The Xbox-Bethesda showcase was one of the most anticipated events for E3 2021. Now that the companies have shown off more extended looks at both Halo Infinite and Starfield, Microsoft is beginning to telegraph what its future is going to look like to consumers. Halo Infinite has been highly anticipated ever since its announcement and eventual delay, but now that it's set to come out later this year, the game will be the first major first-party release for the Xbox Series X/S. In a similar way, Starfield is coming exclusively to Xbox consoles in 2022 (as well as PC), so some of Starfield's success might be riding on how well Halo Infinite is received.
Halo Infinite will be the first voice of Microsoft first-party games on the newest console generation, but it might end up being Starfield that truly takes things to the next level. There's a lot to be excited about from Microsoft's E3 conference, but perhaps the two most telling things for its future are Halo and Starfield, two games that can help establish the Xbox Series X/S.
What Halo Infinite Needs to Be
The most recent mainline entries in the Halo franchise have had mixed receptions from audiences. While still popular, longtime fans of the series are hoping that Halo Infinite will be a return to form and capture the magic of the original Halo trilogy. If 343 Industries can capitalize on that and deliver a Halo experience that lives up to the franchise's legacy while also bringing in new fans to the series, it should realign faith in Microsoft's first-party studios.
The games being released by them over the past few years haven't been bad by any means, but they certainly haven't hit the highs that the company might be hoping for. If Halo Infinite is able to start the lineup of first-party releases on the Series X/S with a bang, it's going to set Xbox up for some even bigger smash hit releases, namely Starfield.
Halo Infinite's Reception and Release
The Halo series has seen some of the biggest releases in all of video game history. For good reason, the original Halo: Combat Evolved put Microsoft on the map as a console producer that should be taken seriously. Because of Halo 5: Guardians' mixed reception, fans of the series might be skeptical about Infinite, but it just might be able to see the highs that the series has seen in its earlier days. In fact, a new, well-reviewed Halo game on the relatively new Xbox Series X/S might shape up to be the biggest release in the series. Additionally, its status as a day one Xbox Game Pass game will likely also help it find greater success than seen before in the franchise.
If Halo Infinite is a smash hit, it's likely that the true success for Microsoft will come from Starfield's release. A release that might be even bigger than Infinite's depending on a few important factors including Halo Infinite's potential success.
The Excitement Surrounding Starfield
Starfield is set to release next year on November 11, a full eleven years after the release of Skyrim. While Bethesda was a big name in gaming before Skyrim, the fifth Elder Scrolls game caused the studio's popularity to explode. In the years since, the studio has been focusing on Fallout releases with Fallout 4 and Fallout 76. While Fallout 76's release might have been a slight misstep for the studio, its popularity has continued to climb with fans craving new information about the next big release. Now that Starfield has an official release date, excitement for it is going to continue growing over the next year and a half until it releases.
One thing to whet the appetites of Starfield fans will be Halo Infinite. If Infinite releases to critical acclaim, the game will serve as an appetizer for Starfield's release in the following year. This will set up Starfield to likely be even bigger than Halo because Halo has the potential to be a proof of concept for AAA first-party games on the Series X/S.
Starfield and the Future of the Xbox Series X
Halo Infinite and Starfield will likely be the one-two punch that Microsoft is needing to get its new console off the ground. As stated above, Halo Infinite has the potential to be the springboard that the rest of Microsoft's first-party games can launch themselves off of. Starfield is no different but because it's Bethesda's first game since being acquired by Microsoft, more eyes than ever before will be on both of the companies. Its status as an Xbox exclusive will also likely boost console sales and put Xbox in a better, more comfortable place than it has been in several years.
Regardless of how well Halo Infinite does, Starfield is likely to be a hit for the simple fact that it's a Bethesda game, however, the magnitude of its success is potentially tied to how many people truly believe in the Series X's status as a viable console option in the following year. That belief might just be tied to Halo and its success later this year.
Following Starfield, however, the heights of Xbox's success can continue growing. The Zenimax acquisition will prove to be successful if games like Starfield, The Elder Scrolls 6, and the rest of the company's current working projects are hits, which history suggests they will be. If each consecutive game can be bigger and better than the next, then each can serve as a springboard for what's to come, but at the end of the day, it all starts with Halo Infinite and Starfield.
Starfield releases November 11, 2022 for PC and Xbox Series X.