The last few years have been interesting for Microsoft, and by extension Xbox itself. While it hasn't had the impact that PlayStation has had, 2021 was the first full year that the Xbox Series X was available, and Xbox delivered tons of new stuff for players to enjoy both on the Xbox Series X and its other platforms. However, 2022 is here, and it's time to look at what Xbox could do between now and 2023.

The stage is set for a massive year for video games as Xbox, Nintendo, and PlayStation ready their audiences for new games. Of the big three, Xbox is uniquely positioned because it no longer has console exclusives, instead focusing its efforts on providing PC and Xbox players with marquee experiences. Here's what that means in 2022.

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New Xbox Exclusive Gameplay Trailers and Release Dates

A fairy smiling at an open flower in the Fable 4 announcement trailer

If there's one common complaint among Xbox fans, it's that the company has shown off plenty of CGI trailers but next to no gameplay for some of its biggest trailers. Starfield, Fable, Avowed, and many of Xbox's other biggest projects have only received CGI trailers up until now, causing concerns that Xbox's star-studded portfolio of games is farther off than fans assume. And those fears aren't unfounded.

While Xbox isn't the only company guilty of this at the moment, it's certainly the worst offender when it comes to it and its competition. CGI trailers do nothing to prove a game's quality, they only offer a vague promise of the tone that developers are going for. As time has shown with games like Cyberpunk 2077, video game trailers are the enemy, and Xbox may end up hurting itself in the long run if it keeps showing nothing but CGI in lieu of gameplay.

Luckily, that seems like it will change in 2022. The time is right for Xbox to begin lifting the curtain on some of its biggest projects, which will more than likely mean a big E3 2022 for Xbox – if it doesn't host its own show sooner. There, fans will likely see the games that Xbox announced years ago but revealed little about. With any luck, that will also mean that Xbox fans get release dates, or at least release windows, for Xbox's upcoming projects.

Starfield Makes Its Debut

starfield astronaut

November 11, 2022, is a date many gamers have marked on their calendar. It's the start of a new era for Bethesda as it debuts Starfield, its first major new IP in decades and the first exclusive Microsoft has netted from the Bethesda acquisition. While Bethesda has a tendency to be over-confident in the quality of its releases from a technical standpoint, the development team does seem to be sure about the quality of its work this time around. Plus, it has something to prove after the disastrous release of Fallout 76 back in 2018.

Those that are excited for Starfield should ready themselves, as it's likely going to be the defining Xbox game of 2022. While it won't be as big as Halo Infinite was, Bethesda is no small studio, and fans can expect Starfield to take center-stage at pretty much every Xbox event this year. Bethesda hasn't really shown its hand when it comes to Starfield, and while there have been some leaks that hint where its headed, there are still major questions that need to be answered before November rolls around.

Luckily, it's time for the game marketing machine to begin whirring on Starfield, as it takes extra effort to build excitement for a new IP. That means gamers should start seeing marketing material for Starfield any day now, be that brief teasers, gameplay clips, or screenshots. Don't expect a sudden torrent of new information and shocking revelations, but the next six months or so should have at least a decent build-up of teases. At the very least, an extended look at gameplay during E3 2022, Gamescom 2022, or any of the other trade shows that take place throughout the year seems likely.

Xbox Game Pass and Cloud Streaming Turned Up to 11

xbox game pass sign

If there's anything that gamers can count on in 2022, it's that Xbox will level up its marketing for Xbox Game Pass. The company simply has too many cards in its hand for it to hold off, as Game Pass is one of the biggest selling points for Xbox as a platform right now, if not the biggest. Offering up its first-party games, and a heap of third-party ones, at the price of a single subscription is a great way for Xbox to build out its reputation, which it's done well over the past few years.

With major games on the horizon, Xbox Game Pass is bound to become all the more impressive. Even having Bethesda games on Xbox Game Pass is a huge selling point for the subscription, especially when Starfield lands later this year. Of course, there will likely be some other surprises throughout the year too, making the offerings that much more impressive.

In time, the biggest games on the Xbox Series X will be exclusives, and all of those exclusives are guaranteed to be on the subscription. As 2022 progresses, Xbox can hammer that fact home, shepherding its value to new subscribers as it does. It stands to reason that the offerings will grow with the audience, as it makes cutting a deal with Xbox all the more lucrative for developers.

Xbox fans should have quite the year ahead of them. While the exclusives calendar for 2022 – and beyond – is mostly a mystery, Xbox's offerings will be fairly broad. Hopefully, that just means everyone has a game to look forward to on the platform, regardless of their individual tastes.

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