CrossfireX - What We Know So Far
According to South Korean developer Smilegate Entertainment, first-person shooter Crossfire is one of the most-played PC games in the world — and now, for the first time, the franchise is coming to Xbox. CrossfireX was announced at 2019's E3, and progress was shown at the Xbox Games Showcase on July 23.
The authentic military shooter is set to be an Xbox console launch exclusive. Smilegate CE0 Ina Jang says CrossfireX will focus "on high-end visuals combined with the inherent strengths of Crossfire." The franchise isn't as well-known in the West, but has reached over a billion players in 80 countries both on PCs and as a mobile game. And if Smilegate has its way, this moneymaker (it has reportedly earned $10.5 billion in revenue to date) is about to take the U.S. by storm.
Like many of the games highlighted during the July Xbox Games Showcase, there aren't many details established about CrossfireX. Here's what we've uncovered so far.
What is the release date for CrossfireX?
Since it was announced last year, CrossfireX's release window has just been listed as "2020." That's a lot of time, and we're already halfway through the year. Microsoft said in mid-2019 that the shooter would release "first" on Xbox One, which means — well, not much at this point. It's a year later, and there isn't that much time between now and the Xbox Series X launch. There's currently no set debut date for either the Xbox One version or the Xbox Series X version of CrossfireX.
CrossfireX is being optimized for the Xbox Series X. The promising news is that the game's open beta took place in June, which means it's probably closer to being complete than many of the titles shown by Microsoft. So, it's possible this one could be ready to go as soon as the Xbox Series X is. Whenever that is.
Does CrossfireX have a trailer?
The Campaign Reveal Trailer shown on July 23 has gamers excited about CrossfireX. It's drawing comparisons to Crysis, Battlefield, Call of Duty, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and the Modern Warfare franchise — which basically means it's hitting all the right notes for shooter fans.
The fact that the single-player campaign is being created by Remedy Entertainment of Control and Alan Wake fame is a major factor in its perceived potential. Along with that, the teaser's soundtrack adds atmosphere to the action.
Other trailers exist for CrossfireX as well. A Beta Trailer showing off more of the multiplayer aspect was released at the open beta's launch in June. Taken together, these trailers seem to point to a title to be reckoned with later this year.
What is the plot of CrossfireX?
The CrossfireX Campaign Reveal Trailer shows off some of the key characters and settings in the game, which features two factions fighting one another for domination during Operation Spectre. The conflict between the Global Risk and Black List mercenary groups is global, with locations in Asia and South America acting as a backdrop to an immersive story told from both sides of the battle. The main characters in both the campaign and multiplayer arenas include Knox, Logan, Marcus, Reuben, Abrams, and Holt.
Multiplayer missions are designed to be accessible to players of all skill levels and interests. The single-player campaign developed by Smilegate and Remedy Entertainment is meant to explore the background of the conflict in a story- and character-driven way. Sounds like the best of both worlds!
CrossfireX seems like it's fast becoming one of the more highly-anticipated titles to come out of Microsoft's showcase — it might be hard to stay patient and wait for this one.