It’s been nearly two weeks since E3 2014 ended, and the industry has reflected on the upcoming games fans can look forward to, including a great 2014 for Xbox One fans. With nine exclusive blockbuster games coming to Xbox One by this holiday season and others featuring content coming first to Xbox One, there’s no better time to be an Xbox One owner. The gaming press agreed, rewarding Xbox One’s 2014 exclusive games lineup with more than 60 nominations and 25 award wins to date, including seven nominations for the prestigious Game Critics Best of E3 2014 Awards, leading the industry for 2014 games.

“Congratulations to the creators who are receiving broad acclaim for the games shown at E3,” said Phil Spencer, Head of Xbox. “We saw an incredible display of games at E3 from across the industry and we’re thrilled gamers will have such a wide selection available this year on Xbox One, including “Halo: The Master Chief Collection,” “Sunset Overdrive,” “Forza Horizon 2,” “Ori and the Blind Forest.” Xbox One is the only place you can play these games along with creative independent titles and blockbusters such as “Assassin’s Creed Unity,” “Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare,” “Destiny,” “Evolve,” “Grand Theft Auto V,” and dozens more – making gaming on Xbox One unmatched this holiday.”

The number one pre-ordered title on many retailers lists following E3 is the experience that GameSpot says is “shaping up to be a real treat for Halo fans.” For the first time, Xbox fans will be able to experience Halo on Xbox One this fall. Offering the complete story of the Master Chief (“Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary,” “Halo 2 Anniversary,” “Halo 3” and “Halo 4”) on one console for the first time ever, “Halo: The Master Chief Collection” is also packed with more than 100 multiplayer maps and will feature single-player playlists curated by developer 343 Industries.

The most awarded Xbox One exclusive of 2014 was undoubtedly Insomniac Games’ “Sunset Overdrive,” which wowed press and gamers alike with its unique blend of highly-stylized visuals, frenetic gameplay, and over-the-top arsenal. Destructoid gave “Sunset Overdrive” its E3 award for “Best Xbox Exclusive” and called it “absolutely stunning,” while The Nerdist said that it “may pan out to be Insomniac’s best work yet.” Releasing on October 28, “Sunset Overdrive” is the most-awarded Xbox One exclusive to date with more than 20 nominations and a dozen wins.

Racing fans couldn’t get enough of “Forza Horizon 2,” which offers players the chance to race around the tight city streets and sun-drenched vineyards of Southern Europe. The recipient of Game Informer’s “Best Racing Game” award, “Forza Horizon 2” “looks to give racing fans the complete package right out of the gate” with over 200 stunning vehicles. The rest of the press agrees, as “Forza Horizon 2” has currently received more than a dozen nominations and at least six wins. With a dynamic weather system and full day-to-night cycles, you’ll never want to stop exploring its massive open world.

One of the biggest surprises of the show was our announcement of Moon Studios’ “Ori and the Blind Forest,” a gorgeous new title that Game Informer says, “features tight and challenging platforming, a vibrant art style, and remarkably fluid animation.” “Ori and the Blind Forest” was a critical darling at E3, bringing home more than 15 nominations and six wins from the gaming press. Echoing a sentiment heard throughout the show, GamesRadar wrote that “Ori and the Blind Forest” “immediately charms the pants off of anyone that plays it,” while IGN gave the game its “Best Platformer” award.

In addition to the nine exclusive blockbuster games coming to Xbox One, a number of highly-praised games from our publishing partners will be bringing pre- and post-release content to Xbox One before other platforms. 2K’s “Evolve” was one of the most acclaimed games of E3, with six E3 Game Critics Best of E3 2014 nominations and recognition by GameSpot, Polygon and IGN among others, as one of the top games from the show. You’ll be able to play “Evolve” first, exclusively on Xbox One with the open beta this fall as well as have access to the premier downloadable content also available first, exclusively on Xbox One. Role-playing game fans, on the other hand, will be happy to hear that Electronic Arts’ “Dragon Age: Inquisition” will be bringing its premier add-on content first, exclusively to Xbox One.

2014 will be a great year for Xbox One fans, and more choices for purchase are being met with open arms at retail stores stores. “Customer demand for the Xbox One video game console continues to remain high and we are thrilled with the accelerated pace of consumer adoption we are experiencing,” said Tony Bartel, president of GameStop. “With the new $399.99 version now available, we are seeing more traffic in our stores from customers who are ready to experience the next generation of Xbox gaming.”

In the first full year of this generation, there are nine exclusive blockbuster games coming to Xbox One, as well as dozens of other great titles, including “Assassin’s Creed Unity,” “Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare,” “Destiny,” “Grand Theft Auto V” and “Far Cry 4.” 2014 is shaping up to be the most memorable year in Xbox history and we hope you’re as excited as we are.



