It’s no secret that Xbox has been lagging behind PlayStation in terms of first-party content, but the year 2024 offers both the platform and Microsoft CEO Phil Spencer a real chance at redemption.
Since acquiring Bethesda Game Studios and Activision Blizzard King, Microsoft holds ownership of some of the biggest IP in the game industry. However, that alone isn’t going to win the game maker a bigger audience. At the end of the day, a gaming platform is as good as the content that it offers, and, despite claiming to bring great lineup of games in 2023, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer hasn’t quite been able to deliver on that front, with the exception of Tango Gameworks’ innovative Hi-Fi Rush. In addition, the Xbox Series consoles are in dire need of showcase titles that can deliver on the promise of “next-gen”. In 2024, Xbox has a chance to redeem itself with the forthcoming release of some major first-party titles.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
Microsoft has promoted the Xbox Series X as the most powerful console ever, yet it’s the PS5 that has been delivering graphical showcases in the form of the Demon’s Souls remake, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, and, more recently, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, the upcoming action adventure game from first-party studio Ninja Theory, looks like it’s going to change things. Powered by Unreal Engine 5, the game is a remarkable step up in terms of visual fidelity. Regardless of how it turns out as a game, it’s bound to catch the attention of Xbox Series X|S owners who have been looking for a game to show the consoles’ true potential.
Avowed
Fans of Obsidian Entertainment have always wondered what it would be like for the studio to work on a game with a AAA budget. Since getting acquired by Microsoft, the studio now has the resources to deliver something with the role-playing depth seen in its earlier titles and the production values of a bid budget game. Avowed has the potential to be that game, and while it’s not on par with a graphical showcase like Hellblade 2, it’s certainly Obsidian Entertainment’s most impressive looking game to date. Coupled with the RPG sensibilities that the studio is known for, the studio has a shot at delivering a system seller on the Xbox Series consoles with Avowed.
Starfield: Shattered Space
Since its release in 2023, Bethesda’s Starfield has been seen as a game with unrealized potential. With the release of its upcoming expansion, Shattered Space, the studio has a chance at giving the game an overhaul and bringing improvements in key areas that have been the subject of criticism. Many players want Starfield to offer more meaningful reasons to explore planets and build outposts. Others have issues with excessive loading screens in the game adversely affecting the overall experience. The latter, in particular, is something not expected of a current-gen console, especially when the competition is showing off how significantly higher I/O throughput can result in more seamless gameplay experiences.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
MachineGames’ Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is another title that has the potential to deliver a big budget blockbuster experience to fans of cinematic action adventure games. The Uncharted series gets a lot of its inspiration from the Indiana Jones franchise. If the Wolfenstein developer can work the same magic as Naughty Dog, with a tightly-paced, narrative-driven experience that features a decent dose of thrilling set-pieces, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will undoubtedly be just the kind of game Xbox needs.
All in all, games like Avowed and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle show a lot of potential, while Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 has the potential to show Xbox fans what their current-gen console hardware is capable of delivering in 2024. It’s a solid lineup of console exclusives that may finally deliver on the assurance Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer gave to fans back in 2022.
