The console industry is in a weird place, and both Xbox and PlayStation have a chance to change the narrative a bit with their showcases at Summer Game Fest. Sony did that by focusing on the single-player titles it’s known for, and then it was Microsoft’s turn.
The Xbox Games Showcase was focused mainly on games we already know, but there was also some confused messaging about the company’s exclusivity strategy. Gears of War: E-Day won’t be launching on the PS5, which was a big surprise, but other major first-party titles like Fable and Halo: Combat Evolved are still coming to Sony’s console. That makes it hard to tell just how focused Microsoft really is on exclusives.
In a blog post recapping the event, the company said that “Games already announced for multiplatform releases will stick to that plan — we’re committed to investing in and growing Xbox both on console and beyond,” suggesting that future first-party titles will be only for Xbox consoles.
The event came at an interesting time for Xbox. Microsoft’s gaming division went through an executive shake-up in April, and new boss Asha Sharma has been making some smaller but welcome changes, while also promising what she calls the “return of Xbox.” Given how confused the Xbox brand has been of late, it seems likely bigger changes are on the way.
There were at least a few surprises, though, including a first look at Sony’s Crazy Taxi revival and a very brief teaser for Persona 6.
You can follow all of our coverage from the Xbox showcase right here.
- 30 minutes of Fable.
Microsoft just shared half an hour of new gameplay footage from the upcoming Fable reboot. Why wasn’t this in Sunday’s Xbox showcase?
The game comes out on February 23rd, 2027, following a recent delay.
For some reason, I can’t embed the trailer. But here’s the link. Image: Xbox Games Studio Xbox exclusives are back and more complicated than ever
Illustration: The VergeTwo years ago, when Microsoft first revealed that it was bringing four Xbox-exclusive games to the PS5 and Nintendo Switch, it made the announcement far more complicated than necessary. That’s not likely to improve anytime soon. In fact, things now seem more confusing than ever as the company tries to appease both fans and the bottom line.
When making the experimental move away from exclusives in 2024, Microsoft initially refused to name the games — Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, Sea of Thieves, and Grounded — going cross platform, but was happy to shoot down rumors of Starfield and Indiana Jones coming to the PS5. Some Xbox fans thought the announcement meant “just four games,” others worried it was more, setting the stage for two years of confusion over what other titles would or would not be released on rival platforms. Eventually, Starfield and Indiana Jones both arrived on the PS5, only adding to the uncertainty.
Read Article >- Fable will be getting a story expansion sometime after launch.
According to the Fable website:
Fable: Order of the Hero features a brand-new region that brims with danger, wonder, and whispers of long buried power. As you explore, your deeds earn the cultist’s admiration, and you rise to become their latest (and greatest) celebrity overseer.
With your newfound authority, you’ll guide their rituals and shape the cult into your own heroic vision, whether noble, nasty or just plain weird. But becoming the new boss does beg a darker question. If the cult has a vacancy for a new Heroic leader…
…what happened to the last one?
You’ll get it as part of the Premium Edition.
- Sega used generative AI as part of making the new Crazy Taxi, apparently.
As spotted by Kotaku, the Steam page for the newly announced World Tour says that:
At SEGA Corporation, we utilize generative AI as a support tool for developers, aiming to provide better content to our users and enable developers to focus more on creative tasks.
We have used such generative AI support tools during development of Crazy Taxi: World Tour. No AI was used in reference to the performers in the game.I’m not exactly sure what this all means, though, and I’m glad it at least wasn’t used “in reference to the performers in the game.”
- A return of Xbox console exclusives.
Both Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution are Xbox console exclusive titles, a phrase we haven’t heard for quite some time given Microsoft’s multiplatform push. “These are not timed exclusives,” says Joe Skrebels, Xbox Wire editor-in-chief. “Games already announced for multiplatform releases will stick to that plan – we’re committed to investing in and growing XBOX both on console and beyond.”
Microsoft has two new Xbox console exclusives. Image: Microsoft - Another look at Call of Duty.
The next CoD was actually announced ahead of Game Fest, but here’s five more minutes of Modern Warfare 4, which launches in October.
- Clockwork Revolution is also an Xbox console exclusive.
We’ve been waiting to hear more about inXile’s new steampunk RPG, and during the Xbox Games Showcase today we finally got a rough release window: 2027. Clockwork Revolution will also be an Xbox console exclusive, just like Gears of War: E-Day.
Persona 6 exists, and that’s all we know
This year’s Summer Game Fest turned out to be a good one for fans of Japanese RPGs. First, the conclusion of the Final Fantasy VII remake trilogy was announced at SGF Live, and now we have the long-awaited return of the Persona series.
Atlus confirmed Persona 6 exists with a brief teaser, but aside from implying a very dark tone, that’s about all the video revealed. There’s no release date or window, though the game will be coming to the PS5, Xbox, and PC whenever it does launch. Atlus describes the game as “a bold, new standalone story blending heartfelt daily life and new characters with pulse-pounding, supernatural adventure,” which could also describe most Persona titles.
Read Article >- Spyro’s back.
Activision’s new Spyro game is Spyro: A Realm Beyond, and it’s launching in spring 2027. It’ll be available on Xbox, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.
- A spooky new Castlevania for October.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, made by teams who worked on Dead Cells, will be released on October 15th. Despite the pedigree of its developers, it’s not a roguelike.
- Fly over some national parks.
The next big update for Flight Simulator gives you a chance to explore over 30 American landmarks and national parks without bothering with a road trip. It launches, appropriately, on July 4th. Also you can fly the Goodyear blimp.
Microsoft’s Xbox 25th anniversary console comes in translucent green
Image: MicrosoftMicrosoft has created a special edition Xbox Series X to celebrate 25 years of the console. The Xbox 25th-anniversary console takes design cues from the original Xbox console, with both the console and controller featuring a translucent green design.
“For the first time, we’re bringing a translucent design to Xbox Series X, drawing inspiration from the original Xbox and OG Green so many players remember,” explains Jason Ronald, VP of next generation. “The Xbox Series X25 Limited Edition respects our history, with the power and performance of the Xbox Series X, including 1 TB of storage, and a design that reflects where we’ve been and the community that’s been with us along the way.”
Read Article >Minecraft Dungeons 2 gets a September release date
Minecraft Dungeons 2, a sequel to Microsoft’s dungeon crawler spinoff Minecraft Dungeons, will be released on September 29th.
The company originally revealed the game in a brief trailer in March, promising a fall 2026 release window. Here’s how Microsoft described it at the time:
Read Article >- Crazy Taxi is going on tour.
As promised, Sega’s Crazy Taxi is coming back with a new game called World Tour, and based on the first trailer it seems like it’s capturing some classic vibes. It’s launching in 2027.
- The DLC for Doom: The Dark Ages adds a throwable spear.
Sign me up. Doom: The Dark Ages Revelations launches on July 7th. It costs $19.99, though it’s included if you already have the game’s Premium Edition or Collectors Bundle.
- Back to hell.
The unsettling psychological horror of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is getting an action-oriented follow-up with a new game called simply Senua. It’s coming to Xbox, PS5, and PC sometime next year.
- Bad Magpie looks like Untitled Goose Game with a different bird.
I mean that in a complimentary way — it seems silly and fun! It’s launching in 2027.
- It’s not Persona 6, but…
at least we got some Persona news, with Persona 4 Revival coming to the Xbox on February 18th.
- State of Decay 3 launches in 2027.
The zombie apocalypse game will be available on Xbox, PC, and PS5.
Fable launches in late February after recent delay
Just a few days after pushing Fable out of 2026, Microsoft showed off more footage of Fable, the first new entry in the storied RPG franchise since 2010’s Fable III, at its Xbox Games Showcase on Sunday. The company also announced a specific release date: February 23rd, 2027. Though if you get the Premium Edition, you’ll get early access starting February 18th.
The trailer from the showcase follows a dedicated gameplay overview shown earlier this year. Based on what Microsoft has shown so far, the new Fable looks like it could deliver on what people love about the original trilogy, including the fantasy RPG setting and a lot of British humor. When it launches, it will be available simultaneously on Xbox, PC, and PS5.
Read Article >Halo: Campaign Evolved arrives July 28th
As part of its Xbox Games Showcase on Sunday, Microsoft revealed new details about Halo: Campaign Evolved, the upcoming remake of Halo: Combat Evolved’s campaign mode. The remake will debut on Xbox Series S / X, PC, and PS5 on July 28th.
Today’s mission trailer includes a first look at Operation: Meteorite, a new three-mission story arc in Halo: Campaign Evolved. It takes place a year before the events of the first game and features Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson.
Read Article >Gears of War: E-Day isn’t coming to the PS5
Apparently, the “return of Xbox” means a retreat from other platforms. At its Xbox Games Showcase today, Microsoft revealed that Gears of War: E-Day — which was previously rumored for a PS5 launch in addition to Xbox and PC — will not be coming to PlayStation. It’ll be an Xbox console exclusive and is launching on October 6th.
The announcement was preceded by a trailer, which opened with a street-level view of an alien attack, with the extraterrestrial invaders being fought off in an urban landscape, including an electronics store and grocery shop. It looked like familiar Gears gameplay: lots of blood and lots of cover. It also may have been our first look at a Gears soldier wearing tight blue jeans, which was a nice, casual touch.
Read Article >- The Xbox Games Showcase is starting soon.
The event kicks off at 1PM ET. Once the showcase is over, it will transition directly into a presentation focused on Gears of War: E-Day, which is scheduled to launch sometime this year.
Xbox and PlayStation have a lot to prove
Photo by Daniel Boczarski / WireImageThings are bad out there.
Despite 2026 shaping up to be a great year when it comes to actual games, it couldn’t really be worse for the people that make them or the industry as a whole. Hardware prices keep going up, layoffs have shown no signs of stopping, and even big-budget titles backed by large corporations can feel precarious.
Read Article >
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