Microsoft has confirmed its June plans, announcing the Xbox Games Showcase 2025 and a dedicated The Outer Worlds 2 Direct.
As is tradition, Microsoft will host its annual June showcase to preview upcoming games, and 2025 continues the trend. The Xbox Games Showcase 2025 will be streamed live on Sunday, June 8, beginning at 10 a.m. Pacific / 1 p.m. Eastern / 6 p.m. UK time.
The company stated that the showcase will feature upcoming titles from Microsoft's own first-party studios, "alongside incredible new games from our global third-party partners."
Xbox Games Series Tier List
Xbox Games Series Tier List
So, what can we expect from Microsoft? The company has an extensive list of games in development. This includes the recently delayed Fable reboot (now slated for 2026), the Perfect Dark revival, inXile’s Clockwork Revolution, Ninja Gaiden 4, Contraband from the Just Cause studio, Rare's Everwild (which Xbox head Phil Spencer recently previewed), The Coalition's Gears of War: E-Day, Hideo Kojima’s OD, and Undead Labs' State of Decay 3. Double Fine, the studio behind Psychonauts, is also working on a new title.
From Activision Blizzard, we can naturally anticipate the next Call of Duty title later this year, along with other releases from Blizzard. With Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 launching in July, it may also be featured.
As for Bethesda, could this be the moment we finally learn what's next for Starfield? After all, we're still waiting for confirmation of its PlayStation 5 release date. Might we also get a glimpse of The Elder Scrolls VI?
There's always the possibility of new Xbox hardware reveals. Reports suggest a next-gen Xbox console and an Xbox handheld are slated for 2027, so this year's event may be too early for details. However, Microsoft might discuss third-party, Xbox-branded handheld devices.
Following the model of the 2023 Starfield Direct and the 2024 Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Direct, this year's Xbox Games Showcase will be immediately followed by The Outer Worlds 2 Direct. Developed by Obsidian Entertainment (fresh off the release of Avowed), this dedicated presentation promises to "take you inside the studio walls for new gameplay, details, and developer insights straight from the team creating this sequel to the award-winning sci-fi RPG." With The Outer Worlds 2 expected later in 2025, a release date announcement during the showcase seems highly likely.
Xbox Games Showcase and The Outer Worlds 2 Direct start times by time zone:
PDT: June 8, 10 a.m. EDT: June 8, 1 p.m. BST: June 8, 6 p.m. CET: June 8, 7 p.m. JST: June 9, 2 a.m. AEST: June 9, 3 a.m.
Microsoft confirmed the Xbox Games Showcase and The Outer Worlds 2 Direct will be digital-only events, meaning there is no in-person theater experience for fans or media this year. The company promised its livestream will provide viewers "everything you need to know about the future of Xbox, no matter where in the world you are watching from."
