The Biggest News From Xbox Games Showcase 2023

With E3 out of the picture this year, the gaming showcase landscape continues to shift with developers and publishers adapting to the times. For Microsoft, it hosted its own Xbox Games Showcase as part of Summer Game Fest on June 11. Throughout this presentation, the Xbox team went from one exciting reveal to the next with 27 games in total being shared. Afterwards, an extra-special 45-minute gameplay deep dive of Starfield prepped fans for one of the year’s biggest releases in gaming. Now that a global increase in Xbox Series X supply has been declared, here’s a recap of all the headlines to go with it.

Star Wars Outlaws World Premiere Trailer

The ever-expanding Star Wars universe has been recreated countless times in video game history, however, none have truly boasted an open world design — until now. Star Wars Outlaws is Ubisoft’s first venture into the beloved franchise and carries an ambitious approach. Set between the events of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, scoundrel Kay Vess and her companion Nix are seeking freedom and the opportunity to start a new life by taking on the galaxy’s crime syndicates. Its initial trailer highlights the aforementioned characters alongside new and familiar vehicles, locations and weapons. As of now, release is scheduled for 2024.

New Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty Expansion Trailer

At this point, what’s a game showcase without Keanu Reeves presenting? Mr. Johnny Silverhand himself took the stage to preview Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, the upcoming expansion for Cyberpunk 2077. The action-packed trailer sees Reeves reprising his role as Silverhand with fellow actor Idris Elba joining the fray as sleeper agent Solomon Reed. Players return as V with all-new high-stake missions to take on in the new district of Dogtown. Release for the expansion is scheduled for September 26 at a price of $30 USD.

Fable Teaser Trailer

The fairytale land of Albion is arriving courtesy of Playground Games with Fable. The upcoming open world action RPG is a modern homage to the franchise with its comedic debut trailer centered around Dave, a vegetable enthusiast (and also a giant). Arriving after over ten years since Fable III, in-game footage shows off the power of modern production. No release information regarding Fable has been disclosed just yet.

New Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II Trailer

Chaos continues with the next chapter of Senua’s story previewed courtesy of Ninja Theory and its Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II trailer recorded on the Xbox Series X. The ominous reveal showcases the game’s graphical prowess while teasing what’s to come for Senua in the new title. In addition to the brief exploration of the game, a release date has been forecasted for 2024.

First Payday 3 Gameplay Trailer

Having announced the title almost four years ago, Starbreeze Studios’ Payday 3 finally has its gameplay revealed and its more of what fans of the series love: gunplay, masks and a whole lot of heists. The brief first look takes place in New York City at a branch location of Secure Capital Bank with the original Payday crew of Dallas, Chains, Wolf and Hoxton. Adding to the excitement of September in gaming, the title is scheduled for launch on September 21.

Xbox Series S “Carbon Black” 1TB SSD Reveal

As technology surrounding hardware continues to improve, consoles reap the benefits. In continuation of the third year of the Xbox Series consoles, the Xbox Series S is seeing a new upgrade in “Carbon Black.” The sleek colorway is backed by a 1TB SSD that will have games booting up faster than ever. Pre-orders for the new edition have opened at a $350 USD price point with the upgraded console becoming available on September 1.

The 45-Minute Starfield Breakdown

Following the expansive showcase, a 45-minute Starfield Direct was held to give gamers the latest rundown on what to expect from the highly-anticipated title. Game director Todd Howard and the rest of Bethesda’s Starfield development team covered everything from the galactic journey’s overview to the incredibly-detailed customization options — impacting skills, ships, companions and one’s own character. Over 1000 procedurally-generated planets are explorable, offering a limitless adventure for players. Adding to the fun, a collector’s edition featuring a Starfield Chronomark Watch from the game was revealed alongside a themed Xbox controller and headset. Release for the title is set for September 6.