Crackdown 3 hasn’t been seen much since it was first revealed at E3 2014, but the project’s developers at Reagent Games recently tweeted a very important development update. As of June 9, the game is still slated for a 2017 retail release.
When one fan asked the official Crackdown 3 Twitter account if the finished product was still aiming for a 2017 arrival, the representative replied “absolutely.” Considering there’s just six months left in the year, and the confidence expressed in the reply, it’s essentially confirmed that anxious fans will be getting their Crackdown fix by the holiday season.
It’s also worth pointing out that this news has been made public at a rather interesting time. Microsoft is just two days away from its scheduled E3 2017 press conference, and, as one of very few confirmed Microsoft exclusives, it’s essentially certain the Reagent Games title will be part of the show. In fact, it’s not too crazy to assume this tweet was dispatched with the sole purpose of getting fans hyped. If that was the goal, we’re totally sold.
Absolutely. https://t.co/UvxqMF4xQz
— Crackdown (@crackdown) June 9, 2017
Given Crackdown’s emphasis on large open worlds and detailed environmental destruction, the series’ next entry seems like it would be a perfect showcase for Microsoft’s 2017 hardware, Project Scorpio. The trumped-up Xbox One is expected to be fully revealed during the E3 press briefing, so this highly anticipated exclusive seems like a great way to get the ball rolling.
When Crackdown 3 was first publicly revealed in 2015, it was designed to showcase the technology of a company called Cloudgine. Using software and cloud computing, Cloudgine was able to create a detailed destructive physics algorithm that stretched far beyond the stock Xbox One’s capabilities. At that time, Microsoft was still attempting to sing the praises of its “always-connected” console, but the hardware maker’s priorities have drastically changed under new leadership.
With Scorpio on the horizon, there’s the promise of six teraflops of pure processing power at a developer’s fingertips. In that sense, it would seem reasonable to think Cloudgine’s software may not be necessary to bring this game’s mayhem to life. Even with a greater handle on the standard Xbox One hardware, it’s possible optimizations have been made that don’t necessarily mandate the internet. While not overtly confirmed, we suspect this shift in strategy is precisely why development has been so delayed.
Crackdown 3 was one of Microsoft’s most controversial E3 omissions last year, but it looks like the goods will finally be here on June 11. Xbox head Phil Spencer has said the press conference may be over 90 minutes long, so Crackdown will likely be one of many new games on show. Other likely highlight titles include Sea Of Thieves, State Of Decay 2 and something Halo-related.
Crackdown 3 is slated for a 2017 release on Xbox One and PC. Be sure to tune in to Microsoft’s press briefing June 11 at 5 p.m. EDT.
Will Crackdown 3 actually release this year? Will it be Microsoft’s E3 2017 stunner? Tell us in the comments section!
