There's been a lot of hype around the upcoming Xbox exclusives Fable, Perfect Dark and Everwild (amongst others) since they were announced, but sadly it looks like we've got a long wait until they arrive.
In fact, industry reporter and head of GamesIndustry.biz Chris Dring stated on the latest VGC Off The Record podcast that based on conversations he's had with Xbox Game Studios employees, it could be many years:
"I had a few conversations with a few friends at Xbox Game Studios. Those games that they announced - Everwild, Perfect Dark, Fable - are so far away. As in, there might even be a new Xbox (a mid-tier upgrade) by the time those games come out.
They are so far away, and no wonder Xbox is looking at investing and signing certain products at the minute, because they don't have a lineup of big exclusives at all."
Certainly, we haven't heard much about any of these three games in recent months aside from recruitment drive news and small titbits of information, so we'll have to see if E3 brings us any new developments this summer.
In any case, it sounds like it'll be a long while before we're getting hands-on with these highly-anticipated titles.
When do you think these games will arrive on Xbox? Give us your thoughts down below.
[source youtu.be]
Comments 62
I've been praising Xbox a lot recently but if there's one thing that I'm genuinely worried about it's the first-party lineup. It sounds to me that most of their first-party games are years away and I think the fact that they didn't have many IPs before all these acquisitions is starting to become apparent now. Halo is coming this year and a new Forza game is probably also on its way. What about a new Gears? Probably next year at the earliest considering it took three years for Gears 5 to come out after Gears 4.
I know that we'll be getting new releases on a constant basis in a couple of years once all the acquired studios catch up but like this article mentioned, a mid-generation upgrade of Series X/S will most likely already be out by that point and so it kinda feels pointless (at least for me) to buy a new Xbox console now.
But yeah, as long as Microsoft keeps investing in Game Pass and makes acquisitions then it should be fine for some time. For example, if they acquire SEGA and starts adding SEGA games to Game Pass (Persona 5 Royal, Sonic etc.) then that will at least buy them some time.
I figure in the next couple of years we’ll get Hellblade 2, forza, and Starfield. Everything else is 3 plus years away likely.
This doesn’t include Bethesda, id and all the other studios MS bought. There will be plenty of first party games coming.
Wow we would never have guessed that, its quite clear from how they were introduced that they had basically just started making those games.
Yes Microsoft have bought a lot of studios but they have been woefully unprepared for this upcoming launch in terms of their own existing games and studios. Why weren't these greenlit much sooner? I've had fun with the Series S but we're 6 months into the new generation and they haven't released anything, with Halo being the big loss in that gap
I wonder if part of the reason they decided to buy Bethesda is because they have a big AAA game ready to release in the next 18 months (Starfield) and Xbox have almost nothing except for Halo Infinite for the first few years.
The July Xbox showcase gave me the impression that Microsoft were extremely reliant on Halo Infinite because most of the other big upcoming games were years away.
I think the remaining Xbox Game Studios games for 2021 will be:
Maybe also Age of Empires 4 but that being PC exclusive. Even the Bethesda side, with Deathloop delayed to September, Ghostwire Tokyo will probably be delayed to early/spring 2022 and Starfield delayed to late 2022.
@Grumblevolcano I think forza 8 this year too
@teknium_ If 4 year licensing is present for FM7 then yes that too as Microsoft wouldn't let there be no Motorsport and 4 year licensing would mean FM7 delisted later this year. If not then I think fall/holiday 2022 and FH5 being fall/holiday 2023.
COVID has really screwed over this generation launch. Pretty much everything is delayed.
I don't regret getting a Series X and PS5 this early into the current generation, but there was definitely no rush making the upgrade.
I am just taking the time to get through the backlog while using the best hardware available for the games I have.
Resident Evil Village is probably my next game purchase (and I am getting it for Series X).
Take all the time you need, devs. I just wish that all of them won't end up as the next Crackdown 3.
@SegataSanshiro If they have the ability to put out a new model that can handle Ray tracing AND 60 fps, then I can see them doing it. Right now, it seems like I always have to choose between one or the other. Both, please.
@Grumblevolcano only reason I mentioned it was because I signed up for play testing the new forza which starts soon so fingers crossed for it coming sometime this year.
@SegataSanshiro I absolutely loved the new Battletoads also. Wasn’t there a rumor that the studio that made that game was being used to revive another old ip? That would play into what you were saying with 3rd party titles and deals.
@LtSarge They really don't need to acquire SEGA to add their stuff to Game Pass. I'm pretty sure SEGA and Microsoft have a close enough relationship based on Yakuza and their timed exclusivity deal on PSO2 that they can just sign off on it without everything being bought, especially since Microsoft probably has no interest whatsoever in stuff like their pachinko business or the animation divisions like Marza and TMS
I'm honestly certain when talking about Yakuza coming to Game Pass or PSO2 coming to Xbox first Microsoft had to have brought up something like Persona at one point in the conversation. It's clear they're on pretty good terms
@awp69 I think the only one from Bethesda that isn't Deathloop or GhostWire that we can expect before something like Starfield is probably a new Wolfenstein from MachineGames. I think other stuff like a new DOOM, or a new Evil Within or Dishonored are years off from happening and might have a better shot of coming out between Starfield and TESVI
@TheFrenchiestFry I wasn't arguing for Microsoft acquiring SEGA; that was just an example. It doesn't matter if they acquire them or simply partner up with them. My point was that they need to add bulks of games from publishers on Game Pass in order to keep people occupied between first-party releases, sort of like EA Play and the recent additions of ZeniMax titles to the service.
So is my next gen console purchase.
As someone who has early adopted consoles for decades, I know full well that the early years consists of playing that one or two new games and a host of last gen titles for the first few years anyway.
Shame that these are far off. They're honestly the only first-party exclusives I'm interested in so far. Hopefully Hellblade 2 isn't in that same timeframe because that's a game I really want to play
I expected this from Fable and Perfect Dark. I’m a little annoyed at this for Everwild. The game was shown in 2019. They aren’t sure what they want the game to be. The more and more I hear about the more worries I am.
That said the entire year due to Covid is going to be light. MS’s answer to this is getting games day 1 on Gamepass. This is working for them. There are even rumors flying about a couple high profile games hitting the service day 1. Plus several known bigger indie titles...
@LtSarge Honestly, if their first party lineup looking weak is just becoming apparent to you, then you have not been paying attention for many years now. It's far from just becoming apparent.
That aside, I'm not concerned and I'm perfectly happy having my Series X. It still plays 3rd party titles really well, and obviously enhances old titles in one way or another (load times at worst). Plus, like others have said, these 3 games being a ways off still is not news at all.
Like mousieone said, they are doing good things to make things just fine while we work our way through the usual slow period at the beginning of a console generation (combined with the virus delaying things). I'm not worried about the future of their 1st party output either, and at least it will have some variety (unlike Sony and them forcing almost everything to be 3rd person action/adventure games).
No reason to be all of a sudden down on Xbox. I know that's likely not what you intended, but it is coming off that way. It's actually the most exciting time to be an Xbox gamer since before the 360 launch, and you almost wonder what's next now every week.
@KilloWertz I think you misunderstood what I said. To reiterate, I said that the fact that they didn't have many IPs before all the acquisitions is becoming apparent. Before 2018, their main franchises were Halo, Gears, Forza, Fable, Crackdown and the Rare IPs. The point I was making then is that if you disregard all the acquisitions they've made so far, it is apparent that Microsoft didn't have that many first-party IPs considering it's taking so long for new first-party games to come out for Xbox. Naturally this is because development times have increased, but this would be less noticeable the more studios you have due to less "blank space" in between releases, hence why I said it is apparent that the old Microsoft's first-party lineup was weak (I didn't say this explicitly but that's what my post was referring to). This issue will obviously be remedied in the future since they now own more IPs, but this and last year were especially obvious that Microsoft had very few studios and noteworthy IPs before the wave of acquisitions started. It's not a criticism, just an observation. Hopefully that cleared things up!
@CrazyJF Honestly I think Wolf 3 might be in parallel development. Indiana Jones seems like it's in the incredibly early stages, possibly in pre-production just like where Elder Scrolls VI was when that game was first announced
I feel like Wolf 3 might be in full scale production now and a smaller team might be doing prep work for Indy, especially given how it's been emphasized Todd Howard is pretty involved in that project but he's also too preoccupied with Starfield right now to really commit to it
Not to sound like a broken record but...
If they supported VR (via third party headsets) there would be such a huge influx of games I wouldn't notice their first-party (speaking about Xbox studios not Bethesda) titles were so far out. "Yeah ES 6, Avowed, and co are a while out but I've got Skyrim VR, Fallout 4 VR, and DOOM3 VR to play."
Promise to not bring up VR again for the next week or so lol
I hope Xbox’s first party line-up strengthens before mid-generation. I remember how compelling the lineups for OG Xbox and 360 were and I’ll be honest, I miss it.
Good job they have over 23 studios then and aren't relying on just these 3 games!
I think the only reason they announced these games so early on was to try and squash that 'Xbox has no exclusives' narrative and give people a promising looking ecosystem to buy into.
The only problem now is that they look like Nintendo when they announced a new Metroid and Bayonetta in 2017 and still have nothing to show.
I could have told you that....does this insider by chance know that the sky...has clouds sometimes?
I wasn't under the impression we would see the likes of Fable / Avowed / Everwild and so on until at least 2023.
Xbox has been pretty bad with exclusives for a long time. They show no sign of correcting that course, now releasing consoles without flagship titles. Playstation fans are now getting the Nintendo treatment, able to bank on high quality games of a certain type with few disappointments. No idea what’s going on behind the scenes but it doesn’t seem good.
@Benjamin
They've bought like a dozen new studios in the last few years. I'm pretty sure that counts as a sign.
@Dezzy Proof of the pudding is in the eating. They have a track record of poor fostering of studios and releasing disappointing exclusives. Big money spent means naught when the games aren’t on the system and could still be crap when they are.
@Benjamin High quality hilarious if you like short walking simulators and now PlayStation fans are going to be treated to those same walking simulators being remade for PS5, Sony are not even on the same level as Nintendo which is why only Nintendo Exclusives sell anywhere close to the number of copy's of multiplatform games.
And Sony released the PS5 with a PS3 game and Godfall 😂
@GateCrasherUK Playstation fans enjoy Playstation exclusives for what they are. That was the reasoning for the Nintendo comparison. Your or my own personal view on those exclusives is irrelevant. The other platforms are consistently getting the exclusives the platform holders expect and enjoy.
@Benjamin Not really see what your going on about your complaining about no exclusive games at launch on Xbox compared to PS5 rehashing a old game and releasing what was a failure which was also on PC and both of those games being £70 they were both not the reason people would have picked the PS5 over the Series S/X.
@GateCrasherUK I was referring more generally to the clear disparity between Xbox and PlayStation in fostering studios and exclusive games.
@GateCrasherUK No offense but you can't really criticize PS5 for launching with a remake of an old game when Microsoft literally did the same thing with Gears 5 at launch on Series X
Neither launch lineup was particularly strong but potentially having to wait until the midpoint of the generation for some of the recently announced original projects from first party that weren't part of an acquisition on Xbox's end isn't necessarily instilling much confidence from that front. At least to Sony's credit there's actually original stuff coming specifically for their platform that will be available to play between the next two years before some of these Xbox projects start coming out excluding maybe Hellblade 2 and Starfield (which was already pretty far in development prior to the acquisition)
@abe_hikura HDMI->DP 1.3 adapter and a HP Reverb G2. That would be fun. I got one for my PC, Half Life Alyx, Minecraft, and Skyrim VR are blasts, as are indie games.
@TheFrenchiestFry
Maybe you're thinking Gears Tactics? Or the Hivebusters DLC? Gears 5 launched September 6, 2019.
@gingataisen I'm pretty sure Gears 5 got a standalone re-release on Series X at launch unless I'm mistaken. Like not just a patch to optimize it for the new console
Like basically what happened with Spider-Man Remastered but it wasn't bundled with another game. I think it even came out physically for Series X
It's what I expected, but will want to see a lot more investment in jrpgs (persona series especially) to keep me invested In the ecosystem
@TheFrenchiestFry
Well, I for one can't seem to find the physical release. I found this, though:
https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2020/11/10/gears-5-relaunches-on-xbox-series-xs-and-drops-bombs-with-wwes-batista-as-marcus/amp/
"Gears 5 has been upgraded and optimized with Xbox Series X|S Optimizations, available free-of-charge in today’s Smart Delivery update."
So not like Spider-Man Remastered. 😏
@Darylb88 I have a feeling Persona's happening at some point. MS had to have brought it up when discussing stuff like Yakuza and PSO2 given how huge that franchise is for SEGA now
@TheFrenchiestFry Gears 5 got a Series X upgrade free of charge. I’m under the impression the the tLoU remaster will have to be purchased. Not sure, though.
@Benjamin “The other platforms are consistently getting the exclusives the platform holders expect and enjoy.”
The same could be said for Xbox platform holders. I love the Xbox exclusives. I do wish there were more, obviously. Looks like they’re fixing this. I loved Gears 4, Gears 5, Gears Tactics, Ori 1 & 2, Sunset Overdrive, Forza, State of Decay, and halo to a lesser extent. Crackdown 3 did suck. I also have the Switch and PS5 and enjoy their games. God of War is one of my favorite games of all time. That said, the Xbox lineup is most exciting to me. If I’m being honest, I think the Switch is vastly overrated. I thought Odyssey and BotW were pretty good. Smash and Kart are fun mp games. Little past that really catches my interest on that system. My kids play it, though, so it’s all good.
@TheFrenchiestFry I agree that neither launch lineup was particularly stellar. I feel like both companies kind of delivered the same sort of thing essentially. And yes it was basically the same. Gears tactics being akin to Spiderman Miles Morales and Gears 5 in line with Spiderman remasters although free update if you didn’t own the game before it would have been something you picked it.
However, I’m not so sure 2022 is barren on the MS side. Not to mention Stalker 2 is releasing this year...
As for Persona; the Vita store closes in August and isn’t the anniversary in September? Either way P4G seems like a good candidate for a console release around then. But it’s Atlus.....
I kind of believe this, but it won't deter me from buying a Series X.
@mousieone Atlus is hella unpredictable. It's honestly a 50/50 chance whether they do more console ports specifically for Persona or they keep those relegated to PC
Maybe Microsoft managed to smooth talk them into putting them on Game Pass or bringing P4G to Xbox One or the Series consoles but considering how poor Atlus' Xbox output has been compared to other platforms it's completely up in the air, even if they're known for out of left field stuff
@Hypnotoad107 Assuming it's a REMAKE like the Bloomberg article suggested it'll probably be full price like Demon's Souls was, but honestly what's the point if the game hasn't even aged that badly. It already looked pretty stunning as a PS3 game and the remaster looks great on PS4 and PS5
@LtSarge promptly removes LtSarge from friends list since he's an obvious Pony Plant all this time
Seriously though, while I know you're not, it still has been apparent for a long time that Microsoft needed to really step it up with their 1st party output. Thankfully they are doing that, and we just have to wait it out. The excitement they have generated is enough for me to be fine, since this time in a few years this will likely be the 360 generation all over gain (minus hardware failures and them forgetting to care about 1st party output).
In the end, I know you're excited for the future as well and it's all good. I know you weren't actually being negative about where things are now with Xbox.
@TheFrenchiestFry You are mistaken. Gears 5 never got a physical release. It's literally just an upgraded version like what these other cross-gen games got that you download digitally.
Also, remastering or remaking (whatever it ends up being, if true) a game for the second console generation in a row likely as an obvious money grab is not the same as upgrading a game once for the next generation (and for free). It wouldn't even matter if it was a tie-in with the upcoming TV show. It's still ridiculous to be doing it yet again, and probably charging for it yet again.
@KilloWertz Well I was comparing Gears 5 to stuff like Spider-Man Remastered and Demon's Souls which came out at launch for PS5, not the Last of Us thing which is genuinely unnecessary
This ship has probably sailed, but I'd like to add my 2 cents to this discussion. I'm happy to see most guys here understanding the Covid situation and the way it has been messing with hardware and software development/sales. I'm very happy with my XSX, even without any major new exclusives out. Game Pass has been keeping me entertained and going through Xbox exclusives that MS cares about enough to make them playable on new consoles has been a joy. Also, playing older games with all the enhancements of next gen hardware is really a big bonus for me. As for next gen experience- I'm currently playing through Control: UE and I keep having to pick up my jaw from the floor. This is easily the most beautiful game I've played. Stalker 2, Hellblade 2 and Halo Infinite are all on the horizon and probably many good indies in between that. I'm thankful that in this crazy world of today I get to enjoy this experience.
@Vincent294 yeah. heck the Quest uses USB3 to USB C cables to make it work as a PC headset.
I get why Xbox is worried but "just" add support for any "inside out" tracking headset and let devs release VR games on the Xbox Store and their done if it fails it only cost them that initaila work but if it succeeds it'll boast hardware and software sales.
This seems pretty clear I think and it's somehow stillllll the big question mark against Xbox.
Where are all these big exclusive games? We know they've been increasing their studios and putting a lot together in the back end but it feels like they've been doing that for 3 or 4 years now and we're still seeing little end product.
I've really been enjoying Xbox's approach of late and I may stick with them for 3rd party games but in all honesty they still don't have many games that draw me to their ecosystem the way PlayStation do. If that doesn't improve other the next few years I may drift away over to PS5 the same way myself and many others did back in the 360/PS3 era.
@TheFrenchiestFry Still not quite the same though. You had to pay to get either on PS5, but Gears 5's next gen upgrade was free. I'll give Sony Demon's Souls though as that was a full on remake and only the first time it has been that I know of, while Spider-Man Remastered was (obviously) just a solid remaster of a game not that old.
@Benjamin Coincedentally the most played games on xbox and PS have been multiplatform games for probably longer than xbox has been screwing over their first party titles.
I think Halo 3 was the last first party title to actually dominate all titles for any considerable length of time.
In a world of F2P, cross play, and influencers, exclusives do not have the same weight they use to.
Disappointing but not surprising in the slightest. Fable and Perfect Dark were just revealed with no info at all and Rare even admitted they have no idea what they're doing. Probably gonna be a long time before we see Avowed too.
@TheFrenchiestFry yeah Atlus is going to Atlus. Anyway, the games haven’t had the best luck on Switch either but it suffers from the same issue that the Xbox did. Ports of sequel games or Catherine. That said they did get burned by SMT Nine which I believe is now the only SMT game never to be on a Nintendo system. Correct me if I’m wrong
But yeah it’s Atlus.
.
This really isn't a story, I mean it was reported these games were very early in development ages ago, by Microsoft or the studios involved.
No surprise, but what is surprising are reports of the next Forza being in early beta access soon, so that game isn't too far off. I can see at least one new Forza coming out this year. Next year the next gen first party games will start to flow, just as Microsoft said they would.
Unlike Sony who just lie or state one release date only to push it back several times, or to promote generations and games will be next gen exclusive only to then state no they won't be and will actually be cross gen.
I'm really looking forward to the exclusive third party and indie games, The Ascent will be one and day and date Game Pass!!!
Plus aren't Stalker 2 and Halo Infinite going to be out this year and day and date on Game Pass?
@TheFrenchiestFry The key thing is 'remake', not remaster, if it's a remake then they opens it up to new writing and script work changing aspects of the game, and I can imagine Druckman is jumping up and down at the chance of getting all his, objected and blocked, ideas back in the game..
@mousieone Xbox has had Gears Tactics and Gears 5 DLC and The Medium, PS5 has had Spiderman DLC and Demon Souls remake, which apparently is a carbon copy of the original so I've heard, and Little Big Planet and Astros Playroom, and Godfall and Destruction All Stars.
So whilst the PS5 has had more, they are hardly all highly regarded games.
A real shame tbh but I’ve more than enough to get on with.
Was at least hoping Fable would be in the next 12 months or so.
Oh well. 😊
MS does alot of things really well.
Delivering great 1st Party games on time isn't one of them.
I don't really see this changing any time in the immediate future.
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