My Thoughts on the Xbox Titles Featured at Xbox’s Summer Showcase 2024

Back in June, Xbox held their Summer Showcase, during which, they announced a range of new games. In this blog, I’ll dive into some of the most compelling game trailers and announcements, and analyse their potential for inclusive design. while sharing my thoughts as a physically disabled gamer.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

As one of the standout examples among a huge number of other games, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is expected to include a good range of accessibility features, as well as taking a huge step forward into the world of disability representation.

A spy action game that is set in the early 1990s, the game is set during a period of transition in the world of global politics, that not only includes the fall of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, but also some parts of the Gulf War. As a massive history fan (and full blown nerd) these themes are likely to be something that will keep me passionate for playing through the game, as long as some scenes don’t stray too far from the facts.

As far as accessibility goes, however, I have found myself worrying that we were told more about the game context and plot at Xbox’s Summer Showcase 2024 than we were told about accessibility settings.

While Call of Duty have done a lot for accessibility in the past — and Black Ops 6 is meant to offer advanced accessibility features catering to the needs of disabled gamers, such as customisable controls and assistive options, there is nothing readily available to disabled people that tells them if they will be able to play the game as soon as it comes out or if toggle options will be available as well.

But nevertheless, as far as the representation of Frank Woods in a wheelchair goes, while it might have annoyed some gamers, I feel like we’re seeing a really powerful message on Xbox and the Call of Duty team’s behalf, challenging the traditional narratives and character archetypes that have long dominated the gaming landscape. However, as for what I currently think of the character, my views will depend on what all they have him doing in the game.

Doom: The dark ages; Dragon Age: the Veilguard; world of warcraft and age of mythology: play video games to dive into the world of mythology and history

Alongside Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, the Xbox Games Showcase also unveiled a captivating lineup of games that delve into the realms of mythology and history, which again, I recon, creates ways for history fans to get immersed in video games.
These titles — including ‘Doom: The Dark Ages’, ‘Dragon Age: The Veilguard’, ‘World of Warcraft: The War Within’ and ‘Age of Mythology’ — promise to transport players to immersive and richly-detailed worlds, offering a unique blend of storytelling and gameplay.

With striking visuals, these games have the potential to let gamers experience what the ancient world was like through modern day technology.

However, like what I said about Call of Duty, it would be extremely useful if each of these games could reveal the accessibility settings they come with before they actually come out.

I was especially looking forward to playing Age of Mythology, but after having troubles setting it up, I’m not too sure about how much to respect about it.

State of decay and EXPEDITION 33

A range of Action-packed games were also included in the showcase, including State of Decay 3 and Expedition 33. And while both of these games seem set to deliver an adrenaline-fueled gaming experience, that is no reason why they can’t include accessibility options as well, which I really hope they have.

In the case of State of Decay 3, the game has to include controls that will let physically disabled gamers map their driving controls to one stick, and there will also have to be controls that mean you can attack with only one button. No, those controls won’t make the entire game accessible, but they could make the game slightly more enjoyable for other gamers who will still want to be able to play the same games they would want to play if they weren’t disabled.

I also feel a similar way about Expedition 33, but as it looks more similar to the Mortal Kombat games — which for the most part — I find accessible. The most I could say about it is that I hope it will have an Easy Jump option to make jumping easier if you have to jump and a one button combat option, as well as maybe a toggle option to aim in, but other than that, there’s nothing else to add.

metal gear solid: SNAKE EATER

Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater is an upcoming action adventure army game and is a remake of the 2003 game of the same name.

Set at the height of the Cold War, MGS Snake Eater excites me for many of the same reasons the games I’ve mentioned previously do, but for some other reasons as well.

For starters, I like the idea of having a third voice speaking to you as you play through the mission, even though I haven’t played many games like this, but there’s no reason someone who is late to the game can’t learn and eventually become good.

However, some other features I’m looking forward to playing through are:

• Sneaking around and trying not to be noticed by the enemy.
• Dodging.
• Hiding under rope bridges, and;
• Shooting.

But although the Metal Gear Solid gameplay we got to see during Xbox’s Summer Showcase has drawn me potentially into looking forward to it, the lack of accessibility settings in previous versions of the game has reminded me about how much of a barrier the game could be.

To allow me to play through the game physically, the game would have to include settings such as:

• Automatic targeting and easy gun movement.
• Toggle sneak mode settings and toggle squatting.
• Easy jumping options.

Still, many new releases of older games have included improved and updated controls, so here’s hoping this version of the game will include better controls so more disabled gamers will be able to play.

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn

Another game that delves into mythology, while also combining itself with combat, the trailer for ‘Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn’ immediately piqued my interest. The prospect of wielding the wrath of the gods and leading armies to victory is an enticing prospect, and the emphasis on the play playing as a god suggests the gamer will have a certain amount of control.

However, while the trailer did pique my interest, it did also raise a bit of concern, in part due to the jumping actions and fast combat, but also because of how much I’ve read about it since reacting to the event.

To be accessible for disabled gamers, the game will have to include customisable controls, the ability to use alternative inputs and easy combat options, but if the developers can and have struck the right balance, I’m still looking forward to playing it.

Perfect Dark

A remake of a 2000’s classic, the ‘Perfect Dark’ reboot is being developed in collaboration between The Initiative and Crystal Dynamics, which aims on delivering the ultimate secret agent experience, while also offering enough freedom in its design to let each gamer play their own way.

The game follows Joanna Dark, a dataDyne elite agent sent into Cairo to investigate the origins of ‘The Cascade’ — a strange series of ecological disasters which have rendered entire regions of the globe inhospitable to human life.

As someone who was never able to play the original game, I am excited about being able to play through the game, but to help me play the entire way through it, the game would have to include:

• Customisable controls.
• Toggle options.
• Alternative input options.
• Visual cues.
• Audio descriptions.

Fable 4

A game that had an advert that was full of lighthearted, entertaining and somewhat narcissistic humour, ‘Fable 4’ is being developed by Playground Games. And while not a lot is known about the game, I did find the narrator and the other characters we got to learn about easy to spend time with.

Beyond this, however, I do feel slightly more confident about Fable 4 being more accessible, since the Fable team has done a good job at including more accessibility features since 2020.

I can’t think of many accessibility features that could make the game more accessible, but something that might be worth adding would be choosing replacement buttons for stick clicking.

Stick clicking can be difficult for some physically disabled people, with many not having the strength to press the analogue sticks down effectively. For this reason, it would be nice if disabled people could change the sensitivity of the click to perform actions, but it would also be nice if you could map the stick click to a different button that might work better.

Fragpunk

A fast-paced 5v5 hero shooter with power-up cards that change the rules of each round, ‘Fragpunk’ — which is being developed and published by Bad Guitar Studio — is a game that lets you choose your hero, your weapons and the rules of engagement.

However, while the game might look on paper like it gives gamers control over how they play, to be counted as accessible it would have to include Toggle Aiming options and vision aides, but hopefully that’s something that has been thought of.

Winter Burrow

A cozy woodland survival game, ‘Winter Burrow’ is a game developed by Pine Creek Games and published by Noodlecake which is coming to Xbox One, the Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Throughout the game, you will play as a mouse who has returned from life in the big city only to find that their childhood home is in ruin and their aunt, who was supposed to be looking after the place, has gone missing. With this background, you’ll have to brave the elements and journey out into the frozen wilderness to collect resources that will help rebuild the burrow.

Although it’s still important that accessibility is considered as a major part of the game, by the look of the advert, Winter Burrow looks similar enough to Minecraft, and if this means you’ll be able to set up one button controls, then I think it will be accessible enough.

Mixtape

An Adventure game developed by Beethoven & Dinosaur and published by Annapurna Interactive, ‘Mixtape’ is going to be playable on PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.

You play as three friends, who on their last night of high school, embark on one more adventure together. En route to their final party together, a perfectly-curated playlist draws them into dreamlike reenactments of their formative memories, which you experience through a variety of narratives.

It looked accessible enough by the look of the advert, but it would be good to have button remapping available in the game, similar to the remapping options that exist in Dirt 5 and Forza Horizon 5, which lets you map controls for driving to one analogue stick.

Life is Strange: double exposure

A sequel to a 2015 game, ‘Life is Strange: Double Exposure’ is an upcoming Xbox Series X/S and PC game that is releasing on the 29th of October 2024.

You’ll play as a character called Max Caulfield, who is a photographer at the prestigious Caledon University, before she suddenly discovers her closest new friend dead — or murdered — in the snow. However, she soon finds out that her friend is still alive, in danger and able to be rescued, but unfortunately it seems to be a race against time.

I haven’t played the first game in the series before — so I’m hardly the best to comment — but as long as you aren’t expected to press too many buttons at a time — I’m looking forward to playing it.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Set between ‘Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark’ and ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’, the next game in the Indiana Jones franchise is due to be released on the 9th of December 2024 and is being released on Game Pass, on Xbox Series X/S, on Windows and on Steam.

Gamers will play as Indy in a thrilling adventure full of exploration, as you help him travel from the halls of Marshall College to the heart of the Vatican, the pyramids of Egypt, the sunken temples of Sukhothai and beyond. Throughout the journey, you’ll play through puzzles, race against enemies and get a chance to use all the weapons associated with Indiana Jones (whips and guns) and these are the various reasons why gamers are increasingly looking forward to it.

But it will still be worrying for some disabled gamers that accessibility and controller settings that the game will include haven’t been released yet and we’re not likely to know how accessible the game truly is until the day it comes out.

Accessibility wise, the game would have to include Toggle Aiming, as well as one button controls to pick weapons up and to use them. Beyond this, it would also be nice for some assists to help you jump long distances to be included, especially as jumping long distances in games are areas that some gamers with limited movement have had difficulties with.

Mecha Break

A multiplayer mech game that lets players choose from diverse machines, customisable appearance, and battle colossal war machines on treacherous terrain, ‘Mecha Break’ is going to be playable on Xbox Series X/S.

From what I’ve seen in the Summer Showcase advert, the game will include flying, as well as fighting and shooting, which the gamer will be expected to multitask while flying.

While these features won’t create too many difficulties for the every day gamer, when it comes to disabled gamers who require motor assistance, it’s a different story altogether.

For the game to be fully accessible, the first settings the developers would have to include in the settings would be automatic lift off or accelerating. Beyond this, it would also be useful if there were settings you could turn on that allow for automatic shooting, or voice controls, which could also make the game easier.

So far, however, I haven’t managed to find anything online saying what accessibility features will be included in the game, so we’re just going to have to wait until the game becomes more widely available to know whether the game will be accessible or not.

Wuchang: fallen feathers

An upcoming single player, soulslike, action RPG set in the land of Shu during the late Ming Dynasty. ‘Wuchang: Fallen Features’ excited me thanks to the historical context in the background of the game.

The gamer will play as Wuchang, a skilled pirate struct by amnesia and who must navigate the uncertainties of her mysterious past while afflicted by the disease. While this means the game won’t necessarily follow a strictly historically accurate backstory — with creatures such as monsters playing a major part — it does intrigue me how you’ll be able to experience the backstory of the game through this character’s mindset, which will add an interesting viewpoint.

Accessibility wise, however, there isn’t a lot after watching the Showcase advert that has me worried. Yes; I would like to see some easier jumping options or a way to slow your jumping down enough so it will give anyone relying on a switch enough time to move forward after pressing jump, but the rest of the combat controls seem accessible enough.

I hope the game will include many of the same controls as the Mortal Kombat series of games, which — despite requiring the player to press buttons on the controller as fast as they can — I do find accessible enough.

Avowed

I’ve written about it a couple of times before on this website, and each time I have, I’ve voiced being nervous, but I am feeling a lot better about it now.

A first-person RPG game by Obsidian for Xbox, ‘Avowed’ is set to release on the 18th of February 2025.

Set in the fictional world of Eora, you’ll play as a character living on a mysterious island filled with adventure and danger, while meanwhile acting as the envoy of Aedyr, a distant land, where you’ve been sen to investigate rumours of a plague that has spread throughout the Living Lands, which is full of mysteries, secrets, dangers and adventures.

Not all of its accessibility features and settings have been announced ahead of the game’s release date, but out of the accessibility features that have been announced, they include:

• Customisable UI and Camera controls, that will let you customise the field of view, to disable the camera shake, toggle head bobbing and to adjust the camera sway.
• Customisable Text and Subtitle Options.
• Fully remappable controls with adjustable sensitivity so the game should be accessible enough for physically disabled gamers.
• Support for 12 languages.

Atomfall

A survival-action game, ‘Atomfall’ is published and developed by Rebellion, is going to be playable on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and on PC and is due to be released on the 27th of March 2025.

Set five years after the Windscale nuclear disaster in Northern England, you’ll get the chance to explore the fictional quarantine zone, while playing through a fictional reimagining of a real-world event, including science fiction, folk horror and Cold War influences. Robots will be involved, as well as soldiers and zombies, so there should be enough to keep fans of all different game genres interested.

The accessibility features the game will come with include:

• Automatic Fire and Reload which will reload your gun without you needing to press a button.
• Snap Aiming which after being turned on, means the camera will snap onto whichever target you want to aim onto and follow their movement.
• Melee and Aim Assistance which is provided for both aim down sights and hip fire. The melee assistance part of the setting means the accuracy needed to land melee hits will be reduced and you’ll also be able to use melee assistance when moving or rotating the character or when not moving the character at all.
• Control Remapping, which enables players to remap controls to whatever they want.
• Toggle Options which means anyone who struggles with holding an aim button down for a long time will only have to click the aim button or switch once after turning Toggle Aim on.
• Aim Assisted Audio, which can guide blind or visually impaired players through playing the game and has been made up of a three-layer system, including: Audio Snap Aiming, which means a unique set of audio cues will be played when snapping on and off an enemy, so that the player will know whether they’ve snapped onto an enemy or not; Aiming Cues, which consists of a sound that will be played at different pitches and frequencies depending on how close to the target the player is to a target. so that they’ll be able to judge how close they are to a target they are aiming by listening to a sound that changes with frequency, and Persistent Enemy Audio, which when activated, means players can tell where the enemies they lock onto are by listening to a looping bit of audio that will replay for every enemy they lock onto.
  Each of these features can be activated independently of each other, enabling visually impaired gamers to fine-tune the experience to their needs.
• Auto Centre View which means that after a second of inactivity on the look stick, the view will be centred vertically automatically.
• Text Scaling and Contrast which will give gamers the ability to make the text bigger.
• Colour Blindness Settings such as colour customisation, so that gamers can pick whichever colour they can see better.
• Interaction Cues, meaning players with low or no vision will be given more agency, through audio cues which will give basic instructions for how they can get through the game, such as telling them to open doors etc.
• Cognitive Support Accessibility Settings including Navigation Assistance, hints, large maps and the ability to place stamps on the map, motion sickness controls and options to make combat easier.
• Active and Background SFX Sliders which will let players who are hard of hearing to prioritise important sound effects over less important ones.
• Enemy Icons is included as an option, meaning icons will appear on top of an enemy’s head when they are in different states of a threat. When enemies are behind or beside you, these icons will hug the edges of the screen.

Assassan’s Creed: Shadows

An Action / Adventure role playing game that is rated 18 and is developed by UBISOFT, ‘Assassin’s Creed: Shadows’ is going to be playable on any Xbox Series X/S console, as well as a couple of other consoles and computers, including the PlayStation 5, Windows laptops and Macs.

The next instalment in the Assassin’s Creed series takes place in feudal Japan, and you’ll play as a lethal shinobi Assassin and a powerful legendary samurai as you explore an open world that is in a period of chaos.

While the game was meant to come out on the 15th of November 2024, it has now been pushed back to Valentine’s Day 2025 (not that a lot of women will be happy with that if they’re not gamers and their husbands or boyfriends are). However, so far, there is not a lot known about accessibility features, so we’ll just have to wait and see how accessible it is when it comes out, though I have read something about UBISOFT trying to make this game the most accessible of all, so here’s hoping.