410°

Microsoft Is Approaching Its Most Promising Year Of Xbox Ever

Forbes: We are heading toward an entirely unique time in the history of Xbox, one that combines a variety of classic first party IPs with new ones acquired through massive studio purchases.

As such, I believe that if everything goes according to plan, this could be the most promising single year of Xbox ever, if we’re measuring from November 2021 to November 2022.

jonny8971666d ago (Edited 1666d ago )

This was totally pointless lol. I guess these 'journalists' need to write something weekly to get paid.

Ron_Danger1666d ago

Seriously… I can’t believe how much advertising has been getting approved on this site lately. Earlier there was the “Phil Spencer talks to ID” article.

N4G needs to bring back the “open” section from years ago so these fluff pieces have a place.

Army_of_Darkness1666d ago

Talking about games possibly coming out NEXT year! 🤣🤣 Feels like this article was written way too early??

1666d ago
Blaze9291665d ago

Proof of this claim or you just ok spreading lies?

ElvisHuxley1665d ago (Edited 1665d ago )

It's effective though, if deceptive. I'd be okay with it if large percentages of the population didn't still believe that journalistic integrity actually exists. I understand that companies have to be competitive, but it just seems a bit underhanded. Sony does it as well, so they're not blameless either, but MS seems to do it considerably more.

1666d ago Replies(5)
DOMination-1665d ago

SIE have so far released four PS5 games. Now we have to wait until at least March for Horizon Forbidden West (a wait of 9 months!) and the only other game definitely coming next year is God of War 2. Maybe GT7 but I don't think that's been confirmed.

XGS have so far released one game (Grounded) and have several more planned for this year - Psychonauts 2 (not exclusive), Age of Empires 4 (PC only for this year), Halo Infinite, MS Flight Simulator and Forza Horizon 5. Next year they definitely have: Starfield, As Dusk Falls, Forza Motorsport and Redfall.

Also just to note, two of the SIE games were not developed by Sony (Returnal and Demon's Souls). Also note that the "Gears Halo Forza" crowd can easily be silenced when we see the likes of Ratchet & Clank 13, Gran Turismo 7, God of War 9...

This absolute nonsense that Microsoft/Xbox Game Studios has no games/new IP (which the goalposts are now conveniently moving to but still wrong) when compared to Sony needs to stop.

1665d ago
+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 1665d ago
sourOG1666d ago

Nov21-Nov22? It’s possible.

1666d ago Replies(4)
neutralgamer19921666d ago (Edited 1666d ago )

No that happened back when Halo 3 launched that's when Xbox brand was at the strongest. Their E3 was interesting but there's a lot of unknown and their biggest game in(2021) Halo infinite doesn't even have a release date yet. I really hope we do get back to those Xbox 360 versus PS3 days because that's when both companies were competing and releasing awesome games and we as gamers had amazing experience

Competition is very healthy thing especially when it comes to gaming industry if we want these companies to try harder to earn our time/money/attention. I am so ready for the days when we could have PlayStation and Xbox exclusives up for game of the Year awards that's when you know the quality is there

343_Guilty_Spark1665d ago (Edited 1665d ago )

Why does a specific day matter if we know it is coming out Holiday season? You sound like you're more in a rush to play it than even I am, and I've been playing Halo almost 20 years.

elazz1666d ago

After 8 years of "wait till next E3" this is still going on? Why not judge based on what actually does release after such a long time.

RedDevils1665d ago

It always Halo, Gear and Forza to hype the xbox fanboy

343_Guilty_Spark1665d ago

Isn't that a good thing for you so PlayStation can win your console war?

MIDGETonSTILTS171664d ago

It’s not a war, it’s an intervention: stop buying their empty promises.

343_Guilty_Spark1664d ago

@MIDGETonSTILTS17

I enjoy Xbox. Go play your games and stop being so pestering.

TheProfessional1666d ago (Edited 1666d ago )

Xbox one was ruined by Don Mattrick but now that he's been fired/replaced the Xbox can finally get back to where it was during the 360 era: the best selling console with the best features, best multiplatform games and great exclusives.

Xbox 360 had better multiplatform games compared to PS3 (the cell processor was a problem for non-Sony devs) so almost all multiplatform games ran worse and were lower resolution on PS3. All the valve games many EA games, the bethesda games etc. were 720p and had slowdown. Now a few of the next gen games are also higher res on series x compared to ps5 which already gives it a slight edge.

Third party games are arriving day one on game pass also. Why pay Sony $70 for MLB the Show or Back 4 Blood when you can play them om launch day on game pass?

The deisgn of the ps5 is also oversized and unsightly which is definitely not a selling point. The color and the curved design were terrible deicisons.

Also tired of the push for single player only exclusives from sony. Almost no co op op multi in any of there AAA exclusives for PS4 and same so far for PS5. No thanks.

1666d ago Replies(1)
Ron_Danger1666d ago

Woah… dude this article is about the future of Xbox and you went on a full fanboy rant about PlayStation.

This has gotta rank in the top 5 most off topic fanboy rants in a while on this site.

IRetrouk1666d ago

"Xbox one was ruined by Don Mattrick but now that he's been fired/replaced the Xbox can finally get back to where it was during the"

Don didn't ruin anything, infact he had more games ready for launch and launch year for the one than phill did with the series, also the 360 wasn't the best selling, that would be the wii, followed by the ps3, think your confusing npd with worldwide.

"Now a few of the next gen games are also higher res on series x compared to ps5 which already gives it a slight edge."

Resolution over framerate, really?

"Third party games are arriving day one on game pass also. Why pay Sony $70 for MLB the Show or Back 4 Blood when you can play them om launch day on game pass?"

Is every 3rd party release on gamepass day 1?
You still have to buy games that you want, using it as a negative for one is stupid to be honest, especially considering most 3rd partys are not day 1.

"The deisgn of the ps5 is also oversized and unsightly which is definitely not a selling point. The color and the curved design were terrible deicisons."

Personal opinion....I like it.

"Also tired of the push for single player only exclusives from sony. Almost no co op op multi in any of there AAA exclusives for PS4 and same so far for PS5. No thanks."

Again personal opinion, regardless those games sell, if they didn't sony wouldn't be making them, they provide enough of both between themselves and third party to cover all types of games and gamers.

Chocoburger1665d ago

I have to agree. Don Mattrick, while he royally screwed up with DRM, he understood that getting new, unique and exclusive games on your platform was important. Wikipedia shows the list of Xbox Game Studios releases:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...

Early Xbox One titles that began funding / development during the Don Mattrick era:
Dead Rising 3
Crimson Dragon
Forza 5
Killer Instinct
LocoCycle
Powerstar Golf
Ryse
Forza Horizon 2
D4
Sunset Overdrive
Halo Master Chief Collection
Ori and Blind Forest
Halo 5
Gears 4
Project Spark (started by Don, cancelled by Phil)
Scalebound (started by Don, cancelled by Phil)
Fable Legends (started by Don, cancelled by Phil)
and there's much more.

What Don Mattrick has done for Xbox One (before the system even launched) was better than anything Phil Spencer did for the 5 years after launch! Why do people keep giving Spencer so much credit? In a strange twist, Don and Phil are polar opposites.

Don created bad DRM plans, but had interesting games on offer.
Phil created likable DRM (GamePass), but has no interesting games on offer.

Robodrake1666d ago

My ps5 looks amazing next to my TV. You just dont have any taste.

thesoftware7301666d ago

PS 5 is Fugly..gigantic and barley fits most entertainment set ups..stop lying to yourself.

SX is not that much better but the smaller size and the color blend in more with most set ups.

SS is the most pleasant on the eyes and fits almost anywhere.

RedDevils1665d ago

It doesn't fit "YOUR" entertainment setup, not mine or anyone. Remember what you find nice, other would think it ugly and vice versa, end of the day your opinion meant nothing so don't force it on others.

TheGoodestBoi1665d ago (Edited 1665d ago )

@thesoftware PS5 fits fine in my entertainment unit.
But I guess Xbox looking like a trashcan it would blend in well with any room

Robodrake1665d ago (Edited 1665d ago )

"PS 5 is Fugly..gigantic and barley fits most entertainment set ups..stop lying to yourself"

"SS is the most pleasant on the eyes and fits almost anywhere."

Lord Jesus that's plain embarrassing on your part. The series s is straight up one of the ugliest consoles i've ever seen. Holy f, i dont know how anyone can say that console looks nice with a straight face. The ps5 has a much better aesthetically pleasing design. I like the design of the series x a lot too. But my freaking God. The series S objectively is one ugly machine. It's also a weak, underpowered POS. The ps5 design has grown on me, and it's probably one of the best looking consoles ever made imo.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1665d ago
ocelot071666d ago

"Third party games are arriving day one on game pass also. Why pay Sony $70 for MLB the Show or Back 4 Blood when you can play them om launch day on game pass?"

Because game leave gamepass? Why pay $8 or what ever amount it is for say MLB or back 4 blood. For say 6 months only for them to leave and then have to pay for the game anyway if you want to continue playing.

That's why I rather pay £60 on release for Sony first party games. I can play it on release date. I don't have to worry about Sony knocking on my door a few months down the line and take the disc away from me.

1666d ago
rakentaja1666d ago (Edited 1666d ago )

You can buy a Game Pass for 3 years for less than $ 150 (buy 3 years of Gold + $ 1 and convert into a GPU). If you play 15 games during this time, 5 games a year that interested you. The games are usually there for 1 year, after that they will cost around ~ $ 20/each after deep discounts. $ 150 for a Game Pass + 15 x $ 20 = $ 450 and you played all the games on the first day and you end up owning all of them physically. On the PS5, that makes a total of $ 1,050 (15 x $ 70).

ocelot071665d ago

@GlaciusZero yer I know you can buy them discounted. Never bought a game that's been on gamepass so far. Most likely I'll do for Forza. But at the end of the day if the game leave gamepass you still have to buy it with a discount or not.

DOMination-1665d ago

Why would you buy Forza? It's a first party game and won't ever cycle out of GamePass.

ocelot071665d ago

@DOMination-

Because I only buy gamepass when they offer me a month for a £1. I don't like the thought of paying £8 per month to rent games.

I currently have the £1 for 3 months offer am 3 or so weeks into that. Only played one game on gamepass since I got the offer and only for less than 2 hours.

When I have spare time. I have been playing a backlog of games. Currently trying to get days gone finished while also playing cod warzone on the side. Then after that I have ghost of tshima to play. After that last of us 2. After that most likely battlefield 2042 will be out so I'll be paying that. Then I'll still have like Spiderman remastered to play. As well as Forza and age of empires and diablo 2 remake.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 1665d ago
neutralgamer19921666d ago

TheProfessional

Chill and play Xbox if you prefer man no need to have a rant like this. Enjoy the weekend

Dissidia1665d ago

he didn't "have a rant" he shared his perspective which many others share. You guys just don't like it

thesoftware7301666d ago

@Theproffesional

You sir will be burned at the stake for speak some Truth.

I have both SX and PS5 and in no way in hell I'm paying $70 for any game that comes to GP that is on PS5..crap, I have a hard time wanting to pay $70 for any game.

And yes, i really wish Sony would put one of their high end studios to make a good multiplayer/Co-OP game..with their skills it could be one of the best.

ScootaKuH1665d ago

"The deisgn of the ps5 is also oversized and unsightly which is definitely not a selling point. The color and the curved design were terrible deicisons."

Yet it's still outselling Xbox Series consoles by almost 2:1

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 1665d ago
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160°

Forza Horizon 5 PS5 port tops 5 million sales, securing $300m in additional sales for Xbox

Forza Horizon 5 has reportedly sold more than 5 million copies on PS5.

Read Full Story >>
eurogamer.net
ocelot075d ago

I happily contributed during the Christmas sale.

Eonjay4d ago

All are winners here. Especially Microsoft who actually has a audience now that will buy their games. While I do miss the competition from Microsoft as a consumer, it is nice getting those games without having to buy another console and get another subscription. I just wish they released proper physical games.

ocelot074d ago

Yup fully 100% agree with you. On one hand I'm sad the way Xbox as a platform as gone. On another hand as you said one console is all you need really now for majority of games.

Wish they did release this physically as well as age of empires, flight sim, age of mythology.

Lightning774d ago

Xbox guys still buy games. Gotta kill this narrative.

fr0sty4d ago

It's a hard narrative to kill when MS confirms it by having to reach out to other platforms in order to get sales.

Lightning773d ago

@Frosty as usual you make no sense. With your logic then PS needs PC since those games are on there and HD2, deathstranding on Xbox. They're reaching out for sales because console is no longer enough.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3d ago
Agent755d ago

More reason for Microsoft to ditch Xbox and release on PS and PC. Imagine if Nintendo stopped faffing on with consoles, their games would reach eye popping sales, but they love control and that's losing them millions or billions a year. Mario Kart 8 and World on PS5 and PC, what sales would they hit?

Sgt_Slaughter5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

This comment makes absolutely zero sense. Nintendo is never leaving the console industry as a manufacturer; they have the second highest selling system of all-time, and some of the highest attachment rate of any developer ever. The PS5 won't even touch Switch 1 sales, so why would Nintendo even entertain the idea of this? MK8D sold 70 MILLION UNITS on the Switch. That is the "eye popping sales" you're going on about, if anything Sony wants that for their games that they never get.

Agent754d ago

What you're saying is, if Nintendo ditched consoles, it wouldn't make a bigger killing from releasing all of its games on PlayStation and PC, maybe even Xbox if Microsoft grows a backbone? Mario Kart 8 and Breath of the Wild as examples, what sales would Nintendo hit on PlayStation 5, PC and Xbox Series X? Nintendo could still bang on with controllers, joycons and cams etc. to bulk up its profits. Nintendo has been holding back its fans for years now when it comes to tech. Last time it was up there was with the GameCube and that generation, it was the second most powerful console, Xbox being top in terms of tech, followed by PlayStation 2 then Dreamcast. Average tech holds back AAA games, the Switch 2 is apparently up there with PlayStation 4 tech. I agree that the Switch has pulled off some amazing games, although some games were Wii U ports. I understand that Nintendo will never leave the console industry, but it most definitely has missed the boat when it comes to maximising game profits. Nintendo has only been on top (not handhelds) with the NES, Super NES, Wii and Switch, but the Switch is a handheld console, Nintendo skipped that generation and didn't release a home console and that's also the case with the Switch 2. The Switch isn't anything new to a certain extent, as SEGA's Nomad and Sony's PSP could be connected to a TV. Some gamers can't accept that Nintendo pulled out of the home console market with the release of the Switch, comparing to sales of home consoles is a pointless exercise. I don't care about PC gaming, but I hope Microsoft ditches consoles for PC and PlayStation. Most gamers are fed up with all these consoles and game sales at an all-time low, gaming does need a single format. One tech, we all choose which brand we want to buy and that's it. It has never done the likes of VHS, DVD and Blu-ray any harm and someone mentioned on here a number of years ago, owning a Sony DVD player, you could only watch Sony produced movies and play Sony produced music CDs.

5d ago Replies(6)
DivineHand1255d ago

I agree. Nintendo is leaving billions on the table. If they left console gaming behind and let us say released a mainline Pokémon game on android and IOS, in addition to console and PC, I cannot imagine the amount of profit they would enjoy.

Modern phones are good enough to play most Nintendo switch games so if they made a mobile controller that can interface with android and IOS phones, they could port games like Mario Kart 8 to mobile phones and other consoles. I am sure they would be enjoying sales from both their own unique controllers and the game sales itself.

The only thing they stand to lose is the 30% cut from all software sales being released on their system. Perhaps they believe they can earn more from that vs sales of their own IPs on other platforms.

Agent754d ago

Mario Kart 8 apparently hit just under 70 million sales on Wii U and Switch, although that figure includes the game packaged with the console, so I'm not sure on single game sales (disc, card and download). No Nintendo console out there, I think Mario Kart 8 would've hit bigger sales when you add Android and IOS, which is a good point. Nintendo's games don't exactly need ground breaking tech, but if that was there with a single format, Nintendo could then keep up. Don't get me wrong, I love the Switch and Switch 2, but PS4 tech games going into 2026 and onwards, again, it's a limited console from Nintendo.

BehindTheRows5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

Nintendo games already reach eye popping sales. In fact, neither PlayStation nor Nintendo really HAVE to put their games on other systems. Even Sony's PC releases don't sell anything big (outsold of outliers like Helldivers II).

That said, I agree about Microsoft with Xbox. Outside of being a gateway to Game Pass, they should drop the platform and cut their losses. Stick it out as a 3rd Party pub and make bank that way.

5d ago
Neonridr4d ago

so what.. just have PlayStation in the console space? Great news for innovation and pushing each other to be better.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4d ago
neutralgamer19925d ago (Edited 5d ago )

Yeah it makes way too much business sense for these games not to be on PS and PC. If it's 300 million Sony got 90 million from simply allowing the sale of the game. MS need to get the development house in order so these games can come out at the same time that's when you make real big money

5d ago
Eonjay4d ago

This is correct. There is a lost sale aspect by not being available day and date on PlayStation. Halo is day and date so everything else should be too. This may not be possible all the times but they are not served at all by taking the Forza 6 route. No one is buying and Xbox or getting GamePass to play the next Forza. When the realize this they will just enforce day and date for all games.

4d ago
Eonjay4d ago

Halo is coming out after FH6...

VenomUK4d ago

@Wommens @Potdy Keep creating those alt accounts!
The truth is Forza, Gears and Halo and Starfield and the WHOLE SLATE will be going to PlayStation.
Microsoft has sold more copies of Forza on PS5 then it did on Xbox Series S/X.
The RAM price rise could lead to the 'Xbox PC' being delayed - if that happens Microsoft might not release it at all.

Stop running defence for a trillion-dollar company that doesn't know you exist.

maximusprime_5d ago

The way I see it, most racing gamers prefer playing on Playstation. It has been so since PS1.

As I said before, that Forza Horizon 5 would do well on PS5. So I was right

Sgt_Slaughter5d ago

Racing games have primarily been an arcade + PC endeavor in-terms of popularity. GT and Forza pale in comparison to the decades of arcade/PC simulator racing games that defined the genre. iRacing, Assetto Corsa, Rfactor, NR2003, Automobilista, GTR 2/GT Legends, GPL, GP4, Daytona USA, Richard Burns Rally, SEGA Rally, Virtua Racing, etc..

Console games have only just started on the path to comparing to them, but even then, the physics on PC are unmatched.

BehindTheRows5d ago

Again you don't know what you're talking about. Daytona/SEGA Rally, as examples, never sold ANYWHERE NEAR what GT has and has never been as popular either (particularly in EU). Put out a new Daytona and GT8 and watch the latter absolutely dog walk it in sales. On top of that, most of those games are very different from one another. They can co-exist. If you want to go there, the highest selling "racing" series is Mario Kart. Hint: console. It hasn't been an Arcade + PC > console for a very long time.

badz1494d ago

all those games combined didn't sell as much as Gran Turismo

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30°

Best PS5 Games of 2025 - 10 Essential Picks To Play Right Now

Looking for your next PlayStation 5 game? Browse our best PS5 games of 2025 with quick summaries, pricing notes, and links to each full review.

Read Full Story >>
spawningpoint.com
60°

Forza Horizon 5 PS5 Review - Xbox’s Festival Becomes PS5s Showcase Open-World Racer

This Forza Horizon 5 PS5 review breaks down visuals, handling, content, and the key PS5 Pro enhancements that make this the definitive console version.

Read Full Story >>
spawningpoint.com
Abnor_Mal32d ago

I’ll try it out if it ever comes to PS Plus.