
As we come to the end of 2024, we have to look back on what's been a bizarre year to be an Xbox fan. Some of the team's recent acquisitions have really kicked into gear — namely Bethesda with Indiana Jones and Activision with Black Ops 6 — but it's hard to ignore the amount of mixed messaging and weird shenanigans we've all had to deal with. In the end, Microsoft has released some good stuff this year, but we hope 2025 proves a more stable time for the brand.
But, before we get ahead of ourselves and start thinking about next year, let's take a moment to appreciate Xbox's game lineup in 2024. At this point, it's weird to think that Microsoft kicked things off with Hellblade 2 all the way back in May, but it did - and Ninja Theory delivered a bold and technically impressive sequel that ticked a lot of the right boxes for what's been missing from Xbox exclusives in recent years.
Make no mistake, we didn't think Hellblade 2 was perfect in any sense, but Microsoft let the developer realise its vision to an incredibly high standard. Despite a relatively short length, Hellblade 2 oozes AAA goodness, especially in the visuals department. The team's audio and performance work wasn't half bad either; Hellblade 2 brought home two awards for Best Audio Design and Best Performance at The Game Awards earlier this month.
Moving onto the fall 2024 lineup, things have really gone up a notch in recent months for Xbox. Since late October, Microsoft has delivered the triple threat of Black Ops 6, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, which is one heck of a way to close out the year. The team is covering a lot of bases with these three titles, offering up varied experiences as these studios finally start to deliver big game releases.
Black Ops 6 is regarded as the best Call of Duty in years, Indiana Jones is sitting on many folks' GOTY lists, and while MSFS 2024 has had its issues, when the game is working it's still a bloody technical marvel. Throw in the likes of Stalker 2 on Xbox Game Pass, and you can't complain about the sheer variety Microsoft has brought to the table in the latter half of 2024.
Looking back at the year in general, then, it's been a very mixed bag for Microsoft and its Xbox teams. There's been uncertainty around the brand all year as it continues to juggle this new, multiplatform initiative that's been spun up, but the games are finally coming, and with all the studios Microsoft now owns, that won't be slowing down anytime soon. It's been a turbulent but productive year at Xbox HQ - we just hope some of that general controversy dies down in 2025.
With all that being said, we'd like to hear your thoughts on Xbox's 2024 in general. Do you merely care about the games? If so, are you happy with what Microsoft has delivered? Or, do questions still linger about the platform as we head into next year?
Sound off on all of this down in the comments section below. And, here's to 2025 being more relaxed!
Comments 17
Bad first few months but finished the year as strong as possible 2025 looks to be a lot better for Xbox
Awesome year. I've loved game pass, play anywhere, FF pixel remasters and signals of intent from Square Enix in general, anything by Atlus, Hellblade 2 with it's visuals and sound design, and what a way to finish out the year with Indy. The most flexible ecosystem by a mile, and really looking forward to the 2025 games by XGS.
@Coletrain I still can't believe how people say XBox is a terrible eco-system. It is by far the most user friendly and accessible system out there to me. Can you imagine if GamePass was a thing growing up?! I've been gaming since the mid 80's and I've never enjoyed gaming, as a whole, more than I do now!
This was simultaneously the best and worst year Xbox has had. They finally had a solid line-up late this year with game releases after literal years of underdelivering, but they also laid off hundreds of people and closed good studios and then pivoted to basically saying they’re done with exclusives even though Indiana Jones proved that having a worthwhile exclusive can make a platform instantaneously more viable.
That said, I do think next year is finally the “Next year that Xbox will get it together.”
Great year for xbox. The article didn't even mention the age of mythology, ara history untold, doom/doom 2 upgrades, more content for starfield, ESO, fallout 76, sea of thieves, ports to other systems. They are firing on all cylinders right now.
Black ops 6, flight sim, and indy were all top notch. I have been getting a lot of miles out of cod and flight sim. The hours I have spent on gamepass has never been higher, it is still an incredible deal. If the next couple years even approach this level of success it will be a great stretch for xbox.
@FarmDog08 crazy isn't it, same era as you! And game pass doesn't stop me buying games (as so many internet commenters would have us believe), I just turn it off when I play a purchased game then back on when I want the day 1 stuff. Unrivaled, and excited to see where it ends up
@Coletrain I buy a few games a year. Mainly the stuff I'm super excited for or have other games in the series. I primarily use GamePass and the rewards program pays for it. I'm currently subbed through late April 2025 and have enough reward points to keep it going however long I like. I would've loved gaming as a kid in today's environment.
I really think the story should be "Microsoft" not "Xbox." Xbox is legacy at this point. Microsoft is enjoying good games and publishing them on everything. Gamers win when we have good games!
But Xbox... I don't know how anyone thinks Xbox as a console brand had a good year. Microsoft went out of there way this year to announce that you don't actually need an Xbox console because "everything is an Xbox" which we're seeing now even includes PlayStation.
I think diehard console Xbox fans had the worst year in the franchise's history.
@Secryt
Diehard console fans think they had the worst year in Xbox history, but the reality is that these are the sorts of people who actually know jack s**t. Be a fan of a company's games by all means, but don't get hung up on whether owners of another box can play the games you think should be exclusive to your favourite box.
Edit: reading this back, it sounds like I'm directing this at you specifically, which I'm not. I'm directing it at "Xbox fans".
There's been uncertainty around the brand all year as it continues to juggle this new, multiplatform initiative that's been spun up
I look forward to a time when folks don't act like they suffered a burst appendix every time Microsoft decides to release a game on PlayStation....
and you can't complain about the sheer variety Microsoft has brought to the table in the latter half of 2024
A 100% this. It's been a great year as an Xbox owner (or whichever console one plays on). And 2025 looks just as good, probably even better if we don't get unforeseen delays.
A prosperous Happy New Year to all who works or visits PX!
I know that it has been a rough year as an Xbox fan, yet I still play games on my Xbox, use the ecosystem on my Rog ally, and talk to my friends who play on Xbox. I also re-upped my game pass subscription. On the other hand, you read comments on this website, and people seem to be really mad with Xbox. I know that I felt like I had been hit with a gut punch at the beginning of the year. Yet they delivered on getting Japanese publishers to stop skipping the platform, and have strong partnerships with Capcom, square enix, and even atelier is publishing on the platform next year.
It's been a bit of a rollercoaster. There have been some ups, like Indiana Jones and Flight Sim, but also plenty of downs with a LOT of job losses, studio closures, Game Pass price increases, etc. and plenty in the middle like Hellblade 2. Hoping for a less turbulent 2025, more consistent quality and less flip-flopping business ideas.
This was probably the worst year of all time for Xbox and it's now certain it will not recover, but a great year for the mobile and 3rd party publisher Microsoft Game Studios (which recently got a name rebrand).
Markatron84 wrote:
imagine looking at hardware sales figures and how they've trended and saying this. Unbelievable. 3rd party support for this platform will not exist next gen unless Xbox is just a PC games don't need any effort to port. The idea that people are upset only because games are going to playstation, and that's the end of the story, is asinine. It's the obvious cascade that it causes. This is the worst year and it's not close. I can't believe people still don't understand the situation and what phase we are in.
Playing GP since august literally all the time. Finally some great games from Ms and in GP.
I only wish they could spread releases throughout the whole year. However, seems like 2025 will be like that. Avowed coming as early as february and the pipeline is strong enough to deliver a 1st party game every second month.
Of course it was very confusing and tiring year with all the exclusivity and xbox strategy controversy. Hope to get more answers next year. I dont care at this point if they go multiplat or not - I just want to get it straight from MS and not from all the insiders. Also would be good to know if next gen xbox is coming as a traditional console as I am very sceptical about the whole pc xbox hybrid thing (though on paper opportunity to play steam on xbox sounds insanely good). Kinda have a feeling they can do both: release series X successor made by MS with good pricing like 599 or so and also license xbox/pc hybrids as a test run with MSI/asus and such. Kinda dont see them fully exiting traditional console space due to immediate hit to GP core and GPU as well as gaming revenues from the existing playerbase
I don't know why people felt this year was turbulent. There was a lot of noise but MS released some highly anticipated content in CoD (Best CoD in years to me), Hellblade II, Indy, Flight Simulator 2024, and Diablo IV content. We also started to see the trickle release of Activision Blizzard games on GamePass.
There was also a lot of good news to come with Avowed, Perfect Dark, Fable, South of Midnight, State of Decay 3, and Gears of War E-Day. Yes, they don't have release dates, but the games look like they are coming along nicely.
Then there was also some good news from 343 on the studio switching to UE. And at the end of the year screen shot of Everwild from Rare.
If you ignore all the negative press (that honestly does not truely affect XB gamers unless you want it to) around XB games shipping on other platforms, this was a solid year for XB. In fact, I would say they did much better than both Sony and Nintendo by a significant amount. And there is much more to look forward to on XB this next year then both Sony and Nintendo.
@FarmDog08 amen brotha 🙏. Same here , OG Gen X gamer. Love GPU best value in gaming ez. And you're right, the numerous articles stating GP users don't buy games are patently false.
If it's something I enjoy or think the devs deserve some love I'll buy it no probs.
Have a great gaming 2025 my friend.
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