- Xbox has a lot riding on its latest showcase.
- After a troubled six months in 2024, the gaming giant finally has the chance to clear the air.
- The company must show great games and clarify its future direction at this event.
Xbox has been the talk of the town ever since last year, primarily due to various controversies. Overall, Xbox has undergone a complete transformation since the beginning of 2024.
Between new mergers, layoffs, and a third-party push that came out of left field, Microsoft is going through the most important transitioning phase in its gaming history, but the fanbase is not happy.
The situation may seem bleak, but Phil Spencer seems ready to save the day on June 9. With a promise for the biggest showcase of 2024, the Xbox brand is seemingly ready to make a confident leap forward.
However, because of Microsoft’s current situation, this showcase will determine the company’s fate, for better or worse. You could even consider it a pivotal moment, a win-or-lose situation for Xbox.
Why it matters: Recent industry events have created the perfect storm for Xbox. If the gaming giant can capitalize on this opportunity, a bright future awaits everyone at Microsoft’s gaming division.
The Background
Let’s set the record straight. Xbox has kept its fanbase fed with high-quality first-party games so far, and Game Pass has been going strong this year.
As a consumer, I don’t find much wrong with the brand. Game Pass has given me titles like Lords of The Fallen and Persona 3 Reload in 2024, Ninja Theory just launched Hellblade 2, and the future of first-party titles seems more promising than ever.
However, look deeper, and the cracks don’t take long to show. Microsoft just laid off nearly 2,000 Xbox developers earlier this year. Last month, renowned studios Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin were shut down, and Xbox seems to be headed toward a complete identity crisis.
As someone invested in the brand on more than the surface level, it’s easy to tell Xbox has not had the best time in the last six months.
Xbox’s Time To Shine?
2024 could be Xbox’s year, but I’d like to emphasize the word “could.” PlayStation isn’t releasing any major IPs this year, which leaves 2024 empty in terms of bigger titles from a rival company.
Even Nintendo’s next console is delayed until 2025. As if the stars were lining up for Microsoft, Geoff Keighley has also asked fans to lower expectations for Summer Game Fest.
The ball is now in Xbox’s court. While there is reason to temper expectations for Summer Games Fest, no such indication exists for the Xbox’s event. On the contrary, leaks have only given fans reason to be more excited.
Major Bethesda and Activision IPs are set to be revealed this year. For the first time since 2014, Call of Duty will be present at Xbox’s event for Black Ops 6, marking this IP’s first new release since the merger.
On the Bethesda side, a new Doom game is expected to be revealed this year. Additionally, updates on Starfield and more content for Indiana Jones: The Great Circle might be announced.
Even flagship IPs like Gears 6 should be showing up, and Stalker 2 is expected to receive new footage. As recent leaks put it, this event will take up a whopping 2.5 hours of our time.
Microsoft seems all but guaranteed to offer a gaming extravaganza with a plethora of first-party and third-party content to satisfy everyone’s cravings.
Xbox Must Come Clean
Despite a promising showcase coming soon, there has been a lot of turmoil within the Xbox brand.
Microsoft’s third-party approach has created chaos, leading to wild rumors. One week, you’ll see an insider claiming Starfield is coming to the PS5. Someone else will say the same on a different day for Hellblade 2.
What has Microsoft done about this? Basically nothing. According to the latest leak, even the Master Chief is not safe from such rumblings. There’s also uncertainty about Xbox’s plans for the next generation. Honestly, I think fans deserve more transparency.
Phil Spencer will probably return with his typical corporate talk on June 9. However, I want him to set the record straight for once.
I know his job is harder than ever today, but in my opinion, the Head of Xbox Gaming needs to clear the air. Sure, more games are always great, but I want to see the same fighting spirit that this brand once had.
No more of the defeatist attitude that we’ve seen in past interviews. Xbox needs to show the world that it’s here to thrive instead of survive in the face of impossible odds. There’s no better opportunity to make such a bold statement than this showcase.
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