South of Midnight
Microsoft’s Aaron Greenberg has indicated that the upcoming game South of Midnight will be showcased during the Xbox Game Showcase in 2023. Developed by Compulsion Games, South of Midnight takes place across a fictionalized portion of the United States. The game follows protagonist Hazel on a quest to repair a broken world by taking on mythical creatures. South of Midnight will be released on PC and Xbox Series X/S, and will also be available on Xbox Game Pass on launch day.
Payday 3
Star Breeze has revealed the first gameplay of Payday 3, the next title in its co-op heist-centric shooter series. The game showcases the traditional infiltration, followed by the crew donning their signature masks and getting ready to rob a bank. Of course, it’s not long before the cops show up and swarm the bank to take out the crew. Players can set up turrets, use explosives and slide while shooting to take them out. Police can use riot shields, repel into the building through windows and more to get to the players.
Payday 3 Coming to Xbox Series, XNS, PS5 and PC
Payday 3 is coming to Xbox series, xns, PS5 and PC on September 21st, and will be available on day one for Game Pass. The story sees the crew back together after Payday 2’s events, this time dealing with a mysterious threat.
Hellblade 2: Sonua’s Saga
It’s been a while since the new Asaga Hellblade 2 was first announced, and though developer Ninja Theory has provided intermittent updates and showcased cinematics behind the scenes, footage and more fans have been getting antsy about when a gameplay reveal will arrive. At the recent Xbox game showcase that finally happened, starting with Sonua in a moody, dimly lit cave.
The footage exhibits all the things you’d expect from Hellblade: from unsettling internal voices speaking to each other and strange creatures and visions appearing before Sonua, wrestling with her inner demons and glimpsing a mysterious promise of a better future where she can get rid of her pain. Sanu plunges into a strange well of liquid, which is where the trailer ends, as has been the case since the game was first unveiled. Hellblade 2 is continuing to look absolutely gorgeous.
A release window has also been confirmed for the game. Sonua’s Saga, Hellblade 2 is set to launch for Xbox series xns and PC sometime in 2024 and, like all first party games, will be available on Game Pass at launch.
Forza Motorsport
As expected, Turn 10 Studios highly anticipated Forza Motorsport took the stage at the recent Xbox game showcase, starting by showing off the 2023 number one Cadillac Racing V Series R and the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E Ray, both of which will be on the racing sim’s cover.
Forza Motorsport Launches October 10th
The in-game footage of Forza Motorsport looks stunning, with plenty of tracks and vehicles that look typically gorgeous. The trailer doesn’t take a deep dive into mechanics improvements or new features, but a release date has been announced for the game. Forza Motorsport will launch for Xbox Series, Xbox One and PC on October 10th and will be available day one via Game Pass.
Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty Launches September 26th
CD Projekt Red has been working on Cyberpunk 2077’s expansion, Phantom Liberty, for a while and after having showcased a few brief cinematic trailers over the last year, recently at the Xbox Game Showcase, the developer showcased a much more detailed trailer as recent leaks had claimed it would. Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty will be bringing back V and Johnny Silverhand, on top of several newcomers, one of whom, Agent Solomon Reed, is being played by Idris Elba.
The expansion will see V once again being involved in a mission that turns out to be bigger than expected, with the President of the United States of America himself needing rescue and plenty of major threats standing in the way. Plenty of gameplay is showcased in the trailer, showcasing glimpses of combat, various locations, a few high octane set piece moments and more. Visually, it’s looking quite impressive. A release date has also been announced for the expansion; Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty launches for Xbox Series, Xbox One, PS5 and PC on September 26th.
The darkness and the unknown that lurks within the depths of the ocean.
Juson Dont Nod Unveils New Game During Xbox Game Showcase
Juson Dont Nod has unveiled a new game during Xbox game showcase 2023 titled Juson. The game was announced with a trailer, and from the trailer, it looks like Jason will feature gameplay that revolves largely around climbing up a mountain and exploring the world around you.
Gameplay Mechanics
According to the trailer’s description, the game will feature meditative vibes and action puzzle mechanics. The part of the trailer showing off the climbing mechanic looks quite intricate, with the player having to find proper grips and footholds to be able to scale mountains. The character also seems to be able to make use of the help from the local flora and fauna to aid his climbing endeavors, along with climbing the game also seems to feature some platforming elements, as well as the ability to potentially unlock new abilities.
Release Date and Platforms
Juson is coming out in Fall 2023 and will be coming to PC and Xbox Series X/S.
The Chinese Room Announces Still Wakes. The Deep
The Chinese Room has announced its next game during Xbox game showcase 2023 titled Still Wakes. The Deep. The game was announced alongside a trailer and is slated for release in 2024.
Gameplay
Still Wakes. The Deep puts players in the shoes of an offshore oil rig worker who has to try and survive in the midst of a vicious storm. The protagonist is isolated from help, as all lines of communications have been severed and all exits have disappeared. Keeping in line with the Chinese Rooms previous games, Still Wakes. The Deep will also feature horror elements, as the player has to deal with the darkness and the unknown that lurks within the depths of the ocean.
Clockwork Revolution in Exile
Entertainment has been developing excellent RPGs for years, so it’s no surprise that many have been eagerly awaiting their next project. Rumors have been circulating about a new first person RPG IP, and at the recent Xbox game showcase, it was officially unveiled: Clockwork Revolution in Exile.
Time-Bending Steampunk Adventure
Clockwork Revolution is a time-bending steampunk first person RPG. Players will be transported to Avalon, a vibrant steam-powered metropolis that has been carefully crafted through the alteration of historical events. Players will travel back in time to key moments and make decisions that will shape the future and determine the outcome of the story in various ways.
Release Date
Clockwork Revolution is in development for Xbox Series, Xbox One, and PC, but no release date has been mentioned. The trailer simply says that the game will be out in due time.
New Xbox Series S with One Terabyte SSD
Microsoft has unveiled a new version of the Xbox Series S console, with its biggest feature being that it comes out of the box with a one terabyte SSD for storage. The new Xbox Series S will be available in a new carbon black color, and aside from the upgraded SSD, it has the same general hardware as the original Xbox Series.
Introducing the Xbox Series S
Microsoft has announced the upcoming release of the Xbox Series S, the latest addition to the Xbox family. This console is designed to provide gamers with a high-end gaming experience, featuring software features such as quick resume, fast load times, and support for a frame rate of up to 120 FPS. The Xbox Series S will also be compatible with all current generation Xbox peripherals and accessories. The console is available for pre-order now on the Microsoft store, priced at 349.99, and is slated for worldwide launch on September 1st.
Towerborne: A Fantasy Adventure
Gamers looking for a unique adventure experience should look no further than Towerborne, an action-adventure game set in a fantasy world. The game offers a three-player co-op experience, where players will travel through side-scrolling environments and take on a variety of fantastical enemies. The game’s world is described as an ever-changing one, though what exactly that will entail remains to be seen. Towerborne is currently in development for Xbox Series X/S and PC, and is expected to launch sometime in 2024.
OverWatch 2 Invasion
Blizzard Entertainment’s OverWatch 2 is set to receive PVE content in the form of Invasion, a new story mission launching in season six. The mission sees the likes of Sojourn, Reinhardt, Brigitte, Mercy, and more battling against Null Sector. The new co-op event also features some new mechanics, such as Tracer carrying something and the push robot armed with weaponry. Additionally, Flashpoint and Hero Mastery, which seem to be trials for each hero, are also showcased.
Sea of Thieves Gets Major Crossover with Monkey Island Franchise
Developer Rare has announced the next major crossover for their multiplayer pirate game Sea of Thieves. Dubbed Sea of Thieves: The Legend of Monkey Island, the crossover will feature an original story and will be available for free on July 20th.
Return of Iconic Characters
The trailer for the crossover features the return of many iconic characters from the Monkey Island franchise. This includes the series protagonist Guybrush Threepwood, Elaine, Ghost Captain LeChuck and even Murray the Demonic Talking Skull.
Point and Click Puzzles
The adventure will feature point and click styled puzzles inspired by the Monkey Island franchise and adapted for the first person gameplay. To prevent interruptions from other players, the adventure will take place in the Sea of the Damned in its entirety. The Legend of Monkey Island will feature three tall tales and will be available for free to all Sea of Thieves players on PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.
Fallout 76 Celebrates 15 Million Players
Bethesda is celebrating 15 million players for Fallout 76 with the release of a new trailer showcasing some of the new features coming to the online game. Alongside celebrating its large player base, the trailer also gives us a look at some of the new content coming to Fallout 76, which includes a new location beyond the base game.
Fallout 76 Atlantic City Expansion
Bethesda has revealed a new expansion for Fallout 76, set in the ruins of Atlantic City. Players will be able to explore new locations from before the war, and find new enemies to defeat. They will also be able to get their hands on new weapons, clothing and other customization options.
Starfield Direct Trailer
Bethesda Game Studios has released a new trailer for their upcoming Sci Fi Action RPG, Starfield. The trailer showcased exploration on different planets, various characters, and vast cities in combat ships. Combat was also revealed, and it all looks solid.
Starfield is Bethesda’s first new IP in over 25 years. Players will explore the universe as a member of constellation, investigating mysterious artifacts. There are over 1,000 planets and various major cities to explore, as well as the usual assortment of side quests and activities.
Starfield launches on September 6th for Xbox Series X/S and PC, and is also available on day one on Game Pass.
