With a slew of major video game showcases this June, we break down the best and worst of the bunch, highlighting what made them shine or fall flat. From Sony’s lackluster State of Play to Nintendo’s triumphant Direct, see who emerges as the champion.
The Coalition, during the June 2024 Xbox Games Showcase, announced Gears of War: E-Day, a prequel to the iconic Gears of War series. Set 14 years before the original game, E-Day is built using Unreal Engine 5 and chronicles the early days of Marcus Fenix and his comrades as they face the formidable Locust threat on their home planet Sera. While the release date remains shrouded in mystery, the game is expected to grace PC, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S consoles. The trailer showcases a younger Marcus Fenix battling a menacing Locust enemy, highlighting the characters’ vulnerability before the events of the first game. The Coalition has emphasized that despite being a prequel, E-Day is not a substitute for the storylines established in Gears of War 4 and Gears 5, but rather an opportunity to delve into the origins of the series, including the creation of Marcus’s legendary Chainsaw Lancer weapon. E-Day is a mainline entry in the Gears of War franchise, not a spinoff like Gears of War: Judgment.
Obsidian Entertainment’s upcoming RPG, Avowed, made an appearance at the Xbox Games Showcase with a captivating new trailer. The game takes place in the world of Eora, established in Obsidian’s Pillars of Eternity series, but it explores an uncharted island, offering a standalone story for new and returning players alike. Players will take on the role of a character tasked by the Emperor to uncover the source of the mysterious ‘Dream Scourge’ and determine the truth behind the conflict. Avowed features a diverse combat system with weapons ranging from swords and shields to spells, guns, and bows, along with platforming elements and challenging traps. The game is set to release in 2024 exclusively for PC and Xbox Series X/S, offering fans an intriguing and immersive RPG experience.
After years of anticipation, Fable has finally unveiled a comprehensive gameplay trailer during the Xbox Games Showcase, providing fans with a tantalizing glimpse into the upcoming RPG. While a concrete release date remains elusive, the trailer confirms that players can expect to embark on the whimsical adventure in 2025. Developed by Playground Games, the studio behind the celebrated Forza Horizon franchise, Fable has been in the works since Microsoft’s acquisition in 2019. This trailer marks a significant milestone in the game’s development, showcasing its stunning visuals, engaging storyline, and captivating world.
The Perfect Dark reboot gameplay trailer, showcased during the June 2024 Xbox Games Showcase, unveiled a glimpse of Joanna Dark’s daring mission in a futuristic Cairo amidst environmental devastation. With Joanna’s likeness portrayed by Elissa Bibaud and voiced by Alix Regan, the trailer featured gripping first-person combat, including Joanna’s strategic targeting and non-lethal weaponry. The enigmatic ending hints at a shadowy conspiracy and mysterious orb, leaving players eager for more. Co-developed by The Initiative and Crystal Dynamics, the Perfect Dark reboot is still in development, with no release date announced yet.
Undead Labs, now an Xbox-owned studio, showcased a new trailer for State of Decay 3 during the June 2024 Xbox Games Showcase. The trailer reveals a desolate world overrun with zombies and supernatural elements, departing from the more realistic tone of previous titles. Undead Labs also debuted a new logo, designed by branding company 51 Eggs, featuring a skeleton key to represent the franchise’s zombie theme. The game’s release date remains undisclosed, but it will be available for PC and Xbox Series X|S. Since its acquisition by Microsoft in 2018, Undead Labs has remained focused on developing State of Decay 3. The studio’s transition to an Xbox-owned entity is symbolized by the new logo and the game’s evolving atmosphere. The Xbox Games Showcase also featured other upcoming Xbox exclusives, including Doom: The Dark Ages.
Bethesda has revealed Doom: The Dark Ages, a medieval take on the popular first-person shooter series. The game is set to launch in 2025 for PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5, and will also be available on Xbox Game Pass. The game serves as a prequel, featuring the Doomslayer wielding a shield with blades and riding a dragon. Despite Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda, the game will be released for both Xbox and PlayStation consoles, consistent with past releases in the series.
After much speculation, Xbox has officially confirmed that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be available on Xbox Game Pass upon its release. The announcement was initially leaked through a Game Pass notification, but Xbox has now正式确认ed its inclusion on the service. However, Xbox has not yet specified which platforms the game will be available on, and the exact release date remains under wraps. Fans eagerly await the grand reveal of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, scheduled for June 9th after the Xbox Games Showcase.
Speculation is swirling around the next installment in the Call of Duty franchise after mysterious videos emerged on a website called thetruthlies.com. The videos, which feature shadowy figures and cryptic messages, have been interpreted as teasers for Call of Duty Black Ops 6, rumored to be in development by Treyarch. A key piece of evidence supporting this theory is the emblem featured in the videos, which bears a striking resemblance to the one teased in promotional materials for the upcoming Xbox Games Showcase. Themed content that explores themes of deception and backstabbing that have been prevalent in previous Black Ops titles adds further credence to the teaser theory. With the Xbox Games Showcase set to take place on June 9th and the Call of Duty franchise now under the ownership of Microsoft following its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the timing and circumstances strongly suggest that the official announcement of Call of Duty Black Ops 6 is imminent.
