Starfield, in particular, was hotly anticipated, being the first major RPG from the makers of The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim and Fallout 4 in seven years.īoth have now been pushed to the first half of 2023. They will be the first Bethesda games since the buyout not to be released on PlayStation, and to be added on day one to the Xbox Game Pass library. The two games were given 2022 dates during last year’s summer Xbox showcase, and represent the first real fruits of Microsoft’s $7.5 billion acquisition of Bethesda.
But this week’s announcement of delays to two Bethesda titles and Xbox console exclusives - Starfield, from Bethesda Game Studios, and Redfall, from Arkane - has hit particularly hard. The 2022 Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase indicated that 2023 might finally be the year when that starts to happen, but whether Xbox Game Studios can follow through on its lofty goals for 2023 remains to be seen.Game delays happen all the time, and they’re always disappointing. Rampant delays and mismanagement mean Xbox has never had the consistency to pull it all together just yet, though.
#REDFALL XBOX WINDOWS#
Still, if Microsoft can hit the release windows it has set and deliver some more surprises in the back half of the year, then one of the best years ever for Xbox could be awaiting us.įor years, it has felt like we have been on the precipice of a tipping point for Microsoft, where its acquisitions and game lineup work in tandem with Xbox Game Pass to finally help Xbox come out on top over PlayStation and Nintendo. “Delivering quality & consistency is expected, we will continue to work to better meet those expectations.” Whether or not Xbox Game Studios is actually able to follow through with this in 2023 remains to be seen. “While I fully support giving teams time to release these great games when they are ready, we hear the feedback,” Spencer tweeted following the backlash to Redfall and Starfield’s delays. Thankfully, Xbox Head Phil Spencer seems to have taken notice. We also don’t know if Microsoft can keep up that cadence of releases into 2024 and beyond. Games like Avowed and Hellblade II also don’t have release windows, so those could easily slip into 2024 and make Xbox’s fall 2023 lineup less impressive than we’re anticipating. Delays are why we’re in the 2023 release situation with Redfall and Starfield in the first place! Of course, outside factors like the COVID-19 pandemic have likely had a negative impact on game development, but it’s tough to trust that all of these games will land in their promised release windows when Xbox has repeatedly delayed heavy hitters like Halo Infinite and Starfield. Many Xbox Game Studios games have reportedly had development issues, and several games have been pushed back. The exceptionsĭespite the excitement about how awesome 2023 may be for Xbox, I also don’t have complete faith that Xbox Game Studios will follow through with everything it’s promising. Unfortunately, it’s hard to already give Microsoft too much credit for its 2023 Xbox lineup just yet because of one big problem Xbox Game Studios has faced: consistency. If all of this pans out as expected, 2023 might be a standout year for Xbox as we finally start to see the fruits of its acquisitions, renewed Xbox Game Studios publishing, and lots of high-profile day one Xbox Game Pass games. We’d also love to see games like Hellblade II: Senua’s Sacrifice and Perfect Dark make the cut for 2023 releases. Microsoft also has the potential to continue that momentum throughout the rest of the year, with Avalanche Studios’ Contrabandalready having a 2023 release date. We have a very clear picture of what early 2023 will look like for Xbox, and it’s one of the most promising starts for its platforms ever. While Microsoft was extremely quiet throughout the first half of 2022, that certainly won’t be the case next year. The Activision Blizzard acquisition may also be completed, so its games will also start coming to Xbox Game Pass. Things aren’t looking too shabby on the Xbox Game Pass front either, as games like Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, Flintlock, Ark 2, Ereban: Shadow Legacy, Ravenlok, The Last Case of Benedict Fox, Cocoon, Persona 3 and 4, and more are all launching on the service on day one throughout the first half of 2023 from third-party partners. It then confirmed that Forza Motorsport will launch in spring 2023 and announced first-party strategy games Minecraft Legends and Ara: History Untold for the first half of 2023. During the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase, Microsoft reiterated that Redfalland Starfieldare still coming in the first half of next year. The first six months of 2023 are shaping up to be fantastic for Xbox players. Microsoft just needs to follow through on its promises with consistency first.
Next year looks like it may be when Xbox’s bold acquisitions and Xbox Game Pass-driven strategy finally starts to pay off massively.