Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
flag of UK
UK
flag of US
US
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of Australia
Australia
  • Games
  • TV
  • Movies
  • Hardware
  • Video
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Guides
  • Deals
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • SFX
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Total Film
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
View
Trending
  • Prime Day Deals
  • Superman
  • Donkey Kong Bananza
  • Switch 2 stock
Recommended reading
Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2025 logo
Games Everything announced at the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2025
Avowed screenshot Xbox Series X
Action Games Xbox Game Studios list: Every studio Microsoft owns and what they are developing
Summer Game Fest logo for Summer Game Fest 2025
Events & Conferences Everything announced at Summer Game Fest 2025
Indy explores a cavern beneath Rome in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants
Events & Conferences Everything announced at the Xbox Games Showcase 2025
FGS 2023 Multiple Logos
Games Future Games Show 2025: Watch the gamescom showcase on August 20
Relooted screenshot showing a cinematic of all of the characters that make up the heist team
Games Day of the Devs Summer Game Fest Edition 2025 brought us 7 new reveals - here's what they were
Summer Game Fest logo for Summer Game Fest 2025
Games Summer Game Fest schedule 2025: dates, times, and where to watch all of the upcoming showcases
  1. Games

Microsoft Gamescom 2014 - every announcement, every game

Features
By Andy Hartup published 12 August 2014

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Xbox back on form

Xbox back on form

Microsoft recently held its press conference at Gamescom 2014, and packed in plenty of big announcements. The most significant among them is that Rise of the Tomb Raider is Xbox One exclusive, but there are loads of other news bombs to check out too.

Here is a breakdown of everything that happened during the 90 minute show. Some awesome and exciting, some dull, some baffling--but overall this was a vintage showing from Microsoft, and a tough act to follow. Your move, Sony.

Page 1 of 15
Page 1 of 15
It all started with... a revolution

It all started with... a revolution

Page 2 of 15
Page 2 of 15
Then came FIFA and Peter Schmeichel

Then came FIFA and Peter Schmeichel

Page 3 of 15
Page 3 of 15
Invasion of the indies

Invasion of the indies

You can read more about them here

Page 4 of 15
Page 4 of 15
Next up... COD Advanced Warfare

Next up... COD Advanced Warfare

Microsoft's long-standing relationship with Activision continues. The Gamescom presser brought fresh single-player footage from Advanced Warfare of PMCs battling each other on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Inevitably, there's loads of shouting, and the bridge eventually collapses. It looks genuinely great, and the addition of EXO suits (and the fact they have jet-packs) means that the action has a new dimension, with players able to jump up and around each level to do their murdering more efficiently.

Also, there's a Call of Duty bundle coming. It's due in November and contains a 1TB Xbox One console with a fancy bunch of decals, a proper headset, and a copy of the game. How much? It'll be 429 / $499. Seems good to me.

Page 5 of 15
Page 5 of 15
Evolve was... underwhelming

Evolve was... underwhelming

Page 6 of 15
Page 6 of 15
Rise of the Tomb Raider is Xbox One exclusive

Rise of the Tomb Raider is Xbox One exclusive

Yeah, then this happened. Crystal Dynamics took to the stage and dropped the megaton announcement: Rise of the Tomb Raider--the new, proper Lara Croft adventure--is a timed exclusive for the Xbox One. Impressive stuff.

Page 7 of 15
Page 7 of 15
Quantum Break brought slow-mo murder

Quantum Break brought slow-mo murder

There's a proper breakdown of the footage right here

Page 8 of 15
Page 8 of 15
Screamride was announced and looks very cool

Screamride was announced and looks very cool

There's a first look right here

Page 9 of 15
Page 9 of 15
Forza Horizon 2 is much improved

Forza Horizon 2 is much improved

There are some cool features in Forza Horizon 2, which will allow players to explore the huge, open game-world together. The cars look shiny, and the AI is made more realistic by Drivatar. If you want a full, hands-on preview just click right here, buddy. There are six new, free cars for Forza 5, by the way including the Rolls-Royce Wraith. Grab the update for that... now. Go!

Page 10 of 15
Page 10 of 15
Ori and the Blind Forest brought the whimsy

Ori and the Blind Forest brought the whimsy

Page 11 of 15
Page 11 of 15
Sunset Overdrive showed more attitude

Sunset Overdrive showed more attitude

Page 12 of 15
Page 12 of 15
Halo: The Master Chief Collection resurrected Sanctuary

Halo: The Master Chief Collection resurrected Sanctuary

Microsoft showed off some gameplay from Halo 2 Anniversary, and it looks boss. The difference between the original game and the remastered version is striking, although the gameplay remains largely untouched. The demo was painfully brief, but Microsoft also took the opportunity to announce the Halo TV Channel for Windows PCs. It's a hub for all things Halo, and you can launch MC Collection from it, so that pretty much confirms a PC version, right?

Also, there was a quick match played on the reimagined version of Sanctuary, the classic Halo 2 map. It looked massively frantic, but retained the spirit of the original. Excellent news.

Page 13 of 15
Page 13 of 15
And there was a little news about the Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta

And there was a little news about the Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta

Page 14 of 15
Page 14 of 15
Exit Xbox

Exit Xbox

There you have it--Microsoft's Gamescom briefing in a nutshell. The final piece of news is that Xbox One will get pre-orders and pre-downloading, starting with FIFA. Exciting? Not really. What are your thoughts? Bowled over by the Tomb Raider exclusivity? Can't wait for Halo? Leave your comments below.

Page 15 of 15
Page 15 of 15
Andy Hartup
Andy Hartup
Social Links Navigation
See more Games Features
Read more
Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2025 logo
Everything announced at the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2025
Avowed screenshot Xbox Series X
Xbox Game Studios list: Every studio Microsoft owns and what they are developing
Summer Game Fest logo for Summer Game Fest 2025
Everything announced at Summer Game Fest 2025
Indy explores a cavern beneath Rome in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants
Everything announced at the Xbox Games Showcase 2025
FGS 2023 Multiple Logos
Future Games Show 2025: Watch the gamescom showcase on August 20
Relooted screenshot showing a cinematic of all of the characters that make up the heist team
Day of the Devs Summer Game Fest Edition 2025 brought us 7 new reveals - here's what they were
Latest in Games
Best horror demos of Steam Next Fest - Mouthwashing
Devs behind 2024's breakout indie horror hit "want to establish very clearly that Wrong Organ isn't a walking sim company only," and with their next game, "step into a different side of horror, explore the gameplay stuff"
College Football 26
College Football 26 recruiting guide for Dynasty mode
Haru Urara art
"We love our girlfailure daughter": Umamusume frenzy sees anime horse girl fans buy so much grass for a real, retired horse that her donation website has crashed yet again
Dead Island 2 screenshot
"Boy, that game sucked": Notorious Dead Island 2 delay lasted nearly a decade partly because its original developer ignored "horrific" player feedback, says former Deep Silver lead
Destiny 2 Episode 3 Heresy screenshot of Eris Morn
11 years into a very confusing MMO, Destiny 2 lead reckons Bungie might have some problems onboarding new players: "We really want to be looking at things like New Light"
Schedule 1 - Mafia Empire lead art
"We have to compete for visibility with bad actors who are just running a grift": Devs hope new Switch 2 eShop rules fight slop and worry good games may get flagged, but Steam is still miles ahead of Nintendo
Latest in Features
A screenshot of PUCK eating an enemy during the upcoming Xbox Series X game, Shadow Labyrinth.
The best retro remakes and reboots out there aren't afraid to get weird with it – as Shadow Labyrinth being a dark and gritty Pac-Man game shows us
Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor in Superman
After Superman, I'm convinced that Lex Luthor is already a more exciting supervillain than Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom
Laezel BG3 evil ending
After 2 years, I've renewed my love for turn-based RPGs with these 5 games like Baldur's Gate 3 I can't stop recommending
A screenshot of Total War: Warhammer 3 showing grave guard soldiers jumping out of a siege tower beneath a grey sky
After 2,537 hours of playing Total War: Warhammer, I'm almost ready to say goodbye to Creative Assembly's best strategy series
Fallout: New Vegas
I'm going back to the five best post-apocalyptic games I ever played, thanks to Death Stranding 2 giving me a taste for the terrible
The Sims 4 Enchanted by Nature fairy
After 2000 hours of creating a fantasy save file in The Sims, I've decided to rank all 8 Sims 4 occults, including the new Enchanted by Nature's fairies
  1. Zion Wright grinds along a wooden balustrade in in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4's San Francisco level
    1
    Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 review: "A nostalgic, must-play hit for fans"
  2. 2
    College Football 26 review: “Thanks to rivalries and dynasty, this is the greatest show on turf”
  3. 3
    Mecha Break review: "This mech battler makes up for lacking customization with a varied roster that lets me live out my Evangelion fantasy"
  4. 4
    Death Stranding 2: On the Beach review: "This tarpunk delivery epic is more Metal Gear Solid than ever, for better and worse"
  5. 5
    Rematch review: "As with Rocket League, the just-one-more-game pull is magnetic"
  1. David Corenswet as Superman inside the Fortress of Solitude in James Gunn's Superman.
    1
    Superman review: "A triumphant reinvention and a promising start for the DCU"
  2. 2
    Jurassic World Rebirth Review: "An unscary sequel that needed a little more time in amber"
  3. 3
    M3GAN 2.0 review: "A bold sequel with a slightly underwhelming conclusion"
  4. 4
    28 Years Later Review: "Enough terror, splatter and suspense to satisfy”
  5. 5
    Predator: Killer of Killers review: "Great characters, thrilling action, and gorgeous Arcane-esque animation"
  1. Lee Jung-jae as Gi-hun in Squid Game season 3
    1
    Squid Game season 3 review: "A staggeringly excellent final season wraps up one of the greatest Netflix shows ever"
  2. 2
    Ironheart review: "A relic of Marvel's content-at-all-costs era"
  3. 3
    Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 review: "The show's most assured run of episodes to date"
  4. 4
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 8 spoiler review: 'The Reality War' is "a mix of the good, the bad, and the truly baffling"
  5. 5
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 7 spoiler review: 'Wish World' is "an exciting and ambitious" start to the season finale, with hints of WandaVision

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...