Player 2 Vs The XBOX Games Showcase 2026
Change is the wind over at Xbox. The earliest stages of the Asha Sharma post-Phil Spencer regime have certainly been noteworthy, with numerous policies changing, marketing campaigns scrapped, and the big topic of discussion centred on exclusivity. After the pendulum tipped heavily towards multiplatform, Sharma is allegedly reconsidering the policy, adding serious intrigue to a huge Xbox Games Showcase for 2026. Join P2 editors, Paul James, and Matt Hewson, as they go through all that was revealed, and as they *hopefully* get an answer to the biggest question in the Xbox space currently.
Gears of War E-Day
Paul: Seeing Marcus and Dom in civvy attire doesn’t compute in my mind! That said, the chaos of seeing the streets crumble as the Locust overwhelm the city is incredible to see. The action looks great, shooting through, and jumping/climbing over supermarket fridges was wild, and it’s just so good to see a new Gears game in action again. Gears 5 was so long ago, my game time has needed more of this. The sudden return to Xbox exclusivity for Gears is huge, too!
Matt: Well, wasn’t that a big old slice of Gearsy goodness! That was exactly what I wanted from this showing and has me ready to load up the Lancer once again. Loved the more agile movement, the new reload animations and the shoot out through and over the fridges. I have to admit, seeing Marcus and Dom rocking their pub clothes is a bit odd, but it works. Also, it seems the world of Gears has been invaded by Kiwis, which can only mean good things.
Fable
Paul: This was a more gritty take on the world of Albion than I had expected, and I don’t know if I love that fact either. No gameplay, and just a CG scene was mighty disappointing given where we’re at in development, and with a Feb 23 release date now locked in, I expected much more. A poor showing for one of my most anticipated games of 2027
Matt: Look, was it a bit short? Well, yeah, but I expect that due to the new Feb release date, we will get a big deep dive in January’s inevitable Developer Direct, so I can live with that. I actually really dug the tone of that trailer, especially as it was introducing the big bad. I think a lot of people, after all these years, forget the original Fable games had some pretty dark stuff in them, so I think it fits perfectly. Also, Haley Atwell looks to be hamming it up nicely. Oh, and the little Jack of Blades tease at the end was great. I think it was all around a good trailer, but I agree with Paul that I want to see more.
Halo: Campaign Evolved
Paul: The VO was a bit heavy-handed in this Halo trailer, but it was nice to get a glimpse of the three new levels coming to Campaign Evolved, as well as getting confirmation of the leaked July 28 release date. I’m excited for next month!
Matt: Nice to see some new levels and missions coming to Campaign Evolved. I am always keen for more Halo, but I worry that this remake may mess with the feel that I know so well. That is often the trick with these remakes, bringing classics into the future without ruining what made them classics. The only way to find out, though, is to go hands-on, and we don’t have too long to wait.
Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy
Paul: I’m still behind on the previous Plague Tale titles, so this certainly won’t be one that I’m getting to anytime soon. That said, Resonance is looking superb, and is motivating me to pull my finger out and get started on the previous games; they’re absolutely my jam, so I just need to get started already
Matt: I loved the first Plague Tale, but for whatever reason, I haven’t had the chance to play the second yet. I really need to fix that. That said, this trailer looks like Resonance will be a lot heavier on the action than the previous games, which were a lot more stealth/puzzle focused. I am keen to see how it all connects, so I will make sure to catch up before I dive into this one.
Persona 4: Revival
Paul: I’m really not a Persona guy. Mechanically, the games speak to me, but I can’t just get through the wall that is the overly anime tone. I will make sure to try Revival at some point, because Persona 4 is allegedly the peak of the franchise. So I need to see what the hype is all about, but with it coming out in an increasingly stacked February, it may just as likely pass me by, and I’ll never know the greatness of the game.
Matt: Look, the thought of these games scares me. Not so much the aesthetic or style but the sheer size. These things are friggin’ enormous, and I, the old man, just can’t commit to something that big unless it is 100% my bag. That said, being on Gamepass may be enough for me to at least dip my toes in, so I may do just that.
State Of Decay 3
Paul: Undead Labs have been silent for a very long time, but I’d been hearing the rumours that they were polishing the shit out of this one, along with getting some assistance from other Xbox Game Studios to get the game humming along. It was interesting to see the PS5 announcement in there, given the doubling down on Xbox with E-Day. We didn’t know about State Of Decay 3’s status prior to this, so they could’ve doubled down with this reveal… and didn’t. Curious to get my head around the criteria here.
Matt: Oh boy, I have been waiting on this for so long. State of Decay has always been exactly my jam. The mix of survival, base-building and exploration was pitch-perfect for mine, despite the rough exterior. This, this looks like that rough exterior has gone, and I am holding out hope that it launches in a polished state. It really looks like all the time they have put into it has paid off, and we are going to get the sequel we deserve.
Sea of Thieves
Paul: The new tools being handed to players in Sea of Thieves are mighty interesting, but I’m so disconnected from the game I played nearly a decade ago, that I don’t think I can possibly come back. Shoutout to the huge community who continue to sail the seas though.
Matt: Sea of Thieves is a true success story over at MS, something they haven’t had too many of in recent-ish times. I can see the community getting behind this in a big way, so it is great to see.
Metro 2039
Paul: I’d love to jump into the Metro games, but to this point, I’ve never done it. I’ve even got them all on my PS5, but I’ve just not found the time. The tone of this new trailer, paired with the gameplay, won me over, but I do need to catch myself up first. February is getting ugly
Matt: Hunter has gone bad, and boy, that is a twist I didn’t see coming. I adore all the Metro games, so I am all in. This one looks to be heading back to the really dark places of the first game, so that will be a bit of a shock for people who only played the more hopeful (yet still quite dark) Exodus. I can’t wait to jump in, but if I were a betting man, I think this one may get one more delay, just to get it out of the way of so many big hitters in Feb.
Bad Magpie
Paul: After a lot of very serious gaming, it was nice to get a quaint little indie game about an adorable bird. It was lighting fires and causing all sorts of chaos, so I’m not quite sure what the goal of Bad Magpie was, but I’m here for it, no matter what the game becomes.
Matt: Well, that certainly has some Goose Game vibes, doesn’t it? Great to see that, among all the big beefy blokes shooting things, MS still has time for a charming little indie.
Wo Long 2: Wings Of Ember
Paul: Did people really love Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty? I remember it being good, but not great. That said, Team Ninja has the opportunity to reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of the previous game, and potentially hit this one out of the park. An early 2027 window is probably a good one for a game like this, too.
Matt: Team Ninja has to be one of the most prolific developers out there at the moment. The games just keep coming from them. This one was a bit of a sleeper when the first came out, so hopefully a sequel pushes it to the next level.
Join Us
Paul: This is the one game so far that I just don’t vibe with in any way at all. Join Us didn’t have a style or tone that I liked or appreciated in any way, and as a gameplay experience, it’s not really my jam either. Ah, well, you can’t make every post a winner.
Matt: The idea of this sort of game is a good one, but I am not sure about the execution here. Something about it seems off to me.
Senua
Paul: After it took a bloody eternity for Hellblade II to come out, it’s great to see a much tighter turnaround for a third entry in the franchise. There’s a lot of potential in this IP, and I think a bit of it was squandered with the second entry. Hopefully, Ninja Theory can get everything back on track with Senua.
Matt: I actually really enjoyed Senua’s second adventure. I felt like it was absolutely more of an interactive story as opposed to a game, so I understand why people felt it was a bit off. This one looks to be way more action-focused, so I expect this will be more pleasing to more people. I hope the themes don’t get lost in the action, though.
Fallout 76
Paul: I continue to struggle to enjoy the Fallout gaming franchise. I’ve loved the TV series, which is the most frustrating thing because I love the universe, but I can’t get into the gameplay for some reason. I also played 76 when it first launched, and the game was literally at its worst. As a result, any attempt to connect with the Fallout IP in gaming cannot begin with 76; I’ve got too much baggage there already. Not sure what I needed to take away from this new trailer too
Matt: We have reached the live-service section of our presentation. Fallout 76 is another one of those great stories that saw a game go from a shocking launch to a successful venture. That said, it is probably too late for most of us to jump in at this point.
DOOM: The Dark Ages
Paul: This Revelations DLC is meant to be as big as a whole game, allegedly, so I figured it might be a while before we’d see DOOM: The Dark Ages return. Stoked to see it finally arrive though, I’ve needed to shoot through waves of demonic hordes, and it looks like I/we don’t have to wait long! July 7 is nice and close!
Matt: I’ve been replaying the 2016 Doom trilogy at the moment to celebrate Doom’s 30th anniversary. I am currently on Eternal, so I had better pull my finger out and finish them. July is close. I love this series, and Dark Ages really hit the spot for me, so more of that meaty combat is exactly what I want.
Crazy Taxi: World Tour
Paul: The rumours had been swirling that Crazy Taxi would pop up somewhere this weekend, but to get the Offspring blasting into my ears at the game’s debut was awesome. There’s a lot more to learn, but I’m down for it. I never checked out Crazy Taxi in my youth, but here’s the chance to connect
Matt: In the immortal words of The Offspring… Ya ya ya ya yah. That just brought a big old smile to this cynical old bugger’s face.
Xbox 25 Console
Paul: That clear green Xbox Series X design is dreamy. I hope that the controller is sold separately, because I don’t want to have to buy a new machine to get in on the act.
Matt: Pure 2001 styling at stupidly insane 2026 prices.
Age of Empires IV
Paul: Age of Empires IV cannot be stopped. World’s Edge keep smashing out DLC and expansions for their games, and when paired with all of the remasters too, I feel a bit overwhelmed by Age of content. It’s a great problem to have, though.
Matt: I am kind of at the point now that, as much as I love AoEIV (and I really do), I want them to put a bow on it and move on to something new. A sequel to Age of Mythology, perhaps.
Minecraft Dungeons II
Paul: After the chaos that the movie created, I couldn’t be much more anti-Minecraft than I am in 2026. I’m sure Dungeons 2 will have its crowd, and if it weren’t attached to the IP, then I’d probably be in on the act, but instead, I’ve got one late-September game that I can happily skip.
Matt: The first was a solid attempt at “My First Diablo”, so hopefully the sequel expands on that and gives the game a bit more depth. The first, despite being “kids-first”, was rather shallow in the end.
Magicians: The Devil’s Deal
Paul: Shoutout to the Canberra-based Uppercut! I’ll let you speak more to that element, Matt, as a Canberrian (is that the right word?), because I want to hone in on the game, which looks great. City of Brass and Submerged were excellent games, and Magicians: The Devil’s Deal is looking to be really cool, too. Count me in, team!
Matt: I believe the term is Canberran, Paul. But I am excited, always super pumped to see local talent get to share the big stage on a show like this. Uppercut has made some bangers in the past, so I am all in on this one. I might have to head out to their offices and stalk them a little bit.
Valor Mortis
Paul: Valor Mortis has popped up once or twice in the past, and I’d been impressed, but also a bit intimidated by it. The game just received the dreaded September 24 release date, and so unfortunately, I just don’t see a scenario now where I check the game out because of the same day (let alone same week) competition that I’m already sold on.
Matt: A September release date sure is something at this point. For their own sake, I hope they delay because at this point, releasing in September is just as bad as releasing next to GTA. This looks like a really solid game, too, so I would hate for it to be buried by the bigger titles releasing around it.
The Elder Scrolls Online
Paul: While I’m not a Fallout guy, I am an Elder Scrolls fan. ESO, though, continues to be such an intimidating prospect due to the sheer quantity of content. I just need to get myself started at some point. Didn’t learn anything from this trailer that sold me any harder.
Matt: ESO is my MMO of choice, but lack of time means I don’t get to play as much as I would like. It really is a wonderful experience that tailors itself to how players want to interact with it, so I strongly recommend that everyone who loves a bit of high fantasy to at least give it a dabble.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
Paul: I’m definitely behind on my Flight Sim experience, and this game just continues to expand. I’ve been meaning to jump in ever since the PSVR2 update came in, but that hasn’t yet eventuated. Some awesome new locations within the US for players to explore, and air races are certainly a cool option for players to explore. I’m well behind on this game and need to catch myself up.
Matt: Flight Sim continues to amaze me from a technical standpoint. The things they can do in the realms of flight are pretty amazing. The world updates continue to make a great experience even better, and even if you aren’t into the super technical aspects of flying, this is a game worth jumping into just for some virtual tourism.
Where Winds Meet
Paul: There’s been plenty of Where Winds Meet footage over the last couple of years, and I’ve been quite curious every time it presents. The problem is that it always presents a bit Soulslikey and so I just can’t buy in.
Matt: I dig the style here, so there is a chance I will jump in and see how it pans out. If it is a pure Soulslike, I will probably bounce off, but if there is a bit of a difference or adaptability, it may just hook me. Some of those battles felt more like Ninja Gaiden, which is promising to me.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse
Paul: Shocked that Xbox scored the Castlevania trailer, it just doesn’t compute, but I was also shocked by the card systems present, which are slightly off-putting to me. I was hoping for pure Castlevania, but I’m not quite going to get that. That all said, the game is still looking excellent, and October 15 is a good window. Still a healthy amount of time before GTA, but after the disastrous wave of September games.
Matt: The first Castlevania game in an age, and it is looking pretty sharp for me. You can absolutely see that Dead Cells DNA mixing in there too which is only going to lead to good things. Keen.
Vivarium
Paul: I spent this entire trailer with my mind blown trying to work out what this game was. I love the Ghibli style, but I do want to see more gameplay before I make up my mind.
Matt: Not sure that this is the sort of game I will get into, but the style is undeniable. From this small tease, Vivarium has the potential to be the next massive cozy hit.
Persona 6
Paul: If Atlus can’t get me with Persona 4, then I don’t see how they’re gonna get me with Persona 6. Also, a premiere like that leaves me to think that the game is still a ways off, which is wild given how far removed we are from P5.
Matt: As I said before, it isn’t the style or type of game that puts me off Persona; it is the sheer size, so I probably won’t find the time for this one.
Spyro: A Realm Beyond
Paul: Xbox, you’ve warmed my cold, dying heart. I adored Spyro as a kid, and had longed to get a new, proper, high-quality game, and it seems like you’re finally bringing it. Let me at it in 2027, because this game is right up near the top of my must-play list
Matt: I am a firm believer that the world became a worse place when video games stopped seeing these sorts of games as an important part of the industry (outside of Nintendo, of course), and I am so glad that they are making a bit of a comeback.
Clockwork Revolution
Paul: Clockwork could well be the best game of 2027. It is building very, very nicely. I love the tone, the style, and the previously highlighted gameplay, which suggests I could fall in love with the player agency available. This new trailer, giving us a little bit of story background, was awesome, and it’s gonna be another one for me to fire my Xbox up for exclusively. Give it to me now, InXile!
Matt: It is well known that I love the work of InXile, and Clockwork Revolution is shaping up to be their best game yet. The humour, the setting, and the gameplay here all appeal to me in a way that few games do. Obviously, the proof is in the pudding, but this one is right up there on my most anticipated list.
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 4
Paul: I dunno, the show ended on a great note with Clockwork Revolution. They honestly didn’t need to ruin the ending with COD. That doesn’t mean that Modern Warfare 4 will be bad, it’s more that COD just doesn’t hit in a showcase like it once did. I’m also exclusively a COD campaign guy, so I won’t be jumping into DMZ, so this trailer didn’t resonate with me at all.
Matt: Yeah, I have to agree. COD doesn’t need to be a show-ender. It can do its own thing and be fine, and for those of us who aren’t into COD, it just brings the rest of the show down.
Gears Of War E-Day Direct
Paul: I’m still unsure about seeing the Gears without their armour on. It just doesn’t sit right with me, but I’ll get my head around it, I’m sure. Once Marcus, Dom, and co are in their gear, I see the game slipping into a visual style that I’m very happy and familiar with. I will say, the new weapons, the larger Boomers, etc – these changes don’t make sense with what’s available in the Gears franchise that follows. This is always the great challenge of prequels, so I’m curious to see how the team handles this inconsistency
Matt: I am ready for more Gears, and this gave me more Gears. There seems to be a lot of little innovations and touches being added to the experience, and I am keen to see the origins of the Locust threat. Like Paul, I wonder how they will tackle and storyline inconsistencies that crop up, but overall I am very happy with what I saw.
Final Thoughts
Paul: This was a powerful showing by Xbox. Not every swing was a home run, but a hell of a lot of them were. From Gears to Clockwork, and everything in between, I was stoked with the showcase. As a PS5 guy, I’m disappointed by what I’m missing out on, but I do understand why the decisions had to be made. It’s not like I don’t have an Xbox either, so you can expect to see me playing both on day one anyway. Gears is one of my favourite IPs in gaming, so I couldn’t miss it, and if it comes to PS5 later… then I guess I’ll just have to play E-Day a second time. OH, AND FUCK YEAH, SPYRO!
Matt: That felt like a very targeted show for the most part. Targeted at my personal tastes. State of Decay, Gears, Fable, Metro, Halo, Crazy Taxi, Doom and Senua all belong to franchises I adore, so I was already eating well. Then they went and threw in Clockwork Revolution, Resonance and Spyro to top it all off. There were some games, like Persona, that weren’t for me, but they are absolutely for a lot of other people, so they deserved their spot. In fact, in terms of the show, about the only thing that disappointed me was the ending on COD. It just doesn’t have the cache it used to, and it kind of felt like a bummer way to end proceedings.
