Microsoft has announced that its ID@Xbox Digital Showcase will return next week on April 29. The showcase is a dedicated platform for highlighting upcoming indie games heading to Xbox consoles and PC, promising a smattering of new announcements as well as updates for existing ones.

Launched all the way back in 2013, the ID@Xbox program was targeted towards budding indie developers in need of resources. Registered developers receive funding, free development kits, backend support, as well as access to game engines like Unity and Unreal Engine 4. To date, over 2000 indie games have been launched thanks to the program. ID@Xbox has also birthed popular games like Cuphead, Tacoma, Stardew Valley, Celeste, Inside, and many more. The year's iteration of the ID@Xbox Digital Showcase is no different, promising to highlight more of the unique, creative charm of the indie scene.

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The showcase is set to premiere on April 29 at 10AM PT / 1PM ET. While the full lineup of games is under wraps, Microsoft has revealed some of them in advance to build hype, such as Hi-Fi Rush-esque action-RPG Dungeons of Hinterberg from studio Microbird. Co-op title 33 Immortals from Thunder Lotus Games, the creators of Sundered and Spiritfarer, will also be featured in the show, ahead of its closed beta in May. Both titles are confirmed to release day one on Xbox Game Pass.

Palworld Fans Have a Lot to Look Forward to

Japanese developer Pocket Pair will also make an appearance with some new information about its breakout hit Palworld. The studio remains tight-lipped on what to expect, but it can be surmised that it'll reveal more about the major Palworld update coming this summer, as well as the PvP Pal Arena mode later in the year. Life Is Strange developer Don't Nod Entertainment will also share more details on its next game, Lost Records: Bloom & Rage.

Indie developers often drive the most innovation in the games industry, and the ID@Xbox Digital Showcase does them great service by bringing them into the spotlight, not just for gamers seeking fresh experiences, but for future funding opportunities as well. Moreover, the upcoming edition of the showcase seems to be packing some proper heat, especially Palworld. As one of the biggest releases of the year, it will undoubtedly be one of the show's highlights. With Pocket Pair's roadmap and its partnership with Xbox to improve Palworld, the showcase is going to have a lot of eyes on it come next week.