The Summer Game Fest 2023 showcase has come and gone in another stretched out summer of gaming events - and it's all starting to look pretty good for Team Xbox. Late last month PlayStation delivered a show that lacked the heavy hitting announcements that its fanbase was hoping and waiting for, and now Summer Game Fest has left 2023 on a bit of whimper as well.
To be clear; there was nothing really wrong with either event. PlayStation began to lay out its live service plan with the likes of Fairgame$ and Concord, alongside delivering some major third party reveals such as the long-rumoured Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake. Over in Summer Game Fest land, we got a good look at Alan Wake 2 gameplay along with some brand-new game announcements for the likes of Sonic Superstars and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown.
And yet, neither were A+ shows, right? We're not saying they had to be as such, but the way in which both of these big events landed certainly leaves the door open for Xbox to deliver a home run with its showcase. The mood of the room feels pretty 'meh' going into this, and if Xbox can bring a couple of major reveals alongside impressing with that already-announced Starfield blowout, it could be the talk of the town this summer.
We already spoke about this a little bit right after the PlayStation show, but now in a post-Summer Game Fest world, it actually feels like the pressure on Xbox has been relieved a little bit. We're still hoping the team can knock it out of the park of course, but in reality, all it needs to do is show a couple of big games before the Starfield Direct and it's probably onto a winning summer 2023 showcase.
As for what those reveals could be? Well, we're mostly expecting to hear about updates on already announced projects, but there's always room for a surprise or two and we're absolutely expecting Xbox to deliver on that too. In fact, you can read all about our Xbox Games Showcase predictions down below.
After an admittedly rough 18 months-or-so for Xbox and its games pipeline, it's looking like the runway has been cleared a little bit for Microsoft to lay out its future plans and impress the gaming world. The good news now is that after average PlayStation and Summer Game Fest shows, the pressure has been taken off, and the team can focus on what we all know they're capable of delivering. Bring on the showcase!
Do you think this year could be an easy win for Xbox? Drop your thoughts on the summer showcases so far down below.
Comments 55
They have been giving a great opportunity for momentum here. PS show lacked exclusives that people care about, Geoff’s show was a little better than OK. The bar is not very high at the moment for them to win the showcase battle.
Well the bar isn't set very high so I'd be mega shocked if xbox didn't win this "non E3". Gameplay trailers of Avowed, State of Decay 3, New Fable and Hellblade 2 will be enough on their own to win it.
Irrelevant comment here but I'm looking for the article about all the Xbox relevant showcases to see what's up today. It should be pinned at the top of the site.
Gameplay and release dates for the first party games we know about and it's a winner for sure, I don't really wanna see anything new from first party until they've released the current slate of titles.
With persona 3 reload and tactics day1, they just need to give me a gameplay of arowed and starfield and im all good give me fable and hellblade 2 and i will go crqzy
It definitely feels like they are going to be THE showcase of E3 week but man.... they sure know how to miss an open net lol. I'm expecting a great show for me personally and hope that they have learned from ALL the past mistakes.... they've made so many....that this should be an almost perfect show by now.
Swing big Xbox. Both shows were yawners aside from the obvious Spiderman and FF game footage. I WAS gonna hit the theater for the show on Sunday till the mall randomly closed it down Tuesday night lol. I'll chill in my PJ'S and hope there's more to see than just Starfield footage. I REALLY hope they do something besides games and try and win back it's fan-base. Xbox had a rep of consumer friendly activity till 2020. How's about getting back to that?
All they need is to show up.... just kidding!!!
Seriously, we need at least 3 first party games with confirmed launch dates within the calendar year. So far we know Starfield, Forza and rumor of Hellblade.
Really hoping to see a long term roadmap. I don't care what others think, show me stuff that's coming 3 years down the line!!!
Also hoping it's not just Persona 3 Re and Persona 5 Tactica that show up from Atlus. With any luck, we will also finally see a confirmation on the Shin Megami Tensei III, IV and V Xbox ports.
@Kaloudz yes, you have! I feel there will be moments where they say “oh yeah and by the way…” and boom!
@Amigator yes the article s get buried quite quickly…
https://www.purexbox.com/guides/june-2023-showcases-every-xbox-related-event-announced-so-far
@Kaloudz My prediction is a Fable and Gears collection shadow dropped…. Wishful thinking 🤔
Honestly, if Hellblade 2 can get a confirmed release slated for this year, and Avowed gameplay with a possible release for Spring of next year, and some surprise Game Pass announcements such as SMT on the service and maybe even Perfect Dark (N64) remastered, then that will be quite successful in my book. Plus, Phil Spencer did say to expect more games similar to Goldeneye 007. I’m really hoping to see more about those games.
I actually don’t think they need to go “all out”, but they do need to give us something to genuinely look forward to for the next six months. And, if Starfield can truly deliver, then Xbox should be eating good for the foreseeable future.
I would be careful with expectations. Just because the others were underwhelming doesn't mean xbox will blow them away. Don't get wild with the predictions and assume whatever they have will bury the competition and upend the console marketshare. Too many people seem to be building this show up further just because other shows disappointed. There isn't much they could change between those shows and this one.
It feels like they have a lot to show and it will be a great show but we had every reason to believe Sony had a ton to share too. I doubt they will do anything close to the 12 month thing again but I still think they have learned from revealing stuff way too early. It's very possible that they lean heavily on already known or near release games and save some reveals for the future. It's not necessarily a failure if some games we think we know about or games we havent heard about in awhile are not there.
It would be ironic if Nintendo "wins" by not showing up.
@Somebody also possible they do these types of showcases every 4 months going forward so they can build on the momentum and keep a few of their cards close to their vest…
Xbox needs a win, so it’d be great for them to have a better showcase. I don’t expect anything that’ll outhype FF7R2, but I could see the showcase being the best overall showcase. After seeing every presentation so far, Day of the Devs is probably the showcase to top.
All they need is one or two firm release dates in the near future, some game pass surprises after the event and we are set.
Maaaan, they just need to hit very hard this time. I see confidence and growing expectation. Let's go Xbox!
@Somebody Sony's showcase was a weird one, why did they let the spiderman release date reveal and FF7 P2 reveal be shown elsewhere. It's like they rushed it together just to have atleast something show during this gaming show period, hence why I believe they will have another showcase towards the end of the year. Also I think Xbox should follow PlayStation and Nintendo in doing smaller digital directs throughout the year, especially to show off gamepass additions instead of just saying "X" game is coming next month etc.
Has it been confirmed Nintendo won't be having a direct this month?
Edit: Nintendo may be having one afterall.
https://mynintendonews.com/2023/06/08/japan-nintendo-updates-nintendo-direct-page-today-generally-precedes-a-presentation/
Fingers cross that they deliver as they (and we) really need a win!
There's a pretty tall ladder to climb here to win E3. Personally I think if they bring out the cheese curls and partner with Grubhub, they'll easily beat Geoff's show. But IDK if they're going to have a Forza movie trailer ready in time to really best Sony's show.
@UltimateOtaku91 Square is a weird company so I can see it where they didn’t want FF7 Part 2 and FF16 in the same show to over shadow one or the other.
Now regarding SM2 release date, I’ve got nothing, very confusing.
@Somebody the show is all pre recorded stuff so the big worry is that they look at these shows and think they can withhold an announcement or two and still be fine. I think they should go full bukkake here and just bust everything, everywhere, all at once. If you were going to show it just show it. You just launched Redfall....you gotta make it up to the fanbase.
Forza October 10th
@UltimateOtaku91 it seems weird that nintendo would release the trailers for that party game (1 2 switch or whatever) and pikmin 4 like a week before a show. But nintendo dances to its own tune so who knows.
I'm mostly trying to dissuade people from billing the xbox show as their response to the sony show. The xbox show was probably finalized well before the sony show. I should give up on the youtube podcast world but all I'm hearing are things like "if xbox doesn't realize the opportunity it has with this show...." and I'm just like what can they do to a presentation that took months to make in a week? They have whatever they have to show.
The odds increased of xboxs show being better but that's not really because of anything xbox has done.
Well, things are starting to leak, so I might go on a media blackout until after the show...
@Somebody Well tbf Microsoft have had longer to get some games together for this show, over the last two years it's been very quiet in terms of having actual gameplay in their showcases, so this one needs to make up for the last two as well so there's a lot more pressure on Microsoft compared to the rest.
We know starfield and Forza are out in the next 6months.
We know about persona games.
We know about many 3rd party games from across the two shows.
So for me I’m not going to get too carried away because I don’t think there will be the amount of new games to show that people think. And if they do several will be 18month+ away
@UltimateOtaku91 I'm hoping they find a good balance of new announcements and gameplay for a lot of the closer games.
To xboxs credit (or detriment) they have been responding massively to past criticism. They responded to the xbox has no games narrative by revealing way too many games and we all complained about them mostly being cgi and 3-5+ years away. Then they were like alright how about we reveal almost nothing and focus just on the next 12 months (more like 18 months). So I'm curious to where they are now. I like the idea of a summer showcase to focus more on revealing new games and more of those January shows to take closer looks at the 4-5 nearest release games. The no cgi announcement has me doubting there will be too many brand new reveals though.
Can't wait excited to hopefully see Fable and Avowed and hopefully a few surprises.
Considering the amount of the showcase advertisements they have been pushing lately, I'd say Microsoft is quite confident about what they have in store.
I’m not going to compare the Xbox showcase to PlayStation’s or Summer Games Fest. I know others will and that’s fine. I’m also keeping my expectations for Xbox’s showcase in check. I don’t want to get over hyped and be disappointed, but I am looking forward to it very much.
It will be hard for Xbox to screw this up, based on everything we know right now. Between the confirmed details and leaks, as well as the competing shows being mediocre thus far... things are positioned really well.
If they can do a combination of the following, I think they get a solid "win" on the annual summer showcase floor.
1) Starfield shows well, and (hopefully) reveals 60 fps performance mode at launch. It's maybe asking a lot but ohhh man would it be well received among the gaming community.
2) Forza Motorsport gets a firm release date this year, in time for the holidays.
3) Hellblade full trailer w/ gameplay and release date (or release window)
4) Avowed trailer with release year (I'm thinking holiday 2024)
5) Contraband Trailer
6) Indiana Jones Trailer
7) InXile and/or Compulsion Games reveals their next game
8) Fable Trailer
9) id Software game reveal
10) Evil Within 3 announcement
11) Coalition project reveal
12) 3rd party games coming to Game Pass day one
The list can go on, but these all seemed like fairly easy and plausible scenarios that came to mind. If Xbox even does half of these, it will be a fantastic showing. Plus other service and hardware reveals, this could really be awesome. I've read about the leaks for Starfield hardware and love it if it's true. I just wish they would also have a Starfield console bundle that is skinned entirely in the theme! Can you imagine a Series X with that skin???
Xbox, we have faith in you. We need you to deliver! Amen
@Krzzystuff Way to state the obvious that they will have the best show of the 3. The bar is low, kind of like your humor when we used to have a chat group on Xbox.
After those weak Playstation and Summer Game Fest showcases it should not be hard
It’s already considered the Holy Grail. I hope Xbox Only fans dreams may come true. I’m starting to believe it will and I’m ready to be disappointed 😄
All games showed in the showcase will be on GP, right? And it’s a long show.
What will the “One More Thing” be at the end of the show?
My question about MS' pipeline, before Redfall and Starfeild was delayed into this year, just what was we supposed to be playing ?
2023 has been a light year with those two delayed into it, was there basically nothing penciled in for this year if they hit their original dates? Or is it just smoke a mirrors for the acti-buy out?
Remember pre Playstation showcase??? Everyone was full of predictions for games we’d see. We know Playstation has some absolute bangers in the pipeline but only one of them was shown an people were disappointed. Can see Xbox showcase going same way. No way will we see Fable or Indiana!! Hellblade is doubtful!! Starfield, Forza an a load of similar an same games Playstation showed. That’s my prediction. Don’t get ya hopes up an ya won’t be disappointed.
Removed - inappropriate
I only want a surprise new DOOM announcement. DOOM and DOOM Eternal are two of my favorite games of last gen.
You know it's a terrible year for "E3" when digital devolver doesnt even have Nina Struthers.
This year is yours to lose, Phil.
@NEStalgia So long as Phil says the word TV fifty-four times, Xbox will win the not-E3's.
@Casco I have to veto your request for DOOM... Only because I want Quake instead.
@SplooshDmg I’ll take a Quake game instead, happily…..but only if it’s single player focused and not something like Quake 3 Arena or Quake Champions.
@Casco Quake 1 dark gothic fantasy reboot. That's what I want. I want id to just forget about the Strogg. Imagine how terrifying current gen Shamblers could be. 😀
@SplooshDmg What about "world premiere"?
Wishful thinking, but it would be good if they announced a Series X/S price drop during their showcase. That would turn a few heads
I think most people will be happy with the Forza release date which I found out today
@SplooshDmg wouldn’t be opposed to that at all.
Sony show was a no show, gamefest was ok, no Nintendo direct in sight, all the stage is set for Microsoft to have the best summer event let's hope they will do their best and give us what we deserve.
The Internet/wannabe fanboys: "Xbox has no games"
Xbox: "hold my beer"
I could say so much on what i want Xbox to do and have at the show, i could say they have so many studios that there is no more dry times. But honestly they won non E3 by having a controller that don’t suck to me. I was there all during the Xbox one years playing mostly 3rd party cause i dislike Sony controllers with the Dual Sense being passable. So from 1st to 3rd party games i will be on Xbox cause they have a fantastic controller and above average Ui, something i can’t say about the competition. I didn’t even mention services. Enjoy Sunday friends, Xbox don’t have to win anything other than your wallets and they did that even in the dry years better than most “failed” consoles.
This has to be it, right? After delays and cancellations and missed deadlines, this has gotta be it. I'm excited, I already know I'm gonna love the showcase because I know Starfield will be there. So already its better than any other showcase so far. However, I am also slightly jittery over the fears of them missing an open goal. Xbox gets ahead of itself, and that's okay, but with some beastly nasty brainless critics sniffing around, they can't afford to give any scraps to the haters. Though they'll hate regardless.
I find it funny how xbox critics try to weaponise their position as if its a signifier to their impending doom despite xbox always being in third position. I think the real fear is that xbox don't care, and that when it comes to services, they're first with gamepass. That's what the critics hate. It's why nearly any gamepass game gets crapped on instantly. Except for when it's a shadow drop and the players get there first. Then the critics have to play along. That's why I would love it if they shadow dropped Starfield. That would be a massive middle finger. Because with gamepass, critics are null and void. They're not gatekeepers to anyone's investments because its a subscription service, members can see for themselves.
I also find it scary how loud critics are, and how negativity magnetises hateful mobs, which results in games being killed or mutated beyond the original design. If they had it their way there would be no diversity. It'd all be third person over the shoulder A to B interactive movie. Not that there's anything wrong with that, hell I love those games, but I also love Mcdonald Cheeseburgers, yet you don't see me eating nothing but Cheeseburgers. (My life ain't that bad haha). Video games are meant to be fun, doorways to escapism, an alternative to reality. But the way people try to dictate what a game should be, is nothing short of overt censorship and equally as bad as crazy Christian mums trying to cancel TV shows.
Sorry, went off on a tangent. In short, this showcase is important ahah
@Exerion76 it's the best course of action.
I thought Summer Game Fest was pretty good but the PlayStation showcase was terrible, no argument there. I'm going into the Xbox showcase with zero expectations. The opportunity is there to gain some momentum but too many times in the past the people running Xbox have dropped the ball. Hopefully it's different this time because as I stated in the comment section of an article week or two back, that PS showcase was a prime example of a complacent company that needs to be challenged like it was in the 7th gen.
I think this is xboxs last big chance if starfield fails and this showcase doesn't have any exclusives lined up in the next 2 years xbox will die I'm hoping its going be a brilliant showcase though with hellblade 2 and avowed release dates for next year and big footage of Indiana Jones and that to release next year' as well with fable and perfect dark to release in 2025 as well as gears of war 6
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...