Xbox Games Showcase: The Ultimate Compilation of Confirmed Features
Microsoft is gearing up for its highly-anticipated Xbox Games Showcase on Sunday with the focus on Starfield Direct Although the company remains tight-lipped about what else to expect, fans can look forward to other games and an extended showcase No full CG trailers will be featured
Microsoft is preparing for the highly anticipated Xbox Games Showcase, which will be held on Sunday, June 11th. Fans can catch the live stream on YouTube, Twitch, or Facebook at 10 am Pacific/1 pm Eastern, to get a glimpse of what Microsoft's studios have been working on. The showcase is expected to last between 60 and 90 minutes, excluding Bethesda’s Starfield Direct, which is scheduled to take place after the main event. While the latter is set to be the highlight of the day, Xbox is likely to have many other exciting announcements leading up to it. Despite Microsoft's tight-lipped approach, the company has promised some big surprises and first looks during the showcase. Therefore, there is much speculation surrounding Xbox Game Studio’s plans for this Sunday’s event.
No Full CG Trailers
Microsoft has made a noteworthy commitment to showcase only in-game or in-engine footage for first-party games at the Xbox Games Showcase, eliminating the possibility of full CG trailers. While this does not guarantee a comprehensive look at the gameplay of featured games, it does signal a move away from pre-rendered trailers. This decision may have been influenced by criticism of Sony's recent PlayStation showcase for an excess of CG trailers and a lack of gameplay. However, Xbox still has to deliver on revealing gameplay for highly anticipated titles like Avowed and the Perfect Dark and Fable reboots.
Xbox's "12-month strategy" approach from last year is no longer in play, as the company failed to meet its commitment of releasing all games within a year. This resulted in games such as Stalker 2, Ark 2, and Forza Motorsport being delayed, which weakened the Xbox Series S and Series X's first-party lineup. Microsoft is now more cautious with its game announcements, which could explain the company's reluctance to discuss games other than Starfield. Additionally, there will be no TV or movie trailers at the event, which is good news for those who were annoyed with the Halo TV show taking up airtime at the 2021 showcase. This announcement from Xbox VP Aaron Greenberg may also be a subtle jab at Sony's recent PlayStation showcase, which included a trailer for the upcoming live-action Gran Turismo movie.
Starfield Direct
Bethesda has been teasing Starfield for years, but has yet to reveal much actual gameplay footage, leaving fans with many unanswered questions. However, Starfield Direct, which will air immediately after the main Xbox Showcase, promises to provide a deeper look into the game. Microsoft has promised to deliver "much, much more" information, including more gameplay footage, developer interviews, and a behind-the-scenes look at Starfield's development. With Microsoft's confidence and excitement surrounding the game, fans are eagerly anticipating what Starfield Direct has in store.
Other Games at the Xbox Showcase
Speculation among fans is rife as to which games will be featured at the Xbox Games Showcase, but Microsoft has yet to confirm any titles beyond Halo Infinite. Some enthusiasts have suggested that Playground Game’s Fable reboot could be a possibility, based on a teaser video posted on Xbox’s official Twitter account. The video, which appeared on May 30th, shows an Xbox user following a trail of glitter to the Xbox Games Showcase playing on his computer. The background music and sparkling dust evoke thoughts of the Fable game, and the unfortunate pixie from Fable’s 2020 reveal trailer. However, Aaron Greenberg, General Manager of Xbox Games Marketing, recently stated on Twitter that he had not teased any specific games for the upcoming Xbox Games Showcase. Although he was referring to an Instagram selfie rather than the tweet from last week, it is still uncertain whether Playground Game’s Fable will feature in the showcase. The same uncertainty applies to several other games as well.
Many avid gamers are eagerly anticipating the reveal of The Outer Worlds 2, Hellblade 2, Stalker 2, Forza Motorsport, and Avowed at the upcoming Xbox Games Showcase. Although some of these titles were featured at Xbox's 2022 showcase, no official release dates or gameplay details have been disclosed yet. It is unfortunate to note that there has been no confirmation regarding their inclusion in Sunday's showcase.
Xbox Games Showcase Extended
Following the success of last year's event, Microsoft has announced that they will once again hold the Xbox Games Showcase Extended on June 13th at 10 am Pacific/1 pm Eastern. This live stream event will feature exclusive interviews with game developers and provide further updates from Microsoft's partner studios on the games that were revealed at the main Xbox Showcase. While the main event on Sunday is likely to steal the show, fans who tune in for Xbox Games Showcase Extended can look forward to even more exciting news and announcements.
