Microsoft recently announced its upcoming Developer_Direct stream scheduled for January 23rd, which will highlight several major titles including DOOM: The Dark Ages, South of Midnight, plus an unannounced fourth game. The company is preparing to reveal its 2024 gaming lineup, which includes highly awaited games like Avowed, The Outer Worlds 2, and Fable, unless there are delays.
Microsoft is getting ready for what could be its biggest year yet, planning to release more games than ever in one year. Players can look forward to a new Call of Duty later in 2024, along with other surprises from Microsoft’s own studios and partner developers on Xbox and PC.
Recent information from reliable source NateTheHate points to several Xbox titles making their way to PlayStation 5 and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. Sources have confirmed that Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and Halo: The Master Chief Collection are planned to launch on both platforms. PlayStation users might also get Final Fantasy 7 in 2025, followed by Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth in 2026.
Hellblade 2, Age of Mythology, and potentially Gears of War 1 Ultimate Edition will join the PlayStation 5 lineup this year. These titles might also reach the Nintendo Switch 2, though this detail requires further confirmation.
Xbox CEO Phil Spencer previously stated there are no restrictions on which games could move to other platforms. The analysis suggests that any Xbox game with the potential to earn significant revenue through multiplatform release will likely be made available on other platforms. This strategy could lead to Microsoft’s highest content revenue so far.
This multiplatform strategy raises doubts about the future appeal of Xbox hardware. While Xbox Game Pass offers great value, it hasn’t boosted console sales as much as Microsoft expected. Free-to-play games and other entertainment options have also reduced the need for players to own large game libraries.
Microsoft has tried to make Game Pass more appealing by offering perks in popular games like Valorant and League of Legends, but it hasn’t fully attracted the free-to-play crowd. The growing Xbox Cloud Gaming service is showing promise, with new user milestones being reached. Since cloud gaming shares the same development environment as Xbox consoles, developers can easily create content for different devices, from TVs to basic laptops.
Microsoft is still working on next-generation consoles while focusing more on being a content provider. However, this shift leaves some uncertainty about Xbox’s future as a dedicated gaming platform. The success of “buy-to-own” cloud games could help keep developers interested, even if traditional console sales decline.
