Microsoft has come under fire recently for the lack of Xbox Series X|S and/or Xbox One console exclusives released throughout 2022. After Starfield and Redfall were delayed into 2023, there were no Xbox exclusives from any of Microsoft’s first-party studios due to be released this year. This looks set to change relatively soon, though, as Microsoft has confirmed they will have at least five Xbox exclusive games releasing before the start of April 2023.
Microsoft’s plans for Xbox exclusive games
Throughout the last fiscal year, Microsoft released five games from their internal studios — Age of Empires IV, Forza Horizon 5, Halo Infinite, Microsoft Flight Simulator, and Psychonauts 2. In a statement released today, as reported by Windows Central, Microsoft said they “are on track to meet or exceed that amount in the next fiscal.” This implies there will be at least five Microsoft Studios titles, all likely to be exclusive to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, and/or cloud gaming, set to release before April 2023.
One of those games is expected to be Starfield. Originally delayed to the first half of 2023, Todd Howard said during the same media briefing that they are “putting the finishing touches on Starfield, which is an incredible opportunity for us” (thanks GamesRadar). The other four (or more) games are something of a mystery, although they could also include Redfall which was also delayed to the first half of 2023. Regardless, we’re likely to find out more during the Xbox & Bethesda Games Show on June 12, and maybe even the Summer Game Fest show set to air very shortly.
In other news, an Xbox app will be bringing Xbox Cloud Gaming to Samsung TVs at the end of this month without the need to own a console. Elsewhere, the new Xbox Game Pass demos program will focus on upcoming releases from third-party developers in a bid to rival Sony’s PS Plus Premium offering.
