal Sequence. The contemporary version added better graphics and contemporary animals, alongside with kangaroos and koalas.
Every Xbox One First-Birthday party Evaluate
7-15 Years (Xbox 360, PC)
Delusion – 9 years, 10 months*
Most up-to-date: Delusion 3 (October 2010)
*The franchise’s most up-to-date is Delusion Fortune, a free-to-play card-essentially essentially essentially based spinoff released 2018 (and shut down earlier this 365 days).
Regarded as one of Microsoft’s most favored franchises during the Xbox 360 generation, Delusion went (nearly) completely omitted throughout the Xbox One’s lifecycle. (The multiplayer-fully Delusion Legends made it to closed beta prior to being cancelled in 2016.)
Delusion will return on Xbox Series X, alternatively, as Microsoft no longer too prolonged within the past equipped a sequence reboot is in pattern by a 2d group interior Forza Horizon studio Playground Video games. Fashioned Delusion developer Lionhead Studios used to be shuttered shortly after the cancellation of Legends.
Blue Dragon – 10 years, 3 months*
Most up-to-date: Blue Dragon: Awoke Shadow (May perchance presumably well 2010)
*The most up-to-date Blue Dragon video games were released completely for Nintendo DS; it’s been 13 years since a Blue Dragon used to be released on Xbox.
Alongside Lost Odyssey, Blue Dragon used to be regarded as one of two early Xbox 360 JRPGs from Final Delusion creator Hironobu Sakaguchi developed to abet Xbox compete in Japan.
No topic maintaining the Blue Dragon trademark, Microsoft has fully printed one Blue Dragon game (the 2007 accepted) on Xbox. A sequel used to be deliberate but never came to be. In 2016, Xbox head Phil Spencer tweeted Blue Dragon 2 is no longer within the works, but “never suppose never.”
Minecraft – 11 years, 3 months*
Most up-to-date: Minecraft (May perchance presumably well 2009)
*The most up-to-date spinoff, Minecraft: Dungeons, used to be released earlier this 365 days.
Microsoft got Minecraft with its $2.5-billion USD lift of Mojang in 2014. The franchise has since change into ubiquitous, spawning spinoffs in every medium of media and setting up itself because the face of video video games for a entire generation.
The game itself continues to receive vital updates 11 years later and has bought a staggering 200 million copies, in accordance to Microsoft. Because it lives on as its fill platform, a lawful Minecraft 2 appears to be like unlikely.
Banjo-Kazooie – 11 years, 9 months*
Most up-to-date: Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts (November 2008)
*All three mainline Banjo video games were re-released in 2015 as half of Rare Replay. Banjo and Kazooie additionally regarded as a Smash Best DLC fighter in 2019.
Microsoft has fully build out one contemporary Banjo game since it got the IP alongside with Rare in 2002, and there is been no observe on a brand contemporary entry since 2008’s Nuts & Bolts.
A non secular successor, Yooka-Laylee, used to be released in 2017 by Playtonic, a studio founded by a bunch of former Rare devs.
Banjo-Kazooie Tremendous Smash Bros. Best Free up Trailer Screenshots
Viva Piñata – 11 years, 11 months*
Most up-to-date: Viva Piñata: Disaster in Paradise (September 2008)
*A DS-outlandish, Viva Piñata, Pocket Paradise, used to be released a week after Disaster in Paradise; both Viva Piñata and Disaster in Paradise were re-released in 2015 as half of Rare Replay.
To the dismay of a gentle-passionate fanbase, Microsoft hasn’t revisited Viva Piñata in over a decade. With developer Rare sustaining Sea of Thieves and engaged on Everwild for Xbox Series X, it appears to be like unlikely it’ll return to its whimsical simulation sequence anytime soon.
Microsoft final commented on the franchise’s future in 2018, when Spencer urged Massive Bomb a brand contemporary entry is no longer within the works.
Lost Odyssey – 12 years, 6 months
Most up-to-date: Lost Odyssey (February 2008)
While no longer precisely a franchise — fully the one entry used to be released in 2008 — Lost Odyssey stays half of the dialog surrounding the Xbox portfolio, in particular in regard to its lack of Jap video games. The cult classic JRPG is thought of as regarded as one of many model’s biggest on Xbox 360, but outside of a trademark renewal in 2018, there’s been no observe on a potential return to the franchise.
Mission Gotham Racing – 12 years, 10 months
Most up-to-date: PGR 4 (October 2007)
PGR developer Ordinary Creations used to be purchased by Activision shortly prior to the unlock of PGR 4 in leisurely 2007. The studio would scoot on to invent a non secular successor, Blur, in 2010, prior to shuttering shortly after its unlock.
Microsoft, meanwhile, released fully one PGR game after Bizzare’s departure: PGR: Ferrari Edition, a racer outlandish to Microsoft’s Zune HD.
Fuzion Frenzy – 13 years, 7 months
Most up-to-date: Fuzion Frenzy 2 (January 2007)
The favored celebration game came to the accepted Xbox as a originate title in 2001 and used to be amongst the first video games from that generation to be made backwards well suited on Xbox One. A less memorable sequel used to be released for Xbox 360 in 2007, and the franchise has been sluggish since.
Superb Darkish – 14 years, 9 months*
Most up-to-date: Superb Darkish Zero (November 2005)
*A remake of the accepted Superb Darkish used to be released on XBLA in 2010; both Superb Darkish and Superb Darkish Zero are incorporated in 2015’s Rare Replay.
Even though it’s been over a dozen years for the rationale that final Superb Darkish, hobby within the franchise has been renewed by contemporary rumors and speculation surrounding Microsoft’s “AAAA” studio The Initiative. The developer is rumored to be engaged on a Superb Darkish reboot, despite the indisputable truth that with none loyal knowledge, the sequence’ potential return stays highly speculative.
Age of Empires – 14 years, 10 months*
Most up-to-date: Age of Empires 3 (October 2005)
*A remake of Age of Empires 2 used to be released in November 2019.
The next Age of Empires is for the time being in pattern at Relic; a remastered version of Age of Empires 3 is additionally within the works at Tantalus Media. Both projects are being overseen by Microsoft’s newly established Age of Empires studio, World’s Edge.
15+ Years (Xbox, PC)
Conker – 15 years, 2 months*
Most up-to-date: Conker: Dwell & Reloaded (June 2005)
*Conker’s Gigantic Reunion, a brand contemporary Conker anecdote housed interior of Mission Spark, used to be released in 2015; Conker’s Infamous Fur Day used to be incorporated in 2015’s Rare Replay.
Conker’s ill-fated comeback in Mission Spark used to be deliberate as a 10-episode anecdote, but fully one episode used to be ever released, as Microsoft ceased all DLC pattern for Mission Spark five months after episode one debuted.
Phantom Mud – 15 years, 5 months*
Most up-to-date: Phantom Mud (March 2005)
*A remake of Phantom Mud used to be released for Xbox One and PC in 2017.
Phantom Mud used to be within the foundation released as a Japan outlandish in 2004, prior to it used to be brought stateside by Majesco six months later. Microsoft had huge plans for a reboot early within the Xbox One generation, but those plans were finally scrapped in desire of a visually upgraded re-unlock of the accepted.
MechAssault – 15 years, 8 months*
Most up-to-date: MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf (December 2004)
*A DS-outlandish spinoff, Phantom Battle, used to be released in 2006; MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries, which exists during the same BattleTech universe, used to be most no longer too prolonged within the past released in 2019.
We would possibly perchance well presumably simply in the end see a brand contemporary MechAssault, if Phil Spencer’s favor for a brand contemporary entry is to reach help factual. Talking to IGN earlier this 365 days on Podcast Unlocked, Spencer used to be requested which dormant IP from the Xbox portfolio he’d for my half are attempting to see brought help. “Mech,” he answered with out hesitation. “Mech from a rights standpoint’s somewhat bit messy … but once I deem about MechAssault … it is appropriate truly deep, truly well off reviews and characters to scoot play in, and I deem it would possibly perchance well presumably also be truly cool in the end if we would possibly perchance well presumably attain one thing with Mech.”
MechAssault used to be positioned on exercise after the 2004 sequel didn’t promote well enough, in accordance to producer Mitch Gitelman.
Blinx – 15 years, 9 months
Most up-to-date unlock: Blinx 2: Masters of Time and Establish (November 2004)
Microsoft’s anthropomorphic time-touring cat used to be final seen in 2004’s Blinx sequel, Masters of Time and Establish. The mascot personality used to be designed by Sonic the Hedgehog creator Naoto Ohshima to bolster the Xbox’s standing in Japan, but it absolutely failed to invent a dent in a model dominated by icons corresponding to Mario and Shatter Bandicoot.
Microsoft formally abandoned the Blinx trademark in 2015, in accordance to VideoGamer.
Voodoo Vince – 16 years, 9 months*
Most up-to-date: Voodoo Vince (November 2003)
*A remastered version of Voodoo Vince used to be released for Xbox One and PC in 2017.
Voodoo Vince would possibly perchance well presumably simply no longer have reached the heights of the generation’s other platformers, but it absolutely did fetch a champion in regarded as one of gaming’s most influential executives: Xbox boss Phil Spencer has known as Voodoo Vince his all-time current game, as it used to be the first game he performed thru collectively alongside with his two daughters.
Voodoo Vince: Remastered Monitors 10/5
Crimson Skies – 16 years, 10 months
Most up-to-date: Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge (October 2003)
As of 2017, Microsoft wasn’t engaged on a brand contemporary Crimson Skies, in accordance to Spencer, despite the indisputable truth that he acknowledged the surroundings is “very cool” and Microsoft would possibly perchance well presumably “positively attain extra with it.”
That same 365 days, sequence creator Jordan Weisman, who additionally created the aforementioned MechAssault, urged PCGamesN he’s “been in discussion with [Microsoft] for an extraordinarily prolonged time” to work on Crimson Skies in some capability. However, nothing has materialized within the three years since.
Midtown Insanity – 17 years, 2 months*
Most up-to-date: Midtown Insanity 3 (June 2003)
*A Motocross spinoff released for XBLA in 2013
Following two PC outlandish releases, Microsoft brought Midtown Insanity to console in 2003 with the sequence’ third entry. With the exception of a motocross spinoff in 2013, the franchise has gone omitted for the easier half of two a protracted time. Microsoft hasn’t commented on the sequence’ future, but it absolutely’s no longer easy to guage the corporate will unlock a first-celebration racing game outside of its Forza franchise.
What attain you deem of Microsoft’s first-celebration output? What sequence on this checklist bowled over you most? Let us know within the feedback, and make obvious to vote within the poll below!
You would possibly perchance well presumably additionally check out our analysis of Nintendo’s first-celebration output. Defend tuned within the impending weeks as we round out this sequence of aspects with an exploration of Sony’s first-celebration franchises.
Jordan is a contract author for IGN.