My Favorite Xbox Moments of 2023

ign.com:

Before we start getting pumped up for what should be a big 2024 for Xbox, I wanted to take the opportunity here in this final Unlocked column of 2023 to look back on my favorite Xbox moments of the year. It’s certainly been a memorable year for Xbox, what with a major shadow-dropped first-party exclusive, the biggest first-party launch since at least Gears of War 3 (if not Halo 3), the ongoing saga that was the Activision-Blizzard acquisition, and more. Here’s what I’ll remember most when I think back on Xbox in 2023:

When Microsoft held its first-ever Xbox Developer Direct in January, we expected good stuff that we got, like a release date for Redfall. We also expected some good stuff we’d end up having to wait longer for, like release dates for Forza Motorsport and Starfield. But Microsoft managed to pleasantly surprise everyone with the mid-Developer Direct announcement – and immediate release – of Hi-Fi Rush, a stylish rhythm-action game from Tango Gameworks, a studio known for making games that are tonally the polar opposite of the cheery and upbeat adventures of a robo-armed teenager named Chai. It wasn’t just cool because it was a shadow-dropped first-party game. It was cool because it was a shadow-dropped first-party game that’s legitimately outstanding. That moment is going to be remembered for years to come in Xbox history.

Diablo 4 was not only one of my most anticipated games of 2023, it was probably one of my most anticipated games in the last half-decade. I’m a massive fan of the series, and Diablo 4 up to that point had been giving off some serious Diablo 2 vibes (this is a very, very good thing) ever since I first got my hands on it last December.

So when Blizzard held its first beta weekend in March and