The biggest week of the year is upon us with Summer Games Fest right around the corner, with one of the highlights being the Xbox Showcase.
It’s been a huge year for Microsoft, with countless successful releases alongside a big shift from the company that has seen titles like Grounded make the jump to platforms previously considered to be rivals.
That makes this year’s Xbox Showcase at Summer Games Fest one to watch, whatever platform you play on, and we’ve outlined eight things we want to see the most.
Forza Horizon 6
Forza Horizon 5 may have only just landed on PlayStation 5, but the title turns four later this year. That’s a record for the franchise, with the previous longest gap between releases being three years.
It’s high time we heard something about the next entry in the series, particularly with the most recent mainline Forza Motorsport entry approaching two years since its own release, and hopefully, the Xbox Showcase will provide some much-needed news.
Horizon’s tour around the world has already taken us to Colorado, France, Italy, Australia, Great Britain, and Mexico, so what’s next? Personally, I’m hoping for Canada.
Gears of War: E-Day Release Date
The Gears of War franchise is alive and kicking once again following the announcement of Gears of War: E-Day at the Xbox Showcase last year, and now, 12 months on, it’s time we got some specifics on when we’ll be chainsawing our way through the Locust Horde once again.
Six years on from Gears 5, it’s been a long wait for another entry in the series, and after the mixed response the last entry in the series received, it makes sense that The Coalition has taken more time to cook.
Here’s hoping we get a concrete date.
State of Decay 3 Update
First revealed in 2020, we finally got something to look at in last year’s showcase with the first State of Decay 3 trailer, and now, a year later, we need another update.
A year may not be a long time in the world of game development, but now, five years since first being revealed, we’re long overdue more details, and it could be one of Xbox’s biggest trump cards at this year’s showcase.
If I were a betting man, I’d bank on State of Decay 3 making an appearance, potentially alongside news of a release on rival platforms like PlayStation.
Elder Scrolls 6 Details
Fallout 4 was 10 years ago, Starfield has its second birthday this year, and Elder Scrolls 6 is the next up—which we’ve known for a while, as it was first announced in 2018, a whopping seven years ago.
Todd Howard has since admitted the announcement came far too early, a sentiment I’m sure we can all agree with, but with Starfield now having almost two years in the limelight, Elder Scrolls needs to take center stage again.
I wouldn’t expect too much, maybe some very early footage, but even an acknowledgement would be enough to satisfy.
Subnautica 2 Release Date
We already know that Subnautica 2 will be a day one release on Xbox Game Pass, with one of the biggest new features being multiplayer, and hopefully, we’ll get a decent look at the title at the Showcase—including a release date.
Subnautica 2’s full release could be a while off, but an early access release is slated for sometime this year, and the Xbox Showcase is the perfect time for a reveal.
The title could come to other platforms like PlayStation and Nintendo Switch 2, so maybe we’ll hear some news on that front as well.
Fable Deep Dive
Originally scheduled to release later this year, confirmation came in February that the long-awaited reboot of Fable has been pushed back to 2026, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t see anything.
Fable makes regular appearances at the Xbox Showcase, with 2023 featuring Richard Ayoade as a giant in the first full trailer, while last year we saw another trailer. Now, we can hope for a detailed deep dive.
In the confirmation of the delay, we were shown pre-alpha footage of the game, which was encouraging, but Playground Games deserves another moment to shine in the main show.
Something Halo
Has anyone heard from Master Chief? It’s been four years since Halo Infinite, a title that certainly split the playerbase and endured a rollercoaster ride, but the franchise remains the feather in Microsoft’s cap.
There’s been plenty of spin-off games over the years, along with remasters, and it’s long been reported that the Master Chief Collection will make its way to PlayStation—and Summer Games Fest is the perfect time to announce that.
Aside from that, hopefully we’ll hear some news on the next entry in the series, whether that’s a successor to Infinite, a prequel, or a complete spin-off.
Everwild Update
After the undisputed success of Sea of Thieves, which has since become one of the first games to appear on rival consoles, all eyes are on Everwild, the next game developed by Rare.
First revealed in 2019, Everwild appeared again the following year, but there has been little news from the game since, though we do know it’s another game releasing day one on Xbox Game Pass.
We don’t need anything huge, though a release window would definitely be a treat, and I’ve got my fingers crossed that the long wait is almost over.
What do you want to see Xbox reveal at their Summer Games Fest Showcase? Let us know in the Insider Gaming Forum!
