Keep An Eye On: Highlights From Xbox Games Showcase
Following other major showcases this weekend, Xbox is eager to show off the games, both first- and third-party, they will be bringing out in the next 12+ months.
Like those before it, the Xbox Games Showcase was full of interesting titles
Once more Xbox returns to take the early morning slot on the Sunday, bringing with them a whole host of new and returning upcoming titles for our viewing pleasure. Microsoft have been on their game the last few summers, announcing a slew of amazing games coming to Xbox, both Xbox and PC Game Pass, and even some to Sony’s PlayStation and Nintendo’s Switch consoles. It’s no doubt the teams at Xbox Game Studios and their partners have been hard at work, and while some games are still MIA (just where is Everwild, anyways?), we have still had more than enough new releases to shake a stick at. So here are some highlights I think are worth spotlighting from Xbox’s Game Showcase this past weekend.
The Blood of Dawnwalker
The debut title from Rebel Wolves, a new studio staffed with multiple veterans from CD Projekt Red, The Blood of Dawnwalker is a brand new single-player RPG, set in a dark and twisted version of medieval Southern Europe. Players take on the role of Coen, a young man forced into the lifestyle of the Dawnwalker, trapped between humanity and immortality after being cursed while trying to save his family. In this new trailer, we get to see some gameplay for The Blood of Dawnwalker, with some fast-paced swordplay, mystical vampire powers, all manner of creepy critters you wouldn’t want to see under your bed, and buckets of blood to round it all out. We don’t have a specific launch date yet, but The Blood of Danwalker will release on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PS5 in 2026.
Ninja Gaiden 4
Announced back in February of this year as a revitalization of a much-loved IP from a legendary Japanese studio, Ninja Gaiden 4 is a passion project from Ninja Theory with the intent to bring a brand-new entry to modern systems for fans old and new alike. As part of a long-running partnership with PlatinumGames, Ninja Gaiden 4 displays signature PlatinumGames DNA spliced with familiar combat fans of the Ninja Gaiden series have come to enjoy. This new trailer for Ninja Gaiden 4 shows off lengthy, stylish combos, frenetic close-quarters combat, and plenty of flying limbs. Both protagonists also get a look-in, with resident ninja Ryu Hayabusa taking a bit of a backseat for newcomer Yakumo. It won’t be long before we get to see how their intertwined stories unfold, as Ninja Gaiden 4 launches on October 21st for Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PS5.
Beast of Reincarnation
I’ll be real with you, reader, this next trailer caught me off-guard. A Game Freak game that’s not locked to just Nintendo’s consoles (Yeah, okay, I know Little Town Hero exists) was only one thing that shocked me. The other is that Game Freak evidently has enough talent to make beautiful-looking games, which makes the progress(?) of the Pokémon series all the more questionable. What didn’t shock me was the frame rates. At first, I thought it was just the stream, but watching back the above trailer shows some janky frames. But I’m leaning towards optimism. Beast of Reincarnation shows combat and cutscenes of a game where the main character, Emma, and her dog must take on multiple large foes, similar to Shadow of the Colossus or Eternal Strands, with the main goal being a giant, plague-ridden beast that brings death wherever it goes. No set date for this, but Beast of Reincarnation is targeting a 2026 window, and will launch on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PS5.
Clockwork Revolution
Next up, we got another in-depth look at Clockwork Revolution, the game that stood out most for me, personally. And it was a juicy trailer, over 5 full minutes of cutscenes and gameplay. Such a deep dive leads me to believe developers inXile are pretty far along in development, meaning a release date should be right around the corner. However, we got a cryptic “in due time” announcement for its release. Okay… Anyway, the gameplay shown off feels like a healthy blend of Bioshock Infinite, with some inspirations from Fallout, and maybe just a little dash of Dishonored. But most noticeably is how player choice will be a focus, as we get to see how much the world around us changes as we progress, and it seems there will be a good amount of replayability as we choose to shape the future, but just as importantly, the past. As alluded to earlier, there’s no set date or year for Clockwork Revolution, but it seems pretty far along, so hopefully it launches soon. It will be coming to Xbox Series X|S and PC when it does.
Aphelion
Combining nerve-wracking mountaineering and exploration on a frozen planet with many a near-death experience to the backdrop of a gripping music track, Don’t Nod’s newest title, Aphelion reminds me of their previous work on Jusant, but on a grander scale. The gameplay shown in the trailer features a lot of falling down and one life-threatening scenario after another, but it’s clear that to survive this hostile environment and regroup with the player character’s partner, Thomas, we must push through everything in a bid to get home safely. However it seems the planet isn’t as devoid of life as initially believed as we get a hint of something that sounds nasty at the end of the trailer. We have a broad 2026 release window for Aphelion, but we do know it’s coming to Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PS5 when it launches.
MUDANG: Two Hearts
The title MUDANG: Two Hearts sounds like a cosy, turn-based JRPG. Cosy, turn-based JRPG this isn’t. What it does appear to be is a fast-paced, third-person shooter with sci-fi technology, similar to Ghost Recon. With certain stealth action titles currently MIA, it’s time for new IPs to step up to the plate. And that’s exactly what MUDANG: Two Hearts is doing. The trailer shows a mix of cutscenes and a lot of sneaking, with multiple playable characters stuck in various different scenarios across diverse locales, all with the goal of ensuring they don’t get caught. And for those that do, we get some chaotic melee combat. The trailer also alludes to some sort of infection that causes people to attack players, reminiscent of rage infected or zombies. There’s a lot on show, and the graphics on display are nothing short of stellar. Another 2026 release date for this one, coming to Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PS5.
Aniimo
Bloody violence can only get you so far, and sometimes you just need some adorable creatures to pass them time with. But that doesn’t mean Aniimo is completely violence-free. What kind of monster-catching game wouldn’t feature a little violence? This shiny trailer shows off a beautiful art style, and unique takes on familiar animals. Players get to explore a vast, open world in this brand new, free-to-play ARPG. But it’s not just the protagonist we control in Aniimo, as we get a look at controlling a bunch of the various monsters we encounter as we explore, discover loot, and battle other critters. Like Palworld before it, we get a glimpse of what the Pokémon series could be if more time and effort was put into it, something that seems far worse when we can see what Game Freak themselves can do. Aniimo has a 2026 window, where it will launch on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and mobile.
ROG Xbox Ally/ROG Xbox Ally X
Rounding out this list is the only hardware announced at the showcase, the ROG Xbox Ally and the ROG Xbox Ally X. Sticking with the naming system, these two handhelds are premium hardware with the goal of bringing Xbox gaming to your hands, just about anywhere. The Ally X features an AMD Ryzen 72 Extreme chip alongside 24GB of memory and 1TB of storage. The lesser of the two, and most likely the cheaper, instead features an AMD Ryzen Z2A, 16GB of memory, and 512GB of storage. No set release date or price for these two handhelds, but rumours are indicating a holiday 2025 release. Only time will tell.
And there we have it, fols. What I think are upcoming releases worth keeping an eye on from the Xbox Games Showcase. Some notable titles remain MIA, such as Fable and State of Decay 3, but Xbox head honcho Phil Spencer has promised a big year for Xbox in 2026, mentioning returning franchises and hinting at the return of a franchise “that has been with us from the beginning.” We’ll see more in due time.
I created this website as I feel the state of the games industry and games reporting as a whole has gotten overly negative and full of clickbait. While I understand both of these are a great way to generate engagement, it’s a detriment to those gamers (like myself) that are just trying to enjoy games and not have to worry about the negativity of the current state of the gaming industry. I want a space where gamers can come for unbiased news that doesn’t rely on clickbait or rumours with a dash of humour and have the opportunity to share their passion for games.
