Tokyo Game Show 2023 & Xbox Digital Broadcast LIVE: Every reveal and trailer as it happened

Hello, readers! It may be much earlier for some of you, but regardless, I'll be here wide-eyed and armed with coffee ready for another Tokyo Game Show. This show has a special place in my heart as it was the first I covered when I started at Windows Central just a year ago, and despite not generally being an avid follower of Asian titles (actually that’s a lie, I love me some Pokémon), I still found lots to get excited about. I’m hoping this year will be no different. I honestly can’t envision it getting any better this year for games and announcements, but let's see if the Xbox Digital Broadcast at Tokyo Game Show 2023 is about to prove me wrong. Without further ado, let's see what's in store. — Jennifer Young

Ah, another Xbox show is here. I can't wait to watch it live alongside everyone el—Oh, it's going to be four in the morning. Well, that's alright, I'll just rely on my colleague Jennifer Young to catch me up on everything that happens during the Xbox Digital Broadcast at Tokyo Game Show 2023. I'll still be here with supporting content and exclusive commentary when I can be. — Zachary Boddy

How to watch TGS 2023 & the Xbox Digital Broadcast

We're drawing ever closer to the start of Tokyo Game Show 2023 where we're expecting to learn some exciting Xbox Series X|S news. Since it's held in Japan, the event starts late this evening for those in the United States. You can watch the Tokyo Game Show 2023 Xbox Digital Broadcast on YouTube or Twitch. — Rebecca Spear

TGS 2023 Start: Sept. 20, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. PST / 9:00 p.m. EST | Sept. 21, 2023, at 2:00 a.m. BST 

Xbox Digital Broadcast: Sept. 21, 2023, at 2:00 a.m. PST / 5:00 a.m. EST / 10:00 a.m. BST.

TGS 2023 End: Sept. 24, 2023, at 2:00 a.m. PST / 5:00 a.m. EST / 10:00 a.m. BST

Catching up on Xbox news before the show

Tokyo Game Show 2023 doesn't kick off for another few hours, and the Xbox Digital Broadcast isn't for another few hours after that. In the meantime, feel free to catch up on all the recent news in the Xbox space. Spoiler alert: A lot has been going on. The video games world has been bustling, and a lot of that movement has involved Xbox. Here's just a few recent stories to sate your eyeballs before the main event:

• Recapping every recent Microsoft leak. Microsoft has seen a lot of leaks lately, but most of it has been in the land of Xbox. Mistakenly uploaded documents from the recent Xbox vs FTC case regarding Microsoft's Activision Blizzard acquisition have revealed a ton of information on Xbox's potential future plans, including new consoles, controllers, games, and much more.
• Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review. The next era of Cyberpunk 2077 is finally here, with Update 2.0 coming to players tomorrow and the Phantom Liberty expansion arriving next week. Finally, CP2077 is where players hoped it'd be back in 2020; that is to say, it's an incredibly fun sci-fi RPG that's 100% worth playing (or revisiting).
• Workers hope Microsoft commits to unions. One major effect from Microsoft's attempt to acquire Activision Blizzard is an industry-wide shift in thinking toward unions. Microsoft took a neutral stance in regards to unions forming at Activision Blizzard, and workers — at Xbox and Activision Blizzard both — are hopeful that this positive change will persist, and possibly even improve, following the acquisition's completion.
• Xbox Game Pass continues to get new games. Xbox Game Pass slows for no one, and that means new games for players to enjoy. Lies of P, Party Animals, Gotham Knights, The Lamplighter's League, and Payday 3 are but a few recent or upcoming additions to the subscription service.
• Accessibility matters in Forza Motorsport. I recently previewed Forza Motorsport (2023), and the thing that impressed me the most is how accessible and approachable Turn 10 Studios' upcoming simulation racing game is. The major investment into superior accessibility could mean great things for the genre and video games in general, with Forza Motorsport being one of the most accessible games I have ever played.
• Unity makes a controversial change, and devs hate it. The biggest controversy in the gaming world recently has undoubtedly been Unity announcing a per-install fee for any successful game built using its game engine, which has resulted in massive backlash both from developers and the community. This policy change could have huge negative effects on indie games and Xbox Game Pass, but Unity may still backtrack on the decision. Even if it does, though, trust has been broken.
• Resident Evil 4: Separate Ways DLC preview. Resident Evil 4 is one of my favorite games from 2023, and it's about to get its first proper story DLC, Separate Ways. This DLC makes the remake content-complete versus the original, and will let players finish the story in the shoes of the mysterious Ada Wong. It looks fantastic, and I can't wait to play the full experience.

Be sure to catch up on all this soon, as there's almost certainly going to be a whole lot more gaming and Xbox news in the next few days. — Zachary Boddy

Alright, folks! Tokyo Game Show 2023 is officially underway, but we're roughly four hours out from when the Xbox Digital Broadcast goes live. Since that's going to be really early in the morning for us on the Windows Central gaming team, we'll report on any big announcements tomorrow morning at a decent hour. Check back here tomorrow for additional information. — Rebecca Spear

Our Managing Editor is having a well-earned break right now, but he did pose a question over on Twitter (I will never call it X). What do you guys hope to see from the Tokyo Game Show? We had some interesting responses. Mostly people are hoping to see if we finally get more Square Enix games coming to the platform, the Final Fantasy franchise garnering most of the attention. Miles Dompier has already posted his hopes and dreams for Legend of Mana — will his dreams come true? Some posters have even speculated if we will finally see more of Hellblade 2. Will anyone get their wish? We're about to find out! — Jennifer Young

Ori and Naru join the Party Animals roster

And we're off! Is this Ori? Party Animals? Oh! It's a crossover! Strong opener.

Party Animals was released into Xbox Game Pass just yesterday and is taking social media by storm as a cute physics brawler to enjoy with friends (as you beat them into jelly submission), and we're getting a new character already with Ori joining the line-up. Could more iconic Xbox characters join the fold? This could be a great contender for our best Xbox games for kids, but I know plenty of grown-ups are enjoying the game too. — Jennifer Young

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy dropping into Game Pass

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy will be dropping into Game Pass on September 26. The Ace Attorney games follow the adventures of a defense attorney Phoenix Wright, and players must present evidence and cross-examine witnesses to make their cases to a jury. The games are popular for their quirky dialogue. 

Apollo Justic: Ace Attorney Trilogy also got a brand-new trailer, announcing that it's officially releasing on Jan. 25, 2024 for Xbox and Windows PC. — Jennifer Young

New trailer for Palworld

Palworld, the Pokémon-alike from the Craftopia devs, drops on Xbox in 2024. This isn't the first time we've seen Palworld; in fact, it was included in last year's show. The trailer shown today gives us more information about the game, showcasing some new 'Pals,' character customization options, and further gameplay footage. I can't wait to play "Pokémon with guns" on my Xbox console. — Jennifer Young

Persona 5 Tactica comes to Xbox Game Pass this year

Persona 5 announcements now, a game that I believe is still the highest-rated Xbox Game Pass game on Metacritic. Will Persona 5 Tactica enjoy the same reception? The upcoming game spins off from the main series and follows the Phantom Thieves of Hearts as they are transported to an alternate world. Persona 5 Tactica will have a grid-based combat system with summoning and fusion from the original series, and is the first Persona game to have a worldwide simultaneous release. Persona 5 Tactica drops into Xbox Game Pass on November 17.  — Jennifer Young

Octopath Traveler 2 is coming to Xbox after all

Sarah Bond introducing Square Enix now. Here's what we've been hoping for — more Square Enix titles on Xbox! I'm thrilled to see we're going to get Octopath Traveler 2 in 2024, a title we thought would skip the platform. Octopath Traveler 2 is already available on PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and PC. It launched worldwide in February this year, receiving strong reviews and selling over a million copies by June 2023, so I'm in no doubt it will perform fantastically for Xbox. The announcement doesn't mention a specific launch date for Xbox consoles, but we can expect the game 'early 2024.' — Jennifer Young

Altheia: The Wrath of Aferi coming to Xbox and PC

Developers, inspired by Hayao Miyazaki movies, take a segment now to announce that Altheia: The Wrath of Aferi will be coming to Xbox and PC soon. Join forces with an arcane monk and embark on a cute adventure game to save your home from the Void. You will explore ancient temples, solve puzzles, free spirits, and face giant monsters. That's me sold. — Jennifer Young

We can't get Animal Crossing on Xbox, but this next game is pretty darn close

Possibly the cutest game I've ever laid eyes on, cosy gamers rejoice! Mineko's Night Market hits Xbox Game Pass on Oct. 26 and looks like a perfect game for handheld. The game's Twitter page describes it as "A game about crafting crafts, eating eats, and catting cats." What's not to love about that? My colleague Zachary Boddy certainly noticed it earlier this year, as Mineko's Night Market featured prominently on their list of 22 exciting indie games from Not-E3. — Jennifer Young

Persona 3 Reload comes to Game Pass in February

Xbox fans love them some Persona, and here's Persona 3 Reload coming as a Day One release on Xbox Game Pass on Feb. 2, 2024. — Jennifer Young

Fallout 76: Atlantic City DLC coming this year

Fallout 76 may not have had the smoothest launch, but you can't deny Bethesda has been pumping out content for the game and giving it full support, and it's arguably in a much better position now. Hell, I threw over 200 hours into the game in its launch state, so I'm more than happy to see more content arrive. The Atlantic City DLC arrives on Dec. 5 for Xbox Game Pass and brings a new location to explore, as well as new factions, creatures, missions, and rewards.  — Jennifer Young

Huge Yakuza drops for Xbox Game Pass

Yakuza games Like a Dragon: Ishin and Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name are both coming to Xbox Game Pass. Could the backlog get any worse this year? These will all drop in 2023.

Like a Dragon: Ishin is a remake of a spin-off game that was never released outside of Japan. It is set in the late Edo period and follows the protagonist Sakamoto Ryōma as he fights to clear his name. Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is a new spin-off game that focuses on the former lead character Kazuma Kiryu. He is a secret agent who uses high-tech gadgets and weapons to fight his enemies.

Both games will be available on Xbox Game Pass in 2023, with Gaiden launching Nov. 9, 2023 day one. This will also set up the next game in the franchise, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, which arrives Jan. 26, 2024. — Jennifer Young

My Lovely Empress coming to Xbox

My Lovely Empress is described as "an empire management sim inspired by Asian mythology. As the Emperor of the Crimson Empire, you will build relations with neighboring rulers, balance internal factions, and ensure the prosperity of your people, all before you reap their souls to resurrect your beloved empress."

This game looks beautiful and is reminiscent of Pentiment's art style but with a Japanese twist. The game incorporates Japanese-inspired Yokai and blends 2D and 3D elements to create a unique experience for players. My Lovely Empress comes to Xbox in 2024. — Jennifer Young

Exoprimal Season 2 coming next month

Wait, there was a Season 1? I kid. This actually looks like a lot of fun. Teddy bears, pumpkins, and dinosaurs oh my, Exoprimal Season 2 hits Oct. 18 with a new playable character and a Street Fighter 6 crossover with emotes, skins and more. Got to love those Capcom crossovers. — Jennifer Young

Gore-filled Hotel Barcelona comes to Xbox next year

Ok if there was a game I was excited about, this is it. If Sharknado and Dead Island 2 combined to have an anime platformer baby, this would be the result. Hotel Barcelona looks like stupid crazy fun. It's a violent side-scroller with a blood-splattered, grindhouse aesthetic, and the developers are discussing its 'death loop' mechanic, where your previous life can aid you in each new one within the game.

The game is a collaboration between Japanese developers Hidetaka “Swery” Suehiro and Goichi “Suda51” Suda, known for the Deadly Premonition games and No More Heroes series respectively. Both devs discussed their inspirations for the game, rooted in classic horror from the Stanley Kubrick variety to zombie shoot 'em ups. As a huge horror fan, color me intrigued. Hotel Barcelona comes to Xbox in 2024. — Jennifer Young

So that was all the announcements from the Tokyo Game Show 2023! If I'm honest, it didn't deliver for me as much as last year's, though perhaps my judgement is clouded as I was so excited for Deathloop. That being said, there are a fair few games here I definitely want to check out, Hotel Barcelona being top of the list. I'm sure Like Dragon fans will be stoked to see the new additions coming to Game Pass, too. What was your favorite announcement from the show? — Jennifer Young

So, now that the dust has settled (and I got a bit more sleep after helping cover the Xbox show), I think that was okay. Definitely didn't have the "wow" factor some may have hoped for after last year's surprisingly strong showcase (which included, among other things, the Xbox version of Deathloop being announced) but this was still pretty solid.

The highlight for me is clearly the two Like a Dragon games that are headed to Xbox Game Pass, including a day one title. Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku are clearly happy with how the franchise is doing on Xbox, so it's great to see these kinds of partnerships continue. If you're looking to get caught up, all eight mainline Like a Dragon games are currently available on Xbox Game Pass. — Samuel Tolbert

Forza Motorsport reveals beautiful Japanese Hakone Circuit

What better place to announce a new Japanese racing circuit for Forza Motorsport (2023) then at the Tokyo Game Show? Turn 10 Studios took a brief moment on stage to show off Hakone Circuit in its upcoming simulation racing game, and it looks as beautiful as you'd expect. If you're as excited for the next Motorsport game as I am, be sure to read my recent post discussing the incredible accessibility in Forza Motorsport (2023). — Zachary Boddy

Elder Scrolls Online getting full Japanese localization

A lovely bit of news for Japanese MMO fans, as The Elder Scrolls Online is getting full Japanese localization on Nov. 15, 2023. That's it, that's the news. — Zachary Boddy

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes coming to Xbox Game Pass next year

The highly-anticipated new Eiyuden Chronicle game from 505 Games is heading to Xbox consoles (and Xbox Game Pass) on April 23, 2024. Oh, and it's available to preorder now. — Zachary Boddy

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty getting its second DLC

Conqueror of Jiangdong is the second DLC for Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, and it's coming to players on Sept. 27, 2023. Oh, and there's going to be a slick Lies of P crossover event with new weapons. Neat. — Zachary Boddy

Dragon's Dogma 2 grabs a new trailer

Capcom showed up to Tokyo Game Show with a new look at the long-awaited Dragon's Dogma 2. This action-RPG allows players to start out by choosing a vocation: Fighter, Thief, Mage, or Archer, though you can customize and grow your character being this starting class and aren't forever locked into a certain path based on your choice.

Dragon's Dogma 2 still doesn't have a release date, but whenever it arrives, it'll be available on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5. — Samuel Tolbert 

Microsoft's Activision Blizzard acquisition provisionally approved by UK's CMA

Okay, this doesn't have anything to do with Tokyo Game Show 2023, but it's still relevant Xbox news. After months of battles with regulators and government bodies, it seems like Microsoft's acquisition of publisher Activision Blizzard may finally be nearing completion. That's because the UK's CMA has provisionally approved the acquisition after Microsoft's concessions that its cloud streaming rights would be granted wholly to Ubisoft in the United Kingdom.

With this provisional approval, the end is finally in sight for this long-running deal. We should hear a final decision from the CMA by early October, after which Microsoft should be free to fully close the deal. — Zachary Boddy

Seven games from TGS 2023 coming to Xbox Game Pass

Every Xbox event is bound to come with new announcements for Xbox and PC Game Pass, and Tokyo Game Show 2023 was no exception. During the Xbox Digital Broadcast portion of the show, we learned of seven games that are coming to Xbox Game Pass in the future, and five of them are day one additions to the service. You can find each game below, alongside the confirmed Xbox Game Pass platforms and arrival dates. — Zachary Boddy

• Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Windows PC) — Sept. 26, 2023
• Mineko's Night Market (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Windows PC) — Oct. 26, 2023
• Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One) — Nov. 9, 2023
• Persona 5 Tactica (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, & Windows PC) — Nov. 17, 2023
• Like a Dragon: Ishin! (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, & Windows PC) — Late 2023
• Persona 3 Reload (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Windows PC) — Feb. 2, 2024
• Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes (Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One) — April 24, 2024