“Xbox’s Future Hangs in the Balance with the Release of Starfield”

It’s no secret that the gaming community has been mad at Xbox since the release of Redfall. It has been the last straw. For too long Xbox fans have been asked to wait a little longer for the next big AAA game, but enough is enough. Redfall was supposed to be that game, and look how it turned out. Now, with Redfall in the rearview mirror (meaning in the uninstall bin for most of us), time to wait for the next big release: Starfield.

If Starfield flops or suffers some kind of major problem – or just isn’t that much fun – faith in Xbox’s ability to deliver will be further weakened, and as a result I imagine heads will roll on xbox.

Starfield is not worth this added pressure, but it will be the first full-priced game that will have a chance to change people’s minds about what Xbox is capable of. At first, in 2021, it seemed that Xbox had hit the mark with a great campaign for Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5, one of the best games of the year. But it took nearly another year for promised features like the co-op campaign to be added to Halo’s multiplayer, and that’s after Infinite’s release was pushed back a year in the first place. It exposed the competition from Xbox, especially since Phil Spencer himself said: “If we lose our way with Halo, we lose our way with Xbox.” So, why exactly did that happen with the biggest Xbox franchise?

Xbox fans continue to yearn for a juicy AAA experience exclusive to the Xbox ecosystem. Thank you very much Redfall.

Forza Horizon 5 was a gem in the Xbox library, receiving praise from across the industry and finally putting Xbox on the right track when it comes to great content releases. He closed 2021 perfectly, but when 2022 arrived… nothing.

started with the lousy Crossfire Xwhich despite bearing the prestigious name of Remedy, was a shooter with brainless AI and combat mechanics straight out of 1993. Worse, the multiplayer was virtually unplayable.

Otherwise, Xbox was successful with minor releases like Tunic, Pentiment, and High on Life, and I suppose they can be credited for the PS5 releases of Deathloop and Ghostwire Tokyo, which Xbox fans were greeted with a year later. But despite the universal acclaim for Hi-Fi Rush, a surprise hit in early 2023, Xbox fans continue to yearn for a meaty AAA experience unique to the Xbox ecosystem. Thank you very much Redfall.

Instead, look at what PlayStation has achieved in the same time. Returnal, Ratchet & Clank: A Dimension Apart, The Last of Us: Part 1, Gran Turismo 7, Horizon Forbidden West and God of War: Ragnarok, not to mention updates that improve the PS4 versions of their most popular games, including The Last of Us: Part 2 and God of War. Add to that a handful of exclusives like Stray, Kena: Bridge of Spirits, and Final Fantasy VII Remake, plus director’s cuts of the blockbusters Ghost of Tsushima and Death Stranding. In short, more than enough to satisfy the fans. Xbox has Xbox Game Pass, but where are the greatest hits?

Xbox needs a game that people won’t stop playing or talking about for months, if not years.. After years of waiting, Xbox desperately needs its answer to God of War: Ragnarok, or a world to get lost in like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Starfield could be that game. It has all the hallmarks of a Bethesda RPG, with a great narrative, interesting mechanics, and fun combat. If it’s that good, I’m sure many will forgive Bethesda’s wacky mistakes we often see in their releases.

It has to be a fantastic game. It is not enough that it is good. And if there’s something devastating, like a save file error, or issues like Fallout 3 and New Vegas on PS3, causing it to crash all the time, confidence in Xbox’s ability to release a quality AAA game will be shaken. And what’s worse, his ability to manage the numerous studios he has acquired will also be called into question.

Xbox was involved enough in Redfall for the team to get rid of the PS5 version, but not enough to prevent it from being released in beta. The last big hit for the Xbox ecosystem came in November 2021, with the release of Forza Horizon 5. So, where are the games, xbox? That’s what everyone wants to know. The time of promises has passed. Now is the time for action.