The wait is finally over. After a lackluster first look at the next-generation of consoles back in May, Microsoft's held its first-party Xbox Games Showcase, offering fans a one-hour look at what's going on in the world of Xbox including a lengthy campaign demo for Halo Infinite, the announcement new games in the Forza Motorsport and Fable franchises, and a ton more exclusive games coming to Xbox Games Pass. Here's everything revealed during the Xbox Games Showcase (pre-show offerings included!).
As Dusk Falls
Led by former Quantic Dream lead game designer Caroline Marchal, whose experience includes notable games like Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls, As Dust Falls is an interactive drama set in the Arizona desert in 1999. The story follows "two families whose trajectories collide" over a thirty-year timespan and aims to use the power of interactivity to push storytelling further. As Dusk Falls is the debut game from London developer, INTERIOR/NIGHT.
Avowed
Obsidian Entertainment decided to spoil the Xbox fanbase by not only revealing a new expansion for The Outer Worlds and new gameplay for Grounded but revealing a brand new RPG as well. Avowed is the next big fantasy-RPG from the developers of Fallout New Vegas and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2, and takes place in the same universe as another beloved series from the studio, Pillars of Eternity.
Balan Wonderworld
Announced during the pre-show, Square Enix debuted a brand new game from Sonic the Hedgehog creators Yuji Naka and Naoto Oshima, called Balan Wonderworld. Described as a "3D action-platformer with a musical flair," Balan Wonderworld is coming to Xbox One and Xbox Series X in early 2021, as well as PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.
CrossfireX
Previously known as a PC-exclusive franchise, CrossfireX will be making its console debut on Xbox platforms before the end of 2020 and the game's campaign mode is being developed by Control and Alan Wake creators, Remedy Entertainment. CrossfireX may not have blown players away with its multiplayer Beta, but based on the new cinematic trailer (above), its single-player campaign might.
Destiny 2: Beyond Light
Microsoft announced a brand new partnership with Bungie that will see the full Destiny 2 experience arrive on Xbox Games Pass this September. Game Pass subscribers will be able to access all of Destiny 2's previously released expansions including Forsaken and Shadowkeep, as well as the standard edition of Beyond Light expansion when it arrives in November.
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition
Previously only available on Nintendo Switch, Square Enix is bringing Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition to Xbox One and Xbox Series X (through backward compatibility) this December, as well as PlayStation 4 and PC. Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age is a remake of the popular Nintendo 3DS game, fit with upgraded audio and visuals.
Echo Generation
Echo Generation is a turn-based adventure game from Riverbond and Planet of the Eyes developer, Cococucumber. Announced for Xbox and PC, Echo Generation follows a group of kids that are investigating supernatural occurrences in their home town, all while fighting off mysterious monsters, giving off serious Stranger Things vibes.
Everwild
A brand new teaser trailer was shown for Everwild, the eagerly anticipated next game from Sea of Thieves, Viva Pinata, Donkey Kong Country, and Banjo-Kazooie developer, Rare. Everwild is a brand new IP currently in development for Xbox and PC (no release window announced), and promises players "unique and unforgettable experiences await in a natural and magical world."
ExoMecha
ExoMecha is an upcoming free-to-play competitive first-person shooter from developer TwistedRed. The game is in development for Xbox One, Xbox Series X and PC, and is due to release at some point in late 2021.
Fable
After a ton of leaks and rumors, its finally official, Playground Games is developing a new entry in the Fable series. Unfortunately, the teaser trailer was very short so very little is currently known about the game, yet it appears to a soft-reboot of the fantasy series and will be called simply Fable.
Forza Motorsport
Like the new Fable, Forza Motorsport was confirmed to be in development but didn't receive a lengthy demo, just a brief teaser trailer. Turn 10 Studios is developing the new game for Xbox Series X and PC and will offer ray tracing, native 4K, and 60 FPS gameplay, as well as "some brand new game concepts" that are intended to connect players in new ways.
Grounded
While the announcement of fantasy-RPG, Avowed was the biggest reveal from developer Obsidian Entertainment, the studio also gave an update on its 'Honey, I Shrunk the Kids' style survival game. For those that are interested in this upcoming cooperative survival adventure, it looks like Grounded is going to be available to play next week, available on Xbox Game Preview early access starting, July 28.
The Gunk
Image and Form, the developers behind the brilliant SteamWorld series, announced a brand new game adventure game called The Gunk. Coming to Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and PC in 2021, The Gunk sends players to an alien world where they'll need to fight off terrifying enemies and complete challenges to save the planet from a mysterious and gooey (Gunky?) threat.
Halo Infinite
Starting off the Xbox Games Showcase with a bang, Halo Infinite received a lengthy new campaign gameplay demo with footage of the Master Chief in action, the Covenant, the new Banished Brutes, and a long-rumored Grappling Hook equipment. No release date was given, likely because Halo Infinite is going to be a launch title for the Xbox Series X, releasing day and date alongside the new console this Holiday.
Hell0 Neighbor 2
During the Xbox Games Showcase pre-show, Dynamic Pixels announced Hello Neighbor 2, a sequel to the popular stealth horror game released in 2017. In Hello Neighbor 2, players will need to track down there neighbor Mr. Peterson, who went missing after the events of the first game, all while being stalked by a mysterious creature. A playable Alpha is available now on Xbox One and Steam, with a full release coming in 2021.
The Medium
Bloober Team released a new trailer for its upcoming Xbox Series X exclusive horror game, The Medium. Titled "Dual-Reality," the new trailer offered fans an extended look at the game's new mechanic, rendering two separate "worlds" simultaneously and seemingly allowing players to switch between them at will, similar to the anniversary edition of Halo: Combat Evolved.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
While no new game was teased, Moon Studios appeared to let players know that Ori and the Will of the Wisps will be getting a next-gen update for Xbox Series X and it will be available free to all players through Microsoft's Smart Delivery. The update will offer new will offer support for 4K HDR graphics and 120 FPS gameplay.
The Outer Worlds - Peril on Gorgon
The final announcement from Obsidian Entertainment was for two brand new expansions that are in development for The Outer Worlds. The first expansion is called The Outer Worlds: Peril on Gorgon and will release on September 9, 2020, taking players to an all-new asteroid location fit with new quests, weapons, armor, perks, flaws, and a "noir-tinged adventure."
Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis
A brand new expansion has been announced for Phantasy Star Online 2 called New Genesis. The new expansion will be released in 2021 and introduce a new environment and new enemies, as well as a complete overhaul of the existing experience, promising redesigned graphics, game design, and gameplay.
Psychonauts 2
Double Fine has never created a sequel to any of its games before, so that already makes the mere existence of Psychonauts 2 a very big deal for the new Xbox Games Studio. On top of that, the new "gameplay music trailer" revealed that the game will star non-other than School of Rock and Jumanji: The Next Level actor and YouTuber Jack Black when it launched in 2021.
Senua's Saga: Hellblade II
Ninja Theory made a very brief appearance for Senua's Saga: Hellblade II but only to reveal than a detailed developer diary will be released later on today. What we did learn is that Hellblade 2 will be developed on Unreal Engine 5 and features an Icelandic setting.
State of Decay 3
A new CGI trailer was released for State of Decay 3, the next entry in Undead Labs survival-horror series. Unfortunately, the new trailer didn't reveal anything about the upcoming game outside of a potential snowy environment, but what was shown was certainly pretty exciting for fans and newcomers alike.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2
Another popular PC-exclusive series will be making its console debut with the release of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. After being cancelled back in 2011, development on the post-apocalyptic survival-horror FPS was restarted in May 2018 for PC and next-gen consoles, with a release window of 2021.
Tell Me Why
Life is Strange developer Dontnod Entertainment revealed that the first episode of Tell Me Why will be released next month. The upcoming Xbox-exclusive adventure game follows reunited twins Tyler and Alyson Ronan as they unravel the mysteries of their troubled childhood. Tell Me Why - Episode One will be available on August 27 on Xbox Game Pass, Xbox One, Windows PC and Steam.
Tetris Effect: Connected
Previously exclusive to PlayStation 4 and Windows PC, Tetris Effect will finally be making its way to Xbox in Holiday 2020. Titled Tetris Effect: Connected, the new version will include additional features not found in the original release including cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes, that will be playable locally and online.
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
Developer Fatshark has announced Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, a new four-player cooperative FPS coming to Xbox and PC in 2021. Set in the hive city of Tertium, Warhammer 40,000: Darktide encompasses "everything you have come to expect from the developers of the award-winning Warhammer: Vermintide franchise."
Watch Dogs: Legion
And finally, Ubisoft released a new story trailer for Watch Dogs: Legion. In Legion, players will be able to recruit any of London's citizens to join the resistance and fight back against Albion to the backdrop of iconic locations including Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, Tower Bridge, and the London Eye. Watch Dogs Legion releases October 29 for Xbox One, Series X, PS4, PS5, and PC.
Microsoft ended the Xbox Game Showcase with a confirmation that new games were shown from nine out of its fifteen first-party Xbox Game Studios and that there's a reason for that decision. With almost an hour's worth of video game reveals, trailers, and gameplay demos, Microsoft plans to hold additional events throughout the year in the lead up to the release of its next-generation console, the Xbox Series X, and fans can expect to see new announcements from the remaining six studios in the coming months.
The Xbox Series X launches this holiday season.