Skip to main content

Microsoft's Gamescom 2014 briefing

New Tomb Raider an Xbox exclusive, and our first look proper at Quantum Break. All the news as it happened.

It's over. It's done. Finished. Microsoft brought a decent selection of exclusives to Gamescom, with the most shocking news being that Rise of the Tomb Raider is coming to Xbox One only. There's more! Three new bundles debuted, plus further details on this winter's Halo 5 beta and the first look proper at Remedy's Quantum Break.

Watch live video from xbox on www.twitch.tv

Our live coverage of this event has finished.

He's nearly here! A couple of hours to go 'til the briefing kicks off - just enough time to get to Lewisham's Sausage Man for a quick bratwurst.

Martin Robinson

(I'm hoping that Sausage Man reads Eurogamer, appreciates all the free publicity and gives me a discount next time I'm down there. Screw Doritos - the next big controversy is all about me and a frankfurter).

Martin Robinson

Martin Robinson

MrTomFTW: I've already heard rumours about Martin Robinson's love for big frankfurters.

Don't normally comment on rumour and speculation, but am happy to confirm in this instance.

Martin Robinson

I think we've got a fair idea of what we will see - Quantum Break, a couple of indies and, if we're lucky, a new first-party game. But what, in an ideal world, would you like to see? A new Perfect Dark, Shenmue 3, PGR5?

Martin Robinson

Gosh, I didn't know there were so many Grabbed by the Ghoulies fans out there. I hope you're not too disappointed when it becomes evident I was just making stuff up again.

Martin Robinson

Sammoore: Has Ian made it over yet?

He's arrived safe and sound!

Martin Robinson

alcolepone: do i have to type something long to appear?

No.

Martin Robinson

This is the first Gamescom I've skipped and, sitting here watching a stream through the Wii U, I can't say it makes me that sad.

Martin Robinson

HardlyRiding: shit so far, when's nintendo's show on?

:(

Martin Robinson

mkreku: Fallout 3 released in 2008. It's been six years (!). Isn't it time for Fallout 4 soon?! Please..?

That's a long, long way off. Lord I'd love to be proven wrong.

Martin Robinson

I don't think I could be friends with the guy in the Sunset Overdrive ad.

Martin Robinson

A couple of things I do know! That Forza Horizon 2 is looking ace. I popped down to Playground last week, and there's some exclusive videos going live on the site as soon as Ralph and co. wrap up on stage.

Martin Robinson

Plus! Well, there's another announcement embargoed for the end of the conference that should please a lot of people. It won't surprise you if you've been paying attention the past week, though.

Martin Robinson

Oli has joined me here for the stream, and he's brought biscuits from his recent holiday. But they're from FRANCE! That's no way to get into the swing of things.

Martin Robinson

If you're interested - and I know you are - they're Petit Beurre. A *phenomenal* biscuit.

Martin Robinson

Wes is in the building! He's made it in! I'm still quite smug about being at home.

Martin Robinson

Apparently the set-up is quite modest compared to E3. Three screens and a relatively small stage.

Martin Robinson

And he ate a currywurst last night.

Martin Robinson

This just in my inbox - Microsoft has partnered with Unity to offer the engine free to all ID@Xbox developers.

Martin Robinson

They're announcing the wi-fi details in the hall. Not sure we'll write that up as a news story.

Martin Robinson

Kiki Wolfkill is prepped by the side of the stage - so we're betting Halo kicks off the show.

Martin Robinson

Wes is giving me a list of people with microphones. This is the stuff that excites me! Ralph Fulton and Sam Lake are also prepped to go on stage.

Martin Robinson

Hang on, there's one other guy with a mic...

Martin Robinson

Martin Robinson

This guy!

Martin Robinson

And one last celeb spot... Peter Schmeichel!

Martin Robinson

Some very, very muted applause in the audience there. We're kicking off with Assassin's Creed: Unity.

Martin Robinson

Who's this guy?

Martin Robinson

Gregor Bieler! A new challenger arrives!

Martin Robinson

Some classic football based trolling from Gregor and he's off.

Martin Robinson

Untucked shirt from Phil Spencer, who's just taken the stage. Bold move.

Martin Robinson

Maybe it's untucked so he can unleash the different branded t-shirts underneath.

Martin Robinson

Beneath the shirt, Phil's like this.

Martin Robinson

That's why he's moving around a bit stiffly.

Martin Robinson

New bundles being announced.

Martin Robinson

The Phil Spencer branded t-shirt bundle please!

Martin Robinson

We've one big exclusive to announce.

Martin Robinson

The debut, I think, will be Quantum Break.

Martin Robinson

FIFA 15 will have exclusive legends. Come on Schmeichel!

Martin Robinson

I apologise for probably misspelling Schmeichel.

Martin Robinson

Leicester City's most famous fan David Rutter steps up.

Martin Robinson

Here comes Rudolph!

Martin Robinson

Sammoore: Oh god, a footballist interview

You're a footbalist.

Martin Robinson

Everyone's gone untucked so far. Well, apart from Peter, but he can do what he likes.

Martin Robinson

Schmeichel is picking through his ideal team. I'd like to make it sound more interesting than it is, but, well, I can't.

Martin Robinson

ManatuBear: This is not what i was expecting... im getting really bored...

It's *exactly* what I was expecting.

Martin Robinson

Ultimate Team is Xbox One exclusive once again. Shearer, Schmeichel, Roberto Carlos and Roy Keane are all included.

Martin Robinson

FIFA 15 bundle available from September 25th for £349.99.

Martin Robinson

Chris Charla! The Charlinator! Charla-roo!

Martin Robinson

A round-up of ID@XBOX games - like Fruit Ninja Kinect 2, Ghost of a Tale, Goat Simulator, Gunscape.

Martin Robinson

Wait, what - Goat Simulator?

Martin Robinson

And Superhot - there are some neat, neat games in that line-up.

Martin Robinson

Pasco_: Conference saved by SUPER HOT SUPER HOT SUPER HOT

I can't heaaaaaaar you! Super Hot looks ace.

Martin Robinson

Space Engineers is making its console debut on Xbox One.

Martin Robinson

Microsoft has really upped its game when it comes to titles like this, it seems. A lot of these are excellent, excellent games.

Martin Robinson

Super Hot gets a deserved moment in the spotlight, too.

Martin Robinson

It looks like Killer 7 - but it's ACTUALLY A GOOD GAME.

Martin Robinson

Nephirion: what's that game called?

No idea. Timegun or something.

Martin Robinson

The Escapist - Dean Hall's personal pick of Rezzed not long back - is also headed to Xbox One.

Martin Robinson

elsieparoubek: prison architect rip off?

It's kind of Prison Architect inverted - you've got to escape rather than keep people in. It's good!

Martin Robinson

Smite is also first to console on Xbox One.

Martin Robinson

That's it for ID@Xbox - we're left with Capy's Below.

Martin Robinson

Phil's back, and he hasn't changed shirts... yet.

Martin Robinson

Not too late for him to tear the shirt off.

Martin Robinson

It's Glen Schofield, half-man half-titan.

Martin Robinson

We had our first look at Advanced Warfare's multiplayer last night, of course. I think it looks great, for what it's worth - not a revolution, but a step in the right direction for Call of Duty after the stale Ghosts.

Martin Robinson

We're going to get a look at Collapse, the San Francisco level.

Martin Robinson

ollyn: A memorable story is not achieved through bigger explosions.

No. It is achieved through having Idris Elba shout at you.

Martin Robinson

Oh, this is a single-player level. It's got driving in it. I love driving!

Martin Robinson

After some bad driving, the driving part stops.

Martin Robinson

Love the HUD floating off the gun - very Dead Space, of course.

Martin Robinson

I'm not sure this is the best way to show off Advanced Warfare's single-player - it's a shoot-out on a very narrow bridge that doesn't show much of the mobility that's supposed to change this new instalment.

Martin Robinson

Well, he is doing little jetpack jumps here and there.

Martin Robinson

'In the interest of time...' I'd love if they just had that on and then cut the feed for good.

Martin Robinson

A lot of people from Laaaaaaaaaaaandon in San Francisco these days, it seems.

Martin Robinson

Call of Duty Advanced Warfare bundle features 1TB hard drive and the game, for £429.99.

Martin Robinson

Dizzy: Evolve... next years GOTY

It is an excellent, excellent game. Sadly it just isn't getting the hype.

Martin Robinson

Someone pointed out to me that while Evolve looks great, you can really tell what Valve brought to the table when working with Turtle Rock on Left4Dead.

Martin Robinson

V E R T I C A L I T Y !

Martin Robinson

Apologies to whoever I nicked that off from yesterday's CoD stream. As someone pointed out, poor old horizontality never gets a look in.

Martin Robinson

It's not a game that lends itself to live demos - it plays really, really well.

Martin Robinson

No, you stay classy young man.

Martin Robinson

Tomb Raider - are we about to hear about exclusivity for the new one due next year?

Martin Robinson

We're getting more concept art rather than any new gameplay.

Martin Robinson

Rise of the Tomb Raider is an Xbox exclusive.

Martin Robinson

Well, that is huge. No wonder Phil Harrison looks pleased.

Martin Robinson

Everything else we're seeing from now on is Xbox One exclusive. Starting with Quantum Break.

Martin Robinson

Someone just sat down on a pin in the audience just as Phil mentioned Alan Wake.

Martin Robinson

Sam Lake - this guy has some style. We're about to get a live demo of Quantum Break. Sticks will wiggle.

Martin Robinson

So, it's third-person action. And being Remedy it's bloody gorgeous too.

Martin Robinson

Jack, our hero, can manipulate time.

Martin Robinson

Cover-based shooting. VERY PRETTY cover-based shooting with a time freezing mechanic, mind.

Martin Robinson

L0YD: So max payne?

Ha, yes indeed.

Martin Robinson

Mechorpheus: Also does anyone else remember TimeShift?

Now that you mention it I do. Bit of an unloved gem. Ah, Sierra, whatever happened to you...

Martin Robinson

There's an awful lot of style in Quantum Break - the frozen time sections look incredible.

Martin Robinson

Ah, third-person shooters. Who needs interesting enemy types when you can just chuck loads of armour on a standard one?

Martin Robinson

You can see Jack in a frying pan later this week if you're at Gamescom.

Martin Robinson

That's Quantum Break, then - some smart ideas, though the third-person shooting looks a little stale.

Martin Robinson

Phil H, for those keeping score, is also untucked.

Martin Robinson

I wonder if there's a meeting at which this is decided upon?

Martin Robinson

I wonder who gets to create that power point presentation, and who gets to write that memo?

Martin Robinson

I wonder how heated the arguments got between the two different camps, one aggressively tucking on one side of the office while the other dances around, shirt tails flapping around.

Martin Robinson

I wonder all this as we're shown Fable Legends.

Martin Robinson

There's a multiplayer beta of that coming in October 16.

Martin Robinson

A new Frontier game - which looks like Rollercoaster Tycoon.

Martin Robinson

Or The Outsider - but I'm guessing Rollercoaster Tycoon.

Martin Robinson

It makes sense that this will use Kinect in some way, given Frontier's experience with the device.

Martin Robinson

Oooh, it's called ScreamRide.

Martin Robinson

Again, Xbox exclusive.

Martin Robinson

Dan is untucked as well.

Martin Robinson

Wes can ask why MS went this way when he interviews Phil Spencer later on. How will Sony respond?

Martin Robinson

I CARE ABOUT THIS! Formula E is coming to Forza Motorsport 5.

Martin Robinson

The Rolls Royce Wraith is also coming to Forza Motorsport 5.

Martin Robinson

That Formula E car must be mental fun to drive with the amount of torque it has.

Martin Robinson

Ralph Fulton is now here to present Forza Horizon 2.

Martin Robinson

A reminder! We'll have exclusive video of this for you in about five minutes. Whenever Ralph stops talking, basically.

Martin Robinson

starsama: I'm guessing Tomb Raider is a timed exclusive that they're just wording very specifically as an exclusive. Otherwise Crystal Dynamics has made the biggest screw up ever.

A genuine exclusive, it seems. Amazing scalp from MS.

Martin Robinson

SeventhSun: Open world PGR - this is going to be awesome

Ha, that's spot on. I played it for an hour or two last week and I'm utterly in love.

Martin Robinson

Seamless integration between online and solo play.

Martin Robinson

Nephirion: erm test drive unlimited 2?

Yes, but not broken and with a handling model that works.

Martin Robinson

There are car meets - social places you can show off your car and embark on road trips from.

Martin Robinson

Someone sat on that pin again.

Martin Robinson

Right, so here are those Forza Horizon 2 videos for you. http://bit.ly/1oGxPDM

Martin Robinson

Sorry, in the rush to get them online I missed Ori. In short - pretty.

Martin Robinson

Ted Price is always, always untucked.

Martin Robinson

He just don't care what MS mandates.

Martin Robinson

Man, he loves to point. The pointiest man in games development, for sure.

Martin Robinson

I don't think I could be friends with anyone in Sunset Overdrive. They're all so noisy.

Martin Robinson

There's an Xbox One Sunset Overdrive bundle too - £349.99.

Martin Robinson

It's the super hot white Xbox One, too.

Martin Robinson

Bonnie Ross takes to the stage for Halo. Untucked.

Martin Robinson

December 29th the Halo 5 Guardians MP kicks off for three weeks.

Martin Robinson

The Halo channel announced - your new home for Halo.

Martin Robinson

Is Halo Waypoint still a thing?

Martin Robinson

I really don't understand this.

Martin Robinson

Anyway, announce a bundle and let's be done with it.

Martin Robinson

Dan Ayoub is now here for the Master Chief Collection.

Martin Robinson

Like Bonnie he wears a t-shirt. Untucked.

Martin Robinson

'Microsoft: Untucked'. That sounds like the kind of thing we'd tune into the Halo Channel for.

Martin Robinson

Another new game, another man sitting on a pin.

Martin Robinson

Anyway, this remake looks incredible.

Martin Robinson

An update on the ranking system - there will be a skill-based ranking system with identical levelling to Halo 2.

Martin Robinson

Aw man, poor Dan's not getting the applause he's expecting.

Martin Robinson

Ascension and Sanctuary are playable at Gamescom. Those that can spell Ascension without consulting a dictionary at the booth get a free Xbox One.

Martin Robinson

Fairstart in the Halo 5 beta, 60fps and seven maps. It's pretty generous.

Martin Robinson

You can unlock items in the beta you can carry over to the full game. YOU HEAR THAT DESTINY?

Martin Robinson

(I don't think Destiny is listening)

Martin Robinson

captain_pancakes: cmon microsoft, scratch some ground back, show some new gears, cgi trailer even...

I've a fair inkling of what the mic drop will be, and it's not that epic. Interesting though!

Martin Robinson

Phil S is wrapping up now - three new bundles, some big exclusives. And, Phil? And....

Martin Robinson

You can pre-order and pre-download games now on Xbox One. Well, select games such as Fifa 15 and Horizon 2.

Martin Robinson

Oh alright. The big announce I was expecting that never came is a new.... Well, it'll be on the site in two minutes.

Martin Robinson

LARRY YOU DIDN'T GET THE MEMO. YOU TUCKED!

Martin Robinson

Man, such a shame to see the bright career of Major Nelson come to end like this.

Martin Robinson

One minute!

Martin Robinson

Right, Geometry Wars is back.

Martin Robinson

Lucid Games is working on the third game as part of the return of Sierra Online.

Martin Robinson

Was really expecting that in the conference. Full story is on the site now!

Martin Robinson

And with that we wrap - a decent showing from Microsoft.

Martin Robinson

As ever it'll be interesting to see how Sony respond. Will they tuck, or go shirtless?

Martin Robinson

Topless Jim Ryan would make my year.

Martin Robinson

Catch you later!

Martin Robinson

Read this next