During a special Xbox Showcase, Microsoft made quite a few announcements. We saw some top games, a new console and the dream of Star Wars fans come true. Jeroen watched in amazement and lists his personal highlights for you.
Normally, in the distant past, this time of year was the time for E3. However, the world’s biggest game fair has been defunct (for now) and we have to make do with separate events. PlayStation seized its chance to show us what it has in store for us, and Microsoft has now also opened up. These are Xbox’s plans in 2023 and beyond.
Xbox Showcase 2023: Star Wars, Fable and 5 other announcements
There were an awful lot of announcements during the Xbox Showcase. We list the seven most impressive ones especially for you, so you don’t miss a thing. Here they come.
#1 Fable on Xbox
It took a long time, but finally Fable is returning on Xbox. The game was announced back in 2020, but now we finally see the first trailer, and it looks pretty darn good.
Fable is a true RPG with a touch of humor, and we see that in the trailer as well. In addition to mythical creatures, we also see huge pumpkins. When the game will come to the Xbox Series S & X is unfortunately still unknown. Presumably it will be in late 2023/early 2024.
#2 Star Wars Outlaws
This is supposed to be the game that Star Wars fans have been waiting for for years, which is of course saying something since we are still enjoying Jedi: Survivor. After all, this is the first open-world Star Wars game. Finally, we can really go on an adventure in the universe ourselves.
The game will be made by Ubisoft, which has considerable experience in making an open world, partly due to Far Cry and Assassin’s Creed. It is to be hoped, however, that it won’t just be hunting for icons on the map like that game. In any case, the trailer gives us high hopes for an intergalactic spectacle. The game will be released in 2024.
#3 Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Yakuza: Like a Dragon was for me one of the great surprises in gaming in recent years. The Yakuza series was turned into an RPG, and it turned out surprisingly well. The game was full of humor and, as we have come to expect from Japanese titles, quite a few WTF moments in a positive sense.
Now Ichiban Kasuga is back, literally washing up on the beach with nothing more than a newspaper as cover. It looks a bit like The Hangover meets Yakuza. If the game is as absurd as the trailer, this should be another success. This game will be released in early 2024 on Xbox Series S and X.
#4 Persona 3: Reload
We stay in Japan, but right now I’m talking about Persona 3: Reload. The Persona series had long been a big hit in Japan, but with volume five it took the whole world by storm. For myself, it was the best RPG in years.
Now the third part of the series gets a new lick of paint in the Japanese anime style we are used to. We will have to be patient for this game as well, as sometime in early 2024 you will be able to play it on Xbox Series S and X.
#5 Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
Microsoft is coming out with a new Flight Simulator. So every home, garden and kitchen pilot can test his flying skills again on the Xbox Series S and X. This time, you can also play with helicopters.
Maybe Flight Simulator 2024 was not the sexiest game during the showcase, but it remains a very popular title. That’s mainly because it is incredibly realistic, both in piloting the planes and in the scenery that races by beneath you.
#6 Xbox Series S 1 terabyte
Not only games were announced at the Xbox Showcase. A new Series S was also announced. In terms of hardware, it is exactly the same as the previous model, but there is a big difference. The new version has 1 terabyte of memory instead of the 512 GB that is currently the maximum. In addition, it has also received a new color scheme.
The new Xbox Series S with 1 terabyte will cost 350 euros. The release date is scheduled for September 1.
#7 Forza Motorsport
Well, we’ve known for a while that Forza Motorsport is coming, but now we also know exactly when. During the Xbox Showcase, Microsoft revealed that the game will be in stores starting Oct. 10.
In a short trailer, we also see gameplay and get a taste of how you can customize cars. There are more than 500 different cars in the game. The graphics are exactly as you expect with this game: top notch.