2024 has gotten off to a flier. Much like 2023, it has seen a series of stellar releases marred by continuing layoffs. Just two months into the year, we’ve already hadFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth,Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth,Tekken 8,Helldivers 2,Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown,Balatro, and the phenomenon that wasPalworld. With Rise of the Ronin, Princess Peach: Showdown, andDragon’s Dogma 2right around the corner, 2024 has come out swinging. Unfortunately, it seems likely to tire soon, and that’s when Xbox’s ol' rope-a-dope could see it land the killer blow.
Many of us expected the latter half of 2024 to be dominated by the Nintendo Switch 2, a console whose existence still hasn’t been confirmed despite being the industry’s biggest open secret. It was expected to release some time between summer and the holidays, buttalk now suggests it’s aiming for 2025 instead. Since the console itself (never mind a release date) has not been revealed, this is not officially a delay, but after so much open speculation, it sure feels like one.
Nintendo And PlayStation Have A Barren 2024 Ahead
As a result, Nintendo’s slate for the year looks pretty empty. Nothing has been revealed beyond summer exceptPokemon Legends: Z-A, which is so far past summer it’s in 2025 - likely a launch title for the Switch 2, then. We aren’t going to get a headline exclusive from Nintendo when its sales are steady, and the Switch 2 could be primed for a mammoth launch catalogue. That summer game is a remaster ofLuigi’s Mansion 2, following theMario Vs Donkey Kongremaster earlier this year and thePaper Mario: The Thousand Year Doorremaster coming soon. Another remaster could yet join them if Nintendo opens up its seemingly never ending rainy day box, but don’t expect much more.
As for PlayStation, it’s a similar drought but without the coming respite of a 2025 flood. Though the most recent PlayStation showcase had some impressive titles, it had zero release dates beyondStellar Bladein May. Betting big on a slew of live-service games and then cancelling them once you realise the bubble bursts will leave a flaming hole in your release calendar - Sony has already confirmed we won’t get a major IP release until at least April 2025.
Xbox’s Chance To Shine?
EnterXbox. A distant third in the exclusives race for the past decade, it could steal a march in this window. While Sony and Nintendo have empty rosters, Xbox is full to the brim. Assuming (and it is a significant assumption, granted) its release dates can hold, Xbox will have Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, Indiana Jones and the Golden Circle, and Avowed stealing the show in 2024, with the next Forza Horizon and the next Microsoft Flight Simulator expected to join them. This year could finally be Xbox’s year.
Of course, Xbox hasn’t necessarily struggled in the quantity department previously, but in quality. Last year, it hadRedfall,Starfield, and Party Animals -Hi-Fi Rushgot out clean, but Xbox has struggled with misfires a lot.Gears of War 5andHalo: Infinitecan go in that camp too, and while Xbox defenders will point to the likes ofPentimentalongside Hi-Fi Rush, Xbox’s best games just don’t get the traction of Sony’s blockbusters.
It’s difficult to root for release dates holding firm, because that can mean hoping devs crunch or seeing games released before they’re ready. And exclusives aren’t the only games on the market either. There are a bunch of cross-platform games (some of which I’m being a little optimistic with release dates for) that could make 2024 a fantastic year for gaming. But it still seems like Xbox has been gifted an opportunity that it cannot afford to squander.
2024 Could Still Have A Packed Line-Up Of Games
2023 left some tough shoes to fill, and without a Switch 2, 2024 will be found wanting. But then, that’s a harsh marker to measure a year’s success by, not to mention an arbitrary one. It’s most interesting because two of gaming’s three major players have never taken several months off like this together, and in doing so, the tortoise of Xbox could catch its hare competitors up. Strong releases are good for everyone, especially with layoffs left and right, and that could allow Xbox to finally show what it’s all about.
I don’t know how strong 2024 will seem when we look back at it in December with so many surprises to come, but I am less pessimistic about the next few months than most. We might have seen blue and red doors close, but the green window has been opened.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Following her trials and tribulations in her debut game, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 sees the titular protagonist again have to battle the darkness to liberate others from a tyrannical regime.
