We’ve already tried to take an informed guess at what Sony’s plans for 2024 may be and it wasn’t simple to return to a transparent conclusion. Sony has stated so little in latest months, and presently has so few video games publicly introduced, that they’re nearly unattainable to learn in the intervening time, particularly given they’ve a brand new boss incoming. Even Nintendo has by no means felt this needlessly secretive and but Xbox shouldn’t be significantly better.
We’ll cowl Nintendo in a subsequent article however in principle their plans are fairly simple to guess at, with many video games already scheduled for this yr and the seeming inevitability of the Swap 2. Sony is extensively rumoured to be getting ready a reveal for the PS5 Professional however whereas there have been whispers of Microsoft desirous to kickstart the following technology early there aren’t any severe solutions of them having any main new {hardware} this yr.
As an alternative, their plans revolve, as they’ve for a while, round software program and subscriptions. The largest Xbox information this yr received’t be a brand new sport reveal or launch date announcement, however the level at which Activision Blizzard video games, together with Name Of Obligation, will likely be out there free on Recreation Cross. There isn’t a indication of when that will likely be, but it surely appears honest to think about that Microsoft’s advertising and marketing received’t permit you to miss it when it occurs.
On the finish of final yr there gave the impression to be hints, from sure Microsoft execs, that the long-term objective for Xbox was to get its software program, together with Recreation Cross, onto PlayStation and Nintendo codecs. How this may have an effect on Microsoft’s {hardware} enterprise wasn’t talked about, however as speak of going third celebration rapidly unfold Xbox boss Phil Spencer stepped in to make clear that isn’t going to occur… within the brief time period not less than.
Already this yr, there’s speak of beforehand unique first celebration Xbox video games showing on PlayStation 5 and/or Swap however to this point nothing definitive from Microsoft. Even so, it does appear more and more seemingly that the way forward for Xbox is now not that of being a console various to PlayStation – an analogous slab of plastic sitting underneath your TV, enjoying largely the identical video games – however one thing more and more service primarily based and {hardware} impartial.
Given how poorly the Xbox continues to promote in Europe and Japan that’s nearly a necessity at this level, even when it’s laborious to think about any main change coming by way of this yr. How a lot Name Of Obligation on Recreation Cross modifications the panorama may have an enormous affect on Microsoft’s future plans, however that’s not going to make a considerable distinction in 2024.
As an alternative, Microsoft is more likely to need to regroup after the frustration of Starfield, which didn’t develop into the vital darling it hoped. It received’t be brushed underneath the carpet although and also you’re assured to listen to rather a lot about additions and modifications, together with fan-made mods and the primary paid-for DLC.
Avowed and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 don’t have launch dates, however they’re meant to be out this yr, in order that they’ll even be a precedence, particularly as nearly nothing has been seen of Avowed to this point. It was initially marketed as a straight Skyrim clone, by Fallout: New Vegas developer Obsidian Leisure, however that was earlier than Microsoft purchased Bethesda and it’s seemingly that had not less than some impact on the sport’s strategy.
Microsoft may even need to construct on the success of its summer season showcase, by way of each its content material and the talent with which it was put collectively. It simply outshone the PlayStation equal and launched quite a few, beforehand unannounced video games that Microsoft can now go into in additional element, all through the course of the yr.
Each amount and high quality are vital for Xbox proper now, in the case of its exclusives, as regardless of all of the tens of billions spent on buying new builders Microsoft has nonetheless executed little to show across the Xbox One’s repute for underwhelming exclusives.
Starfield was supposed to alter that narrative, but when not it then maybe one among this yr’s new video games will obtain the identical objective. If Xbox intends to focus extra on video games than {hardware}, then these video games must be ok to draw new prospects and never simply placate current Xbox house owners. Name Of Obligation could also be sufficient to do this however hopefully 2024 will present us that Microsoft has extra than simply that up their sleeve.
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