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.
- Fable will be getting a story expansion sometime after launch.
- Sega used generative AI as part of making the new Crazy Taxi, apparently.
- A return of Xbox console exclusives.
- Another look at Call of Duty.
- Clockwork Revolution is also an Xbox console exclusive.
- Persona 6 exists, and that’s all we know
- Spyro’s back.
- A spooky new Castlevania for October.
- Fly over some national parks.
- Microsoft’s Xbox 25th anniversary console comes in translucent green
- Minecraft Dungeons 2 gets a September release date
- Crazy Taxi is going on tour.
- The DLC for Doom: The Dark Ages adds a throwable spear.
- Back to hell.
- Bad Magpie looks like Untitled Goose Game with a different bird.
- It’s not Persona 6, but…
- State of Decay 3 launches in 2027.
- Fable launches in late February after recent delay
- Halo: Campaign Evolved arrives July 28th
- Gears of War: E-Day isn’t coming to the PS5
- The Xbox Games Showcase is starting soon.
- Xbox and PlayStation have a lot to prove
