Welcome to 2021! It's time to push past the turbulent year that was 2020 and look to the future, and with that in mind, we've picked out some Xbox predictions that we think could come true over the next twelve months.
It's looking like it's going to be another big year for the brand, with some massive releases on the way (Halo Infinite, anyone?), along with a brand-new console generation to take advantage of. Exciting stuff!
Here are our predictions, and don't forget to give us yours in the comments below!
1. Psychonauts 2 will be one of the highest reviewed games of 2021
This may be wishful thinking, but there’s something in our hearts that pulls towards Psychonauts 2 being heralded somewhat of a masterpiece next year. Unlike other games that have been rushed out the door over the past few months, the game’s creator Tim Schafer seems determined to not release the game until it’s ready. What does that equal? A well crafted game. The original was a weird and wonderful adventure, and all the pre-release footage is pointing towards the dial being turned up to eleven. We think it’s going to surprise a lot of people next year and a be a big win for Xbox.
2. Xbox will add more family-friendly content to Game Pass
Phil Spencer has previously noted how one of the next goals for Xbox is to bring more family oriented content to Game Pass in the future. We’ve already seen the company dabble with the concept, when the Xbox One X launched alongside Super Lucky’s Tale and a Kinect-less version of Disneyland Adventures, but we're expecting more. Whether that be an entirely new IP or bringing back some classic characters (*cough* Blinx *cough*), we're confident there are plans.
3. Banjo & Kazooie will return in some capacity
We’ve already seen the bird and bear make their return in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on the Nintendo Switch, but Microsoft hasn’t really done anything with the license themselves. While we're not entirely confident that Rare will ever handle the project since most of the creative minds who created the characters have left the company, we could see another developer such as Playtonic Games being bought out by Microsoft to handle a new entry. Again, this could be more wishful thinking, but we're happy to set up the summoning circle.
4. The Xbox Series S will flourish as more stock becomes available
While many early adopters have been more keen to pick up the Xbox Series X, the Xbox Series S will quickly gain momentum in the New Year onwards. Xbox has only just begun with its new console lifespan and as Game Pass grows with more titles and acquisitions, more and more players are more than likely going to be enticed. With its low price point, slick design and ability to download hundreds of games instantly through Game Pass, the new console is surely going to entice more players.
5. Halo Infinite will prove to have been worth the wait
The biggest disappointment for Xbox this past year has undoubtedly been the delay of Halo Infinite from its original November 10th release date to a 'Fall 2021' window. Nevertheless, we're confident the game will benefit significantly from its extra year of development, and will become one of the best Halos of all time. The gameplay we saw back at the Xbox Games Showcase in July looked highly promising, so with a bit of extra polish and a well-designed (free-to-play) multiplayer component, we'll hopefully be calling it our Game of the Year next December.
6. Xbox Cloud Gaming will expand to console, Smart TVs, etc
2020 saw the official rollout of Xbox Cloud Gaming (Project xCloud) in Beta form as part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for Android, and Microsoft has already confirmed it plans to extend this to Apple and PC devices in 2021. We don't think the company will stop there though, as the service will surely extend to consoles eventually, allowing us to play Game Pass games without downloading them. Xbox boss Phil Spencer has hinted that we might see Xbox Cloud Gaming on Smart TVs within the next twelve months as well - the possibilities are endless!
7. Microsoft will acquire Moon Studios and/or Asobo Studio
Two of the most popular Xbox Game Studios releases in 2020 came from Moon Studios (Ori and the Will of the Wisps) and Asobo Studio (Microsoft Flight Simulator), and we wouldn't be surprised at all if Microsoft attempted to try and acquire these developers over the next year. Moon Studios has consistently delivered Game of the Year contenders for the company with its first two titles, and in addition to Flight Sim, Asobo's A Plague Tale: Innocence has been an ever-present highlight on Xbox Game Pass.
8. Xbox Series Expansion Cards will eventually come down in price
At present, the only way to store Xbox Series X|S games and play them from an external device is by using the Seagate 1TB Expansion Card, which remains eye-wateringly priced at £220 / $220. However, Microsoft has previously hinted that more manufacturers are likely to start making these cards in the future, and the price is expected to fall over time. Don't expect it to fall too heavily - these are very fast methods of custom SSD storage after all - but we're hoping these things will be much more affordable by Christmas 2021.
Do you agree with these? What Xbox predictions do you have for 2021? Tell us in the comments.
Comments 23
Agree with all but Microsoft buying moon studios.
There is no benefit to do so. They don't own any office (retail space) no real tech, nor any of there own ips. You would be paying for just a handful of people who can at any point quit after getting the pay cheque.. again no benefit
I predict a Game Pass price hike. Not the most positive of predictions, I know, but I feel it's an inevitability.
I don't know why, but I feel like Hogwarts Legacy is going to be delayed 😟
I hope I'm wrong 🙏🏻
I predict a Gears 6 teaser..
Good predictions. Agreed on 4, 5, and 6.
MS Flight Simulator will be released in the summer. E3 at the earliest.
Xbox and Game Pass will get a decent RTS game. It has been a long while, the Series X/S generation is capable, and we have mouse+keyboard support now.
Halo: Infinite will include a battle royale mode.
The Halo IP will be translated into a new genre, like card battles or some other phone game.
1st-party studios will emphasize linear narrative experiences this year. Halo: Infinite is the only non-Bethesda playground we will get from Microsoft this year.
Sea of Thieves will add a new map region.
@Olliemar28 I like to keep an eye out for the discounts. You can get GPU on CDKeys for 30% off pretty much all the time, or you can look for the 60% off sales around holidays. I like to top it off every time I see one of those major sales.
Wouldn’t that all be great and apart from number 4 I have to agree.
Number 4 Series S will flourish.
As long as the Series X is available and the Nintendo Switch and PS5 disc less.
The Series S overall will be the underdog. I don’t know a single Series S owner but I do all the other consoles I mentioned. It will do ok ish, but not flourish at high levels. For me the Series S was not the right move.
Don’t get wrong I’m more than happy to be proven wrong. But I’m on a roll with predictions lately.
The Series S will in time disappear sooner than a normal console life cycle, probably by half.
I predict that I will have a blast in 2021 and still have a headache of what games to prioritize next vs. that large amount of games available to me. Not sure about #7 buy i sure hope #2 comes true. Need more stuff to play with the fam.
9. Microsoft and Sony both drop 5 million consoles, in a months span, to battle scalpers/*****
The Psychonauts 2 prediction is an interesting one, still need to play 1 at some point.
Few of mine are:
None of those I expect to in any way shape up (apart from Starfield) but a man can hope.
I don’t think the expansions will come down in price anytime soon because they are pretty essential for the new consoles.
My predictions will be that Cyberpunk will get a massive price drop to below the £20 mark, series s will gain more stock but series x will towards the end of the year, I think there will be some hint at a revision of the new consoles,
@WesEds they already said that more third party suppliers will be making them so competition brings the price down. Now it might drop $20-50 and maybe a nice sale next Christmas season but won't be a drastic cut to half price for a while as it's still brand spanking new tech.
@BeautyandtheBeer I've never played Pshyconauts either so I'm hoping that gets dropped in gamepass before Psychonauts 2 launches.
@Krzzystuff I understand that there will be more 3rd party expansions but I doubt the official expansion will drop much if any, I believe this because looking at other first party products the price tends to stay for the official product, Xbox controllers as an example are still £45-£55 even though the market is saturated with good and bad cheaper controllers the official one still kept its price, I think that’s how it will be with the expansion, it may drop a fraction if they release a bigger size but even then I don’t think it will be much
"3. Banjo & Kazooie will return in some capacity"
Please be true......
Also Xbox Series Expansion Cards seriously need to come down in price. I understand the technology makes it expensive, but when a 1TB SSD is within the same price range as the Series S Console itself that's just madness...
@Krzzystuff given that more or less everything else Double Fine has worked on and has publishing rights to is now on Game Pass, it’s only a matter of time, seeing as I’m sure it’s already a BC game.
Persona 6 announced as Xbox One exclusive and the internet melts.
@WesEds I agree. Cyberpunk will drop as they want to regain some of the revenue from the refunds.
Revised console is very likely IMO, although they have the 'S' as a slimmed down version of the X already... Hmm. Maybe just a restyling as the X is fugly. HAHA
@Captain_Chao5 they usually do revise them to iron out a few issues. I’m not a fan of their design either because the series s looks like a DJ hero controller and the x is just too bulky
I can see the S taking off. In my small friends circle, I am the only one with the Series X. The others have the S, all equally loving their S as I love my X.
I also see Cyberpunk coming to Gamepass. Where they struggled and Sony removed from the Store, Microsoft brushed their hair and kept it going, albeit with a warning. Nonetheless, it will enter the GP and exist as a AAA title in the rollcall.
Loved Psychonauts so very keen on second one , although nice to read will only be released when is actually ready! Would that other companies did the same.
I managed to secure the series X at launch, but quite keen to grab the S model for my family’s place, esp as seem to be spending latest lockdown with them. That said, hopefully later this year will be a special edition model with larger storage.
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