Should I Buy An Xbox Series in 2023?

It’s that time of year where we look at what each console has to offer going forward. What is the back catalogue like? How much do you have to look forward to? What is the tech like for today’s shrewd gamer? If you’re looking to buy a new console for Christmas or in the New Year – these are the articles for you. Is it worth buying an Xbox Series X or Series S in 2023?

The Xbox Series X and S are both fantastic consoles in their own way, offering very different things to different gamers.

The Series X is the most powerful console on the market today, giving you hundreds of fantastic games with a Game Pass subscription. The Series S has access to the same games, but is the least powerful modern console – and that’s reflected in the price.

Microsoft are on the cusp of some fantastic things, and 2023 is the turning point. Over the next 12 months, Xbox is going to be the place to be. That’s for the games themselves – and for the services around. It’s less of a sure thing than PlayStation, but it promises to be an incredible year nonetheless.

Xbox Games 2023

But the most important things are the games. While Nintendo look most likely to rock 2023 with exclusives, Xbox’s confirmed offering is nothing to sneeze at. Starfield, the first new IP from Bethesda in decades, looks set to be a must-play, and seems to bring that unique Fallout/Elder Scrolls feel to a much larger scale.

On top of that, Redfall – the new IP from Arkane – has been confirmed, and we’ll get Forza Motorsport too.

That’s the first half of the year, and more are likely to be announced in the Summer. There’s a long list of games that have been in development for multiple years that may be confirmed as soon as the Game Awards in December.

All of these games will be in Game Pass. You’ll gain access straight away if you subscribe.

And while it’s a bit of a cliche at this point, Game Pass is really an exclusive in and of itself. Hundreds of games to enjoy for a monthly fee stretching across dozens of genres.  Think Blockbuster, but for games.

If the Activision purchase goes through, Diablo 4 may be added to the service at launch too.

The Future in Green

Microsoft are trying to do something new. Whether they’ll succeed or not is anybody’s guess.

Through giving big games with Game Pass, the player has a choice of what they play without having to purchase. It means they can be part of massive launches without having to shell out. This is great for frugal gamers.

Until this point, first-party offerings have been thin on the ground. That seems about to change, but don’t expect many titles on the scale of God of War Ragnarok. That’s not because they’re not coming – it’s possible – but because it’s better to not expect.

If you’re all about those blockbuster first-party titles and you’re not afraid to pay for them, then PlayStation is probably the place to be.

But between the impending Activision purchase, which is still being sorted through legally, and the first-party offering this year, there’s never been a better time to jump into the Microsoft ecosystem. It’s not necessarily the future of gaming, but it’s certainly the future of Xbox – and that’s worth being a part of.

Conclusion

Xbox is potentially the most exciting place to play in 2023. It has less announced exclusives than Nintendo, but what they have is bigger. They have more announced exclusives than PlayStation, and everything that is released will go into Game Pass.

You won’t get God of War or The Legend of Zelda, and if those are important to you look elsewhere. You will get most third-party games, and a decent crop of titles in a subscription, and that might suit you.

The Series S is a fantastic way into this generation for younger children or those who still have 1080p TVs. The Series X is more powerful, and is well worth the price. If you’re happy with the slightly less proven track record when it comes to games, Xbox is definitely the place to be.