Watch today's Xbox and Starfield showcase right here with us
As Microsoft Phils us in.
With the PlayStation Showcase and Summer Game Fest Opening Showcase out of the way, attention now turns to Microsoft and Bethesda's dual-purpose Xbox Showcase and Starfield Direct later today.
This, remember, is a show broken into two halves and it all begins at 6pm UK time (BST) or 7pm CEST / 1pm EDT / 10am PDT. I'll replace the image above with a live stream embed when they're available. It's showing on Twitch and YouTube, if you're wondering.
I'll be keeping tabs of everything that happens right here in a live report, while also chatting with you and pulling in your keen observations and witty remarks. We'll play guess the game! It's going to be so much fun you won't even believe it.
So, what to expect? Well Starfield, obviously, and there's a lot riding on this showing. Remember, Starfield is due out 6th September, which is less than three months away. And yet, we still haven't seen much of it in action. We haven't played it, either, and I don't think it's playable out in LA this week. Should we be worried? Sunday's showing should provide an answer one way or another.
As for the Xbox half of the show, Microsoft could do with generating some excitement. Cyberpunk 2077 expansion Phantom Liberty was conspicuous in its absence at the Summer Game Fest opening show, which I expect means it will be on Microsoft's stage on Sunday. CD Projekt Red and Microsoft have a history of working together on big announcements - remember Keanu Reeves' "breathtaking" appearance? That was on Microsoft's stage. Maybe Idris Elba, who stars in Phantom Liberty, will be there on Sunday. Maybe Keanu will be there, too!
What else? Fable 4, potentially. Microsoft dropped an Xbox Showcase tease recently, showing a trail of glitter leading from an Xbox controller to a screen, with jaunty music playing in the background - the whole atmosphere being very reminiscent of Fable. It's not ironclad confirmation we'll see Fable 4, but we can't think what else it could be.
The Forza Motorsport reboot will certainly feature, too, and this time we hope with a release date. Apparently, it's still a 2023 game.
We wonder, too, what Rare is up to. Our Sea of Thieves correspondent (doesn't that sound flashy?) Matt Wales tells me Rare pulled everyone off developing their monthly adventures at the start of 2023, so something appears to be brewing there. Could it be another brand crossover event, or might we finally see something more of Rare's other game, Everwild?
Elsewhere, look out for a Persona 3 remake subtitled Reloaded, and another game called Persona 5 Tactica, both of which leaked ahead of what is implied to be an Xbox Showcase airing.
It could be an exciting show.
Our live coverage of this event has finished.
Good afternoon! I'm currently swanning around in Dublin but I'll be with you half-an-hour before the show so we can build up to kick-off.
What are you hoping to see this evening?
Made it to Dublin safe and sound! About to go taste my first proper Irish Guinness. What can go wrong?
Rumours swirling that Obsidian's Avowed - the first-person RPG we saw years ago now - will be there this evening. Excited to see more of that!
StartlinglyOkay says: Is the glowing "Live" icon a new thing on the EG site or just the first time I caught it?
First time you caught it! It's been there for a little while now.
Hello! I'm here! We're nearly ready to go.
So I'm actually coming to you live from Larian Dublin - I've got permission to tell you that.
I've also - let it be known - been at a drag show this afternoon, unexpectedly, and I've been doing karaoke. Total Eclipse of the Heart and Wannabe Be, if you're asking.
So yes! I am by the river in Dublin, in Larian's temporary office, in their meeting room, watching the Xbox stream. They're all congretating from the PC Gaming Show later, not that that infers anything of course.
Weebleman says: Mr Purchase! I cannot express my envy at you being in Dublin. Hope you enjoy the Guinness and take in some of the live music. Its a wonderful place. Get yourself in temple bar and we can watch you live, while you report live, on their webcam ?
I am in the Temple Bar district right now! Not actually in the Temple Bar though.
How are you all doing?! Are you excited?
WistfullyAnalogue says: Looking forward to potentially hearing about: Indiana Jones, Hellblade 2, Avowed (and Outer Worlds 2), Fable, Forza, Perfect Dark. I'm hoping Redfall was an anomaly they were lumbered with. There's a lot of potential talent and opportunity, I just hope we're past the worst of it.
Hellblade 2 is a great shout actually. I forget sometimes that Microsoft has vacuumed up a load of studios, Ninja Theory being one of them.
JC T says: My guesses: Perfect Dark, Forza Motorsport demo today, release Sep/Oct, Indiana Jones from MachineGames, Hellblade in-engine footage and release date, Outer Worlds 2, Fable+release date, State of Decay 3, Xbox Porsche Design, accessibility controllers, Discord promo. And a crazy wild guess: New Gears and a very very brief teaser of a more powerful Series X :))
Bold! I wonder!
UrineTrouble says: Should be some good stuff here. Hoping for Elder Scrolls news personally. I wonder if they'll block other platforms being announced for third party stuff again. Was it 48 hours for Persona last time?
Whew! Not sure about Elder Scrolls!
Here we go!
Oh my god it's Fable!
Richard Ayoade narrating and CGI-d for the occasion.
Totally speaks to the tone of Fable, this, but what about the actual gameplay of it all?
Snapshots of gameplay! Is he actually in it?! Is Ayoade a villain?
Hang on, are you shrunk in the game? Is it like It Takes Two?
This is Compulsion, the team behind We Happy Few.
Seems like there's a deliberate frame-rate thing with this, to give an animated feeling to it.
South of Midnight, that's called. Not sure what it actually is though.
BlueLiving says: Puss in Boots meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer?
Ha - could be!
Ubisoft Massive now and Lucasfilm - Star Wars of some kind.
chrisdeku says: BTW I'm ashamed to admit but I'm actually a big fan of The Division ?
Now everyone knows!
A rancor!
Not much, um, gameplay. Hard to work out what this actually is.
Star Wars: Outlaws.
Coming 2024. Not day-one GamePass, notably.
Weblaus says: So much for not showing trailers that don't give any impression what the game actually is supposed to be like/about?
Right?
I wonder if they owned that green dress already or if they bought it especially.
Thunder Lotus now, the developer of Spiritfarer, with a co-op action game that's "uniquely theirs", which, um, isn't every game that?
I like the vibe - I'm getting Hades vibes from it. "Pick up and raid" is a line they're using with this. Wow, okay, so dozens of people in co-op, which looks quite messy.
It reminds me of Diablo 4 raids, only with more people.
33-player co-op, in fact. 33 Immortals is the name, coming 2024.
Payday 3! Probably.
Payday 3 coming 21st September.
Oh I wonder what this could be! These Persona games already leaked. It's a Persona 3 remake and a Persona 5 tactics kinda game.
Persona 3: Reload, early 2024.
Xbox Game Studios. It's a pirate sort of vibe. Obsidian. This must be Avowed!
It's got... guns?!
OK, now it looks more like we remember. It's Skryim-ish but with some big magic.
It is Avowed, but when? 2024.
Lucasfilm and Rare? It's a new crossover. Is it Monkey Island?!
It IS Monkey Island. There's a lot of love for this right now in the Larian office. Adam Smith, formerly of Rock, Paper, Shotgun, is particularly lovling it.
Matt Wales was right - Rare has been up to something!
20th July.
Xbox Game Studios again. Asobo. It must be Flight Sim.
Is there a single-player mode?
BlueLiving says: Okay, turning Flight Sim into an actual game is interesting.
:D
This looks really good!
"They're giving it purpose." That's Adam Smith.
This looks like a Dune collab for Flight Simulator. It's not as exciting. I mean, I don't know if I want to fly around in a big dragonfly. Do you?
Hellblade 2!
They are the Senua actor, by the way.
Will we get a release date - will it be this year?
H1ppyDave says: Please give us a date for HB2. Ideally this year.
I'm crossing my fingers for you Dave!
I assume this is gameplay - well, a cinematic within the game. Loving the atmosphere of this, again.
Ok so no actual gameplay. Oh and only a vague 2024 date. That's a shame.
Yakuza studio!
Is this the first time the series has been set outside of Japan?
Oh dear, he's showing everyone his secrets. How did he not realise until now?
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. Early 2024.
Speaking of Fallout 76, you should read Emma's piece about making a fashion boutique in the wastelands there - it's very good.
Capcom! Is this Onimusha?
Path of Goddess. Our stream is a little behind I think. We'll speed it up.
CommoJaws64 says: I’m not trolling, I’m genuinely perplexed given the tweet that Xbox put out earlier throwing shade at the PS showcase. This has been little better and it pains me.
I think it's started pretty strongly. But we'll see how it goes from here.
Forza love of Forza. Lovely cars. Martin would have loved this bit. Where is Martin?!
Forza Motorsport reboot coming 10th October.
The Elder Scrolls Oline, this looks like. Keeps going, that game - does anyone play?
Save Tamriel! What, again?
It's the Necrom expansion coming 20th June.
Overwatch 2. Such a shame about the PvE cut. But maybe this a salvaged update?
Hero Mastery - that sounds like a salvaged thing. A new co-op event. Firing Range?!
Story missions. This really feels like what they couldn't make a full game out of.
Atlus. This must be the Persona tactics game - the other one that leaked.
Bennyjj81 says: CBeebies Persona.
Haha - very good!
Bethesda. This has to be Starfield right?
SirPhipps says: For this trailer, all can I think of is tim curry - SPACE
Ha!
25 years in the making? I'm not sure that's true.
It's hard to capture something as broad as I assume Starfield is in a snapshot like this - hence the Starfield Direct afterwards.
new game - a climbing game. A nice vibrant style. Reminds me of the Rime studio, Tequila Works...
Dontnod!
I like the look of this! Vertical, fantastical, climby - that's a technical term.
Jusant, it's called, and it's coming this autumn.
Secret Mode and The Chinese Room now. An oil rig at sea. A spooky, deserted oil rig.
Still Wakes the Deep, coming early 2024. They've announced this already.
Sable vibes from this one. A kind of hack-and-slash. Dungeons of Hinterberg, I think.
You're breathtaking!
Cyberpunk 2077 expansion Phanton Liberty.
Expect "plenty of stuff to do". Thanks Keanu!
Reading those prompts like a pro.
CommoJaws64 says: What’s with the distortion on his voice?
Yeah, he did sound a bit like he had cotton wool in his mouth. Strange!
Idris Elba is in this, remember. That was his voice in fact!
Half-surprised he wasn't on the stage with Keanu. Maybe Keanu wouldn't share the stage with him.
But when is it coming out? That must be what we're building to.
Phantom Liberty coming 26th September.
slowdog1976 says: cities skylines 2!!!
Love this excitement!
Cities Skylines 2 coming 24th October - that's my birthday!
Atlus again. Studio Zero. "What if the world we live in today is their utopia?"
I don't know!
From the creators of Persona - can you believe it?
Metaphor re Fantazio.
Towerborne, that, a co-op hack-and-slash adventure.
Ooh, inXile!
This looks quite BioShock-y.
Malek86 says: Inxile making a first person shooter?
It does seem that way. But it must be an RPG, right?
It's an interesting one to see as the studio's first proper Microsoft project.
Clockwork Revolution. "Coming in due time." Crikey.
Here is Frank Spencer - I mean Phil Spencer!
Spencer did just say that was an all-new Flight Simulator, so perhaps that wasn't an expansion? Maybe it's a standalone expansion.
Malek86 says: Is that an Hexen shirt??
It is! I wonder what it means.
That looks like a new Xbox Series S! With 1TB memory.
That new S model is coming 1st September. And it costs $349.
And now we're cruising into Starfield...
There's Todd! I met Todd once. He seemed nice.
Bethesda/Todd is so good a selling the concept of a game. I remember him promoting Fallout 76 - I was allllll in.
SirPhipps says: Please don't let this be a polished no man's sky
It does look quite similar, doesn't it? With Isaac Clarke's laser.
Ok, so your robot pal says your name - out loud. So, if I call myself Captain Bertie, which I obviously will, will it actually say "Captain Bertie"? I'd give it maximum marks for that.
Which is why Chris Tapsell will never let me review it.
Hang on, was that the Mass Effect 2 mining game?
So there are barren planets that you can't do anything on, basically, but you can remote mine.
It's a bit dreary in terms of sci-fi? The ship and the mining interface looks a bit spreadsheety.
This huge city though, with the pointy spire - that's cool. It's the biggest city they've ever built apparently.
fabio78 says: Brings back the "my face is tired" meme.
Ha!
Call Fallout moment there! Very Firefly kind of sci-fi.
the_sas_man says: Can you imagine what modders are going to do with this?!
Everything, I imagine!
Phew, it's got Mass Effect's galaxy map.
I worry that no one has actually played this game outside of BGS, though. It's out in three months!
I love a character creator. This looks like it's going to take me hours to get through. Still can't do hair though, can they?
DigitalTwisted says: It can be as much like Mass Effect as it like's Rob........just not Andromeda :D
Ha! Hey, leave poor Andromeda alone! Tom Phillips will come and have a word with you.
fabio78 says: Man, it looks so rough and dated.
It does, but another way of looking at that is it also looks real? Granted, though, I'm not wowed visually by what I'm seeing, but the scope presumably hopes to make up for it.
Digital Foundry will be watching those frame dips with interest, I'm sure. I can feel their glare from here.
CommoJaws64 says: Skyrim was janky but it had soul. I loved it. Fallout 3 was janky but it had soul. I loved it. Fallout 4 was janky. I… I hope Starfield is like Skyrim and Fallout 3. Bad facial animation doesn’t matter when I’m completely enthralled in a game.
Yeah, I think this is a good thing to remember.
I'm loving the sense of mystery we're seeing now in the vastness of space.
I can't help but think of - don't say it - Star Citizen while watching this. But not as impressive?
A good point overheard here - who is the baddie? What's the shape of the game? We're getting a lot of 'this will last you forever' vibe. How live servicey will it be?
The spaceship customisation looks satisfyingly drag and drop, though. I can imagine tinkering with that for a long time.
the_sas_man says: Oh I hate the dumb Lego ship builds
I liked the look of that!
The12thMonkey says: I am strongly reminded of Kingdom hearts Gummi ships, and I don't know if that's good or bad
A few people have said this!
We're seeing lots of complex parts, but I worry a bit about how all of those parts come together.
SeanyUK says: Personally I’m gonna make my mind up once I have played the game!! If history is anything to go by this game will be a massive hit. Games from this studio have always been criticised from a technical standpoint but that’s never distracted from the playability and choice given to the player as to how they want to complete the story. However I would like the option to play at 60fps?!
Wise words. But as for 60FPS, at launch? Whew - I don't know about that. I'd be surprised if it did.
Space sandwiches!
It's so hard to make a call on what this is like from this distance. It would have been nice to see a slice of what the gameplay is like before this. Like, what's an hour in Starfield like? What are two hours in Starfield like?
I'm still fascinated by it.
They've got a watch! They've made an actual watch.
I thought they were going to show Elder Scrolls 6. But it's a watch. A watch. It comes in a really lavish case. They're talking about a case. It's got a patch in it. The watch links up to your game. You get the watch in the game too.
We've seen this custom peripherals before - there's a controller and a headset. It's quite a nice a nice logo and paintjob though.
UrineTrouble says: Todd going full Alan Partridge!
Haha - very good!
Jesus Christ there's more.
We're hearing about the landscapes now.
It's a presentation to remind you how much work has gone into a game like this, like that's what you should judge it on.
It is very No Man's Sky, isn't it?
There are some really cool vistas. I love the idea of walking on planets people haven't been to, and it is stunning in the right light.
So there's some base-building - outpost building - you can do on planets you visit. A bit like No Man's Sky.
jmfcao says: It really is impressive what that small team did with no mans sky, how many hundreds of people went into making this
I love the No Man's Sky turnaround story.
That's a lot of detail on a lot of guns. That's a lot of detail on everything in general. That's a very detailed game.
Oh hang on - are those special powers too?!
jmfcao says: Space magic!
Space magic! Space magic! Space magic!
Ahem.
No Man's Skyrim. Giggle. Not my original work, that!
SBandy says: They promsied a deep dive and they delivered it.
They did, they did.
And that's Starfield, coming out in three months. The date hasn't changed. I still have some big questions! But I feel like I know a lot more about it now at least.
the_sas_man says: It came out 2 days ago!
Hah - that always confuses me!
Malek86 says: There's still the PC Gaming show coming up in one hour, right?
There is! The Larian team here - I am at their Dublin office (one of them), in an odd twist of fate - are excited for it. Not that that means there's anything Baldur's Gate 3 in it, no sirree wink wink.
That'll do us for now here, though. Have a lovely evening all!