Xbox Next-Gen Game Showcase: Everything That Was Announced
Microsoft aired its Xbox next-gen game showcase event earlier today.
The hour-long event included new game announcements, the first gameplay footage of Halo Infinite, as well as information on new DLC and expansion packs. Unfortunately, there was no new information on the Xbox Series X console nor anything on the rumoured Project Lockheart. Everything was announced at the event, was as follows:
Halo Infinite Gameplay
The showcase kicked off with gameplay from Halo Infinite, showcasing the title’s upcoming open-world. The footage began with Master Chief and a pilot landing on an alien planet before Master Chief begins exploring it via a vehicle. Also shown was a grapple and forcefield shield as part of the title’s new gameplay.
The footage ended with a cutscene of an alien informing Chief that he and the humans have lost the war, and with a developer message from 343 who claimed that the upcoming title is larger than all previous Halo games and will arrive later this year.
State Of Decay 3
After the Halo Infinite gameplay reveal, Xbox announced State Of Decay 3 with a trailer featuring a woman moving through a frozen landscape while encountering zombified animals.
Forza Motorsport
After a brief message from Xbox boss Phil Spencer, who earlier this week said that Halo Infinite would make changes to the sci-fi franchise, Xbox shared a glimpse at the upcoming Forza Motorsport, a brand new racing game with 4K graphics.
Everwild
Following the Forza Motorsport reveal, Xbox announced the upcoming Everwild game, an animated fantasy adventure from Rare which will launch on both Xbox consoles and on PC.
Tell Me Why
Tell Me Why was showcased soon after, an episodic adventure game based in Alaska which tells the story of two twins who return to their childhood home to face their past and traumatic childhood. The game is going to be one of the first to feature a fully playable trans character. The first episode is set to release on August 27th.
Obsidian’s Grounded, The Outer Worlds DLC, and Avowed
Following the reveal of Tell Me Why, Obsidian aired a short segment in which it debut a new trailer for its Grounded video game set to release on July 28th, as well as a trailer for The Outer Worlds DLC Peril On Gorgon which will release on September 9 for all platforms.
They then announced new fantasy RPG Avowed which is reportedly set in the realm of Eora and looks very much inspired by the Elder Scrolls franchise.
As Dusk Falls
As Dusk Falls was the next game announced, a unique comic-book style story-based game that has been described as an “interactive drama”. According to the developers, the game is set in 1999 in the Arizona desert and follows two families who meet. The story will then follow the families over 30 years, before and after their coincidental meeting.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2
After the announcement for As Dusk Falls, Xbox announced a sequel to 2007’s survival horror S.T.A.L.K.E.R. The sequel will reportedly release in 2021 for PC and the Xbox Series X.
Psychonauts 2
Jack Black appeared in an announcement trailer for Psychonauts 2. The trailer, which featured Black singing, showed off some platforming and cartoony visuals. The game will reportedly release in 2021.
The Gunk
An announcement trailer for The Gunk followed soon after, an adventure game in which players must fight terrifying creatures to solve puzzles and progress through the story. The title will release at some point in 2021.
CrossfireX
Control developers Remedy announced their new CrossfireX title, a sci-fi military first-person shooter which will be told in operations and divided into single episodes.
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
Next in the showcase was Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, a hack’n slash game set in a strange future. Like most other games announced in the showcase, Warhammer 40,000 will release in 2021.
The Medium
Xbox then unveiled a new trailer of its psychological horror game The Medium which will launch later this year and feature “dual reality” in which two different game worlds are shown on-screen at the same time.
Fable
The showcase ended with a trailer for a Fable reboot. The title was long-rumoured and finally announced, but Xbox did not share any information on the game including a potential release date.
The Other Announcements
Other announcements made during the showcase include an updated version of MMORPG Phantasy Star Online 2 which will release in 2021. Tetris Effect and expansion Tetris Effect: Connected was announced, as well as news that Destiny 2 and its DLC will be arriving on Game Pass in September this year.
During the Xbox next-gen game showcase pre-show, games Dragon Quest XI: Echoes Of An Elusive Age, shooter game Exomecha, and adventure game Echo Generation were all announced for Xbox consoles and PC. A sequel to Hello Neighbour was announced, as well as new platforming game Balan Wonderworld.
That’s it for Xbox’s next-gen game showcase. There’s a lot to unravel here and although many fans have expressed disappointment at the showcase, Xbox certainly did announce a lot.
The Xbox Series X console is only a few more months away and we can expect more information on the new console and its upcoming games soon so stay tuned!
The full Xbox next-gen game showcase can be watched in full with captions here.
Image Credit: Screenshot, Xbox Halo Infinite Gameplay Footage – YouTube
