Microsoft Corp started its annual Xbox Games Showcase on Sunday, unveiling a new all-digital version of its Xbox Series X and S consoles, as well as trailers for more than a dozen games including the next installment of Call of Duty.
The Games Showcase comes at a crucial time for Xbox and Microsoft, as the gaming industry faces a downturn and publishers grapple with softer sales, layoffs and studio shutdowns.
Microsoft showed off three gaming consoles, including a disc-less version of the Xbox Series X and S consoles, and a special edition of the Series X with 2 terabytes of storage.
Photo: EPA-EFE
The hardware refresh could help Xbox boost sales of its consoles, which compete with Sony Group Corp’s PlayStation 5.
Among the games on display was Doom: The Dark Ages, the latest installment in the long-running Doom franchise, as well as a sneak peek at the newest Gears of War title, ending a five-year wait for one of Xbox’s most popular properties.
A sizeable number of games including the new Doom and Call of Duty would be available on Xbox Game Pass on the day of launch, indicating that Microsoft is making big bets on the subscription service as it tries to woo consumers grappling with a relatively softer economy.
The Games Showcase was followed by a special feature from Activision Blizzard Inc’s studios which highlighted features, characters and gameplay from Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, which is slated to be released in October.
The game’s developers Treyarch Corp and Raven Software Corp showed clips from Black Ops 6’s campaign, which takes place in the early 1990s, touting features such as a new movement system allowing players to sprint in all directions, and a glimpse at the fan-favorite “Zombies” mode.
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