Every Xbox Series X game coming in 2022 and beyond: from Starfield to Perfect Dark-Michael Beckwith-Entertainment – Metro

Starfield was meant to be Microsoft’s big November release (pic: Microsoft)

Microsoft’s release schedule for the Xbox Series X and S is getting busier and busier but what’s coming out when?

Microsoft’s 2022 took a bit of a hit when it was forced to delay both Starfield and Redfall into next year, and certain major releases were disappointingly absent from its June showcase.

Still, it’s not lacking in third party support and there are a few upcoming first party games to keep fans satiated until the bigger releases follow in 2023.

The acquisition of Bethesda, and potentially Activision Blizzard, has also helped pad out the schedules, even if the latter’s games aren’t intended to be exclusive to the Xbox platform.

Although Sony does have God Of War Ragnarök this year it only has a handful of other games announced, whereas Microsoft is in the opposite position where it doesn’t have much in the way of big name titles this year but does have a host of games beyond that.

Just like we did with Sony and Nintendo, we’ll run through all the major first and third party releases we know are coming to Xbox throughout the coming months. Although that doesn’t mean there won’t be more on top of this…

As Dusk Falls

Although it’s being developed by an independent studio, it being published by Xbox Game Studios makes this narrative driven adventure game the console’s next main exclusive. We’re still not sold on its graphic novel inspired visuals, but we’re curious to see how it will fare against the likes of Life Is Strange when it launches on July 19.

Grounded

Obsidian Entertainment’s Honey, I Shrunk The Kids inspired survival game has been in early access since 2020, but the full release is now confirmed to arrive in September. It will feature the full campaign and probably twice as many spiders.

A Plague Tale: Requiem

The sequel to 2019’s A Plague Tale: Innocence, this one’s a multiplatform title, but Microsoft clearly has some special deal going with it, since it was announced during the company’s E3 2021 presentation and saw a second trailer at this year’s showcase. It releases October 18.

Scorn

This survival horror game with visuals influenced by the works of H. R. Giger fell off the map for a bit after its 2020 unveiling, but it’s now set to release as an Xbox exclusive on October 21. Definitely one for those who love disturbing imagery that would make most other people sick.

High On Life

Announced during last month’s Xbox showcase, first person shooter High On Life is not only exclusive but is releasing in just a few months on October 25. Rick & Morty fans will be picking this one up since it comes from series co-creator Justin Roiland and looks to have a similar style of humour, as you wield living alien weapons.

Pentiment

This one leaked last year, but the June showcase marked our first look at Pentiment, and it was one of the most visually unique games of the bunch. A smaller budget title from Obsidian, it’s an adventure role-playing murder mystery game and is slated for a November release.

Diablo 4

One of two prominent Activision games to be featured in the June showcase, Diablo 4 is slated for 2023. It wasn’t confirmed during the showcase but it will remain multiplatform despite the Microsoft buyout, as Blizzard aims to win back favour from fans upset with the microtransaction-laden Diablo Immortal.

Overwatch 2

The second Activision game of the June showcase, Overwatch 2 isn’t Xbox exclusive either, which makes sense considering how much of the first game’s player-base is split across multiple platforms. It’s currently available in beta, with the full release coming on October 4 as a free-to-play title.

Forza Motorsport

We’re still not sure why Microsoft seems to be rebooting Forza Motorsport, rather than just calling it Forza Motorsport 8, but we can confidently say that next year’s entry will boast possibly the best graphics on the Xbox Series X/S.

STALKER 2: Heart Of Chornobyl

Had it not been for the Russia-Ukraine War, STALKER 2 would be out this December. While the war is still ongoing, and developer GSC Game World continues to raise awareness of it, it’s resumed development and the game is now slated for 2023.

Redfall

Originally one of Microsoft’s key games for the end of 2022, this co-op vampire shooter from Arkane will now arrive within the first half of 2023. We got to see a new trailer at the June showcase, demonstrating the co-op gameplay and rather obnoxious cast of characters. Hopefully, they’ll be a bit more tight-lipped in the final release.

Starfield

Starfield’s delay was a far bigger blow for Microsoft considering it’s the next major release from Bethesda. Fortunately, fans were treated to plenty of new gameplay footage and the promise of over 1,000 planets to explore when it launches next year.

Avowed

One of many absentees from the June showcase, fantasy game Avowed hasn’t had any updates since its 2020 announcement. This is likely because developer Obsidian is busy with both Grounded and Pentiment. Beyond its fantasy setting, we know little else about it, but it does seem to be ploughing very similar ground to Skyrim.

Contraband

Just Cause developer Avalanche Studios has an Xbox exclusive in the works called Contraband. Much like Avowed, however, all we have to go on is a vague pre-rendered trailer and its description of ‘a co-op smuggler’s paradise set in the fictional world of 1970s Bayan.’

The Elder Scrolls 6

The Elder Scrolls 6 is likely years away from release, with Bethesda’s Todd Howard admitting recently that it’s still in pre-production. Although it lacks formal release platforms, comments from Phil Spencer strongly point to it being an Xbox exclusive – despite Howard’s own comments to the contrary.

Everwild

Rare made an appearance at the June showcase with a new update for Sea Of Thieves, but there was zero word on Everwild. Despite being announced in 2019, we still couldn’t tell you what sort of game it is and insider reports describe an incredibly messy development cycle.

Fable

The big Fable reboot from Forza Horizon studio Playground Games is apparently progressing just fine despite some fans’ assumptions. Its absence at the June showcase, however, means we can rule out a surprise 2022 launch.

Indiana Jones

With a new movie releasing next year, Bethesda and MachineGames must be planning to have their Indiana Jones game launch around the same time, even if it’s not a direct tie-in. Yet the game wasn’t even mentioned during the June showcase, with the only recent bit of info being a rumour that it won’t be an Xbox exclusive.

The Outer Worlds 2

Obsidian really has a lot on its plate, doesn’t it? Even the teaser trailer from last year was self-aware enough to know that the announcement was far too early. The Outer Worlds 2 was initially scheduled for this year but now it’s not clear when it’ll be out, or whether it’ll be an Xbox exclusive, given Microsoft now has the publishing rights.

Perfect Dark

Although announced a while ago, the odds of the Perfect Dark reboot coming out anytime soon are practically nil. This can be attributed to its supposedly troubled development; half of the staff at studio The Initiative have left and it sounds as if Crystal Dynamics has practically taken over. Hardly a good look considering this is supposed to be The Initiative’s first game.

Hideo Kojima’s game

After so many rumours, Hideo Kojima finally admitted that he’s working with Microsoft on an Xbox game, one that will make use of Microsoft’s cloud technology. Although Kojima’s keeping mum about it, its identity as survival horror game Overdose may have leaked beforehand.

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2

Despite getting a new trailer at last year’s The Game Awards, Hellblade 2 was another absent exclusive at the June showcase. While there’s no denying it has phenomenal visuals, many were unimpressed at the initial gameplay reveal. All we know is that it’ll launch for Xbox Series X/S and PC, so no Xbox One version.

More: Gaming

Everything else

Two Point Campus – August 9
Saints Row – August 23
The Lord Of The Rings: Gollum – September 1
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide – September 13
Marvel’s Midnight Suns – October 7
Persona 5 Royal – October 21
Gotham Knights – October 25
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 – October 28
The Callisto Protocol – December 2
Sonic Frontiers – winter 2022
Dead Space – January 27, 2023
Resident Evil 4 remake – March 24
Alan Wake 2 – 2023
Disney Dreamlight Valley – 2023
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes – 2023
Ereban: Shadow Legacy – 2023
Exoprimal – 2023
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn – 2023
Hyenas – 2023
The Last Case of Benedict Fox – first half of 2023
Minecraft Legends – 2023
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor – 2023
Street Fighter 6 – 2023
Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League – 2023
Valheim – 2023
The Wolf Among Us 2 – 2023
WWE 2K23 – 2023

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