The E3 game conference is dead. But it means we get a stack of online events instead, at which the console makers and game publishers show off their wares — and anyone can watch.
Last month, we watched PlayStation’s Showcase. It ran for longer than an hour and pelted us with more than 30 games. Xbox is set to fire back later his week with its own summer showcase.
The highlight will be an in-depth look at Xbox sci-fi RPG Starfield. This part of the show is so extensive it’s getting its own event, Starfield Direct.
However, for those not interested in spacefaring, or games likely to suck up dozens of hours of your free time, here’s what else we know so far about the Xbox Showcase.
When is the Xbox Summer games showcase?
The Xbox Showcase event will take place on June 11. It kicks off at 6pm, largely because the key audience for the show is over in the US, as this works out at 10am Pacific time.
We expect this part of the show to last 60-90 minutes, based on previous events and Sony’s recent show. And, directly after that, you might want to stay online for Starfield Direct.
This second part will be held by Bethesda Game Studios, Starfield’s developer, which is owned by Microsoft.
How to watch the Xbox showcase
Microsoft’s showcase event is going to be streamed all over the place. You can watch it on YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, or via either the Xbox or Bethesda accounts.
Here are the links, as provided by the Xbox blog.
- YouTube.com/Xbox
- Twitch.tv/Xbox
- Twitch.tv/XboxASL
- Facebook.com/Xbox
- YouTube.com/Bethesda
- Twitch.tv/Bethesda
What new games can we expect to see?
The show, including Starfield Direct, will last around two hours, according to Aaron Greenberg, Xbox VP of games marketing.
He has also stated that none of the games shown will be pure cut-scene-style trailers.
“None of our first-party games in the show are full CG trailers. Everything is either in-game footage, in-engine footage, or in-game footage with some cinematics. Each of our trailers will be labeled so it is hopefully clear for our fans,” Greenberg tweeted in reply to a fan earlier this week.
Microsoft has not confirmed any of the games that will be shown during the event bar Starfield.
However, we do know about a slew of games that have been announced as in development in the past. Here’s the list:
- Age of Empires IV
- Avowed
- Double Fine untitled project
- Fable
- Forza Motorsport
- Hellblade 2
- Indiana Jones
- Minecraft Legends
- The Outer Worlds 2
- Perfect Dark reboot
- State of Decay 3
What else to expect
Microsoft has said the show will also feature “game updates from our partners”. This suggests we may see plenty of games from outside the studios Microsoft actually owns.
However, the Microsoft Showcase is one among a run of events that began on June 7, including Summer Games Fest on June 8 and Future Games Show on June 10.
Microsoft will likely not want to simply replay the same footage shown at these events, or that seen during the PlayStation showcase last month.
This may well be why the Ubisoft and Capcom live-streamed events occur after the Microsoft showcase, though. Perhaps Microsoft will tease some games from these companies, before the publishers’ own streams uncover them in more detail.
The Microsoft Showcase will also be followed up by Showcase Extended on June 13 at 6pm. This will feature developer interviews, and dive deeper into the development process rather than just showing the games in action.
