Microsoft promised “games, games, games and Star field“Ahead of the annual Xbox Games Showcase to be held on Sunday, I promise did indeed continue. Xbox executive Aaron Greenberg set expectations ahead of the event, saying Microsoft’s new game trailers focused on in-game and in-engine visuals. During the two-hour event, Microsoft and Bethesda (acquired by Microsoft in 2020) outlined their list of upcoming games coming in 2023 and beyond.
playground games’ Fable started the show, while the reveal of new Xbox Series S hardware brought it to a close, with some Star Wars, Persona, and various new properties among all the fast-moving trailers.
Here are all the biggest announcements from Sunday’s Xbox Games Showcase.
Fable
Microsoft announced in 2020 what developer Playground Games is working on Fable, a revival of the beloved franchise. But aside from that first trailer, which was essentially a minute of a fairy flying around, Microsoft and Playground Games have kept Fable under the cap. That is, of course, until Sunday, where a closer look was introduced. The Fable trailer starred giant British actor Richard Ayoade and his take on Fable’s telltale humor.
Fable is a Microsoft exclusive and coming to Xbox Series X and Windows PC.
South of Midnight
Compulsion Games debuted South of Midnightcoming to Xbox Series X and Windows PC – day one on game pass. South of Midnight is set in the American deep south, specifically it appears to be in the bayou. It clearly has fantastical elements mixed up in its southern setting; South of Midnight developer Compulsion Games describes the tone as “macabre”.
Star Wars bandits
The new Star Wars game from Lucasfilm Games Star Wars bandits features a new protagonist in a world overrun with crime syndicates. Not a Jedi or Sith, she lives in the gray world of smugglers and thieves. Developed by Massive Entertainment, there will be a gameplay reveal for the story-driven open world game at the Ubisoft Forward event on Monday.
33 immortals
spiritfarer developer Thunder Lotus Games debuted its next game, TK, with a surprise: 33-player co-op. So that’s what the 33 in 33 immortals is for. All those little champions flood the battlefield together to fight together in a top-down world.
Payday 3
Payday 3 comes on September 21. In the new trailer, a bunch of thieves embark on a heist that ends badly. There are cops, guns and hostages, as you would expect from any Payday game.
Persona 3 reload
oops! Atlus announced his Person 3 remake a little too early, leaked its own trailer on its Instagram page. But the announcement was originally scheduled for the Xbox Game Showcase on Sunday. The trailer itself is a quick one-minute look at the game, really improving on the PlayStation 2 original Person 5‘s visual quality, with the game running on Epic Games’ Unreal Engine.
Persona 3 reload expected on Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Windows PC and available through Game Pass. The trailer didn’t confirm the release on PlayStation platforms, but it’s likely they’ll get there too.
Granted
Obsidian Entertainment is working on Granted, first announced during the Xbox Games Showcase 2020. The first-person fantasy role-playing game is set in Eora, where the popular Pillars of Eternity series is set. The new trailer showcased the first-person gameplay that pits players against a mysterious corruption that is overtaking the world.
Granted is coming to Xbox Series X and will be available on Xbox Game Pass.
Sea of Thieves: The Legend of Monkey Island
Sea of thieves getting some new content The Legend of Monkey Island. The trailer, which debuted on Sunday, takes pirates to Monkey Island and encounters a group of quirky inhabitants in what appears to be a fantasy world. It’s out on July 20.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
Asobo Studio is upgrading Microsoft Flight Simulator to do more than just fly planes. In Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, pilots can take on jobs such as farming, aviation, helicopter and mountain rescue, aerial construction, cargo transport, hot air balloon pilot and aerial firefighting. It looks like a stunning evolution of the airplane simulation game, and it’s due in 2024.
Microsoft Flight Simulator Dune expansion
Microsoft Flight Simulator is on its way to Arakis in a Dune expansion that comes alongside the movie on November 3.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
There are a lot of voices in Senua’s head in the new trailer for it Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2. The eerie trailer shows Senua investigating a wet cave, where the voices interrogate her. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 coming in 2024.
Like a dragon: infinite wealth
Ichiban Kasuga wakes up naked on a beach in the debut of Like a dragon: infinite wealth. Yuck! The new game Yakuza/Like A Dragon will be released in 2024.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is described as an “an epic clash between the spirit realm and mortal man, with traditional Japanese aesthetics” by Capcom.
Forza Motorsport
Become 10 new Forza Motorsport is a sequel to Forza Motorsport 7 and is eagerly awaited; it’s been six years since the last game was released. However, the wait is almost over: Forza Motorsport will be released on October 10, Microsoft announced on Sunday. Forza Motorsport is as visually stunning as you’d expect for a game of this type – it looks really good and clearly showcases the power of the Xbox Series X.
Forza Motorsport coming to Xbox Series X and Windows PC, available immediately upon release to Xbox and PC Game Pass subscribers.
Overwatch 2 invasion
Overlook 2 gets a bunch of stuff like the new Flashpoint game mode, hero mastery, a co-op event, shooting range, story missions and more. Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can unlock the six newest heroes, legendary skins and in-game cosmetics. It all comes on August 10.
Persona 5 Tactics
Altus also confirmed that it is working on one Person 5 called spin-off game Persona 5 Tactics. It is scheduled for release on November 17 Person 5 in a genre more akin to Fire Emblem or XCOM with turn and grid based gameplay.
Persona 5 Tactics is scheduled for release on Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Windows PC. Like it Persona 3 reloadthis game is likely coming to PlayStation platforms.
Star field
from Bethesda Star field will get its own hour-long showcase immediately after the Xbox Games Showcase, but Microsoft gave viewers a look at a new trailer ahead of its special slot. The trailer showed off different environments and biomes, a dinosaur, and plenty of space exploration.
Star field will be released on September 6 on Xbox Series X and Windows PC.
jusant
Don’t Nod’s next game looks set to be an exploration platformer, with an emphasis on climbing of all kinds. The stylish fantasy world of jusant will debut in fall 2023.
Still awakens the depth
Secret Mode and The Chinese Room debuted Still awakens the depth with a terrifying trailer that brings horror to the ocean. It is expected in early 2024.
Dungeons of Hinterberg
Skateboarding on a knife, journaling and puzzles – count me in! Dungeons of Hinterberg was announced for a 2024 release date.
Cyberpunk 2077
CD Projekt Red is working on one Cyberpunk 2077 continued, formerly codename Project Orionbut it also has its Phantom Freedom DLC for the original game. Phantom Freedom is what the developer came to the Xbox Games Showcase with; the DLC stars Idris Elba playing a cop in New United States of America.
Oh yeah, and Keanu Reeves was on hand to introduce the trailer.
Cities: Skylines 2
Classic city builder Cities: skylines gets a sequel Cities: Skylines 2. The release is scheduled for October 24.
Metaphor Re Fantazio
Tower worn
People from all over the world are piled high and live in one belfray, forced to fight monsters to reclaim the village in the co-op fighter Tower worncoming in 2024.
Clockwork revolution
It’s not BioShock! This steampunk game from inXile is set in an authoritarian city where you must change the past to control the future, according to the trailer. There are also mechs. Clockwork revolution does not have a release date yet.
Xbox Series S in carbon black
Microsoft will release a 1 TB Xbox Series S upgrade in the carbon black colorway on September 1.