2023 Has Been An Incredible Year For Games, And We Can't Wait For 2024 On Xbox

We should have a great year ahead!

by Ben Kerry Sun 31st Dec 2023

2023 Has Been An Incredible Year For Games, And We Can't Wait For 2024 On Xbox

This past year has been an absolute landmark 12 months in gaming, hasn't it? Here at Pure Xbox we've given out four 10/10 scores in 2023 - not to mention the long list of super impressive titles that haven't quite managed that top rating but have landed well all the same. This generation is finally kicking into gear and we're here for it!

As the year comes to a close though, we can't help but start thinking about 2024 and what a fantastic year it could turn out to be for Xbox fans. As usual these days there's a chunk of our highly-anticipated list that slipped from 2023 to next year, and if you add in games that were always targeting 2024, we could have an incredible year to come.

On the Xbox first-party front we've got a few games lined up for 2024 so far. Towerborne looks nailed-on for next year right now, while Microsoft also has Hellblade 2, Avowed and now South of Midnight pushing to release next year. That's not to mention what could be revealed at a 'Developer Direct' showcase or something of that nature - Xbox showed up to industry events in a big way this year and we're expecting 2024 to be similar!

Who could forget Activision Blizzard as well? The company has had lots of airtime this year in relation to Xbox's deal actually going through, but now that acquisition has been confirmed, we can actually start thinking about the company's games and what might land on Xbox soon.

Water is still very much wet so Treyarch's next Call of Duty will launch next year — potentially day one on Game Pass — and we'd expect there to be some surprises in the works over at ActiBlizz's studios right now as well. Oh and Xbox Game Pass fans still have that huge batch of Activision Blizzard titles to look forward to, which is expected to hit the service at some point in 2024. Phwoar, what a year it could be!

In terms of some Game Pass titles that are perhaps a bit more tangible right now, we're especially looking forward to a couple of February drops here. The absolutely gorgeous Open Roads just got a confirmed release date for Feb '24, while yet another day one Persona game drops into the library next February as well. The service is kicking into gear early next year, it seems!

Of course, it goes without saying that there'll be lots to look forward to that we don't actually know about just yet as well. It's always hard to see how a year will pan out ahead of time, but from various showcases, announcements and shadow drops - you can bet your bottom dollar that 2024's lineup will continue to grow exponentially as we head into next year.

So, are there any 2024 standouts you're already getting excited about? Any yet-to-be-revealed surprises you're hoping might appear next year? Tell us in the comments section down below!

Ben is a News Writer at Pure Xbox, and is a fan of action, racing and straight-up shootin' in any Xbox game he can get his hands on. When he's not clutching an Xbox controller like his life depends on it, Ben spends his time listening to music that's far too old for him, watching football on the telly and probably eating somewhere.

1
rustyduck
Sun 31st Dec 2023

i keep playing outer worlds over and over. think i will hit the 300 hour mark i have in starfield. can't wait for avowed.

2
EdgarTheBug
Sun 31st Dec 2023

For me it is either Black Myth Wukong or Phantom Blade Zero & possibly a Xbox elite 3 controller.

3
somnambulance
Sun 31st Dec 2023

Next year sort of looks quiet to me and I’m sort of grateful for that. I mean, Rebirth will no doubt take a chunk of time to complete and I feel confident that I’ll enjoy it and even more so because I’m not hyper focused on the next game coming. I mean, sure, there’s other titles, but, as of right now, it’s much more manageable than this year was. It was sort of challenging having so many games slotted right next to each other.

4
themightyant
Mon 1st Jan 2024

I've said it before but ALL studios could stop making games for a couple of years and i'd still have too much to play, in some ways I embrace the rare quieter spells as I can not feel i'm getting further and further behind.

5
Titntin
Mon 1st Jan 2024

@themightyant Fully agree, theres so many titles I have yet to get to!
Its one of several reasons I let my GP sub expire 2 months back, I had concens following the purchase of ABK, but Ive largely come to terms with that - theres really little else I could expect from MS since the purchase and Bobby is gone.
Given how many dev studios have folded or downsized last year, I've had a battle of consciousness about how I consume my games. Having spent 2 decades as a dev, I feel it hard when studios close and peoples lives are uprooted like we have seen so often this last year. I've been there and it hurts.
After passing on 'Season' last year telling myself I'll play it on GP when it arrives, I was mortified to see the studio fold and those devs out of work.
Im trying to stay off GP till the 1st party releases and buy more games and support people who want to make more than another shooter or rouge like. I bought three games yesterday on another platform, even though they are all on game pass and I could renew for £1.
I realise many will think Im mad for doing so, but I can afford to support games I appreciate directly. Maybe if more people did, there wouldnt be so many failures, but I suspect whats happening is more indicitive of games having become mainstream culture and simply another traded commodity.

Im rambling again, sorry!

6
themightyant
Mon 1st Jan 2024

@Titntin you’re not rambling, you are talking some sense and from a good place.

That said I still think the jury is still out on things like Game Pass and its long term effect on the industry. I am concerned about this too and try to keep my ear very close to the ground on it. But I’ve yet to see any conclusive evidence either way…

There are certainly cases where it has HELPED a game get noticed, getting more people to play and then do exceedingly well in sales as well due to increased mindshare. It can be a win. There are also times when it will help smaller devs keep the doors open off the Game Pass fee alone.

So I don’t think it’s as clear cut as “Game Pass (and similar services) harm the industry”… at least not yet, it might eventually prove to be the case but I suspect it will be more nuanced and help in some cases harm in others. There are so many variables it’s hard to know for sure.

E.g. I know a lot of devs want their games on Game Pass etc. for the exposure but can’t get them on there, this can be a problem too. Additionally I also didn’t buy Season, and while I wasn’t waiting for it to come to Game Pass the fact that Game Pass exists and gives I many great indies and experiences makes me less likely to buy another not on the service. Though like you I have tried to support studios outside game pass often buying their games separately. The irony is it was often being on Game Pass that got me to play them in the first place, those probably aren’t the devs that need the most help.

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