As the biggest names on the bill, hopes and expectations were high for Xbox and Bethesda’s joint E3 2021 Games Showcase. Big Phil, Todd Howard, Pete Hines and the rest of Xbox crew showed off 30 games, including game announcements, release date and gameplay reveals and more. So did it deliver? Let’s take a look at what was on display and you tell me.
Starfield
Todd kicked things off with a bang, giving us a brief look at what the team is cooking with Starfield before revealing that the game will be an Xbox exclusive (Xbox Series X&S and PC) and is launching on November 22, 2022. Will be available to play on Game Pass on day one.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl
Starfield is a hard act to follow, but S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl did it with ease, showing off some gameplay (which looks rad) before ending with a release date of April 28, 2022. Day one on Game Pass.
Back 4 Blood
Warner Bros. and Turtle Rock Studio’s Back 4 Blood got some airtime with a trailer that showed off gameplay from the 4-player co-op shooter’s PvP mode. Honestly the more I see of this, the more fun it looks. Coming to Game Pass on day one – October 12, 2021.
Contraband
A short cinematic trailer that revealed a new co-op title from Avalanche Studios. Contraband is set in the fictional world of 1970s Bayan and is described as a “smuggler’s paradise.”
Sea of Thieves: A Pirate’s Life
Rare’s Sea of Thieves is getting more new content, with Captain Jack Sparrow getting a crossover that will see the infamous scallywag get his own adventure. Sea of Thieves: A Pirate’s Life will be a free update and will arrive on June 22.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon
It was announced that Yakuza: Like a Dragon is available on Game Pass (Xbox, Cloud and PC) as of today. How good?
Battlefield 2042
Gameplay for the recently revealed Battlefield 2042 was shown off and it looks incredible and chaotic. Bring it on.
Twelve Minutes
Annapurna Interactive and Luis Antonio revealed the release date for their hotly-anticipated interactive thriller Twelve Minutes. Starring James McAvoy, Daisy Ridley, and Willem Dafoe, Twelve Minutes launches on August 19, 2021. Available day one on Game Pass.
Pyschonauts 2
Not only did we get gameplay, but we finally got a concrete release date for Pyschonauts 2, with the follow-up to Double Fine’s zany adventure game landing on August 25, 2021. As this news was announced I could sense WellPlayed’s Kieron Verbrugge’s elation. Play it on Game Pass day one.
Fallout 76
Pete Hines reminded us that Fallout 76 is still a thing.
Elder Scrolls Online
Elder Scrolls Online is getting an enhanced version for Xbox Series X&S. Lands June 15.
Party Animals
Multiplayer brawler Party Animals got an announcement trailer and was confirmed to hit Xbox Game Pass the day it launches in 2022.
Hades
The universally-loved Hades is finally coming to consoles landing on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X&S and Xbox One on August 13. It was also revealed that Hades will be available on Game Pass on August 13 for Xbox, Cloud and PC players.
Somervile
A new IP from Playdead founder Dino Patti’s new studio Jumpship, Somervile is a sci-fi adventure that is set during an alien apocalypse and looks very cool. Coming to Xbox consoles and PC in 2022, Somervile will be available on Xbox Game Pass on day one.
Halo Infinite
While we didn’t get a release date for Halo Infinite, we did get a better look at the game’s multiplayer, which will be free to play when the game launches at the end of 2021 (supposedly). It looks fairly hectic and fans of Halo will likely be excited by what they saw, I know WellPlayed’s Kieran Stockton felt the pangs of joy. Hopefully it turns out good for the fans – I’m rooting for them.
Diablo II Resurrected
Blizzard dropped a trailer and release date for the highly-anticipated remaster of Diablo II. Diablo II Resurrected will launch on September 23, 2021.
A Plague Tale: Requiem
Focus Home Interactive and Asobo Studio announced the sequel to A Plague Tale: Innocence with A Plague Tale: Requiem. Featuring an older Amicia and Hugo, and of course, more rats, A Plague Tale: Requiem will launch in 2022 and will hit Game Pass on day one.
Far Cry 6
The amout of airtime Far Cry 6 has had over E3 2021/Summer Games Fest would put Michael Jordan to shame, with Ubisoft’s blockbuster being shown off for a third time during the Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase. The trailer showed off more gameplay and continues to impress. Far Cry 6 will launch on October 7, 2021, on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X&S, Xbox One, PC, Stadia and Amazon Luna.
Slime Rancher 2
Beatrix LeBeau is back again for Slime Rancher 2. With vibrant colours and cute slimes aplenty, Slime Rancher will be heading to Xbox and PC in 2022.
Shredders
Grab your goggles, gloves and beanie, we’re hitting the slopes. Shredders is a snowboarding title that will have you tricking your way down mountains and taking in the views. Shredders is launching on Xbox Series X&S this December. Coming to Game Pass day one.
Atomic Heart
Mundfish released another trailer for its upcoming shooter Atomic Heart. Set in an alternate version of the Soviet Union in 1955 where advanced technology like the internet and robots have been invented, you play as a special agent who has been sent to investigate a facility that has gone silent. Coming day one to Xbox Game Pass on Xbox, PC and the Cloud.
REPLACED
Switching up the tone is REPLACED, a 2D pixel art game set in a dystopian world, tasking you to uncover the secrets of Phoenix-City. The trailer is moody and atmospheric and it has us excited. REPLACED is hitting Xbox Series X&S, Xbox One and PC in 2022. Game Pass day one? You know it.
Grounded
Obsidian’s big survival game on a small scale has been kicking around for a year now and it’s about to get a big update. The Shroom & Doom update is set to add in sitting, pets, mushrooms, achievements and an awfully big, disgusting spider called the Broodmother. The Shroom & Doom update is releasing on June 30.
Among Us
We’ve known about the ever-popular Among Us coming to Xbox for a while, but today we got the announcement that 15-player lobbies will be coming to the game on June 15, further adding to the chaos. The game itself will be heading to Xbox Series X&S and Xbox One later in 2021.
Eiyuden Chronicles: Hundred Heroes
Being developed by a number of former Suikoden developers, Eiyuden Chronicles: Hundred Heroes is an upcoming JRPG that will feature a six-character battle system and some impressive looking 3D backgrounds. Hundred Heroes is releasing on Xbox Series X&S, Xbox One and PC in 2023. Game Pass day one confirmed.
The Ascent
We got another brief trailer for the excellent looking cyberpunk action shooter The Ascent. As previously announced, The Ascent is heading to Xbox Series X&S, Xbox One and PC on August 19 and will be launching on Game Pass on the same day.
Age of Empires IV
We got a short gameplay trailer for Age of Empires IV, the newest entry into the long-running strategy series. Alongside this trailer, we got the announcement that it will be releasing on PC on October 28 and will be available on Game Pass on day one.
The Outer Worlds 2
A short, sharp and tongue-in-cheek announcement trailer unveiled The Outer Worlds 2. There’s little to be found in terms of rock-solid info, but the off-beat humour seen in the first game looks to be continuing.
Microsoft Flight Simulator
After revealing A Plague Tale: Requiem earlier in proceedings, Asobo Studio along with Xbox Game Studios announced the console release date for Microsoft Flight Simulator, with critically-acclaimed game landing on Xbox Series X&S and on Xbox Game Pass on July 27.
Forza Horizon 5
Forza Horizon 5 was announced with a short trailer that was then followed by a gameplay demo. Set in Mexico, the gameplay demo showed off some very impressive visuals and a lot of sexy cars. Forza Horizon 5 is releasing on Xbox Series X&S, Xbox One and PC on November 9 and will be available on Game Pass on day one.
Redfall
Closing out the show was the announcement trailer for Redfall, an open-world first-person shooter developed by Dishonored developers Arkane Studio. Pitting you and your friends up against a vampire horde, Redfall looks like a classic Arkane experience in all the best ways. Redfall will be releasing in 2022 on Xbox Series X&S and PC and will be coming to Game Pass on day one.
