‘Incredible’ year for Xbox 360 hardcore

Much of the world’s games press gathered in the US yesterday to see a showcase of the big titles Microsoft has in store for Xbox 360 owners in the year ahead.

Gears of War 3, which earlier this week was given a firm September release date, clearly took much of the limelight but it was one of many titles on show.

There were also prominent spots for Square Enix’s Batman: Arkham City, EA’s Crysis 2 and PC outing Age of Empires Online, which it now emerges has been handed over to developer Gas Powered Games.

Ubisoft’s Child of Eden was also on display and promises to do big thinks for Kinect in the traditional console games market. Twisted Pixel’s Kinect shooter The Gunslinger impressed onlookers, and was confirmed as a digital release on Xbox Live Arcade.

A European PC release for Fable III on March 20th was announced.

"This afternoon’s Xbox 360 announcements are just the beginning of what 2011 has to offer," Microsoft Interactive Entertainment’s senior producer Kevin Unangst told CVG.

"Hardcore gamers are where it started and absolutely, we’ve got Gears, great games like Homefront, Batman: Arkham City. If you like core games – and I’m a core gamer – this is going to be an incredible year what you’re seeing here today is just the beginning."