Xbox Developer_Direct shows why Game Pass is the best deal in gaming
posted Sunday Jan 29, 2023 by Scott Ertz
In 2022, the Xbox platform definitely suffered. The platform had a lack of exciting first-party titles as well as third-party exclusives. While the hardware started to be easier to get, including massive promotions at stores like Target, PlayStation 5 hardware can still be a challenge to get. This is likely because the excitement around the games coming to PS5 was a lot higher than for Xbox. However, this week Microsoft and Bethesda had a short developer presentation showing off five titles that show the company has refocused its energy on games.
What sets Xbox apart?
If this week demonstrated anything, it was the difference between the platforms. Nintendo has an extremely specific look and feel - brightly colored, cutesy games that are aimed at everyone. Titles from franchises like Super Mario Bros. and Legend of Zelda are accessible to everyone. Nintendo doesn't want to be in the fight to be your primary gaming console. They are happy to be the console that sits next to your primary gaming rig, whether that be PC, Xbox, or PlayStation.
PlayStation has a strong focus on the third-person open-world game genre. Titles from franchises like God of War and The Last of Us have a very specific aesthetic and gameplay style. They tend to have a very large open-world aspect and often include RPG elements. The games have a wide appeal but are not quite as universal as Nintendo.
Xbox, on the other hand, has a different type of brand image. Rather than having a specific type of game type, Xbox is all about the diversity of games. When you consider some of their first-party titles are Halo, a first-person shooter, and Sea of Thieves, a pirate-themed exploration and combat game, Xbox is the platform that has something for everyone.
New games coming to Xbox in 2023
The company showed off an equally diverse lineup of games coming in 2023. Among the genres are racing, RTS, and rhythm. Even without the details of the games, this illustrates the focus of the Xbox platform better than nearly anything else could have. It also shows off why Game Pass is still the greatest deal in gaming.
Minecraft Legends
Minecraft Legends is not a new title. We've seen it before, but now we have details on the PvP aspect of the game. As someone who has never been interested in the Minecraft game, I actually found myself interested in this one. That's because the game is a departure from the traditional gameplay and, in fact, looks a lot more like Blizzard's Warcraft II than Minecraft. So, even within the franchise, there is diversity of gameplay.
Hi-Fi RUSH
The game that was the real surprise, however, was Hi-Fi RUSH. Except for a leak just before the presentation, this is a game that came completely out of left field. With no expectations came only surprise and shock. And there was a lot of that to go around. The game is a hack and slash game on the surface, but that is such a small piece of the gameplay.
In reality, Hi-Fi RUSH is a rhythm game, in which you fight to the beat of the world. It is a game that is completely unique in a world of similar games. And the thing is, there would have been no place for this game on PlayStation or Switch. It could have only found a home on Xbox, and that's a good thing.
