Xbox Games Showcase: Everything you need to know about the most important Xbox event of the year

Domagoj Belancic

9.6.2023

Translation: machine translated

Microsoft is announcing a bunch of new games at the Xbox Games Showcase on Sunday. In view of the meagre selection of exclusive Xbox games, this is sorely needed.

Microsoft is under pressure to act. While Sony and Nintendo regularly shine with exclusive blockbusters, the Xbox line-up has been bobbing along in mediocrity for years. Most recently, the Xbox-exclusive vampire shooter "Redfall" was torn apart by critics and fans.

At the Xbox Games Showcase, Microsoft wants to win back the trust of fans with lots of trailers and announcements. The showcase will be immediately followed by a "Starfield" Direct, in which Bethesda will give us a deep dive into their space epic.

Phil, Simon and I will be watching the event live and streaming our impressions on Twitch and Youtube. Stop by and chat with us about the games shown.

Our stream starts on Sunday (11 June) at 18:45.

These games await you at the Xbox Games Showcase

Which games you can expect from which Xbox Game Studios at the showcase can be found in the list below:

• From "Halo" developer 343 Industries, you can look forward to updates on the new season of "Halo Infinite". A new game? Unlikely.
• The mobile development studio Alpha Dog Games has just released "Mighty Doom" for iOS and Android. You shouldn't expect a new game from Alpha Dogs at the showcase.
• Arkane has just completed the disastrous launch of "Redfall". Because the game was so poorly received, there may be an update to the game's content roadmap. With any luck, the currently missing 60 FPS mode on the Xbox will be delivered later. Or at least an apology from Phil Spencer for the poor launch.
• Although Avalanche Studios are not part of Microsoft Game Studios, they are developing an Xbox-exclusive game. There is currently not much information on the co-op smuggler game "Contraband". The developers are otherwise best known for the open-world series "Just Cause".
• Bethesda will be presenting a "Starfield" Direct following the Xbox Games Showcase. So you can prepare yourself for a detailed deep dive into the space epic. If we're lucky, there will be a sign of life for "The Elder Scrolls VI". You can dream, after all. "Fallout 5" will almost certainly not be a topic.
• Compulsion Games released "We Happy Few" in 2018. The Canadian studio could bring a surprise to the showcase. As early as 2021, rumours have been circulating that the studio is working on a dark fantasy game with the codename "Midnight".
• Compulsion Games is working on a dark fantasy game with the codename "Midnight".
• According to rumours, Double Fine is working on "Psychonauts 3". Other insider reports claim that Tim Schafer's studio is working on several new projects that have nothing to do with "Psychonauts". You will most likely find out what is true on Sunday.
• id Software is busy developing a new game, according to its own statements. "Doom Eternal" was released in 2020 and with any luck, there will be at least a small teaser for the new project.
• Inxile Entertainment is known for the RPG series "The Bard's Tale" and "Wasteland". It is not known what the studio is currently working on.
• Machinegames is working on an "Indiana Jones" game. The game has already been announced for 2021. A new trailer or teaser at the showcase would make sense - not least because a new film is in the starting blocks with "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny". However, as the development studio is affiliated with Bethesda, you shouldn't expect too many new impressions of the game. Bethesda's focus at the showcase is clearly on "Starfield".
• The Mojang Studios will not be presenting any new games. However, you can hope for updates to "Minecraft Legends" and "Minecraft"

• Ninja Theory has been working on "Hellblade 2" for years. The game looks damn impressive graphically. A new trailer and release date are realistic.
• Obsidian is busy with two games at the same time. On the one hand, a sequel to the sci-fi RPG "The Outer Worlds" is in development. On the other hand, the studio is working on "Avowed"
  • a fantasy RPG from a first-person perspective. Not much is known about either game yet. An update to "Avowed" seems more likely - not least because "The Outer Worlds", like "Starfield", is an action RPG set in space.
• Playground Games are moving away from their usual racing genre and venturing into a sequel to the fantasy RPG "Fable". A funny glitter tweet from Xbox suggests that we'll get more information on this at the showcase.
• Rare has been working on their beautiful fantasy open-world game "Everwild" for what feels like ages. The last sign of life was two years ago. If the project hasn't been cancelled in the meantime, you can expect an update on it.
• Founded in 2019, Roundhouse Studios most recently supported Arkane in the development of "Redfall". According to rumours, they are working on their first own game. Will we get to see it at the showcase? Probably not.
• Tango Gameworks have just released the action rhythm game "Hi-Fi Rush". According to rumours, "The Evil Within" development studio is developing a new JRPG. Their last major game, "Ghostwire: Tokyo", was released in 2022, so it's quite possible that the new project will take a while before there's anything to present.
• The Coalition is almost certainly developing a "Gears" sequel. The last title was released in 2019, so a sign of life for the franchise at the showcase seems possible.
• The Initiative is working on a new edition of "Perfect Dark". The game was announced in 2020 and has never been seen since. According to insider reports, the game has had a turbulent development. Will "Perfect Dark" make it to the showcase? Doubtful.
• Turn 10 will almost certainly delight us with new impressions of "Forza Motorsport". The game is due to be released later this year.
• Undead Labs is currently working on "State of Decay 3". The zombie survival game was announced two years ago - an update at the showcase seems very likely.
• World's Edge could show new impressions of the console adaptation of "Age of Empires IV". This is due to be released later this year. Updates to "Age of Mythology" or the mobile version of "Age of Empires" are also possible.
• As at every Xbox event, Zenimax Online will almost certainly present new content for the online action RPG "Fallout 76" and the MMORPG "The Elder Scrolls Online".

Not enough games yet? You can find an overview of all Summer Game Fest events here:

You can see our reactions to the Summer Game Fest Showcase here:

Starfield controller

Domagoj Belancic

Senior Editor

Domagoj.Belancic@digitecgalaxus.ch

My love of video games was unleashed at the tender age of five by the original Gameboy. Over the years, it's grown in leaps and bounds.