It’s the season for Summer gaming goodness, and Microsoft has a lot to show for this year and beyond. The Xbox Games Showcase unveiled 26 titles with new trailers, world premiere announcements, first-look teasers, and more – here’s a recap of all the hottest announcements on the block that took the stage, arranged in order of appearance (except for Starfield, which is listed as the headliner here).
1) Starfield
The most highly-anticipated announcement of the showcase was Starfield, Bethesda’s first new IP in 25 years, which is set to launch on the Xbox Series X|S and PC on 6 September 2023. With a sci-fi-themed setting, a variety of character customisation options, new worlds and weapons to play with, it’s shaping up to be one of this year’s hottest game releases. It’s no wonder that Bethesda is banking all its hopes on the upcoming space RPG, teasing plenty of content and highly flexible customisation in a standalone Starfield Direct showcase, which took place after the Xbox Games presentation.
2) Fable
The Fable reboot is officially happening, with a trailer to confirm what fans have been speculating for months, with stunning graphics and narration by Richard Ayoade, who plays Dave. The fantasy action RPG will be the latest title from Playground Games, known for the Forza Horizon series, and while no release date has been announced, expect it to drop on the Xbox Series X/S and PC platforms and be available on the Xbox Game Pass.
3) South of Midnight
From the studio behind We Happy Few comes South of Midnight, a macabre third-person adventure set in the Deep South bayou. The trailer’s stunning graphics promise an intriguing new experience set to an original song, as we are introduced to the game’s protagonist, who searches for a creature in the depths of the bayou. With a horrifying shadow looming above, the game teases a spine-chilling monster before the trailer cuts out, and we can’t wait to see what this Compulsion Games title has in store.
4) Star Wars Outlaws
Lucasfilm Games announced its first open-world Star Wars RPG – Star Wars Outlaws with an immersive trailer set in the Empire era that follows space scoundrel Kay Vess across the Outer Rim. With plenty of cantina fights, new planets, and a story-driven experience, the game promises an exciting return to a galaxy far, far away.
5) 33 Immortals
6) Payday 3
Cops, guns, and hostages have long been part of the Payday formula, and there’s plenty of those to go around in Payday 3. As Murphy’s Law dictates, a heist started by a bunch of thieves go wrong very quickly, and chaos soon unfolds in the form of aggressive intimidation tactics, downrange fire, and hostage-taking. The frenetic shooter is slated for release on 21 September, and will be available on Xbox Game Pass.
7) Persona 3 Reload
Atlus might have accidentally dropped the trailer for Persona 3 Reload prior to the showcase, but it’s still reassuring to know that one of the best JRPGs on the market has finally gotten the revamped graphics and shiny veneer that it deserves. It will run on Epic Games’ Unreal Engine, with no release date just yet.
8) Avowed
Hailing from Obsidian Entertainment, Avowed is a first-person RPG set in Eora, which is where the popular Pillars of Eternity series takes place. The new trailer shows players confronting a mysterious corruption that’s overtaking the world, and things aren’t looking good at all. The game is coming to Xbox Series X at an unannounced date, and will be available on Xbox Game Pass.
9) Sea of Thieves: The Legend of Monkey Island
Heave-ho! Come 20 July 2023, pirates will land on the shores of Monkey Island, as Sea of Thieves is set to grace a crew of quirky inhabitants in a seemingly fantasy world.
10) Microsoft Flight Simulator 2 & Dune DLC
Return to the world of Dune, which gets a DLC in Microsoft Flight Simulator on 3 November 2023, just in time for the movie’s sequel. There will be themed missions as well as aerial vehicles from the franchise, where players will scout spice mining operations. The sequel to Microsoft Flight Simulator was also teased for a 2024 release with new activities and game modes.
11) Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
Senua just can’t catch a break. The new trailer for Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II shows a cacophony of voices unfolding in Senua’s head as she investigates a wet cave. The sequel to Ninja Theory’s critically-acclaimed action-adventure title is coming sometime in 2024.
12) Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
The showcase also teased a beach getaway in the latest Yakuza series game – Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth, set to release in early 2024. Kasuga Ichiban and Kazuma Kiryu return as dual protagonists for a thrilling new adventure with plenty of action, humour, and subtly nude beach scenes, with more to be unveiled at the RGG Summit Summer 2023 on 15 June.
13) Fallout 76 – Answer the Call of Vault 76
We return to the Fallout franchise with a new DLC for Fallout 76: Atlantic City, which takes the game to New Jersey – think gambling, spooky alleyways with new monsters, and old-world bars in the apocalyptic wasteland multiplayer game. More news on the DLC is expected to be teased soon, so stay tuned for that.
14) Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
Capcom’s latest release features an “an epic clash between the spirit realm and mortal man”, with a design language that takes after traditional aesthetics. Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess isn’t attached to a release date yet, but it’ll be available on Game Pass from day one.
15) Forza Motorsport
Start your engines, and get ready to race in Forza Motorsport, which hits consoles, cloud, and PC on 10 October 2023. With sleek cars, epic racing tracks and more, this is one race you won’t want to miss.
16) The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom
The newest update to The Elder Scrolls: Necrom lets players explore Telvanni Peninsula and Apocrypha, wield the eldritch energies of the Arcanist class, and delve into the secrets of Hermaeus Mora when it releases on 20 June 2023.
17) Overwatch 2 Invasion
A new Overwatch 2 update is coming, and it’s said to be the biggest content drop by far – expect new story missions, co-op modes, and a new support hero. This comes after Activision Blizzard’s announcement that the long-awaited PvE mode has been scrapped, and while it isn’t the best healing balm for disappointed fans, it does offer some hope of a lore revival.
18) Persona 5: Tactica
By now, you’ve likely heard of the viral Persona 5 trailer leak by Atlus, which has been officially confirmed at the Summer Game Fest, with a release date for Xbox consoles, PC, and Game Pass on 17 November 2023. The remake, Persona 3: Reload was also announced, set to launch in early 2024.
19) Jusant
Don’t Nod’s next game is all about climbing massive ruins, old structures, rock paths, and more, as players are thrust into a lively, stylish exploration platformer. Jusant is slated for a Fall 2023 debut and interestingly, will feature no spoken dialogue.
20) Still Wakes The Deep
If you’re a fan of narrative horror games, Still Wakes The Deep is one to put on your list, as the operatic trailer has players on an oil rig as a sinister entity emerges from the depths. Explore the maze-like oil rig and survive before it gets you too with an early 2024 planned release.
21) Dungeons of Hinterburg
Dungeons of Hinterburg packs an eclectic blend of elements — from skateboarding on a blade to journaling — and it looks plenty fun. The cel-shaded aesthetic is a good look on the upcoming adventure, set for a 2024 release with other gameplay features like including dungeon exploration, monster-slaying, and a relationship-building system.
22) Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty DLC
An expansion to the hit game Cyberpunk 2077, Phantom Liberty is a spy thriller featuring Idris Elba, and takes players on an adventure into Dog Town, Night City, as mercenary protagonist V takes on a high-stakes mission of espionage and intrigue to save the NUSA President. The expansion drops on 26 September 2023, and will only be available on Xbox Series X|S for now.
23) Cities: Skylines 2
It’s time to expand the horizon with Cities Skylines II, where you can build a shiny metropolis of your own. With cities that feel alive, unique climates and all-new buildings, it’s going to be hours of city-building fun when the game drops on 24 October 2023.
24) Metaphor: ReFantazio
Metaphor: ReFantazio is a creative effort by the team behind Persona 3, Persona 4, and Persona 5, decked out in the same JRPG flair that Atlus fans would recognise. The game has yet to receive a release date, and is described as such: “Write your destiny and rise above fear as you step into a fantasy world unlike anything you’ve seen before. Fraught with unsettling mystery, the kingdom stands on a precipice. Now, you must embark on a journey, overcoming obstacles and forging bonds with friends.”
25) Towerborne
A new action RPG with lighthearted gameplay, Towerborne is Stoic’s latest project that features a unique mechanic – every time a player ‘dies’, in-game, the player character remembers their death as they battle monsters during a cataclysm. “It’s also a homage to your classic beat ‘em ups that we’ve all played, and it fulfils that player fantasy of just wanting to punch something in the face,” says combat designer Isaac Torres.
26) Clockwork Revolution
A brand-new steampunk RPG, Clockwork Revolution’s trailer teases a look at a futuristic steampunk-esque world with robots, time travel, and a graphically stunning adventure that gives off strong Bioshock vibes. No release date has been announced, but it is expected to be available on Xbox Game Pass, PC, and consoles.
With a stacked lineup of exciting new games and remastered classics coming our way in 2023 and 2024, it’s certainly been an eventful Xbox Games Showcase, and we’re excited to see what’s coming next!
Trinity is a geek who enjoys watching anime, superhero and Sci-Fi movies and TV shows. She enjoys gaming (however has terrible gacha luck) and creates cool homebrew campaigns in her free time. She’s always up for a new adventure — with a cosy jacket and a good book in hand.
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