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Is Microsoft Ready to Reveal Halo Infinite’s Battle Royale Mode?
It’s now been over six months since Halo Infinite launched, and we’re hoping that the title could make an appearance at this weekend’s Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase. Halo Infinite developer 343 Industries continues to work on the live service for its free-to-play multiplayer, with Season 2 currently underway and scheduled to test support for the co-op campaign in July this year.
343 Industries has also partnered with Certain Affinity for future Halo Infinite content, which we see as a new battle royale-inspired multiplayer experience with a Halo twist. The mode, first detailed in January in a report by Senior Xbox Editor Jez Corden, is in development under the codename Tatanka and takes on behemoths like Fortnite and Call of Duty: Warzone.
It’s currently believed that Tatanka could be targeting Season 4, which was recently pushed back to early 2023 due to changes to the Halo Infinite roadmap. While 343 Industries probably won’t be announcing any new games this week, an earlier one teasers implies it might have something to show on the June 14 extended airing. — Matte brown
Morning! We’re just getting started with our second day of Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase coverage this weekend. I’m checking in earlier than the rest of the London team to catch up on the latest developments overnight ahead of what could be a busy day ahead of tomorrow’s big show.
We recently learned that the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase will last around 95 minutes, suggesting the duo have a jam-packed event in the works. While the June 12 show will host the heavyweights, don’t forget that Microsoft will have a second event on June 14 with an extra 90 minutes.
We’re also seeing some alleged “leaks” for the Xbox event circulating online this morning, mostly completely fake. However, if you plan to jump in blindly this weekend, we recommend going offline as soon as possible. We’ll continue to bring the latest as it happens. — Matte brown
Indiana Jones could return for the Xbox Showcase
While it’s unclear which Microsoft-owned studios have a spot during Sunday’s presentation, MachineGames, best known for its work on Wolfenstein games, could be among those featured. MachineGames has now commented on the upcoming Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase, fueling speculation about an appearance during the show. “We’re really looking forward to Sunday [sic] Showcase,” the developer explained via LinkedIn. “I hope you’re all ready for this!”
MachineGames came to Xbox as part of the Bethesda acquisition, with work ongoing on a licensed Indiana Jones game with Lucasfilm. The show could provide an update on the project after its reveal in 2021 when it coincides with the next Indiana Jones movie, which is slated for next June. It is also speculated that after the release of Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus in 2017, a third part of the modern Wolfenstein series could be in the pipeline. — Matte brown
The Xbox & Bethesda Showcase runs for 95 minutes, Microsoft says
Those who have been speculating about the length of the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase need wonder no more. The Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase will last approximately 95 minutes, according to a new Twitter post from Xbox Marketing GM Aaron Greenberg. That’s just over an hour and a half of non-stop announcements and trailers for upcoming Xbox games.
While we’ve got a run-time now, we still have to guess which games will be out this Sunday. Don’t forget that Microsoft is hosting an extended showcase on June 14th, lasting approximately 90 minutes, which is expected to offer a deeper dive into some of the games shown during the main event. – Zachary Boddy
Forza Horizon 5 Hot Wheels DLC leaks ahead of reveal
A few weeks ago I talked about what Playground Games is planning for Forza Horizon 5’s first DLC expansion. Now, just days before the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase, an early update to the game’s Steam listing has leaked a Hot Wheels-themed Forza Horizon 5 expansion.
While Microsoft was quick to remove the promotional assets, you can’t delete them from the web. It appears that Playground Games is once again collaborating with the Mattel brand on a Hot Wheels crossover that harks back to the Forza Horizon 3 days.
Nothing has been officially confirmed yet, but it seems likely that Forza Horizon 5 will appear during the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase to showcase the new DLC. We can also expect more details on what’s included and when the expansion will be available. – Zachary Boddy
The Xbox Cloud Gaming TV app is rolling out to Samsung TVs this month
Xbox cloud gaming continues to expand at a steady pace, with mobile, PC and Xbox consoles now plugged into Microsoft’s streaming platform. TVs are the latest to join its growing cloud empire, thanks to a new Xbox TV app launching in Samsung’s 2022 TV lineup from June 30. Microsoft has also confirmed plans to later launch a streaming-only Xbox device, dubbed internally as the Xbox “Keystone,” which will provide a more affordable entry point into the Xbox ecosystem.
Microsoft continues to push Xbox Cloud Gaming as the next big innovation, streaming Xbox games over the internet with low latency, along with its Xbox Game Pass subscription service. These now fall under “Xbox Everywhere,” an umbrella term for the emerging ecosystem that’s breaking away from traditional console hardware.
Xbox Cloud Gaming is likely to play a pivotal role during the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase, helping the future catalog of games reach the widest possible audience. Expect Xbox Cloud Gaming to make frequent appearances this weekend along with the latest Xbox Series X|S consoles. — Matte brown
Xbox will “meet or surpass” 5 new games over the next 12 months.
Microsoft heads into the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase this weekend after committing to at least five new games over the next 12 months. In a statement to be released ahead of Sunday’s broadcast, the company said it plans to match or surpass the number of new games released over the past fiscal year. That means Xbox and Bethesda will deliver five or more projects before June 2023.
The announcement suggests that we could see more firm release dates during the Microsoft conference on June 12, including titles planned for later this year. After delays at Starfield and Redfall, Redmond has found a gap in its content calendar for the remainder of 2022. Forza Motorsport could help close the gap, and we expect to hear more about other titles in the near future. — Matte brown
Regards! It’s an incredibly exciting time of year for both Xbox and PC gamers, with the much hyped Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase just around the corner. I’ll update this space with the latest announcements and reveals as we get them, and I can also share some of my own thoughts.
I do much of the Minecraft, Forza Horizon, and Forza Motorsport coverage here at Windows Central, but I’m also a fan of “video games” and Xbox in particular. I’m excited to see what’s in store for us in the coming weeks. – Zachary Boddy, Editor for Windows Central Gaming News
In case you missed it, Summer Game Fest, the first gaming event of the non-E3-but-still-sorta-E3 season, recently brought a handful of new gaming announcements ahead of the Xbox & Bethesda Showcase. For all the Summer Game Fest announcements, check out our full event recap.
Highlights of the event for Xbox owners included the first gameplay demos for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and The Callisto Protocol, as well as a new trailer for Marvel’s Midnight Suns. Xbox Game Pass also received several new day-one additions, including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge on June 16 and Routine, an upcoming sci-fi horror game scored by DOOM’s Mick Gordon.
Microsoft’s limited presentation also suggests it is holding back these heavyweights, only raising expectations for the June 12 presentation. — Matte brown
Welcome everyone – and thank you for joining us! It’s that time again and we’re only two days away from the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase.
We’re expecting big reveals from Xbox Game Studios and Bethesda Softworks this weekend, including highly anticipated updates on upcoming projects like Starfield, Forza Motorsport, and Redfall, as well as a handful of surprises. If you are an Xbox fan, don’t miss this.
We’re just getting started with our live coverage for the weekend. This Friday we cover the breaking news so far with exclusive glimpses of what’s to come from Microsoft in the days to come. You can expect regular updates to follow before things get here crazy on that day. – Matt Brown, Senior Game Editor of Windows Central
