Xbox Games Showcase 2024: All The Biggest Announcements

The annual Xbox Showcase is over, bringing one of Microsoft's strongest showings in several years to an end. While big games like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, and Avowed made an appearance, the showcase was also full of several pleasant surprises, including the first looks at Doom: The Dark Ages, Perfect Dark, Gears of War: E-Day, and the magical gameplay for South of Midnight. Sprinkled between Microsoft's various games were also several updates to ongoing games like World of Warcraft and Diablo 4, while third-party partners like Ubisoft gave a quick tease of the gameplay in Assassin's Creed Shadows.

In case you missed it, you can catch all the announcements below. The summer showcase will still continue throughout June, as the PC Gaming Show, Ubisoft Forward, and a new Nintendo Direct will all be broadcast this month.

The release date for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has leaked ahead of its dedicated livestream, and unsurprisingly, this year's entry in the series is set to launch on October 25. Billed as a "spy action thriller" that takes place in the '90s, the leaks have revealed a campaign mode and 16 new multiplayer maps, the majority being designed for 6v6 play. Call of Duty's Zombie multiplayer mode is also back and an open beta will be held before Black Ops 6 launches.

• Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 Release Date, Beta, And More Leak Ahead Of Xbox Showcase
• Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 Sees The Return Of Round-Based Zombies
• Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 Does Not Support MW3 Weapons, Skins, Or Other Cosmetics

Doom is back, and this time, players will explore the origins of the Doom Slayer in a new prequel adventure. In a short and sweet trailer, the gameplay for Doom: The Dark Ages showed off a never-before-seen conflict against Hell. Like the previous games, the Doom Slayer has a shotgun, speed, and power, but this time, he's also wielding a powerful shield to help him close the gap, stun enemies, and throw it like a lethal frisbee at enemies.

Doom: The Dark Ages Announced, Coming 2025

It has been several years since State of Decay 3 was last seen, but the game resurfaced during the Xbox Games Showcase. This new trailer for the game was mostly cinematic, but it did hint at a growing zombie threat, fighting back against the horde, and carving out a new life for your growing community of survivalist homesteaders.

State Of Decay 3 Gameplay Teaser Revealed At Xbox Showcase

The new trailer for Dragon Age: The Veilguard showed a closer look at the companions that you'll be able to recruit to your cause as you embark on a fantasy adventure. There'll be seven companions to recruit, each with their own rich story to discover and explore, and BioWare says this game will expand upon the Dragon Age stories, worlds, and characters from previous games. The new companions include Harding the scout, Neve the detective, Emmrich the necromancer, Taash the dragon hunter, Davrin the warden, Bellar the veil-jumper, and Lucanis the mage-killer.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Trailer Introduces Your Buddies In Thedas

Starfield is back with a new expansion, titled The Shattered Space. This new content centers around a mysterious power being unleashed in the city of Dazra on House Va'Ruun’s hidden homeworld, and players will investigate that cosmic threat, find unique weapons for their arsenal, and more fancy gear to outfit their character as they explore the cosmos.

Starfield DLC Shattered Space Gets A Trippy Trailer, New Content Launching Today

The Appalachians are expanding in Fallout 76, as the live-service game set in Bethesda's post-apocalyptic game universe will have a new slice of terrain ready for players to explore soon. Available starting June 12, players can venture southward to Skyline Valley, investigate a strange electric storm, and discover the secrets of Vault 63.

Fallout 76 Finally Lets You Become A Ghoul In 2025

South of Midnight got its first gameplay trailer, showing off its folktale setting and third-person action design. More details were also shared about the game's story, which takes place in the town of Prospero after a hurricane leaves it devastated. It's up to the protagonist, Hazel, to venture through a Southern Gothic world where reality and fantasy are interwoven. A release year for the game was also revealed, as South of Midnight will land on Xbox Series X|S and PC in 2025.

South Of Midnight Gets First Gameplay Trailer Full Of Magic And Fighting, Coming In 2025

One of the new titles shown off during the showcase, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the debut title from Sandfall Interactive and will be released on Xbox Series X|S and PC in 2025. An RPG, players will lead an expedition on a desperate adventure to destroy the Paintress, who is hellbent on erasing the few human survivors left in the world.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Is An Action-Packed, Slick New Turn-Based RPG Revealed At Xbox Showcase

Easily one of the biggest surprises of the Xbox Games Showcases, Perfect Dark made its grand return with a slick and action-packed gameplay trailer. A combination of espionage and blazing gun battles, Joanna Dark has to hunt down the world's most wanted criminal, Daniel Carrington, to uncover a mystery that threatens the entire world.

Perfect Dark Gets First Gameplay Trailer

World of Warcraft's next expansion, The War Within, has a date, and players can explore the dawn of a new saga starting August 26.

World Of Warcraft: The War Within Release Date Announced During Xbox Showcase

Launching on September 4, the new trailer for Age of Mythology: Retold showed off more of the game's mythical setting. Set in a realm where gods, monsters, and humans collide, this new entry in the series is aiming to merge the old-school charm of the franchise with modern real-time strategy design and visuals.

From the creators of Ashen, Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is an indie Souls-like with an explosive attitude. As humanity's last line of defense against vengeful gods and their undead army, players will embark on a journey of vengeance, magic, and gunpowder. You won't have to wait too long to play it, as this game will launch on July 18.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater resurfaced in a new gameplay trailer, showing off all-new graphics and 3D audio for the Big Boss prequel. While the PS2 classic's story remains the same, the gameplay has been overhauled to drive home the themes of survival and stealth in a harsh wilderness. If you are craving an old-school experience, fret not, because there'll be an option to switch to the original play style and control scheme as well.

Metal Gear Solid Delta Demos Just How Much Anguish You'll See On Snake's Face This Time

In a visually impressive and emotionally brutal trailer, Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred set the stage for the next chapter in Blizzard's action-RPG. The first Diablo 4 expansion will bring players to the lush jungles of Nahantu on October 8.

Diablo 4 Vessel Of Hatred Coming October 8, New Trailer Revealed

At long last, a gameplay trailer for Fable showed off some of the magical wonder, dangerous monsters, and retired heroes you'll meet on your journey. Scheduled to arrive in 2025, the trailer also suggested that choices will have lasting consequences, but overall, you can expect a lighthearted and cheeky trek across Albion.

Fable Trailer Shows First Gameplay, Coming 2025

At long last, Sea of Thieves is giving players what they want the most: ships with flamethrowers attached to them. Season 13 launches on July 25, and the new world event will let you sail on one of the most infamous ships in the lore of the game, Flameheart's Burning Blade.

Sea Of Thieves Is Giving You A Ship With Flamethrowers In Season 13

Still on track to release in 2024, the new trailer for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle was full of ancient ruins, secrets waiting to be uncovered, and incredibly punchable Nazis. Set between the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade, Indy has to face off against sinister forces as he searches to uncover the truth behind one of history's greatest mysteries.

Indiana Jones And The Great Circle Gets Impressive Trailer But Still No Release Date

NetEase Games announced FragPunk, a 5v5 hero shooter set in a very vibrant futuristic universe and developed by Bad Guitar. What sets this one apart from all the other games in the genre? A gameplay modifier card system adds an interesting twist to the usual gunfight formula, as you'll be able to bend the rules of combat to your advantage. Set to launch in 2025 for Xbox Series X|S and PC, betas for both platforms will be held in the future.

Fragpunk's Card-Powered Shooting Looks Like Legal Cheating

You're a mouse! But not just any ordinary mouse in Winter Burrow, as this cozy little game tells the story of a little critter--in a hat--arriving at their broken-down childhood home during a harsh winter. It's up to you to turn that delapidated tree stump into a refuge from the cold, while keeping an eye out for your aunt after she's abducted by an owl.

On their last night of high school, three friends embark on one final adventure together in Mixtape. A combination of dream-like reenactments of their formative memories and narrative vignettes centered around pivotal moments in their lives drives this story, but it's a soundtrack full of music from Devo, The Smashing Pumpkins, Iggy Pop, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Joy Division, and more that makes this game sound cool. Developed by Beethoven & Dinosaur, the studio behind The Artful Escape, Mixtape will arrive in 2025.

You can pencil in November 19 for your next trip, as Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 will officially take off on that date. As seen in previous trailers, the game is attempting to be even more ambitious than its predecessor, as Asobo Studio says it has created its most diverse and detailed fleet of aircraft yet, and will let you fly them through a stunning recreation of the entire planet.

The first gameplay trailer for Assassin's Creed Shadows was full of franchise hallmarks, as the beauty of feudal Japan met the lethal skills of the game's two protagonists, the samurai Yasuke and the ninja Naoe.

Assassin's Creed Shadows Trailer Debuts At Xbox Games Showcase

Sniper Elite and Zombie Army developer Rebellion's next game will take you to the idyllic pubs and quaint villages of the English countryside, although wicked cults and rogue government agencies might make you want to reconsider booking that trip. Set five years after a real-world nuclear disaster that occurred in northern England in 1957, Atomfall takes place in a fictional quarantine zone and is inspired by Cold War paranoia, folk horror, and classic British sci-fi.

Atomfall Is A New Survival-Action Game From The Team Behind Sniper Elite

The next chapter in the Life is Strange series will see the return of its original star, Max Caulfield. Set several years after her first adventure in Arcadia Bay, Max is determined to discover the truth behind her best friend's murder, and she'll use her new powers to shift through timelines to get to the bottom of this mystery. The first two chapters of Life is Strange: Double Exposure will be available starting October 15.

Life Is Strange Double Exposure Announced And Arriving October 29

More mecha games are always a good thing, and in August 2024, you can jump into a multiplayer mech-based shooter for some fun. Mecha Break features customizable mechs, player-created mech pilots, and a massive arsenal, as well as several gameplay modes to try your builds out in. A closed beta for it will be held in August before it launches.

Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl did not disappoint with its latest trailer. A mix of in-game footage and narrative snippets, the video revealed locations to explore in the Exclusion Zone, encounters with mutants and archanomalies to discover.

Stalker 2 Gameplay Trailer Shows Off The Horrors Of The Wasteland

A Souls-like action game, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers takes place in the land of Shu during the twilight of the Ming Dynasty. As Wuchang, a pirate warrior struck by amnesia and afflicted by Ornithropy--a disease that ravages the body and offers great power in return--you'll have to explore Shu and master your affliction if you want to survive against the monsters and warring factions spread throughout the land.

Out later this year, the brand-new story trailer for Avowed was centered around Giatta, one of the game's four companions, and your place in the story. As an envoy of the Aedyran Empire, you'll be tasked with stopping the Dreamscourge and exploring the frontier.

Avowed Story Trailer Suggests You'll Be Dealing With A Lot Of Liars In The Living Lands

It's a mad world in the next mainline game in the Gears of War universe, full of familiar faces and worn-out places, but at least you can rely on Marcus Fenix to know how to put the Locust six feet under. Set 14 years before the first game, Gears of War: E-Day will focus on the emergence of the Locust Horde and humanity's desperate struggle for survival.

Gears Of War: E-Day, A New Gears Prequel, Revealed

While we didn't see a mid-gen refresh or a dedicated handheld device, Microsoft did reveal a new digital Xbox Series X along with new color options. Interestingly, Xbox president Sarah Bond also briefly touched on the future of the console brand, mentioning that Microsoft is "hard at work on the next generation" of Xbox machines.

Microsoft Reaffirms A Next-Gen Xbox Is On The Way