Over the last few weeks, we've documented just about everything you'll ever want to know about Microsoft's latest piece of gaming hardware, the recently launched Xbox 360. We've told you all about the system's cutting-edge multimedia capabilities, the tremendous Xbox Live support, as well as the games that were available at launch. Of course, this is just the beginning of the console's life cycle, so we figured that now would be as good a time as any to check out what's in store for the future of the system. Over the next few days, we'll be taking a look at some of the games that you can expect to see in 2006 and beyond. Although most of these titles have been officially announced, we don't really know all that much about them, a fact that isn't about to stop us from speculating. So, without further ado, let's take a look into the Xbox 360's future.



Gears of War

OK, let's kick this thing off with a bang. The first game that we'll be checking out is undoubtedly the most anticipated game for the system, one that blew just about everyone away when it was officially unveiled at last year's Electronic Entertainment Expo (or E3, as it's commonly called). The first next-gen game from the guys at Epic Software is a "second-person" tactical shooter that combines equal amounts of terrifying horror, intense action, and squad-based combat. You'll do battle against the horrific Locust Horde, evil creatures that have come up from underground to wipe out humanity.


From what we've seen, Gears of War will features a nice variety of gameplay types, from standard run and gun sequences to some "on-rails" setpieces. It sounds like the developer really wants to encourage the player to rely on their teammates, as the game will feature some cutting-edge team AI, as well as an online cooperative mode. Although we haven't really heard anything about it yet, we were also told that you'll be able to take your buddies on in some head-to-head game modes. There's no denying that this is going to be the Xbox 360's Halo-style killer app.



Demonik

This action-horror game comes from the fertile mind of Clive "I Created Hellraiser, What the Hell Have You Done" Barker, and the storyline is apparently good enough that it's simultaneously being developed as a game AND a movie. You'll play as Volrath, a vengeance demon that has been summoned to earth by wronged humans. Naturally, the foolish mortals can't controls his hellish power, and it's not long before the devilish Volrath is free and attempting to take over the world.


Although the game hasn't been shown in quite a while, we're still pretty excited about it. Of course, it's hard not to be psyched about a title that lets you inhabit human bodies, wreaking havoc with them as they decompose before your very eyes. Naturally, Volrath also has lots of demonic (or demonik?) powers, from the ability to set people on fire to some truly excellent summoning powers of his own. To quote South Park's Mr. Garrison, "You go to hell! You go to hell and you die!" Sounds good to us.