Without a doubt, 2023 will be an important year in the world of video games. With a flurry of particularly anticipated titles, sales are already looking staggering. But if all the planets seem to align in the sky of the games, the year is also full of black dots. The Tech&Co newsroom takes stock of the promises and challenges that the sector will have to embrace and overcome so that 2023 goes down in history.
Five reasons to rejoice
• PlayStation 5 and Xbox series are finally available
Since its launch in November 2020, sales of next-generation consoles have skyrocketed, GamesIndustry recalls. However, these consoles have suffered the full brunt of the shortage of electronic components. But those worries now appear to be over. In December, Microsoft, the maker of the Xbox, was able to provide copies as the holiday season approached.
For its part, Sony assured that the shortage had already been left behind. Therefore, the PlayStation 5 models should be available in stores again. This should allow the entire industry to really step up by offering games developed and designed for the new consoles.
• Spider-Man 2 promises to be the box of the year
In the face of the pandemic, many releases have been postponed to 2022. But this year, particularly anticipated games should boost sales in the sector. Among them, Spider-Man 2 is already expected to crush the competition with a scheduled fall release.
A famous license, a PlayStation exclusivity, the meeting of two heroes to face an iconic villain (Venom), all the ingredients are there for the second installment of Spider-Man’s adventures to be a success. Above all, Sony should be able to count on new players who were able to discover the first PC game, thanks to a release during the summer of 2022.
• Starfield must relaunch Xbox exclusives
In the first half of 2023, Bethesda is due to unveil its next RPG. Already acclaimed by gamers for its Elder Scrolls (Skyrim) or Fallout licenses, the studio will have the arduous task of relaunching game releases for Microsoft. The American manufacturer itself had recognized that too much time had passed since the launch of its last internally developed game.
With no release date for now, the title will transport the player to a gigantic space universe. If the narrative framework remains a mystery, Starfield will push the characters to colonize, develop and exploit the 1000 planets present in the game.
• Link embarks on an adventure again in a new episode of Zelda
Tears of the Kingdom, this is the name of the next episode of The Legend of Zelda license. On May 12, fans of the franchise will be able to discover the direct sequel to the latest installment. Once again, the exploration of wide open spaces, puzzles and dungeons will be part of the game.
Players’ attraction to Link’s adventures leaves little doubt about the reception reserved for the title. Especially since Breath of the Wild, the earlier opus, is one of the best-selling games on Nintendo Switch.
• The Nintendo Switch continues to attract so much
However, released in March 2017, Nintendo’s latest console continues to lead console sales. In January, the Japanese manufacturer announced that seven million copies had found buyers in France alone. This means that more than one Frenchman in ten owns the device.
the five challenges
• A limited Nintendo Switch
Despite its success, the Nintendo console is constantly on the edge. With each game release, the Switch shows its technical limits a little more. This was the case with the last Pokémon. The only option to avoid errors is to improve the optimization of the title. But this slows down their development. Therefore, this ideal seems to be reserved only for some high-budget games.
• Hybrid work continues to be a challenge for the industry
The year 2022 has shown that game developments continue to be disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. If the developers came out of their confinement, work habits were disrupted, as in all areas of activity. Thus, teleworking has become established and weighs heavily on the production of video games. At the moment, the industry has not yet found the right recipe.
• Call of Duty will not reverse sales
The traditional annual release of the shooter franchise will not take place in 2023. This year, Call of Duty will not introduce a new episode in the fall. The development teams will only deliver additional content for Modern Warfare 2, which will be released in October 2022, and its free-to-play Warzone 2.0 mode, released a few weeks later.
Coincidence of the calendar, this year without news Call of Duty arrives because the sale of Activision to Microsoft must be recorded. The record acquisition of the video game sector is currently being examined by the various competition authorities. Fearing the loss of advantages, Sony is concerned about the rapprochement between its competitor and the studio.
• FIFA will no longer be FIFA
The license operates a dangerous transformation in 2023. The collaboration between Electronic Arts and the international soccer federation has come to an end. Therefore, Fifa games can no longer be called Fifa. The most popular and lucrative football game simulation will be called this year. ea sports fc. However, FIFA intends to complete a new deal with another development studio. It remains to be seen which of the names or know-how will be favored among the players.
• Price increases are expected
If the PlayStation 5 has already crossed the line, by raising its price by 50 euros, the others should be forced to do so. The head of Microsoft Gaming announced in October that price increases were being considered. The promise was not to raise sales prices before Christmas, but 2023 should not escape. Therefore, the sums claimed for the games, the consoles, but also the Xbox Game Pass subscription will probably increase in the coming months.
Source: BFM TV
