Xbox & Bethesda Showcase 2022 Review & Starfield Impressions

The Xbox & Bethesda Showcase 2022 was a highly anticipated event, particularly with the much-awaited gameplay reveal for Bethesda Game Studios' Starfield. This article will provide an overview of the showcased games and my thoughts on some of the major trailers and presentations.

Redfall from Arkane Austin

Redfall appears to be a hero shooter akin to Left 4 Dead but with vampires. The suite of weapons and abilities, along with their synergy, seems promising for a fun co-op experience. The humor, however, felt somewhat dissonant, with an attempt at a more horror-centric tone early on that did not transition as smoothly into the more playful elements.

Silk Song from Team Cherry

The sequel to Hollow Knight looks fantastic though no release date was announced.

High on Life from Squanch Games

This first-person shooter features Rick and Morty-style humor and talking weapons. The colorful and out-there design might appeal to fans of this specific style.

Riot Games on Xbox Game Pass

Riot Games are bringing several titles to Xbox Game Pass with all champions and agents unlocked, removing daily restrictions and providing a fully unlocked experience.

Plague Tale: Requiem from Asobo Studio

The sequel boasts impressive graphics and atmosphere, promising intense combat and stealth scenarios.

Forza Motorsport

This flagship racing game looks incredibly detailed and visually stunning. The in-engine presentation highlighted its refined design.

Flight Simulator - Halo update

The unexpected yet interesting addition of the pilotable pelican from Halo to Flight Simulator.

Overwatch 2 from Blizzard

The free-to-play release is set for October 4th, focusing on PvP and introducing a new hero. Still, more details about the PvE aspect are eagerly awaited.

Our History Untold from Oxide Games

A new historical turn-based grand strategy game with only a CG trailer shown.

Expansions for Elder Scrolls Online & Fallout 76

Pete Hines announced updates and expansions for these titles, which may not captivate those not already dedicated to these games.

Forza Horizon 5 - Hot Wheels update

An exciting Hot Wheels update featuring cool car models and tracks.

ARK 2

A cinematic trailer announced ARK 2, targeting a 2023 release.

Scorn from Ebb Software

Showcased its grim and grotesque atmosphere, coming on October 21, 2022.

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn from A44 Games

An open-world adventure with a unique combat style involving swords, guns, and magic, set to be a noteworthy title.

Minecraft Legends

A new action-strategy game resembling Pikmin.

Lightyear Frontier

A sci-fi farming simulator based in a mech with co-op elements, presenting an interesting twist on the genre.

Gunfire Reborn from Duoyi Games

A four-player co-op FPS roguelite with Pokemon-esque creatures.

The Last Case of Benedict Fox

A Lovecraftian Metroidvania game that visually stood out, scheduled for Spring 2023.

As Dusk Falls from Interior Night

A visual novel with a unique painted-over photo style, focusing on narrative depth.

Naraka: Bladepoint from 24 Entertainment

A melee action battle royale game coming to Xbox on June 23.

Obsidian Entertainment

Revealed two projects - Pentiment, a narrative adventure game, and the full release of Grounded in September 2022.

Erebos: Shadow Legacy from Baby Robot Games

An old-school Assassin’s Creed-inspired game with shadow magic and cyber elements.

Diablo 4 from Blizzard

Introduced the Necromancer class and showcased a return to grittier visuals, but concerns remain regarding its monetization.

Sea of Thieves Season 7

Announced new features with a fun shanty.

Ravenlok from Cococucumber

An action-adventure game inspired by Zelda and a dark twist on Alice in Wonderland, showcasing a unique visual style.

Cocoon from Geometric Interactive

A puzzle game with a trippy world-within-worlds concept.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty from Team Ninja

Resembling Nioh but with Chinese mythology, targeting early 2023 for release.

Persona Series on Xbox

Persona 3, 4, and 5 Royal will finally be available on Xbox, with Persona 5 Royal coming on October 21, 2022.

Hideo Kojima Project

Kojima announced a partnership with Xbox for a game utilizing cloud technology, with no further details.

Xbox Game Pass Future

Phil Spencer outlined the next 12 months for Game Pass, promising significant content.

Starfield from Bethesda Game Studios

The ambitious space RPG showed its first gameplay, which received a mixed but mostly positive reception. Some concerns were raised about the aging creation engine, the combat, and potential performance issues. The base building and ship customization features, space exploration, and overall scale were praised. The game's success will hinge on its world-building and quest design.

Overall Impressions

The showcase didn’t deliver a home run but showcased enough promising titles to get excited about the next 12 months. Some may be disappointed by the absence of certain anticipated games, but the focus on near-future releases is appreciated.

Keywords

Xbox
Bethesda
Showcase 2022
Starfield
Redfall
Silk Song
High on Life
Riot Games
Plague Tale: Requiem
Forza Motorsport
Flight Simulator
Overwatch 2
Our History Untold
Elder Scrolls Online
Fallout 76
Forza Horizon 5
ARK 2
Scorn
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn
Minecraft Legends
Lightyear Frontier
Gunfire Reborn
The Last Case of Benedict Fox
As Dusk Falls
Naraka: Bladepoint
Pentiment
Grounded
Erebos: Shadow Legacy
Diablo 4
Sea of Thieves
Ravenlok
Cocoon
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
Persona Series
Hideo Kojima
Game Pass
Phil Spencer

FAQs

Q: What type of game is Redfall? A: Redfall is a hero shooter similar to Left 4 Dead but with vampires, featuring a suite of weapons and abilities designed for co-op play.

Q: When will Overwatch 2 be released? A: Overwatch 2 is scheduled to release on October 4th as a free-to-play game.

Q: What are some key features of Starfield? A: Starfield will feature character progression, extensive base building, and ship customization, as well as space exploration and combat.

Q: Which Persona games will be available on Xbox? A: Persona 3, 4, and 5 Royal will be coming to Xbox, starting with Persona 5 Royal on October 21, 2022.

Q: What did Hideo Kojima announce during the showcase? A: Hideo Kojima announced a partnership with Xbox for a new game that will leverage cloud technology.

Q: When is the Flameback: The Siege of Dawn scheduled to release? A: The game was revealed without a specific release date but looks promising with its unique blend of swords, guns, magic, and a mystical companion.

Q: What does the Xbox Game Pass future look like? A: Xbox Game Pass is set to feature a significant amount of content over the next 12 months, complementing Xbox's strategy for delivering value.

Q: How was the overall reception of Starfield? A: The reception of Starfield was mixed but leaned towards positive, with impressive ambition but concerns about the aging creation engine and potential performance issues.