South of Midnight Coming to Xbox Series X/S and PC
Microsoft’s Aaron Greenberg has indicated that the upcoming game South of Midnight will be showcased throughout the Xbox Game Showcase in 2023. The game is set to launch on day one for Xbox Game Pass, however a release date is yet to be confirmed.
South of Midnight is set across a fictionalized portion of the United States, and is inspired by the more interesting geological, topographical, cultural, societal, and historical areas of the South. The game follows protagonist Hazel as they set off on a quest to repair a broken world by taking on mythical creatures.
Payday 3 Star Breeze Reveals First Gameplay
Developer Compulsion Games has also 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. The police can use riot shields, repel into the building through windows and more to get to players.
Time will ultimately tell whether this is gameplay or in-engine footage, but in terms of facial animations and textures, it looks good.
Payday 3 Coming to Xbox Series, XNS, PS5 and PC
Payday 3 is coming to Xbox Series, XNS, PS5 and PC on September 21st as rumored. It will also be available on day one for Game Pass. The story sees the crew back together after Payday 2s events. This time dealing with a mysterious threat Saga, Hellblade 2.
Hellblade 2 Gameplay Reveal
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.
Hellblade 2 Release Window Confirmed
A release window has also been confirmed for the game. Sonus 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 at Xbox Game Showcase
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 Sims cover.
Forza Motorsport Set to Launch October 10th
The recent Xbox Game Showcase revealed the upcoming launch of Forza Motorsport for Xbox Series, Xbox One and PC on October 10th. The trailer showcased plenty of tracks and vehicles that look typically gorgeous. The game will be available day one via Game Pass.
Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty to Launch September 26th
CD Projekt Red has been working on Cyberpunk 2077’s expansion, Phantom Liberty, for a while. After having showcased a few brief cinematic trailers over the last year, the developer showcased a much more detailed trailer at the Xbox Game Showcase. 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 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 psychological and physical effects of the storm, as well as the mysterious creatures that lurk in the depths of the ocean.
Juson Dont Nod Unveils New Game
Juson Dont Nod has unveiled a new game during the Xbox game showcase 2023, titled Juson. The game was announced with a trailer, and from the trailer it looks like Juson 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
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 Room’s previous games, Still Wakes: The Deep will also feature horror elements, as the player has to deal with the psychological and physical effects of the storm, as well as the mysterious creatures that lurk in the depths of the ocean.
Clockwork Revolution in Exile
Entertainment has established itself as a developer of excellent RPGs over the years, so it’s no surprise that many have had their eyes on what they’ll be doing next for some time. We first started hearing rumors about the Studio’s next project, a new first person RPG IP, and at the recent Xbox game showcase that was officially unveiled called Clockwork Revolution in Exile.
Time-Bending Steampunk Adventure
The new title is being billed as a time-bending steampunk’s 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 throughout Clockwork Revolution. Players will travel back in time to key moments and make a variety of decisions that will shape the future to come and determine the outcome of the story in various ways.
Release Date and Xbox Series S
Clockwork Revolution is in development for Xbox Series, Exynos and PC, but no release date is mentioned with the end of the trailer, simply saying that the game will be out in due time. Microsoft has also 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 has the same general Hardware as the original Xbox Series.
Xbox Series S
Microsoft has announced the new Xbox Series S, a next-gen console with software features such as quick resume, fast load times and support for a frame rate of up to 120 FPS. The console will be compatible with all current gen Xbox peripherals and accessories and is available for pre-order on the Microsoft store for $349.99. The console is slated for launch on September 1st worldwide.
Towerborne
Towerborne is an action-adventure game with a gorgeously stylized visual aesthetic set in a fantasy world. Players will be able to join up with two other friends and travel together through side-scrolling environments, taking on a variety of fantastical enemies in adrenaline-fueled combat sequences. The game’s world is described as an ever-changing one, though it remains to be seen what exactly that will entail. Towerborne is in development for Xbox Series X/S and PC and will launch sometime in 2024.
Overwatch 2 Invasion
Blizzard Entertainment’s Overwatch 2 is still getting PVE content, with the reveal of Invasion, which seems to be the new story missions launching in season six. The mission sees Overwatch heroes such as Sojourn, Reinhardt, Brigitte, Mercy and many more battling against Null Sector. The new co-op event features some new mechanics like 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 Crossover with Monkey Island
Developer Rare has announced the next major crossover for their multiplayer pirate game Sea of Thieves. The new crossover with the Monkey Island franchise will include an original story, available for free on July 20th.
Return of Iconic Characters
The trailer for the crossover, dubbed Sea of Thieves: The Legend of Monkey Island, 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 post-apocalyptic world of Appalachia. The Atlantic City expansion will allow players to explore new locations from before the war, and find new enemies to defeat. Players will also be able to get their hands on new weapons, clothing and other customization options.
Starfield Direct Trailer
At the end of the latest Starfield Direct trailer, Bethesda Game Studios unveiled a new trailer for the upcoming Sci-Fi Action RPG. 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 and sees the players exploring the universe as a member of constellation. There are mysterious artifacts to investigate, and players can go just about anywhere with over 1,000 planets and various major cities to explore. Players can also expect the usual assortment of side quests and activities that Bethesda is known for.
Starfield launches on September 6th for Xbox Series X/S and PC, and is also available on day one on Game Pass.
