2024’s Games Lineup Is Going to Be Incredible for Xbox Players – Here’s Why
2024 is going to be a great year for Xbox players. Across Xbox consoles, PC, Cloud, and Game Pass, you’ll find a truly special line-up on the way. As you saw in the recent Developer_Direct broadcast, our teams and partners are bringing world-class experiences to Xbox platforms. With new ideas, long-awaited sequels, incredible exclusives, and more all on the way, no matter what kind of game you’re looking for, you’ll find it on Xbox.
To try and cram it all into a single article would be impossible, but we’ve arranged a choice selection of just some of the upcoming games into categories, to give you a sense of what’s coming this year to Xbox and PC.
The Choice is Yours in Avowed
Avowed sees Obsidian taking us back to the world of Eora (the setting of the Pillars of Eternity franchise), and into the unexplored Living Lands, a fantastical, vibrant island filled with adventure and danger. As with all of Obsidian’s games, it’s going to be a journey to remember – this fantasy action RPG is built around the studio’s mantra of playing “your worlds, your way,” including opportunities to approach story and combat in multiple ways, as you ultimately uncover a mystery that affects not only you and your party, but the fate of the Living Lands themselves. Coming to Xbox Series X|S, PC and cloud (and available with Game Pass on day one) this fall.
Advance into a New Age of Grand Strategy with Ara: History Untold
The team at Oxide Games is comprised of strategy gaming veterans – many who have worked on the acclaimed Civilization franchise together. Now they’re paving their own path to create a game they’ve always wanted to make, while finding new ways to build upon the framework of what makes the genre so great to begin with.
With an innovative crafting and simultaneous turns system, unique leaders, and a pedigree of talent behind them, Ara: History Untold isn’t just shaping up to be the next great grand strategy game – it’s planning to usher in a whole new arena of innovation to the genre that has us excited to advance into this next age with them. Ara: History Untold arrives this fall on Windows and Steam, and will be available with PC Game Pass on day one. We recommend that you Wishlist the game on Steam for the latest breaking game news.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II Makes Its Haunting Return
Ninja Theory reignites the journey of Senua in Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, the long-awaited sequel to Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. The story follows Senua’s next steps across a stunning 10th Century Iceland, taking you through dark and dangerous encounters, seen through the eyes of someone who experiences psychosis, and all intertwined in a truly unique audio-visual experience – rooted in staying true to its remarkable predecessor. We can’t wait to jump back into this unique gaming world, which tells an immersive, brutal story about facing the darkness within and without. Senua returns on May 21 for Xbox Series X|S, PC and Cloud, and will be available with Game Pass on day one.
Join a New Adventure in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
This new journey starring the legendary archaeologist comes from the award-winning team at MachineGames – the minds behind Wolfenstein: The New Order and Wolfenstein: The New Colossus – in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games and executive produced by Bethesda Game Studios’ Todd Howard.
Set between “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “The Last Crusade”, Indiana Jones and The Great Circle is a first-person, single-player adventure that will take you all over the world, uncovering clues and solving an ancient mystery. Become the adventurer in a race against sinister forces. Your journeys will take you from the hallowed halls of the Vatican and the arid deserts of Egypt to the lush and sunken temples of Sukhothai and the frigid peaks of the Himalayas.
Indiana Jones and The Great Circle is coming later this year to Xbox Series X|S and PC, and will be available with Game Pass on day one.
Soar to New Heights with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
This brand-new simulator is designed to take advantage of the latest technologies in simulation, cloud, machine learning, graphics and gaming to create the most sophisticated, immersive and awe-inspiring flight simulator of all time. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 goes beyond letting us polish up those virtual pilot wings on our uniforms, it will allow us to pursue our dream of an aviation career.
With features like aerial firefighting, search and rescue, commercial flights, remote cargo ops, VIP charter service, air racing, and more, we’ll not only be experiencing the joy of flight, but experience the pilot career we always dreamed of. The sky is calling – Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 takes off on PC and Xbox Series X|S this year, and will be available with Game Pass on day one.
Experience a Never-Ending Adventure in Towerborne
Gear up and for a brand-new take on action-RPGs in Towerborne, a new adventure from Banner Saga developer Stoic and Xbox Games Publishing. A colorful tale of courage and heroism with a rich arsenal of weapons and combat abilities, Towerborne will offer a ton of replayability and charm, set in a gorgeous, dynamic world that evolves as players progress. Towerborne will make its grand debut for Xbox Series X|S and PC in 2024, and will be available with Game Pass on day one.
Explore Enormous Open Worlds
There’s a reason open worlds are among gaming’s most popular places – the scope they offer for freedom, discovery, and self-expression are unmatched by most. Thankfully, there are some very big hitters coming in 2024. Star Wars Outlaws is the first-ever open world Star Wars game, set between the events of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. Fight, steal, and outwit crime syndicates as you join the galaxy’s most wanted. Final Fantasy XIV Online arrives on Xbox for the first time this year, welcoming you into its huge, beautiful MMO world, and inviting you to explore every inch with your friends.
2024 also sees the long-awaited return of two cult classic franchises with wide open worlds. Dragon’s Dogma 2 brings us another eldritch blast of Capcom’s unique action-RPG, mixing high fantasy with some truly outlandish combat – once you’ve taken down a cyclops with a meteor, you’ll know why people loved the first game quite so much. STALKER 2 (coming on day one to Game Pass) will reintroduce us to The Zone after many years away, asking you to explore a mutating world by way of intense, painstaking survival action.
Strategize on an Epic Scale
If turn-based role playing fans thought they were eating good last year, with celebrated entries such as Baldur’s Gate 3 and Sea of Stars, it’s time to loosen that belt another notch; a feast of massive adventures is on the menu in 2024. Following November’s more action-focused Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, RGG Studio shifts focus back to turn-based battle in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, out now. This one’s as epic as it is wacky, with a full island-building game embedded as an optional diversion from Ichiban’s adventures in Hawaii – the first game in the series set outside of Japan. This week, Atlus revisits one of the most beloved RPGs of all time with Persona 3 Reload (coming on day one to Game Pass), complete with overhauled visuals, new music and voice performances, and modernized gameplay features.
Vaunted developer Vanillaware is known for its visually distinct RPGs, and it’s bringing its first-ever title to Xbox in March, the stunning tactical RPG Unicorn Overlord. The much-anticipated Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes (coming on day one to Game Pass) promises an immersive JRPG experience with a focus on rich storytelling. Players can look forward to intricate town-upgrading mechanics and engaging combat, exploring a world brimming with diverse characters and compelling narratives. Finally, one of the most striking titles at last year’s Xbox Games Showcase, Metaphor: ReFantazio is a new fantasy RPG from some of the creative minds behind the Persona series.
Prepare for More Fearful Encounters
Horror is one of the most captivating genres in gaming. Designed to thrill while pulling you into a world of terror, these types of games have a way of staying with you even after the lights have come back on. 2024 might be upping this a notch with one of the masters of modern gaming horror, The Chinese Room, bringing us into their newest universe with Still Wakes the Deep (coming on day one to Game Pass). You’ll be stranded on a warping North Sea oil rig being seemingly consumed by a supernatural entity. Sounds fun; sign us up.
Some of these fearful encounters in 2024 will be returns to the familiar. Supermassive Games is taking the reins from Tarsier Studios with Little Nightmares III, bringing their horror pedigree to this beloved puzzle-platform horror adventure series. We’ll also be taking a return trip into Red Barrels’ excellent survival horror series with The Outlast Trials. One of the newest features there will be the opportunity to play with friends within the walls of a corporate-controlled sanitorium.
Speaking of returns, we’ll also be treated to a long-awaited arrival of a new Alone in the Dark, now with a reimagined take on a horror gaming classic starring David Harbour and Jodie Comer as playable protagonists.
Traverse New Worlds
Perhaps one of the most exciting parts of gaming is finding a brand new series, and a brand new world, to explore, shape, and fall in love with. 2024 is going to offer many, many opportunities to do that, with multiple games marking the start of brand new journeys for players. From Xbox, Towerborne and Ara: History Untold are the beginning of brand-new series, but our partners are also bringing a bevy of new ideas to the table.
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn weaves together brutal melee, gunplay, and magic for a fantasy narrative that looks strikingly original. Meanwhile, Dungeons of Hinterberg (coming to Game Pass on day one) will take us to a fantastical version of the Alps, The Plucky Squire will jump between 2D and 3D in its storybook world, and 33 Immortals (coming to Game Pass on day one) turns the action-roguelike template into a never-before-seen 33-player co-op experience.
Dive Into a Simulation
Sometimes, the only thing better than getting lost in a new world is sculpting that world yourself – “simulator” can mean many things in gaming these days, and 2024 brings ample opportunity to sculpt an empire, or create peaceful hangouts along with friends.
In Manor Lords (coming on day one to PC Game Pass), dynamic, medieval settings meet real history in a fresh take on city-building and real time strategy. For a quieter adventure, take your mech for a stroll through the cozy cosmic hills of Lightyear Frontier (coming day one to Xbox Game Pass), an open-world farming adventure that can be explored alone or with friends.
And of course, as we mentioned above, Flight Simulator 2024 takes flight this year, so be sure to keep your eyes to the virtual skies (and Xbox Wire) for updates.
Relive The Adventure
Returning to a story you know and love can be the ultimate joy, and 2024 is packed with shiny new spins on some classic titles. Explore the depths in Tomb Raider I – III Remastered, which includes the first three games in the classic series complete with upgraded graphics. Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster also promises a triumphant return to a classic tale of good vs. evil, complete with stunning new visuals that’ll entice old and new Star Wars fans alike. Plus, you can relive an Xbox indie gem with Braid: Anniversary Edition, a lovingly updated version of the time-bending platformer, complete with charming new graphics, improved sound, and developer commentary.
Jump Into Long-Awaited Returns
Many of the stories and worlds that we already love are making big comebacks this year. Tekken 8 – out now – is on top form, with cutting edge combat, stunning visuals and a bombastic new story – it’s the perfect instalment for new and returning fighting fans to jump into.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 by The Chinese Room takes players to the dark underbelly of Seattle, where vampires struggle for survival and supremacy. As an Elder vampire, players meet compelling characters, navigate complex political relationships, stalk the streets for prey, and engage in intense combat to uncover the city’s secrets. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 launches later this year, ending our 13-year wait to step back into the boots of Captain Titus as he hacks, slashes and boltguns through hordes of vicious Tyranids in a glorious sequel.
A fresh entry into the enchanting Mana series – and its first appearance on Xbox consoles – is also on the way. As we discovered during Developer_Direct, Visions of Mana promises a beautiful reimagining of the series’ vibrant worlds, breathtaking environments and heartwarming characters, all within an epic RPG.
Immerse Yourself in Unexpected Art Styles
First impressions are everything, and this year is bringing some games that will open your eyes as much as they expand your mind. In a true, ‘I never thought I’d see that in a game’ moment, Harold Halibut (coming to Game Pass on day one) is a handmade adventure built with traditional stop-motion techniques – imagine a playable Wes Anderson movie set on a submerged spaceship and you’re on the right track.
Rise of the Golden Idol is a sequel to the beloved (and truly bizarre) detective game Case of the Golden Idol, and brings with it a style that somehow fuses the painterly and the grotesque while evoking classic ’90s point ’n’ clicks. Open Roads (coming to Game Pass on day one) on the other hand blends a 3D world with beautiful, graphic novel-style characters to striking effect, helping to tell the story of a mother and daughter embarking on a road trip and uncovering long-lost family secrets.
Enjoy More From the Worlds You Love
Of course, a game doesn’t stop growing when it’s released, and many of your favorites will continue to get new content throughout 2024. From the Xbox family, you can expect Starfield’s DLC expansion, Shattered Space, later this year – not to mention new seasons and updates for the likes of Sea of Thieves, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, Call of Duty: Warzone, Diablo IV, Halo Infinite, Overwatch 2, The Elder Scrolls Online, Fallout 76, Grounded, Minecraft, and more. That’s not to mention our games on other platforms, such as World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, and Call of Duty: Mobile.
From our partners, you can of course expect Fortnite to continue to grow in truly unexpected ways, Destiny 2 will receive its epochal The Final Shape expansion, and Apex Legends will celebrate its fifth anniversary. That’s not to mention the likes of Grand Theft Auto Online, the EA Sports catalogue, Rainbow Six Siege, and many, many more.
Keep Discovering With Game Pass
With all of these new games on the way, don’t forget that Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass already contain hundreds of titles for you to try out – your new favorite game might already be waiting for you. Encompassing console, PC, and cloud (with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate), Game Pass offers new games, new genres, and new ideas, wherever you want to play.
2023 saw some incredible games join the service, and 2024 will be no different. We’ve already started strong with the likes of Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, Resident Evil 2, and many more joining Game Pass in January, and the year ahead is looking very good – Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, Persona 3 Reload, Manor Lords are just a few of the titles on their way. Make sure to check back with Xbox Wire to find out what’s coming, and when.
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