Xbox Games Showcase 2023 as it happened: Every Xbox & PC game announcement
We're here to bring you every bit of news from the epic Xbox Games Showcase.
Greetings, friends! It's your friendly neighborhood noodle, Zachary Boddy, here at Windows Central. It's finally that time of year... When I have to work over the weekend. Oh, and it's also time for 2023's Xbox Games Showcase! We're expecting to see a huge number of announcements from Xbox's first-party studios and third-party partners, mostly centered around all the biggest games heading to Xbox over the next year or so.
I can't wait, personally. I hope to see news on Fable, Avowed, and Forza Motorsport (2023). State of Decay 3 may be a bit of a far-fetched dream at this point, but I'd certainly love to see it appear, too. Whatever we see, though, the Windows Central team will be here with exclusive commentary, instant live updates, and all the information you didn't realize you needed. Even if you're watching the Xbox Games Showcase yourself, tune into Windows Central anyway. — Zachary Boddy, Windows Central Staff Writer
Hello everyone! I'm Brendan Lowry, and I'm excited to welcome you to Windows Central's live coverage of Microsoft's Xbox Games Showcase event. You can expect plenty of awesome announcements and reveals for games coming to the Xbox and Windows PC ecosystem in 2023 and beyond.
Before, throughout, and after the show, you can look forward to plenty of live reports, reactions, analyses, and more from Team Windows Central. Staff Writer Zachary Boddy and I will be covering the event from afar, with Windows Central Managing Editor Jez Corden and Contributor Samuel Tolbert sharing their unique perspective from the showfloor.
With games like Avowed, Fable, Hellblade 2, and STALKER 2 on the horizon as well as unannounced projects like Compulsion Games' Project Midnight and inXile's new RPG codenamed Cobalt in development, we expect that 2023's Xbox Game Showcase will be a fantastic show (and don't forget about the Starfield Direct!). Thanks for joining us for it, and make sure you stay tuned with us for all the latest updates and news drops. — Brendan Lowry, Windows Central Contributor
Everything announced at Summer Game Fest 2023
Before tomorrow's Xbox Games Showcase, there was 2023's Summer Game Fest presentation on Thursday afternoon. Hosted by Geoff Keighley and streamed live from the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles, Summer Game Fest gave fans around the world exciting sneak peeks at some of the biggest upcoming games that the industry is cooking up.
While Microsoft didn't have much of a presence at the show — they're saving all the good stuff for the Xbox Games Showcase! — developers and publishers like Ubisoft, NetherRealm Studios, SEGA, Remedy Entertainment, Epic Games, and Devolver Digital shared several of the titles they're bringing to Xbox, Windows PC, and other platforms soon. Check out the list below for all the highlights, or head to our SGF 2023 live blog to see everything announced at Summer Game Fest 2023 as it happened. — Brendan Lowry
- Summer Game Fest 2023: All announcements and reveals
- Mortal Kombat 1: An exciting first look at the gameplay of the Mortal Kombat reboot
- Sonic Superstars: This new 2D Sonic game is coming to Xbox and PC in 2023
- Remnant 2: The third-person shooter Soulslike sequel gets a release date
- Alan Wake 2: Official gameplay debut confirms an intense survival horror experience
- John Carpenter's Toxic Commando: This co-op horror shooter looks super campy, and we're here for it
- Fortnite Wilds: Epic celebrates the new Transformers film with an exciting collaboration
- Xbox X Porsche: Microsoft and Porsche are giving away 75 uniquely themed consoles
- Human Fall Flat 2: One of the most creative puzzle games of all time is getting a follow-up
We asked fans what Xbox needs to deliver at the show. Here's what you said.
Between the poor reception to Arkane Studios' Xbox and PC exclusive Redfall and the overall lack of gameplay footage and release dates in recent presentations, Microsoft has struggled to convince gamers that the future of Xbox is a bright one. With most conversations around the publisher's platform being quite pessimistic and doubtful as of late, it's not farfetched to say that Microsoft needs to show up big with the 2023 Xbox Games Showcase and set a more optimistic tone.
Last week, we asked you what Xbox needs to deliver at the Xbox Games Showcase on social media, as we were eager to see what you think Microsoft needs to do to win over the community and earn back its trust. Based on hundreds of responses, here's a look at some of the things you want to see most at the show. — Brendan Lowry
- Actual Xbox gameplay: By far, the biggest request from Xbox fans for the show has been lots of actual gameplay rather than pre-rendered trailers and scripted cinematic sequences. While CG trailers have their place, many gamers are ready for a look at the type of experience they'll actually be able to have while playing upcoming titles like Avowed. Redfall's 30 FPS cap controversy in particular has highlighted the importance of showing gameplay on Xbox specifically, as the game's launch marketing showed it being played at 60 FPS on a PC.
- Release dates: Microsoft has teased a wide variety of projects over the last several years that still don't have official release windows, including Avowed, Hellblade 2, Everwild, State of Decay 3, Contraband, and more. While Microsoft no doubt wants to avoid getting itself into another "all these games are coming in the next 12 months" situation, lots of fans are asking (and expecting) updates.
- New reveals: While you mainly want to see gameplay and release date information for the Xbox projects that have already been shown, plenty of fans want to see some new reveals as well. Hopefully we'll see some big announcements like Gears 6 or the official debut of inXile's upcoming RPG, codenamed Cobalt.
- Xbox Game Studios partnerships: Announcements of collaboration with developers like Hideo Kojima and Avalanche Studios have been some of the most exciting in recent memory for Xbox gamers, so there's definitely a high demand for additional partnerships.
Hello everybody! It's Samuel Tolbert, Windows Central contributor here, and I'm reporting live from L.A! While E3 may be dead this year, there's a number of great gaming events going on, and I'll be helping to cover the Xbox Showcase and Starfield Direct!
And since I'm a bit late to the conversation about what we're hoping to see, I'd like to re-emphasize Starfield. From being Bethesda Game Studios' first single-player game since Fallout 4 in 2015 (and first new IP since The Elder Scrolls: Arena!) there's so much to be excited for, and I can't wait to see what Todd Howard and the rest of the team have in store. — Samuel Tolbert, Windows Central contributor
This time of year is rife with unfounded rumors and wild expectations, much of which never coming to pass. However, it's often fun to fan these flames and willingly explore your most ridiculous dreams and predictions. Our very own Alex Cope did exactly that with the Xbox Games Showcase 2023, highlighting what he'd love to see revealed during the event — Even if there's little chance of these things actually happening.
These wild predictions are pretty specific to their author, but everyone has their own dreams for what could happen during the Xbox Games Showcase. Alex wants to see a revival of the Killer Instinct fighting franchise on Xbox; Final Fantasy games like Final Fantasy 7 Remake to actually come to Xbox; Capcom and Xbox announce a closer partnership alongside announcements like Monster Hunter: World 2, a retro Monster Hunter collection, and the return of the Breath of Fire JRPG series; Rare announce a long-awaited sequel to Kameo; and for Battletoads to get the 'AAA' treatment it deserves.
As for me? I'd love to see a high-budget, high-effort Viva Piñata sequel from Rare, the announcement of a third DLC expansion for Forza Horizon 5 or a remake of the original Forza Horizon, and all of the PC, Switch, and PlayStation indie games I want to release on Xbox announced at the same time as heading to Xbox consoles and Game Pass. Yeah, these are all pretty unlikely, but a person can hope, right? — Zachary Boddy
Here are our official Xbox Games Showcase predictions
It's always fun to speculate about what Microsoft has in store for its fans with its Xbox Game Showcases, and ahead of the 2023 show, Contributor Miles Dompier and the rest of Team Windows Central decided to do just that with a list of our official Xbox Game Showcase predictions. Based on industry insights and development timelines, we expect that the games highlighted below will appear at Microsoft's presentation.
Playground Games' Fable reboot and Obsidian Entertainment's fantasy RPG Avowed are at the top of our list, as neither haven't been seen since their reveal trailers in 2020. Notably, Phil Spencer mentioned Avowed and Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 when discussing titles that could arrive in the quarters following Starfield's September 6 release date, suggesting that both games aren't too far off and will likely appear at the show. We're also expecting to see more of the Forza Motorsport reboot, as it was shown earlier this year during the Xbox Developer_Direct show.
Other games we could see include Compulsion Games' Project Midnight, inXile's rumored and teased steampunk FPS RPG Project Cobalt, and possibly even The Coalition's Gears 6 on Unreal Engine 5. We wouldn't be surprised if Avalanche Studios' action-packed heist game Contraband, Stock Studio's fantasy side-scroller The Wandering Tower, State of Decay 3, Everwild, or Perfect Dark appear, either.
In addition to closer looks at Microsoft's upcoming projects, we could also see what its developers are working on for live service updates to games like Halo Infinite and Sea of Thieves. Halo Infinite Season 4 is slated to kick off on June 10, while Sea of Thieves Season 10 is expected to arrive at some point between July and August. — Brendan Lowry
The Xbox Games Showcase will run for 'roughly two hours,' says Microsoft
Wondering how long the show will be? Ahead of its arrival, VP of Xbox Games Marketing Aaron Greenberg has confirmed on Twitter that the showcase will last "roughly two hours," meaning that fans can look forward to around 120 minutes of announcements, reveals, trailers, and more. Note that the Starfield Direct, a short presentation coming directly after the main showcase that will show off Bethesda's highly anticipated sci-fi RPG, has been factored into this runtime.
This puts the Xbox Games Showcase in line with other events like Summer Game Fest, but if you were hoping for a longer show, don't worry. Microsoft is holding an extended showcase on Tuesday, June 13 that'll have multiple developer interviews and additional updates.
"Like last year, we’ll also have our follow-up stream, Xbox Games Showcase Extended airing June 13 at 10 a.m. PT, with in-depth interviews focused on the news from our Xbox Games Showcase as well as game updates from our partners," wrote Joe Skrebels, the Editor-in-Chief of the official Xbox news website Xbox Wire. — Brendan Lowry
Xbox's Aaron Greenberg: There will be no 'full CG trailers' at the show
One thing that's clear about the 2023 Xbox Games Showcase is that fans want to see plenty of in-game and/or in-engine footage. Evidently, Microsoft has heard that desire loud and clear, because VP of Xbox Games Marketing Aaron Greenberg has announced on Twitter that the presentation won't feature "full CG trailers."
"None of our first party games in the show are full CG trailers. Everything is either in-game footage, in-engine footage, or in-game footage with some cinematics," Greenberg wrote. "Each of our trailers will be labeled so it is hopefully clear for our fans."
This has us even more excited for the Xbox Games Showcase than we already were. Bring on the gameplay! — Brendan Lowry
How to watch the 2023 Xbox Games Showcase
Interested in watching the Xbox Games Showcase and Starfield Direct? You're in luck. Microsoft is livestreaming the event across a handful of popular platforms, including Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook. Below, you'll find links to all three of these streams.
Like previous Xbox Game Showcases, this one is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET. The show will run for "roughly two hours," with a dedicated presentation for Bethesda's upcoming RPG Starfield closing out the show. There will also be an Xbox Games Showcase Extended with additional developer interviews and game updates on Tuesday, June 13 at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET. — Brendan Lowry
Hello there! It's the morning of the Xbox Games Showcase and Starfield Direct. I've been talking to a number of members of Team Xbox and the Xbox fan community recently, and the energy is real. People are excited, and everyone is so happy to be coming together again for an in-person gathering after the last couple of years. No spoilers, but this definitely seems like it's going to be a great show.
If you've got last-minute predictions, now is the time to start getting them in. — Samuel Tolbert.
Here's what Team Windows Central wants to see at the Xbox Games Showcase
The Xbox Games Showcase is only a little over 30 minutes away now, and everyone here at Windows Central is absolutely stoked to see what Microsoft has in store for Xbox and PC gamers around the world. Ahead of the show, I asked several of my colleagues what they're hoping to see and why. Here's what they said:
"I'm hoping to see some Xbox JRPGs at the show. We already know the Persona 3 remake will be there because of the leak, but I'm interested in seeing news for the indie JRPG Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes because that looks like a fun throwback to the PlayStation One era of JRPGs.
I'm also hoping that the release date for the Suikoden I & II HD Remaster will be announced at the event because I never got the original versions on PlayStation One, and the idea of having literally over a hundred party members sounds intriguing." — Alexander Cope, Contributor
"Beyond the obvious excitement for finally seeing Starfield fully demonstrated, I'm really hoping that we see some of Xbox's so-called "elusive five," games that were announced years ago but have yet to really show up. Fable, State of Decay 3, Avowed, Everwild, and Contraband have largely been MIA since their announcements, and it would be nice to get some more information on them. I personally expect Avowed and Fable to be there based on developmental timelines, but a shroud of mystery surrounds State of Decay 3, which is a personal favorite Xbox franchise for me. Even though I'm full of admiration for how well Undead Labs has supported State of Decay 2, it makes me wonder how much time is actually being given to State of Decay 3. The CGI trailer for State of Decay 3 set a very high bar visually, and I'm already preparing myself for a pang of disappointment if it doesn't come close to that level of visual detail.
Beyond that, it would be nice to get some genuinely epic and unexpected surprises. I still remember announcements like Xbox backward compatibility and Killer Instinct, since they were both previously completely unexpected. It would be nice to get that level of excitement back into the mix, especially as Xbox is coming in from a relatively negative press cycle following the troubles of the ABK acquisition, and the poor reception of Redfall." — Jez Corden, Managing Editor
"Like many Xbox fans, I'm incredibly excited to see what the teams at Xbox Game Studios have been crafting behind the scenes. Fable, Avowed, and. Hellblade 2 are likely candidates for high-profile spotlights during the event, but I'd love to see updates for Everwild and State of Decay 3. Rare continues to push fresh, innovative game worlds and Everwild stands confidently as one of my most anticipated first-party Xbox games. An official game reveal for the long-rumored Xbox and Kojima collaboration would also be a fantastic way for Microsoft to demonstrate it's commitments to Japanese creators." — Miles Dompier, Contributor
"It's a long shot, but I'm hoping to see what Compulsion Games is working on. I think they are long overdue a comeback after We Happy Few received some overblown criticisms, I personally enjoyed the art direction and the narrative despite its bugs and repeated environments and am optimistic about what they are going to bring out next following learnings from what went wrong there. They've been pretty incognito since, other than rumblings about Project Midnight, so they could surprise us." — Jennifer Young, Contributor
"I've tried to hold back from any potential speculations because I really want to just be surprised. I am desperate for some State of Decay 3 and Everwild crumbs, though.
State of Decay is such an underrated franchise, but I may be biased because I have a Bronto Gas sign hanging in my living room. Undead Labs has made ridiculous leaps from the first game to the second, and I just can't wait to see what they have up their sleeve.
Rare has definitely earned respect for their talent, we know what they're capable of and Everwild is a bit of a gotcha that it's going to be good. I'm curious if the "its Viva Piñata-esque" rumors have merit. I wouldn't be mad.
I feel like we've gotten enough peeks at Hellblade 2 that I don't mind waiting for it a little longer, but State of Decay 3 and Everwild both live rent free in my head." — Cole Martin, Contributor
"I'm actually surprised by how much my own desires mirror those of my colleagues. While Forza Motorsport (2023) and Starfield are undoubtedly massive hits for Xbox and are just around the corner, other titles that are likely a bit farther out have a tighter grip on my heart. I desperately want to see more of State of Decay 3, as I've put dozens upon dozens of hours into the incredible State of Decay 2 and am dying to know (pun intended) what Undead Labs is cooking up for the long-awaited sequel.
I also love Rare and their ceaseless creativity, only on part with other studios like Double Fine, so I can't wait to see what Everwild is going to add to the world. Its reveal trailer piqued my interest with its stunning art direction, but I want to know what the title will be from a gameplay perspective. I'd also love to hear that it's a bit closer than any of us thought it'd be.
Avowed from Obsidian Entertainment has been one of my most anticipated upcoming games since its initial teaser trailer, as I'm a huge fan of fantasy RPGs and Obsidian has crafted some of my favorite games in recent memories. I have high hopes for Avowed, and there's not a doubt in my mind that it'll end up as one of the best games of the year whenever it releases. I just hope that the "when" is sooner rather than later.
Finally, I want to see renewed commitment from Xbox to invest in more creative, oft-experimental experiences that other major publishers tend to avoid. Grounded, Pentiment, and Hi-Fi Rush are genuinely some of my favorite games of all time, and they all released because Xbox put its faith (and money) in smaller teams at its various studios. I want to see more games like that out of the Xbox family of studios, and I hope to see some announcements during the Xbox Games Showcase. Although, hoping for another shadow-dropped title on the same caliber as Hi-Fi RUSH is probably far too much to ask for." — Zachary Boddy, Staff Writer
As for me, the game I want to see most at the show is STALKER 2, GSC Game World's sequel to its trilogy of open world survival shooters set in a fictional and supernatural version of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. I've been a massive fan of the STALKER series for years now, and routinely return to the original games as well as open source fan-made mod projects like STALKER Anomaly.
The game's development — and more importantly, the lives of GSC's developers and their families — has been impacted severely by Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine. Though 200 of GSC Game World's staff have reportedly evacuated to Prague in the Czech Republic, 130 are still in Ukraine, with many developers serving on the front lines or doing volunteer work for their local communities. I'm proud to show my support for GSC with a preorder, both as a STALKER fan and as a human being horrified by the devastation caused by the ongoing conflict.
STALKER 2 was originally scheduled to release in April 2022, but its launch was delayed to some point this year due to Russia's invasion. I expect that if STALKER 2 appears at the show, we'll get to see some new gameplay footage and will be given a new official release date to look forward to. — Brendan Lowry, Contributor
This is it! Jez Corden and I are here at the theater where the Xbox Games Showcase is being held. I hope that everyone has fun watching as me, Jez, and the rest of Team Windows Central work to cover this event. — Samuel Tolbert
Xbox Games Showcase kicks off with gorgeous new Fable trailer
The first game shown during the Xbox Games Showcase was Playground Games' Fable reboot. In the gorgeous new trailer with in-game footage, we got introduced to a humorous new character named Dave the Vegetable Enthusiast. — Brendan Lowry
Compulsion Games announced South of Midnight for Xbox and PC
Compulsion Games' Project Midnight has turned out to be South of Midnight, a new IP coming to Xbox and PC through Steam. — Brendan Lowry
Star Wars Outlaws announced, coming to Xbox in 2024
During the showcase, a new Star Wars game called Star Wars Outlaws from Ubisoft was announced for Xbox Series X|S. The game is scheduled to come in 2024, with more information coming in tomorrow's Ubisoft Forward. — Brendan Lowry
33 Immortals, a roguelike with 33-player co-op is coming to Xbox and PC in 2024
33 Immortals, a new co-op action roguelike from Thunder Lotus, is coming to Xbox in 2024. Notably, the game has wild 33-player co-op functionality. — Brendan Lowry
Avowed gets 2024 release window, coming to Xbox and PC
A new Avowed trailer with tons of gorgeous in-game footage has confirmed that Obsidian's new fantasy RPG is releasing in 2024. It will be available on both Xbox and PC. — Brendan Lowry
Sea of Thieves: The Legend of Monkey Island coming July 20th
A new content drop for Sea of Thieves called Sea of Thieves: The Legend of Monkey Island is coming to Rare's beloved pirate game on July 20th. New story content will be available for free for all players, with the new additions themed around the classic series. — Brendan Lowry
Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 gets beautiful trailer, 2024 release window
An absolutely beautiful new trailer of in-engine Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 footage has revealed that the game is coming in 2024. It's coming to both Xbox and PC, and we couldn't be more excited for it. — Brendan Lowry
New Fallout 76 'Atlantic City' expansion announced
Bethesda has announced a new expansion for Fallout 76 called Atlantic City. We didn't get a release date, though we were shown a Vault-Tec style training video as a trailer with some snazzy tunes. — Brendan Lowry
Capcom announces Path of the Goddess, coming to Xbox and Game Pass
Capcom has announced Path of the Goddess, an exciting new action game with an emphasis on Japenese-style combat and visuals. It's coming to Xbox, and will be available on Game Pass. — Brendan Lowry
Forza Motorsport gets October 10, 2023 release date, coming to Xbox and PC
In a spectacular new trailer with plenty of gameplay and in-engine footage, it was announced that the Forza Motorsport reboot is launching on October 10, 2023. The game is coming to Xbox and PC, and will be on Game Pass. Notably, preorders are also available now. — Brendan Lowry
'A new adventure begins' for Overwatch 2 on August 10
A new trailer for Overwatch 2 has hinted that "a new adventure begins" on August 10, with a new Flashpoint game mode, Hero Mastery and Firing Range modes, and our first look at PvE story missions being shown. — Brendan Lowry
Starfield trailer reminds everyone to stay tuned for the Starfield Direct
A lovely new Starfield trailer that shows more of the game's expansive worlds, factions, and more was shown during the Xbox Games Showcase. The end of the trailer included a reminder that there's more to come of Starfield after the show with the Starfield Direct. — Brendan Lowry
Still Wakes the Deep arriving 2024 on Xbox and Game Pass
Still Wakes the Deep, a game that looks like it's part of the horror genre and is set on an abandoned oil rig, is coming to Xbox and Game Pass in 2024. We'll embed the trailer here as soon as it's available. — Brendan Lowry
Keanu Reeves excitedly shows off new Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty trailer, September 26 release date revealed
At the Showcase, Keanu Reeves (Johnny Silverhand in-game) introduced fans to a new trailer for Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty. Showing gameplay and in-engine footage, the trailer revealed that the DLC is coming to all of the game's platforms on September 26 and will be centered around trying to find a way to save V's life. You can preorder it now, too. — Brendan Lowry
Cities: Skylines 2 announced, coming October 24 on Xbox and Game Pass
A sequel to the beloved city-builder Cities: Skylines was announced with a new trailer. The sequel is called Cities: Skylines 2, and will release on October 24 on Xbox and Game Pass. — Brendan Lowry
inXile officially announces Clockwork Revolution, coming 'in due time'
inXile Entertainment of Wasteland 3 fame has officially announced its next game, a FPS steampunk RPG named Clockwork Revolution (previously known by its codename Cobalt). The game is coming to Xbox, PC, and Game Pass, with its release expected "in due time." — Brendan Lowry
New Black Xbox Series S with 1TB SSD announced, more Xbox Series X consoles available
Phil Spencer has announced that Microsoft is releasing a new Black Xbox Series S console with a 1TB SSD that will cost $350 — just $50 more than the standard system. It's scheduled to release September 1, and preorders are live now. Additionally, Spencer has also confirmed that Microsoft has increased its supply of Xbox Series X consoles, meaning that they should be easier to purchase. — Brendan Lowry
The Starfield Direct is live now! Tune in to learn more about Bethesda's new RPG.
The Starfield Direct has begun! Right now, we're getting some detailed looks at the game's massive scale and plenty of raw gameplay footage. This includes RPG dialogue conversations, exploration mechanics, inventory screens, various locations and settlements, character creation and generation systems, and more. We'll upload the full presentation here as soon as it becomes available, but if you're quick, you can tune in right now and watch the Starfield Direct live. — Brendan Lowry
Here's how Starfield's skills will work
During the Starfield Direct, Bethesda explained that skills in Starfield work similarly to the ones from previous games like Skyrim. There are multiple different skill trees with multiple different skills to unlock, and each skill will have multiple tiers you can progress through by completing gameplay challenges. The challenges will get more difficult as you go, but the benefits of fully upgraded skills will be worth it. — Brendan Lowry
Starfield's ship customization is at the core of exploration
The Starfield Direct confirms what everyone was expecting: while exploring the universe, customizing and upgrading your ship will be vital. While you'll be able to make simple upgrades for things like your shields and engines, you can also go more in-depth and completely build (or rebuild) your ship from the ground up. Different modules will provide different benefits and incur specific drawbacks, giving players tons of opportunities to tweak their ship for specific needs and playstyles. — Brendan Lowry
Here's how you can interact with Starfield's immense galaxy
Bethesda has given fans a closer look at the various ways you'll be able to interact with Starfield's universe. While you can expect lots of experiences and interactions with individual characters and companions (including potential romances!), you'll also be able to engage with various factions and either ally with or oppose them. Additionally, you can choose to be a space pirate and board or steal other vessels, claiming them as your own and adding their parts to your collection. — Brendan Lowry
Starfield-themed wireless Xbox controller and headset officially revealed
During a break in the Starfield Direct, Bethesda's Todd Howard revealed a Starfield-themed wireless Xbox controller and headset. The controller's primarily white color is accented by grey, red, gold, and rainbow-colored trims that scream Starfield, and the headset's red and white coloration fits right in with the game's "NASA punk" style. — Brendan Lowry
Starfield preorders are LIVE NOW for Xbox and PC
At the end of the Starfield Direct, it was announced that the game is officially available to preorder now on Xbox and PC. There are three editions of the game: the Standard Edition, the Premium Edition, and the Constellation Edition (a Collector's Edition-style package with lots of physical collectibles).
We're keeping an eye on the Xbox Store and other retailers for links to where you can buy each edition. We'll be updating our Starfield preorders post as soon as we do, so stay tuned! — Brendan Lowry
The Xbox Games Showcase 2023 was incredible — now it's time to execute
Microsoft's 2023 Xbox Games Showcase and the Starfield Direct is over, and everyone at Team Windows Central loved what we saw today. This includes our Managing Editor Jez Corden, who was able to attend the show in-person and experience it with a unique perspective.
From the showfloor, Jez has written about the fact that even though the Xbox Games Showcase was incredible, it's time for Microsoft to execute and prove that Xbox can deliver on its grand promises. What we saw today was fantastic, but it's hard not to remember how Redfall was received after it generated lots of hype in past presentations. The lack of raw gameplay in the show was also notable, though we did at least get oodles of in-game and in-engine footage.
Ultimately, there's a lot to be excited about if you're an Xbox (or Windows PC) gamer, especially since we finally got some concrete release windows for highly anticipated games like Avowed and Hellblade 2. Now, Microsoft just needs to deliver. — Brendan Lowry
20 Xbox Game Pass announcements from the Xbox Games Showcase 2023
Curious about which games from the show you can look forward to as an Xbox Game Pass subscriber? My colleague Zachary Boddy has put together a comprehensive look at 20 Xbox Game Pass announcements from the Xbox Games Showcase, including games like Payday 3, Avowed, Fable, Persona 3 Reload, and more. Check it out and mark your calendars! — Brendan Lowry
Payday 3 comes to Xbox, PC, and Game Pass on September 21
During the Xbox Games Showcase, a trailer for Payday 3, the next entry in the popular heist shooter series that was originally announced in 2016, revealed its September 21 release date on Xbox, PC, and Game Pass. The game is available for preorder now. — Brendan Lowry
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and Dune expansion announced
Microsoft announced "the next generation of the legendary franchise," Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, during the showcase. It's currently unclear what exactly this is right now, but it might be a new game or an overhaul to the existing Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Additionally, a Dune expansion for Microsoft Flight Simulator was revealed, and it will allow players to fly the iconic ornithopter from the legendary sci-fi series. It's launching on November 3, 2023. — Brendan Lowry
Hilarious Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth trailer teases early 2024 release on Xbox and Windows
One of the more, erm, interesting trailers from the Xbox Games Showcase was the announcement of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. In it, series protagonist Ichiban wakes up on a beach — WITHOUT a very important piece of clothing. The game is scheduled to release in early 2024 on Xbox and Windows. — Brendan Lowry
The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom DLC releases June 20
A trailer for The Elder Scrolls Online's newest DLC, Necrom, was shown at the showcase. It's releasing on June 20 for all the game's platforms, and will see players travel to an all-new Telvanni Peninsula and investigate the secrets of the Daedric Prince Hermaeus Mora. — Brendan Lowry
Jusant is an action-puzzle climbing game coming Fall 2023 to Xbox and PC
One of the most interesting games shown today was Jusant, a beautifully stylized game with tons of climbing puzzles and plenty of cute critters. It's coming to Xbox Series X|S and PC in Fall 2023. — Brendan Lowry
Like stylized games? Dungeons of Hinterberg is definitely one to watch. Set in an Alpine village named Hinterberg, this action-adventure RPG will feature combat against monsters, puzzles, magic, relationship dialogue, and more. It's slated to launch in 2024 on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Game Pass. — Brendan Lowry
Persona developer Atlus has announced Metaphor: ReFantazio, and it's coming in 2024
Atlus, one of the developers behind the beloved Persona series, has revealed Metaphor: ReFantazio. This new turn-based RPG is coming in 2024 to Xbox and Windows PC, and looks like it'll be a great addition to Microsoft's gaming lineup. — Brendan Lowry
Stoic Studio's 'The Wandering Tower' is Towerborne, and it's headed to Xbox and PC
We've heard a lot about Stoic Studio's "The Wandering Tower" for a while now, but today, it was revealed to be an action-adventure game called Towerborne. Based on the trailer that was shown, it looks like a high-octane sidescroller with a beautiful art direction. It's headed to Xbox and PC in 2024, and will be playable on Xbox Game Pass day one. — Brendan Lowry
How would you rate Xbox Games Showcase 2023? Let us know!
Now that the Xbox Games Showcase and Starfield Direct presentations are over, everyone at Team Windows Central is reflecting on what Microsoft had in store for the gaming community today. Overall, we're incredibly impressed with what we saw, but we're curious — what did YOU think?
Right now, we've got a poll up that you can vote in to let us know how you'd grade the showcase. At the moment, most of you are giving it an A or a B, so it seems like you loved the show as much as we did. — Brendan Lowry
Starfield will be locked to 30 FPS on Xbox. Todd Howard explains why.
A newly published interview has revealed that Starfield will be locked to 30 FPS on Xbox, which is news that will no doubt disappoint some fans. However, Bethesda's Todd Howard believes that the 30 FPS cap was the right call, and has explained the studio's reasoning.
"I think it'll come as no surprise, given our previous games, what we go for. Always these huge, open worlds, fully dynamic, hyper detail where anything can happen," Howard said. "And we do want to do that. It's 4K in the X. It's 1440 on the S. We do lock it at 30, because we want that fidelity, we want all that stuff. We don't want to sacrifice any of it."
Howard went on to say that there were performance benefits with this decision as well, as the 30 FPS lock gives Bethesda "headroom" to work with so that inconsistent framerates won't occur during intensive gameplay moments. Make sure you check out the article linked above for all of his responses! — Brendan Lowry
Sitting here some hours after the Xbox Games Showcase, the energy is still high. Everyone I've spoken with was happy with the showcase, and now that I've collected my thoughts, I'd give it a solid 'A' grade. In particular, the reveals of South of Midnight and Clockwork Revolution from Compulsion Games and inXile Entertainment stand out. As someone who grew up in the deep south, I love the vibe Compulsion is going for. Meanwhile, saying the works "steampunk RPG with time travel" are enough to get me extremely excited. — Samuel Tolbert
We went hands-on with Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty. Here are our thoughts
Ahead of the Xbox Games Showcase, our very own Jez Corden got an opportunity to go hands-on with Cyberpunk 2077's upcoming Phantom Liberty expansion. After the DLC was shown off in Microsoft's presentation, he published his full thoughts on his experience with it, declaring that it's "a literal game changer" that not only adds tons of new meaty content, but also revamps and improves much of the base game as well.
"As someone who pretty much avoided all Cyberpunk 2077 marketing prior to the review build, I feel as though Phantom Liberty is an attempt to bring the game closer to what players originally expected. And from what I played, it certainly seems as though CD Projekt RED may have nailed it," he wrote.
Make sure you read through Jez's complete Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty preview for a full idea of what to expect from the expansion when it launches September 26. — Brendan Lowry
After the Xbox Games Showcase, I got to see a guided demo of Dungeons of Hinterburg, an indie title from Microbird Games and Curve Digital announced during the presentation.
The game has a fascinating duality, with players encouraged to spend equal amounts of time going through dungeons and talking with residents in the small-time village, building relationships that then in turn unlock new skills and bonuses. The magic systems are particularly impressive, with players getting access to unique powers based on what region a dungeon is in.
I'll have a bit more to share later, but for now, this is definitely an indie game that Xbox and PC players should keep an eye on. — Samuel Tolbert
My top 5 games from the Xbox Games Showcase that AREN'T Starfield
The Xbox Games Showcase was absolutely incredible, filled with amazing looks at some of the most exciting games coming to Xbox in 2023 and beyond. Undoubtedly, the highlight of the show was Bethesda's incomprehensibly large sci-fi RPG Starfield, with the Starfield Direct giving us almost an hour's worth of new gameplay footage and details to salivate over until its release on September 6.
With that said, I thought it would be fun to talk about some of my favorite games from Microsoft's presentation that AREN'T Starfield, as there are plenty of other projects to be hyped about, too. Here's what I'm most excited to play moving forward.
1. Avowed — Obsidian doesn't miss when it comes to delivering high-quality RPG experiences — Fallout: New Vegas is one of my favorite games of all time, in fact — and what we saw of its upcoming fantasy title Avowed at the show convinced me that it, too, is going to be a banger. The game's magic combat in particular looks incredibly fun, and its blend of bright and colorful and dark and ominous suggests that we can look forward to exploring a diverse, multi-layered world. I was hoping for a showcase of the game's RPG systems, but even though we didn't get that at this year's showcase, I can't wait to see more of and play Avowed in 2024.
2. Clockwork Revolution — inXile Entertainment's Wasteland 3 cemented the developer as one of the top RPG designers in the industry right now. Its next title, a steampunk RPG called Clockwork Revolution, looks to be a mind-bending FPS with advanced destruction systems, time travel and manipulation mechanics, and more. It looks to be the perfect game for fans of franchises like BioShock, and once it comes "in due time," there's no doubt in my mind that I'll be playing on day one.
3. Star Wars Outlaws — We didn't see any gameplay of Ubisoft's surprise new Star Wars game, but even so, its reveal trailer instantly captivated me. I'm very excited to explore the criminal underworld side of the galaxy far, far away from an in-game perspective, and getting to hang out with a commando droid wearing a giant coat is cool, too. Protagonist Kay Vess also radiates "young Han Solo" energy, and I can't help but smile at her bravado. Hopefully we'll learn a lot more about the game during June 12's Ubisoft Direct.
4. Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess — It's unclear when Capcom's new action game Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is coming to Xbox and Game Pass, but its combat looks incredibly fluid and stylish. Additionally, the game's Japanese art direction is colorful, vibrant, and gorgeous. Whenever it drops, I'll be checking this one out for sure.
5. Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty — I wasn't the biggest fan of CD Projekt RED's Cyberpunk 2077, as while I loved the game's narrative and its presentation, I felt that the gameplay and open world were extremely bland and boring (can't forget about the nightmarish technical issues on every platform, either). With that said, I'm planning on the giving the game another chance when the Phantom Liberty DLC arrives on September 26. The trailer shown at the showcase looked awesome, and based on the previews I've read from multiple people that got to go hands-on with it recently, it sounds like Phantom Liberty completely revamps the base game with tons of changes and overhauls in addition to adding lots of new content to enjoy. Consider me interested. — Brendan Lowry
Miss the Starfield Direct? Watch the full deep dive here.
The Starfield Direct was almost as long as the Xbox Games Showcase itself, with developer Bethesda treating fans to nearly an hour of new gameplay footage, demonstrations, and overviews of the sci-fi RPG's various character creation, exploration, combat, and role-playing mechanics.
It was truly an incredible thing to witness live, but don't worry if you weren't able to catch it, because we've embedded the full show here. Kick back, grab a snack, and let our lord and savior Todd Howard take you on a journey through the stars. — Brendan Lowry
Bethesda's Todd Howard on Elder Scrolls 6: 'That may be the last one I do'
It's been five years since Bethesda officially announced it was working on The Elder Scrolls 6 at E3 2018, and we haven't heard a peep about it since (beyond confirmation that it's the studio's next game after Starfield). However, in an interview that went live after the Starfield Direct, Game Director and Executive Producer Todd Howard suggested that it might be the final game in the series he ships.
"I probably shouldn't say this. But if I do the math, I'm not getting any younger," Howard said. "How long do people play Elder Scrolls for? That may be the last one I do. I don't know.”
Make sure you read through all of Howard's responses in the article linked above for more of his thoughts. — Brendan Lowry
9 games that WEREN'T at the Xbox Games Showcase
The Xbox Games Showcase was an absolute triumph for Microsoft, as the publisher managed to show off 27 games, including 12 World Premieres and 13 titles from its first-party studios. We absolutely loved the show, and based on the community polls we've seen, it looks like you did too.
With that said, there WERE several games we thought might get announcements or updates that ended up missing the show. We've listed each of these titles below.
- Contraband: Avalanche Studios' heist game Contraband wasn't at the show. It was last shown during its reveal at E3 2021.
- Everwild: Rare's magic and nature-themed adventure game has been MIA since X019. Unfortunately, we haven't heard anything about the game since its playable characters got a name and backstory in 2020.
- Gears 6: We thought we might see The Coalition announce the next Gears of War game, but unfortunately, it did not. In 2022, a job listing on Microsoft's website suggested that the studio began developing its campaign.
- Halo Infinite: Halo Infinite Season 4 is slated to kick off on June 20, but Microsoft didn't show a trailer for it like it did for Sea of Thieves. There's still a chance it could appear at the Xbox Games Showcase Extended on Tuesday, June 13, though.
- Kojima Productions' Xbox game: We haven't heard or seen anything about the cloud-powered game that Kojima Productions and Xbox Game Studios are collaborating on since it was revealed in 2022. Hopefully Microsoft and Kojima will have something to share during the next showcase.
- Perfect Dark: The Initiative's first project, a reboot of the classic GoldenEye 007 spiritual successor from Rare, hasn't been on an Xbox stage since The Game Awards 2020. We were definitely expecting to see this one, and were pretty shocked when it wasn't included in the showcase.
- State of Decay 3: Another game revealed in 2020, State of Decay 3, was also absent. Undead Labs' recent additions to State of Decay 2 were fantastic, but they do have us wondering if State of Decay 3 development was put on the backburner for a while.
- STALKER 2: GSC Game World's sequel to its trilogy of classic atmospheric survival shooters is slated to release at some point in 2023, but the developer didn't make it to the show. Instead, GSC says it would prefer to make its own announcements "in the coming months."
- The Outer Worlds 2: With Obsidian Entertainment busy cooking up Avowed, it's not THAT surprising that The Outer Worlds 2 wasn't at the Xbox Games Showcase. Even so, we'd have loved to get another peek at the sequel to one of our favorite recent sci-fi RPGs. — Brendan Lowry
Ubisoft Forward 2023: How to watch live
You thought we were only covering the Xbox Games Showcase, huh? Well you were wrong! We're live blogging the Ubisoft Forward event starting at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET, too. The show is under 30 minutes away, so grab a snack and settle in.
We're looking forward to seeing more of several of Ubisoft's upcoming projects, including Assassin's Creed: Mirage, Star Wars Outlaws, and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. To watch the show, you can head to one of the links we've listed below. — Brendan Lowry
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora gets new trailers, December 7 release date
Ubisoft has shown several new trailers for Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, an action game set in James Cameron's popular sci-fi universe. In it, you'll control a Na'vi and will work to earn the trust of other clans, ultimately uniting with them to fight off human invaders.
The Game Overview trailer in particular is important to watch, as it explains many of the game's various exploration and combat systems and confirms two-player co-op. Notably, the game has also gotten an official December 7 release date, with preorders available now. — Brendan Lowry
XDefiant announces Jun 21-23 Open Beta, Summer 2023 release, Year 1 content
Ubisoft's Call of Duty-style twitch shooter XDefiant appeared at Ubisoft Forward, with its developers confirming an Open Beta test that'll run between Jun 21-23 and a Summer 2023 release.
The game's Preseason will have 14 maps, 5 factions, 5 modes, and 24 weapons, while its Year 1 content includes 4 factions, 12 new weapons, and 12 new maps. — Brendan Lowry
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown gets two new trailers, releases January 18, 2024
Ubisoft's exciting new action sidescroller Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown got two awesome new trailers at Ubisoft Forward, including a gorgeous animated trailer and a trailer full of raw gameplay with developer commentary. The game is scheduled to release January 18, 2024 on Xbox, Windows PC, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch. — Brendan Lowry
The Division: Resurgence mobile game gets Fall 2023 release date
Ubisoft has announced that The Division: Resurgence, a mobile version of its popular The Division looter shooter games, is releasing in Fall 2023. The release date reveal was accompanied by a new trailer showing off its tactical gunplay. — Brendan Lowry
Skull and Bones teases August 25-28 Closed Beta with live sea shanty, register now
We wouldn't blame you for thinking Ubisoft's pirate game Skull and Bones got cancelled with how many times it's been delayed, but today, it was confirmed that a Closed Beta for the game will run from August 25-28. You can sign up for the beta here. The beta announcement was accompanied by a live sea shanty performance. — Brendan Lowry
The Crew Motorfest gets September 14 release date, July 21-23 Closed Beta
Ubisoft's popular action-driving game The Crew is getting a sequel called The Crew Motorfest. You'll be able to import your vehicles from the first game for free, and experience plenty of new vehicles and playgrounds to drive in.
The game is coming out September 14, with a Closed Beta coming July 21-23 for fans that register for it. — Brendan Lowry
Assassin's Creed Nexus VR is coming to Meta Quest Holiday 2023
Ubisoft is making a new Assassin's Creed VR game called Nexus that'll be available on the Meta Quest. In it, you'll be able to play as three protagonists from the main games: Ezio, Connor, and Kassandra from Assassin's Creed 2, 3, and Odyssey, respectively. The game has a Holiday 2023 release date. — Brendan Lowry
New Assassin's Creed: Mirage trailers shown, will release October 12
Ubisoft's next main Assassin's Creed title, Assassin's Creed: Mirage, got a brand new story trailer at Ubisoft Forward that showed more of its protagonist Basim and the game's various other characters. We also got an extended look at some gameplay footage that featured parkour, scouting, stealthy takedowns, the use of useful assassin tools, and more. — Brendan Lowry
Ubisoft Forward closes with our first look at Star Wars Outlaws gameplay
To close out the Ubisoft Forward, Ubisoft Massive gave fans a 10-minute long look at gameplay footage from its highly anticipated upcoming Star Wars game, Star Wars Outlaws. In it, protagonist Kay Vess stealths (and then blasts) through a criminal hideout and steals valuable cargo for a deal, only to things to go sour when an Imperial officer involved chooses not to trust her and alerts the Empire to her presence. Luckily, she's able to escape by the skin of her teeth thanks to some fancy flying and some good old fashioned smuggler's luck.
The trailer revealed several of the game's mechanics, including Kay's ability to send her critter friend Nix to distract or attack enemies, take advantage of environmental objects like dropped blaster rifles or explosive tanks, use her gunslinging skills to line up a volley of accurate shots, and more. Check it out for yourself with the video embed above! — Brendan Lowry
Just Dance 2024 Edition dances its way to an October 24 release date
Ubisoft teased that Just Dance 2024, the latest entry in its rhythm dancing game series, will release on October 24 on Xbox and other platforms with a new trailer. It'll feature tons of the latest hits from popular artists, and can be preordered now. — Brendan Lowry
Halo's Master Chief and Arbiter are coming to Brawlhalla on July 12
Halo didn't make an appearance at the Xbox Games Showcase on Sunday (fingers crossed for one at the extended showcase on Tuesday!), but two of the most iconic Halo characters of all time, Master Chief and Arbiter, are coming to Blue Mammoth Games' free-to-play fighter Brawlhalla as playable Legends on July 12. Their arrival will kick off a brand new crossover event called Brawlhalla: Combat Evolved. — Brendan Lowry
The Xbox Games Showcase made my Xbox Series X worth it
I'm relatively new to Xbox and have been wondering for the last few months if my purchase of the Series X last year was worth it since there have been so many disappointing games recently. However, the Xbox Games Showcase made me realize that purchasing the Xbox Series X was definitely worth it. Fable, Hellblade 2, Avowed, and Starfield all look amazing.
There are so many exciting Xbox exclusives on the horizon and I can't wait to play them all. — Rebecca Spear
Mega Man X Dive Offline is coming to Steam in 2023
Now the Capcom Showcase has begun! Right out of the gate we've got Mega Man X Dive Offline coming to Steam, iOS, and Android sometime in 2023. It's a shooter platformer filled with exciting action. — Rebecca Spear
Enigmatic Pragmata has been delayed
In a short video, we learned that the curious action-adventure game, Pragmata, has been delayed. An official statement reads:
"It is with a heavy heart that we must further postpone the release of Pragmata. Our team is currently hard at work making the best game that we possibly can, but we need more time. We will continue to do our best to ensure that the final product is one that is worthy of your patience. Thank you for your continued support."
A shot from the video indicates that the team is unsure of when the game will actually be ready for release, so we'll just have to wait for additonal information in the future. — Rebecca Spear
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective grabs a new trailer ahead of its release
In a brand new game overview for Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, we got to see a little more about what to expect from this reborn classic mystery game. The main character, Sissel, dies and loses his memory. However, he uses the power of the dead to figure out who killed him and learn more about his path. It looks like an awesome updated take on this classic title. — Rebecca Spear
Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy comes to Xbox and PC early 2024
The Ace Attorney games have long held a special place in people's hearts by providing the perfect mix of over-the-top interactions and courtroom justice. Now Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy is coming to Xbox One, Steam, Windows, Nintendo Switch, and PS4 sometime in early 2024. — Rebecca Spear
Exoprimal shows it all off in slick new gameplay trailers
In a brand new gameplay overview, we got to see some exciting new footage for this third-person shooter fighting game. Exoprimal is launching July 14, 2023 and preorders are live now. It's also coming to Game Pass.
An Open Beta Test 2 will take place from June 16 at 0:00 through June 18 at 23:59 (UTC) with additional story missions. Those who participate can unlock Zephyr: Flash Exosuit Skin as a reward. — Rebecca Spear
Dragon's Dogma 2 looks incredible in a brand-new, full-length trailer
As shown during the Dragon's Dogma 2 trailer at the Capcom Showcase, this single-player adventure features open-world environments and utilizes main and support companions (or spawns). It's being created using RE Engine and will be four times the size of the original game from 2012. The sequel aims to provide emergent gameplay that allows players to "solve problems your way."
It's coming to Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and PS5 sometime in the future. — Rebecca Spear
Starfield was always going to run at 30FPS on Xbox
I am very used to tired, rehashed internet discourse in the video games community. I have to be, given my job. One of the most exhausting arguments that pops up every few game releases, however, is the discussion of 30FPS vs. 60FPS, and resolution vs. framerate. A lot of gamers seem to think the latter pair is perfectly balanced on a scale — the more you have of one, the less you have of the other. That's simply not true.
It was recently revealed that Starfield, one of the most anticipated game launches of the year, will run at a locked 30 frames-per-second on Microsoft's flagship Xbox Series X|S consoles, sparking the aforementioned internet squabble once again. I wrote about why Starfield was never going to run at 60FPS on Xbox consoles, and for very good reason. It turns out that when you have a lot of overlapping, intersecting systems, mechanics, and physics, it can become rather difficult to push a three-year-old CPU to 60FPS. Personally, I'm very happy to accept that compromise. — Zachary Boddy
Xbox Games Showcase Extended: Time & how to watch live
Most Not-E3 presentations have finished at this point, but there's still one left: Microsoft's Xbox Games Showcase Extended, an additional show that will begin June 13 at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET — about one hour from now.
Unlike the main showcase on Sunday that featured non-stop game reveals and announcements, the extended one will be on the slower side and will feature lots of interesting developer interviews. With that said, we still expect to see at least a few noteworthy announcements and trailers, so you should definitely tune in.
Team Windows Central is online and ready to live blog the event, but if you'd like to watch it alongside us live, you can do so with the links below that lead to Xbox's livestream platforms. These include Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook. — Brendan Lowry
New Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty footage shows Dogtown's Black Market
During the Xbox Games Showcase Extended, CD Projekt RED showed off the Black Market, one of the locations you can explore in Dogtown, the setting of the upcoming Phantom Liberty expansion. There, you'll be able to acquire unique and powerful pieces of gear that are very powerful, but also risky and unstable to use. — Brendan Lowry
Cyberpunk 2077's Keanu Reeves makes an appearance for a fun interview
After CD Projekt RED gave a short presentation on Dogtown's Black Market, Keanu Reeves (Johnny Silverhand in-game) appeared on the Xbox Games Showcase Extended to talk about Dogtown as a setting, his experience playing Johnny Silverhand, and more. — Brendan Lowry
Obsidian: Avowed's size is similar to KOTOR 2, The Outer Worlds
During an interview with Obsidian Entertainment's Carrie Patel, she revealed that the game will be comparable to previous Obsidian RPGs like KOTOR 2 or The Outer Worlds. Based on this statement, players can look forward to a 30-40 hour experience with tons of side content and depth. — Brendan Lowry
Stoic Studio's Towerborne to feature couch co-op, seasonal content drops
During the Xbox Games Showcase Extended, Stoic Studio revealed that its upcoming sidescrolling action game Towerborne will have local couch co-op. Additionally, the game will have seasonal content drops over time with new weapons, monsters, and more. — Brendan Lowry
Fallout 76 getting 'Once in a Blue Moon' update on June 20
Fallout 76 is slated to receive a new "Once in a Blue Moon" update on June 20. The update will add the Blue Ridge Caravan company to the game, and encourage players to help them across multiple quests to earn various new rewards. — Brendan Lowry
Hi-Fi Rush's Arcade Challenge Update is coming July 5
Tango Gameworks' popular rhythm action game Hi-Fi Rush is getting a brand new update called . It adds a new mode called BPM Rush that raises the speed of the beat as you defeat enemies, as well as a Rhythm Tower mode where Chai starts off downgraded and you have to upgrade his abilities as you defeat waves of enemies.
Playing these modes unlocks new rewards, including new outfits for Chai and more. There are also new filters and customizations for photo mode pictures, additional style palettes for the game's visuals, and more. — Brendan Lowry
The Elder Scrolls Online's Necrom DLC gets new overview, gameplay footage
We saw more of The Elder Scrolls Online's Necrom DLC at the Xbox Games Showcase Extended, with its developers showing off more of Hermaeus Mora's realm, several of the expansion's new enemies, the new Arcanist class, and more. It's arriving June 20, 2023. — Brendan Lowry
Phasmophobia is coming to Xbox, Early Access begins August 2023
The popular four-player co-op horror game Phasmophobia is officially coming to Xbox soon, with Early Access slated to begin in August 2023. — Brendan Lowry
New Lies of P gameplay shows customizable weapons, Sekiro-style abilities
During the Xbox Games Showcase Extended, we got a closer look at some of the weapons and gear you'll be able to use in Neowiz Games' steampunk Lies of P Soulslike. Specifically, we saw how it's possible to combine various objects to create custom weapons, as well as a prosthetic arm you can upgrade with tools you can use in combat (think Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice). — Brendan Lowry
Exo-mech farming sim Lightyear Frontier is coming Early 2024 to Xbox and Game Pass
Lightyear Frontier, a farming simulator with pilotable mech walkers, is now scheduled to release on Xbox and Game Pass in Early 2024. Previously delayed indefinitely in 2022, it got a new gameplay overview at the Xbox Games Showcase Extended. — Brendan Lowry
Phil Spencer appears to play 33 Immortals with Thunder Lotus devs, closes out the show
Phil Spencer made an appearance during the Xbox Games Showcase Extended to discuss and play 33 Immortals, a new co-op action game with support for up to 33 players, with developers from Thunder Lotus. The game is coming to Early Access in 2024 on Xbox, Windows PC, and Game Pass. Notably, Spencer also closed out the show, marking the end of the Xbox Games Showcase Extended. — Brendan Lowry
The Wandering Village is making its way to Xbox and Game Pass July 20
Have you ever wanted to build a town on the back of a humongous creature? No? Well, soon you'll be able to anyway thanks to The Wandering Giant. This unique city-builder is coming to Xbox Game Preview and Xbox Game Pass on July 20. Watch out for the poisonous plants that blanket the lands! — Brendan Lowry
Another Crab's Treasure is coming to Xbox Game Pass, scheduled for 2024
My personal favorite indie game shown at the Xbox Games Showcase Extended was Another Crab's Treasure, an endearing Soulslike in which you control a hermit crab named Kril and wear pieces of trash you find on the seafloor for protection.
During the journey to find treasure Kril can use to buy back his original shell, you'll uncover the dark secrets of the polluted waters. The game is officially coming to Xbox, Windows PC, and Game Pass, and developer Aggro Crab is planning to release it in 2024. — Brendan Lowry
High on Knife, a horror-themed DLC for High on Life, is coming soon
High on Life was one of the biggest Xbox games in 2022, and now, it's getting what appears to be a horror-themed (but still goofy) DLC expansion called High on Knife. Its trailer confirms that it's "coming soon," and will be available for purchase only. High on Life itself is available on Xbox, Windows PC, and Xbox Game Pass. — Brendan Lowry
The Lamplighters League is headed to Xbox, PC, and Cloud October 3
Developer Harebrained Schemes has announced that The Lamplighters League, a turn-based tactics game with an emphasis on stealth and thievery, is coming to Xbox, Windows PC, Game Pass, and Xbox Cloud Gaming on October 3. The release date reveal came at the end of a brand new gameplay trailer. — Brendan Lowry
The First Descendant gets new gameplay footage, August 22-28 Crossplay Beta
The Xbox Games Showcase Extended gave players a closer look at The First Descendent, an upcoming free-to-play third-person looter shooter from NEXON Games. Specifically, gameplay on Xbox Series X was shown, and the developers also announced that there will be a Crossplay Beta on August 22-28 that supports play between the Xbox and Windows PC versions. — Brendan Lowry
Xbox spends just over one minute to announce 10 Xbox Game Pass additions
I love seeing great indie games come to Xbox, and the feeling is even sweeter when those games release on Xbox Game Pass. I'm a little bitter, though, that 10 fantastic indie games announced as coming to Xbox Game Pass were confined to a montage trailer barely over a minute longer during the Xbox Games Showcase Extended.
All 10 of these lovely games deserved their own screen time and trailer, but I can't complain too much. I'm too excited to play a lot of these games when they do, in fact, come to Xbox consoles and Xbox Game Pass. The Wandering Village, Neon White, Sea of Stars, The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales, Little Kitty Big City... They all look amazing! Don't take my word for it — here's the list. — Zachary Boddy
- The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales (Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One) — June 22, 2023
- Techtonica (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Windows PC) — July 18, 2023
- The Wandering Village (Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One) — July 20, 2023
- Sea of Stars (Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One) — Aug. 29, 2023
- Mineko's Night Market (Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One) — Oct. 26, 2023
- Galacticare (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Windows PC) — 2023
- Harold Halibut (Xbox) — Early 2024
- Little Kitty, Big City (Xbox) — Early 2024
- Another Crab's Treasure (Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One) — 2024
- Neon White (Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One) — Unknown release date
Here are Starfield's PC system requirements
Curious about the hardware you'll need in order to play Bethesda's gargantuan sci-fi RPG when it comes out on September 6? Thanks to the game's listing on the Steam Store, we now know what Starfield's recommended PC specs and system requirements are.
Overall, the CPU and GPU requirements are pretty reasonable, though you'll need 16GB of RAM, 125GB of storage space, and an SSD to install it on. For the full details, check out our complete guide linked above. — Brendan Lowry
Xbox's Matt Booty claims Starfield 'has fewest bugs of any Bethesda game'
Recently, Xbox Games Studios' Head Matt Booty claimed that Starfield would have the "fewest bugs of any Bethesda game" if it launched now.
"We have an awful lot of people internally playing [Starfield]. Working with Todd and the team, I see bug counts," Booty said. "You know, [I'll] just say that, just by the numbers, if it shipped today, this would have the fewest bugs in any game Bethesda's ever shipped."
It's a bold claim from Booty given Bethesda's track record of launching titles with lots of bugs, and considering Starfield's unbelievable size, scale, and scope, I definitely have my doubts. Still, it would be absolutely fantastic if the game ends up releasing with performance that smooth. — Brendan Lowry
Where to buy the Starfield Xbox controller and headset
Interested in picking up the limited edition Starfield Xbox controller and headset while supplies last? Here, we've rounded up links to every store (including UK retailers!) selling the accessories right now, along with pricing and availability details. We've also included the links below for your convenience. — Brendan Lowry
Forza Motorsport (2023) gets a fresh gameplay demo after the Xbox Games Showcase
During Forza Monthly, the Turn 10 Studios team spent a fair bit of time demoing the new Builders Mode, the Forza Motorsport's expansive single-player campaign. This time around, the gameplay loop is "Level, Build, Dominate," highlighting the game's focus on gradual progression and developing relationships with every car you drive.
It's a great gameplay demo running at 4K and 60FPS on Xbox Series X, and is a great watch for any excited Forza fan eager to get their hands on Forza Motorsport (2023) when it releases on Oct. 10. — Zachary Boddy
Thanks for joining us for the Xbox Games Showcase and beyond!
It's been a long (and fun!) couple of days live blogging events such as the Xbox Games Showcase, Ubisoft Forward, and the Capcom Showcase, but now, we must bid you adieu. Now that the Not-E3 weekend is over, we're getting back into our usual routine. That means you can look forward to plenty of reports, editorials, reviews, and more for everything Microsoft, Xbox, and Windows.
Thank you for joining us for our live coverage, and make sure you find your way back to us when other gaming events like Gamescom and The Game Awards roll around. Rest assured, we'll be live blogging them too! — Brendan Lowry
