The Xbox Games Showcase is coming up soon, perhaps a much-needed panacea for what's been a rather dry year for the Xbox brand in terms of sought-after software. As the Activision Blizzard acquisition hangs in limbo for the time being, one would wager the higher-ups and producers are hoping this presentation injects some excitement into the platforms. 

Fans may take solace in the information learned regarding the manner in which the games will be shown, as most of the software will be using in-game footage and actual gameplay. This news came by way of Twitter from Xbox VP of Games Marketing at Microsoft Aaron Greenberg, who clarified the use of CG cut scenes will be used in as minimal capacity as possible.

None of our first party games in the show are full CG trailers. Everything is either in-game footage, in-engine footage, or in-game footage with some cinematics. Each of our trailers will be labeled so it is hopefully clear for our fans.

Game trailers over the years have generally been perceived as misleading, as the game in the trailer can often change drastically by shifting artistic direction. Since the height of the Xbox 360, the Xbox name has had a precarious time defining what identifies them from a software perspective. While there are gems like Hi-Fi Rush, the anticipated Redfall (from Arkane) seemed to land with a thud, with critics citing its mediocre difficulty, lousy A.I., and poor performance. This upcoming showcase will have Bethesda's Starfield front and center as its headliner. While Xbox CEO Phil Spencer stated that he knows Starfield isn't going to be the application that turns the Xbox Series X|S around, it's been a game that has been built up with considerable hype, being Bethesda's first original intellectual property in quite some time. 

2023 may be a bust when it comes to console and platform exclusive games, but with the studio acquisitions in recent years, such as Obsidian and Ninja Theory (it's been a while sinceSenua's Saga: Hellblade II was seen) , what else do the acquired, or in-house development teams under Xbox's umbrella have for the immediate and distant future?

The Xbox Games Showcase|Starfield Direct is Sunday, June 11 at 10am PT, 1pm ET.