Crackdown 3

At Gamescom last week, I got to play around with Crackdown 3's multiplayer mode. The demo was designed to show off its cloud-based destruction, which meant that things like enemies and character progression weren't in the build. Afterward, I spoke with game director Dave Jones to learn more about the game. During our conversation, he told me something that's bound to come as a relief to players who found themselves frustrated with Crackdown 2's runaway collectibles.

As you know, characters' skills progress through their actions in Crackdown – skills for kills, as the game's ever-present narrator intones. The exception is with agility, which is raised by collecting hard-to-reach orbs that are scattered throughout the city. The sequel put a spin on things by making them mobile; as characters approached the orbs, they'd move from their spawn location and players would have to collect them before the items disappeared. It was a cute idea, but it ultimately was more annoying than entertaining. Jones seems to agree.

"No, they’re not going to be back," he says. "I’m not going to do that. I was an interesting try, but for me, no, they will be static."

One of several familiar elements will be returning, though: Michael D. McConnohie, the voice of the aforementioned agency director. "He loves working on the franchise," says Microsoft's Peter Connolly. "We get him in a room, and he’ll do things like, ‘Phil Spencer, this is a milestone for you, shut up and listen.’"