In the lead-up to E3, we’re counting down with our most anticipated titles. You can find out when all the press conferences are taking place in Australian/NZ times HERE.
The original Crackdown was a superb play on the sandbox formula as it dropped us into the game’s world as a super-powered, genetic beast and let us systematically murder a hit-list of gangland figures. Its sequel failed to reach the same lofty heights, though it was still fun enough.
All we’re hoping is that the drawn-out development for the third instalment hasn’t hindered its quality and that Crackdown 3 provides a reason to invest in Xbox as a brand trying to rediscover its first-party firepower.
WHEN WAS IT ANNOUNCED?
It was 2014 when Crackdown 3 was first announced as a big exclusive coup for the Xbox One. Though it was in the early stages of its development at that time, no one could foresee the delays the game would be subject to. Having reared its head at most conferences attended by Microsoft since, let’s hope this E3 ends up being Crackdown’s last.
WHERE WILL WE SEE IT?
Hopefully, Microsoft knocks this one out of the way early on during their epic two-hour showcase. It’d be a shame to see Microsoft lean on this as a real blockbuster and give it a closing slot, given its storied and troubled development.
WHEN WILL IT RELEASE?
Crackdown 3 is said to be releasing this year at some point, though given it has missed 2016 and 2017 release windows, I wouldn’t be betting the house on it just yet.
WHAT DO WE WANT TO SEE?
Though a better look at the game in-engine and in-action would be great, the thing we need first and foremost is a concrete date. Microsoft will hopefully pull the trigger and announce a day and put an end to years of uncertainty for fans hoping to see Crackdown back at its destructive best.
Beyond that, we’re very interested to see just how the game’s much-touted and promised destruction engine has developed in the past couple of years and just how persistent the game’s world is going to be given its focus on multiplayer and co-operative play. At this point, if Crackdown 3 wound up being a prettier version of the original game, we’d probably take it. Just get it on shelves, already!
