Microsoft is gearing up to captivate the gaming world with its highly anticipated Xbox Games Showcase, scheduled for June 9, 2024, at 10 AM PT (1 PM ET / 6 PM BST). As announced on the official Microsoft website, this year’s event promises to be a global affair, offering subtitles in over 30 languages, alongside American Sign Language and English Audio Descriptions, ensuring accessibility for a diverse audience.
The showcase will serve as a grand stage for updates from Microsoft’s expansive portfolio of studios, including heavyweights like Activision, Blizzard, Bethesda, and Xbox Game Studios, as well as a host of third-party partners. For gaming enthusiasts, this event is poised to be a treasure trove of reveals, trailers, and updates, spotlighting the future of Xbox in a post-Activision Blizzard acquisition era.
One of the most exciting aspects of the showcase is its immediate follow-up: a dedicated broadcast focusing on a mysterious, yet-to-be-revealed game from a “beloved franchise.” Last year’s event set the precedent with a deep dive into Starfield, Bethesda’s ambitious space RPG, which later launched to significant fanfare in September 2023. This year, Microsoft has teased a similar spotlight, and the online community has been abuzz with speculation. A teaser image shared on X by Gematsu (https://twitter.com/gematsu/status/1785310721451921625) offers a tantalizing clue: the Activision logo, subtly hidden within the design, alongside a redacted title and a font style that eagle-eyed fans have identified as the “Hitmarker” typeface—a signature of the Call of Duty series. Further fueling the speculation, the teaser’s [REDACTED] motif aligns with the Black Ops subseries’ aesthetic, leading many to believe that the mystery game is a new Call of Duty title.
Insider sources have since corroborated these theories, with reports from The Verge’s Tom Warren and Call of Duty leakers pointing to Call of Duty: Black Ops Gulf War as the likely reveal. Set during the Persian Gulf War of 1990-1991, this installment is rumored to explore a gritty, historical take on the conflict, blending the Black Ops series’ signature conspiracy-driven narrative with intense military action. Expected to launch in the fall of 2024, the game marks a significant moment for Activision under Microsoft’s ownership, especially following the franchise’s integration into Xbox Game Pass, where titles like Modern Warfare III have already seen record engagement. The Gulf War setting, with its themes of oil politics and global tension, has sparked intrigue, with some fans on X noting the symbolism of a dollar bill in the teaser’s background—a nod to the conflict’s economic stakes.
Beyond the Call of Duty reveal, the Xbox Games Showcase is expected to deliver a slew of other exciting updates. Among the most anticipated is State of Decay 3, the next chapter in Undead Labs’ zombie survival series. First teased in 2020, the game has been in development with support from The Coalition, leveraging Unreal Engine 5 to create a more immersive open-world experience. Rumors suggest a focus on new crafting systems, dynamic weather, and expanded co-op gameplay, building on the 12 million players who’ve engaged with State of Decay 2. Another heavy hitter on the horizon is a new installment in the Gears of War series, potentially Gears 6, which The Coalition has been quietly developing since wrapping up Gears 5 in 2019. Fans are eager for a return to the gritty, Locust-filled battlegrounds, with whispers of enhanced visuals and new multiplayer modes making the rounds.
The showcase also comes on the heels of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II’s release on May 21, 2024, from Ninja Theory. As a flagship Xbox exclusive, Hellblade II has been praised for its haunting narrative and photorealistic visuals, setting a high bar for the showcase’s other reveals. Microsoft is likely to use the event to highlight Hellblade II’s early success, alongside updates on other first-party titles like Fable from Playground Games and Avowed from Obsidian Entertainment, both of which are expected to launch in 2025. Third-party partners, such as SEGA or Capcom, may also bring surprises, with potential reveals like a new Persona port or Resident Evil update for Xbox platforms.
The inclusion of Activision and Blizzard in the showcase marks a significant milestone—this is Microsoft’s first major event since the acquisition, offering a glimpse into how these studios will integrate with Xbox’s broader ecosystem. Blizzard fans are hoping for updates on Diablo IV’s expansions or World of Warcraft’s next chapter, while Activision’s presence ensures a spotlight on Call of Duty’s future. Bethesda, meanwhile, is expected to provide updates on The Elder Scrolls VI, though its release remains years away, and possibly tease new content for Fallout 76, which has seen a resurgence thanks to Amazon’s Fallout TV series.
