Starfield, Like a Dragon, and ATLUS take the spotlight at the Xbox Games Showcase
A longer look at Bethesda’s interstellar RPG Starfield, new installments on the Like a Dragon series, and ATLUS double-timing with a modernized classic and an all-new franchise, the June 2023 Xbox Games Showcase had a little something for everyone.
Starfield
“What awaits you among the stars?”
From the brilliant minds behind Skyrim and Fallout 4 come Starfield. This interstellar adventure from Bethesda Game Studios is “25 years in the making,” and the June 2023 Xbox Game Showcase gave us a sneak peek at gameplay, the environments, and even a release date: September 6, 2023.
Apart from the short three-minute trailer, a separate “Starfield Direct” featuring Game Director Todd Howard was also released. This is a deep dive into the game and its systems, such as Character Creation, Skills, Ships, and Companions. The 45-minute-long video brought on different members of the Starfield Development team as they discussed their first new universe in 25 years.
Apart from in-game features, the Starfield Direct showed the collector’s edition and the smart Starfield Chronomark Watch, an exact and working replica of the one your character wears in-game, that comes with it. On top of the watch, Howard also revealed the custom limited edition Starfield controller and headset.
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name
“I have no name.”
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio brings us back to the world of Like a Dragon with The Man Who Erased His Name. Complete with an epic Yakuza-style trailer that showed some of the characters, gameplay, and new enemies, The Man Who Erased His Name hits PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X | S, Xbox One, Windows, and Steam on November 9th, 2023.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
That wasn’t the last we saw of Ryu Ga Gotoku, as Ichiban Kasuga returns in the eighth installment of the main Yakuza series! If the trailer’s anything to go by, there’s a chance this game takes place on an American shoreline state.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth will hit Xbox and Windows in Early 2024.
Persona 3 Reload
“Your story begins again. Memento Mori.”
Having been leaked days early, Persona 3 Reload came as a surprise to almost nobody. The trailer featured a modern remake of the classic, base Persona 3 game. The trailer showed that the quality was brought up-to-date by using the same engine as the more recent installment in the mainline Persona series, Persona 5.
Unfortunately for fans of the other versions of Persona 3, producer Ryota Niitsuma and chief director, Kazuhisa Wada confirmed that only the features present in the original release of P3 will be included in the remake. This means no female protagonist and no extension of the story, among other things.
Persona 3 Reload releases Early 2024 on Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Series X | S, Xbox One, and Windows, with announcements on other platforms pending.
Persona 5 Tactica
Another new title coming from ATLUS, the Persona 5 spinoff games gain another member with Persona 5 Tactica. Featuring the Phantom Thieves of Hearts we all know and love in the artstyle of Persona Q, they are joined by a new ally Elle in this tactical RPG. The gameplay departs from P5’s turn-based style and now instead features grid-based battle, but gameplay systems like All-Out Attack, 1MORE, and various move choices remain.
Persona 5 Tactica hits Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Series X | S, Xbox One, and Windows PC on November 17, 2023.
Metaphor: ReFantazio
The only trailer that did not get leaked ahead of time from ATLUS was the one announcing Metaphor: ReFantazio. This is an all-new fantasy JRPG from STUDIO ZERO, with Katsura Hashino as director, Shigenori Soejima as character designer, and Shoji Meguro in charge of music. All three of them previously worked on Persona 3, 4, and 5, and they certainly brought along all of the experiences they had from making the Persona series into Metaphor: ReFantazio.
ATLUS revealed a game initially called Project Re Fantasy all the way back in 2017, and they have confirmed that Metaphor: ReFantazio is its release name. Metaphor: ReFantazio releases on Xbox Series X | S and Windows PC in 2024.
Fable, Cyberpunk 2077, and more!
A lot of other big titles were also announced during the showcase, including the Fable remake, a release date and preview for Cyberpunk 2077’s only paid expansion Phantom Liberty, and an unlikely team-up between Microsoft Flight Simulator and Dune. Check out all the other titles that were featured during the June 2023 Xbox Games Showcase.
- Fable
- South of Midnight
- Star Wars; Outlaws
- 33 Immortals
- Payday 3
- Avowed
- Sea of Thieves
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
- Microsoft Flight Simulator – Dune Expansion
- Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
- Fallout 76
- Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
- Forza Motorsport
- Elder Scrolls Online – Journey to Necrom
- Overwatch 2 – Invasion
- Jusant
- Still Wakes The Deep
- Dungeons of Hinterberg
- Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
- Cities Skylines II
- Towerborne
- Clockwork Revolution
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