It has been a good year for gaming, and gamers have enjoyed blockbuster games like Elden Ring, Horizon Forbidden West, and The Last of Us Part 1. The year has plenty of big releases coming up, with God of War Ragnarok, Need for Speed Unbound, and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet still lined up. Things will not slow up in 2023, and there have already been several highly anticipated games announced.
The year starts with a bang, with titles such as Hogwarts Legacy and Forspoken lined up for the first quarter. The middle of the year is propped up by The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom while the end of the year caps off with Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth. Although the calendar is looking good, gamers should remember that delays are not a rare occurrence in the gaming world, so becoming committed to any release date so far ahead is not a wise idea.
The Biggest Games Arriving in 2023
In part due to the numerous delays of 2022, next year is looking to be a jam-packed one. It also seems that the year is front-loaded with a ton of great releases from various studious. Regardless of what genre gamers are into and what platforms they favor, there'll be something new for everyone from the get-go. Capcom is looking to make a splash in 2023 with Street Fighter 6. The game puts the "street" back in Street Fighter by embracing hip-hop and urban elements in its settings and character designs. The game will see the return of classic characters such as Chun-Li and Ryu, as well as new faces like Kimberly. It launches in 2023 on PC and next-gen consoles. It isn't the only fighting game coming in 2023, and gamers can also expect Tekken 8 from Bandai Namco.
From Bethesda, gamers can expect the long-awaited Starfield. The sci-fi game will take players to the Settled Systems where factions are enjoying uneasy peace after the terrible Colony War. It will be up to players to decide where they will go, who they will side with, and how their story will unravel. The open-world game releases in the first half of 2023, and it will be the first new IP from Bethesda in over 25 years. For sci-fi fans who aren't satisfied with Starfield, they can also dive into Deliver Us Mars. Developed by KeokeN Interactive, the game serves as the sequel to 2018's Deliver Us the Moon. If it is anything like its predecessor, it will be an atmospheric game filled with puzzles and a story that's impossible to turn away from.
It will also be an epic year for Final Fantasy fans, as there are two games scheduled. First up is Final Fantasy 16 which is set in Valisthea, a continent where six factions are facing conflict over a strange miasma called the Blight. The year will end with Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth and it will serve as the second part of the Final Fantasy 7 remake. This isn't all that's brewing over at Square Enix, and gamers can also look forward to Forspoken, an open-world game set in the magical land of Athia. The protagonist, Frey Holland, must use her newfound powers to defeat the malevolent Tantas and find her way home. The game hit shelves on 24 January on PC and PS5.
One of the most anticipated games of next year is Avalanche Software's Hogwarts Legacy. The game will take players to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, allowing them to enroll as fifth year students. Players will be able to explore the castle, attend classes, tame magical beasts, and make friends with their fellow students. Trailers have also revealed that dark magic is afoot, and it remains to be seen whether players will be on the side of good, or whether gamers will have the choice to dabble in the dark arts. Hogwarts Legacy is set to release on February 10 on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.
The Rest of the AAA Games Coming in 2023
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There is plenty to look forward to next year from all genres. Titles like Resident Evil 4 Remake and Alan Wake 2 will please horror fans, while The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is not to be missed by anyone who loves open-world games. The following games have been given release dates:
- Company of Heroes 3 - February 23 (PC)
- Dead Island 2 - February 3 (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)
- Dead Space - January 27 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S)
- Kerbal Space Program 2 - February 24 (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)
- Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe - February 24 (Nintendo Switch)
- One Piece Odyssey - January 12 (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S)
- Persona 3 Portable - January 19 (PC)
- Resident Evil 4 Remake - March 24 (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S)
- Skull & Bones - March 9 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S)
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - May 12 (Nintendo Switch)
- Wild Hearts - February 17 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S)
- Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty - March 3 (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)
The following games are slated for 2023 but have yet to receive release dates:
- Alan Wake 2 - PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
- Ark 2 - PC, Xbox Series X/S
- Assassin's Creed Mirage - PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
- Atlas Fallen - PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
- Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora - PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
- Baldur's Gate 3 - PC
- Diablo 4 - PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
- Everywhere - PC
- Homeworld 3 - PC
- Hyenas - PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
- Lies of P - PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
- Marvel's Spider-Man 2 - PS5
- Minecraft Legends - PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
- Payday 3 - Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
- Pikmin 4 - Nintendo Switch
- Pragmata - PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
- Redfall - PC, Xbox Series X/S
- Stalker 2 - PC, Xbox Series X/S
- Star Trek: Resurgence - PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
- Star Wars Jedi: Survivor - PC
- Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League - PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
- Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown - Nintendo Switch, PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
- The Day Before - PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
- The Expanse: A Telltale Series - PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
- The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria - PC
- Tron: Identity - PC
In addition to the release of all the above games, the PSVR 2 will also launch. It features plenty of next-gen technology to increase immersion and enhance the virtual reality experience. Not all events in 2023 are positive, as the year will also bring the closure of Google Stadia and the Nintendo eShop on the 3DS and Wii U.