As the Xbox Series X and S tread into their latest year, Microsoft’s console lineup continues to expand with a solid collection of games. It’s a common trend for gaming systems to hit their stride later in their lifespan, particularly when developers can fully leverage the latest hardware without the constraints of supporting both current and previous generations. While the Xbox Series X/S hasn’t quite reached this phase yet, signs show that it’s heading in that direction.
Recent years have been generous with outstanding games, especially within the open-world genre. Titles like ‘Elden Ring’, ‘Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga’, ‘A Plague Tale: Requiem’, and ‘Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands’ stood out in 2022, each offering vastly different gaming experiences. The following year continued this trend with games such as ‘Dead Space’, ‘Street Fighter 6’, ‘Hi-Fi Rush’, ‘Remnant 2’, ‘Forza Motorsport’, and ‘Lies of P’. But what’s on the horizon for Xbox enthusiasts? What can we expect to see in 2024?
Focusing on North American release dates for the Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One, let’s take a closer look. We’ve recently updated our calendar on November 27, 2024: including exciting upcoming titles like ‘Railroads Online’, ‘Road Maintenance Simulator 2 – Winter Services’, ‘Hunting Simulator 3’, ‘Glitch Hero’, ‘Penguin’s Road’, ‘Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop’, ‘Love Too Easily’, and ‘Beat the Machine: Rebooted’.
November 2024 is set to be a big month for Xbox. Even though some of its standout games have been out on other platforms for a while, the Xbox lineup is probably the strongest for this month. Notably, ‘Genshin Impact’ has finally come to Xbox—a debut long overdue. Though not a fresh face, this gacha game’s entry is still significant, given its frequent updates. Another surprise is ‘Death Stranding’, which unexpectedly dropped on Xbox, bringing its unique open-world gameplay to new players.
The top release is undoubtedly ‘S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl’, launching straight onto Game Pass. With its rocky development history, it’s thrilling to finally dive into this open-world survival horror game. Other major releases this month include ‘Metal Slug Tactics’, ‘Planet Coaster 2’, ‘Slitterhead’, and ‘Ravenswatch’.
For avid gamers, here’s a detailed list of what you can grab in November:
– November 1: ‘Aero the Acro-Bat: Rascal Rival Revenge’, ‘Albatroz’, ‘CAFE 0 ~The Sleeping Beast~ REMASTERED’
– November 5: ‘Let’s Sing 2025’, ‘Metal Slug Tactics’
– November 6: ‘Planet Coaster 2’, ‘SlavicPunk: Oldtimer’
– November 7: ‘Bioframe Outpost’, ‘Death Stranding’, ‘Empire of the Ants’, ‘Goat Simulator Remastered’, and more
– November 8: ‘Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration Expanded Edition’, ‘Elderborn’, ‘Slitterhead’
– November 12: ‘Farming Simulator 25’, ‘The Rise of the Golden Idol’, ‘Songs of Conquest’, ‘Tetris Forever’
– Through the rest of the month, more exciting games roll out, including ‘Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024’, ‘Genshin Impact’, and ‘S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl’—to name a couple.
Looking ahead to December 2024, while it’s not usually a jam-packed month, there are still some notable releases. Most prominent is ‘Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’, coming to both Xbox and PC, temporarily exclusive to Xbox consoles and a treat for Game Pass subscribers. Although the first-person perspective has sparked debate, it suits MachineGames’ forte.
Additionally, anticipate ‘Marvel Rivals’, pegged to be the next big multiplayer hero shooter. While such games don’t always hit the right notes, Marvel’s star power might draw in players. For nostalgia, ‘Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered’ will be another highlight.
Counting down to December’s releases:
– December 3: ‘Diesel Legacy: The Brazen Age’
– December 4: ‘The Thaumaturge’
– December 5: ‘Entropy Survivors’, ‘Fantasia Neo Dimension’, and more
– December 6: ‘Beat the Machine: Rebooted’, ‘Marvel Rivals’, ‘Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun – Aiko’s Choice’
– December sees the release of the long-awaited ‘Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’, alongside others like ‘Road Maintenance Simulator 2 – Winter Services’.
– On December 10, we can also get excited for the ‘Legacy of Kain’ remasters.
As we enter 2025, some games yet to grace our consoles are slated for release. Titles like ‘Croc: Legend of the Gobbos Remastered’ remain in the wings, making gamers eager for solid launch dates. Here’s hoping they don’t push too far into 2025. Potential releases without specific dates or leaning into the following year include:
– ‘Amerzone – The Explorer’s Legacy’, ‘Arctic Awakening’, ‘Corsairs – Battle of the Caribbean’, and ‘Croc: Legend of the Gobbos Remastered’
– Anticipate some titles such as ‘Fractured Veil’ and ‘Lab Rat’ still in limbo concerning their release dates.
Looking into January 2025, there’s a mix of intriguing launches to keep players occupied. Notably, ‘Dynasty Warriors: Origins’ provides a promising step forward for the series, and fans of JRPGs can enjoy ‘Tales of Graces f Remastered’. Another title to watch is ‘Synduality: Echo of Ada’, alongside the consistent reliability of ‘Sniper Elite: Resistance’.
The release schedule for January includes:
– January 16: ‘Morkull Ragast’s Rage’
– January 17: ‘Dynasty Warriors: Origins’, ‘Tales of Graces f Remastered’
– January 22: ‘ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist’
– January 23: ‘Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles Remaster’, ‘Synduality: Echo of Ada’
– January wraps up with favorites like ‘Cuisineer’, ‘The Stone of Madness’, and ‘Sniper Elite: Resistance’.
February 2025 is shaping up to be significant across all gaming consoles, as companies race to meet the fiscal year-end in March. Expect big titles like ‘Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’ and ‘Civilization 7’, scheduled to drop on the same day, appealing to varied audiences and requiring a hefty time commitment.
Other notable February releases include ‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’, ‘Tomb Raider 4-6 Remastered’, ‘Avowed’, and ‘Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii’. Monster hunters can rejoice with the arrival of ‘Monster Hunter Wilds’, ensuring a jam-packed gaming month.
Finally, let’s talk about those highly-anticipated Xbox games set for post-February 2025—some with no confirmed release dates. Fans are eagerly awaiting games like ‘Beyond Good and Evil 2’ and ‘Control 2’, although patience will be vital as details about their launches continue to unfold.
Projects like ‘The Elder Scrolls 6’, ‘Kingdom Hearts 4’, and ‘Ark 2’ linger on the horizon, illustrating just a fraction of exciting projects set to enrich the Xbox library in the coming years.
And for the speculators among us, rumor mills churn with whispers of games such as ‘Gears 6’, though official announcements are pending. It’s a vibrant time to be an Xbox gamer, with plenty to delve into and much more to anticipate.
