Here are some of the kid- and teen-friendly highlights from Xbox's E3 presentation.
The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) takes place this week (June 11-13) in Los Angeles. While the conference itself lasts three days, the festivities actually kick off a few days early, as major video game developers and publishers host press conferences in the days leading up to the show.
Xbox held its annual E3 presentation Sunday. While many of the games in the show will likely receive M ratings by the ESRB (which means they’re only recommended for players 17 and older), there were still plenty of kid- and teen-friendly games to get excited about. Here are some of the highlights.
Minecraft Dungeons
This dungeon crawler looks like a family-friendly version of Diablo. Set in the Minecraft universe, players will be able to explore new environments and take down enemies while collecting gear and other items. The game will allow players to go it alone, or team up with friends (locally or online) for some four-player cooperative action. Minecraft Dungeons will launch on Xbox One, PC, Switch, and PlayStation 4 in spring of 2020. It’ll be available on Xbox Game Pass on launch day.
Spiritfarer
Spiritfarer places players in the role of “ferrymaster to the deceased,” which will see them take care of friendly spirits and guide them into the afterlife. Players will be able to build a boat, and complete activities such as farming, mining, fishing, and cooking as they play. While this may sound like a grim concept, the game may have the potential to be used as a conversation starter for parents and kids surrounding the topic of loss. We’ll know more when the game launches on Xbox One, PC, PlayStation 4, and Switch in 2020. It will also be available on Xbox Game Pass for PC and Xbox One.
Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
If your family has yet to play any of the previously released Lego Star Wars games (the first, Lego Star Wars: The Video Game, was released in 2005), Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga may be the only game you need. It will let kids and adults alike play through all nine films in the main Star Wars series, including Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, which hits theaters this December in the U.S. Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga will be released in 2020.
Forza Horizon 4: Lego Speed Champions Expansion
Forza Horizon 4, an open-world racing game, was released on Xbox One and PC in late 2018. Now, players can get back behind the wheel to explore a new in-game area themed after Legos. Racers will be able to complete Lego Brick Challenges and collect and drive Lego Speed Champions Cars, such as the McLaren Senna, Ferrari F40 Competizione, and the 1967 Mini Cooper S Rally. The Lego Speed Champions expansion will be available for $19.99 on June 13. Xbox Game Pass subscribers will receive a 10 percent discount off the normal price.
Gears Pop
While games in the Gears of War franchise are traditionally M-rated (they’re full of violence and gore), Gears Pop, an upcoming mobile game for iOS and Android, turns the characters fans know and love into adorable Funko Pops. The game will allow players to collect and upgrade heroes and villains from the Gears franchise, and take them into real-time multiplayer battles. You can pre-order Gears Pop now on iOS and Android, ahead of the game’s full release later this year. Gears Pop is rated 12+ on iOS and Everyone 10+ on Android.
RPGTime: The Legend of Wright
This role-playing game (RPG) takes players on an adventure with a young aspiring game developer who is creating his own role-playing game in a notebook. The game is full of hand-drawn environments, which can be changed as new elements are drawn on the page. RPGTime: The Legend of Wright will launch on Xbox One, PC, iOS, and Android in 2020.
Xbox Game Pass for PC
Xbox Game Pass has launched in beta on PC. Similar to Xbox Game Pass on Xbox One, Xbox Game Pass for PC gives subscribers access to over 100 PC games for one monthly price, with new games being added regularly. During this beta, Xbox Game Pass for PC is available for $4.99 per month (its regular price is $9.99 per month). Even if you’re a current Xbox Game Pass subscriber on Xbox One, you’ll need to subscribe to Xbox Game Pass on PC to access the PC games. Alternatively, you can subscribe to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which includes Xbox Game Pass for both console and PC, as well as Xbox Live Gold, for $14.99 per month.
Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2
This second version of the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller includes new and improved features, like adjustable-tension thumbsticks and a rechargeable battery capable of lasting up to 40 hours. The controller will be released on November 4 for $179.99, but you can pre-order it now on Microsoft’s website.
Xbox Game Streaming
Starting in a preview this October, players will be able to stream their Xbox One games (and games downloaded from Xbox Game Pass) to a mobile device.
Project Scarlett
Last, but certainly not least, Xbox revealed new details about its upcoming console, currently called Project Scarlett. The console will be more powerful than the Xbox One, with faster loading times and a solid state drive. It will also be able to play games from the three previous Xbox generations — Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. For more information on some of the console’s technical specifications, check out the video above. Project Scarlett will be released in the holiday season of 2020.
Brandy Berthelson has been writing about video games and technology since 2006, with her work appearing on sites including AOL Games, Digital Spy, and Adweek. When she’s not gaming, Brandy enjoys crafting, baking, and traveling with her husband.
