Crackdown 3 Coming to Xbox One

No matter how you shake it, Microsoft's Xbox One presentation was decidedly light on games. To be fair, the publisher revealed a ton of information about their upcoming new console, but still, they only showed off a handful of games.

However, while Microsoft put specific games front and center — Quantum Break, Forza Motorsport 5, Call of Duty: Ghosts — they might have also unveiled a few additional games, just without mentioning them. It could be for something completely different, but if a very small icon is what we think it is, then the Crackdown franchise might live on in the next-gen.

Early on in the Xbox One presentation, Microsoft's Yusuf Mehdi gave a live demonstration of the new Dashboard in action. Thanks to the power of Kinect and this new machine, players will be able to switch from watching TV, to playing games, to listening to music instantaneously.

Given that the demo was showing off how instantaneous screen switching is, identifying the Crackdown 3 tease wasn't easy, but PCGamesN was able to do it. Although it could be nothing, the icon on the bottom right of the screen appears to be one of Crackdown's agility orbs. Could this be the start screen icon for Crackdown 3?

Although it's been a while since gamers have seen the Crackdown franchise, it has held on to its cult status over the years. The first Crackdown — developed by Realtime Worlds — was rather unique, combining nonlinear gameplay with some impressive superpowers. Most gamers that picked up Crackdown, however, bought it for the Halo 3 multiplayer beta, and were pleasantly surprised to discover Crackdown was a fun game.

Crackdown 2, on the other hand, wasn't as well received, with most criticizing the sequel's lack of innovation. And let us not forget the terrible "Freak" enemies, which were a nuisance at every turn.

Hopefully, Microsoft — and whatever developer might be working on this rumored game — draw inspiration from the first game more so than the second. Even so, one has to wonder if there is a place for Crackdown amongst similar games like Prototype, inFAMOUS, Saints Row 4.

If Microsoft is planning a Crackdown 3 reveal (and that's a big if), their E3 2013 Press Conference would be as good a place as any to make such an announcement.

Would you like to see the Crackdown franchise return for the Xbox One? What improvements would you like to see Microsoft make for this third game?

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Source: NeoGAF