10 2022 Xbox Predictions That Might Be True, According To Reddit

The Xbox brand has had a very up-and-down journey since it entered the gaming scene in November 2021. The original console boasted powerful hardware and featured several games that took advantage of the then-new Xbox Live, and the Xbox 360 continued most of what its predecessor did right.

The Xbox One generation proved more controversial as mandatory Kinect integration and proposed always-online requirements damaged the brand’s reputation, but changes in company leadership brought with them a return to better times. Now, at the dawn of a new Xbox generation and the precipice of a new year, fans are busy guessing what the Xbox Series X | S has in store in 2022. While some theories seem farfetched, others seem likely to be true.

10 2022 Will Be The Best Year Yet For Xbox Exclusives

Despite there being several great Xbox One exclusives, Microsoft’s last console generation was criticized for not having as strong of exclusives as the PlayStation 4. However, many players believe that 2022 will finally see the release of several high-quality Xbox exclusive games. This number will likely be bolstered by recent acquisitions such as ZeniMax, the parent company of developer Bethesda. DoctorTide’s Reddit Post lists several exclusive games fans should be excited for, including Redfall, Starfield, and Hellblade 2.

9 The Console Shortages Will Still Be A Problem

Many players have had a challenging time finding Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 consoles to purchase in the first year of their lifecycles. While the length of the shortage seems extreme, unfortunately, it’s looking as though this scarcity may continue through 2022. In a thread about delays, Redditor Busy_Service_3924 predicts that it won’t be until 2023 that the Series X is readily available on shelves, and several others agree. Unfortunately, the combination of worldwide shipping issues and part scarcity make this prediction more than possible.

8 Microsoft Will Acquire SEGA

Microsoft has never shied away from purchasing smaller companies that can contribute to their ecosystem (Xbox or otherwise), and it hasn’t surprised many people that they have continued this trend by acquiring game developers. However, few expected they would purchase a group as large as ZeniMax. This move netted them exclusive rights to the best Bethesda games, and players are expecting Microsoft to continue their acquisitions. A popular guess, which Usernametaken112 repeats, is that Microsoft will purchase SEGA in 2022. The move would help the console gain traction in Japan, where it has historically struggled.

7 Starfield Will Release Buggy But Be A Game-Of-The-Year Contender

Skyrim is famous for having hilarious bugs, and most of Bethesda’s games have been the same way. While the company has created some of the best open-world games of all time, there’s no doubt that their games’ breadth sometimes comes at the expense of initial polish. Redditor MarvelMind agrees, though they also note that several of these games have gone on to be genre-defining successes. Since Starfield will be a completely new setting (outer space sci-fi) for Bethesda, it wouldn’t be shocking if the game contains plenty of unexpected bugs. That being said, the game is likely to impress if it accomplishes the lofty gameplay goals that it’s set for itself.

6 Gears Of War 6 Will Be Released In November 2022

While Halo and Forza have recently released hit franchise entries, Newtonius235’s Reddit post discusses a GeForce Now leak that suggests Gear of War will soon follow suit with a new release in November of 2022. While some fans cite the lack of any official communication as a sign that the leak is incorrect, it makes sense that Microsoft would want a new Gears title sooner than later.

With the lack of an actual next-gen launch title, the Gears of War 5 expansion Hivebusters was widely considered the most impressive software on the Series X | S consoles.

5 The Next Forza Motorsport Will Launch in Q3 2022

Forza Horizon 5 is packed with memorable places to drive and boasts some of the best arcade racing in recent memory, but the game’s success has done little to please fans of the franchise’s more realistic base games. It’s been four years since Forza Motorsport 7 was released, and Forza subreddit user DaddyElon cites data leaks from Nvidia to support the theory that the game will be released on August 8th, 2022. While the specific release date is only a rumor, fans do know for sure that the game will sport a brand new engine and drop the title number to simply be called Forza Motorsport.

4 The Coalition Will Release A New IP

Epic Games may now be famous for Fortnight and their Epic Games Store, but the developer has released several smash hits, including the Xbox exclusive Gears of War. After the series’ first three mainline games the franchise rights were purchased by Microsoft, and the most recent titles have been made by The Coalition. With the success of Gears of War 5 and its sizable expansion Hivebusters, fans such as Redditor cat_statue have pieced together work postings to conclude that the studio is likely working on a new IP for the first time.

3 Hogwarts Legacy Will Be Fun, But Underwhelming

In 2018, an impressive-looking trailer was leaked for an at-the-time unannounced Harry Potter video game. The trailer only showed a brief clip of magic usage, but what was shown was more realistic than any Wizarding World game that’s been released. Fans now know that the leaked footage was for what would become Hogwarts Legacy.

Little is known about this game beyond what was shown in a brief reveal trailer, and ArachnosBlack predicts that the game will be solid while also disappointing those that have hyped it beyond what is realistic. While it’s too early to know if the game will deliver, it may be impossible to accomplish what many franchise fans are expecting.

2 Microsoft Will Release A Streaming-Only Console

The Xbox Series X | S posses different specs and disc capabilities, but many fans think that Game Pass’s focus on mobile streaming may indicate that a third “console” will come in 2022. James12641 predicts that this console will simply be a dongle that can stream games through the cloud to internet-connected televisions. While this would only work for people with particularly strong internet speeds, the technology seems to already be in place for Microsoft. This third console would hope to avoid the mistakes and duplicate the positives of the Stadia Pro to deliver the first premium streaming-only game experience.

1 Several Announced Games Will Be Delayed To 2023

Covid-19 and its surrounding complications have led to delays in almost every industry, and video games are not immune. Numerous titles that were initially supposed to release in 2021 were delayed to 2022, and NotFromMilkyWay predicts that a ripple effect will cause many scheduled games to be pushed out into 2023. Even if industry workflow returns to normal, delays may be necessary simply for scheduling reasons. Publishers prefer to space out similar games to maximize sales potential, and already-delayed games from 2021 may cram the most desirable release windows.

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