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It’s formally showcase season, with Summer Game Fest kicking off in earnest in Los Angeles this week. It’s nonetheless not fairly on the extent of E3 of eons previous, however yearly, SGF will get a little bit greater and a little bit bolder, because the online game trade continues to search out itself.
The post-pandemic period of gaming has been a bizarre one. Tariffs, reminiscence costs, synthetic intelligence, mass layoffs, and anemic participant development have seen the trade wrestle to search out stability. Xbox players have definitely seen a few of that instability, as value hikes, canceled initiatives, and altering priorities undermined Xbox’s picture.
Here are some of my predictions, hopes, and dreams for this year’s big and beautiful Xbox Showcase.
Showcasing the next 12 months of Xbox content
Xbox CCO Matt Booty recently confirmed that the Xbox Showcase will largely feature titles slated for the next 12 months. Microsoft has been burned in the past by announcing projects too early, occasionally for them to be subsequently canceled. Perfect Dark is one such example, but Elder Scrolls 6 is perhaps the most legendary of these — Elder Scrolls 6 was announced almost a decade ago at this point. As such, I wouldn’t expect to see Elder Scrolls 6 or Fallout 5 here, sadly, as neither are likely to come out in the next 12 months. But, maybe we could catch a glimpse at the long-rumored Fallout 3 remake?
Since we’re already talking about Bethesda, I’d love it if we could see new projects from Machine Games or id Software. I think we could finally see DOOM: The Dark Ages’ DLC, which was touted as “sequel-sized”. Could we additionally catch a glimpse of Machine Games’ rumored PvP multiplayer shooter? Rumors counsel that it’s a tactical affair within the vein of Counter-Strike or Rainbow Six Siege, and it appears doubtless we might lastly catch a glimpse of it. I’m certain individuals would have an interest to see Wolfenstein 3, too, though I count on it is nonetheless a bit too early.
One factor I’m anticipating to see is Blade, from Arkane. Arkane is understood for the Dishonored franchise most prolifically, however the studio hasn’t had a success in fairly a while. Tied to the Marvel IP, Blade is a big alternative for Xbox to search out itself a superhero-sized hit akin to PlayStation’s Spider-Man, or the excellent-looking Wolverine. It nonetheless may be too early for this one, although.
Microsoft additionally has a wide range of different initiatives greater than prone to present up right here. Clockwork Revolution from inXile is sort of undoubtedly a lock. Microsoft’s “Coming quickly to Xbox Game Pass” layer recently showed Clockwork Revolution, before being removed. InXile’s Bioshock-esque steampunk shooter already looks like a winner, and we should see more of it at the Showcase. Fable got delayed to avoid Grand Theft Auto 6, but we’ll probably get a deeper look into some of its systems during the show.
I’m also expecting we might see what mysterious studio Elsewhere Entertainment has been working on. Activision quietly set up Elsewhere a couple of years back, and job listings offered hints that the team is working on some kind of narrative action-adventure title. I predict that we’ll see it revealed for the first time at this year’s show, probably slated for late 2027.
It’s almost certain we’ll see State of Decay 3 at the showcase too, given that it’s already in private Alpha testing with a small subset of the community alongside some YouTubers. And from what I’ve heard … it sounds like Undead Labs really, really nailed the “AAA” feel that was absent from State of Decay 2. I’m particularly excited for this one.
On other studios, I’m not expecting much from Rare, Obsidian, Compulsion, Ninja Theory, or Double Fine at the moment. I’ve heard Ninja Theory and Double Fine have “more ambitious” projects in the works following Hellblade 2, Kiln, and Keeper. I expect it might be too early to catch a glimpse at what some of these studios are working on, particularly if Xbox wants to stick to its “next 12 months” preview. Blizzard titles (like the long-rumored StarCraft shooter) are also likely being kept for BlizzCon 2026 in September, too. But … it would be pretty hype to get a teaser for it here, with a view of asking people to tune in to BlizzCon for the full reveal.
I wouldn’t mind hearing about something further afield either way … particularly since it’s Xbox’s 25th, and we’re supposed to be walking nostalgia territory. Give me Killer Instinct 2, dangit.
On the topic of nostalgia, could we potentially see Toys for Bob’s long-rumored Spyro project with Microsoft? It seems increasingly likely to me, given how long it’s been in development. Microsoft has also been teasing backwards compatibility announcements over the past year, so perhaps some titles missing from the program will get revealed in a final burst to celebrate the 25th anniversary.
I know that there’s a new trailer for Halo: Campaign Evolved floating around, although it has been a bit unclear whether this will show up at Xbox’s show or Summer Game Fest’s showcase instead. Microsoft wants to position this as a multiplatform title, from what I’ve heard, given its outing on PlayStation, although it’s obviously a sensitive topic as Microsoft wants to renew faith in its home-grown ecosystem. Indeed, there will be a lot of eyeballs on Gears of War: E-Day’s launch platforms, to that end. E-Day should be a fantastic showing either way. Microsoft is intent on growing the Gears franchise to pillar status, with transmedia projects lining up to further boost the game’s status.
What about wildcard announcements? Microsoft has a vast mountain of IP it could tap into. Thanks to the Activision purchase, it has access to Skylanders, Guitar Hero, Hexen, and vast libraries of other titles potentially waiting for a revival. Microsoft is working with external studios already for games like Minecraft Dungeons 2 (which we should also see at the Showcase), perhaps there are some other external partners waiting to show off new projects too? Could it FINALLY be the year of Banjo?! … Well, maybe not.
In any case, one thing is for certain: we’re not going to be left wanting from this year’s showcase. There’s an absolute mountain of content about to be debuted, in what I think could be remembered as one of the best Xbox Showcase events in years.
Showcasing a renewed Xbox direction
Although the Showcase itself will be focused on games, Xbox leaders will likely be talking platform strategy with press and in their satellite festivities, such as the official Xbox Podcast and the like.
We were told not to expect Xbox Helix news, for example, but maybe we could see the next-gen Xbox Elite Controller “Series 3,” given that it already leaked via regulators recently. Perhaps we’ll see a glimpse of upcoming improvements to Xbox PC and cloud (indeed, I’ve heard there’s a big update in the works for Xbox PC, slated for later this year, though). And Microsoft has been going ham on updates for the existing Xbox Series X|S consoles, including Xbox achievement improvements. Completion achievements incoming?!
In any case, I’m curious how Xbox will address the mountains of Player Voice feedback queries that have been delivered on its request site. Xbox fans are pining for exclusive games … PlayStation announced (internally) that it will no longer even put its games on Steam, yet Xbox is still intent on undermining its ecosystem by putting its titles everywhere else.
Xbox fans are already on edge that, besides a new logo, it’ll end up being “business as usual” at Xbox, despite the change in CEO. Microsoft is also between a rock and a hard place. Investing to create desire for its own ecosystem isn’t exactly viable when memory prices have surged by as much as 250% for bulk buyers … battering all consumer tech margins.
Xbox fans need to hold their patience a little longer to see real change. Contracts, macroeconomics, and previous strategies are not something that can be unravelled over night. It’ll be interesting to see how Asha Sharma positions everything in light of the constraints.
But at least in the short term, existential complications aside, I’m expecting the Xbox Showcase to be a true banger this year. Xbox has to show up in a big way to renew faith that Microsoft is in it for the long haul — and honor the 25-year legacy as it looks ahead to its next.
We’ll be on the ground at the Xbox Showcase as well as Summer Game Fest with all the previews, news, and behind-the-scenes looks at the best and brightest upcoming games. So stay tuned for my sleep-deprivation-addled coverage in the coming week ahead. Keep it gaming.
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