Xbox's exclusives: Most anticipated games for 2023

With strong sales and innovative features, Xbox provides high-quality gaming, cloud gaming, and super-handy backward compatibility that allows us to play the series available in older versions of the console.

In addition, it also offers a diverse game library through Xbox Game Pass, including exclusive games. You can play almost anything, even casino games! 

While an Xbox-based real money online casino doesn't currently exist, titles like "Grand Theft Auto 5 – The Diamond Casino & Resort," "The Four Kings – Casino and Slots," and "Pure Hold’em" offer simulated casino experiences and allow players to use real money to buy in-game chips. With all these perks, it’s no wonder that many would wait in anticipation of Xbox exclusives every year. 

While 2022 lacked major Xbox exclusives due to pandemic-related delays, anticipation is high for 2023. This year did not open as grandly as we thought it would, as well as Arkane’s “Redfall” flops. Despite its promise, Redfall falls short of Arkane's intricate world-building, featuring unresponsive enemies and combat encounters that prioritize straightforward shooting over creative problem-solving. In addition, the game's expansive maps lack the depth and intricacy seen in Arkane's earlier works.

Coming up next, Bethesda's "Starfield" is championed to lead the pack alongside potential releases like "Mortal Kombat 1," "STALKER 2: Heart Of Chornobyl," and "Forza Motorsport 8." While some surprises are expected, these upcoming Xbox exclusives are eagerly awaited and will be accessible through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, optimized for Xbox Series X.

Immortals of Aveum by Ascendant Studios | August 22, 2023

Immortals of Aveum, an upcoming first-person shooter developed by Ascendant Studios and published by Electronic Arts, immerses players in a world of destructive magical powers as they strive to rescue a planet teetering on the brink of doom. 

Drawing inspiration from Hexen, the game offers fast-paced spell-slinging action, boasting around 25 spells of various types and an expansive talent tree with over 80 nodes. Taking the role of sorcerer Jak, players will embark on a roughly 25-hour main campaign, joining an elite order of battlemages to combat imminent threats and ensure the planet's survival.

Originally scheduled for release on July 20, 2023, the game's launch has been pushed to August 22, 2023, for Windows, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. 

Starfield by Bethesda Softworks | September 6, 2023

Starfield is an upcoming action RPG developed by Bethesda Softworks, marking their first new intellectual property in over 25 years. Set for release on September 6, 2023, the game immerses players in a space exploration adventure set in the year 2310 after a colonial war between the United Colonies and Freestar Collective. As a customizable member of the Constellation, a galactic explorer organization, players traverse new solar systems, encounter factions, and uncover artifacts. 

With an emphasis on world-building and player-driven narrative, "Starfield" promises to be Bethesda's ambitious Xbox Series X and S console exclusive.

Payday 3 by Overkill Software and Starbreeze Studios | September 21, 2023

Developed by Overkill Software and Starbreeze Studios and published by Deep Silver, Payday 3 serves as a sequel to Payday 2. The bank-heist simulator game's setting follows the Payday Gang as they reunite for a return to a life of crime, with the action mainly unfolding in New York during the 2020s.

Starbreeze Studios is staying true to the winning formula of its Payday games while introducing new features. Payday 3 was initially created using Unreal Engine 4, but there are plans to enhance it by transitioning to Unreal Engine 5 after the launch. Payday 3 is slated for release on September 21, 2023. 

Mortal Kombat 1 by NetherRealm Studios | September 19, 2023

Mortal Kombat 1, developed by NetherRealm Studios and published by Warner Bros. Games, is the upcoming twelfth installment in the Mortal Kombat series, serving as a sequel to Mortal Kombat 11 and a reboot of the franchise.

Scheduled for release on September 19, 2023, for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows, and Xbox Series X/S, the game features story mode, online multiplayer with rollback netcode, and offline gameplay. Notably, it introduces the Kameo Fighters system for strategic assists and retains the Air Kombat combo system, promising an intensified experience with realistic graphics and gruesome fatalities.

Forza Motorsport 8 by Turn 10 | October 10, 2023

Following the success of Forza Horizon 5, released in November 2021, anticipation surrounds the upcoming 8th entry in the more serious Forza Motorsport series by Turn 10. Distinguishing itself with a focus on realistic simulation and track racing over open-world exploration, Forza Motorsport 8 boasts over 500 meticulously designed cars for collectors and racers alike.

The game's emphasis on exceptional visuals and attention to detail, coupled with Turn 10's reputation, makes it a highly anticipated title for fans of immersive racing simulations.

Assassin's Creed Mirage by Ubisoft Bordeaux | October 12, 2023

With a renewed focus on linear storytelling and stealth gameplay, Assassin's Creed Mirage returns to the legendary franchise's core elements. Mirage takes players back to the essence of the franchise, emphasizing stealth, calculated takedowns, and cunning evasion. Set before the events of Assassin's Creed Valhalla, the game follows Basim's journey from a street thief to a full-fledged member of the Assassin Brotherhood.

Developed by Ubisoft Bordeaux and published by Ubisoft, Mirage marks the thirteenth major installment in the series and is slated for release on October 12, 2023, for Amazon Luna, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Series S. 

STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl by GSC Game World | December 2023

Developed by GSC Game World, the development of STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl was initially disrupted by the situation in Ukraine, leading the studio to relocate to Prague. While the original release date was scheduled for 2022, the game is currently slated for a December 2023 Xbox Series X|S console exclusive release, although further delays are possible.

This survival horror shooter is a sequel to the original STALKER game released in 2007 and is set in a post-apocalyptic Earth, mainly in an exclusion zone around Chornobyl. As players scavenge for resources in the irradiated wasteland and encounter horrifying creatures, they will also be drawn into the intricate web of faction rivalries and human struggles.