The annual Xbox & Bethesda showcase is easily one of the biggest productions of the year, and this year we got a stacked 90-minutes of gameplay reveals, announcements, and first-looks at games coming to Xbox and PC over the next 12 months. Sure, there was no Fable or even Avowed, with Xbox instead choosing to focus on games on the more immediate horizon. And with that there was still plenty of room for excitement, namely with Starfield getting a full 15-minute deep-dive.

And soon-to-be Xbox studio Blizzard was on hand to not only confirm Diablo 4 was coming within the next year, but it’ll be fully playable with cross-play on Xbox Series X too. That, and Overwatch 2 got a surprise Early Access release date for October. On the lesser known side we got quite a few cool looking indie reveals, from High on Life to Cocoon to Lightyear Frontier.

There’s a lot, so let’s get to it.

Starfield Gameplay Debuts with 15 Minutes of Interstellar Action

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Closing out the big Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase was a first look at Starfield's ambitious gameplay. From RPG character creation and customisable skills to combat to the ability to create your very own space-port and spaceship, the next game from the team behind Skyrim and Fallout 3 is certainly something to behold.

The year is 2330. Humanity has ventured beyond our solar system, settling new planets, and living as a spacefaring people. From humble beginnings as a space miner, you will join Constellation — the last group of space explorers seeking rare artifacts throughout the galaxy — and navigate the vast expanse of the Settled Systems in Bethesda Game Studios’ biggest and most ambitious game.

In this next generation role-playing game set amongst the stars, you will create any character you want and explore with unparalleled freedom as you embark on an epic journey to answer humanity’s greatest question: What is out there?

Redfall is Arkane's Take on Co-op Action with Vampires

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Redfall is another big Xbox title on track for a 2023 release (first-half of the year) and we got a bit of extended gameplay. From Arkane Austin, the studio behind the awesome Prey, this looks like the best bits of that plus Dishonored and Left 4 Dead all rolled up into an open-world action game where you're up against vampires.

Redfall has everything you could want from a cooperative, story-driven FPS experience, plus everything Arkane fans have come to expect from the studio. An open world packed with mystery, a diverse roster of heroes to choose from, strategic combat that will keep you on your toes, painstakingly crafted environments, a rich narrative driving you through the world, a wide array of weapons… and vampires. A lot of vampires. Sneaky vampires that grab you and separate you from your team. Hulking vampires capable of tearing you and your team to pieces. Godlike vampires powerful enough to eclipse the sun. Arkane vampires.

Forza Motorsport Pushes Realism to New Heights with Stunning Gameplay

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Forza Motorsport, which is the pure racing sim from Turn 10, is being re-built from the ground-up for Xbox Series X|S and PC. And we got our first look at what that means at the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase, with some truly impressive visuals. From real-time ray-tracing (reflections) on track and not limited to a photo mode through to a dynamic day-night system that plays into a physics system more realistic than ever before.

Forza Horizon 5's First Expansion is All About Hot Wheels

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One thing to take note of in the trailer and announcement for Forza Horizon 5's first expansion Forza Horizon 5: Hot Wheels is that it's "all in game 4K footage", a testament to just how gorgeous the open-world racer is on Xbox Series X|S and PC. And yeah, adding giant Hot Wheels loops and tracks to Horizon's digital Mexico is a sight to behold.

Overwatch 2 Launches into Early Access and Free-to-Play on October 4

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Yep, Overwatch 2 is set to arrive in Early Access form where it will be Free-to-Play on October 4, 2022. This news dropped during the showcase, where the release date was accompanied by a first-look at a new Overwatch Hero - a new Tank, the Junker Queen.

Diablo 4 Will Release in The First Half of 2023... Necromancer Confirmed!

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Diablo 4 is coming in the first half of 2023, so be sure to put a big ol' red circle there in your calendars. It's no secret that this is one of our most anticipated releases, and with the game coming to consoles and PC, with full cross-play support (and cross-progression ala Diablo 2: Resurrected) we got a pretty awesome new look at gameplay captured on Xbox Series X hardware. The visuals and art-style in particular looks dark, gritty, and intense. And as a nice little bonus, couch co-op has been confirmed!

Pentiment is a New Narrative Adventure from Obsidian Coming This Year

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From Obsidian and game director Josh Sawyer Pentiment is a new "16th-century narrative adventure" coming to Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Xbox Game Pass this November. The art-style and presentation for this one is striking, taking on the form of manuscripts, prints, and other pieces of art and history come to life.

In Pentiment, you play Andreas Maler, a journeyman artist working in the bygone scriptorium of Kiersau Abbey during a time of great social unrest. While finishing his masterpiece, Andreas inadvertently becomes entangled in a series of murders that take place over 25 years. Peasants, thieves, craftsmen, monks, nuns, nobles, and even saints must be investigated and interrogated to expose the truth.

It will be up to players to decide Andreas’ choices, from his educational background and lifestyle to how he investigates the murders. One day he may be digging up a dead monk in the abbey cemetery, the next might be spent eavesdropping on peasant gossip at the ladies’ spinning bee. Every decision and accusation he makes carries consequences that will impact the tightly-knit Alpine community for generations to come.

Microsoft Flight Simulator Updated with Halo Infinite Pelican as Free Add-On

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Microsoft Flight Simulator is celebrating its 40th anniversary, making it both Microsoft's oldest franchise still in development and one of the longest running in game history. To celebrate this milestone a number of historical planes have been added today (including the Wright Flyer and Ryan NYP “Spirit of St. Louis”) alongside one from the distant future - the Halo Infinite Pelican.

Vin Diesel Rides a T-Rex in Ark 2

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Ark 2 got its first reveal a year or so ago where it was revealed that not only will Vin Diesel play a character in the game, but he's joined Studio Wildcard as 'President of Creative Convergence'. Based on today's impressive Unreal Engine 5 reveal we can only assume one of his first presidential decrees was "Yo, I want to ride a T-Rex into battle".

Still very much a PVP survival game, Ark 2 will be played entirely from a third-person perspective - which means controls and movement have been completely redesigned. According to Jeremy Stieglitz and Jesse Rapczak, Co-creators of Ark and Co-founders of Studio Wildcard, the team drew inspiration from Assassin's Creed and its parkour as well as Breath of the Wild for freedom of movement. They also throw in the obligatory "Souls-like action" for the human-scale combat, which means there will be a focus on dodging, blocking, pulling of combos, and nailing that timing.

Minecraft Legends is a New Strategy Game from Mojang Studios

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Minecraft is one of the most popular games of all time, and as we've seen with the recent action-RPG spin-off Minecraft Dungeons it's a world and setting ripe for creativity. Minecraft Legends is the latest game in the franchise, and it's described as "an all-new action strategy game" from Mojang Studios and Blackbird Interactive. Details are a little light, and the gameplay we see only hints at the style of strategy game it will be. What we do know is that it will support campaign co-op and competitive multiplayer. More info is expected later this year.

Lightyear Frontier is All About Farming Alien Crops and Mech-sploration

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Welcome to the frontier! Begin your new life on a strange and beautiful planet as you build up your homestead, farm alien crops, and use your mech to explore what this new landscape has to offer. Enjoy our relaxing farming adventure with up to three friends when it lands on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and with Game Pass in Spring 2023!

Combining the utility of a mech with the peaceful experience of starting a farm, the world of Lightyear Frontier is full of mystery and wonder. Add new plants to your harvest as you travel through the planet’s environments, uncovering ancient secrets and making new friends along the way. Establish your presence in harmony with nature, using tech research to create a sustainable and successful farm.

High on Life from the Creators of Rick and Morty Has Weapons that Talk Back to You

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Fresh out of high school with no job and no ambition, you’ve really got nothing going for you until an alien cartel that wants to get high off humanity invades Earth. Now, you and a team of charismatic talking guns must answer the hero's call and become the deadliest intergalactic bounty hunter the cosmos has ever seen. Travel to a variety of biomes and locations across the cosmos, go up against the nefarious Garmantuous and his gang of goons, collect loot, meet unique characters, and more, in the latest comedy adventure from Justin Roiland!

With the premise of a handful (heh) of weapons that talk back to the player, and a ludicrously ridiculous alien world setting and story, this is everything we love about the universes of Roiland and co.

Hellriaser's Doug Bradley Guides us Through Scorn and its H.R. Giger-Inspired World

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Okay, so this trailer debuted at the showcase without the Doug Bradley narration, but we couldn’t help but share that one here. Scorn, a living love-letter to H.R. Giger, is a shooter with a difference that goes beyond the standout aesthetic of the aforementioned late artist and challenges players to absorb a living, breathing space where nothing is as it seems. It also looks… disgusting.

The Last Case of Benedict Fox is a Lovecraftian Investigative Metroidvania

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If none of that headline grabbed you, you might want to move along. If it did, welcome to the tentacled party, dear cultist. We'll be your helpful guide here through the stunningly hand-crafted world of The Last Case of Benedict Fox from developer Plot Twist, coming to PC and the Xbox family of devices in 2023.

Dive into a twisted world of secret organisations, forbidden rituals, and cold-blooded murders. Enter the consciousness of the victims to explore their memories in search for clues. Take up the last case of Benedict Fox, a self-proclaimed detective bound to his demon companion.

Hollow Knight: Silksong

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No release date unfortunately, but it will be coming to Xbox Game Pass. And as per everything else in the showcase - sometime within the next 12 months.

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn

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This one looks awesome, and is the follow-up to the very cool Ashen from NZ-based studio A44. It’s also coming to Xbox Game Pass on PC and Console.

Take to Flintlock’s vast battlefields, combining and mastering an arsenal of tools and magical abilities. Join Nor and her mysterious companion, Enki, in this open-world RPG adventure and embark on an epic journey of vengeance, gunpowder and magic in humanity’s last stand.

Ereban: Shadow Legacy Has Prince of Persia Vibes

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Indie developer Baby Robot Games, and publisher Raw Fury, are proud to reveal their debut game, Ereban: Shadow Legacy, a fast-paced stealth platformer game where you become Ayana, the last descendant of a forgotten race. Harness mystical shadow powers, high-tech gadgets and avoid or kill to uncover the truth about your past and the key to saving a dying, morally grey universe.

Gunfire Reborn is a Roguelike Co-op Shooter with Cuddly Creatures

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Gunfire Reborn is a booming blend of ability-based hero shooter and roguelite, all rendered in a striking cel-shaded aesthetic. Play solo or cooperatively with up to three other players in a highly replayable romp through gorgeous environments. Mix and match 40+ weapons, 100+ scrolls, powerful inscriptions and Ascensions to craft builds from devastating Sharpshooters to magic-based Alchemists.

Naraka: Bladepoint is Coming to Xbox Game Pass

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From Chinese studio NetEase, Naraka: Bladepoint’s 60-player battle royale style action has seen it become a massive hit since debuting on PC last year. And on June 23 it comes to Xbox Series X|S and PC and Game Pass.

Ravenlok is More Cool Looking Voxel Action From the Team Behind Echo Generations

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Where Echo Generation was all about capturing those ‘80s vibes, Ravenlock looks to do the same for high-fantasy.

An action-packed fable from Cococucumber, Ravenlok is a fairytale reimagining of a kingdom troubled by a corrupted Queen and a young girl’s destiny to fulfill a dangerous prophecy. After stumbling upon a magical mirror, Ravenlok finds herself pulled away from reality and into a land shrouded in darkness, cursed by the corruption of the Caterpillar Queen. Seeking only to return home at first, she rises to the occasion by challenging fearsome foes to save the fallen kingdom. Slash through sinister jesters in the Mask Mansion and burn down the Weeping Fungi in the mystical Mushroom Forest in an unforgettable, action-packed adventure.

Coccoon is a New Stylish Adventure from the Creator of Limbo and Inside

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This one definitely looks cool, with a great atmosphere and what looks like some pretty mind-bending puzzles.

From Jeppe Carlsen, the lead gameplay designer of Limbo and Inside — Cocoon takes you on an adventure across worlds within worlds. Master world-leaping mechanics to unravel a cosmic mystery.

Sea of Thieves Will Let You Name Your Ship

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Season 7 “Captains of Adventure” will introduce some very cool new features to Sea of Thieves, with the arrival of ship customisation.

Grounded Graduates to Full Release

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After an extended Game Preview (Early Access) stint, Obsidian’s Grounded is set to get its full release this September. Which will see all of the updates, tweaks, and content come together with the full story and a brand new section of the backyard to explore. Having checked this out when it first hit Game Preview, we’re definitely keen to see how it all comes together.

A Plague Tale: Requiem Got a New Action-Packed Trailer

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Somehow Asobo, the studio behind A Plague Tale: Requiem and Microsoft Flight Simulator, isn’t a first-part Xbox studio. In terms of sequels this looks incredible, with a big focus on cinematic action, stealth, and dramatic character-driven tension. Although we didn’t get a release date, a 2022 release was re-confirmed with the added bonus of this coming to Xbox Game Pass on PC and Console on day one.

Team NINJA’s Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Looks Awesome

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Tem NINJA is one of those studios that is a go-to in the action space, and its latest presents a dark fantasy take on the Three Kingdoms setting.

A joint creation by Team NINJA producers Fumihiko Yasuda (Nioh) and Masaaki Yamagiwa (Bloodborne), Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty follows the dramatic, action-packed story of a nameless militia soldier fighting for survival in a dark fantasy version of the Later Han Dynasty where demons plague the Three Kingdoms. Players will fight off deadly creatures and enemy soldiers using swordplay based on the Chinese martial arts, attempting to overcome the odds by awakening the true power from within when Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty launches in early 2023.

This one’s also coming to Xbox Game Pass.

Ara: History Untold is a New Grand Strategy From The Ashes of Singularity Devs

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Definite shades of Civlization here, and with Xbox Game Studios publishing this new historical grand strategy game from Oxide Games, it’ll arrive on day one on PC Game Pass. The trailer doesn’t showcase any gameplay, but we do know the following.

Ara: History Untold, built by a team that includes many of the leads behind one of the most popular historical grand strategy games of all time, invites players to build and lead a nation throughout global history as they explore new lands, develop arts and culture, conduct diplomacy, and go head-to-head with rivals to prove they are the greatest leader ever known.

Players will become the architect of a dynamic, living world fully rendered and brought to life through the power of Oxide’s proprietary Nitrous Engine, where their play style and decisions will shape the world they create, the lives of their people, and their legacy as a leader.

As Dusk Falls is a Interactive Drama Releasing in July

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An interactive drama that can be experienced alone or with up to eight participants, this one is part movie, part visual novel come to life, and an experience that looks wholly original. It’s out on July 19 for Xbox Series X|S, PC, day one on Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass.

In As Dusk Falls you’ll have agency over the lives of relatable, far from perfect human beings, inviting you to empathize with their real-life struggles and aspirations. Starting in 1998 with a robbery-gone-wrong in small town Arizona, the choices you make have a powerful impact on the characters’ lives in this decades-spanning story told across two intense books.

Riot is Bringing its Biggest PC and Mobile Games to Xbox Game Pass

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Riot is bringing League of Legends (PC), League of Legends: Wild Rift (Mobile), Legends of Runeterra (PC & Mobile), Teamfight Tactics (PC & Mobile), and Valorant (PC) to Xbox Game Pass on PC and mobile. And with bonuses in the form of all champions and agents unlocked, special sets, and more. Riot is one of the biggest non-console publishers and developers out there so this is a pretty massive get for Xbox.

The Persona Series is Coming to Xbox Game Pass on PC and Console

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The very popular Persona series is Xbox bound, with Persona 3 Portable, Persona 4 Golden, and Persona 5 Royal all coming to Xbox Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PC. And it all kicks off on October 21 with the arrival of Persona 5 Royal.

Xbox Game Studios and Kojima Productions Are Working on a New Cloud-Powered Game

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Xbox Game Studios and Kojima Productions are working together to create "a video game for Xbox like no one has ever experienced or seen before leveraging the power of the cloud". No details other than that were provided by Hideo Kojima made an appearance at the Xbox & Bethesda Game Showcase earlier today to make the announcement.