The Game Awards 2023: The biggest announcements and surprises

The Game Awards 2023 was a spectacular event that celebrated the best of video games and showcased some of the most anticipated titles coming soon. 

Here are some of the highlights of the night:

Monster Hunter: Wilds

Capcom revealed the next installment of the Monster Hunter franchise, which will launch on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S in 2025. The game will feature a new open world, flying mounts, and a variety of new monsters to hunt. Monster Hunter: Wilds will be the first game of the sixth generation of the series, following the success of Monster Hunter World and Monster Hunter Rise.

OD

Hideo Kojima, the legendary creator of Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding, finally unveiled his mysterious project with Xbox, which is called OD. The game is a collaboration with Jordan Peele, the acclaimed director of Get Out and Us, and it stars Sophia Lillis, Hunter Schafer, and Udo Kier. The game is described as a “transmedia experience” that will span multiple platforms and genres, and it will explore themes of identity, memory, and reality.

God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla

PlayStation surprised fans with a free DLC expansion for God of War Ragnarok, the sequel to the critically acclaimed God of War (2018). The DLC, titled Valhalla, will be available on December 12, 2023, and it will add a new roguelite mode to the game, where players can test their skills and earn rewards in a randomly generated dungeon. The DLC will also feature new enemies, weapons, and abilities.

Blade

Arkane Studios, the developer behind Dishonored and Deathloop, announced a new partnership with Marvel to create a game based on Blade, the vampire hunter. The game will be a mature, single-player, third-person action game set in Paris, where players will take on the role of Blade and fight against various supernatural threats. The game is still in early development, so no release date or gameplay footage was shown.

SEGA’s new games

SEGA made a huge splash at The Game Awards by announcing five new games in development, based on some of its most beloved franchises. The games are Jet Set Radio, Shinobi, Golden Axe, Streets of Rage, and Crazy Taxi, and they will be developed by different studios under SEGA’s supervision. No further details were given, but fans were ecstatic to see the return of these classic titles.

The Finals

Embark, a new studio founded by former Battlefield developers, released its first game, The Finals, on PC. The game is a competitive shooter that takes place in a futuristic game show, where players compete for fame, money, and sponsorships. The game features a unique art style, customizable characters, and dynamic arenas. The game is free to play and available now.

Light No Fire 

Hello Games, the developer of No Man’s Sky and The Last Campfire, revealed its next game, Light No Fire, which is an ambitious open world, online multiplayer game. The game will allow players to create their own worlds, explore them with friends, and ride dragons. The game is still in development, but the trailer showed some impressive visuals and gameplay possibilities.

Final Fantasy XVI DLC

Square Enix announced two waves of DLC for Final Fantasy XVI, the latest entry in the iconic RPG series. The first wave, Echoes of the Fallen, is out today, and it adds new story chapters that take place before the final battle of the main game. The second wave, The Rising Tide, will be released in Spring 2024, and it will continue the story after the ending of the main game. The DLC will also include new characters, locations, and gameplay features.

Rise of the Ronin

Team Ninja, the developer of Ninja Gaiden and Nioh, revealed the release date and a new trailer for its upcoming open-world samurai game, Rise of the Ronin. The game will launch on PlayStation 5 on March 22, 2024, and it will feature a vast and immersive world, realistic combat, and a deep story. The game is inspired by the history and culture of feudal Japan, and it will allow players to choose their own path and destiny.
Skull and Bones 

Ubisoft finally gave a new release date for its long-delayed pirate game, Skull and Bones. The game will launch on February 16, 2024, on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The game will let players create their own pirate captain, customize their ship, and sail the high seas in a shared open world. The game will also feature naval battles, treasure hunting, and online multiplayer modes.

Lost Records: Bloom and Rage 

Dontnod, the creator of Life Is Strange and developer of Jusant, Twin Mirror, and Tell Me Why, unveiled its next game, Lost Records: Bloom and Rage. The game is coming next year to PC, Xbox, and PS5, and it will tell a story of two friends who discover a mysterious record store that can transport them to different worlds and times.

These were some of the biggest announcements and surprises from The Game Awards 2023, but there were many more. The show was a celebration of the video game industry and its achievements, as well as a glimpse into the future of gaming.