There once was a time whenXboxwas heavily criticized for its lack of big exclusive games when compared to its competition. For years, allXboxfans could expect for exclusives were newGears,Forza, andHalogames, and not much else. In response to that feedback, Microsoft has been purchasing studios and assembling new teams to work on major console exclusive games for the Xbox family of consoles. Video game development takes time, however, and it seems some of the biggest Xbox exclusive games are still years away.
Speaking in a recent episode of the VGC Off the Record podcast, Chris Dring of GamesIndustry stated that he has spoken to people who work at Xbox Game Studios. According to Dring’s sources, Xbox’s big exclusive games are years away, to the point where it wouldn’t be surprising if Microsoft had a mid-gen upgrade Xbox console released by the time they came out. In the podcast, Dring specifically namedEverwild,Fable, andPerfect Darkas Xbox games that are years away from release.
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Everwildis a new IP from Rare, which Xbox revealed with a cinematic trailer.Fable, meanwhile, is a reboot of the long-running action-RPG series, withForza Horizondeveloper Playground Games taking the reigns. And finally,Perfect Darkis a reboot of the classic Nintendo 64 game, with Microsoft’s mega studio The Initiative handling development. None of these titles have shown actual gameplay yet, so fans may not be surprised to learn that they still have a long wait ahead of them.
While these three games may not be coming to Xbox within the next few years, the company should still have plenty of heavy-hitters on the horizon. The headlining Xbox exclusive game for 2021 isHalo Infinite, the latest entry in Microsoft’s flagship franchise.Halo Infinitewas originally meant to be an Xbox Series X launch title, but the release date was pushed back after the gameplay reveal trailer was met with a negative reaction from the community.343 Industries is hard at work to make sureHalo Infinitelives up to expectations, and it will be exciting to see if the extra development time pays off.
Microsoft’s studio acquisitions should ensure that the Xbox brand has more exclusives to look forward to in 2021 and beyond. For example,Bethesda’sStarfieldgameis almost certainly going to be an Xbox console exclusive title, with rumors pointing to it releasing either later this year or at some point in 2022. So even thoughEverwild,Fable, andPerfect Darkmay be a long ways off, Xbox fans should still have some exciting games to look forward to.
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