Xbox + Bethesda showcase promises big new games...for 2023
Microsoft's Xbox + Bethesda showcase aired today, giving more airtime to a slew of platform-exclusive titles that will be debuting in the next twelve months. While high-profile Bethesda games like Redfall and Starfield got extensive gameplay previews, Xbox was forced to sheepishly confirm that it doesn't have any high-profile first-party exclusive titles set for the 2022 holiday season.
That's not necessarily a bad thing for Xbox. Microsoft spent the show hammering home how many games it was showing off from third-party partners would be available day one on Xbox Game Pass. Combined with an expanded rollout of Xbox Cloud Gaming, the company still has a strong marketing message to help sell Xbox devices at the end of the year, and hopefully pick up more revenue-driving subscribers.
Like Geoff Keighley, Phil Spencer appeared to do some pre-show moderation about expectations, saying that today's showcase would be more "gameplay-focused." This is apparently because the company is responding to fan requests for footage of games in action.
There were still some neat first-party surprises to be had. The Forza Motorsport series is getting its first new entry since 2017 from Turn 10 Studios, and Obsidian Entertainment debuted Pentiment, a stylized 2D role-playing game that resembles images from illuminated manuscripts and woodcut prints.
Mojang also revealed its next Minecraft game: Minecraft Legends, an "action strategy" game that lets players unite various Minecraft creatures in a battle to save the Minecraft Overworld.
One interesting Game Pass reveal was the library of Riot Games. League of Legends, League of Legends: Wild Rift, Legends of Runeterra, Teamfight Tactics, and Valorant are all coming to Xbox Game Pass, with free
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