With E3 officially canceled for 2023, Microsoft has taken it upon itself to deliver news about its upcoming games via the Xbox Games Showcase andStarfieldDirect 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 likeStarfieldbeing 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 theXbox Games Showcaseimmediately followed by theStarfieldDirect. Given thatStarfieldis 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 fromStarfield, 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.
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The Starfield Direct Needs to Wow Players After the Disappointment of Redfall
All eyes are onStarfieldto be Xbox’s saving grace afterRedfallfailed 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,Starfieldalready has high expectations placed on its shoulders, and after a series of delays, a deep dive into the game during theStarfieldDirect could be just what it needs to renew player confidence in the title. With several aspects ofStarfield’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 withStarfield’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 aStarfielddemo or early access period.
Microsoft Has the Chance to Renew Hype for Several Games During the Xbox Games Showcase
WhileStarfieldis 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 RPGAvowed, the sequel toObsidian’s sci-fi RPGThe Outer Worlds 2, the next game in theFableseries, Ninja Theory’sSenua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, GSC Game World’sSTALKER 2, andForza 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:
There are also a handful of multiplatform and indie titles that could appear during this presentation as well, including thehighly anticipatedHollow Knight: Silksong. AlthoughSilksongmade 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 includeEiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, Cocoon, andReplaced,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.
Starfieldreleases September 6 on PC and Xbox Series X/S.
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