Summary
Recent rumors indicate that an upcoming Xbox Developers Direct event could also contain a game that is being prepared to shadowdrop either during or after the show, similar to what Microsoft did withHi-Fi Rush. Companies looking to make waves with upcoming releases have resorted to the shadowdrop, a process involving announcing andimmediately releasing a game like the remastered version ofQuake 2. Not only does this help publicity and marketing efforts, but it generates excitement from fans who may want to check out a new experience.
While not terribly common, there are plenty of high-profile examples where launching out of the blue has certainly helped, including online free to play experiences likeApex LegendsandThe Finals. Last year, Microsoft held a special Developers Direct, showcasing a number of Xbox first party titles likeRedfallandForza Motorsport, thoughthe surprise of that show wasHi-Fi Rush, a rhythm-based action game from Tango Gameworks, a studio primarily associated with horror games likeThe Evil Within. WhileHi-Fi Rushcertainly surprised fans, the bigger announcement was that the game was ready for launch and could be played after the showcase.
Theshadowdrop forHi-Fi Rushwas certainly a successful one, helping the game to achieve publicity it may not have been able to under a normal launch. In fact, theHi-Fi Rushrelease was so successful that Microsoft appears to be readying another game for the same treatment sometime this month, if a new rumor from a popular Spanish YouTuber named eXtas1stv is to be believed. While nothing official has been mentioned as of yet, it is believed that Microsoft is holding another Xbox Developer Direct sometime in January 2024, with new presentations set for upcoming first party titles.
Xbox Developer Direct Showdrop Rumor Details
According to eXtas1stv, they’ve heard that in addition toXboxshowcases for games likeHellblade 2andTowerborne, the showcase could also contain a new showdrop announcement for a game that will be launching during the show or in the coming weeks. The YouTuber isn’t certain as to whether this will be exactly like it was forHi-Fi Rush, but at the very least, what they’re hearing is that it could be very similar with a game getting a release date that is very close to the show date, if not during it.
The most recent example of a successful shadowdrop was earlier in December when the online competitive shooter The Finals officially launched during The Game Awards 2023. While the game enjoyed a successful beta period, the official release came out of nowhere, giving all players a chance to check out what all the excitement was about. Either way, the shadowdrop decision was a good one asThe Finalshas already hit a massive player milestonejust 15 days after it officially launched, seeing 10 million players try out the free to play title.
Hi-Fi Rush
WHERE TO PLAY
Feel the beat as wannabe rockstar Chai and his ragtag team of allies rebel against an evil robotics enhancement megacorp with raucous rhythm combat! From Tango Gameworks, the studio that brought you The Evil Within® and Ghostwire®: Tokyo (no, really) comes Hi-Fi RUSH, an all-new action game where the characters, world and combat stylishly sync to the music!CHAI VERSUS THE WORLD: Labeled ‘defective’ after a shady corporate experiment mistakenly fuses a music player to his heart, Chai must now fight for his freedom in a slick animated world where everything – platforming puzzles, enemy attacks and even the colorful gags & banter - are synced to the beat.OPEN UP THE MOSH PIT!: Take on armies of corporate drones (read: actual robots) in satisfying, rhythm-amplified combat. Time your moves to pull off flashy Beat Hits, hard-hitting special abilities and even combination attacks with your allies! Want to show off? Go further and tap into the beat to amp up your skills and earn those covetous S-rank scores.ROWDY REBELS VS. BADASS BOSSES: Lead a squad of colorful teammates and take the fight to the heart of an, er, heartless corporation. Square off with each department’s boss, from Production to Marketing to Finance, each more ready to protect the company’s bottom line than the last in over-the-top battle sequences accompanied by their own music tracks!GRAB YOUR HEADPHONES: Tap your toes to a killer mixtape of original music, as well as songs by Nine Inch Nails, The Prodigy, The Joy Formidable and more! Want to show off your skills to a live streaming audience? Fret not: Hi-Fi RUSH includes a streamer-friendly alternate audio mode which replaces those licensed songs with original tracks made especially for streaming Hi-Fi RUSH.
