Microsoft kicked off its annual Xbox Games Showcase on Sunday, unveiling a new all-digital version of its Xbox Series X and S consoles as well as trailers for more than a dozen games including the next installment of Call of Duty.

The Games Showcase comes at a crucial time for Xbox and Microsoft as the gaming industry faces a downturn and publishers grapple with softer sales, layoffs and studio shutdowns.

Microsoft showed off three gaming consoles including a disc-less version of the Xbox Series X and S consoles, and a special edition of the Series X with 2TB of storage.

The hardware refresh could help Xbox boost sales of its consoles which compete with Sony’s PlayStation 5.

Among the games on display was Doom: The Dark Ages, the latest instalment in the long-running Doom franchise, as well as a sneak peek at the newest Gears of War title, ending a five-year wait for one of Xbox’s most popular properties.

A sizeable number of games including the new Doom and Call of Duty will be available on Xbox Game Pass on the day of launch, indicating that Microsoft is making big bets on the subscription service as it tries to woo consumers grappling with a relatively softer economy.

Flight Simulator 2024 was among the titles showcased:

The Games Showcase was followed by a special feature from Activision Blizzard’s studios that highlighted features, characters and gameplay of the new Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, which is slated for a release in October.

Developers Treyarch and Raven software showed clips from the campaign of the game that takes place in the early 1990s, touting features such as a new movement system allowing players to sprint in all directions, and a glimpse at the fan-favourite Zombies mode. — Zaheer Kachwala, (c) 2024 Reuters