With E3 officially canceled for 2023, Microsoft has taken it upon itself to deliver news about its upcoming games via the Xbox Games Showcase and Starfield Direct on June 11. These presentations come after last year's Xbox and Bethesda Showcase which promised that every game shown during the presentation would release within the year. Now a year has almost come and gone with some games like Starfield being pushed outside that release window, leaving many curious as to what Xbox could have in store for its upcoming exclusives.
Microsoft's presentation this year will be broken up into two back-to-back shows starting with the Xbox Games Showcase immediately followed by the Starfield Direct. Given that Starfield is one of Xbox's most anticipated games, it's no surprise to see a separate presentation dedicated solely to Bethesda Game Studios' latest title. Aside from Starfield, there are a variety of other games in need of updates during the Xbox Games Showcase portion of the presentation that could make or break the future of the Xbox Series X/S and Xbox Game Pass.
The Starfield Direct Needs to Wow Players After the Disappointment of Redfall
All eyes are on Starfield to be Xbox's saving grace after Redfall failed to live up to many players' expectations. As the next major Xbox exclusive and the first title from Bethesda Game Studios in a long time, Starfield already has high expectations placed on its shoulders, and after a series of delays, a deep dive into the game during the Starfield Direct could be just what it needs to renew player confidence in the title. With several aspects of Starfield's gameplay still unknown, this showcase is the perfect opportunity to prove the game has been worth the wait.
According to the information provided by the company, players can expect to see new gameplay, interviews with Starfield's developers, and behind-the-scenes insider information. Showing more gameplay is always a welcome part of any presentation as it helps give a more accurate look at what players can expect from a game, and developer interviews might help provide some insight into certain design choices going into the game. The behind-the-scenes insider information mentioned is the most mysterious aspect of the showcase and could include a variety of information, perhaps even an announcement about a Starfield demo or early access period.
Microsoft Has the Chance to Renew Hype for Several Games During the Xbox Games Showcase
While Starfield is the clear star of the showcase, Xbox still has several other announced titles in the works that could use an update. Console-exclusive games that could appear in this presentation include Obsidian's first-person fantasy RPG Avowed, the sequel to Obsidian's sci-fi RPG The Outer Worlds 2, the next game in the Fable series, Ninja Theory's Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2, GSC Game World's STALKER 2, and Forza Motorsport. Some of these titles were shown during last year's June showcase, but have yet to receive official release dates despite the one-year release window promise. As a whole, these seem to be likely appearances:
- Avowed
- The Outer Worlds 2
- Fable
- Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2
- STALKER 2
- Forza Motorsport
- Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
- Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn
- Cocoon
- Replaces
There are also a handful of multiplatform and indie titles that could appear during this presentation as well, including the highly anticipated Hollow Knight: Silksong. Although Silksong made an appearance during last summer's showcase, it has been quiet since, and this year's showcase could see the game finally rear its head again. Other titles shown last year that could reappear include Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, Cocoon, and Replaced, all standouts that caught players' attention but have seen little more information. With how many previously announced titles are still up in the air, Microsoft is giving all types of fans a reason to tune in for this showcase.
Starfield releases September 6 on PC and Xbox Series X/S.