Rumored Highlights for Xbox Games Showcase: Black Ops 6 Release Date, Xbox Handheld, New Doom, Starfield on PS5, and More

The eagerly awaited Xbox Games Showcase is just days away, set to begin on June 9. Ahead of the event, a report from The Verge’s Tom Warren has disclosed potential highlights, including the release date for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, a new Doom game titled Dark Ages, a Halo: Combat Evolved remaster for PS5, and a fresh look at the new Fable, among other revelations.

To get the full details, you can subscribe to Warren’s newsletter. Here, we’ll summarize some of the key points from the report.

Keep in mind that all this information is unofficial and should be treated as speculation until confirmed at the Xbox Games Showcase. Additionally, there may be other announcements and surprises that haven’t been leaked yet, so stay tuned to GameSpot for the latest updates.

Microsoft is hosting its Xbox Games Showcase during a turbulent year for the company, which has seen significant layoffs and studio closures in 2024.

Halo: CE Remaster

The report indicates that Microsoft is working on “some form” of a remaster for Halo: Combat Evolved, possibly for rival systems. However, this project is in the “early days” of development and might not be announced during the showcase. Microsoft previously released a remaster under the title Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary in 2011, included in Halo: The Master Chief Collection. The move to bring a Halo remaster to platforms like the PS5 aligns with Microsoft’s recent strategy shift to expand its games to competitor consoles, known internally as “Project Latitude.”

Black Ops 6 Release Date (and More Dates)

The report suggests that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will release on October 25. Following the Xbox Games Showcase, a dedicated event for Black Ops 6 will provide more details. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is set to launch in November, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle in December. Diablo IV’s Vessel of Hatred DLC is anticipated for early October, and World of Warcraft’s The War Within expansion for late August. Towerborne might enter early access this year, while Obsidian’s RPG Avowed is targeting a November launch.

Starfield on PS5 + Project Latitude

Warren’s report outlines Project Latitude, Microsoft’s internal initiative to bring more of its games to rival systems. Beyond Minecraft, games like Hi-Fi Rush, Sea of Thieves, Pentiment, and Grounded have already been made available on PS5 and Nintendo Switch. Future titles could include a Gears of War game and Starfield, potentially coming to PS5 later this year. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle might also join the PS5 lineup after an initial Xbox release. Additionally, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition and Age of Mythology: Retold, along with Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, are under consideration for PS5 releases.

The Xbox Games Showcase on June 9 is expected to focus on Xbox platform specifics, with fewer details on games coming to rival platforms.

New Doom and Gears

Two major first-party game announcements are expected at the showcase. The first is Doom: The Dark Ages, set for a 2025 release across Xbox and PS5, likely developed by id Software. The second is a new Gears of War game, expected to be exclusive to Xbox and PC, not part of Project Latitude. The new Fable game and Compulsion Games’ South of Midnight are also anticipated to appear, both possibly launching in 2025 and considered for Project Latitude.

Surprises!

The Xbox Games Showcase is rumored to last two hours and feature 30 games. Despite some leaks, there are likely still surprises in store, including possible Xbox Game Pass announcements. GameSpot will cover all the news as it happens!

Xbox Hardware?

The report speculates that Microsoft might unveil an Xbox handheld device during the showcase. There’s also a possibility of revealing a powerful new gaming console or new console and controller options for Holiday 2024, including a potential white Xbox Series X without a disc drive.