Xbox Games Showcase returns in June with first-party studios, third-party partners, and a deep dive into The Outer Worlds 2

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Microsoft is bringing back the double-feature format for its 2025 online event.

Top hat guy in nice suit addresses Camera in outer worlds 2
(Image credit: Obsidian)

The Xbox Games Showcase is returning in June with a look at new games from first-party studios and third-party partners, and a deeper dive into Obsidian's upcoming sci-fi sequel The Outer Worlds 2.

The double-feature format follows similar Xbox showcases in 2023, when Starfield took center stage, and 2024, which featured Call of Duty—although we all spent some time pretending we didn't really know what it was going to be at first.

For 2025, "The Outer Worlds 2 Direct will bring you inside the walls of Obsidian Entertainment, revealing new gameplay, details, and developer insights, straight from the people making the sequel to the award-winning, first-person sci-fi RPG."

We don't have a whole lot of details about The Outer Worlds 2 yet, although it's pretty clear it won't stray too far from the formula established by the original—just "more," according to the trailer revealed at The Game Awards 2024. And better, one would assume, although the original was pretty good. We do know that it's expected to be out in 2025, though—unless MIcrosoft drops some bad news at the show.

Beyond that it's anyone's guess, although that's half the fun of these things, but there are a lot of potentials among Microsoft's slate of homegrown games including Clockwork Revolution, Gears of War: E-Day, State of Decay 3, the Perfect Dark reboot, and Arkane's take on Blade.

Real optimists might hold out hope for a look at The Elder Scrolls 6, although I'd guess that Microsoft would be more inclined to make that one the subject of its own deep-dive Direct-style showcase, and of course there's always that Oblivion remaster everyone keeps talking about. Dare to dream, eh?

The Xbox Games Showcase will happen on June 8 at 10 am PT/1 pm ET/6 pm BST, and will be available on a range of streaming platforms including Twitch and Twitch ASL, YouTube, and Facebook.

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Andy Chalk
Andy Chalk
US News Lead

Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.

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