Microsoft's gaming division has undergone a fundamental transformation in recent years and is now impressively demonstrating that it is hitting the ground running in the area of first-party games. The massive upgrade through company takeovers such as Activision-Blizzard and ZeniMax has not only lifted Xbox to a new level in terms of quantity, but also quality. One current infographic provides an overview of the titles Xbox fans can expect in the coming months and years. But what does this mean for Sony?
Xbox goes on the attack
With games such as "Avowed", "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle" and "Fable", Xbox already has a line-up that is causing quite a stir. In addition, exciting projects such as "Perfect Dark", "Clockwork Revolution" and "Gears of War: E-Day" are in the starting blocks. State of Decay 3" in particular should delight fans of open-world survival games, as it builds on the strengths of its predecessors and should finally fully exploit the series' potential.
Hideo Kojima, once a PlayStation mainstay, is now also working for Xbox and is working on the mysterious horror project "OD". There are also rumors about an "Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion" remake as well as a fresh spin-off of the "Doom" series, which is set to take the franchise to a new level. All of these titles will also appear directly in the Xbox Game Pass, making Microsoft's platform even more attractive.
What does Sony have to counter this?
So while Xbox is forging ahead with a powerful portfolio of games, Sony has nothing to hide. PlayStation still has strong exclusive titles up its sleeve that are electrifying fans. With "Death Stranding 2", "Marvel's Wolverine" and "Saros" in 2026, top-class games are already waiting in the wings. Then there are the live service games, with which Sony has not yet proven to be a lucky hand.
"Death Stranding 2" promises to continue Hideo Kojima's idiosyncratic vision and take players into an even more profound, post-apocalyptic world. "Marvel's Wolverine" is being developed by Insomniac Games, the studio behind "Marvel's Spider-Man 2", and with its uncompromising gameplay and cinematic narrative is set to be a real showstopper. "Saros, on the other hand, is still a big mystery, but could be Sony's next big sci-fi blockbuster, backed by the studio behind Returnal.
A fierce battle for the gaming crown
So the battle between Xbox and PlayStation is far from over, and this time Microsoft seems better equipped than ever. While Sony continues to focus on strong single-player experiences, Xbox is going on the offensive with its Game Pass model and a massive amount of first-party titles.
The problem: Sony's games output has almost come to a standstill in recent years, and it will take time for this to change again. It is precisely this window of opportunity that Microsoft can now exploit. PlayStation gamers can at best hope that they will soon be able to enjoy Xbox games too. The coming months and years will show whether Sony's strategy remains successful or whether the Xbox will become a serious threat with its concentrated games offensive.
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