Microsoft is doubling down on Xbox, including its core community.
Incoming CEO Asha Sharma has immediately gone to task, talking about how Xbox starts with its console and its community in interviews both with us and internally with staff. It comes at a difficult time for the brand and console gaming in general, which has seen pressure from other forms of entertainment and broad industry disruption from various directions.
Still, Microsoft is pushing forward. Last week, Xbox announced its annual Xbox Showcase for June 2026, which will have an Xbox 25th anniversary flavor. Gears of War: E-Day will get a deep dive, and we should see upcoming titles like State of Decay 3, Fable, Clockwork Revolution, and much more.
In years past, Xbox put on FanFest events as part of its E3 festivities. These events previously invited fans to speak with key Xbox figures and go hands-on with unreleased games, in a fashion that was typically reserved for press in times of yore. E3 no longer exists, but Xbox kept the FanFest tradition alive as part of Summer Game Fest and its own Xbox Showcase, although the pandemic era saw FanFest wind down.
As Microsoft chased a rumored 30% margin target for Xbox, FanFest failed to really re-materialize in recent years, which many speculate revolved around budget cuts. Whatever the truth, it seems Xbox is not only reviving FanFest this year, but also expanding it to new regions for the first time.
"In celebration of our 25th anniversary, Xbox FanFest will go on tour, so that we can share this very special year alongside you, the players who have helped shape our history every step of the way, and will continue to shape the next 25 years," a blog post on Xbox Wire reads.
"Throughout the year," Microsoft says it plans to bring FanFest to a variety of other cities across the world. The current locations penned in include Seattle and LA in the United States, Cologne in Germany, London in the UK, Mexico City in Mexico, Sydney in Australia, Tokyo in Japan, and Toronto in Canada. It asks users to keep an eye on the Xbox FanFest website for updates on how you can enter to gain tickets.
Microsoft says each regional Xbox FanFest will be a bit different, but will all bring together in-person experiences that are typical of the event. Previous events have included things like hands-on with upcoming games, contests, merch, and other fun stuff, although it remains to be seen what Xbox has plans for fans this time around.
We'll be sure to let you know when the other regional events get penned in for nearer the time, but the Xbox FanFest ticket lottery is already live at the link above, and set to go along with the Xbox Games Showcase 2026 on June 7.
What are you hoping to see from this year's Xbox Games Showcase? I, for one, think it's about time we got a glimpse at Xbox Helix, but maybe it's still too early. Microsoft typically focuses on games at these events, but it has broken the rule for major hardware reveals, like the Xbox Ally last year. As for games, could we finally see Elder Scrolls 6? What about the next project from Machine Games or Ninja Theory? A new BANJO?! We won't have to wait too long to find out.
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