After two weeks of nonstop showcases, we’ve been going through all the trailers and picking out a few highlights for the year (years?) ahead. The next big conference was the Xbox Games Showcase 2023 and it felt like a high point in contrast to the other major publisher conferences. Part of that was probably due to their underdog status but they finally revealed a string of games – many showing actual gameplay – that made owning an Xbox Series console feel worth it. Additionally, they offered decent genre diversity, with a mix of presenters, big-budget and indie titles, and that incredible Starfield Direct.
Starfield (06/09/2023)
Xbox Series S|X & PC
In this next-generation role-playing game set amongst the stars, create any character you want and explore with unparalleled freedom as you embark on an epic journey to answer humanity’s greatest mystery. In the year 2330, humanity has ventured beyond our solar system, settling new planets, and living as a spacefaring people. You will join Constellation – the last group of space explorers seeking rare artifacts throughout the galaxy – and navigate the vast expanse of space in Bethesda Game Studios’ biggest and most ambitious game.
There were also some snazzy Starfield-branded accessories on offer:
Jusant (third quarter of 2023)
Xbox Series S|X, PS5, PC
Enjoy meditative vibes in Jusant, an action-puzzle climbing game. Scale an immeasurably tall tower and ascend to new heights alongside your watery companion. Master your climbing tools, find your way up through diverse biomes, and piece together the tower’s past.
Jusant is a brand-new action-puzzle climbing game and a meditative journey to the top of a tall tower. Challenge yourself at your own pace, explore different paths, and unravel the secrets from a bygone civilization.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (early 2024)
Xbox One/Series S|X, PS4/5, PC
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth highlights an unexpected chain of events that sets two legendary yakuza, Kasuga Ichiban and Kazuma Kiryu, on a larger-than-life RPG adventure.
Metaphor: ReFantazio (2024)
Xbox Series S|X, PS4/5, PC
Metaphor: ReFantazio is a full-scale fantasy RPG, brought to you by director Katsura Hashino, character designer Shigenori Soejima, and composer Shoji Meguro. Write your destiny and rise above fear as you step into a fantasy world unlike anything you’ve seen before. Fraught with unsettling mystery, the kingdom stands on a precipice. Now, you must embark on a journey, overcoming obstacles and transforming your bonds with friends into strength.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty (26/09/2023)
Xbox Series S|X, PS5, PC
Phantom Liberty is a new spy-thriller adventure for Cyberpunk 2077. When the orbital shuttle of the President of the New United States of America is shot down over the deadliest district of Night City, there’s only one person who can save her — you. Become V, a cyberpunk for hire, and dive deep into a tangled web of espionage and political intrigue, unraveling a story that connects the highest echelons of power with the brutal world of black-market mercenaries.
Infiltrate Dogtown, a city-within-a-city run by a trigger-happy militia and ruled by a leader with an iron fist. With the help of NUSA sleeper agent Solomon Reed (Idris Elba) and the support of Johnny Silverhand (Keanu Reeves), unravel a web of shattered loyalties and use your every skill to survive in a fractured world of desperate hustlers, shadowy netrunners, and ruthless mercenaries. Built with the power of next-gen hardware in mind, Phantom Liberty offers brand-new gameplay mechanics, nail-biting courier jobs, gigs, and missions — and a thrilling main quest where freedom and loyalty always come at a price.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II (2024)
Xbox Series S|X & PC
Senua returns in a brutal journey of survival through the myth and torment of Viking Iceland. Intent on saving those who have fallen victim to the horrors of tyranny, Senua faces a battle of overcoming the darkness within and without. Sink deep into the next chapter of Senua’s story, a crafted experience told through cinematic immersion, beautifully realised visuals, and encapsulating sound.
Avowed (2024)
Xbox Series S|X & PC
Set in the fictional world of Eora that was first introduced to players in the Pillars of Eternity franchise, Avowed is a first-person fantasy RPG from the award-winning team at Obsidian Entertainment. You are the envoy of Aedyr, a distant land, sent to investigate rumors of a spreading plague. You discover a personal connection to the land itself and an ancient secret that threatens to destroy everything. Can you save the island and your soul from the forces threatening to tear them asunder?
Clockwork Revolution (TBC)
Xbox Series S|X & PC
Clockwork Revolution is an incredible time-bending steampunk action RPG. After stumbling across an incredible invention that allows you to travel into the past, you discover the city you call home—the vibrant steam-powered metropolis of Avalon—has been carefully crafted through the alteration of key historical events. By traveling back in time, your interactions and choices in the past will have a butterfly effect on the deep, narrative-driven world and characters of Avalon, causing them to change and react in unprecedented ways.
South of Midnight (TBC)
Xbox Series S|X & PC
South of Midnight is a spellbinding third-person action-adventure game set in the American Deep South. As Hazel, you will explore the mythos and encounter creatures of Southern folklore in a macabre and fantastical world. When disaster strikes her hometown, Hazel is called to become a Weaver: a magical mender of broken bonds and spirits. Imbued with these new abilities, Hazel will confront and subdue dangerous creatures, untangle the webs of her own family’s shared past, and -if she’s lucky – find her way to a place that feels like home.
Fable (TBC)
Xbox Series S|X & PC
Welcome to Albion, the home of heroes and where Fable takes place. It’s in this immersive fairytale land of adventure that myriad challenges, treasures and stories await.
