Starfieldfrom Bethesda Game Studios has quite a bit of hype behind it, and for good reason. It will be the first large-scale single-player RPG that Bethesda has put out since 2015’sFallout 4, and it’s even been described asSkyrimin space.Starfieldhas potential to be a huge success when it launches, and it was being positioned as Xbox’s premiere holiday 2022 release. Unfortunately, Bethesda delayedStarfield, pushing the game back to 2023.
Starfield’s delay hurts Xbox in 2022, and by extension, it hurts theXbox Game Passsubscription service. The big selling point of Xbox Game Pass is immediate day one access to brand-new games, including first-party Xbox titles likeStarfield.Starfieldhas left a big void that Xbox Game Pass will have to figure out some way to fill, and it’s not the only Bethesda-published game that was moved to 2023. It was also confirmed that vampire multiplayer gameRedfallfrom Arkane has also been delayed from 2022 to 2023.
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Redfall, Starfield, and Other Bethesda Games on Game Pass
Microsoft has been upfront that one of the mainreasons it acquired Bethesdaand its studios was to secure exclusive games for Xbox and Game Pass. Previous Bethesda deals with PlayStation have meant that Bethesda-published titles likeDeathloopandGhostwire: Tokyohave released as timed PS5 exclusives, but those deals are done and 2023 is when the Bethesda acquisition will really start to pay off.
BesidesRedfall and Starfield, there is potential for other Bethesda-published games to be released in 2023. It’s not known what every Bethesda studio is working on, and while it’s more likely that the games they’re making won’t come until later, it’s possible some will drop next year. Fans may get a better idea of what to expect by tuning in to theXbox and Bethesda showcase event, scheduled to take place June 12.
Call of Duty on Game Pass
Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda was done to get games for Xbox Game Pass, and it’s a safe bet that its acquisition of Activision Blizzard is happening for similar reasons. At the time of this writing,Microsoft’s acquisition of Activisionhasn’t actually gone through, and there’s a chance that the deal won’t be finalized. But if the acquisition does happen, it’s expected to be finalized in 2023. This means that Xbox Game Pass will likely be flooded with a wide variety of Activision-published titles.
Xbox Game Pass Games That Have Yet to Be Revealed
Microsoft has a lot more on deck besides the aforementioned Bethesda and Activision published titles. Microsoft has gone on an acquisition spree in recent years in an attempt to bolster its lineup of first-party games and console exclusives. Some games from those studios that have already been announced, likeObsidian Entertainment’sAvowedfor example, could very well release in 2023 if it doesn’t launch this year.
Xbox Game Pass Third Party Deals
Regardless, fans can count on new Xbox Game Pass games being added every month throughout 2023. Sometimes thenew Xbox Game Pass gameswill consist of lower-profile games, but other times they will be high-profile, big budget releases. Whatever the case may be, the delays in 2022 have helped set up 2023 to be an incredible year for Game Pass, and it will be interesting to see if it lives up to expectations.
