The Xbox Games Showcase 2023 had everything riding on it. Coming off the back of a disappointing Redfall launch and a long run of silence around first-part releases out of Xbox Game Studios, fans and critics alike were stacking up the odds against Microsoft Gaming being able to deliver a showcase that would satisfy. But, with two solid hours of back-to-back announcements (and a major info drop for Starfield), Xbox did everything right.
The publisher promised a double-bill of updates and reveals for upcoming Xbox Series X games and Game Pass wonders, coupled with a gloriously in-depth look at Starfield ahead of its September release. The first half – aka the Xbox Games Showcase itself – was full of non-stop surprises. We got a fresh look at Xbox exclusives we've not heard much about for years, alongside new games from studios that have been silent since their acquisition by Microsoft. Suddenly, Microsoft's collection of Xbox Games Studios has an incredibly enviable slate.
