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Every announcement from Microsoft and Bethesda’s joint E3 showcase

Giovanni Colantonio
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Going into E3 2021, Microsoft was always the company to watch. While the Xbox Series X has been light on exclusives so far, there was a sense that E3 was going to be where the narrative changed. That’s largely because of Bethesda, which Microsoft officially acquired this year in a blockbuster deal. To celebrate, Microsoft and Bethesda decided to hold a 90-minute megaconference this year, which set fans’ expectations extremely high.

It’s safe to say that Microsoft delivered. The show was packed wall-to-wall with news, announcements, and updates on previously revealed games. It started with a grand unveil for Starfield, Bethesda’s open-world space game, which will launch in November 2022. Halo Infinite got a spotlight as well, though it still doesn’t have a firm release date. It wouldn’t be a Microsoft show without Forza, and the latest installment of the racing series got a massive segment as well. That barely scratches the surface of what was shown during Microsoft’s loaded press conference, so here’s all the highlights.

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Halo Infinite gets free-to-play multiplayer

Halo Infinite Official Multiplayer Reveal

Halo Infinite is coming this holiday season, but it still doesn’t have a firm release date. Microsoft’s shooter juggernaut was supposed to launch with the Xbox Series X last November, but was indefinitely delayed nearly a full year. The game and its first multiplayer season will launch at the same time.

A new trailer gives a deeper look at the game’s story. It turns out that Cortana has been “deleted,” and there’s a new A.I. helping Master Chief. We also got a glimpse at the game’s multiplayer mode, which looks like traditional Halo play. The multiplayer will be free-to-play.

Starfield coming in 2022 as an Xbox console exclusive

Starfield: Official Teaser Trailer

Starfield has a release date, but it’s a little later than fans may have been expecting. Bethesda’s open-world sci-fi game will officially land on November 11, 2022 — well over a year from now. A cinematic teaser trailer shows a character walking around a massive spaceship. At one point, they toss a gun down on a table before jumping into the pilot seat. The game will be available on Xbox Game Pass on launch day. It will be a console exclusive for Xbox Series X/S and be available on PC as well, but not Xbox One.

The news leaked hours before the official Microsoft show after The Washington Post mistakenly published the trailer early, along with a “making of” feature.

Redfall is a new Xbox Exclusive from Arkane

Redfall - Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase 2021 - Official Announce Trailer

We got a glimpse at a brand-new Bethesda title, which will be exclusive to Xbox. Redfall is a new vampire shooter from Arkane Studios. The game is set to launch next summer.

Mexico-set Forza Horizon 5 set for November release

Forza Horizon 5 Official Announce Trailer

Forza Horizon 5 is coming on November 9. The racing game got a massive spotlight at the Microsoft stream that focused on its new setting, Mexico. The game has an open-world battle royale mode called The Eliminator.

Psychonauts 2 will arrive this summer

Psychonauts 2 Action Trailer // Summer 2021

Pyshconauts 2 got a brand-new trailer, which gave another look at the anticipated platformer. It’ll launch on August 25 on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC.

The Outer Worlds 2 is coming … eventually

The Outer Worlds 2 - Official Announce Trailer - Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase 2021

The Outer Worlds 2 is in development, though that’s about all we know about it. The RPG got a cheeky trailer, which joked about how the game doesn’t have any form of gameplay ready to show yet.

Battlefield 2042 gets a wild gameplay trailer

Battlefield 2042 Official Gameplay Trailer

Following its official reveal earlier this week, we got a first glimpse atBattlefield 2042‘s actual gameplay. EA dropped a new trailer that was heavy on stunts and gadgets. We also got to see some of its new specialists in action, including character zipping around with a grappling hook.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 takes on Chernobyl next April

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl — Gameplay Trailer

Microsoft shared a new trailer for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl, which gave a close look at its story and gameplay. The biggest reveal is that the game will launch on April 28, 2022.

Contraband is a new open-world game

Contraband – Official Announce Trailer – Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase 2021

Just Cause developer Avalanche is making a new Xbox game called Contraband. A vague teaser trailer noted that it’s an ope- world co-op game, though it didn’t say too much beyond that.

A Plague Tale: Requiem brings more rats

[E3 2021] A Plague Tale: Requiem - World Premiere Reveal Trailer

Xbox exclusive A Plague Tale: Innocence is getting a new sequel. A Plague Tale: Requiem looks very much in line with the original stealth adventure game that takes place during a plague. It features more giant swarms of rats, a defining feature of the original, and will launch sometime in 2022.

Diablo 2: Resurrection arrives in September

Diablo® II: Resurrected™ Street Date Trailer

Diablo 2: Resurrection, a remake of the classic Blizzard title, got an official release date. It’ll launch on September 23.

Microsoft Flight Simulator lands on Xbox

Microsoft Flight Simulator - Xbox Series X|S Gameplay Trailer - Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase 2021

Microsoft Flight Simulator is finally coming to Xbox. A new trailer for the console version showed the game running in 4K on Xbox Series X. It’ll be available via Xbox Game Pass on July 27. It’s also getting a free expansion based around the Top Gun franchise to coincide with the upcoming film Top Gun: Maverick.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon and more coming to Game Pass

Our @Bethesda count shot up 10 games today | #XboxBethesda pic.twitter.com/9GWEXHWcgL

— Xbox Game Pass (@XboxGamePass) June 13, 2021

As teased ahead of the show by the Game Pass Twitter account, Yakuza: Like a Dragon is joining the service today. Indie hit Hades will hit the service on August 13, when the game lands on Xbox for the first time.

Game Pass is also getting more Bethesda titles, including Fallout 3 and The Evil Within 2.

Everything else …

  • Back 4 Blood‘s new PVP mode got a short trailer.
  • Sea of Thieves is getting a collaboration with Pirates of the Caribbean on June 22.
  • Indie title 12 Minutes will launch on August 19.
  • Doom Eternal is getting an Xbox Series X upgrade on June 29.
  • Fallout 76 is getting a new Steel Reign update on July 7 and The Pitt is coming next year.
  • Party Animals is a cute multiplayer brawler coming in 2022.
  • Somerville is a creepy new indie coming in 2022.
  • Far Cry 6 got another new trailer, showing off some gameplay.
  • Slime Rancher 2 is coming in 2022.
  • Shredders is a snowboarding game coming this December.
  • Atomic Heart got a stylish new trailer.
  • Grounded is getting a Shroom and Doom update on June 30.
  • Replaced is a stylish side-scroller coming in 2022.
  • 15 player lobbies are coming to Among Us on June 15.
  • Age of Empires IV is coming on October 28.

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Giovanni Colantonio
Giovanni Colantonio
Section Editor, Gaming
Giovanni is a writer and video producer focusing on happenings in the video game industry. He has contributed stories to…
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Crowd of E3 attendees in front of the E3 logo and various game posters.

After being canceled both physically and digitally in 2022, E3 seemed all but finished. Several months after this year's cancellation was announced, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) stated that the event is far from dead, with plans to return with a physical show in the works for 2023. Now, we have confirmation on just how it plans to get back on its feet after the ESA announced a partnership with ReedPop, the company behind the PAX conventions.

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Everything announced at Xbox Games Showcase Extended
Fall Guys parodies Halo's believe trailer.

Microsoft held the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase on June 12, giving a first look at gameplay for Redfall and Starfield and revealing brand-new games like Pentiment and Minecraft Legends. As that showcase was focused on reveals, it had a very fast pace outside of the extended looks at Redfall and Starfield. Microsoft changed that with a slower-paced Xbox Games Showcase Extended presentation on June 14.During it, we learned more about some of the games that we saw on Sunday, and even got some news about games that weren't featured, such as Valheim and Slime Rancher 2. This livestream was definitely much slower-paced and less reveal-heavy than Sunday's showcase, but those who want a more in-depth look at Xbox's upcoming lineup of games will enjoy watching it (below). We've rounded up everything that was announced and discussed during Xbox Games Showcase Extended.
Xbox Games Showcase Extended
Valheim is coming to Xbox Game Pass as a console exclusive
Valheim coming to Game Pass - Xbox Games Showcase Extended 2022
The first real announcement of the Xbox Games Showcase Extended was that Valheim is coming to Xbox Game Pass. The PC version of the game will arrive on Xbox Game Pass this fall. It will then come to Xbox consoles and that version of Xbox Game Pass in spring 2023 as a console exclusive.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre game is coming to Xbox Game Pass
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre - Unrated Gameplay Trailer [4K]
A new trailer was released for the multiplayer horror game based on The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which will be on Xbox Game Pass at launch. We also learned that the game will be a console launch exclusive on Xbox One and Xbox Series X in 2023 for a bit before coming to PS4 and PS5 later in the year. 
Slime Rancher 2 is still coming this year
Slime Rancher 2 Gameplay | Xbox Games Showcase Extended 2022
After skipping out on the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase, console-exclusive Slime Rancher 2 popped up here with a new trailer showing The Conservatory, the player's base of operations, exploration gameplay, and more. It will be released in fall 2022 and be on Xbox Game Pass on day one. 
Fall Guys pays homage to an iconic Halo trailer
Fall Guys 'Spartan Showdown' Trailer - Xbox Games Showcase Extended 2022
Mediatonic and Epic Games revealed that a Halo collaboration is coming to the Xbox versions of Fall Guys on June 30. They made the reveal through a trailer that parodies Halo 3's iconic Believe trailer, as we see a lot of beans frozen in the middle of a battle. This collaboration is called "Spartan Showdown," and players will be able to earn Halo-themed cosmetics by completing challenges while the event is live. 
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 devs urge players to support Ukraine
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl | Xbox Extended Showcase Trailer
Xbox's Sarah Bond and GSC Game World highlighted the S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2 team's experience as a Ukrainian game developer following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in an emotional interview and video. GSC Game World then showed a new cinematic trailer that confirms S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 will now release in 2023. 
Everything Else

Bethesda's Pete Hines defended the delays of Redfall and Starfield, discussed how Redfall was distinct from previous Arkane and cooperative shooter games, referenced The Elder Scrolls Online and Fallout 76's expansions, and emphasized how players have lots of freedom to do what they want in Starfield in an interview.
Naraka: Bladepoint's developers gave an overview of the game's characters, gameplay, and the campaign ahead of its release on Xbox Series X|S consoles next week. NetEase Games also confirmed that it would come to Xbox One later this year. 
We got to see some brief gameplay footage from Ara: Stories Untold as the developers discussed how this grand strategy game supports player agency and reflects player choice. They also confirmed that its technical alpha begins later this summer.
The developers of Grounded reflected on the survival game's development and teased how the 1.0 launch this September will resolve the story and introduce a new Praying Mantis boss. 
Microsoft Flight Simulator and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's collaboration was discussed in a video featuring Gamertag Radio's Parris Lilly. 
High On Life's Justin Roiland discussed the formation of Squanch Games and his quirky new sci-fi Metroidvania shooter where players take down the leaders of a cartel with talking guns.
A dev diary for Pentiment revealed more details about the story, characters, and setting of Josh Sawyer's new medieval narrative adventure game.
As Dusk Falls got a new developer diary showing how its choice-based gameplay works and discussing its themes and narrative ahead of its July 19 launch. 
We saw some new gameplay from the Forza Horizon 5: Hot Wheels expansion, showing just how these toys have been incorporated into four new Mexican biomes.
Mojang Executive Producer Dennis Ries revealed that Mojang first teased Minecraft Legends at Minecon 2018 with a T-shirt and explained why Mojang is making an action-strategy game with Blackbird Interactive's help. 
An ID@Xbox trailer highlighted upcoming indie games like Tinykin, Togges, Coral Island, and Hollow Knight: Silksong.
Bond teased Project Moorcroft, a Game Pass feature that will let developers put demos of their unreleased games in Game Pass to get feedback from players.

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Everything announced at Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase 2022
A screen capture from the Redfall gameplay reveal.

Following a shockingly good State of Play and an underwhelming Summer Game Fest Kickoff, it was Microsoft's turn to enter the spotlight and highlight the games coming to Xbox platforms and services. Namely, we saw Starfield in action even though it was delayed until 2023, and we got a better idea of what games are coming to Xbox Game Pass over the next 12 months. 
This was a significant showcase for Microsoft, which needed to confirm what it had in store for this year and what new games are on the horizon. While there were plenty of exciting new gameplay trailers and game announcements, nothing quite blew us away. Still, the presentation painted an extremely clear picture of what Xbox players can expect between now and June 2023. This is everything that was announced at the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase 2022. 
Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase 2022
Redfall gameplay shows what Arkane's vampire shooter is all about
Redfall - Official Gameplay Reveal - Coming to Game Pass - Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase 2022
The show opened with our first look at gameplay for Redfall, an upcoming cooperative shooter about vampires from Arkane Austin. It initially leans quite hard into the horror aspects of the game before transitioning into showing bombastic shooting action, each character's abilities, and more. Redfall will be released in 2023.
Forza Motorsport will actually release in spring 2023
Forza Motorsport - Official Trailer - Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase 2022
We finally got another look at Turn 10's Forza Motorsport for Xbox Series X, with a focus on its gameplay, lighting, and dynamic time of day system, and more. While many assumed that the beautiful racing game would launch later this year, it's actually not coming out until spring 2023. 
Grand strategy game Ara: History Untold announced by Xbox Game Studios
Ara: History Untold - Announce Trailer - Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase 2022
Oxide Games and Xbox Game Studios Publishing revealed a brand-new historical turn-based grand strategy game called Ara: History Untold. It was one of the few trailers without any gameplay, but it teases a game that will encompass centuries of history and lots of cultures. It doesn't have a release date, but we know it's coming to PC and Game Pass, and players can sign up for the history program.
Minecraft enters the strategy genre with Minecraft Legends
Minecraft Legends – Announce Trailer - Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase 2022
Minecraft showed up during the Xbox show, but it wasn't with a simple update. Instead, a bran- new action strategy game called Minecraft Legends was announced. We even saw a bit of gameplay after the cinematic trailer, and it definitely looks very unique when compared to anything done with Minecraft before. Minecraft Legends will be released for PC, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One in 2023.
As Dusk Falls and Pentiment flesh out Microsoft's 2022 lineup
Pentiment – Official Announce Trailer - Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase 2022
We got another look at As Dusk Falls, a narrative-focused game with a motion comic-like art style. The new trailer gave us a better look at the story and confirmed a July 19 release date. We also learned that a new narrative RPG from Obsidian Entertainment called Pentiment launches later this year. These games help flesh out Microsoft's paltry 2022 lineup in the wake of Starfield's delay. 
Hideo Kojima reveals Xbox Game Studios partnership
Kojima Productions Xbox Teaser [HD 1080P]
During a segment focused on Japanese games, Hideo Kojima stopped by the showcase to confirm Kojima Productions' rumored partnership with Xbox Game Studios. He didn't actually show his game, which is rumored to be called Overdose, but this is a disruptive announcement for players who associate Kojima with PlayStation because of Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding.
Starfield gameplay reveal shows what Bethesda's next RPG is really like
Starfield: Official Gameplay Reveal
As expected, we got an extended look at Starfield's gameplay in action during the showcase. We see a player explore the moon of Kreet in the year 2330 in first-person. They scan and encounter the local fauna, wildlife, and minerals before fighting some pirates, with shooting gameplay much more intense than anything Bethesda Game Studios has done before. They then go to the city of New Atlantis and see some of the game's conversations in action. Todd Howard then showed us an early look at the game's immensely detailed character customization, skill system, ship and crew customization, flying, and vast galaxy. Starfield will be released in 2023.
Everything else: 

Hollow Knight: Silksong got a new trailer and is coming to Xbox Game Pass on day one. 
Squanch Games' Justin Roiland revealed his new game, High On Life, which releases in October 2022 and will be on Xbox Game Pass on day one. 
Riot Games is bringing League of Legends, Wild Rift, Valorant, Legends of Runetrra, and Teamfight Tactics bonuses to Xbox Game Pass members on PC. 
A Plague Tale: Requiem got a gameplay trailer and will launch on day one with Xbox Game Pass.
Microsoft Flight Simulator is getting helicopters and other new aircraft in November 2022 to celebrate its 40th anniversary. Halo Infinite's Pelican was added to the game today. 
Overwatch 2's multiplayer early access launches on October 4, 2022, and will be free-to-play. A new hero was also teased. 
The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle got a new trailer. 
Fallout 76: The Pitt got a new trailer and September 2022 release window. 
Forza Horizon 5 will get Hot Wheels-themed DLC on July 19.
Ark 2 got a new trailer starring Vin Diesel and a 2023 release window. 
Scorn got a new trailer confirming an October 21 release date. It will be on Xbox Game Pass on day one.
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn got a gameplay trailer and early 2023 release window. It will launch day one on Xbox Game Pass. 
Lightyear: Frontier got a new trailer and spring 2023 release window. It launches day one with Xbox Game Pass.
Cat-themed roguelike action game Gunfire Reborn got an October 2022 release window. It launches day one with Xbox Game Pass.
The Last Case of Benedict Fox was revealed as a day one Xbox Game Pass title that will release in spring 2023.
Naraka Bladepoint comes to Xbox consoles and Game Pass on June 23.
Grounded gets its 1.0 launch in September 2022. 
Ereban: Shadow Legacy was announced and will come to Xbox Game Pass in 2023. 
Diablo IV got a new trailer revealing the Necromancer class. Also, PC and Xbox crossplay was confirmed, PvP and endgame content was teased, and a 2023 release was confirmed. 
Sea of Thieves is getting a new update that lets players customize their cabin, name their ships, and more on July 21.
The developers of Echo Generation revealed a new fantasy game called Ravenlok, which launches on Xbox Game Pass in 2023. 
One of the creators of Limbo announced Cocoon, which comes to Xbox Game Pass in 2023.
Team Ninja and Koei Tecmo teased a new IP, Wo Long: Fallen Destiny, which will release in early 2023 on Xbox Game Pass.
Persona 3, 4, and 5 are coming to Game Pass. Persona 5 will be added on October 21, while Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden are coming after that.

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