(Reuters) - Microsoft ( MSFT ) 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 ( MSFT ) as the gaming industry faces a downturn and publishers grapple with softer sales, layoffs and studio shutdowns.

Microsoft ( MSFT ) 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 2 terabytes of storage.

The hardware refresh could help Xbox boost sales of its consoles which compete with Sony's ( SONY ) PlayStation 5.

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

A sizable 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 ( MSFT ) is making big bets on the subscription service as it tries to woo consumers grappling with a relatively softer economy.

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-favorite "Zombies" mode.