Hopes were high for the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase, and we are happy to report that the event did not disappoint (well, for the most part). The stream focused on games that fans will be able to play within the next 12 months, and what’s even better is that most of the games featured will be coming to Game Pass, many of them as day one additions. Let’s quickly break down everything featured in this year’s showcase.
Redfall
The stream started off right by going straight into some new Redfall gameplay footage. The clip showed a scene (presumably from early in the game) in which a lone protagonist investigates a church basement before running afoul of its ghoulish denizens.
We are then treated to a story trailer that shows off the game’s characters and setting – a once-picturesque Massachusetts island town turned horror-scape overrun with vampires and their human thralls.
Coming sometime in the fall of 2023, Redfall promises to be one of the biggest games coming to Xbox (and Game Pass) in the next year.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
We were also treated to gameplay footage from Hollow Knight: Silksong, which is surely one of the most anticipated indie-style games in recent memory, and fans will be delighted to know that it will be a day one Game Pass title, though there is still no official release date.
High on Life
From the creators of Rick and Morty comes this rather unusual first person shooter that has the player blasting enemies with sentient weaponry. It promises a unique take on the genre that can only be described as “trippy.”
Riot Games
The League of Legends developer has several games to showcase with its own segment. Among their PC and mobile games headed to Game Pass are League of Legends: All Champions Unlocked (PC), League of Legends: Wild Rift (mobile): All Champions Unlocked, Legends of Runeterra (PC & Mobile): Foundations Set Unlocked, Teamfight Tactics (PC & Mobile): Select Little Legends Unlocked, and Valorant (PC): All Agents Unlocked.
A Plague Tale: Requiem
This game picks up where A Plague Tale: Innocence left off, though it puts protagonists Amcia and Hugo in a new setting, this time in the southern part of France. This will be another day one Game Pass game when it arrives later this year.
Forza Motorsport
The show provided an extensive look at the new Forza Motorsport game set to release, with a look at several aspects of the new game, from the overhauled damage modeling system to the new “dynamic time of day” rendering system.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 40th Anniversary Edition
The showcase gave us a trailer for this new edition of the game, to celebrate its 40th anniversary. And to put it simply, the graphics are nothing short of jaw-dropping. Feast your eyes on the breathtaking locales and beautiful aircraft on display. The game is coming in November.
Overwatch 2
From Blizzard Entertainment comes this follow up to the hugely popular online shooter. Overwatch 2 promises “a new era” in the team-based hero shooter. Overwatch 2 will enter early access on October 4 this year.
ARA: History Untold
From the creators of the genre comes ARA: History Untold, which promises to deliver the next evolution in turn-based strategy. The trailer looks promising, to say the least, and fans of the Civilization franchise will be especially excited for this game’s release sometime in the not-too-distant future.
ESO Online: High Isle
For those with a hankering for something new from the Elder Scrolls universe (we think there might be a few of you out there) rejoice: Elder Scrolls Online players will be able to explore lands never before seen in playable form with the High Isle expansion, coming June 21.
Fallout 76 – Expeditions: The Pitt
Fallout 76 players will now be able to travel beyond Appalachia in this new content update coming September 22. Answer the distress call and save the denizens from The Pitt from a dangerous fanatics.
Forza Horizon 5: Hot Wheels
Forza Horizon 5’s first major expansion will be Hot Wheels-inspired, following in the footsteps of the game’s predecessor. Coming July 19, the expansion will add new Horizon Hot Wheels Park in the clouds high above Mexico.
ARK 2
This survival game takes inspiration from games like Nintendo’s Breath of the Wild and the Assassin’s Creed series. The story trailer was nothing short of stunning, and sets the premise of a father and daughter trying to make their way in a beautiful yet dangerous world where dinosaurs have returned.
Scorn
This gorgeously gruesome first person action game was utterly terrifying and utterly impressive all at the same time in this gameplay trailer. The game will be available as a day one Game Pass game on October 21.
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn
This official gameplay trailer for the third person action-adventure game Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn focused on the game’s smooth combat, which has the protagonist switching between hacking with her dual-wiled axes and busting out the old flintlock for some swift gunplay. The game will release sometime in early 2023.
Minecraft Legends
Surely one of the highlights of the showcase was Minecraft Legends: a new game from Mojang Studios. As the trailer revealed this is a truly next-generation block game, and it looks fantastic. This action-strategy game will release sometime in 2023.
Lightyear Frontier: A Fresh Start
Set for a spring 2023 release, this game has a pretty unique premise that somehow combines something like Armored Core or Mechassault with Stardew Valley. Very roughly speaking. Seriously, though, Lightyear Frontier promises a very original take on the farming game.
Gunfire Reborn
A first person action-roguelite is probably the best way to categorize this zany title, which will be heading to Xbox and Game Pass in October. Judging by the trailer showcased today, the game will deliver some pretty intense action to go along with its intense characters.
The Last Case of Benedict Fox
This game is a 2.5D side-scroller with loads of loads of personality and a Lovecraftian/Noir vibe. The trailer showed off some of the game’s stunningly creepy environments and horrific creatures. You’ll be able to play this in spring of 2023.
As Dusk Falls
The showcase delivered a look at this rather original game that bill itself as an interactive multiplayer story in which up to 8 players can participate. As Dusk Falls will release on July 9 as yet another day one Game Pass release.
Naraka: Bladepoint
The trailer for this action game focused on gameplay, and unveiled the game’s new campaign mode. It will come to Xbox for the first time on June 23, and it will be available on Game Pass.
Pentiment
The trailer for Pentiment really did a good job of showing off the game’s unique ancient-storybook visual style. The game is a narrative adventure that seems to have that medieval ambience in spades. It will arrive in November, and on Game Pass.
Grounded
Another gorgeous trailer that shows what next gen gaming is capable of. Grounded has the player taking control of four miniaturized teens as they try to survive the perils of the back yard and figure out why they’ve been made tiny. The game arrives in September of 2022.
Ereban: Shadow Legacy
We got a look at this new game with the announcement trailer. The game will hit Xbox sometime in 2023, and we must say its third person cyborg action looks pretty impressive.
Diablo IV
Undoubtedly one of the highlights of the showcase was the extended look at Diablo IV. The segment detailed some of the many new exciting features coming to the Diablo universe with this fourth mainline installment. Diablo IV will arrive in 2023.
Sea of Thieves – Season 7
Without question the most lyrical of the game trailers on offer during the showcase, the Sea of Thieves official Season 7 trailer gave us a taste of everything new coming to the swashbuckling online action adventure game when Season 7 begins on July 21.
Ravenlok
We got an exciting new look at this new game, coming in 2023, with the official Ravenlok announcement trailer. The game looks like a promising fairytale-inspired action-adventure.
Cocoon
The Cocoon reveal trailer gave us a glimpse into this action-puzzle game from some of the same minds behind Inside and Limbo. The game will hit Xbox in 2023.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
One of the most impressive trailers from the showcase was that of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty from the legendary Team Ninja. The trailer showed a mix of cut scenes and gameplay. Wo Long is set to release on Xbox early next year as a day one Game Pass game.
Persona Series
The trailer for the Persona series no doubt made jrpg fans on Xbox jump for joy when they saw it. That’s right: Persona 5 Royal, Persona 4 Golden, and Persona 3 Portable are all coming to Game Pass, beginning with Persona 5 Royal on October 21 this year.
Hideo Kojima Xbox partnership
From the man himself came news that Xbox has entered into a partnership with legendary game creator Hideo Kojima, on an as-yet-unannounced project. Whatever shape this game ultimately takes, you can bet it will be awesome.
Starfield
And finally, the event closed with an extended look at the star of the show: Starfield. We finally got a look at some new gameplay footage with the trailer. Suffice it to say we are utterly, irredeemably impressed. Starfield does not yet have a solid release date, but it will arrive in 2023. And now thanks to this lengthy trailer, 2023 seems so much farther away.
And there you have it. It was quite a showcase, and more than enough to get excited us excited about the next 12 months or so in Xbox gaming. While it was a bit of a dissappointment that we didn’t see anything from The Elder Scrolls VI, no one was really expecting it anyway. And who knows, Starfield may just be enough to make us forget about TES VI when it comes out next year.
