Xbox Showcase: Every Game Shown Is Safe – But What About the Missing Titles?
▼ Summary
– Microsoft canceled several Xbox games, including Rare’s Everwild, an unannounced ZeniMax Online MMO, and the Perfect Dark reboot, while shutting down The Initiative.
– External studios like Romero Games faced layoffs, putting their projects, such as a new shooter, in doubt.
– Xbox Game Studios still has over 40 active projects, with games showcased in June (e.g., Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Indiana Jones) confirmed to continue.
– Notable absentees from the showcase, like State of Decay 3 and Project Mara, raise concerns about their status amid broader studio cuts.
– Microsoft’s long-term Xbox strategy remains unclear, with questions about upcoming hardware, a gaming app store, and unconfirmed projects like a Hideo Kojima game.
Microsoft’s recent wave of layoffs has left gamers questioning the fate of upcoming Xbox titles, with several high-profile cancellations raising concerns about the platform’s future. While the company reassures fans that showcased games remain on track, the absence of certain projects from recent events hints at deeper uncertainties within Xbox’s sprawling portfolio.
The cuts have already claimed notable casualties, including Rare’s Everwild, an unannounced ZeniMax Online MMO, and the Perfect Dark reboot, with its developer, The Initiative, shutting down entirely. Blizzard’s mobile team behind Warcraft Rumble was also hit, halting new content. External studios like Romero Games, working on an unannounced shooter, faced significant layoffs, casting doubt on their projects.
Despite the upheaval, Xbox leadership insists development continues on over 40 active projects, with a strong lineup extending into 2026. Confirmed safe are titles featured in June’s Xbox Games Showcase, including Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Clockwork Revolution, The Outer Worlds 2, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Rare’s Sea of Thieves also survives, despite Everwild’s cancellation.
Phil Spencer’s tease of Forza Horizon, Fable, Gears of War: E-Day, and a potential Halo: Combat Evolved remake suggests these remain priorities, though the restructuring of Turn 10, responsible for the mainline Forza Motorsport series, raises questions about future sim-focused entries.
Yet the real unease lies in what wasn’t shown. State of Decay 3, Project Mara, and Contraband were conspicuously absent, alongside Bethesda’s Starfield expansion, which has seen little communication. Blizzard’s rumored StarCraft shooter and Hideo Kojima’s OD also linger in uncertainty. Even Minecraft, a Microsoft staple, feels secure, but smaller projects like Toys for Bob’s post-Activision deal remain unconfirmed.
The broader implications are stark: Microsoft’s gaming empire spans Bethesda, Activision, Blizzard, and beyond, meaning its struggles ripple across the industry. With gamescom approaching, fans hope for clarity on Xbox’s roadmap, especially regarding a next-gen console and the teased handheld device.
For now, the showcased titles are moving forward, but the long-term vision for Xbox feels increasingly murky. The coming months will reveal whether Microsoft can stabilize its studios, or if more surprises await.
(Source: IGN)
