Xbox Games Showcase 2026: What to Expect

Yes! It is called Gears of War: E-Day, and it is definitely a reason to stay tuned after the main showcase. Developed by The Coalition and People Can Fly, it takes place 14 years before the original game and serves as an origin story for Marcus Fenix. Here is hoping that the peak level design of the first game (the best in the series, in my opinion) also returns. I’m a big fan of People Can Fly -known for great games such as Painkiller, Bulletstorm, and Outriders - so I’m thrilled that they’re involved in this one.

There are a lot of big games coming out around June 7, so we can likely expect a nice round-up of recent and near-future Xbox releases. Games that launch just before the showcase will probably make the sizzle reel, like 007 First Light, Bubsy 4D, LEGO Batman: The Legacy of the Dark Knight, and Forza Horizon 6. This will likely be followed by some fresh footage of upcoming games like The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales, Dead or Alive 6 Last Round, Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, and Beast of Reincarnation (coming to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass august 4).

There will probably also be some non-Microsoft published games that get substantial screen time, like the recently announced Metro 2039 or Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis. A major showcase like this is the perfect moment for third-party publishers to get eyes on their upcoming titles, and we’re hoping they’re confident enough to show off actual gameplay.

Of course, previously announced Microsoft-published games will be part of the show, although it’s always a guessing game as to which ones are ready to be shown. We can safely assume we'll see updates on Halo: Campaign Evolved, the Fable reboot and Clockwork Revolution. A concrete release date or window is definitely in the cards, and it might actually be more telling if Microsoft doesn't share that information about Fable (as that would likely imply a delay, or worse). Bethesda might also be ready to announce new content regarding Elder Scrolls Online or Starfield, both of which they are still supporting with great updates.

Although not officially announced, we’re also expecting to see the reveal of the next Call of Duty game, which is most likely Modern Warfare 4. Usually, new installments in the Call of Duty franchise get announced before June, but rumor has it that Microsoft is saving the big reveal for their own stage this time. Note that it will not be coming to Game Pass on day one; we will have to wait a year - a caveat that was announced when Microsoft dropped the price of Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.

The showcase would also be a great moment for Hideo Kojima to take the stage. He previously announced he is partnering with Xbox Game Studios to bring us the horror game OD. Although we don’t know much more than that, Kojima has already shown an official trailer featuring in-engine visuals. The legendary game designer loves being the star of these types of events, so expect him to make an appearance.

More from Project Helix (the new console), or at least a glimpse of what hardware lies ahead. Although this is a “Games” Showcase, Microsoft previously announced their current-gen consoles during their E3 2019 press conference. Codenamed Project Scarlett, that was the first time we got official confirmation about the future of Xbox hardware, and a ‘one more thing’ could very well be planned this year. Especially now that the new Xbox boss, Asha Sharma, has taken over, she might just use this high-profile moment to make a major statement.

We are also hoping to hear something about Wolfenstein 3, or the next project from MachineGames. After their fantastic work on Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, they should be ready to finish the Wolfenstein trilogy, and we’re expecting nothing less than a spectacular finale. Then again, they might be doing something completely different, or might just stick with supporting Indiana Jones for a while. Regardless, we’re very eager to see what our favorite Swedish developer has in store for us, even if this showcase might come just a little too soon.

We’re also holding out hope for a glimpse of the next installment in The Elder Scrolls series, but Bethesda will probably be very careful with their approach. They officially announced The Elder Scrolls VI back in 2018(!), which was way too early. Since then, Skyrim has been published on every platform imaginable (I'm still waiting to run it on my smart fridge), but there is still no real sign of life from TES VI.

I’m not saying they aren’t working on it, but they will likely only let us peek behind the curtain when they are absolutely sure it won’t trigger a storm of nasty memes. It also depends on their roadmap for Starfield, as they have to divide their resources now that they are managing so many massive franchises with separate development teams.

There is also the exciting possibility that Bethesda is working on a remaster of Morrowind - arguably the most beloved installment in the series according to hardcore fans (including myself). Bethesda clearly has a lot of plates spinning at the moment, and only so much time.

A brand-new Halo, releasing exclusively for the next-generation Xbox console next year. It would be legendary to see Master Chief make a triumphant return, and the 25th anniversary celebration of the Xbox brand this year would be the perfect moment to come full circle. While they could focus their energy on remakes following their work on Halo: Campaign Evolved (coming somewhere in 2026), wouldn’t it be incredible to close out the showcase with that iconic choral music as Master Chief steps into view? Just drop a single line of text reading: ‘Coming only to Xbox Next-Gen’, followed by ‘2027’, and every single jaw in the audience would hit the floor.