XBOX Gamescom Leak Points to Surprise Franchise Sequel

Microsoft might be prepping a surprise reveal at Gamescom, and a new clue about the reported unveiling is narrowing down the options. The rumor comes from a well-known source, who earlier said that XBOX plans to unveil a sequel to an XBOX-owned title during the event. The leak says a third-party firm is producing the upcoming project.

The leaker is also said to know the game's genre but hasn't revealed it for fear it would quickly identify the project. Another key point is that the announcement has nothing to do with Banjo-Kazooie, much to the disappointment of fans who have long wanted to see the legendary platformer back.

But the most recent rumors may be more important.

This speculated project is thought to be a sequel to a current game, which could rule out several of the older games fans are wondering about. That would seem to exclude things like Lost Odyssey, Conker, and other iconic XBOX properties. The genre's mystique may be another big clue. XBOX is strongly connected with shooters and RPGs; thus, the reported game could be in a less typical genre for the corporation.

This has fueled suspicion that the surprise would be something outside Microsoft's typical offerings. One option is Killer Instinct. The combat franchise returned in 2013 and continued to get support for years, including on newer XBOX systems. So a new title from another developer could fit some of the hints. But it’s debatable if the series would even be considered a recent XBOX franchise.

Another contender is Ori, which may match the rumors even better. It's one of v's more recent successful products and is a somewhat rare genre for the corporation. The game's developer, Moon Studios, is currently working on No Rest for the Wicked, which has raised questions about whether XBOX might pass the franchise to another developer for a new entry.

It would be interesting to see another team working on a new Ori game, but it would be a risky move as well.

Much of what made the series so remarkable was Moon Studios' work, and a new developer might not be able to create a successor as strong as the previous games. Other options include Gears Tactics and The Evil Within. Gears Tactics would fit into XBOX's strategy-focused lineup, while The Evil Within remains an XBOX-owned series despite its last big release arriving in 2017.

None of these games have been proven as of now, and the Ori hypothesis is still just a theory. But the cocktail of a new franchise, an odd genre, and third-party production has really thinned the herd. But whose franchise is making its surprise return could ultimately be revealed at XBOX's Gamescom showcase.