gamescom Opening Night Live 2023: Xbox Showcases Starfield, Ara: History Untold, and Age of Empires IV to Xbox

At today’s gamescom Opening Night Live showcase Xbox arrived in full force, bringing a live action trailer for Starfield, a first look at gameplay for Ara: History Untold, and announced a launch for Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition, which arrives today for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Game Pass. We were also pleased to receive gamescom’s Green Studio of the Year Award for our work beyond the borders of our own business to lower the energy emissions of the industry as a whole.

Opening Night Live 2023 marks the opening of gamescom, and we’re bringing our biggest ever booth to the show, which includes not just the games in today’s showcase, but Forza Motorsport, Towerborne, Hellblade II: Senua’s Saga, and The Elder Scrolls Online from Xbox Game Studios and Xbox Game Studios Publishing. We’re also hosting much-anticipated games from our incredible partners: STALKER 2, Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, Dungeons of Hinterberg, Payday 3 and much, much more.

Want to find out more about what we brought to today’s showcase? Read on to find out more:

Starfield

Starfield helped to kick off gamescom 2023 with the world premiere of its epic live action trailer. Accompanied by a stunning orchestral version of Elton John’s “Rocket Man,” the live action trailer follows our hero on a breathtaking journey through the stars. Experience the hope and danger of setting out into the unknown and get ready for your own adventure when Starfield launches on September 6, 2023, on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC. Check out the brand-new trailer and read on to see how you can jump in early.

Play Up to 5 Days Early

Starfield’s early access kicks off on September 1, 2023. Jump in up to 5 days early* by picking up the Starfield Premium Edition (digital only), the Starfield Premium Edition Upgrade (digital or physical), or the Starfield Constellation Edition (physical only). Check out our full breakdown for more information on what’s included in the different Starfield editions.

*Actual early access playtime depends on purchase date and will be subject to possible outages and applicable time zone differences.

Pre-Order Bonuses

Time is running out to pre-order Starfield for exclusive in-game bonus items. Pre-order any edition of Starfield to receive the Old Mars Skin Pack for these in-game items:

Laser Cutter

Deep Mining Helmet

Deep Mining Pack

Game Pass members also get access to all pre-order content as long as their Game Pass subscription is active, regardless of when they download the game.

Ara: History Untold is Coming to PC Game Pass in 2024 – Watch the First Gameplay Trailer

We know grand strategy fans have been anticipating an updated look Ara: History Untold since we announced the game at the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase in 2022. Today, we’re excited to show off what our team at Oxide Games have been working on with the debut our first gameplay trailer, which premiered during Opening Night Live.

As a refresher, Ara: History Untold is an innovative new turn-based historical grand strategy game where you build a nation and lead your people throughout history as you explore new lands, develop arts and culture, and go head-to-head with rival leaders to prove you are the greatest ruler ever known.  

In the new trailer, narrated by Debra Wilson and featuring original music from the game’s soundtrack, players are taken on a journey spanning cultures, environments, and eras to highlight how your actions will affect not just the world, but the people you will lead as you write your own story of history.  

We’re looking forward to sharing more about Ara: History Untold as we get closer to release. In the meantime, to learn more about the game and find out how you can play before launch, visit arahistoryuntold.com and sign up for the Ara Insider Program.

Ara: History Untold is set for release in 2024 on Windows PC. The game will be available in PC Game Pass, the Microsoft Store and Steam. Wishlist the game on Steam and follow us on social media to get the latest breaking news and join our growing community.

Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition Gets a Console Release

Starting today, players can enjoy the award-winning real time strategy game Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One with Xbox Game Pass or purchase. Built from the ground up for Xbox players, Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition includes native inputs for Xbox controller, a console-specific user interface, and an intuitive new tutorial designed to help onboard new players. Learn more about this new way to play Age of Empires IV in our hands-on preview here on Xbox Wire.

Everything Age fans know and love about Age of Empires IV is included: players can build cities, manage resources, and lead their troops to battle on land and at sea. All of this can be played out across four distinct campaigns with 35 missions spanning 500 years of history – from the Dark Ages up to the Renaissance – all from the comfort of your living room. Skirmish and Multiplayer features a selection of 10 diverse civilizations across the world: from the English to the Chinese to the Malians – the choice in your quest for victory is truly yours. 

Jump into the action with an immersive onboarding experience created specifically for Age of Empires IV on Xbox. The Rise of a King is a narrative-driven experience that takes place over a 20-year period leading up to the Battle of Hastings, where the game’s main campaign starts. 

The console version of Age of Empires IV comes with a new, console-friendly interface, a Villager Priority System that allows you to automate resource collection, a Site Menu system that streamlines building, new accessibility options, and the ability to compete, cooperate, or spectate with up to 7 friends in PVP and PVE multiplayer modes on Xbox One Series XIS and up to 3 friends on Xbox One.

Xbox Wins gamescom Green Studio of the Year Award Presented by UN’s Playing for the Planet

Phil Spencer accepted the gamescom Green Studio of the Year award from Playing for the Planet. Playing for the Planet credited this win to the efforts of Xbox to drive action beyond the borders of our own business and work closely with game developers and players to lower the energy emissions of the industry as a whole. 

Earlier this year, we announced that Xbox is the first console to release dedicated energy and carbon emissions measurement tools designed for (and with) game creators, The Xbox Sustainability Toolkit. We also became the first console to offer Carbon Aware game downloads and software updates. 

Game creators want to make a difference, and the Xbox Sustainability Toolkit provides data, case studies and actionable steps to empower any creator to achieve significant energy savings with small development efforts. Additionally, our console updates help players keep doing what they love, playing, at a lower cost to the environment and their energy bills. 

When everyone takes steps to reduce energy and emissions, everyone on the planet wins.

To learn more about the Xbox Sustainability Toolkit for developers, visit learn.microsoft.com and to learn more about our sustainability efforts as a business, visit xbox.com/sustainability.

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