Microsoft teases Game Awards ‘surprises’ but asks fans to ‘dial down expectations’

Microsoft has a couple of “surprises” planned for The Game Awards 2020 this week, although it has warned fans not to expect anything on the scale of last year’s announcements.

In 2019 Microsoft used the annual industry event to reveal Xbox Series X for the first time alongside Ninja Theory’s Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2.

In an Xbox Wire blog on Wednesday, Microsoft gaming CVP Jerret West signed off by telling fans to “stay tuned, starting with The Game Awards tomorrow, for more surprises.”

But Xbox marketing GM Aaron Greenberg subsequently warned fans not to set their expectations too high.

“While we have a couple moments in the show, I would dial expectations way down versus speculation I am seeing, especially how big we went last year!”

343 Industries recently told fans that Halo Infinite won’t be shown at The Game Awards, although the studio provided an update on the delayed shooter this week, confirming plans to launch it in late 2021.

The Game Awards 2020 will be streamed live on Thursday, December 10 from 3.30pm PT/6.30pm ET/11.30pm GMT.

“I think there are a good dozen+ games that will be announced/revealed at the show for the first time,” Game Awards producer Geoff Keighley said during a recent Reddit AMA.

One of those will be the new story-based PUBG title from Dead Space creator Glen Schofield’s new studio, Striking Distance.

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