A new picture posted online lays out the first-party release roadmap for Xbox Game Studios and Bethesda in 2023 and beyond, giving gamers a hint of what the publishing powerhouses have in store forXboxand PC players in the years to come. In addition to heavy hitters likeBethesda’s sci-fi RPGStarfieldand the long-awaitedThe Elder Scrolls 6,the lineup also features smaller titles like the rebooted RTSAge of Mythology: Retold.Despite its 2021 acquisition of Bethesda helping Microsoft to drastically grow the number of high-profile properties under the Xbox Game Studios brand, the company has had a spotty track record when it comes to first-party releases in recent years. While some of the company’s recent titles likeForza Horizon 5andMicrosoft Flight Simulatorreceived praise from both critics and gamers, other tentpole releases like 2021’sHalo Infinitewere met with a decidedly chillier reception. The lack of successful, high-profile first-party releases in recent months was likely a contributing factor to news thatXbox revenue dropped by 13%in the most recent fiscal quarter.RELATED:Evil Within Developer’s New Game Hi-Fi Rush is Out Today on Xbox Game PassIn a new post on Twitter from Klobrille, an image shows the Xbox Game Studios release roadmap for 2023 and beyond as well as the company’s ongoing projects. While gamers are likely to be familiar with many of the upcoming games listed for release, such as racing simForza Motorsportand the Xbox release of Bethesda’sGhostwire Tokyo, details remain scarce on entries like gaming auteurHideo Kojima’s mysterious Xbox project. The roadmap features a healthy mix of genres, with everything from action games to strategy titles set for release under the Xbox Game Studios banner.
Responses to the roadmap were mixed, with some gamers excited to see long-awaited titles slated for an eventual release while others found little to look forward to. Referencing the long wait for high-profile Xbox Game Studios games like the reboot of cult classicPerfect Dark, one commenter remarked that “a lot of those ‘upcoming’ games have been in that state for years.” Another post criticized what they saw as a small number of games slated for release in 2023, leading Klobrille to point out that Sony and Nintendo have announced 1 and 5 first-party titles for 2023 respectively compared to the 10 announced byXbox.
While the titles on deck from Bethesda and Xbox Game Studios in the coming years may not appeal to every gamer, the eclectic mix is sure to help Microsoft shake off its reputation for limited and lackluster first-party releases. Whether the diverse lineup will be enough to dispelFox News’ anger at Xbox, however, remains to be seen.
