E3 2021 is nearly here, and with that comes dozens of updates and announcements for upcoming games. Of all the companies that will be in attendance, Xbox has the most potential to wow its audience during its E3 2021 showcase. With a packed roster of studios now behind it, including Bethesda, Xbox fans are going to want to pay special attention to Xbox's June 13 event.
Kicking off at 10 AM PST, the showcase is promising ninety minutes of news and announcements for all things Xbox. That's a healthy chunk of time for any gaming company, but considering how many studios Xbox now has under its belt, along with its emphasis on third-party partnerships for Game Pass, fans should be expecting a show filled to the brim with updates on Xbox's fall lineup and beyond.
Halo Infinite News and Trailers
If any game is likely to take center stage during the conference, it's Halo Infinite. The next entry in Xbox's crown jewel franchise was originally meant to release alongside the Xbox Series X, but it was pushed back a year to give 343 Industries more time to polish it up. The last big Halo Infinite showcase was criticized for its visual presentation, so there's a good chance that Xbox will spend time touting how beautiful the extra time in the oven has made the game.
There are a few other bits of Halo Infinite news that fans should expect to get updates on, too. Halo Infinite's release date seems like a given, considering that the game will be landing in November, which is only a few months after the show. Odds are that fans will also get a look at Halo Infinite's multiplayer mode, which has received some impressive screenshots, but nothing in the way of gameplay footage.
On top of the standard multiplayer gameplay fare, fans are undoubtedly looking for more news about Halo Infinite's multiplayer armor options. Halo 5 was criticized for the overly futuristic look of its gear sets compared to the older entries, which had a sort of gritty tactical look to them. Of all the things that might not make the presentation, multiplayer customization seems like the most likely to get cut, but it depends on how much of the ninety-minute presentation is dedicated to all things Halo.
Starfield Release Date and Gameplay
Gamers have heard next to nothing on Starfield, Bethesda's next big RPG, since it was announced back at E3 2018. This year, though, it seems like all of that will change. With Microsoft's Xbox conference heavily touting the Bethesda portion of its showcase, Starfield release updates are essentially guaranteed to be at the show. While it's impossible to state exactly what form it will take, it would be a waste of Xbox's time not to show something.
According to recent leaks, fans should at least expect a Starfield release window, and possibly even an exact Starfield release date. That information comes from Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, who commented on Bethesda revealing Starfield's release date at E3 2021 on Twitter recently, stating that the plan is to announce a specific Starfield release date for fans. However, that date might be for 2022, rather than the 2021 date fans were hoping for.
If a release date is being announced, it stands to reason that Bethesda and Xbox will show a chunk of Starfield gameplay on stage. Besides some leaked screenshots – which might not even be of Starfield – fans haven't seen the game running, a strange detail considering how long the game has been announced.
Avowed Gameplay Updates, Other Obsidian Projects
Bethesda's portion of the Xbox E3 2021 showcase will likely be more of a focus, but Obsidian fans also have plenty of reason to get excited. Obsidian has multiple projects in the works right now, ranging in scale from Grounded, a small survival game, to Avowed, a massive RPG. Grounded has periodically released updates since it hit early access, and Xbox will likely spend some time showing off its progress to those that haven't been following it.
Avowed is likely to steal the spotlight if it appears, though. Avowed is set in the same world as Pillars of Eternity, the RPG series that saved Obsidian from shutting down after a successful Kickstarter campaign. Fans are expecting on the same scale as Skyrim, but it's another case of knowing nearly nothing about it. There's no guarantee that Avowed will appear on stage, but Microsoft seems primed to fire off announcement after announcement this year, and Avowed gameplay, trailers, or a release window are all certainly on gamers' wishlists.
There's no guarantee that the Avowed will be shown, but ninety minutes is a healthy chunk of time for a showcase, and Xbox needs to drive home why it's worth buying an Xbox Series X right now. The best way to do that is a barrage of updates, and Obsidian will likely be a key part of that.
New Xbox Game Pass Games and Partnerships
One of the most exciting things about the Xbox showcase will be the new additions to Game Pass. Xbox first-party games land on the service day one, so almost everything that Xbox fans see during the Xbox-Bethesda E3 showcase will be included in the Game Pass subscription. That means Starfield, Avowed, and everything else that Microsoft's studios have shown off in the past few years.
Plus, there are likely going to be some third-party additions for fans to get excited about. Rumors have circulated that Ubisoft Plus will be added to Game Pass, and while that hasn't been confirmed, it doesn't seem impossible considering that EA Play is now included with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. There's also the possibility of individual games launching day one onto the service, especially following titles like Outriders and Dungeons and Dragons: Dark Alliance being added to Game Pass.
Xbox fans should keep their eyes peeled for any other teases leading up to the June 13 showcase, as it's nearly time for companies to share what they've been working on. E3 has long held the reputation of being a sort of gamer holiday, packed with fresh announcements. There have been some stumbles on E3's part in recent years, but that shouldn't distract Xbox fans from what the June 13 showcase will hold.
The Xbox-Bethesda E3 2021 conference will take place June 13 at 10 AM PST.