Xbox's Summer Game Fest Demo Event is now active, and for the next several days, players will get to experience dozens of free demos that highlight the indie gaming community.
Without the opportunity to show off indies at the canceled E3 events, gamers have seen other major titles like the upcoming Far Cry 6 and Cyberpunk 2077 dominating the news cycles. But Microsoft has given the little guy the stage; the Xbox Summer Game Fest Demo promotes small indie game development companies by offering gamers the chance to preview over 70 different titles for the next week.
This is a formidable move by Microsoft because indie games are often glossed over in the video games community, though in the past a few have stuck out in the competition and held their own, such as Firewatch and Oxenfree. And in normal press conferences, the spotlight isn't taken up by nearly as many indie titles. This is also a great opportunity for players to try before buying, with over 70 unique options to choose from. The demo event will run from now until July 27th, so gamers only have a week to preview as many of these games as possible.
The Xbox summer event will not only show off demos from titles that are currently available but will also release playable content for 15 upcoming announced games that will release in the months to come. For those who don't own Xbox Ones, some of the titles being previewed for free are also available on other consoles as well, albeit for their regular prices.
Among the free demos, some fan favorites include: Genesis Noir, a cosmic exploration that enacts interactive art to create memorable moments and narratives; Just Dance 2020; Cris Tales, a "love letter" to the classic JRPG genre, with a twist peering into the past, present, and future; and even a demo for Kingdom Hearts 3 makes an appearance on the list. Check out the full, massive list for every game demo available until the 27th.
And in just two days, the Xbox Games Showcase will air and unveil upcoming games and details on Xbox exclusives, including a first look at Halo Infinite. With the Xbox Series X set to launch come holiday season later this year, gamers everywhere are continually asking the question of what the price point will be set at, and perhaps the Showcase will give them answers.