The Xbox Showcase is continuing the torrent of game conference season. Xbox is in a peculiar spot with the lackluster release of Redfall. A title which they’d hoped would buoy the time before Starfield. Nevertheless, we think they are going to come out swinging.
Here are Five Things we Think Xbox is Going to Show at The Xbox Games Showcase
Forza Motorsport
It has been confirmed that Forza Motorsport will be at the showcase. They will be showing off their cover cars, the 2023 No. 01 Cadillac Racing V-Series.R and 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray. But, we don’t have a good feel for what exactly they will be showing. I anticipate a gameplay reveal and a firm release date for Turn10’s latest iteration of the Forza Motorsport Series. All games in the franchise (outside of the first two entries) came out between September 13 to November 22. I’d wager that we will receive a date and it will fall within that timeline.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
We’ve seen Hellblade relatively often, but we haven’t seen a lot of the actual game. Often relegated to tailored scenes/cgi moments, we’ve been waiting for lengthy gameplay segments for what feels like years. It really does feel like the time to showcase the sequel to a stellar game. My anticipation for the game lies solely in wanting to get a release date, and less so concern with what Ninja Theory is cooking up. The game is too big to shadow drop, but I’m also not sure it’d be the best idea to sandwich it between Starfield and Forza Motorsport. The first game released on Xbox Series S|X in August, but I find it hard to believe they’d bump it right against Starfield. I’d bet on a February 2024 date at the earliest.
Fable
Fable was either not-so-sneakily-teased, or the folks at Xbox have a sadistic sense of humor. You be the judge! Although Xbox has walked back a bit on the tease saying they didn’t necessarily tease it.
A new Fable was initially teased back in 2020. Since then, we’ve had not a hint of the… fabled franchise. With the avalanche of remasters coming from everyone, I hope we get a double whammy of news. The first being more info of any kind about Fable 4 (or whatever it is to be called), and a release or remaster of the first three games. There isn’t even as much of a rumor to the latter, but I’d love to get a chance to replay them with any sort of quality-of-life changes.
Lies of P
Since Sony/From Software refuse to make any sort of movement on Bloodborne, it looks like Neowiz is going to be the next closest thing with Lies of P. From each showing, the game has looked stunning. It has nailed the atmosphere visually, and the sound design is a perfect complement in selling the overall vibe. With it being a Gamepass Day one release, I’d imagine it will be featured among a bevy of other Day One Game Pass titles.
The Elder Scrolls Online and Sea of Thieves
The pair of Xbox’s ongoing games-as-a-service titles will surely get info on any 2023 updates. Necrom, ESO’s latest expansion released on PC June 5 and is set for release on Xbox and PlayStation on June 20.
Can you believe Sea of Thieves is just over five years old? Rare did a masterful job in reviving what initially appeared to be a sinking ship. Season nine kicked off in March and is scheduled to end sometime in July. With not even a sliver of a tease to be found, will Rare have a big update for what is to come for the future of Sea of Thieves?
There you have it, five reveals we expect to see in the Xbox Showcase. We’ve learned the hard way with shooting well over the moon for what we expected to see at the PlayStation showcase, and thus tamped our expectations a bit. That’s not to say some of the bigger unknown games won’t make a showing. Things like Avowed, Contraband, Indiana Jones and Perfect Dark are waiting in the wings. I just don’t feel like the show has the time to fit all that, nor do I think they would show all that with a Starfield Direct taking place right after.
I don’t want to hop on the crisis train and say that this is Xbox’s most important show ever, but it is one that can set the tone for Xbox for years to come. Xbox has to feel confident in the showcase as they are pairing with Fathom Events to host theater showings of the showcase.
Where Can You Watch The Xbox Games Showcase?
You can watch the Xbox Games Showcase on June 11 at 10am PT in the following places:
- YouTube.com/Xbox
- Twitch.tv/Xbox
- Twitch.tv/XboxASL
- Facebook.com/Xbox
- YouTube.com/Bethesda
- Twitch.tv/Bethesda
Of course, be sure to stick around for the Starfield Direct immediately after the showcase.