If every Xbox game can hit Fable’s apparent AAA quality — we’re destined for a bright future

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Fable demonstrates that Xbox is now prioritizing high-quality, blockbuster games, and this could become standard practice for all of their game development studios.

It’s well known that Xbox has struggled with its game lineup over the last ten years. Games like Recore, Redfall, and Crackdown 4 had interesting ideas, but didn’t quite live up to expectations. However, things are starting to improve.

Microsoft has seen significant success with games like the Forza Horizon series (including titles 3, 4, and 5, with a sixth on the way). Microsoft Flight Simulator has also become a leading game in its category. They’re particularly skilled at creating long-lasting, popular online games – Minecraft is a prime example, and they’ve built on that success with titles like Sea of Thieves. But Microsoft’s biggest Xbox hits share a common thread…

Xbox has consistently missed out on having many critically acclaimed, story-driven games – the kind often considered for ‘Game of the Year’ awards – for quite some time now.

Microsoft has been consistently releasing well-made games thanks to studios like Obsidian, Rare, The Coalition, and Bethesda, but these games haven’t often been recognized with major industry awards. While games like Forza Horizon arguably deserved nominations, award voters seem to favor story-focused games. PlayStation exclusives such as God of War, Ghost of Tsushima, and Death Stranding often dominate the spotlight, and Nintendo tends to win awards with its gameplay-focused titles like Mario and Donkey Kong.

Xbox games often fall into a middle ground in terms of quality – they’re good, but not groundbreaking. For example, *Gears of War 4* and *5* had strong stories and solid action, but didn’t quite reach the complexity of similar games. *Gears of War 5* felt a bit like *Mass Effect 2* and *3*, but traded the role-playing elements for a more focused, linear experience. It was enjoyable, but not exceptional. Recent games like *Avowed* and *The Outer Worlds 2* seem to have faced a similar issue – they generated some initial excitement but quickly faded from public discussion.

It’s still uncertain whether Fable will be a major success, but it feels like a fresh start for Xbox. Playground Games is a top-tier developer, though their racing games haven’t always received the recognition they deserve – perhaps because players tend to connect more strongly with story-driven, emotionally resonant games like The Witcher 3, Cyberpunk 2077, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Final Fantasy. These types of experiences seem to forge a deeper connection with players.

Fable appears to be a chance for Playground Games to demonstrate its skill in creating both expansive online worlds, similar to Forza Horizon 6, and deeply engaging, story-driven experiences. If they succeed in blending these strengths, Playground could establish itself as a truly top-tier game development studio.

However, there’s more to the story, as I detailed in my recent article about Fable’s appearance at the January Xbox Developer_Direct event.

Microsoft’s decision to release Xbox games on other platforms has disappointed many Xbox fans and removed a key reason for people to buy Xbox consoles. However, with the rise of games like Fortnite and Roblox, limiting games to a single platform is becoming less important, especially to new players. Today’s younger gamers have access to so much content across all devices, instantly, which is something console makers struggle to provide.

These days, simply being ‘good’ isn’t enough to stand out. With hugely popular games like Roblox’s “Catch a Brainrot” and Fortnite featuring collaborations with celebrities like Kim Kardashian, only truly exceptional games can get noticed amidst the flood of smaller, often free, options available.

The days of consistently paying full price for every new game appear to be over. Players now expect a high level of quality when they spend $70 on a title. Xbox Game Pass has likely sped up this shift, as it allows people to try games without committing to that full price, especially if they aren’t top-tier hits like Elden Ring. Interestingly, many less expensive games often deliver more depth and quality than their full-priced counterparts.

It’s good to see Microsoft still giving developers the freedom to work on smaller games. Recent examples include ‘Keeper’ and the upcoming ‘Kiln’ from Double Fine, as well as Obsidian’s ‘Pentiment’. I’ve also heard Obsidian is working on both smaller and larger, more complex projects. Double Fine is reportedly following up ‘Kiln’ with a bigger game, and InXile, known for the ‘Wasteland’ series, says its new game, ‘Clockwork Revolution’, is far more ambitious than anything they’ve created before.

Now that Microsoft has access to PlayStation’s large player base—and Nintendo’s in the future—they can afford to take the same financial risks as other major game publishers. Companies like EA (with Battlefield), CD Projekt RED (with Cyberpunk 2077), Rockstar (with Grand Theft Auto 6), and From Software (with Elden Ring) all rely on releasing games on multiple platforms to justify the huge costs and achieve the highest levels of quality. These blockbuster games wouldn’t be possible on such a large scale—or reach ‘Game of the Year’ status—without that broad reach.

We’re expecting big improvements in depth and scope for upcoming games like Gears: E-Day, State of Decay 3, and the next Halo. Because Xbox can now reach PlayStation’s larger player base, it can reduce the financial risk of developing games only for PC and Xbox. This allows Microsoft to invest in bigger teams, longer development times, and aim for higher sales with these ambitious projects.

Where does that leave Xbox hardware?

Xbox Series X|S sales have dropped significantly since the pandemic, but major game publishers are still supporting the Xbox platform. Interestingly, even PlayStation, Xbox’s main competitor, is releasing games like Helldivers 2 and Marathon on Xbox this year, likely because Xbox has a dedicated, enthusiastic, and high-spending player base.

As I’ve mentioned before, the next Xbox is expected to function like a Windows PC, but it’s still important to consider whether Xbox can maintain its user base. If enough players leave the Xbox ecosystem, game developers might stop making games for it. So far, that hasn’t happened, but it’s unclear if services like Xbox Game Pass, Play Anywhere, and Cloud Gaming are enough to compete with PlayStation’s popular exclusive games. Even with those exclusive titles, PlayStation’s hardware sales have also been decreasing.

Facing competition from platforms like TikTok and YouTube, console makers are struggling to attract players interested in quick, casual games. Expanding to multiple platforms was the natural next step, and it seems this will actually lead to higher-quality games from Xbox studios. By reaching a wider, global audience instead of just Xbox fans, they can create games that were previously out of reach.

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2026-01-24 19:40