“This is the year.” It feels as though we’re stuck in a loop of saying it year in, year out. Following a few aggressive years of acquisition, including the mega-purchase that saw them absorb Bethesda, Xbox has enough skin in the game for this to actually be their year.
With all of their 23 first-party studios working toward their goal of releasing a game per quarter, it’s time to see what’s next for Halo, Hellblade, Starfield, and more.
ALL OF XBOX AND BETHESDA’S E3 2021 ANNOUNCEMENTS
BETHESDA WASTED NO TIME IN SHOWING US STARFIELD AND A RELEASE DATE
We got a first look at some pre-alpha gameplay. The game runs on a brand new version of Bethesda’s own internal engine, Creation Engine 2. It’s launching on Xbox Series X/S and PC on November 11, 2022.
WE GOT A BETTER LOOK AT BOTH THE CAMPAIGN AND MULTIPLAYER OF HALO INFINITE
The lengthy trailer showed off some of the story footage and looks remarkably better than what was first shown last year. The multiplayer will also be playable in 120fps on the newer Xbox consoles, and it was confirmed to be releasing this year still.
A BRAND NEW FORZA HORIZON GAME WAS REVEALED AND IT’S COMING THIS YEAR
Forza Horizon 5 is said to be the largest and most diverse world ever created for a Forza game and it takes place in Mexico this time around. There’s juicy ray tracing too. It’s launching on November 9 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
WE’VE FINALLY GOT A DATE FOR AGE OF EMPIRES IV
It’s releasing on October 28 for PC and features many historical figures. Do you think they’ll get Leelee Sobieski to reprise her role as Joan of Arc? A man can dream.
ARKANE STUDIOS SHOWED OFF THEIR NEW GAME TO CLOSE THE SHOWCASE AND ITS GOT BITE
The lengthy reveal trailer implied some kind of co-op gameplay elements and sees a band of hunters going up against a band of supernatural ghoulish vampires. It’s called Redfall and it’s coming to Xbox Series X/S and PC in the Australian winter of 2022.
A HUMOUROUS TRAILER ANNOUNCED THE OUTER WORLDS 2
While the trailer was presumably CG, it’s exciting to know a follow-up is coming. It’s releasing for Xbox Series X/S and PC, and will obviously be coming to Game Pass as well.
MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATOR WAS ANNOUNCED FOR CONSOLES AND IS GETTING A FILM TIE-IN
The game is looking as beautiful as ever and will be getting a free Top Gun: Maverick expansion. While the game is already on PC, it releases for Xbox Series X|S on July 27.
GSC GAME WORLD SHOWED US SOME JUICY STALKER 2 FOOTAGE
The trailer opened with a group of people discussing something over a campfire, interspersed with in-game footage. While incredibly bleak, it’s pushing some seriously impressive graphical tech. It’s coming first to the Xbox Series X|S and PC and is launching on April 28, 2022.
ANOTHER BACK 4 BLOOD TRAILER CONFIRMED BOTH PVP ELEMENTS AND GAME PASS
Much like the game that inspired it, the new PvP mode lets monsters take on humans. The latest trailer confirmed that the game was indeed coming to Game Pass when it launches in October this year.
THE JUST CAUSE TEAM REVEALED THEIR NEW CO-OP OPEN WORLD ADVENTURE
The trailer has come real soul and looks to be a heist game of some sort. It’s called Contraband and it’s coming to Xbox Series X/S and PC. It’s also coming to Game Pass when it launches.
JACK SPARROW IS COMING TO SEA OF THIEVES IN A NEW STORY EXPANSION
It looks to be a whole bunch of new story content that is an odd fit for the series I didn’t know I needed until now. The expansion looks to be adding a whole bunch of new enemies, including Davy Jones himself. You can play through the “A Pirate’s Life” expansion for free when Season 3 of Sea of Thieves launches on June 22.
YAKUZA: LIKE A DRAGON IS COMING TO GAME PASS TOO
It joins pretty much every other mainline Yakuza game on the service and is supposedly a fantastic turn-based RPG. I even saw a woman fighting with a corded telephone which is totally what I need in my life.
THE FIRST FOOTAGE OF THE 128 PLAYER MODE OF BATTLEFIELD 2042 WAS SHOWN
With all these tornadoes I hope there will be a Wizard of Oz expansion at some point. It’s looking pretty fantastic regardless, and I can’t wait to give it a whirl on October 22, 2021.
THE STAR-STUDDED TWELVE MINUTES IS RELEASING THIS YEAR AND GOT A DATE
James McEvoy, Daisy Ridley, and Willem Dafoe star in this interactive thriller that presumably takes place in one room. The game launches on August 19, 2021, and it’ll be on Game Pass too.
PSYCHONAUTS 2 IS LOOKING PSYCHEDELIC AF
Thoughtcrabatics sounds like what I do when I decide what to order on Uber Eats. The game launches for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on August 25, 2021.
DOOM ETERNAL IS GETTING A NEXT-GEN UPDATE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOmk_QqYpLg
The update will offer various different modes – whether it be a 60fps mode with raytracing, a true 4K mode, or a 120fps mode. It’s releasing in late June.
TWO NEW MAJOR UPDATES WERE SHOWN FOR FALLOUT 76
Both expansions are available for free to players of Fallout 76. Steel Reign, which launches on July 7th, sees you deciding the fate of the brotherhood. There’s even going to be a new expedition that takes place in The Pitt, but that’s not out until 2022.
PARTY ANIMALS LOOKS ADORABLE AND GENTLY CHAOTIC
The game sees cute creatures brawling in colourful locations. An animal-filled Fall Guys, if you will. It launches for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC in 2022.
HADES IS FINALLY COMING TO XBOX
You’ll be able to get your horny on with the entire cast when it launches on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on August 13, 2021, and yes it’s also on Game Pass.
A NEW EXPERIENCE CALLED SOMERVILLE WAS SHOWN OFF FOR THE FIRST TIME
It’s from some of the minds that brought you Limbo and sees someone fighting to make their family whole again. It’s coming to Game Pass next year.
THE DIABLO 2 REMAKE WAS DATED AND IS LOOKING AS DEVILISH AS EVER
The game will render at 4K 60fps, feature cross-progression, and co-op for up to eight players. It launches on September 23.
A BRAND NEW DIRECT SEQUEL TO PLAGUE TALE WAS ANNOUNCED
A Plague Tale: Requiem follows A Plague Tale: Innocence and it’s coming to Game Pass when it launches next year for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC.
EVEN MORE FAR CRY 6 FOOTAGE WAS SHOWN OFF
It’s going to appear at every conference ever isn’t it? But it’s looking great and as per usual, Giancarlo Esposito is bae. It’s still launching in October.
SHREDDERS IS A TRANQUIL SNOWBOARDING GAME THAT I TOTALLY VIBED WITH
It’s got a super cool air to it and it’s releasing on December 2021 for Xbox Series X/S and PC. It’s also coming to Game Pass.
SOVIET ERA ACTION RPG ATOMIC HEART WAS SHOWN AGAIN
A bizarrely upbeat trailer for a game so brim, the game looks to have a great tongue-in-cheek vibe and takes place in the alternate Soviet Union in the 50s. It’s releasing for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
A 2.5D SCI-FI PLATFORMER CALLED REPLACED WAS ANNOUNCED
It’s an incredibly stylish, cyberpunk flavoured platformer that’s coming in 2022. You play as an AI stuck inside a human body against its own will. It hits Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC on Game Pass too.
MUSHROOMS OF THE NON-MAGIC KIND ARE COMING TO GROUNDED
The new update is called Shroom and Doom. It adds sitting, pets, mushrooms to harvest and a giant spider called the brood mother. No psychedelic drugs, unfortunately, but you can play Psychonauts 2 for that. There are even achievements being added, which melts my butter.
AMONG US IS EXPANDING AND COMING TO CONSOLES TOO
The game will eventually expand to support fifteen player lobbies on June 15. It’s also not only coming to Xbox consoles but also on Game Pass for both console and PC.
EIYUDEN CHRONICLE: HUNDRED HEROES IS A BRAND NEW RPG FROM TALENTED RPG PEDIGREE
The game is a throwback to classic Japanese RPGs and has a similar look to games like Octopath Traveler.
There’s some fancy dynamic camera work in the battles, which support up to six players. Developed by people who worked on the Suikoden games, it’s coming to Game Pass when it launches in 2023.
A prequel of some sort, called Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising, launches in 2022.
THE ASCENT IS COMING TO GAME PASS AND GOT A SOLID RELEASE DATE
Whew.
BUT XBOX HAD ONE MORE THING AND REVEALED THAT THE XBOX FRIDGE IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING
Xbox and Chill indeed. It’s powered by Xbox’s Cooling Architecture (groundbreaking, truly) and is hitting your kitchens at the end of the year. I’m ready to fill it with my shameful beverages.
