Microsoft has officially announced the return of its annual Xbox Games Showcase, scheduled to stream live on June 8, 2025, with a special focus this year on The Outer Worlds 2. The highly anticipated presentation will highlight upcoming titles from Microsoft’s growing portfolio of first-party studios, alongside select projects from third-party developers.
Following the main showcase, viewers will be treated to a dedicated The Outer Worlds 2 Direct, offering an in-depth look at the sequel to Obsidian Entertainment’s acclaimed 2019 RPG.
📅 Xbox Games Showcase – Date and Time
The Xbox Games Showcase will be livestreamed across Xbox’s YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook channels at the following times:
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10:00 AM PT
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1:00 PM ET
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6:00 PM UK
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10:30 PM IST
Immediately afterward, the Outer Worlds 2 Direct will go live, offering fans a deeper dive into Obsidian’s upcoming sci-fi RPG.
🎮 What to Expect
While Microsoft has yet to reveal the full lineup, a number of highly anticipated games are expected to appear during the presentation, including:
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Gears of War: E-Day – The next entry in the long-running franchise, initially teased in 2024.
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Perfect Dark (Reboot) – A modern reimagining of the classic Rare title, currently in development by The Initiative.
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Fable – Playground Games’ ambitious RPG, which was delayed last month from its original 2025 release window to 2026.
In keeping with the format of previous years, the showcase will remain digital-only, continuing the structure established with 2023’s Starfield Direct and 2024’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Direct. Each of those events followed the main broadcast with focused deep dives into specific titles—a model Microsoft seems to be embracing as a new standard.
🪐 The Outer Worlds 2 Direct – What We Know So Far
The upcoming Outer Worlds 2 Direct promises new gameplay footage, developer interviews, and detailed breakdowns of the game’s systems, story, and design philosophy. First announced during the Xbox and Bethesda E3 2021 showcase, the sequel has remained largely under wraps until its first gameplay trailer debuted at The Game Awards 2024.
That trailer teased:
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Expanded combat mechanics
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New alien worlds to explore
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Upgraded visuals and engine tech
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More weapons and customization options
Obsidian has stated the sequel will retain the series’ hallmark satire and branching narrative choices, while also pushing technical boundaries beyond its predecessor.
🔍 Industry Landscape – A Quiet Summer for Sony?
With Xbox moving forward with its showcase plans, attention is also on its competitors—most notably Sony, which has yet to confirm a summer PlayStation Showcase for 2025. According to industry reports, the PlayStation parent is still weighing its options, with no event confirmed since 2023’s showcase.
This puts Xbox’s June event in a prime position, alongside Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest, which kicks off two days earlier on June 6.
📈 Xbox’s Expanding First-Party Lineup
Since Microsoft’s acquisition of studios such as Obsidian Entertainment, Ninja Theory, Playground Games, and Bethesda, the Xbox brand has significantly expanded its stable of exclusive content. The 2025 showcase is expected to highlight this breadth with updates and possible new reveals from:
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MachineGames (potentially a Wolfenstein or Indiana Jones project)
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Rare (possible updates on Everwild)
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Compulsion Games, inXile, and others
Though unconfirmed, rumors suggest a few surprise announcements may also be on the table, including potential Game Pass additions and partnerships.
🎥 Where to Watch
Fans can tune in on June 8 via the official Xbox channels:
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Xbox’s official Facebook Gaming page
Both the main showcase and The Outer Worlds 2 Direct will be available on-demand after the live presentation.