Sea of Thieves, Gears Tactics, Ori & the Will of the Wisps and Forza Horizon 4 have been optimized for Series X, with upgraded versions of each coming to Game Pass and Smart Delivery this Holiday. Following Gears 5 - which we know will arrive with better visuals and loading times on Series X - these four games will also be getting a boost on the next-gen hardware. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/ori-and-the-will-of-the-wisps-enhanced-xbox-series-x-showcase"] Forza Horizon 4 and Gears Tactics will arrive in 4K Ultra HD at 60 frames per second, reduced load times and quick resume. Ori & the Will of the Wisps will go one better, at 120 FPS in 4K HDR and 120hz. Sea of Thieves' improvements are less spelled out, but Microsoft says it wilt take advantage of new hardware. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

The July Xbox Games Showcase has finally aired, providing us an eagerly awaited look at first-party Xbox Series X games. We were shown proper gameplay from Halo Infinite, a look ahead at upcoming games like Forza Motorsport and Everwild, and even the first teaser for the hotly anticipated next Fable game. For everything that was shown off as part of the Showcase, take a look below for a full recap. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/xbox-games-showcase-july-2020-full-conference"]

Halo Infinite Gameplay Revealed

The Xbox Games Showcase kicked off with a trailer for Halo Infinite, giving us a new, expanded look at what the next game in the beloved FPS series will offer. It was followed by footage from Halo Infinite’s campaign, which is set on a freely-explorable Halo ring that’s several times larger than the previous two Halo games combined. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/halo-infinite-9-minutes-of-campaign-gameplay"] Master Chief has access to a grapple hook, that he uses to explore the landscape. We see our first look at The Banished, who act as the game's antagonists, which means Brutes finally return to the series. Running at a locked 60fps for the campaign, Halo Infinite is promising new mechanics and bigger battles to make the most of the Series X’s power. It’s due to release Holiday 2020 on Xbox Series X, Windows 10 PC, Xbox One, and Game Pass. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/state-of-decay-3-announcement-trailer"]

State of Decay 3 Announced

Undead Labs is currently developing the next entry in its zombie survival series; State of Decay 3, and it was announced with a CGI trailer featuring a disgusting zombie deer. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/forza-motorsport-xbox-one-series-x-announcement-trailer"]

Forza Motorsport Revealed

Turn 10 Studios are back with another racing game, this time simply called Forza Motorsport. It’s currently early in development, but is said to run at 4K/60fps with Ray Tracing tech. The first trailer was captured entirely in-engine, and - as all Forza games do - looks beautiful. It's coming to Xbox Series X and Windows 10 PC and is enhanced for the Series X. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/everwild-eternals-cinematic-trailer-xbox-games-showcase"]

Everwild New Trailer Revealed

Rare offered a quick look at how Everwild is doing, the beautiful-looking game set in a magical world where you play as an ‘Eternal’ and build bonds with nature. While cryptic, the trailer showed off a world where people bring dead animals back to life. It’s coming to Xbox Series X, Windows 10 PC, and Xbox Game Pass. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/tell-me-why-cinematic-story-trailer"]

Tell Me Why Release Date Announced

Dontnod Entertainment, the creators of Life is Strange, announced that its next game - Tell Me Why - will launch August 27. Playing as twins Tyler and Alyson, who share a supernatural bond, you’ll explore their troubled lives in small-town Alaska. Set over three chapters beginning in August, it will explore social themes including trans experiences. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/ori-and-the-will-of-the-wisps-enhanced-xbox-series-x-showcase"]

Ori and the Will of the Wisps Xbox Series X Update

Microsoft announced that new graphical enhancements are coming to Ori and the Will of the Wisps for Xbox Series X, and will be provided via Smart Delivery. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/the-outer-worlds-peril-on-gorgon-dlc-announcement-trailer"]

The Outer Worlds: Peril on Gorgon DLC Revealed

Coming September 9 this year, The Outer Worlds: Peril on Gorgon is a new expansion for Obsidian’s well-received sci-fi RPG. This noir-flavoured adventure takes players to the new Gorgon Asteroid location, and provides new quests, weapons, armour, perks, and flaws. Xbox Game Pass subscribers can get The Outer Worlds expansions - or the full expansion pass, which contains at least one more adventure - for a 10% discount. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/grounded-survive-the-yard-trailer-xbox-games-showcase"]

Grounded New Trailer Shown

Grounded is releasing in early access on July 28 this year; just a few days away. Grounded is a co-op survival adventure where players are shrunk to the size of ants. They must work together to return back to normal size, while along the way avoiding the dangers of hostile bugs and making use of regular objects in new ways.

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/avowed-announcement-trailer"]

Avowed Revealed

Obsidian Entertainment’s next RPG is a first-person epic set in Eora, the fantasy world that has been the setting for the Pillars of Eternity games. It's called Avowed, and it's already looking like it could potentially be a new Elder Scrolls-like experience. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/as-dusk-falls-announcement-trailer"]

As Dusk Falls Announced

From INTERIOR/NIGHT, a new studio headed by the former lead game designer at Quantic Dream, As Dusk Falls is an interactive drama spanning multiple generations. Set in the American Southwest, it focuses on how mistakes of one generation pass on to the next, and how two families trapped in a hostage situation grow over the subsequent decades.

Senua's Saga - Hellblade 2 Will Be Set in Iceland

Ninja Theory popped in to say that it has been location scouting in Iceland, which will be the setting of the sequel to Senua's Saga, the sequel to Hellblade. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/psychonauts-2-gameplay-trailer-featuring-jack-black"]

Psychonauts 2 New Trailer

Double Fine offered a new trailer for Psychonauts 2, the long-awaited sequel to the company’s first ever game. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/destiny-2-beyond-light-expansion-gameplay-trailer"]

Destiny 2: Beyond Light

Destiny 2 is coming to Xbox Games Pass in September, which will give subscribers access to all standard edition versions of every Destiny 2 expansion so far. When the Destiny 2: Beyond Light expansion goes live in November, the standard edition of Beyond Light will be included with Game Pass for no extra cost. Xbox Series X users will also get an enhanced version of the game, with 4K/60fps. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/stalker-2-announcement-trailer"]

S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2 Revealed

After being a PC-only series for so long, the S.T.A.L.K.E.R series is finally coming to console with its long-awaited sequel, S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2. The post-apocalyptic shooter may look a little like the Metro games, with its Russian horror tone, but it has its own, immersive-sim style spin on the world of post-disaster Chernobyl. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/warhammer-40k-darktide-announcement-trailer"]

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide Announced

Vermintide developer Fatshark returns to the Warhammer universe, but heads into the grimdark future of the 41st millennium. Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is a 4-player co-op game set on the hive world of Tertium. Players will have to work together to survive the hordes of enemies that assault them in the darkness of the far future when it launches in 2021. The trailer features four Imperial Guardsmen bumping into a room packed with Poxwalkers, so it looks like it'll be Astra Millitarum vs Grandfather Nurgle. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/tetris-effect-connected-announcement-trailer"]

Tetris Effect: Connected Revealed

Tetris Effect is coming to Xbox with Tetris Effect: Connected, an enhanced version with new co-op and competitive multiplayer modes, playable both online and locally. Tetris Effect: Connected releases Holiday 2020. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/the-gunk-announcement-trailer"]

The Gunk Announced

Steamworld creators Image and Form have a new, 3D action adventure and there’s not a steam-powered robot in sight. Called The Gunk, it sees you explore and solve puzzles on a forgotten planet covered in a toxic sludge (that’d be your titular Gunk) using a hoover-like gauntlet. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/the-medium-story-and-gameplay-trailer"]

The Medium

Due Holiday 2020, The Medium is the next project from horror experts Bloober Team. As a psychic medium, you’ll investigate a dark mystery and uncover some disturbing secrets. Set across two realities, there will be puzzles alongside encounters with sinister spirits. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/phantasy-star-online-2-new-genesis-expansion-trailer"]

Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis Announced

Coming in 2021 is the next entry in online action RPG Phantasy Star Online 2’s long-running universe: New Genesis. It will feature a new world and new enemies. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/crossfirex-official-single-player-campaign-trailer"]

CrossfireX

Smilegate Entertainment’s previously PC-only series comes to Xbox in 2020 as CrossfireX, and the Game Showcase offered a cinematic trailer for the campaign, which is developed by Control and Alan Wake studio Remedy. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/fable-xbox-series-x-announcement-trailer"]

Fable Announced

After what feels like a wait that lasted forever, Microsoft finally revealed that the rumours were true and Forza Horizon developer Playground Games has indeed been creating the next Fable game. Called simply Fable, it’s a new beginning for the beloved fantasy RPG series. [poilib element="accentDivider"]

Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis has been announced, marking the "latest entry to the Phantasy Star Online 2 universe". Announced at the Xbox Games Showcase and arriving in 2021, a new trailer showcased what fans can expect from the sequel next year on Xbox Series X, PC, and Xbox One. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/phantasy-star-online-2-new-genesis-expansion-trailer"] After many years as a Japan-only game, Microsoft helped bring the Sega MMO west this year. We awarded Phantasy Star Online 2 a 7/10 review, saying, "Between the ludicrous variety in classes, sheer number of things to do and see, and the slick, refined combat, there is a lot of meat left on these eight-year-old bones." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=phantasy-star-online-2-new-genesis-xbox-games-showcase-screenshots&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis has been announced, marking the "latest entry to the Phantasy Star Online 2 universe". Announced at the Xbox Games Showcase and arriving in 2021, a new trailer showcased what fans can expect from the sequel next year on Xbox Series X, PC, and Xbox One. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/phantasy-star-online-2-new-genesis-expansion-trailer"] After many years as a Japan-only game, Microsoft helped bring the Sega MMO west this year. We awarded Phantasy Star Online 2 a 7/10 review, saying, "Between the ludicrous variety in classes, sheer number of things to do and see, and the slick, refined combat, there is a lot of meat left on these eight-year-old bones." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=phantasy-star-online-2-new-genesis-xbox-games-showcase-screenshots&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

After months and months of rumors, Microsoft has finally announced Fable, a "new beginning" for the Fable franchise, developed by a new team at Forza Horizon studio Playground games. The trailer begins with a fairy as they fly through a fantastical forest, before getting eaten by a frog. How very Fable. And that's it! That's the long-awaited reveal. Fable is back and is being developed by the Forza Horizon studio. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/fable-xbox-series-x-announcement-trailer"] Fable has been mostly dormant since the release of Fable 3 back in 2010, though there have been a variety of spinoffs. There was also Fable Legends, a co-op action-RPG that was canceled on 2016. Back in early 2018, reports began that Playground Games, the studio behind the acclaimed Forza Horizon series, was working on a new Fable. Later that year, Microsoft acquired Playground, investing in the studio as a first-party developer. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=fable-xbox-series-x-screenshots&captions=true"] Since then, rumors have continued to persist that a second team at the studio was working on continuing the Fable franchise, which was originally developed by the now-shuttered studio Lionhead. Ex-Lionhead art director John McCormack even described a Fable 4 pitch Lionhead had that Microsoft rejected. Playground Games is best known for its work on Forza Horizon, a more open-world and carefree take on Turn 10's Forza Motorsport racing sims. The studio has been seen hiring developers with experience in RPG development, which prompted rumors that Playground Games' next project would be a departure from the racing genre. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M Kim is a reporter for IGN.

After months and months of rumors, Microsoft has finally announced Fable, a "new beginning" for the Fable franchise, developed by a new team at Forza Horizon studio Playground games. The trailer begins with a fairy as they fly through a fantastical forest, before getting eaten by a frog. How very Fable. And that's it! That's the long-awaited reveal. Fable is back and is being developed by the Forza Horizon studio. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/fable-xbox-series-x-announcement-trailer"] Fable has been mostly dormant since the release of Fable 3 back in 2010, though there have been a variety of spinoffs. There was also Fable Legends, a co-op action-RPG that was canceled on 2016. Back in early 2018, reports began that Playground Games, the studio behind the acclaimed Forza Horizon series, was working on a new Fable. Later that year, Microsoft acquired Playground, investing in the studio as a first-party developer. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=fable-xbox-series-x-screenshots&captions=true"] Since then, rumors have continued to persist that a second team at the studio was working on continuing the Fable franchise, which was originally developed by the now-shuttered studio Lionhead. Ex-Lionhead art director John McCormack even described a Fable 4 pitch Lionhead had that Microsoft rejected. Playground Games is best known for its work on Forza Horizon, a more open-world and carefree take on Turn 10's Forza Motorsport racing sims. The studio has been seen hiring developers with experience in RPG development, which prompted rumors that Playground Games' next project would be a departure from the racing genre. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M Kim is a reporter for IGN.

Bloober Team, creator of Layers of Fear, Observer and Blair Witch, has revealed a new gameplay trailer for The Medium, showing off its Dual-Reality system, which sees two versions of the world rendered at all times, and can be switched between with no loading screens. In the trailer shown at the Xbox Games Showcase, we see the game's lead character Marianne exploring an abandoned building, both in the real world and spirit world. Both of those worlds will be available to see at any time, and can be switched between seamlessly, meaning the game is rendering two separate locations simultaneously. The gameplay implications of that switching aren't made totally clear, but we see Marianne using magical powers in the spirit world, and environments seem to differ, which implies you'll be solving puzzles in one world to travel through another. Unlike many newly announced Xbox games, The Medium is only coming to Xbox Series X and PC - that appears to be due to the taxing processor work this core mechanic will require. It's reminiscent of the tech that allows for the multiple, seamlessly switched-between worlds shown off in gameplay of PS5 exclusive Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. We've heard previously that the two realities will come with different soundtracks, one by one Bloober Team’s Arkadiusz Reikowski and the other by Akira Yamaoka of Silent Hill fame. The game will be released this Holiday, and pre-orders are open now. The Medium is just one of two Bloober Team games coming to next-gen this year, with Observer: System Redux also on the way. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

Tetris Effect: Connected is '2.0 version' of Tetris Effect coming to Xbox Series X, Xbox One and PC via Windows 10. It will be available on Xbox Game Pass, and take advantage of the Smart Delivery upgrade scheme. Connected combines the original Tetris Effect with brand new 1-3 player co-op and 1-2 player competitive multiplayer modes, playable online and locally. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/tetris-effect-connected-announcement-trailer"] Multiplayer will be available as both unranked and ranked variants, and will include player progression, unlocking online avatars. The game will feature cross-play across all Xbox platforms. The multiplayer modes will be added as a free update to PS4, Epic Games Store, and Oculus Quest versions in Summer 2021. We awarded the original Tetris Effect an 8.5 review, saying it "turns the game you know into something you’ve likely never experienced." Make sure to check out everything else announced at the Xbox Games Showcase. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

Image & Form, creator of the SteamWorld series, has announced a brand new game, The Gunk, for Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and PC. It will arrive in fall 2021. Starring two space haulers who chance upon a planet teeming with life, the third-person adventure will see you encountering undiscovered alien life and discovering the secrets of a lost civilisation, while cleaning up the titular Gunk, an alien parasite that's infested the planet. I'm getting almost Luigi's Mansion / Mario Sunshine vibes. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/the-gunk-announcement-trailer"] It's a major switch for more ways that one for the Swedish developer. For a start, this marks the studio's first ever 3D game. Image & Form has also been most closely associated with Nintendo over the years, launching every game in the SteamWorld series first on a Nintendo platform, so a switch to an Xbox exclusive marks a new chapter for the developer. In a press release, CEO Brjann Sigurgeirsson explains: “A bit into the development process it became obvious that The Gunk would be very hardware-demanding. We’ve always managed to keep our games lean, but The Gunk is all bells and whistles about to explode spectacularly. We had to make a choice: either we quiet it down considerably, or we go talk to the guys with the most powerful hardware. We decided to go talk to the guys with the most powerful hardware.” Perhaps this switch shouldn't be a surprise, however - Image & Form has made its name on trying out new ideas almost every time it releases a new game, with the SteamWorld series alone encompassing platformers, tactics games, and a card-based RPG. We awarded he last SteamWorld release, SteamWorld Quest, an 8.6 review, saying its "card-based RPG combat offers an insane amount of choice, making it as flexible as it is fun." Check out everything announced at the Xbox Games Showcase. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 will be coming to next-gen, as it arrives on Xbox Series X in 2021. Announced at the Xbox Games Showcase, the long-awaited sequel to the cult classic PC shooter will bring its mix of FPS, horror and immersive sim to console in 2021. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/23/stalker-2-announcement-trailer"] In a separate blog post-GSC Game World detailed how the developers want the Zone, the setting of Stalker, to feel like its own character. The open-world will be one of the "biggest ones yet" for the series. Various monsters and factions will populate the Zone and interact with each other. A-Life 2.0 will simulate character behaviors making the world feel more alive than ever before. Player decisions will also determine how the story plays out with branching paths that change depending on the choices you make. After being announced and cancelled in 2011, development on S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 was restarted at developer GSC Game World in 2018. Previously, all we've seen of the game was a single screenshot. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=stalker-2-xbox-games-showcase-screenshots&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.