This is shaping up to be a huge moment for Xbox on Sunday, as the company is hosting a live summer games showcase and a special event for the next Call of Duty. After unceremoniously shutting down four game studios and laying off dozens of talented developers, Xbox has got to show us that there is a light at the end of this very dark tunnel. What better way to do that than with a confident, impressive Xbox Games Showcase?
How to watch the Xbox Games Showcase
The Xbox Games Showcase will begin at 10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET on Sunday, June 9th. You can watch it live in 4K60 via the YouTube stream embedded above, as well as on Twitch (ASL) and Facebook. Xbox says that the show will be broadcast in over 30 languages.
As soon as the Xbox Games Showcase ends, the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Direct will start. We already know that Black Ops 6 will be the first Call of Duty title to come to Game Pass, and it will be available on the subscription service at launch. Other than that, Activision has been keeping its lips sealed ahead of the game’s formal reveal this weekend.
What to expect from Xbox
First and foremost, Xbox hasn’t shared any details about what it plans to show on Sunday. That hasn’t stopped some of its biggest announcements from leaking early.
For quite some time, rumors about a new Gears of War have been floating around the internet. From 2019 to 2020, we got Gears Pop!, Gears 5, and Gears Tactics, but the franchise has been dormant since then. It’s one of the most renowned Xbox franchises of all time, and it would surely get a reaction from long-time fans if it made an appearance at the show.
We also know that Xbox is working on a new console, but it’s likely at least another 3-4 years out. What we’re more likely to see is the long-rumored Xbox handheld console. There’s not a lot of concrete evidence backing up the existence of a portable Xbox, but with the success of the Steam Deck, the Switch, and countless retro gaming handhelds in recent years, it’s hard to imagine that there wouldn’t be a market for a first-party Xbox handheld.
Finally, two other notable games that have been rumored ahead of the show are State of Decay 3 and Doom: The Dark Ages. X (formerly Twitter) leaker @eXtas1s suggested on Friday there would be eight world premieres at the event, though, so even with Gears 6, State of Decay 3, and a new Doom, there are still plenty of surprises that have yet to be spoiled.
