The weekend went by and Microsoft with Xbox already presented what we can expect from Xbox branded games (including not-exclusives) for what is left of 2023 and 2024 with some welcome surprises.

  • Fable remake coming in soon
    While promising that all game presentations would not be CGI footage, strangely enough Microsoft confirmed that Fable is indeed a real remake and was shown with an awkward introduction that confirmed to be the game itself and the footage was slated as in-game footage.
    There is no official date.
  • South of Midnight a new third-person action-adventure game from Compulsion Games
  • Ubisotf presents Star Wars Outlaws as their first original Star Wars game
    While Electronic Arts is trying to make sure that Lucasfilm Games feels that removing Star Wars exclusivity for them was a mistake, Ubisoft is having their first try.

    Star Wars Outlaws take place between Episode Vi - Empire Strike Backs and Episode VI Return Of The Jedi and control Kay Vess described as an emerging scoundrel looking for a free life.

    The open world Star Wars game will let you explore planets across the galaxy and while it is not a Xbox exclusive game, no exact release date was offered beyond a 2024 launch.
     
  • Persona 3 will get a remake
    One of the early leaks beside Cyberpunk and Starfield’s premium, and collector edition is that Atlus have some big PErsona news and of course it is Persona 3 Reload is a remake of the original Persona 3 which also, is not a Xbox exclusive.
  • New Avowed trailer and in coming 2024
  • A Sea Of Thieves X The Legend Of Monkey Island collaboration going live on July 20th completely free
  • Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is announced
    The next Microsoft Flight Simulator game is official and includes  hot air balloon trips, skydive aviation, aerial firefighting, air emergency & rescue simulation and more.

  • A Microsoft Flight Simulator 2023 X Dune collaboration is announced
  • Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II gets a new trailer but NO RELEASE DATE except is coming in 2024.
  • The almost named Yakuza 8, nowLike a Dragon, welcomes its main 8th main series game with Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth coming early 2024
  • Fallout 76 Atlantic City expansion coming soon
  • Capcom presented Path Of The Goddess for Xbox Series S/X
  • Forza Motorsport will release on October 10th
  • The Elder Scrolls Online new expansion - Necrom will release on June 20th
  • Overwatch 2 first expansion
    Overwatch will gain Invasion as its first expansion that includes in-game lore Story missions on August 10th.
  • Persona Tactica P5Tor Persona dive in the Tactical RPG genre, is coming November 17th.
  • Jusant goes Game Pass on launch day
  • Still Wakes the Deep
  • Dungeons Of Hinterberg coming in 2024
  • Phantom Liberty as Cyberpunk 2077 expansion goes official
    Probably the first and only Cyberpunk 2077 expansion, will feature a new original story where V and in-brain implanted Johnny Silverhand will take a spy mission as part of the allegiance of V with the New United State within Night City’s DogTown, to rescue the President of NUSA.

    Keanu Reeves will retake his role as Johnny Silver hand while actor Idris Elba takes the role of a brand new original character Solomon Redd as a NSUA agent.
    The expansion will release on September 26th at MSRP $29.99 (not an Xbox exclusive).
  • Cities Skylines II coming on October 24th
  • Another Game Pass Day 1 from Atlus called Metaphor Re Fantazio comes in 2024
  • TowerBorn coming in 2024
  • Clockwork Revolution from inXile Entertainment is announced
  • Microsoft announces black Xbox Series S with 1TB of storage for $349 with pre-orders starting today and releases on September 1st.

Starfield Direct Highlights

As promised, after the main Xbox Showcase took place, Bethesda took over with its 45+ minutes of gameplay of Starfield and this are the main point that are newsworthy:

  • The main story is centered on the Constellation, the last group of space explorers. You’ll meet them in the capital city of New Atlantis, which Bethesda says is the biggest city it has ever built.
  • Reconfirming the 1,000 being able to be explored, we might see differences on gravity levels and reaching those planets we might face asteroid belts.
  • Spaceships can be bought, upgraded and customized and hire your own cre.
  • Also, you can destroy enemy ships, you can loot them, scrap them, or even board an enemy vessel.
  • There is a  treats system, options to buff abilities or your character. You can choose treats that might include a damage buff or a way to have the same religious beliefs as enemies so you can avoid combat.
  • You can  set up outposts on planets and harvest resources while you’re away. 

Now, there is one important thing that was not revealed in the presentation. But an after-interview of Bethesda Director Tood Howard with IGN, there is a confirmation that the frame rate performance of the game will be locked to 30fps at 1440P for the Xbox Series S and 4K for the Xbox Series X.

Howard justified the initial move as a way to ensure consistency on game’s performance:

“I think it'll come as no surprise, given our previous games, what we go for.

 Always these huge, open worlds, fully dynamic, hyper detail where anything can happen. And we do want to do that. It's 4K in the X. It's 1440 on the S. We do lock it at 30, because we want that fidelity, we want all that stuff. We don't want to sacrifice any of it.

Fortunately in this one, we've got it running great. It's often running way above that. Sometimes it's 60. But on the consoles, we do lock it because we prefer the consistency, where you're not even thinking about it.

And we don't ever want to sacrifice that experience that makes our games feel really, really special. So it feels great. We're really happy with how it feels even in the heat of battle. And we need that headroom because in our games, really anything can happen.”

Also Howard adresse a May rumor where Bethesda requested assistance from id Software to help with the combat system in response of the Redfal failed performance but while is true that id Software has been helping Bethesda SoftWorks, it was related on the usage of id Tech Engine assets and combining with Bethesda’s own Creation Engine to improve look and feel, but not a patch for the combat system like it was suggested.

Microsoft confirmed that there will be a Starfield branded Xbox Controller at $79.99 and a Xbox Wireless Headset at $12.99 and as for the game, there will be a $99.99 Premium Edition (Digital only) that includes:

  • Shattered Space Story Expansion (upon release)
  • 5 days early access
  • Constellation Skin Pack: Equinox Laser Rifle, Spacesuit, Helmet and Boost Pack
  • Access to Starfield Digital Artbook & Original Soundtrack

Alos there will be a Constellation Edition or the equivalent of a Collector’s Edition that includes all content from the Premium Edition but also a Starfield chronomark watch with its case, Constellation patch and a Steelbook and important to note, that the game will come digital in this edition too.

Finally, Starfield is already pending on its first expansion called Shattered Space and it will be included as part of the perks of both the Premium and Constellation Edition.

Starfield is coming to Xbox Series S/X and PC (both Microsoft Store and Steam) on September 6, 2023.

One final note…

Microsoft announced that is also holding an Xbox Games Showcase Extended stream on Tuesday June 13th at 1PM ET, but warned it is about in-depth discussions and details of some games already shown in the Showcase and while there will be footage and that, I think that we shouldn’t expect any more announcements or transcendental things.