Microsoft / Xbox held their big Summer Showcase event for upcoming Xbox titles and its fair to say it didnt dissapoint us. There were so many standout moments that its hard not to feel slightly over whelmed with whats coming. (As if our gaming backlogs arent already long enough).

All the important details from the show are listed below but the highlights were clearly Perfect Dark, which looks like a very detailed and polished product already. A new Gears of War game which, to me at least, looks like something of a reset for the series and possibly a launch pad for remastering the first 3 Gears games. And Doom looks like giving us the kind of chaotic shoot em up action that only Doom can.

Whilst some of these games are launching cross platform, Doom and COD in particular, the big winner from this event was Game Pass. So many of these titles are arriving Day 1 on the subscription service its feeling like a must have for any Xbox player. (as if it wasnt already)

Major Game Reveals/Announcements

• Doom: The Dark Ages (2025 release, Xbox Game Pass)
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (Game Pass Day 1)
• Gears of War: E-Day (next installment in the franchise)
• Perfect Dark gameplay reveal
• Fable new trailer (2025 release)
• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (2024 release)
• State of Decay 3 (post-apocalyptic zombie game)
• Dragon Age: Veilguard (new trailer)
• Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater remake
• Avowed (2024 release, Xbox Game Pass)
• Assassin’s Creed Shadows (November 15 release)

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 got its own dedicated event to outline some of the games features, including enhanced movement abilities, a refreshed Zombies mode and integration with the Warzone launcher.

• Release date: October 25, 2024
• Platforms: PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
• Coming to Xbox Game Pass on launch day 1

Expansions

Its a testament to the strength and variety of the current Xbox lineup that a number of titles will recieve major updates in the coming months. Starfields expansion looks like it sets a much darker tone to the one experienced through the main quest line (which was far more hopeful), and we expect it to fix most of the issues the game launched with. Fallout 76’s expansion came as a bit of a surprise but given the game has retained a decent playerbase, despite its launch problems, and the recent success of the Fallout TV show, perhaps we shouldnt be surprised.

• Starfield expansion Shattered Space and content update
• The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road
• Sea of Thieves Season 13
• Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred expansion
• Fallout 76 Skyline Valley update (play as a ghoul)
• World of Warcraft: The War Within expansion

Strength in Depth

Xbox demonstrated quite clearly that its not all about established IPs, sequels and remakes, as it showed off a number of other titles that demonstrated that they are ready to push the boat out when it comes to style(South of Midnight and Winter Burrow), genre (Life is strange), or variety (Atomfall, Mecha Break and Wuchang). There really was something for everyone in this showcase.

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• South of Midnight, Flintock: The Siege of Dawn
• Age of Mythology: Retold
• Fragpunk
• Winter Burrow
• Mixtape
• Life is Strange: Double Exposure
• Mecha Break
• Wuchang: Fallen Feathers
• Atomfall

New Xbox Series X Console Models

And finally Sarah Bond took to the stage to announce “3 new consoles”. Frankly this is a reach and we arent sure how she managed the annoucement without bursting in to laughter. What they actually announced was 3 variations on consoles they have already released, with either a disc drive removed or expanded storage options included. We understand why these announcements are made the way they are (to generate interest and hype) but to anyone with any sense of the gaming at all its a whole load of nothing.

• 2TB SSD model
• All-digital 1TB SSD model
• 1TB SSD model