Microsoft is playing it safe at E3.
Maybe too safe.
I'm Bridget Carey and this is your CNET Update.
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The annual E3 video game expo kicked off Monday in Los Angeles.
Microsoft gave the first presentation, and the most interesting part, was what Microsoft didn't talk about.
There was no mention of the Kinect.
No mention of what the XBox One could do as a media player.
No mention of XBox One's extra features at all for that matter.
Nothing even about the original XBox tv shows that have been teased before.
Microsoft only talked about upcoming games.
That's it.
Considering the XBox One console is less than a year old, Microsoft may have made a mistake to play it safe.
If you don't already own an XBox One, Microsoft didn't explain why their system is worth getting over a Playstation 4.
Well unless you count the few exclusive games, which include a Halo anniversary compilation pack of old games.
There's a reason why Microsoft took on a different tone when the XBox One was unveiled last year.
Microsoft was criticized when it said the system was going to require the Kinect to be plugged in.
And how you had to be connected to the internet to play a game, and how it was going to block you from playing used games.
There was so much backlash, that Microsoft backtracked all those plans.
It also faced criticism over the focus that it put on the living room entertainment features, and now the company seems to be totally afraid to talk about anything other than the fact that the XBox plays video games.
The game that got the most attention was the new Halo 5, but that's not coming out until 2015.
There should be a beta version of the game out before the holidays, and the plot is that the iconic Master Chief character is reflecting on his past and future on a personal journey questioning authority and searching for truth.
Another noteworthy game that's only playable on the Xbox One is Sunset Overdrive.
If Tony Hawks Pro Skater had a zombie mode, well this would be that game.
It's a cartoonish game where you save the day by sliding and grinding on poles and rails, blowing up mutant zombie things.
It comes out October 28th.
Microsoft also spent time talking about other games that will be coming soon, but many of those titles are also going to be available on the Playstation.
Such as the new Assassin's Creed, Call of Duty and Tombraider.
In the next cnet update I'll cover the highlights from Sony's Playstation announcements along with news from Nintendo.
It won't take much for Sony to outshine Microsoft at this conference.
That's your tech news update, you can get your E3 fix anytime at cnet.com/e3 as we cover the expo all week long.
From our studios in New York, I'm Bridget Carey.
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