According to many avid gamers, 2023 has been a great gaming year after experiencing subpar gaming opportunities in the recent past. Gamers can now even look to a more fabulous 2024 gaming season thanks to Xbox’s president of game content and studios, Matt Booty’s remark on their goal to have 4 big game releases per year. Xbox has previously received much criticism from gaming fans for its inconsistent release schedule and it looks like this issue will be finally put to rest come 2024.

First-Party Releases in 2023

For 2023, the video gaming brand did not do too poorly with its first-party releases. The year’s highlight for most gamers is probably Bethesda’s much-awaited Starfield RPG. Since word got out about the game back in 2018, to its official release in September 2023, anticipation and expectations have been high. Starfield’s gaming experience is captivating, interactive, in-depth, and mind-blowing, to say the least. The work put into developing Starfield is commendable especially with it being Bethesda’ newest intellectual property in 25 years.

Other great first-party releases of the year include;

- Forza Motorsport 8 that has been highly praised by racing fans,

- Minecraft Legends that brought Minecraft lovers into a real-time, action-packed, and strategy-needed gaming world and,

- Hi-Fi Rush, the music-synced, action and adventure game that has taken over by storm and amassed ridiculous popularity and love from gamers.

Xbox's objective going forward will be to create diversity in their lineups of games to serve wider audiences. Beyond consistency in excellent releases, Matt Booty acknowledges the key roles collaboration and support from their already existing gaming communities will play in meeting this objective. Older gaming communities such as those of Minecraft have high numbers of active monthly users of at least 150 million that rival users of even the best online casino sites.

Xbox Expanding its Games Portfolio

Over the past few years, Xbox has been on a mission to acquire some of the popular gaming franchises and studios to expand its games portfolio, cater to the gaming community better, and boost its revenue generation.

In 2014, Minecraft developer Mojang became a part of the Xbox brand with a $2.5 billion acquisition deal. Minecraft is arguably one of the most successful IPs of all time and this purchase saw a significant boost in its production. Since then the game has benefited from content updates and diversification of the franchise through spin-off titles.

- In 2020, ZeniMax Media, the parent company to Bethesda, id Software, and Arkane, was acquired in a $8.1 billion deal. This gave Xbox ownership to the intellectual property of the software that developed legendary game franchises such as Quake, Rage, Fallout, Elder Scrolls, Prey, and Dishonored.

- In October 2023, Activision Blizzard King joined the Xbox family through one of the biggest acquisition deals for the brand. Having announced intentions of purchasing the gaming company back in January 2022, the finalization of the $69 Billion deal has seen the ownership and transfer of popular game franchises such as Call of Duty, Candy Crush, Overwatch, and Warcraft.

Exclusive First-Party Releases to Rival PlayStation

While it is widely known that when it comes to exclusive first-party releases, PlayStation takes the crown, Xbox is keen on changing that status quo. According to Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil ‘P3’ Spencer, who also heads the Xbox brand, gamers can look forward to epic first-party releases come 2024. Phil has confirmed that some of 2024’s first-party Xbox releases will include;

- Senua's Saga Hellblade II - The sequel to Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice will see Senua return to save the victims of the tyranny in Viking Iceland through a brutal journey of survival in the darkness.

- Avowed - This fantasy-action role-playing video game immerses players in a thrilling quest to save the Aedyr Island, sustain their souls, and prevent exposure to an ancient secret that could lead to mass destruction.

- Ara: History Untold - In what is expected to be one of the greatest strategy video games, gamers will be transported to a world of their own where they get to develop their nation and lead in navigating through the historical pinnacles of human achievements. The challenge is to prove to be the greatest ruler ever as you explore new lands, go to war,  develop culture, lead diplomacy and so much more.

- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 - Designed to make a dream career in aviation a reality, this simulator aims to give the most sophisticated and highly immersive flight experience to gamers.

Additionally, we are hoping for the release of Forza Horizon 6 in 2024 after the release of Forza Horizon in 2021– Forza games have a two-year life cycle. The Forza Horizon franchise has been referred to as the best racing game of all time and we have high expectations for the next installation -- from a larger catalog of cars to better gameplay scenarios and a new location.

The Xbox gaming community can be hopeful that 2024 will be an exceptional gaming year based on remarks of both Xbox’s president of game content and studios as well as Microsoft’s Gaming CEO.