The summer of games is almost getting too hot. These last two weeks have been overflowing with news, trailers and announcements. Most recently the Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase was 90 minutes long and had close to 40 game announcements. With everything that’s going to launch within the next 12 months. There’s something for everyone with compelling strategy titles, open-world RPGs, narrative titles, action games and so much more.
All the announcements come as no surprise considering the amount of gaming clout Microsoft has purchased. With another huge gaming partnership on the horizon as well. There are so many upcoming games to look forward to that you’ll probably be buying an Xbox Game Pass right after you read this article.
With everything that’s coming, it’s a lot to process, we’re going to set up a highlight reel here!
Xbox Game Studios Partnership With Kojima Productions
Did you like Death Stranding? Are you a fan of Metal Gear Solid? Even if you aren’t there’s no denying the genius that is Hideo Kojima-san. Now he’s sharing his gift with Xbox Game Studios and will be creating something that “one that no one has ever experienced or seen before”. I have no doubt in my mind that, that will be true.
Utilising Microsoft’s cloud technology, we can expect a game that will “change in real-time”. Like Animal Crossing I guess. But whichever game that comes out of that studio you know it’s going to be a creative masterpiece and definitely nothing we’ve ever seen before.
Starfield
After long last, we’re finally getting some Starfield gameplay trailer. Starfield was announced way back in 2018 and it looks like in 2023 we’re finally able to take off for this epic sci-fi adventure.
Todd Howard describes Starfield as being “like Skyrim in space”. Which I’m all for. It seems like exploration is the name of the game. There will be 1000 planets to explore between 100 systems. In-depth customization for both characters and starships. Shooter combat that can swap between first-person and third-person gameplay.
Starfield has been delayed to the first half of 2023 but recent speculation is hopeful that it could release as early as March, specifically March 3 as the 3.3.23 date lines up nicely with the previous 11.11.22 release date. Starfield will be an Xbox and PC exclusive.
Redfall
Redfall is an open-world co-op FPS from Arkane Austin, the award-winning team behind Prey and Dishonored.
The town of Redfall is under siege by a legion of vampires who have cut the island off from the outside world. Trapped with a handful of survivors, squad up to create the perfect team of vampire slayers in open-world action. There are four heroes for you to choose from with different abilities. Choose from telekinesis, dead eye, a robotic companion or just a bunch of gadgets.
You’ll be able to play alone or with friends for some solid vampire hunting. As you can expect from the creators the game is stealthy. But with all the different abilities there’s a degree of tactics that can be utilised with your powers.
There’s no official release date yet but expect it sometime in 2023 on PC, Xbox and on Day One with the Xbox Game Pass.
Overwatch 2
In all the pandemic and game news I had almost forgotten about Microsoft’s acquisition of Blizzard. So it was quite a surprise for me to see Overwatch 2 at the Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase. Finally though after much delay we’re getting the sequel to 2016’s Game of the Year. Kinda.
Overwatch 2 will be launching in early access on October 4th and its PvP portion of the game will be free to play. The showcase also revealed a brand new hero ‘Junker Queen’ who will be “a high-mobility and railgun-wielding former Overwatch captain with cybernetic capabilities.” For more Overwatch 2 changes and upgrades to the game check out our article here.
Overwatch 2 will be out for the PlayStation 4|5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC.
Diablo IV
Diablo IV has been a long time coming even with the whole Activision Blizzard drama. First announced at Blizzcon 2019, Diablo IV development has steadily been progressing since.
The endless battle between the High Heavens and the Burning Hells rages on in Diablo IV as chaos threatens to consume Sanctuary. With ceaseless demons to slaughter, countless Abilities to master, nightmarish Dungeons, and Legendary loot, this vast, open-world brings the promise of adventure and devastation. Survive and conquer darkness – or succumb to the shadows.
Diablo IV is set to launch in 2023 for the Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PC with cross-play and cross-progression for all platforms. On Xbox, players can play alongside a friend with couch-co-op.
Ark 2
Ark: Survival Evolved since its launch in 2015 has spun out into a huge expansive narrative that spans multiple games and a TV series. Now it’s time for the game to take the next step with Ark 2 and we’re all here for it.
Ark 2’s main narrative tells the story of a father and a daughter, Meeka, of betrayal and broken promises, and the strength of the family bond — and of course, it’s a story of awesome giant dinosaurs. But even more importantly, this is about players’ own stories — like any good persistent-world online survival game, Survivors in Ark 2 each have their own unique path through the game, as they form their own tribe, make their own friends, and attempt to build their own creature-aided civilization.
“Put simply: with Ark 2, our goal is to make the game that we all wanted Ark to be — now that we’ve had the time, resources, and knowledge to do it right.”
Ark 2 will launch sometime in 2023 with the Xbox and PC Game Pass.
High On Life
Rick and Morty’s has a wonderfully bizarre and zany style that translates well into video games. Justin Roiland, a co-creator behind the raunchy animated series and later Solar Opposites announced a new first-person shooter called High on Life. It is being developed by the games studio he helped found called Squanch Games and is scheduled to be released in 2022.
YIn High On Life you’re a bounty hunter on a mission to stop an alien invasion on Earth. These interstellar cartel creeps aren’t just taking over our stuff — they’re using humans as drugs. There’s a huge arsenal of sci-fi weapons, and plenty of different planets and aliens to meet and explore. Expect high action volatility and hilarity with high On Life.
High On Life is coming to Xbox Series X|S later this year in 2022.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
We last wrote about Hollow Knight: Silksong back in 2019 and we’re glad to see that the game finally has a release time frame. For those of you that are fans of the 2017 original Hollow Knight game then you’re going to love the developer’s next platforming adventure.
In Silksong you’ll be playing as Hornet, the princess protector of Hallownest from the previous game. Hornet was kidnapped and taken to a “whole new kingdom haunted by silk and song.” In opposition to Hollow Knight’s focus on descending further and further through Hallownest, Hornet will be climbing upwards to the holy citadel at the very top of this new world, which also includes “coral forests, mossy grottos, gilded cities and misted moors.”
The game is launching in the next 12 months on the Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, and Linux. It will also be available on Day One for Xbox Game Pass subscribers.
