Looking ahead: What to expect from Xbox in 2022

Happy Holidays Xbox true-blue! Earlier this month, we cast our gaze back at the past year of Xbox happenings, from major game launches, cloud expansion, and big beautiful Game Pass additions. But what exactly could next year concur for u.s.a.?

If you, similar me, are even so getting over the fact that we're two years out from 2022 (what?), hopefully we can get over it together with this examination of what Xbox might be up to for the side by side year. Of class, there will be unexpected surprises (hello, Bethesda), perchance some unfortunate missteps, and most certainly, a whole heap of great games to play as we abscond into a lovely world completely separate from our ain.

So, let's put on our +1 magic hats and polish our crystal balls, and divine the future together.

The big deject battle

Source: Jez Corden | Windows Key

Microsoft is most probable going to footstep upwards its big cloud battle adjacent year, as Amazon Luna eyes expansion to other territories. Amazon might have establish some success with its much-hyped MMO New World, only player counts take been dropping off steadily since launch.

However, the question of New Globe'south quality as a game is perhaps just of secondary importance when you factor in Twitch. Paid streams for the MMO gave Amazon a truly massive boost, leveraging its streaming power as a marketing tool for the game. In that location's no reason to think it couldn't as well do the aforementioned for Amazon Luna, giving it a leg up in influencer ability over Microsoft's barely-marketed Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Xbox Cloud Gaming is nevertheless technically in "beta," equally Microsoft mulls its operation quality for a full marketing push. Cloud Gaming (otherwise known every bit xCloud) has improved radically for latency and film quality over the by twelvemonth, and Microsoft is constantly making improvements. I suspect 2022 will be the year Microsoft kicks off the beta tag, and really starts ramping upward marketing it.

Source: Razer / Qualcomm

We saw a prototype Android handheld from Razer recently, with a defended chipset made by Qualcomm designed specifically for mobile gaming and cloud streaming. I've heard for a while that Microsoft has dabbled in prototypes for a similar kind of device for handheld Deject Gaming, to solve what remains the ergonomic gap between full tactile controls and bear on gameplay.

I doubtable 2022 will be the twelvemonth Microsoft kicks off the beta tag for Cloud Gaming, and actually starts ramping up marketing information technology.

Games like Minecraft Dungeons, which are fully "deject-native," play very well with touchscreens, only the vast majority of games on xCloud simply aren't designed to be played that way. We've also heard that Microsoft is one time again exploring a streaming stick for Xbox, possibly based on a slimmed-downward version of the Xbox OS, giving users an affordable endpoint into the ecosystem much like Google's Stadia + Chromecast Ultra bundle.

I call up a combination of dedicated hardware from either Microsoft or a 3rd-party similar Razer could be a cistron in 2022, giving Microsoft a new endpoint for its Xbox ecosystem. I wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft piggybacks marketing Xbox Deject Gaming on top of an exclusive cloud-native game, although that could be farther out than 2022. Microsoft is thought to be working with ex-Google Stadia employees and Hideo Kojima of Metal Gear Solid fame on what exactly a cloud-native game would look like, and information technology could brand a compelling case for the debut "cloud-get-go" Xbox game every bit role of a big marketing push button.

I've too heard Microsoft is readying up a much-awaited feature for Xbox Deject Gaming: the power to play cloud versions of games you've purchased permanently. Right now, you lot can simply play games in the Xbox Game Laissez passer library via the deject, significant games you haven't finished may get out the service, leaving y'all without the ability to play it from the cloud fifty-fifty if you lot buy it. Microsoft has also reportedly been dabbling with avant-garde features for Xbox Cloud Gaming, including quick resume states and improvements to the Xbox cloud APIs developers tin can leverage while making touch controls.

Xbox platform updates

Source: Windows Key

Naturally, every year brings improvements and new features to the Xbox platform itself. We got cloud streaming on Xbox consoles, Dynamic backgrounds, Dolby Vision support, and more, just what else tin we look from the platform team next year?

In an interview with the Iron Lords Podcast Xbox architect Jason Ronald discussed a few things nosotros could run across in the most future, every bit the Xbox platform team turns its attention to outstanding player feedback.

Ronald conceded that Xbox'southward Game DVR is less-than-cracking on the show, referencing the reliability of clips and performance in general. He added that Game DVR should commencement seeing a bit more love in 2022 than it has more than recently. "[Game DVR] is an area where I wish we were able to make more than progress this year," he said. "It is definitely a priority for us. We have fabricated some improvements to reliability, simply nosotros know nosotros still have work to practise here. It's definitely a priority for usa."

Source: Windows Central Upgrades to Xbox accomplishment systems could be on the way in 2022.

Microsoft also introduced trending clips on the Xbox app that use the Game DVR equally a platform this year, so I wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft goes a bit harder on the social potential its platforms take in a globe where brusque-grade video apps similar TikTok and Instagram remain popular.

The Xbox achievements organization is also an area of business for Xbox fans. I oftentimes hear feedback in my Twitter DMs well-nigh Xbox missing the "Platinum Bays"-like feature that PlayStation has, showcasing completionists' accomplishments for getting every achievement (or bays) in a game. Atomic number 26 Lords asked Ronald about what achievement hunters tin can expect in 2022.

Ronald noted that Xbox has heard the feedback, elaborating that it would similar to do more to showcase the accomplishments of different types of gamers. "On the achievements forepart, we've definitely heard that feedback as well," he noted. "Everybody plays games differently, and how do nosotros reward people for playing the games they desire to play? There are people who focus on multiplayer. How exercise we reward progression and things like that?"

As of correct now, Gamerscore skews heavily towards grazing across multiple games, and doesn't provide as much feedback every bit PlayStation's system, which shows off how many full completions gamers take. Hopefully, in 2022, nosotros'll see more iteration on these rather dated systems.

Games and the year of ZeniMax

Source: Bethesda Softworks

Xbox wouldn't be Xbox without beingness an first-class box for improvident games. Microsoft has vastly expanded its outset-party footprint over the past few years, and the range of upcoming Xbox games is swollen with more exclusives than e'er before.

With Starfield launching towards the end of the twelvemonth, a big deep dive for E3 2022 is almost definitely on the cards. Bethesda'due south Todd Howard will likely requite one of his signature programmer walkthroughs, similar to Elderberry Scrolls and Fallout games of the by, going over Starfield's systems and gameplay. Redfall is also expected to make a 2022 debut. Redfall is Arkane's iv-actor branch immersive sim, giving you the tools to tackle a horde of hungry vampires and other beasties, although not a smashing deal is known almost it beyond that. Other possible candidates for 2022 gameplay reveals include Contraband from Avalanche, along with Avowed and Pentiment from Obsidian. We may besides see more in-depth gameplay from Hellblade II at some point likewise.

But what about game launches? Then far, we simply really know about Starfield, CrossfireX, and Redfall for prospective 2022 games. In a style, 2022 may be divers by the acquisition of ZeniMax on the game front end, peculiarly if we see more rumored projects emerge from the studios therein at E3. We don't however know what id Software is working on, for instance, or what'southward next for the DOOM and Wolfenstein franchises. There'due south also the matter of Arkane's sister studios, and even ZeniMax Online Studios, which built Elderberry Scrolls Online. If all of these studios show upwardly in a large way for Xbox next year, it could really kickoff to shift the weight of FOMO towards Microsoft's platform, as gamers realize that Xbox is once again a place for high-quality exclusives.

Source: Xbox Game Studios

On the Xbox side of things, games similar Forza Motorsport 8, Fable, and Perfect Dark have no launch window equally of yet, and we've not heard or seen anything from The Coalition or Gears of War in some time. Halo Infinite as an ongoing game is rumored to have an expansion called The Countless on the docket. Forza Horizon v, Bounding main of Thieves, and others volition no uncertainty have large expansions as is tradition, too. Hopefully, nosotros'll hear more about the known projects in 2022, simply the acquisition of ZeniMax, in some ways, potentially gives some of Microsoft's existing studios a bit of animate space to actually nail polish and features.

Xbox Game Pass volition also become plenty of honey next year. In the lighter months, Microsoft may seek to leverage launch deals like to 2022's partnerships with Outriders and MLB The Show that tin can grab headlines in well-nigh the same capacity every bit a total-blown exclusivity deal. I doubtable nosotros'll also see Deathloop make information technology style into Xbox Game Pass, besides, once the legacy exclusivity deal with PlayStation dries upwardly.

Microsoft is likewise looking at growing PC Game Laissez passer, its subscription with the agruably the almost potential given the vast size of the PC gaming ecosystem. Microsoft has said it sees strategy games every bit a catalyst for growing PC Game Pass, which could point to major deals with major strategy franchises and developers, from the likes of SEGA to Paradox Interactive.

What about Xbox acquisitions?

Source: Windows Central

An Xbox news cycle wouldn't be an Xbox news cycle without acquisition rumors. Most of last summer, Xbox head Phil Spencer and CEO Satya Nadella himself were signalling heavily to investors that the visitor plans to buy and larn more than studios and talent. Xbox has more vacancies for game development than it has always had before and still plans to expand its footprint further with acquisitions. Exactly what studios might be acquired, equally usual, remains shrouded in mystery.

Whether it's games, big partnerships, or acquisitions, I'd say even the biggest surprises aren't off the table at this indicate. 2022 should be another fun year for Xbox fans.

We can e'er brand educated guesses, though, and my guess would be that we practice see further acquisitions for the Xbox platform in 2022. The game manufacture is undergoing massive amounts of disruption correct now, with big tech companies gobbling up engineering and artistic talent building out plays for everything from the ephemeral "metaverse" to NFTs. I'm not expecting we'll run into Microsoft make big plays in either of those areas, only defensive acquisitions to prevent other tech companies from ownership up suitable studios may be on the cards. Microsoft sees the cloud and PC equally big areas of expansion for gaming, so I wouldn't be surprised if we encounter Microsoft cast its gaze on studios with feel in touch gaming and PC-centric franchises, possibly in genres similar strategy and simulation.

Outside of Minecraft, Fallout Shelter, and Solitaire, Microsoft has an otherwise fairly small-scale footprint in the mobile gaming globe, and yous have to wonder whether or not it wouldn't like a bigger slice of that handheld pie. Microsoft said recently that acquiring developers and trying to practice something information technology's not known for is something it wouldn't be doing again, post-obit the closure of Lionhead Studios. Every bit such, it might seek to buy up mobile game studios, since it won't be pivoting any of its own into new formats. Microsoft acknowledged recently that the games that perform best on Xbox Cloud Gaming are bear upon-enabled.

Could we run across Xbox make some other play on the scale of Bethesda, though? For a company the size of say SEGA, WB Games, or Take-Two? With Microsoft looking to expand to new gaming audiences and new regions, while too growing its share of the console market place, who knows! Whether it's games, big partnerships, or acquisitions, I'd say fifty-fifty the biggest surprises aren't off the table at this point. 2022 should exist some other fun year for Xbox fans.

UH OH

An internet connection will soon be required when setting up Windows eleven Pro

Microsoft has announced that after this year, users will exist required to connect to the cyberspace and sign-in with a Microsoft Account during the out of box setup experience on Windows 11 Pro. Microsoft has already been enforcing this requirement on Windows 11 Home since launch concluding October, and Windows 11 Pro is now expected to follow adapt before long.

Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/what-expect-xbox-2022

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