Welcome to the Xbox Games Showcase 2025 Recap! If you missed the event, don’t worry... we’ve got you covered like a tarp with the unexpected surprises, and enough gaming goodness to keep your button mashers busy for quite some time. Grab something delicious to eat and press play!
The Big Reveals
Microsoft threw a knockout punch to close out the first part of the showcase with Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, delivering mind-bending action, near-future weaponry, and a reality-shifting co-op campaign. I saw the robot and thought, “COD?”... but the trailer blurred the line between horror, sci-fi, and military ops so well, it kept me guessing till the logo hit.
But that wasn’t the only jaw-dropper... Persona 4 Revival finally got its long-awaited remake announcement, bringing back the beloved characters and turn-based combat wrapped in a modern visual overhaul. Meanwhile, Beast of Reincarnation made its grand debut, blending dark fantasy lore with action-RPG gameplay that looks both punishing and poetic.
The Outer Worlds 2 returned with that trademark satirical flair, showcasing more wild planets and corporate chaos, but the ones that really grabbed me were High on Life 2... doubling down on its outrageous humor and living weaponry... and Animo, a creature-collection RPG that feels more alive and dynamic than many of its Pokémon-inspired peers.
Then came the hardware mic drop: the reveal of the long-anticipated Xbox Ally handheld. We didn’t expect them to team up with a third-party like ASUS, but to be fair, ASUS isn’t new to premium gaming hardware. Their role as both manufacturer and design partner works—even if I’m still on the fence about the look. It leans more ASUS than Xbox in vibe, but hey, if it performs and plays Xbox games natively, I’ll deal. Set to launch in 2025, we’re still waiting on an official price, though the assumed range is $599–$699 for the base ROG Xbox Ally, and $899–$999 for the beefed-up ROG Xbox Ally X. It runs Windows 11, so multiple game platforms should be playable on the handheld (and they better be... based on the price).
ROG Xbox Ally X (High-End Model)
Processor: AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme (8-core/16-thread, 16 GPU cores, with NPU for AI tasks)
RAM: 24GB LPDDR5X-8000
Storage: 1TB M.2 2280 SSD
Battery: 80Wh
Display: 7" FHD 1080p IPS, 120Hz, 500 nits, FreeSync Premium with Gorilla Glass Victus, 16:9 Ratio, DXC Anti-Reflection
Extras: USB4, impulse triggers, Xbox full-screen UI
ROG Xbox Ally (Base Model)
Processor: AMD Ryzen Z2 A (4-core/8-thread, 8 GPU cores)
RAM: 16GB LPDDR5X-6400
Storage: 512GB M.2 2280 SSD
Battery: 60Wh
Display: Same as Ally X
Extras: Dual USB-C, hall effect triggers
Additional Eye Catchers
Grounded 2 is back this July, and the backyard survival madness is even more intense—this time with new enemies, biomes, and crafting systems.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (DLC) drops in September, extending the base game's archaeological adventures with fresh puzzles and pulpy cinematic moments.
Ninja Gaiden 4 slices into October with brutally fast hack-and-slash gameplay and that familiar difficulty curve that fans love (and fear).
Super Meat Boy 3D flips the series into a whole new dimension—literally. Expect twitch-platforming and gory charm in high-res style.
And let’s not forget Gears of War: Reloaded, a true stunner with 4K visuals at 120 FPS, full cross-play, and cross-progression. It’s both a love letter to the franchise and a flex on what next-gen nostalgia can look like.
Of course, a couple more stood out in a big way:
The Blood of Dawnwalker, a dark RPG where you play as a vampire-human hybrid during the Black Plague... it’s full of eerie atmosphere, political intrigue, and moral dilemmas.
And Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, a fresh prequel to the original saga that leans into myth, stealth, and combat, all set on the haunting Minotaur’s Island.
No Xbox? No Problem!
If you love what you see and want to dive into the action but don’t own an Xbox or a PC, no worries! You can grab an Xbox Bundle for just $108.98 here. It’s a steal, especially if you’re planning to go all-in on the GamePass action.
Xbox didn’t just show up—they did their thing. Whether you’re hyped for the next big shooter, a nostalgic remake, or Xbox's entry into the handheld arena, 2025's Summer of Gaming is burning up.
