E3 2019: Microsoft unveils Project Scarlett console during Xbox event

The next Xbox will make its debut next year.

Microsoft announced Sunday during the Xbox briefing at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles it will launch its next video game console, dubbed "Project Scarlett," during the holiday 2020 season.

The device will launch with a new Halo video game, "Halo Infinite," the franchise that vaulted Microsoft's nascent Xbox brand among the video game industry's key players.

The announcement sets the stage for another console showdown between Microsoft and Sony, widely expected to unveil its next PlayStation console next year.

For a recap of Microsoft's announcements at E3, including trailers, scroll down below for updates:

5:35 p.m.: The next Halo is called Halo Infinite, and it arrives in holiday 2020. Between this and the expected arrival of a new PlayStation, next year should be significant for the video games business. And that wraps it up. Thanks for joining!

5:30 p.m.: Spencer said Project Scarlett will launch next holiday with a new Halo game, appropriate considering the franchise helped launch the Xbox brand. And it appears Master Chief is making a comeback.

5:28 p.m.: The next console is called Project Scarlett, and it's expected to launch holiday 2020.

5:25 p.m.: Team members talk about their vision for the platform, and how it recognizes PC, console and mobile gaming. It also talks about pain points such as load times during games. The device will include an AMD processor that's more powerful than the Xbox One X. It may have framerates up to 120 frames per second.

5:23 p.m.: Spencer shifts to the next console. "For us the console is vital and central to our experience," he said.

5:21 p.m.: Spencer said Xbox is going to the cloud in two ways: Project xCloud and console streaming. Spencer said console streaming can turn Xbox One into a free and personal cloud server. This hybrid system will be available starting in October.

5:19 p.m.: Ready for what's next from the writer behind Game of Thrones? The next project featuring work from George R.R. Martin, called Elden Ring, developed by From Software, who created the classics Dark Souls and Bloodborne.

5:17 p.m.: Borderlands makes an appearance, with a closer look at the four heroes appearing in Borderlands 3, which launches September 13.

5:12 p.m.: Phil Spencer is back to introduce a "PC legend" to Xbox One, from studio Smilegate. The game is called CrossFire X. The game is from the studio who built the 2007 PC game CrossFire, an online first-person shooter.

5:10 p.m.: Here's one more world premiere from publisher Sega: the free-to-play role playing epic Phantasy Star Online 2. It's available Spring 2020.

5:08 p.m.: Up next: "State of Decay 2: Heartland," which looks like your typical Walking Dead zombie style experience. More proof zombies never seem to go out of style in video games.

5:05 p.m.: And here's the regular portion of the Xbox briefing where a shiny sports car appears, signaling the arrival of Forza. This time it's Forza Horizon 4, and an expansion that features Lego cars, called Lego Speed Champions, which is really amazing. The actual sports car on stage is made entirely of Lego. But can you drive it? It's available this week.

5:00 p.m.: Remember Xbox's Elite controller? Microsoft says it's reengineered it for higher precision control and improved trigger locks. Users also have more ways to customize the controller to their styles, even setting profiles based on the game. It will also have a rechargeable battery and dock. No pricing or availability details were given.

4:58 p.m.: Fergusson kicks to a trailer for Gears 5, offering what appears to be a snippet of the new mode Escape. So far, no live demos of games. Mostly trailers and video montages. Also, if you preorder the game, you get a character pack based on the upcoming film Terminator Dark Fate.

4:54 p.m.: It's not an Xbox briefing without one of its flagships making a cameo: Gears of War. Rod Fergusson, head of Xbox studio The Coalition, joins the stage to share Gears 5 will launch on September 10. Members of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will get to play the game four days early.

4:50 p.m.: Just when you think video games has everything, you get what looks like a puzzle game where you play as a deer with a fawn by their side. It's called Way to the Woods, and arrives next year.

4:49 p.m.: Also coming in 2020: a new Dragon Ball Z video game, which appears to be an adventure game.The last Dragon Ball game we saw was 2018's FighterZ.

4:47 p.m.: The next trailer comes from a place far, far away: Lego Star Wars, which will feature all nine films in one game, including The Skywalker Saga. It's available in 2020.

4:45 p.m.: Tim Schafer, Double Fine founder and one of the industry's biggest voices, jokes about making stuff for Microsoft Excel. He then pivots to introducing a trailer for their next game: Psychonauts 2. No release date was given.

4:42 p.m.: Head of Xbox Game Studios, Matt Booty, is up next on stage to discuss the seven game development studios added by the company. "For me, great studios are about people, teams and ideas," he said. Booty said Double Fine Productions, the makers of games like Psychonauts and Brutal Legend, will become part of Xbox Game Studios.

4:39 p.m.: Another world premiere makes its debut: Microsoft Flight Simulator, which looks beautiful in 4K. And we see one more coming to Game Pass: Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, the hit strategy game with remastered audio and a new campaign. It's out this fall.

4:36 p.m.: Here's another sizzle reel of games coming to a PC version of Xbox Game Pass, including Prey, Halo, Wolfenstein II, and the next Gears of War. Users can join for $9.99 a month, and can participate in a beta available now. There's also an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate with Game Pass for console and PC, as well as Xbox Live Gold. You can try it now for $1 (it's normally available for $14.99 a month).

4:34 p.m.: Bond said the numbers of partners has tripled since the launch of Game Pass. She also said all Xbox Game Studios titles will be available through Game Pass at launch. New games such as Batman: Arkham Knight, Metro Exodus, Hollow Knight, and Borderlands: The Handsome Collection will be available.

4:33 p.m.: Microsoft rolls out a sizzle reel of some of the games coming to Xbox Game Pass published by independent developers. Sarah Bond with Xbox Partnerships is on stage to talk more about Game Pass.

4:29 p.m.: With the audience seemingly still overcome with post-Keanu shock, Microsoft rolls out a couple more big games, including a new "Battletoads," based on the classic console series. This author is particularly excited.

4:25 p.m.: Reeves talks about how the studio pitched him on the idea of Cyberpunk. "I'm always drawn to fascinating stories," said Reeves. "The feeling of walking down the streets of the future is going to feel breathtaking." What a huge get for Projekt Red. Cyberpunk will launch on April 16, 2020.

4:20 p.m.: The name CD Projekt Red just appeared on screen, which means a new look at "Cyberpunk 2077," the cyberpunk RPG from the makers of "The Witcher" series. The characters have an array of really interesting abilities, such as Mantis Blades that pop out of one character's forearms. It ends with a character that looks like Keanu Reeves. It so happens it's the real Keanu, who walks out on stage. The crowd is obviously very excited.

4:19 p.m.: Up next is a horror game which takes place in the woods, called Blair Witch. Sound familiar? Horror fans will likely remember the classic movie The Blair Witch Project.

4:17 p.m.: Star Wars time! We see a trailer for Jedi: Fallen Order, which shows a lot of what publisher Electronic Arts revealed during its streaming playthrough Saturday. The game will launch on November 15. Players can preorder the game today through Xbox.

4:15 p.m.: Spencer notes Game Pass, mentioning more than 34 games will be making their premieres on the service. Spencer said they will cover their cloud streaming plans, as well as details on the next Xbox.

4:13 p.m.: Spencer talks about how gaming can be a "single unifying force for the world," citing how many players and creators are out there. "Over two billion of us play on every region and on every continent," said Spencer. He said Xbox's goals are behind the belief that "gaming is for everyone." He's definitely emphasizing the value of playing wherever you want.

4:11 p.m.: The creators of Minecraft are making a role-playing game, called "Minecraft Dungeons," out in 2020, also available on Xbox Game Pass. It will have four-person online and local cooperative play. After the trailer, Xbox chief Phil Spencer takes the stage.

4:09 p.m.: We then a brief peak at "Ori and the Will of the Wisps," the enchanting follow-up to 2015's "Ori and the Blind Forest." It will launch on Feburary 11, 2020.

4:07 p.m.: Up next is the new game from studio Ninja Theory (Heavenly Sword, Enslaved) called "Bleeding Edge." It's described as a melee four-versus-four action game. It's also available on Xbox Game Pass at launch. Prepare to hear Game Pass, the Xbox's Netflix-style game service, throughout this event.

4:04 p.m.: Our first trailer is the super-futuristic "The Outer Worlds" from Obsidian Entertainment. Has a little bit of a "Fallout" vibe to it. The game will launch October 25, and will be available on Xbox Game Pass the day of launch.

4 p.m. ET: Once again, the Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live is awash in Xbox green (if that's not an official color, I'm making it so) for the start of the Xbox briefing at E3. We begin with a sizzle reel, naturally. Halo, Sea of Thieves, Forza, the usual Xbox suspects.

Original report

The company has been dropping teasers ahead of its event suggesting it might reveal new hardware under the codename "Scarlett," reports The Verge.

Another potential theme for Xbox, and the video game industry in general: a growing shift toward the cloud. Microsoft will likely share information on its xCloud game platform, which will deliver video games with the promise of playing them wherever you go.

Last week, Google announced its Stadia gaming platform will launch in November.

Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: E3 2019: Microsoft unveils Project Scarlett console during Xbox event