Everything announced during the Xbox Game Studios showcase

Today was a big day for the folks at Xbox, as the Xbox Games Showcase finally arrived. The roughly 50-minute long stream is now over, bringing us gameplay footage of Halo Infinite and announcements for upcoming games like Obsidian's Avowed and Fable. We've rounded up all of the announcements and trailers for you to check out below. 

Halo Infinite:

Halo Infinite was the show opener this time around. We are greeted with an opening cutscene, followed by Master Chief crash landing on a hostile planet. From there, we get to see classic Halo gameplay but with a few added twists, including a grappling hook and a full world map. The finale of this demo introduces us to the main villain, promising to be Master Chief's strongest foe yet.

State of Decay 3:

State of Decay 3 is still in early development, so while this cinematic trailer looks very good, we are a long way off from seeing a finished product. State of Decay 3 is one of the few currently announced Xbox titles that is only coming Xbox Series X and PC. With that in mind, it won't be out for a few years at least.

Forza Motorsport:

It wouldn't be an Xbox first-party showcase without a bit of Forza. The next Forza Motorsport is currently being built for Xbox Series X and the in-engine footage above gives us an idea of what to expect. One thing is instantly clear from this footage- Forza is going to introduce ray-traced reflections on next-gen hardware.

Everwild:

Rare first announced Everwild during XO19 late last year. We really didn't get much information at the time but now we have a better idea about the game the team is crafting. In the trailer above, you will see more of the whimsical world that Rare has created and get a look at the characters you will be adventuring around with, all while using magic to become closer to nature.

Tell Me Why:

Tell Me Why is a console exclusive for Microsoft, coming from Don't Nod Entertainment, the same studio behind Life is Strange. In the trailer above, you'll get a feel for the story of this particular drama, which follows twins Alyson and Tyler as they use their bond to unravel the mysteries of their troubled childhood. Chapter One is coming out next month on Xbox One/PC and will be available on Xbox Series X as soon as the console launches. The game is also part of Game Pass for both console and PC.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps:

Ori and the Will of the Wisps has already proven to be one of the best games of the year and a shining example of modern 2D platforming. The adventure is returning again later this year for Xbox Series X, with a major graphical upgrade proving 4K resolution and 120 frames per second.

The Outer Worlds: Peril on Gorgon

Obsidian did a little bit of teasing for The Outer Worlds earlier this week and today during the Xbox Games Showcase, we got our first story DLC announcement. At the moment, Obsidian is planning two story expansions for The Outer Worlds, the first being Peril on Gorgon, releasing later in September.

Grounded:

Grounded is a game that not many Obsidian fans seem to be especially hyped over, but the launch trailer is so funny that you might just end up getting won over.

Avowed:

When Microsoft first approached Obsidian Entertainment, there was one game that the studio really wanted to make but just didn't have the backing for. That game is Avowed, which was finally announced today. After joining Xbox Game Studios, Obsidian got to work on its next big RPG- a first person, medieval fantasy set in the world of Eora.

As Dusk Falls:

Microsoft has teamed up with London-based studio ‘Interior/Night' to publish As Dusk Falls. This is more akin to an interactive story book, during which players will “explore the entangled lives of two families across thirty years”, all starting with a robbery gone wrong.

Hellblade II: Senua's Saga

Hellblade II was the first Xbox Series X exclusive to be announced. This time around, rather than an epic, metal-backed trailer, we've got a behind-the-scenes look at development through a small video diary from Ninja Theory. We don't yet know when Hellblade II is supposed to release but we may hear more about that in 2021.

Psychonauts 2:

Tim Schafer's friendship with Jack Black continues. We aren't getting a Brutal Legend 2 just yet, but in the meantime, Jack Black is voicing the ‘Mote of Light' in Psychonauts 2 and also provides lead vocals for the game's theme song.

Destiny 2: Beyond Light

Destiny 2 is coming to Xbox Game Pass for console and PC this September in a package that will include all currently available expansions. Then later in November, Beyond Light will be available across Xbox One and PC. The game will also be available on Xbox Series X once the console launches, complete with 4K/60fps gameplay.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: 

The cult hit, STALKER, had a sequel announced quite some time ago but GSC Game World needed help finding partners to fund the game. It looks like Microsoft may have stepped up to the plate and provided some assistance, with STALKER 2 getting its first in-game debut during the event today.

Tetris Effect Connected:

Tetris Effect Connected is a revamped version of the beloved game. The new version brings optimised single-player and an all-new multiplayer component, so you can play Tetris with people from all over the world.

The Gunk: 

The Gunk is a 3D adventure game from the creators of SteamWorld. It will be an Xbox console exclusive at launch. It would seem that at least a tiny bit of inspiration was taken from Super Mario Sunshine, although instead of watering gunk away, you are hoovering it up with your robot arm.

The Medium:

This game first appeared during the initial Xbox Series X third-party showcase in May. Now thanks to this latest trailer, we have a bit more gameplay for The Medium to look at.

Phantasy Star Online 2- New Genesis: 

Phantasy Star Online 2 appears to be getting a visual upgrade, as well as all new content to take on  in ‘New Genesis', a new expansion for the game. Phantasy Star Online 2 only just came to the west this year, in large part thanks to the efforts of Microsoft.

CrossfireX: 

Through a partnership between Microsoft, Remedy Entertainment and Smilegate, CrossfireX is also coming to the west this year. Developed by Remedy, the game will also have a full, brand new single-player campaign too.

Fable:

Just as we were about to lose hope, Xbox Studios head, Matt Booty, pulled out a ‘one more thing'. Finally, after years of being an open secret, Fable has been announced. As expected, it is being developed by Playground Games but for now, the studio isn't showing too much. We'll have to wait a bit longer for some real gameplay footage and story details.

Today's Xbox Game Studios showcase featured nine out of the fifteen studios under Microsoft's wing. With that in mind, there will be another games showcase later this year.

KitGuru Says: What did you all think of Microsoft's showing today? Was all of this worth the wait, or were you left underwhelmed? 

 

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