2023 saw the debut of Xbox Developer Direct - a new showcase format created to highlight specific games outside of Xbox's big summer showcases. January's multi-game dev direct gave us the surprising Hi-Fi RUSH shadow drop, while Bethesda's June presentation focused on all-things Starfield. And, it looks like we could see more of these in future - as hinted by the Xbox boss.
Yep, Phil Spencer has touched on the recent showcases on Twitter, saying that he "really likes" the format and how it puts game creators front and centre.
"On the dev directs, I really like the format. Whether it's one game deep dive like Starfield or more games, like January show, I think it's good to spotlight the creators and hear their vision."
At the moment we don't have any more 'Developer Direct' shows announced - but after this statement from Phil we'd expect the format to return when Xbox has something to show in lots of detail. Last month's hyper-detailed Starfield Direct certainly made a splash, and we could definitely see Team Xbox follow that format for another upcoming AAA release, when the time is right.
We now have all of our bases covered when it comes to Xbox presentations, then, and we really hope more Dev Directs are announced soon. For now, we can expect a different kind of presentation from Microsoft when a new ID@Xbox Showcase arrives next week.
What do you think to Xbox's new showcase format? Let us know what game you want Xbox to highlight next!
[source twitter.com]
Comments 13
This hype train needs to stop until we see actual gameplay no edited cuts for game showcases
I really like the format too. Now Xbox just needs to get games out there. They’ve never struggled to get hype out the gate, but games, on the other hand….
I really hope this is good. Xbox needs the next big game to be revealed now and the hype train to start moving for that. We need a stream of games to be lined up now
Yeap really agree. Was a huge fan of the way the Developer Direct was done earlier in the year and would love it to be the standard moving forward. Show 4 or 5 games but go in depth with the developers.
I like the format although I still prefer to keep the Announcements, Game-play etc until the last 6-12months of 'expected' development. That way you don't get people complaining that they haven't seen/heard about 'X' game for a while and that Games are somehow 'not' releasing.
Even in the comments here, I know 2022 wasn't 'great', but they still released Games and 2023 has seen numerous releases too. Minecraft Legends for example STILL counts as a MS release, just like Deathloop/Ghostwire when they came to Xbox, just as Pentiment, Grounded, HiFi Rush, Redfall, Forza Motorsport & Starfield all 'count' too. AoE2, Goldeneye etc count too - just because they aren't 'new', aren't all AAA or Exclusive, they still count as GAMES released by MS.
IF/When the ABK deal goes through, will you 'not' count Call of Duty for example either because its on Playstation too? Even though MS will probably be doing any reveal/showcase event for these.
The 'next' big Game is Starfield and Forza Motorsport follows soon after. No need for a Developer Direct until 'later' this year and only if they expect to release a game in Q1 24, maybe Hellblade or Avowed?
Hype only needs to be focussed on the 'next' release or 2 at most - which would be Starfield and Forza!
@BAMozzy most of Xbox games recessed are here today gone tomorrow microwave quality that’s the big issue .. indie games won’t cut it ona. ( next gen ) system costing over 500 and games times released first on ps5 then Xbox isn’t going to cut it .. halo gears perfect dark avowed Indiana jones all need to be good not just one or two AAA games because Minecraft was released . Indie and tune based games are cool and niche but damn Xbox need to come in swinging again
Both were brilliant. The January one felt like a great format to go a bit deeper with each game, and Starfield was a proper deep dive. But there is still room for things like the breathless back to back to back announcements they do at 'E3'.
@BBB You should have it was nothing but game footage only in the middle and end was someone talking and it only lasted a few minutes if that
@somnambulance June had a big show, with Starfield and Forza coming Sept/Oct. Many other great third party games will come in the same period. We likely won't see anything "new" until December (Game Awards). Maybe another Xbox Direct in March.
That is fine with me. I'm in no rush. Once we got so much detail at the June showcase I was cool with it all. I have Diablo, SF6, Jedi, and so many other games to play. Baldur's Gate comes in a month or so.
I do wish that Perfect Dark did not spin it's wheels for 1-2 years. All those games we don't hear about will start to surface over the next year, along finer detail on the ones that have been shown.
@theduckofdeath Oh, I’m fine not having more to play at the moment (I’ve still got to really get cracking on FF16, and July has Pikmin, Oxenfree 2, and Viewfinder for me and I’d rather not talk about my list of preorders this fall… so. many. games.), but I just want to have more to play on Xbox rather than other platforms. I was pleased with the showcase, outside of the lack of tentative release windows.
"Guy who greenlit presentation format says he likes presentation format on social media."
Also guy who bought Camembert on sale says he really like Camembert.
News in 2023! What a time to be alive!
Good good.
Step 1: take inspiration from Nintendo Directs to produce XBox Directs.
Step 2: take inspiration from Nintendo's ability to release multiple games per year.
@Ryan_S If Microsoft has even half of Nintendo's game output capability, this would be a much more competitive generation, IMO.
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