It's no surprise that Xbox Game Studios will get its own game showcase soon. After E3 was canceled, it became inevitable that game studios everywhere would start organizing their own showcases and presentations. Still, it's exciting to hear that Starfield and other upcoming Xbox games will get some major attention soon. There are a lot of promising games in development among Xbox's list of studios right now, but many of them are total mysteries. Starfield may be poised to be a leading figure in the showcase, but it probably won't be the only game finally showing off gameplay and other details after a long wait.
Playground Games' Fable reboot could be among the games that join Starfield at the event and make a splash. Rumors about Fable's progress in development inspire optimism that the game will make another appearance soon. Fable also seems like a strong pairing with Starfield, considering the combination of similarities and complimentary differences that the two games have. Playground's project isn't confirmed for the presentation just yet, but it seems like the perfect time for a long overdue status update on Fable. Between Starfield and Fable, the upcoming showcase could generate a lot of excitement for the Xbox Series X's future.
Starfield Shows the Xbox's Strength
Bethesda's reputation as a masterful crafter of RPGs makes Starfield an ideal game to show off at the upcoming showcase. Microsoft has acquired a variety of talented studios in the last few years, but Bethesda stands out as the developer of blockbuster franchises like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout. Bethesda's inclusion in the name in the upcoming showcase signifies its importance as a new member of the Microsoft family. Xbox and Bethesda have already celebrated their newfound partnership over the last few years, but a Starfield gameplay reveal at the upcoming showcase would cement the Xbox as Bethesda's new home.
Starfield may be a mystery in many ways, but it's still a powerhouse title for the Xbox already. Bethesda's reputation is cause for optimism about its quality, and the spacefaring model stands to make it a highly unique RPG. The number of Starfield aspects that Bethesda has left to discuss mean that Starfield can take center stage throughout the show. The more content Bethesda reveals, the better; fans may very well find themselves watching a Starfield presentation far longer than the other Xbox game trailers and discussions included in the showcase. Thanks to that, Starfield reveals are bound to define the Xbox and Bethesda showcase's reception.
Fable is a Sign of Growth
While Bethesda's Starfield is a great sign of the Xbox's place as a powerhouse in the game industry, Fable has the power to show off how the Xbox is growing and changing. Playground Games has been a part of Xbox Game Studios for a few years now, continuing to produce high quality Forza Horizon titles, but Fable is its next big project. Microsoft could have given the Fable IP to one of its RPG experts like Obsidian Entertainment, but instead, it's encouraging Playground Games to diversify its skills. Fable's presence at the upcoming showcase would be a great representation of positive growth within Microsoft's game studios.
Similarly, Fable is a great example of Microsoft's interest in helping old IPs grow and reinvent themselves. Thanks to new developers and a powerful new home console, Fable is bound to change in a lot of ways, but that reinvention will make Fable fresh for new and old fans alike. Microsoft is encouraging similar changes with the upcoming Perfect Dark reboot. Playground Games' Fable is a symbol of Xbox Game Studios' potential to approach old IPs creatively, meaning it would be a powerful show of potential at the upcoming showcase.
Teamwork at the Xbox and Bethesda Showcase
Fable and Starfield together would be an excellent pair of stars for the showcase. They may both be Xbox RPGs, but their difference in themes and character would make them complimentary contrasts. Starfield is a new, serious sci-fi IP from a well-known RPG developer, while Fable is a lighthearted, classic fantasy RPG being revived by a genre newcomer. Those contrasting statuses, as well as their mutual statuses as highly anticipated games, mean they can work together to make the Xbox showcase very well-rounded.
If they both appear, odds are that Starfield will get a little more attention than Fable since Starfield's release date is starting to draw near, but both games have the potential to reveal a lot of information. Both games need major gameplay reveals, and Starfield could show off all the ways that it improves on previous Bethesda RPG systems while Fable finally provides fans with a release window. Xbox Game Studios members have a lot to show off, from Obsidian's Avowed to The Initiative's Perfect Dark, but Fable and Starfield in particular have the chance to shine.
The Xbox Showcase's Possibilities
Odds are good that the new Xbox and Bethesda showcase will be packed with content, since it's filling the void left behind by E3's cancellation. It's hard to say for sure which Xbox games will be there and which won't, but Starfield at least seems like a shoo-in. Fable seems like it has a decent chance of appearing too, since Playground has been working on Fable for a few years now. There's no doubt that Starfield has a lot to share when it's only a few months away from release, and Fable surely has at least a few details worth sharing at this point as well.
It'll be interesting to see what kinds of precedents the upcoming showcase sets for future Xbox presentations. It may be that Bethesda gets top billing in a lot of other future presentations, leading shows with information about The Elder Scrolls 6 or Fallout 5 while other Xbox studios flesh out the showcase with their own content. Alternatively, Bethesda may take the charge this time, then step back after Starfield's release; other studios may stand in the limelight while Bethesda works on future projects. The amount of time Starfield gets compared to other titles will be especially enlightening. While huge Starfield reveals would be great, hopefully it shares the stage with Fable.
Starfield releases November 11, 2022 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.