Xbox Games Showcase Might Feature a Shadow-Dropped 1st Party Game; Xbox Portable Likely to Be Teased

With Sony's State of Play over and a Nintendo Direct possibly coming later this month, all eyes are focused on Microsoft's Xbox Games Showcase, which is slated to go live on Sunday, June 9, at 10 AM Pacific Time.

Speculation is already running rampant among Xbox fans, and today, Spanish leaker eXtas has added extra fuel with some rumors from his own sources. To start with, he said that a first-party Xbox game will be shadow-dropped during the showcase.

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This means it will be released in some capacity right away. It could be a beta, a demo, or a full release. The most likely game to be shadow-dropped is Towerborne, the side-scrolling fantasy action game once known as Project Belfry. Developed by Stoic (the makers of The Banner Saga), Towerborne is set in a post-apocalyptic (but colorful) world where the so-called Aces are all that stands between the monsters and the safety of the titular tower.

Players will be able to fight solo with NPC companions or with other players in a group of four. That's also the number of fighting styles available in the game, with unique moves available for War Clubs, Gauntlets, Dual Daggers, and Swords & Shields. The world map will continue to evolve over time with seasonal content to keep players engaged.

eXtas also said that Microsoft might share a teaser about the long-rumored Xbox Portable console. Rumors on Xbox handhelds intensified in the last few months, and even Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer seemed to tease something of the sort in an interview at GDC 2024.

As for the rest of the Xbox Games Showcase, it's worth reminding earlier rumors, such as DOOM: The Dark Ages from id Software and Gears 6 from The Coalition. The Perfect Dark reboot, in development at The Initiative and Crystal Dynamics, was also rumored to be featured at the upcoming show.

Other likely candidates for an appearance include Avowed, Ara: History Untold, Indiana