It’s time to finish up with the backlog of 2021 games and turn our attention to the games that will be released in 2022. The Xbox team is always looking ahead beyond the horizon and so decided to share a list of their most anticipated games for 2022. Both division heads and game developers from the many Xbox studios themselves have been interviewed to do so.
From high-budget blockbusters like Starfield and Elden Ring, to indie favourites like Tunic and Atomic Heart, there’s something for everyone here.
Somerville
It’s just amazing – with such beautiful and intuitive art and sound, creating a story of a family traversing the perils of a post-apocalyptic land. The moment the Jumpship team shared their vision for the game with me years ago, I was immediately hooked. Because at its core, this game is about doing whatever it takes to protect those you love. What else could be more important in life?
Sarah Bond
Corporate Vice President.
Out in 2022 on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC and from day one on Game Pass.
Starfield
There are so many great games coming out this year, but if I had to pick the one I’m most excited about, it would have to be Starfield. I love the worlds and the gaming experiences that Todd Howard and the team at Bethesda Game Studios have created over the decades, as The Elder Scrolls and Fallout are two of my favorite franchises. I love how Todd talks about how inside Starfield they’re not just creating a game, but an entire universe. I can’t wait to escape into this new sci-fi universe and explore everything they bring to life with Starfield.
Bonnie Ross
Head of 343 Industries
Out November 11, 2022 on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and from day one on Game Pass.
Slime Rancher 2
In this sequel to the beautiful hit Slime Rancher we can continue our adventure as Beatrix Lebo and her journey to Rainbow Island in Slime Rancher 2. Collect slimes, build hothouses and find out more about why 10 million players were happy with slimes. As a bonus, the game will be available on day one on Xbox Game Pass!
Larry Gribb
Xbox Live director of programming
Coming in 2022 on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC and from day one on Game Pass.
Redfall
Sometimes you see a trailer for a game and just know it’s going to be special. The opportunity to assemble in a squad in an open world filled with vampires will definitely touch a very long-standing, yet very desirable, depth of mind and I’m totally looking forward to it. On the other hand… there’s something about going into the darkness that calls out to me by name, alone. Anyway, Redfall really has me counting down the days until its release later this year. Oh well, who could forget that gorgeous reboot animation at Lila’s?
Malik Prince
Content creator relations manager
Releasing in summer 2022 on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and from day one on Game Pass.
Tunic
I can’t wait to finally play Tunic. I love adventure games and this tiny fox in a big world stole my heart back at E3 2018. I’m looking forward to exploring, battling and discovering the secrets of this world.
Mary McGuane
Studio Manager, Xbox Game Studios
Out March 16 on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Windows PC.
Marvel’s Midnight Suns
In addition to seeing how Sea of Thieves develops in 2022, I’m looking forward to Marvel’s Midnight Suns. I love the bold character roster choices as well as the art style, plus I’m a big fan of the Firaxis team and the Marvel storylines. This game seems made for me.
Craig Duncan
Head of Rare Studios
Out in 2022 on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Windows PC.
Atomic Heart
I love first-person narrative games and getting the chance to see the insane visuals of Atomic Heart in the crazy, unique world created by Mundfish, I can’t wait to play and experience it for myself. I’m also looking forward to seeing what millions of Game Pass players think of it!
Matt Percy
General manager of business planning for Xbox
Coming out in 2022 on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, and from day one on Game Pass.
Gotham Knights
Gotham Knights is one of my most anticipated games in 2022. Rocksteady revisited the DC Batman universe and created one of my favourite franchises with the Arkham game series. I can’t wait to see WB Montreal expand it even further with four new characters and co-op action gameplay.
Jason Ronald
Xbox platform head
Out in 2022 on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Windows PC.
Destiny 2: The Witch Queen
Preparing for the release of The Witch Queen has carried with it a lot of fun. From crafting upgrades to being able to wield my own glaive, this Guardian is ready to team up and see what journey Bungie will take us on again.
Josh Stein
Xbox social media manager
Out February 22, 2022 on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Windows PC.
A Plague Tale: Requiem
Right. Plenty. Rats. In fact, everything around here is crawling with rats. Literally everything. Plague Tale: Innocence left me wondering “what the hell happened to that boy and why there are so many rats and WHAT is going on anyway”, so I’m looking forward to finding out the answers to those questions in Requiem and maybe just seeing how many rats they can actually bring to life on screen at once.
Megan Sperr
Xbox Game Pass community manager
Coming out in 2022 on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and from day one on Game Pass.
Dying Light 2
I’m not going to lie: I’m not normally a fan of large-scale games in a vast open world about surviving the zombie apocalypse. But 500 hours is impressive, so I’m looking forward to Techland’s massive open-world zombie apocalypse survival game in 2022.
Seth Schiesel
Xbox executive communications director
Releasing February 4, 2022 on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Windows PC.
Starfield
My most anticipated game of 2022 is the first new universe in 25 years from the incredibly talented minds at Bethesda Game Studios. It reminds me of the magic of early space exploration, and I expect it to be the game that will define the next generation.
Aaron Greenberg
General manager of game marketing
Releasing November 11, 2022 on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC and from day one on Game Pass.
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
Like for a lot of people my age, Star Wars has been a big part of my life, well, my whole life anyway. I love the LEGO Star Wars games because they are the perfect way to pass on my love of the series to the young Padawans in my life and go through all nine films with them. I just hope Kiwi Temuera Morrison voices Django and Boba Fett as he does in the other Star Wars games.
Tom Mahoney
Director of marketing for third-party publisher games
Releasing in Spring 2022 on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Windows PC.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl
I always have a weakness for post-apocalyptic adventures, and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 fits the description of what I like. It’s got it all: grim atmosphere, an ominous world and charismatic characters.
Brian Fargo
Head of inXile entertainment
Out December 8, 2022 on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and from day one on Game Pass.
Saints Row
The Saints Row series has given me vivid gaming memories: the driving fall on Kanye’s roof in Saints Row 3, becoming a superhero in Saints Row 4, laughing till tears playing the minigames in the original game. I’ve always been ready for what the next installment of Saints Row will be, but what does a surprise trailer look like? Give it to me, right now.
Jeff Rubinstein
Director of New Platforms
Out August 23, 2022 on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Windows PC.
Elden Ring
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh, Elden Ring. From the original Dark Souls to Sekiro, I’ve gone through every From Software action-RPG, enjoying that incredibly satisfying feeling of victory over every challenge thrown at me. I also adore open-world games, having spent hundreds of hours on games like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Virtually nothing appeals to me more than From Software’s open world, and that’s exactly what I’ll be getting when Elden Ring comes out in February. I absolutely cannot wait to battle huge bosses with just a sword and my skills. Come on!
Will Tuttle.
Editor-in-Chief of Xbox Wire
Out February 25th on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Windows PC.
