Every console tries to cater to multiple audiences, but they also seem to all have a specific genre they focus on above the rest. PlayStation seems to be all about action-adventure and story driven games whileNintendo goes after family-friendly experiences. In recent years, it has been hard to figure out just what marketXboxhas been after. The console has seen a wide variety of experiences, but it has not really been the home of a specific genre for a little while now. However, that all seems to be changing over the next couple of years.
TheXboxused to be the home for shooters, but ever since it lost the exclusiveCall of Dutydeal andHalo Infinitefailed to make an impact, its place in gaming has not been clear. While there has not been a shortage of games, it has not nailed down a specific market like the Switch or PS5 has. However, the latest Xbox Games Showcase seems to be changing that. Over the next couple of years, the Xbox Series X seems to be becoming the home of expansive RPGs, and that should be great news for fans of the genre.
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Xbox’s Future is in Expansive Fantasy RPGS
Since acquiring Obsidian Entertainmentand Bethesda, it seemed like Xbox wanted to go all in on expansive RPGs. After its latest showcase, that approach has been made very clear. After Bethesda launchesStarfield, it will allegedly focus its efforts onThe Elder Scrolls 6. At the same time, Obsidian Entertainment is developingAvowedand Playground Games is makingFable. That is three fantasy RPGs coming from Xbox Game Studios over the next couple of years, and there will likely be even more after.
Avowedwill be Obsidian Entertainment’s version ofThe Elder Scrollsset within thePillars of Eternityuniverse. It looks like it will have all the hallmarks of the genre on a smaller scale and may be exactly what RPG fans need to tie themselves over untilThe Elder Scrolls 6hits store shelves. While no release date has been announced yet, it is supposed to launch sometime in 2024. If it matches the quality of previous Obsidian Entertainment titles then it should be a fantastic ride from beginning to end.
Playground Games has been working hard onFablefor a little while now, and fans finally got to see a glimpse of it at the Xbox Games Showcase. It willreboot the classicFableseriesand whisk players back to the colorful world of Albion for a brand-new adventure. It looks to be as funny as ever and will hopefully mark the grand return of this iconic franchise. While no release date or gameplay has been revealed, Xbox will likely show more of it soon. It may not be as expansive asThe Elder Scrollsis, but it should still be a great fantasy experience nonetheless.
After Bethesda finally launchesthe hotly anticipatedStarfield, it will focus its attention on the nextElder Scrolls. Nothing is known about this project, but Bethesda seldom disappoints with its expansive RPGs. It will likely take everything good aboutSkyrimand expand upon it in exciting ways. Even though players have only seen a title card, it is still one of the most anticipated upcoming releases in years. It will be interesting to see what the studio has planned, and hopefully, fans will not have to wait forever.
Those three fantasy RPGs are the primary focus of Xbox’s upcoming first-party slate, and those are not the only RPGs on the way. There are also some third-party fantasy titles on the horizon, Xbox already hasThe Elder Scrolls Online, and if the Activision Blizzard acquisition gets approved then it will have even more RPGs and fantasy worlds to play with.StarfieldandThe Outer Worlds 2may not be fantasy related, but they are also expansive first-party RPGs coming out in the future. It seems likeXbox’s future is in the RPG, and fans of the genre will want to get their hands on the console or a PC so that they can be a part of that future.
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