Summary
- Xbox Game Pass has had a great lineup of games in recent months, but the December 2023 lineup looks a bit sparse.
- The Game Awards, happening on December 7, has historically been a big event for Xbox Game Pass announcements.
- Fans can expect some exciting reveals at The Game Awards, potentially including release dates for upcoming games and updates on highly anticipated titles.
Xbox Game Pass subscribers have had it pretty good recently. For about three or four months now, Xbox Game Pass has seen a consistent stream of high-quality releases, ranging from small Indie gems to gigantic first-party AAA games and really everything in between. August saw Sea of Stars and Texas Chain Saw Massacre launch, while September had Starfield and Lies of P, October had Forza Motorsport and Gotham Knights, and November has had games like Persona 5 Tactica and Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name.
But as we approach the end of the year, it seems as though Xbox Game Pass is slowing down a little. Only a handful of games are currently slated for Xbox Game Pass' December 2023 line-up, and right now there's virtually nothing set in stone for the service in 2024. But in just a few short weeks that could all change. On December 7, The Game Awards is set to host its annual ceremony, and if the last few years are anything to go by, then Xbox Game Pass fans might be in for a treat.
The Game Awards Could be Huge for Xbox Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass Usually Has a Big Presence at The Game Awards
Ever since Xbox Game Pass' initial launch all the way back in 2017, it's had at least some presence at The Game Awards, whether it's paid-for ad spots, brand new game reveals, or a bit both at the same time. But while The Game Awards has always been a spot for one or two Xbox Game Pass reveals, the last few years have seen it practically dominate a good portion of the ceremony's air time. For instance, in 2020, the only major Xbox Game Pass reveal at the Game Awards was that Among Us was coming to the subscription service.
2021's Game Awards ceremony, on the other hand, brought a total of four major Xbox Game Pass announcements to the table. The Indie game Somerville was confirmed to be heading to Xbox Game Pass, along with the 2D, Ghost of Tsushima-like Trek to Yomi, the long-awaited sequel Plague Tale: Requiem, and Sniper Elite 5, the latest in a long line of Sniper Elite games.
Last year's Game Awards upped the ante even more with its Xbox Game Pass reveals. After a brief tease of gameplay, Atomic Hearts was confirmed for Xbox Game Pass and given a concrete release date. The cyberpunk retro-futuristic Indie game Replaced was also slated for Xbox Game Pass, though it's mysteriously gone silent since then. Party Animals, a recent Game Pass hit, was first confirmed for the service back during the 2022 Game Awards, and the recently released Spirittea was also first confirmed for Game Pass during the same ceremony.
Xbox Game Pass Probably Has a Ton of Reveals Ready to Go
Based on the track record above, it seems extremely likely that 2023's Game Awards ceremony will be equally as exciting for Xbox Game Pass fans, if not even more so than previous years. Back in Xbox's June Showcase, a plethora of first-party games were confirmed for Xbox Game Pass, and as the vast majority of those games still don't have concrete release dates, the Game Awards would be a perfect time to nail those down for good, especially for any that are slated for a Q1 2024 release.
But even if Xbox doesn't currently have any major first-party games waiting in the wings for an early 2024 release, that doesn't stop it from showcasing some updates for games slated for later in the year. Games like Avowed, Fable, and Hollow Knight: Silksong are all highly anticipated releases that fans are desperate to see more from, and if even just one or two appear at The Game Awards, it'll be the talk of the town for at least a little while.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the highest tier of Microsoft's flagship game subscription service that offers over 100 game titles that you can play with a single purchase, making it one of the most outstanding value propositions of the Xbox ecosystem to date.
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