E3 2021: Xbox/Bethesda Showcase Recap

June 13, 2021

The Bethesda and Xbox E3 2021 Showcase kicked off the festivities on day two of E3 with a 90-minute look at everything the two companies have coming down the line. If you missed the conference, that’s alright. Here’s our recap!

The conference started with everyone’s favorite face of Bethesda, Todd Howard. He cut to the chase and showed us Starfield, coming exclusively to Xbox consoles next year.

Next, we got a look at the sequel to 2007’s S.T.A.L.K.E.R. — STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl. It is an upcoming post-apocalyptic horror FPS game from GSC Game World. The gameplay trailer shows the horror that await when the game launches on April 28th, 2022, exclusively on Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Multiplayer game Fallout 76 is getting the “Steel Reign” update, which concludes the Brotherhood of Steel storyline. It will be free to 76 players starting July 7th. Another update was also teased, “Expeditions: The Pitt,” which will allow players to go outside of Appalachia for the first time. That update, which will also be free, arrives in 2022.

We got another look at Turtle Rock Studios’ Back 4 Blood, with more gameplay as well as a better look at the playable characters. The game will allow you to team up with 3 other friends in 4 player co-op, and features a Swarm Mode that pits 4v4, player vs player, human vs zombie. Back 4 Blood is launching on October 12th, and will hit Game Pass on day one.

Contraband is an upcoming Xbox exclusive “co-op smugglers’ paradise” set in the 1970s in the fictional world of Bayan. The new open-world game from the developers of the Just Cause series will utilize the full potential of the Xbox Series X and S using the next generation of the Apex engine. More details will come soon.

Sea of Thieves took the stage next to introduce it’s newest update: Pirates of the Caribbean! In Sea of Thieves: A Pirates Life, experience an original tale, meet the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow, face off against pirate ghosts, and go toe-to-toe with the grotesque Davy Jones. The expansion will be hitting the seas on June 22nd, 2021.

The entire mainline Yakuza series is now on Game Pass, but starting today players can also play Yakuza: Like a Dragon which is now available.

We got some more footage from DICE’s upcoming shooter, Battlefield 2042. The trailer featured gameplay mechanics including quick gun attachment swap outs. Battlefield 2042 is coming October 22nd.

Indie studio Annapurna’s new game, Twelve Minutes, had some new information to show. The voice cast list will feature a star-studded crew, including James McAvoy, Daisy Ridley, and Willem Dafoe voicing the husband, wife, and detective, respectively. The game will be exclusive to the Xbox family and will hit consoles (and Game Pass) on August 19th, 2021. Twelve Minutes is also featured as one of the games in Tribeca Film Festival’s Game Spotlight. Check out the trailer here.

Psychonauts 2, the sequel to Double Fine’s hit 2005 game, got some more gameplay shown including the various techniques like Cranium Combat, Headsploration, and Throughtcrobatics. The game is coming to Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC on August 25th. Game Pass owners can play on day one.

Elder Scrolls Online has passed 18 million players, and to mark the occasion Bethesda is optimizing the game for Series X and S.

Party Animals is launching exclusively on Xbox One, Series X/S, and PC in 2022, as well as hitting Game Pass. I can’t even begin to describe this one, so here’s the trailer:

The insanely popular action-adventure, roguelike Hades is coming to Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 on August 12th, and hitting Game Pass day one.

Somerville is an upcoming super-stylized game and the debut offering from indie-studio Jumpship. Dino Patti, co-founder of Jumpship, also worked on Limbo and Inside. Somerville will come exclusively to the Xbox consoles and PC, as well as Game Pass day one in 2022.

We finally got some Halo Infinite details including lore updates and multiplayer information. Halo Infinite will launch this holiday season, exclusively for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The game will also launch on Game Pass on day one.

Diablo II: Resurrected is getting remastered with 8-player co-op, and will be optimized for Xbox Series X/S with 4K 60 FPS gameplay. It will drop on September 23rd, 2021.

A Plague Tale Requiem is the sequel to 2019’s A Plague Tale: Innocence and will be coming to Xbox Series X/S and PC in 2022, and Game Pass on day one. Requiem picks up directly after the first game and will continue the stories of Amicia and Hugo.

We got yet another look at Far Cry 6, including footage captured optimized on the Xbox Series X. We get some more gameplay highlighting weapon customization, perfect for anything from stealth to blowing things up. Along with the adorable wiener dog, Chorizo, Far Cry 6 will also feature a Rooster you can recruit as an ally. The game is coming out on October 7th.

Slime Rancher 2 is coming from Monomi Park and will be a console launch exclusive on Xbox Series X/S PC when it launches next year. It will come to Game Pass on day one.

Shredders is an upcoming snowboarding adventure from Foam Punch Games and is for boarders, by boarders. The game launches in December 2021 on Xbox Series X/S and PC. Play it on Game Pass on day one.

Atomic Heart from Russian game dev Mundfish is coming to Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Game Pass sometime in the near future.

Replaced is a sci-fi platformer where the player takes control of an AI. The debut game from Sad Cat Studios and Coatsink is set to hit Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC next year. It will be on Game Pass on day one.

The Early Access game Grounded is getting a big update. The “Shroom and Doom” update will add requested additions like sitting, pets, and mushrooms (but not those kinds). The update also adds a boss fight, the Broodmother. The Broodmother is a terrifying spider monster and the showcase recommends you turn on Arachnophobia Mode for this one. The update will bring achievements to the game as well when it launches on June 30th.

Starting June 15th, Among Us is upping it’s player lobby capacity from 10 to 15 players. The update will add multiple new color options, support for mobile controllers, as well as the ability to honk the horn on the airship level.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes was delayed until 2023, unfortunately, but a spinoff was announced and will be releasing sooner. Rising will launch in 2022, and both games will come to Game Pass on day one.

The Ascent is a console launch exclusive, and will be coming to Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Game Pass on July 29th. The game is a cyberpunk action adventure RPG developed by Neon Giant.

Age of Empires IV is coming exclusively to PC on October 28th, 2021. It’ll be available on PC Game Pass on day one.

The Outer Worlds 2 was confirmed. Not much is known at this point, however, it will focus on a new star system and a new crew. The game will launch on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Game Pass, and Windows 10 PC, as well as Game Pass day one.

Microsoft’s Flight Simulator is finally coming to Xbox Series X/S on July 27th, 2021, and got to see footage captured in real time in 4K. A Top Gun Maverick collaboration will be coming as well. Microsoft’s Flight Simulator will be a day one Game Pass addition.

Turn 10 Studios announced the next Forza game, Forza Horizon 5, which takes players to Mexico. Forza Horizon 5 will feature beautiful scenery and iconic landmarks from Mexico, as well as staples in Mexican culture. The game drops on November 9th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, as well as Game Pass on day one.

The conference wrapped up with Phil Spencer’s beautiful mug on-stage, confirming that previously announced games like Avowed, Fable, and Elder Scrolls 6 are still on their way. He also announced a brand new open-world and immersive shooter from the team at Arkane Studios, Redfall.