The biannual Xbox Partner Preview showcase is back with the self-described "no-fluff, all-games broadcast" that's set to give us a look at upcoming titles over the course of a trailer-packed half-hour show.

Microsoft introduced its Xbox Partner Preview showcase event format for the first time last October, right after wrapping up its $69bn purchase of Activision, with the livestream focusing on third-party titles for PC, Xbox Series X|S consoles, and Xbox Game Pass. We got a look at games like Alan Wake 2 and Like a Dragon: infinite Wealth among others during the 30-minute showcase, which echoes the contents of the Xbox Partner Preview showcase set for this October.

The second showcase was in March 2024, so it seems like two shows per year is the current schedule for Xbox Partner Preview showcases, slotting in nicely around the livestreams dedicated to first-party studio titles. This year's format follows the template of the previous two events, keeping proceedings to a tight 30 minutes which makes a nice change from the more sprawling shows that can run for an hour plus.

As usual, there are a few different platforms you can tune in on to watch the Xbox Partner Preview October 2024 showcase, but one offers a superior viewing experience, which we'd recommend purely to see how nice all of these new and upcoming games will look when they are in your hands. Here's when the Xbox Partner Preview showcase starts, where you can watch it, and what to expect during the event.

Xbox Partner Preview showcase start time

The Xbox Partner Preview showcase starts at 6pm BST / 1pm EDT / 10am PDT on Thursday, October 17. The Xbox Wire blog post says the event is set to run for around 25 minutes, so the livestream will wrap up at approximately 6.30pm BST / 1.30pm EDT / 10.30am PDT.

You can watch the Xbox Partner Preview showcase on several platforms, all of which are listed below, but the YouTube stream will be in 4K at 60fps while all of the other options will be in 1080p / 60fps. We've embedded the YouTube stream below, with links after that for the other platforms that you can watch the Xbox Partner Preview showcase on.

The Xbox Partner Preview showcase will also be available to watch on regional Xbox channels, as well as offering live subtitle support for a range of languages, with more options to come in the days following the show. If you miss it live, you can watch the full recap show which goes live immediately following the close of the Xbox Partner Preview showcase.

What to expect during the Xbox Partner Preview showcase

Xbox has given us a heads up as to what to expect for the October 2024 Xbox Partner Preview showcase, which bears some similarities to this time last year; we've got more Alan Wake 2 and Like a Dragon among the named titles, as well as "multiple world premieres", and other games coming to Xbox consoles, PC, and Xbox Game Pass.

  • Alan Wake 2 The Lake House expansion
  • Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
  • Wuchang: Fallen Feathers

We don't have a confirmed release date for the Alan Wake 2 DLC and this week's Xbox Partner Preview showcase has a gameplay first look lined up for us, but given the expansion is pegged for an October release, it would make sense to get the launch date given we're halfway through the month already.

It's likely the Alan Wake 2 DLC release date will be Tuesday, October 22 given the official FAQ mentions this date for the Physical Deluxe Edition which includes the expansion; and it seems even more likely based on Australian retailer, EB Games, listing for this edition which says, "Please note due to the global release of Alan Wake 2: Deluxe Edition, the in disc DLC for the Lake House Expansion will not unlock until midnight on 22nd Oct 2024." The timing may be either 12am local time, or 12am in that specific region, but we'll undoubtedly get confirmation during the Xbox Partner Preview showcase.

Xbox fans will also be treated to a new Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii trailer, as well as a look at a handful of bosses from the fantasy action title, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers.