The PlayStation 5 may be hard to find, but it's still dominating sales-wise. As reported by NPD via Video Games Chronicle, the PS5 is the fastest-selling piece of hardware in the U.S. based on dollar sales. But while the console is flying off shelves, this is not because of its compelling software lineup. The machine actually has few true exclusives of note. While the PS5 has the tantalizing salvo of Returnal, Ratchet & Clank and Deathloop coming soon, its two biggest 2021 guns, Horizon: Forbidden West and God of War: Ragnarok, are nowhere to be found. As such, Microsoft has an excellent opportunity to capitalize on these open windows with the Xbox Series X|S and come out of 2021 on the upswing.
While Microsoft may not be making headlines with its sales figures, it's making news in other places. From various Game Pass deals to the Bethesda acquisition to events to peripherals, Xbox is making waves. If the company can translate these headlines into actionable moves, then this could be an explosive year for Microsoft. Even if the Series X|S can't match PlayStation's sales, it could win community goodwill and the optics battle in 2021. After all, the delay of Gran Turismo 7 may signal delays of other PlayStation exclusives, lining Microsoft up for its exclusives to set the tenor for the year.
This could be the year that Xbox Game Studios truly wows players with key titles. Halo Infinite is certainly the forefront of that list, and it continues to look better. Each time 343 Industries has talked about Infinite since its delay, the game has improved. The right talent is in charge, and it's already paying dividends. On its own, a blockbuster Halo Infinite launch that's met with critical praise would put Xbox in a brilliant position.
However, that's far from the only title Xbox is pushing in 2021. Many of the platform's most exciting non-Halo titles are smaller, but they're no less important. Finji's TUNIC and Image & Form's The Gunk are two examples of compelling upcoming releases. In addition to delivering the tentpoles, Xbox is positioning itself to challenge the notion that its library is defined by the same string of core IP. There is a richness and variety to Xbox's 2021 lineup that will make the ecosystem look more vibrant by the end of the year.
Plus, the Bethesda acquisition may begin to bear fruit this year as well. Rumors are beginning to intensify surrounding the Starfield possibly releasing in 2021. While COVID and other extenuating factors may make this impossible, Halo and Starfield would be a potent combo for the holiday season.
Plus, even if Starfield isn't ready, it's possible that another Bethesda title could come instead. Fallout 4 set the precedent for Bethesda's titles to be announced and released close together. With rumblings of more Bethesda reveals this summer, that Fallout lightning could strike twice. A proper Wolfenstein sequel could be especially exciting, assuming that MachineGames didn't jump right into Indiana Jones after working on Youngblood.
Microsoft's game releases only paint half the picture. The true life in the Xbox ecosystem comes from the services it offers like Game Pass, xCloud and even backwards compatibility. Game Pass in particular defines the Xbox experience, and Microsoft is doubling down on that. The reveal that Outriders is coming to Game Pass day one is big, and hopefully it represents the precipice of Microsoft's work to court third-parties. Moves like this are emblematic of Microsoft's commitment to players. The ecosystem is incredibly inviting and positioned in a way that values the consumer's dollar far more than its competitors.
With the right moves and focus, Microsoft could use its upcoming wave of games to draw players into the ecosystem. Once they're in, Xbox's services and features make it difficult to leave. The synergy between Xbox's platform, its services and its games truly is unrivaled. However, from the outside looking in, the conversation around the platform is still marked by a lack of games.
2021 is the year when Microsoft can finally change that. By leveraging the rich selection of titles releasing on Xbox in 2021, players can be exposed to the strength of the Xbox ecosystem. Of course, this is all predicated on Microsoft's ability to manufacture enough consoles and actually capitalize on the gaps in Sony's lineup. This is a key opportunity to establish an upwards trajectory for the Xbox Series X|S, and Microsoft needs to take advantage of it.
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