As the current-gen consoles enter their third year, no system seems ready to hit its stride like the Xbox Series X in 2023. It’s been a somewhat muted two years for Microsoft’s console as the company has been keeping some of its biggest upcoming titles under wraps, with delays further pushing its lineup into 2023. However, it looks like Microsoft is confident in its output this year, and there is plenty coming down the pipeline for Xbox Series X owners to anticipate.
The first half of 2023 is already packed for the Xbox Series X, with previously delayed games hopefully finishing development and reaching their early deadlines. It will be a particularly big year for Bethesda and Arkane, as both studios are releasing their first Xbox console-exclusive titles since the finalization of their acquisition by Microsoft in early 2021. Speaking of acquisitions, Microsoft’s buyout of Activision Blizzard continues deliberation. If successful, it could prove to be a boon for Game Pass owners. Overall, 2023 may be a standout year for the Xbox Series X.
The Xbox Series X is Poised for a Big First Half of 2023
The first half of 2023 seems ready to put the Xbox Series X through its paces as some heavy-hitting console exclusives that fans have been waiting for finally hit the system. Delays for these big games are always possible, but so far only STALKER 2 has seen an understandable delay. Coming in the first half of 2023 are Redfall, Forza Motorsport, and Starfield as Xbox console exclusives. Granted, these games still don’t have a firm release date, but all have confirmed windows for the front half of the year.
Redfall is Arkane’s crack at an open-world co-op first-person shooter, in the vein of Left 4 Dead in some capacity, but with a vampire twist. Forza Motorsport is something of a soft reboot for the circuit racing side of the franchise, dropping the numbered entries after a brief hiatus. Starfield is Bethesda's behemoth over a decade in the making, bringing the company back to the limelight after a notable absence throughout the Xbox One generation. At the same time, Xbox Game Pass will also include some notable third-party games on the service day one, including Atomic Heart, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, and Monster Hunter Rise to fill in the gaps between exclusive releases.
Xbox May Finally Show What Its Studios Are Up To in 2023
Microsoft has been reluctant to show what its lineup of developers are working on despite having many studios, but there is a good reason for it. The gaming world has been a whirlwind of delays as developers transition into new workflows, take on bigger games, and tackle new hardware amid a global pandemic. Naturally, Xbox wants to show its upcoming projects when they are ready; however, the time could be right to showcase what’s next for the Xbox Series X. With this being a big year for its console exclusives, Xbox will likely want to keep that momentum going.
There is a good chance that fans will see Ninja Theory’s Hellblade 2 soon, with hopefully a release date announcement for this year or next. STALKER 2 is also a likely candidate for an update, as it seems pretty far along in development based on a recent gameplay trailer. Farther out, Obsidian’s Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2 are currently in development, but they are likely still a ways off.
Similarly, Playground Games’ Fable reboot could show up sometime in 2023 with the first update since its 2020 announcement, but it isn’t a likely candidate for anything too substantial. Xbox Game Studios has a sizable number of developers under its belt, including The Coalition and inXile, which are yet to announce anything substantial and could possibly make surprise announcements throughout the year.
Microsoft’s Acquisition of Activision Blizzard Could Be Significant for Xbox
Perhaps the biggest gaming news last year was Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Microsoft believes that the deal is likely to close by June should everything go smoothly, but there are a few hurdles before the deal is signed. While regulatory bodies in Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Serbia, and Chile have approved the deal as of December 2022, Microsoft’s biggest challenge will come from the US Federal Trade Commission, which has sued Microsoft over its acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Meanwhile, regulatory bodies in the UK and Europe are conducting higher-level investigations into the matter, which are expected to conclude sometime in mid-to-late spring.
Microsoft’s $68.7 billion acquisition would be massive for Xbox and Xbox Game Pass. The Blizzard side of the company in particular has massive franchises like World of Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo, and having all of them under the Game Pass banner would make the subscription service all the more compelling. Another elephant in the room is Call of Duty, and where the franchise would land should Microsoft own the rights to the IP. While Microsoft has repeatedly stated its intentions to keep Call of Duty platform-agnostic, Sony is doing everything possible to win ground with the franchise should the buyout happen.
Xbox Game Pass Could Be Huge for Indies in 2023
Xbox Game Pass has become a compelling reason to invest in an Xbox Series X in 2023. For those who love playing a multitude of games, Game Pass is an excellent avenue for finding AAA titles and indie gems at a low-cost. In the indie space, Chained Echoes, Immortality, and Signalis are among the most acclaimed releases of last year, and they all found a substantial audience thanks to being Xbox Game Pass day-one launches. This year will likely see Xbox continue to maintain its indie momentum.
Some of the most anticipated indies of 2023 coming to Xbox Game Pass include Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, The Last Case of Benedict Fox, Replaced, and Hollow Knight: Silksong. For fans of Hollow Knight, the upcoming sequel has been a long time coming, and Xbox Game Pass has the fortune of hosting it as a day one exclusive; hopefully sometime in 2023, should no further delays happen.
Xbox Game Pass has repeatedly proven that it is a significant driving force in the creation and success of smaller titles like Pentiment, which may not have become such a hit without Game Pass, making the indie space here something to keep an eye on throughout 2023. The next breakout indie hit could likely easily be found on Xbox Series X.