The Xbox Series X Is a Must-Own Console for RPG Fans

Microsoft’s recent excellent Xbox Showcase laid bare something we’d already suspected: that the Xbox is about to become the go-to platform for role-playing games – particularly Western RPGs. It’s an interesting shift for a platform that, from its very inception on the back of the Halo franchise, was informally known as the “shooter box.”

[Sonic1881]

The Xbox Series X Is a Must-Own Console for *Western* RPG Fans. I fixed it for you

[crazyCoconuts]

Their first exclusive RPG isn't even out of the gate yet and this. Hope and Dreams ... Gotta love it

[Christopher]

One does have to admit that they do have strong RPG studios working on RPG games right now, though. Sure, not yet. But what we saw at the showcase was more RPG than anyone else. As an RPG fan, I'm happy. I'd love to see the others put forward more RPGs as well.

[4Sh0w]

Yeah I don't typically count on stuff too far out, you never know how things turn out but "Hope and Dreams", I mean clearly they at least have a lot in the pipeline so it's not unusual for sites that cover games to talk about upcoming GAMES and yes get excited, right? sheesh, when xbox has nothing to show its like "omg no games" then when they show & game sites seem to like them its like "omg too much talk about xbox games". You can never please some people.

[crazyCoconuts]

4show, I'm ok splitting the difference. It's not a must own console based on games that haven't come out yet. But it's more than hope and dreams because they have studios working on games.

[4Sh0w]

crazyCoconuts

Ok, thats fair.

[S2Killinit]

This is how they do it. They don't have a single released game worth playing and there is no way to know when any announced games are actually launching, BUT they are already the place for RPG… smh

What can be said is that, yes, they have RPGs in pipeline.

[PunksOnN4G]

Also Skyrim been confirmed 5+ years sooo idk what games they talking

[SeTTriP]

Nintendo is the place for traditional rpgs, p.c arpgs, (although these are starting to become real big on console aswell) all platforms besides Nintendo for western rgps.

[shinoff2183]

4show

It's more of an issue that these article , people whatever it's how their talking. Like damn can xbox release something before people jump on their company ck. They've shown some interesting things for fking sure but haven't released anything yet

Xbox keeps up the rpg front I'll be investing more and more time besides just starfield. That's all I'll say. But put the crown away for a bit

[Exvalos]

I was going to say the Same thing good Comment

[RpgSama]

I mean, let's at least wait until a few of those games are out, besides Starfield they are selling us on the promise of a bunch of new untested IPs or developers, I will not be swayed until some of those games are actually out.

[neutralgamer1992]

I agree that’s why I bought one. There is definite potential there

[rlow1]

@Sonic1881
He says it by the second sentence.

[Obscure_Observer]

The ultimate console for RPG fans indeed.

Western, Japanese, Chinese we have it all!

Ryan Mccafrey on Starfield:

"From what I have seen and played, nothing in Starfield is shallow. The skill trees, the character creator, the dialogue trees, the shipbuilding systems, and so much more all have genuine depth"

We are in for an EPIC adventure!

[ApocalypseShadow]

So where's FFXVI and Rebirth? Grand Blue Fantasy? Stuff like that?

[Obscure_Observer]

"So where's FFXVI and Rebirth? Grand Blue Fantasy? Stuff like that?"

Sony money hatted those games.

[Sonic1881]

I'm more of a from Software fan. I like all of their JRPGs especially Bloodborne and Elden Ring

[Zhipp]

JRPG fans are much better served owning an Switch or a PS5 let's be honest.

[Lightning77]

Grand blue Fantasy? A mobile game? Why would anyone care about that?

[TheTony316]

Forget those. What about the A-AA games which make up the majority of japanese games like Atelier, YS, Trails etc.

[ApocalypseShadow]

https://youtu.be/qzts793ZWX...

Sure lightning. It's mobile if you take your PS4 or PS5 with you to a friend's house.

[andy85]

Sony money hatted? Square Enix went directly to Microsoft and Sony. MS have 10x the money of Sony, if they wanted it they get it but they don't give a crap about JRPGs

[RpgSama]

@Obscure_Observer

And did MS not money hatted all these WRpgs by BUYING the developers outright.

LOL, talk about double standards.

[jBlakeeper]

Square Enix doesn’t like releasing their games on Xbox because they don’t sell nearly enough to warrant it. That why Final Fantasy 7 Remake hasn’t come to Xbox and I wouldn’t even bet on XVI coming to Xbox either.

[ApocalypseShadow]

You mean Square saw no financial incentive or technical help to make their game on Xbox. So, they went with Sony. The company that helps 3rd parties actually sell games. Not use games to sell a service and subscription.

Also, buying Bethesda was a huge money hat. Besides the other RPG developers they purchased.

[raWfodog]

Let's not get crazy now. You'd need to own more than one console to have access to all of the RPGs out there. How about at least two "ultimate consoles", some handhelds, and maybe a PC?

[Crows90]

Xbox moneyhatted all their new games.

[Obscure_Observer]

"Xbox moneyhatted all their new games."

Xbox INVESTED on all their news games! Big difference!

MS will get the onus and the bonus for every single first party game released, because MS is fully funding all of their first party games, all developers are MS´s employees, MS is paying for all marketing costs, no developer got fired even with the Redfall´s launch failure, on the contrary, Arkane Austin already have it´s new game greenlit and in active development as we speak.

Sony on the other hand, uses third party publishers and developers as "hired guns". They will pay those publisher to not release a game on Xbox and in case those games fail, they´re on their own, just like Luminous Production that got shutdown after Forspoken´s failure.

[Chevalier]

Actually Playstation has all the biggest Japanese and Chinese RPGs and the most profitable ones too. Genshin and Final Fantasy making billions for Playstation. Add in all the Cygames, Falcom, NIS, Atlus, Sega, Bandai, From software, Kadokawa RPGs as well and it's literally not even close.

"Sony money hatted those games."

So does Xbox with Scorn, Warhammer Darktides, Ark 2, Contraband, Indiana Jones etc

[TheTony316]

"Japanese"

lol sure. Xbox doesn't even have half of what Nintendo and Playstation get.

[dRanzer]

In preview he did for Redfall , he complimented this game. I wouldn't take anything he writes down seriously

[TheEnigma313]

You're a troll. It's obvious now. Your statements are too outlandish. You're giving yourself away.

[slayernz]

Baldurs gate 3 says hello!

[Christopher]

Will become, not currently is.

[Crows90]

I guess this is the result when you buy a bunch of rpg studios...go figure.

[Brazz]

Well Said. I would also include a "Maybe", but It's indeed a very likely outcome considering Bethesda, obsidian, Inxile talent.

[ApocalypseShadow]

It might be for some Western RPGs. But PlayStation has more RPGs overall. So, it's definitely worth owning PlayStation even more as the go to console for it.

That showcase has definitely brought out the fluff and puff before these games have even released.

[Obscure_Observer]

"So, it's definitely worth owning PlayStation even more as the go to console for it.

Lol!

Nobody will be talking about the PS5 as a *must-own console* for RPG fans in the foreseeable future.

As far first party games are concerned, Sony is mainly aiming for GaaS, Multiplayer and remasters, while Xbox´s main focus lies on RPGs and single player games.

I mean, you're comparing apples with oranges.

[Goosejuice]

I mean Sony has released 5 or 6 single player games the last few years while xbox has...Starfield and then a bunch of game with 0 dates. Hard to compare apples to oranges when one doesn't even have a fruit hanging on it yet. Also saying that is their only focus is lies lol, We haven't heard from any of the big studios they have, just the ones they recently obtained other than Guerrilla with Horizon mp game.
Lot of the studios are confirmed working on single player games. They just didn't have a trailer to show since Sony tends not to show games that are still 2-3 years out.

[Crows90]

Ive never seen you so excited for games by these developers as much as you are now? What changed?
Its not like these developers werent making great games before. They all were...for all platforms.

[S2Killinit]

@Obscure
Wow Such hyperbole. And all because they announced a few of RPGs coming in the next 5 years.

[DarXyde]

N4G's favorite silliest Pet-of-Phil strikes again. Because of course.

Yeah dude, you're just a zealous troll. I'd respect you a little if you just admitted that.

You know nothing about anything. Some new first party studios are working on GaaS and suddenly, that's PlayStation Studios' entire identity to you people. I totally get that you're projecting because Xbox hasn't really had much of an identity prior to the publisher buyout fetish the cultists have developed, but not every company is defined by recent endeavors. There are a number of first party studios from PlayStation where no one knows what they're working on. Naughty Dog is the only one where it's known that they're working on a service title (at the same time they're working on another game, mind you). Guerilla is working on a multiplayer game in the Horizon universe and that's all we know. Sucker Punch, Housemarque, Team Asobi, Media Molecule, Santa Monica, Bend, etc, etc. We don't know. Pretty sure Insomniac isn't doing any of that, considering they've dropped Ratchet and Clank, they're dropping Spider-Man 2 in a few months, and Wolverine is next. Just more unsubstantiated nonsense.

The hilarious irony is that you don't seem to realize that Microsoft is focusing on these lengthy RPGs to keep you lot invested in XGP. You're functionally subscribing to single player games. And you know what? You won't criticize it, or call it out.

[outsider1624]

As far first party games are concerned, Sony is mainly aiming for GaaS, Multiplayer and remasters, while Xbox´s main focus lies on RPGs and single player games.

Lmao!! This guy...

Infact im glad Sony is focusing on Multiplayer. The fact that Sony has been delivering on quality single player games for years now. Its about time to even the odds with some good multiplayers.

And as for remasters, Demons souls, RE2,4, Dead Space, Tloupt1 are some of the best. Even your Redfall is a joke which is MS first party. So yeah..I'd wait for all those games to come out before thumping your chest. If those games come out good then congratulations, xbox is relevant again.

[Armyofdarkness]

I’m selling my PS5 and buying a series S. That’s the main console I hear. Then I can laugh with you my man!!

[ApocalypseShadow]

What you're actually comparing is sales to rentals. One console is a sales box. The other is a rental box as most of the games will never achieve any high sales. Most won't even finish those rentals and move on to the next rental.

[Chevalier]

"*must-own console* for RPG fans in the foreseeable future."

Lol. Absolutely idiotic to think that. Plenty of RPGs only on Playstation coming up. Baldurs Gate 3, Granblue Fantasy, FF7 Rebirth, Honkai Impact, Rise of the Ronin, Star Wars KOTOR, then add in Falcom, NIS, Square Enix, Bandai, New Mihoyo RPG, Tecmo Koei, Kadokawa exclusive JRPGs as well all coming exclusive to Playstation. So no Playstation has more exclusives than Xbox.

A lot of which are more popular than anything Xbox will offer. Star Wars KOTOR, FF7 Rebirth, Baldurs Gate 3 are arguably just as big and will sell better than most of Xbox RPGs too.

[P_Bomb]

There’s content in the pipeline, no doubt. Grab an X before the price goes up. You’ll be ready for September.

[Lightning77]

Starfield 2023 40 hour story with more content than Skyrim and Fallout combined.

Avowed 2024 bigger than the outer worlds.The most in depth Game Obsidians made.

Fable 2025 Fairy tell book characters. Witcher style open world (according to rumors).

Clock Work Revolution 2025 BioShock inspired with time power manipulation

Xbox was the shooter and racer box to the RPG box.

[Crows90]

Starfield...not released yet...wait for reviews and watch for those bugs and glitches...you may lose all your progress

Avowed...wait for more gameplay and reviews

Fable....wait for actual gameplay...that face on that character model is not looking very good.

Clockword revolution....Not from Bioshock developer...wait for gameplay and reviews

Keep your hype down or your going to disappoint yourself. Wait for reviews. 2 of those will be at least good...most likely. The other two are a complete unknown.

[Flawlessmic]

Why is it wrong for him to be excited, all the game he listed I am also massively excited for.

I mean I hear your point about quality could be an issue for some but let's wait for that issue to actually arise.

I think xbox absolutely is a great console to have for rpgs, more so wrogs but rpgs none the less.

[Lightning77]

I said BioShock inspired not that they're making it.

Don't worry about how much we've seen of the games. But tell me Bout the slew of exclusive RPG's games in 2024 and 2025 from Sony?

Don't come at me all angry and salty for posting those games why you offended? I won't "disappoint myself" keep all the concern trolling far away from me.

Go play something and mind your buissness.

[Crows90]

@lightning
We dont know about sonys games...why would you ask such a dumb question?

Why tell me not to worry? So better to be a blind fanboy and be excited no matter what? meh...ill pass. Wait to see actual gameplay is the better method. Like with the gunplay now watchable for starfield. Now we can get excited. Combat may be pretty fun and everything else is bethesda style.

@flawlessmic
Nothing wrong with being excited. But he should keep his hype in check less he gets cyberpunked.
Also...i dont get excited about games that i havent seen anything substantial. What precisely other than the title and imagination is getting him excited?
Im not excited for any playstation games at the moment. There might be exciting ones in production but I havent seen anything. I can understand being excited to see more of it...
Its like people are pretending that the quality of xbox games is now on par with the expected quality of playstation games. It isnt until it proves itself. They have it quite easy with the studios theyve purchased though. Kinda hard to fail when you paid to see the exam before taking it.

[Lightning77]

"We dont know about sonys games...why would you ask such a dumb question?"

Oh so Sony doesn't have anything yet? We don't know about Sony's games thank you. So why you in here criticizing what they didn't show for those games? When Sony hasn't shown anything. You have no room to speak, at all.

What about everyone being excited for wolverine when they teased it 2 years ago? No gameplay did you tell ppl to not do get excited then? Or Spider-Man 2 before they had gameplay?Exactly that's what I thought.

"Why tell me not to worry? So better to be a blind fanboy and be excited no matter what? meh...ill pass."

Gee listing games makes a person a blind fanboy now ok sure. No you're just mad because all these games have potential to be great and you're just mad at the fact so you got salty mad about it.

Don't worry about me and what I'm doin and go play something. I don't need you concern trolling like I said.

[Chevalier]

"You rang? You said my name. You can have fun with your off shoot mobile games while I'll be busy with Starfield in a few months"

Really a few months and thats all? I'm playing FF16 right now, will be playing Baldurs Gate 3 a month before you get Starfield then got Granblue Fantasy Relink. So trust me I'm more than fine. So that's a good 6 months of RPGs. 3 months worth before you even download your Starfield. Lol.

Will be playing far more RPGs than you and it's not even close. In between that there Mario RPG, Baten Kaitos too on the Switch. So forget your couple months this will be going into next year which will have FF7 Rebirth and Rise of the Ronin, Y''S X most likely too.

That's already a ton of exclusives on Playstation and that's not even including multiplatform games like Fallen Atlas, Flintlock, Lord's of the Fallen, Suikoden.

[Lightning77]

"Really a few months and thats all? I'm playing FF16 right now, will be playing Baldurs Gate 3 a month before you get Starfield then got Granblue Fantasy Relink. So trust me I'm more than fine. So that's a good 6 months of RPGs. 3 months worth before you even download your Starfield. Lol."

Who says I won't be playing anything else until then?

Ok cool you have fun then thumbs 👍

[Chevalier]

"When Sony hasn't shown anything. You have no room to speak, at all."

Because Playstation has many more RPGs exclusive to it?

You mentioned Starfield as if it's the only RPG out this year when before you get it Playstation gamers are already playing FF16 Now, have Baldurs Gate 3 in August and Gran Blue Fantasy Relink in October.

By the time you guys even get Avowed in 2024 Playstation will have FF7 Rebirth, followed by Rise of the Ronin, Y''S X for RPGs.

Last I checked that's what 6 >>>> 2?!

That's only a handful too because NIS, Falcom, Kadokawa, Bandai will have RPGs releasing over this next while too. Add in Silent Hill 2, Death Stranding 2, most likely Wolverine and its already looking like a really good 2024 already for exclusives to Playstation without any other announcements either. But yeah let's pretend Playstation doesn't have any exclusives to look forward to in 2024.

Remember Xbox is so far behind they're desperately showing games well beyond the next few years while Playstation can take their time.

[stonecold3]

ps5 has another jrpg game called eternight as well and it exclusive

[Othegamer5]

You keep claiming boulders gate and Kotor like they’re not timed exclusives lmao

[Lightning77]

There is no "you guys" maybe to you it is. I don't do us vs them that's weird.

What's "desperate" about talking about games in 2025 and showing your line up in 2024 and advertising SF that's releasing in a few months. Have you thought gee maybe these games are ready to be talked about? It'll be 5 years for some of these studios it's about time they showed something. Some did just that after all their showcases. They had something that year and the following year. Games like DS2 and Rise Of Ronin should be primed and ready but decided not to talk about it for some reason.

[mkis007]

Eventually once they start releasing. I made this mistake with gamepass the last 3 years. Thinking i was getting a deal by upgrading $150 worth of gold into gpu for 3 years...not nearly enough stuff to be worth it for me.

[Destiny1080]

Phil has 5 years to convince them that RPGs are cool, its going to be a hard sell after starfield

[Crows90]

Not to mention...no sales. Maybe starfield on xbox will reach 5million...if theyre really lucky. Most actual sales will likely be on the PC. All others will likely not break 2million as is normal for xbox.

[Ataraxias]

Might not even get to that, since gamepass doesn't count as a sale.

[Crows90]

@ataraxias

Right..if during their highest attachment rate they could barely break 2 million for thier exclusives...i think becasue of gamepass they may not even make it to a million. Who knows.

[Othegamer5]

imagine being this much of a hater

[Crows90]

@othegamer5
Don't hate. Just don't like. Never will by the loose of it. At least not again.
Let's see how perfect dark and fable turn out...these are the only titles that are really being handled by them from their own long time developers.

But to your comment....imagine not having common sense and being a complete blind fanboy.

You don't see me praising PlayStation unannounced games. Or games they haven't shown much.

[Othegamer5]

Imagine being mad at people for being excited about games. Do you hear yourself “you don’t see me” “common sense” go touch grass.

People gonna play what they want regardless while you hate.

[Zhipp]

Not yet, but from the looks of things it will be in a couple of years.

Now if they could only get Baldur's gate 3.

[jznrpg]

Waaay more RPGs on PS that I want to play now and in the future.

Maybe MS has a few which may or may not be good over next 10 years but I can live without them.

[Crows90]

Currently playing YS game rpgs...might give ff16 a whirl but the next one for me will be starfeidl....after that I'm hoping for dragons dogma.

[chobit_A5HL3Y]

reamins to be seen. literally none of said rpg's have been released or have been given high praise or critical acclaim. ms might have the same poison touch as ea lol not only that, you can't trust anyone until the game is in the consumer's hands.

[RupeeHoarder]

But the Xbox Series X hasn’t even released one of these hyped RPG’s…..

[Crows90]

Didn't you know...it's the status quo...they don't need to release anything to have a rabid fanbase.

[Reaper22_]

I disagree. The series x is a must own console for all genres.

[Brazz]

"Is"!? Or "maybe will be"?
These games are not "out", right now Xbox is weak on the games front. Call me back when they deliver a single "+90" RPG.

[Hereandthere]

This same exact spam yet again.

[Knightofelemia]

I'll believe it when I see it I have heard this same song and dance before.

[Godmars290]

Think they meant to write "PC".

[Elda]

I own the Series X but I'm not really into WRPGs. I play mostly JRPGs, where I play on my other console.

[talocaca]

As usual with Microsoft consoles, you are buying potential not reality. We can talk again in 5 years and decide if it actually happened.

[jznrpg]

It will take longer than 5 years for all of those games to actually release. Still waiting on games from 2019 E3

[ApocalypseShadow]

By then, Sony would be talking about PS6 after PS5 would have sold 85-90 million consoles.

[Chocoburger]

Never been a fan of Western RPGs, I've tried to get into them, I usually lose interest really quickly. Xbox RPGs just aren't for me. I actually prefer more classic linear RPGs as opposed to open ended "go anywhere" RPGs which have less structure, lots of aimless walking around and constantly collecting loot, then having to deal with weight burden. Not for me.

[DivineHand125]

With FF7 Remake and FF16 being released exclusively on playstation, we can't count Sony out of the game as yet. If you are a huge final fantasy Fan though, the Xbox is still the only place other than a 7th gen console or PC where you can play final fantasy 13 natively on the hardware with enhanced resolution.

[ChiefofLoliPolice]

Nope that honor goes to Playstation, Switch, PC with Western, Chinese, and JRPGs. Especially PC with mod support for the big titles at least.

[Hofstaderman]

This headline is laughable. Must of those RPGs are also available on PS5 with the added Final Fantasy titles not available on the Series consoles. Fallout and Elder scrolls are 5 to 8 years out still. Show me actual gameplay of Fable. Only 10 percent of Starfields planets have life.

Another fluff piece.

[Auron]

I guess... if you put it in dev mode and put emulators on it..

[anast]

The games are made for the S. I would save money and get an S.

[Maywell]

No it is not hahaha...I bet the author is not experienced enough to say that statement.

[ocelot07]

I would say the S rather than the X. Remember no need to buy any of these games they will all be on GP. Fallout, elder scrolls, fable, starfield.

Cheap arse console. Use your head and look around for for GP don't blindly pay Microsoft prices. I normally get GP ultimate month codes for £3.50-£4 recently.

Or to save even more money. Don't get a console or pc at all. Use your tablet or phone or smart TV. Just need a cheap gp ultimate sub and stream them.

[ChasterMies]

Feel like pointing out that Microsoft admitted it lost the console wars, which means the Xbox isn’t a trust own console for anything.

[Soulsborne]

Every one of those rpgs u saw at the showcase will be gameass fodder. Grab urself a PC and PS maybe a switch and ur good. Xbox does NOT need to exist at all.

[Pyrofire95]

Not my kind of RPGs. I could never get into many of them. Namely Bethesda ones. I beat Witcher 2 but haven't got around to 3. I was really into Fable 2 on 360, hope the new one is good but I have a PC for all that.

[ironmonkey]

LOL nope but they can dream it is.

[jBlakeeper]

I would definitely wait until Series X has an actual RPG that releases to critical acclaim before buying one. There’s so many developers that either don’t release their games on Xbox at all or opt for a significant period of timed exclusivity on Playstation. That’s telling of which console sells the most games and is most profitable for developers.

[LucidIllusion]

Eh no