The console wars have been getting hotter again recently, with the Microsoft acquisition of Bethesda making the studio’s new game available only for PC and Xbox. In addition to Starfield, Bethesda’s first new IP in a quarter of a century, Xbox gamers can also look forward to the near future release of Baldur’s Gate 3, arguably one of the greatest games ever made. For more detail on these games, and others that are either available or soon will be, read on.

Xbox’s Brief Foray into Casino Games

One genre that won’t be making a list below is casino games, despite Xbox attempting to offer these with The Four Kings Casino and Slots. This simulation/strategy takes on the glitz and excitement of casino betting. However, it was no match for the real deal, and players hunting the best roulette casinos need only check 2023’s top 10 online casino sites in the UK for some excellent places to spin the wheel. On top of that, other classic table games like blackjack and poker are easily accessible at the top UK casinos, and there’s an ever-expanding range of slots with a wide selection of themes, art styles, and bonus mechanics. Casino gaming has never been more popular, and their inclusion in Xbox games as diverse as Dragon Quest XI and Red Dead Redemption helped add a little extra spice to those titles.

Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty

When it came out Cyberpunk 2077 had a rough launch, with the console versions particularly buggy. This seemed especially disappointing after developer CD Projekt Red’s phenomenal success with The Witcher 3, but after many patches and updates later, Cyberpunk 2077 became the game it always should have been. And now there’s an expansion, Phantom Liberty, launched on 26 September. Starring Idris Elba, the expansion has a thriller style and brings in a lot of fresh mechanics in the newly opened district of Dogtown. The story’s an emotional roller coaster, too, and there’s a new Relic skill tree. In short, players who like Cyberpunk 2077 should find a lot to love in the expansion.

Baldur’s Gate 3

There is no firm release date for Baldur’s Gate 3 for the Xbox, which will not have local co-op for the Series S at launch. However, the general date is 2023, moved from a previous 2024 launch, and that’s fantastic news for Xbox players as many consider this to be not just the best RPG of the year but a contender for the best RPG of all time. Additionally, for those looking to spice up their gaming experience, some great options for role-playing games are available at the best UK online casinos.

Bringing Dungeons and Dragons (5th Edition) to video games, Larian Studios has injected the creative flair and intelligent design they exhibited in Divinity: Original Sin 2 into Baldur’s Gate 3. There are heavy undertones of Dragon Age: Origins in here as well, with intriguing party members, a camp where not only party members but shopkeepers and other individuals can be found, and differing party member perspectives. A player can be very nice or pretty nasty, and your party members will have plenty to say whether they approve or disapprove. Combat is challenging even on standard difficulty, but it rewards smart gameplay (if under-leveled for a tough and unavoidable fight, consider taking to the rafters). While playing as a pre-made character (who otherwise is a party member) is possible, it’s recommended to customize and put one’s stamp on a first game. Just be aware this isn’t for kids, and one scene was particularly gruesome (involving surgery and a conscious/unwilling patient).

Be sure to check out the options before playing, as those squeamish about nudity can have strategically placed fig leaves to preserve modesty or even have characters running around in their underwear or less. The capability to toggle visuals also extends to the always-handy helmets off/on so a player can get the benefits without obscuring the face they spent two hours creating. It’s also advisable to ensure plenty of free time to play it, as around 75 hours is a standard play time (focus on the story, which can be cut in half).

Starfield

Starfield came out in September of 2023 and has seen (more or less) a positive return to form for Bethesda after the Fallout 76 debacle. It is set in our galaxy, but player creation is interesting in the future because backstory customization also affects the game (a player can meet their parents if they wish). Exploring the galaxy is just one of many things to do in Starfield and, to this end, players can buy or steal ships and modify them to suit their preferences. Managing energy to maximize shields or weapons will alter how the ship performs in a fight, making space battles one of the more exciting parts of the game. Regarding personal combat, there’s a range of options, including melee, ranged, and explosives. We’ll see if it gets patched, but be aware that dropping cutlery that doesn’t belong to you on the floor might lead to a ‘killed a chicken in Skyrim’ scenario.

The intro is more lackluster than some other games, and there has been some criticism of the main storyline being less than gripping. As with Skyrim, a player can have a single companion with them (they’re reasonable, although the cleaner robot in The Outer Worlds was way more fun than the robot in this game). It’s possible to infiltrate space pirates, choose between factions, or ignore the main quest and fly about exploring planets. On the whole, Starfield has gone down well, although it’d be nice if the next Elder Scrolls came out one day.

And, for 2024, Dragon’s Dogma 2

This game is good enough, and long-awaited enough, to deserve a brief honorable mention as something for Xbox players to look forward to next year. The original came out over a decade ago (2012) but received a new lease of life with the Dark Arisen expansion/re-release. It’s also been hugely popular thanks to fantastic gameplay incorporating wildly differing combat styles that all work very well (the cyclone spell that hurls enemies into the sky took a while but was worth the wait). The layered armor system also worked perfectly, and while the script could’ve been ‘aught’ better, it’s still much loved. This could be a huge hit with new classes and improved graphics, plus an early trailer that implies the game’s core will remain the same (just as players want).

Xbox gamers have some great games in the near future, from high fantasy and futuristic sci-fi exploration to grim and gritty cyberpunk dystopia.