Xbox’s latest games showcase had Hades 2, The Expanse, and Bluey | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Xbox’s latest games showcase had Hades 2, The Expanse, and BlueyComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...GamingCloseGamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GamingEntertainmentCloseEntertainmentPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All EntertainmentReportCloseReportPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All ReportXbox’s latest games showcase had Hades 2, The Expanse, and BlueyThere weren’t many big names featured, but it was a surprisingly varied lineup of games.There weren’t many big names featured, but it was a surprisingly varied lineup of games.by Andrew WebsterCloseAndrew WebsterSenior entertainment editorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew WebsterMar 26, 2026, 5:42 PM UTCLinkShareGiftImage: Supergiant GamesAndrew WebsterCloseAndrew WebsterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew Webster is an entertainment editor covering streaming, virtual worlds, and every single Pokémon video game. Andrew joined The Verge in 2012, writing over 4,000 stories.It’s a weird time for Xbox, with a big leadership shakeup that has many wondering what the future of the platform looks like, and what exactly it stands for. In the meantime, though, Microsoft is forging ahead with announcements, and it just wrapped up its latest Partner Preview event, focused on upcoming titles from third-party developers. (A similar event for Xbox Studios releases streamed back in January.)Perhaps the biggest announcement was that Hades II is finally coming to the Xbox and PS5 next month. But while the rest of the show may have been devoid of big names, it did showcase a nicely varied lineup of games coming to Microsoft’s gaming platforms.Here are the highlights:Hunter: The Reckoning - Death Wish, an action-RPG about monster hunters set in the World of Darkness universe. It’s due out on Xbox and PC in the summer of 2027.A new game set in the Expanse universe, called Orisis Reborn, due out in spring 2027A return to Serious Sam’s over-the-top FPS action with Shatterverse, which is set to launch some time this year on Xbox, PS5, and PC.Grave Seasons, a cozy farming sim that also looks pretty spooky. It’s launching on August 14th.We also got a fresh look at Sega’s Stranger Than Heaven, developed by the same team behind the Yakuza series, which explores multiple eras of Japanese history but also looks to maintain the same ridiculous action and attention to detail as its spiritual predecessors. Stranger Than Heaven will be getting its own dedicated event on May 6th, while the game itself is launching “soon.”The latest from Annapurna Interactive is called Forever Ago, and it’s a pretty chill looking road trip game that’s launching this fall. In addition to Xbox and PC, it’s also coming to the PS5 and Switch 2.The superhero adventure Dispatch is making its way to Xbox later in the summer.Alien Deathstorm sure is a video game title, and the game looks exactly the way that name sounds: intense sci-fi horror. It’s developed by the same team behind Atomfall and is set to launch in 2027.The award for cutest game title goes to Frog Sqwad, a co-op puzzle game that previously launched on Steam, but will be coming to Xbox in June.The latest Bluey game is a photography-based adventure, and it just looks so charming. It’s launching in the fall.A very pretty platformer called The Eternal Life of Goldman is coming to Xbox some time this year.The postapocalyptic shooter S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is getting a big expansion called Cost of Hope, which launches on all platforms in the summer.Hades II is finally coming to Xbox (and the PS5) after on April 14th.And rounding out the show was curious detective action game set in a postapocalyptic future called Artificial Detective, which launches in 2027.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Andrew WebsterCloseAndrew WebsterSenior entertainment editorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew WebsterEntertainmentCloseEntertainmentPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All EntertainmentGamingCloseGamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GamingReportCloseReportPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All ReportRoundupCloseRoundupPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All RoundupXboxCloseXboxPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All XboxMost PopularMost PopularThe United States router ban, explainedSeiko resurrected a 44-year-old digital watch NASA astronauts wore to spaceIntel and LG Display may have beaten Apple and Qualcomm with the best laptop battery life everThe best deals we’ve found from Amazon’s Big Spring Sale (so far)Disney’s big bets on the metaverse and AI slop aren’t going so wellThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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Microsoft’s latest Partner Preview event, focused on upcoming titles, showcased a surprisingly varied lineup of games slated for release across Xbox and PC platforms. The presentation, led by Senior Entertainment Editor Andrew Webster, highlighted a selection of titles ranging from established franchises to entirely new concepts. While lacking significant, high-profile announcements, the showcase aimed to demonstrate Microsoft’s continued commitment to third-party development within its gaming ecosystem.

Several games were directly detailed, beginning with *Hades II*, a highly anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed rogue-like title. The game is scheduled for release on Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 next month, signaling a continued strategic push for Xbox titles beyond its own studios. Beyond *Hades II*, the presentation featured a range of diverse projects. *Hunter: The Reckoning - Death Wish* is an action-RPG set within the immersive World of Darkness universe, targeted for a summer 2027 release on Xbox and PC. Additionally, *Orisis Reborn*, a new game set in *The Expanse* universe, is slated for release in Spring 2027, showcasing Microsoft’s interest in expanding its gaming library with established science fiction properties.

The presentation also included a return for the over-the-top action of *Serious Sam* with *Shatterverse*, currently slated for a launch sometime this year across Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC. For more relaxed gaming experiences, *Grave Seasons* is a cozy farming sim with a spooky theme, launching in August 2027, while *Forever Ago* is a chill road trip game, launching this fall across Xbox, PC, PS5, and Switch 2. The roster expanded further with *Dispatch*, a superhero adventure, and *Alien Deathstorm*, a terrifying sci-fi horror title developed by the team behind *Atomfall*, and slated for 2027. A playful addition was *Frog Sqwad*, a co-op puzzle game previously launched on Steam, now coming to Xbox in June, and *The Eternal Life of Goldman*, a platformer with an unspecified launch timeframe this year.

The presentation concluded with a look at larger, established franchises. The expansive *S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2* is receiving a substantial expansion, *Cost of Hope*, which will be available across all platforms in the summer of 2027. Finally, *Artificial Detective*, a post-apocalyptic detective action game, is scheduled for release in 2027. The showcase also included a closer look at Sega's *Stranger Than Heaven*, a project from the minds behind the *Yakuza* series, promising a blend of historical Japanese settings and the series' signature chaotic action, with an event scheduled for May 6th. Andrew Webster highlighted the charm of *Bluey*, a photography-based adventure game launching this fall, and *The Eternal Life of Goldman*, a platformer.

Ultimately, the event showcased Microsoft’s continued investment in a broad spectrum of gaming experiences, reflecting a deliberate strategy to broaden appeal and cater to diverse player preferences.