The Xbox showcase is just around the corner, and as a gamer, you can be excited. Now that Xbox has bent the knee and given up on exclusivity, it’s time for everyone to rejoice and see what will be gracing our consoles in the next year or two.
XBOX
A recent rebrand to XBOX has certainly been a talking point, but the bigger point is this year being Xbox’s 25th anniversary. We’ve already seen a flagship masterclass in Forza Horizon 6. Fable has now been delayed until February 2027 to get out of the way of GTA. Gears of War: E-Day has a full section after the showcase this Sunday, which I am extremely excited about. To go back to the origin of Marcus Phoenix and see where the story really starts is going to be amazing. I will be replaying the original games before this one comes out!
This leaves us with Halo out of the big four. Halo: Campaign Evolved was announced last year, a complete remake of Halo: Combat Evolved, one of the most beloved and influential first-person shooters ever made. I feel this is Xbox’s last chance to throw their hat in the exclusivity ring if they’re serious about a rebrand and want to continue in the hardware game. It’s not rocket science that they need the titles to help sell those units. I personally feel that Halo should stay as an exclusive, and from there, they can start to build the brand back even more.
Anyway, that’s my two cents on the topic of exclusivity. Now let’s get to the fun part: what do we hope to see on Sunday?
Hopes & Dreams
Here we go then, the time of the year where the rumours fly, random insiders emerge from the shadows, and somebody’s cousin’s dog works at Xbox and has confirmed that 22 new AAA titles are launching in the next 12 months.
The reality arrives, and then the biggest talking point is “is a CGI trailer really a game announcement? I want gameplay”.
With the showcase now being days away, it’s time to talk about what we could see and what we’d love to see….
It’s Time For State of Decay 3
At this point, State of Decay 3 feels like it was announced a lifetime ago.
The game was first revealed back in 2020, and since then, we’ve seen remarkably little. We know it’s coming. We know Undead Labs are working on it, but beyond that, we’ve been surviving largely on hope and occasional rumours.
The survival genre has evolved massively since State of Decay 2 launched, and there’s a big chance for Xbox to really hit with one of its most unique franchises.
A substantial gameplay demonstration showing off the world, community management, and upgraded visuals would immediately make this one of the highlights of the entire showcase.
No more cinematic trailers.
Show us the game.
Clockwork Revolution Needs To Remind Us Why We’re Excited
When Clockwork Revolution was first revealed, the internet immediately did what the internet does best.
“Looks like Bioshock Infinite.”
To be fair, it did.
A first-person RPG set in a stunning steampunk world with a healthy dose of time manipulation was always going to invite comparisons; the thing is, that’s not a bad thing.
What InXile showed us was one of the most visually intriguing projects currently in development at Xbox. The promise of travelling through time and altering events to reshape the world around you could create some genuinely fascinating role-playing opportunities. We want to see more!
Xbox has spent years building anticipation, and at first, you’re invested, but anticipation only lasts so long before you start asking questions and then start to fear the worst: cancellation. Here’s looking at you, bastards, for shutting down Contraband.
This showcase feels like the perfect time to change these thoughts.
Give us a proper gameplay showcase. Show us how time manipulation works. Let us see the RPG systems in action and demonstrate what makes this game different from the rest. I really think InXile is cooking something amazing here; they have quietly built a great reputation for delivering fantastic role-playing experiences. This is their chance to barge their way into the mainstream spotlight.
It’s Time To Talk Bethesda
A few years ago, the idea of Bethesda being part of Xbox felt like a seismic shift for the industry.
Today, it almost feels strangely quiet.
That’s not a criticism by any means. Bethesda has been busy supporting Starfield, expanding Fallout 76 and continuing work on Elder Scrolls VI. The problem is that the fans can only survive on logos and promises for so long.
We know it exists; it was shown to us in 2018, which to this day is still one of the stupidest blunders in gaming.
At this point, the hype doesn’t exist, and everyone just shrugs, but imagine, just imagine Todd wanders out and goes “yeah so here it is”. It would send the gaming community into meltdown!
After the success of the Oblivion remaster, maybe we see something like Fallout 3 remastered; now that would be huge, due to the momentum and success of the TV show, why the hell not Bethesda?? DO IT.
Realistically, we’re probably not going to get anything, but as I said, these are also Dreams.
A Rare Dream That Refuses To Die
Every year we ask the same questions.
Banjo-Kazooie?!
It never happens, but we will keep asking.
The nostalgia is obvious, but it’s not just about bringing back a classic mascot. Modern platformers have experienced a resurgence over the last decade, and there’s clearly still an audience for colourful, creative adventures.
One day Xbox will reveal a new Banjo game; is this Sunday that day? Is it bollocks. But should it be? Absolutely.
VIVA PIÑATA
This really won’t be much text, but it deserves its own section, MAKE A NEW ONE.
With the recent success of Pokémon: Pokopia, it’s extremely clear that this would be a hit. A new Viva Piñata would make my year; it genuinely would bring a tear to my eye if I could enjoy a new entry of such a beloved cosy game.
What Xbox arguably needs most isn’t a single game announcement.
It’s momentum.
The last year has been filled with major leadership changes, shifting strategies and endless debate surrounding the future direction of the brand.
A strong showcase won’t solve every concern overnight.
But a confident presentation packed with gameplay, genuine surprises and updates on long-absent projects could go a long way towards reminding everyone why Xbox built such excitement in the first place.
