Microsoft will hold its Xbox first-party games showcase event on July 23 at 9 AM PT. Unlike the May presentation that was devoted exclusively to third-party games, this event will focus primarily on Xbox Series X games from Microsoft’s own studios, including launch title Halo Infinite. GameSpot will also be hosting a pre- and post-show livetstream to discuss everything surrounding the big reveals, so be sure to tune in early and then stick around afterward.
Xbox Series X Stream Start Times
- 9 AM PT
- 12 PM ET
- 5 PM BST
- 2 AM AET (Friday)
What To Expect
Though much of Microsoft’s planned event is still tightly under wraps, we do know some of what we can expect from the July 23 stream. Microsoft’s Aaron Greenberg laid the groundwork by explaining that this stream will focus only on games, so don’t expect details on hardware like the price or launch date. Greenberg also said that the presentation will last about an hour.
Though the presentation won’t detail particulars about the business side, Microsoft did recently announce that Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will come with xCloud support starting in September. Considering Game Pass includes all first-party games, that means you’ll probably be able to play most of what you see presented with a Game Pass subscription–and streaming to Android devices if you have Ultimate.
Halo Infinite appears to be the centerpiece of the presentation, and Microsoft has started to seed the big reveal with teaser footage. A prior teaser hinted at the return of the Banished from Halo Wars 2, which means they may be the chief antagonists. The company also showed off a very nostalgic look at the box art for Halo Infinite, seemingly teasing that Master Chief will have a grappling hook in the process. And Xbox head Phil Spencer hinted that Halo Infinite is rethinking the structure of a Halo game, although it’s unclear what that means or how it relates, if at all, to The Master Chief Collection.
While the presentation is ostensibly a reveal event for big first-party Xbox Series X games, it’s worth remembering that none of them will be exclusive to the new console. The presentation will probably show off Xbox Series X versions of the games to show off the capabilities of the next generation, but Microsoft has committed to no first-party exclusives for the first few years. Spencer has since clarified that while he doesn’t expect to see first-party Series X exclusives for a while, the company’s studios are free to make them if they wish.
Streams Setting Stage For Fall Launch
Typically, Microsoft would hold an event like its first-party games showcase as part of a larger E3 press conference in June, but E3’s cancellation due to COVID-19 meant it had to pivot to something else. PlayStation had already decided not to participate in E3 before its full cancellation, and it instead held a PS5 reveal event in June. Neither Sony nor Microsoft have announced an exact release date or price for the PS5 or Xbox Series X.
Xbox Series X will launch this holiday season and features Halo Infinite as a launch game. The game will also release on Xbox One and PC, with all three versions supporting cross-platform play. It will be the first time a core Halo game has ever released on more than one platform at the same time.
Xbox Series X And Xbox One News
- Xbox Series X Stream: How To Watch, Start Times
- All The Xbox Series X Games Confirmed (And Expected) So Far
- All The Xbox Series X Games With Free "Smart Delivery" Upgrades
- Xbox Series X: Release Date, Specs, Price, And Everything We Know
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