The Xbox Games Showcase 2024 officially returned in mid-June 2024, with plenty of World Premiere trailers from Xbox Game Studios and global third-party developers working to deliver new gaming experiences for everyone. As expected, there was some neat surprises in this year’s show – a new Gears, Perfect Dark, Doom: The Dark Ages, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 – as well as some returning, highly-anticipated favourites.
Here’s all the biggest gaming news and game announcements from the Xbox Games Showcase 2024.
Xbox Games Showcase 2024: News Roundup
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 kicked off the Xbox Games Showcase 2024
The first trailer of the Xbox Games Showcase 2024 was for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, and this revealed the game is set in 1991, in an era of modern warfare. Players will embody soldiers facing off against their government, after being declared rogue agents. Of all the modern Call of Duty games, this seems to be the most focussed on approachable action-adventure gameplay.
Phil Spencer appeared after this trailer to confirm Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be available on Xbox/PC Game Pass, as well as on PC and consoles, from 25 October 2024.
Doom is going medieval in Doom: The Dark Ages
The next trailer was for Doom: The Dark Ages, from Bethesda. This features a ravaged kingdom beset by dark forces, and the iconic Doom Slayer rampaging through it all – this time, rocking some medieval-style threads. In battle, the Doom Slayer will wield a spiked shield, and a sort of retro-futuristic cannon gun. He’ll use both weapons to slay demons in bloody battles. Doom: The Dark Ages is coming in 2025.
State of Decay 3 is a new post-apocalyptic zombie sequel
Doom was followed by a trailer for State of Decay 3, from Undead Labs. In this trailer, players are seen stomping zombies, shoving knives down throats, and doing anything they can to survive. As with past games in the State of Decay series, co-op gameplay features heavily, as players will be working alongside others to take down zombie hordes, as well as giant zombie beasts.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard gets first proper trailer
Next, BioWare popped in to reveal a new look at Dragon Age: The Veilguard and its crew of warriors. In this cinematic look, the player characters can be seen facing off against dragons, fleshy beasts, rogues in a tavern, and many more threats. Notably, this game seems to have a more “cartoony” aesthetic compared to other Dragon Age games. This title launches in Autumn 2024 [Northern Hemisphere].
Starfield: Shattered Space gets first trailer
Next, Bethesda turned up to reveal a first look at Shattered Space, the first major expansion for Starfield. It appears there will be some dark threats awaiting players who check out this DLC – and there will be brand new planets to explore, including a rather special-looking purple-hued one. Shattered Space arrives in 2024, and new content is also coming to Starfield tonight. This includes new locations, new gear, new bounties, and new custom content made by Bethesda and content creators.
Fallout 76 is getting a new map expansion
Bethesda also had an update for Fallout 76 during the Xbox Games Showcase 2024. This revealed a new locale coming to the game: Skyline Valley. This is the first-ever map expansion for the game, and it will feature creepy new experiments to uncover, a giant robot to fight, and plenty more. Skyline Valley arrives on 12 June 2024.
As announced, you’ll also be able to play as a Ghoul in Fallout 76 in a future update, landing in early 2025.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a magical action-adventure
Next up was the World Premiere trailer for a new game from Sandfall Interactive, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. This is a gorgeous, surreal-looking game featuring a Victorian world haunted by strange magic. It appears this world is at the mercy of “The Paintress” – a being who paints death to life. In your travels, you’ll face off with this villain, while exploring an array of dazzling worlds populated by odd creatures. There’s turn-based combat in this, with players facing off with monsters in teams. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 launches in 2025.
South of Midnight gets a new gameplay trailer
This was followed by a new trailer for South of Midnight, which was first revealed last year. In this game, players will explore the bayous of Southern US, and learn more about the traditional stories and mythology of the region. The new trailer focussed on the journey of the main protagonist – a young Black woman named Hazel – as she rides a giant fish creature through a swamp. The art style and direction for this game looks absolutely gorgeous, as does its third-person adventure gameplay, and its real-time action combat. As revealed in this trailer, South of Midnight launches in 2025.
Blizzard reveals new trailer for World of Warcraft: The War Within
Blizzard put in appearance next to reveal a new trailer for World of Warcraft: The War Within, which should introduce plenty of dazzling new threats for players to conquer. The trailer narrator teased a “final battle” drawing near, with some WoW plot threads heading for their conclusion. It arrives for PC on 26 August 2024.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater gets gameplay trailer
Next, Konami was up to reveal a new gameplay and cinematic trailer for Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, a remake of Metal Gear Solid 3. It looks solid in action, and there’s high hopes for this game. A release date has not been locked in yet.
Sea of Thieves gets new World Event
Sea of Thieves is getting a new World Event shortly, with players able to become a villain and take the path of evil by teaming up with skeleton pirates in their travels. This update launches on 25 July 2024.
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn launches in July 2024
Sea of Thieves was followed by a new gameplay trailer for Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn from A44 Games. This title features a warrior wielding powerful battle magic to defeat creatures and corrupted beings in a fantasy kingdom of steel and rock. The game launches on 18 July 2024.
Age of Mythology: Retold gets gameplay trailer
Next up, the highly-anticipated remaster of classic RTS game Age of Mythology got a new trailer. In this game, you will control ancient civilisations, while wielding the power of the Gods to aid your troops. Age of Mythology: Retold launches on 4 September 2024.
Perfect Dark is officially coming back
This was followed by a trailer for Perfect Dark from The Initiative and Crystal Dynamics, a stealth action-adventure sequel/reboot featuring the return of fan-favourite gaming hero, Agent Joanna Dark. As you travel in the game, you’ll work to avoid future cops, roam through towering cities, and attempt to stop a mysterious attack – amongst other quests.
Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred launches in October 2024
Next up, Diablo 4‘s new expansion, Vessel of Hatred, was revealed. This will feature a new class, and a mysterious evil trapped within a crystal shard – likely the titular Vessel of Hatred. One of the characters in this expansion appears to be at the mercy of an encroaching, infecting evil with the ability to transform their mind and body. As announced, the expansion launches on 8 October 2024.
Fable finally gets a new trailer
This was followed by a new trailer for Fable, the highly-anticipated sequel-reboot of the beloved franchise, which is in development at Playground Games. This actually featured gameplay, of the game’s protagonist travelling a medieval fantasy town, talking with folks, and facing off against creatures. The adventure features a hazy, realistic aesthetic that really emphasises the details of nature, and the ooze of each creature. Fable is set to launch in 2025.
FragPunk is a new 5v5 shooter
Next up was the World Premiere trailer for FragPunk, a first-person, team-based shooter with gravity-flipping mechanics and other magical abilities – including a big head spell.
Winter Burrow stars a courageous mouse conquering Winter
This was followed by a trailer for Winter Burrow, a neat, illustrated adventure game starring an intrepid young mouse attempting to conquer a wintery tundra, and make it cosy and wholesome once again. Winter Burrow arrives in early 2025.
Mixtape is a retro narrative coming-of-age story
Next, narrative-adventure game Mixtape from Beethoven & Dinosaur was revealed. In this game, you’ll explore the “freedom of the teenage wasteland” with a sprinkle of strange magic and drama thrown in. One of the hooks of this game is a soundtrack that contains licensed music from Joy Division, Devo, Iggy Pop, and more. Mixtape launches in 2025.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 announced
Mixtape was followed by a reveal for the next generation of the Microsoft Flight Simulator franchise. This sequel will feature Commercial Flights, Air Ambulances, Aerial Advertising, VIP Charter Service, Agricultural Aviation, Search and Rescue, Remote Cargo and many more ways to use your flight skills to help people and explore new worlds.
It appears you’ll also be able to head to the ground in some regions, and take photos. A range of iconic locations appeared in this trailer, including Uluru, and the Christ the Redeemer statue. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 launches on 19 November 2024.
This was followed by a lovely trailer for The Elder Scrolls Online celebrating its ten-year anniversary.
Life is Strange: Double Exposure features the return of Max
Next, Life is Strange: Double Exposure from Square Enix and Deck Nine got a reveal. This sequel is a new “supernatural murder mystery” starring returning hero Max, who finds her friend Safi dead. With her abilities, Max can still hear and visit Safi, complicating her investigation. It launches on 29 October 2024.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle gets new trailer
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle got a new trailer during the Xbox Games Showcase 2024, revealing more adventures, more enemies, and plenty of stunning-looking locales to explore. In the game, you’ll play as Indi (as voiced by Troy Baker, with the likeness of Harrison Ford) and battle mysterious enemies, while also solving puzzles (environmental and otherwise), as you travel through a cinematic story. As previously revealed, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle launches sometime in 2024.
Mecha Break is an intense mech-action game
A new trailer for mech-action game Mecha Break followed. In this game, you can pilot a jet-powered mech, and face off with a variety of air and land-based enemies in dogfight skirmishes. This game looks fast-paced and relentless, and should scratch any giant robot fighting itch you may have. The game launches in 2025.
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers features bloody, Souls-like battles
Next, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers was revealed. In this game, you are a sword-wielding warrior facing off against eldritch beasts in cinematic action battles. There appears to be elements of Souls-likes in this game, as players will need to time their attacks to survive. Wuchang: Fallen Feathers launches in 2025.
Avowed gets a new gameplay trailer
Avowed, from Obsidian Entertainment, also turned up at the Xbox Games Showcase 2024. This action-adventure fantasy game is all about shaping the future of a magical land filled with powerful beings – some of which seemingly have a stake in your adventure. To survive, you’ll wield weapons and spells, combining them in battle for great impact. Avowed is still set to launch sometime in 2024.
Atomfall is a surreal, post-apocalyptic adventure
Atomfall was up next. This game from Rebellion features a seemingly idyllic town overrun by police forces, which include towering robots. Within the plot, you’ll make your way through this town, and uncover the darkness at its centre – strange ghoulies, mysterious mushroom plants, and more. Atomfall is coming in 2025.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows gets a new trailer
A new trailer for Assassin’s Creed Shadows followed. In this game, you will explore Feudal Japan as two warriors with great skills in stealth and action-combat, respectively. Naoe and Yasuke will work together in this adventure, to bring justice to the people of Japan. As previously announced, the game launches on 15 November 2024.
Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl gets fresh gameplay trailer
Next up in the Xbox Games Showcase 2024, Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl got a new gameplay trailer. In this nuclear-infused shooter sequel, you will explore abandoned towns, and face off with mutated beasts. Stalker 2 launches on 5 September 2024.
Xbox Series X All-Digital console announced
Xbox has announced three new types of Xbox consoles in the Xbox Games Showcase – one of which is an all-digital Xbox Series X in a white colourway.
Xbox also confirmed it’s working on its next generation of consoles during this segment.
Gears of War: E-Day concluded the Xbox Games Showcase 2024
The final trailer of the show was for Gears of War: E-Day, a new entry in the beloved Gears series. The trailer for this game featured Marcus in his suit, facing off with a giant skull beast, and blasting its entire head off – only for the floor to fall out beneath him.
As noted by Xbox, this game is set 14 years prior to the events of the original Gears of War.
You can watch the entire Xbox Games Showcase via YouTube.
This article has been updated since its original publication.
