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📰🚨What to Expect from Xbox in 2024?📰🚨 ⚠️MEGA NEWS⚠️

314 View2024-01-04

Is the new year finally the one where we witness the long-awaited turning point for Xbox Series X/S? Xbox Series X and Series S are no longer in their infancy. The fourth year of life for both consoles has officially begun for several weeks, placing us squarely in the middle of what, at least on paper, should be an eight-year-long generation. But where do we stand?

Despite the mixed reviews garnered by Starfield, which was the centerpiece of Xbox's most significant launch since Halo 3 (2007), there are compelling reasons for optimism. Hi-Fi Rush kicked off 2023 by proving to be a stunning action game. Additionally, Microsoft has navigated through legal challenges from various regulatory bodies, successfully closed the acquisition of Activision-Blizzard-King, and Xbox Game Pass continues to garner abundant praise.

Now, turning our attention to third-party games, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is set to release in the first quarter of 2024, developed by the Ukrainian team GSC Game World. This highly anticipated first-person shooter has gained attention, especially considering the challenges faced by some of its developers during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Another promising third-party Xbox exclusive is Replaced, a cyberpunk action-adventure featuring a 2.5D pixel-art style, likely to arrive on Xbox Game Pass in 2024.

**The House Delivers Exclusives!**

As for Microsoft's in-house studios, the Xbox division has learned from experience that acquiring publishers and game development studios isn't the fastest or most ideal method to secure exclusive games for its platforms. However, the situation has markedly improved compared to the past, and the first officially announced game for Xbox Series X/S, Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2, is finally nearing completion and is expected to debut in 2024. This exclusive is developed in Unreal Engine 5 and, while it won't be the first game created with this graphics engine to be released on Xbox Series X/S, it has excellent chances of becoming a "next-gen" masterpiece in terms of visual appeal and the dramatic gaming experience.

Avowed is also slated for 2024, and the impressive track record of Obsidian Entertainment suggests it will be decidedly intriguing. It is a first-person fantasy role-playing game created by a team experiencing a more than positive moment. Since Microsoft acquired the studio, we've seen The Outer Worlds (launched on PC and consoles through an agreement with Private Division, a label of Take-Two Interactive, before Microsoft's acquisition), Pentiment, and Grounded in action. Avowed is set in the universe of Obsidian's Pillars of Eternity role-playing game, ensuring Xbox Series X/S owners at least one standout exclusive RPG in 2024.

**What's on the Horizon?**

It's unlikely that we'll hear much about Clockwork Revolution by InXile and the action-adventure South of Midnight by Compulsion Games anytime soon, as both were announced during Microsoft's summer showcase last June. The same goes for Hideo Kojima's project OD, officially revealed at The Game Awards 2023. While Fable appears to be the most significant game in Xbox's first-party library after The Elder Scrolls VI, it seems we'll have to wait a bit longer to play it.

Then there are three already announced exclusives that reportedly faced significant delays in development: Everwild by Rare, State of Decay 3 by Undead Labs, and Perfect Dark, developed in tandem by The Initiative and Crystal Dynamics. None of the mentioned games has the slightest chance of seeing the light in 2024, but perhaps this year we could catch a glimpse of a new trailer or, at the very least, some gameplay footage.

**Double Fine and Beyond**

Regarding Double Fine, the studio achieved notable success with Psychonauts 2. Considering the game's release in August 2021, there's a reasonable chance that Tim Schafer and the talented team have something interesting in the works.

**Hardware and Services in 2024**

Speaking of Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft's subscription service continues to be an incredible value for gamers, and in 2024, the tune is unlikely to change, especially as Activision and Blizzard games start appearing in its catalog. Diablo IV? It's probably coming in 2024. Previous Call of Duty titles preceding Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III from 2023? Very likely to debut in the service over the new year.

The next Call of Duty, probably titled Call of Duty: Black Ops Gulf War, if leaks prove true, might be available on Game Pass next fall? It's possible! And we can certainly expect the exceptional MLB The Show 24 to once again arrive on Xbox Game Pass on day one. Microsoft also has a series of other third-party games in store that will debut on the service, such as Flintlock: Siege of Dawn, Persona 3 Reload, 33 Immortals, Dungeons of Hinterberg, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and more. The gaming horizon for Xbox in 2024 promises to be rich with content, making it an exciting year for gamers. Stay tuned for updates and surprises!

Xbox Series X/S: Ellewood, Brooklyn, and Uther

Regarding the previously mentioned leak about the Xbox product roadmap, if proven accurate, we can anticipate a hardware update for the Xbox Series X, codenamed Brooklyn. The refresh not only promises a smaller, rounded console with 2 TB of integrated memory and no optical drive but also includes a new Xbox controller with haptic feedback and a rechargeable battery. An update for the Xbox Series S, codenamed Ellewood, might also be on the horizon, with a potential summer launch, followed by Brooklyn in the fall.

With a plethora of new studio acquisitions and numerous franchises set to arrive due to the Activision Blizzard acquisition, a steady stream of both first and third-party games poised to land on Game Pass, and other surprises on the horizon, the future remains brighter than ever for Xbox users. In 2024, however, this promising future is expected to transform into a fantastic present.