Gamescom 2021 has arrived to deliver a plethora of gaming announcements and trailers, with Xbox hosting its very own showcase. There were no big surprises from Microsoft at the presentation, but there was plenty of new footage and announcements regarding games that had previously been announced. Halo Infinite was noticeably missing from the stream, but plenty of other big titles, like Forza Horizon 5, joined the show. Game specific information can be found below (in the order in which they appeared in the Gamescom presentation) but there were some other important announcements that deal in broader strokes as well.
Xbox is making strides in its effort to make cloud-based gaming more accessible. Xbox Game Pass subscribers on PC were recently given the ability to stream games to their computer and other devices, but now that same technology is coming to consoles. Xbox One, Series X, and Series S owners will be able to stream games from the cloud starting this holiday season, though an exact date hasn’t yet been announced. The most enticing part of the announcement was that the Xbox One can play Xbox Series X/S games through the Xbox Cloud service, nullifying the need for new hardware in some cases.
As Xbox is prone to do as of late, Game Pass was frequently mentioned, with many of the games below expected to hit the platform on release day. Additionally, it was announced that a collection of indie games published by Humble Games would be available on Game Pass day one. These include Archvale, Next Space Rebels, Midnight Fight Express, Dodgeball Academia, Bushiden, Flynn, Unpacking, Signalis, Chinatown Detective Agency, and Unsighted. Game Pass remains one of the best deals in gaming, and the catalogue only continues to grow.
Gamescom 2021 Xbox Showcase – Dying Light 2
The long-awaited sequel to 2015’s Dying Light is on the horizon, and another look into the gameplay of Dying Light 2 was provided at Xbox’s Gamescom show. The footage shown focused on what is expected of the series – derelict cities in which one can parkour and kill zombies. Dying Light 2 features a new protagonist and takes players to a European city, where the “Modern Dark Ages” have set in. The combat and free-running of the original return in a bigger way, with Dying Light 2 having double the parkour moves of its predecessor, placing the number of animations in excess of 3,000.
Gamescom 2021 Xbox Showcase – Microsoft Flight Simulator
Microsoft Flight Simulator recently came to consoles via the Xbox Series X/S, and the game is still receiving new content. September 7 brings the World Update VI, which focuses on fleshing out the regions of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. New aircraft coming to the game includes the Junkers Ju-52 transport plane, and the VoloCity Air Taxi, a prototype helicopter-like vehicle that utilizes drone-inspired technology to achieve flight.
Gamescom 2021 Xbox Showcase – Into The Pit
Into the Pit is looking to blend retro FPS flair with roguelike mechanics. Vibrant colors with contrasting scenery bring the game to life, where players appear to sling magic spells from the palms of their hands. This is another game published by Humble Games, meaning Into the Pit will come to Game Pass upon its launch.
Gamescom 2021 Xbox Showcase – Age of Empires 4
A marquee series in the real time strategy genre is expected to make its long awaited return with Age of Empires 4. The previous entry in the series, AOE3, released all the way back in 2005, and the fourth is going even further with its historical context. It was revealed at the Xbox Gamescom showcase that Hands on History videos will be included in the game, giving players a place to learn about the weaponry, armor, tactics, and more that are depicted in Age of Empires 4.
Gamescom 2021 Xbox Showcase – Wasteland 3
Wasteland 3‘s post-apocalyptic world continues to grow, and will receive a major addition when the Cult of the Holy Detonation expansion releases on October 5. The new quests revolve around Cheyenne Mountain and the United State military complex inside, which is built to survive a nuclear attack. The Cult of the Holy Detonation release also coincides with a new version of Wasteland 3, dubbed the Colorado Collection, which includes the upcoming, cult-centric expansion as well as the previous Battle of Steeltown add-on.
Gamescom 2021 Xbox Showcase – Sea of Thieves
Sea of Thieves had its newest in-game event revealed at Gamescom, which will offer Borderlands fans a chance to fly a bright red-and-yellow flag. New in-game challenges will gradually award players Borderlands-themed rewards. If every challenge is completed, an entire ship dedicated to the Vault hunting looter shooter series can be constructed, from wheel all the way down to the canons.
Gamescom 2021 Xbox Showcase – State of Decay 2
Fans of the State of Decay series will soon be able to take a trip down memory lane, since the first game’s Trumbull Valley map will be added to State of Decay 2 on September 1. Dubbed the Homecoming update, the return of Trumbull Valley will also feature new characters, storylines, bases, and weapons for players to experience. Though more content is welcome for State of Decay 2, many are eager to hear more info on the series’ third entry, which was announced over a year ago.
Gamescom 2021 Xbox Showcase – Stray Blade
Stray Blade is a new hack-and-slash adventure from 505 Games and Point Blank. The environments look vibrant and the combat even more so. Players will explore a land called Acrea the Lost Valley and delve into the ruins of an ancient civilization. Stray Blade is expected to release in 2022 for the Xbox One and Series X/S.
Gamescom 2021 Xbox Showcase – Crusader Kings 3
The grand strategy game of political and familial intrigue is coming to consoles. Crusader Kings 3 will be coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, though an exact date has yet to be given. Crusader Kings is just one series from the grand strategy masters at Paradox Interactive. The studios games are incredibly deep and immersive, leaving many to wonder how it will be possible to play CK3 with a controller.
Gamescom 2021 Xbox Showcase – Psychonauts 2
The first Psychonauts wholly embodies the term “cult classic.” 16 years later, Psychonauts 2 is the upcoming product of a crowdfunding campaign to finally deliver a follow-up to the mind-bending platformer. Xbox’s Gamescom stream delivered a new trailer for Psychonauts 2 and presented a discussion with a couple of the developers focused on the game’s characters and story. Many fans of the original will be pleased to know that Psychonauts 2 will also be available on Game Pass when it launches.
Gamescom 2021 Xbox Showcase – The Gunk
The Gunk will take players to an alien planet infested with a mysterious goo. This interesting title from Thunderful was announced last year, but didn’t receive any news until the Gamescom gameplay showcase. The Gunk appears to be an ecological adventure, as players explore the alien planet and clean up the eponymous substance. It’s slated for release in December 2021, for Xbox consoles and PC.
Gamescom 2021 Xbox Showcase – Forza Horizon 5
Xbox’s Gamescom presentation was capped off with a lengthy look at Forza Horizon 5, the latest entry in the Xbox exclusive open world racing series. Playground Games shared the opening eight minutes of Forza Horizon 5, in which players parachute in a 2021 Ford Bronco Badlands out of a plane and race down the La Gran Caldera volcano in Mexico on their way to the Horizon Festival. The Bronco joins the Mercedes-AMG ONE on the cover of the game, which was revealed at Gamescom alongside a unique Forza Horizon 5 Xbox controller.
The new console generation has seemingly started out slow, but the Xbox Gamescom presentation shows there’s plenty on the horizon to look forward to. A number of indie titles are helping make Game Pass an obligatory destination for those who like smaller projects, while Microsoft Flight Simulator and Crusader Kings 3 are blurring the lines between console and PC. Amidst all the news pertaining to individual games, Xbox continues its trend toward making games more accessible, with Cloud gaming on console later this year a big step.
