- Xbox has featured some of the best and most iconic FPS games in the past.
- The gaming giant has also acquired Call of Duty and Overwatch, adding more FPS games to its first-party lineup.
- The platform is home to the biggest first-person shooters on consoles after the latest merger.
Good first-person shooter games have always been immensely successful. It doesn’t matter whether they are being released on a mobile phone or a console; the genre has proven highly lucrative and appealing for publishers.
Xbox recently acquired Activision Blizzard after months of back and forth with regulators and rivals like PlayStation. Following these efforts, Microsoft proudly boasts Call of Duty as a first-party title.
Despite its shortcomings, the latest Call of Duty title ended up being a juggernaut, finishing the year as one of 2023’s best-selling games. With this IP part of the Xbox brand, no console manufacturer can match up to Xbox’s influence in the first-person shooter genre.
Due to that, I now consider this platform home to first-person shooters on consoles.
Why it matters: This genre is among the most appealing for mainstream audiences due to its popularity among fans of online multiplayer gaming.
First-Person Shooters on Xbox
I have tried almost every single genre but always find myself returning to first-person shooters and Souls games. As someone who has an immense amount of experience and knowledge about FPS games, I think it is fair to say Xbox can be considered their home now.
In the past, Xbox and Call of Duty went hand-in-hand since Microsoft had marketing rights to the game. Following the acquisition of ZeniMax Media, franchises like Doom, Quake, and Wolfenstein joined Xbox Game Studios.
Before this point, Halo had already been a gigantic part of FPS gaming on consoles, often credited for revolutionizing the genre on a platform other than PC. Meanwhile, Doom has a long history dating back to 1993, earning it the title of the father of first-person shooters.
Wolfenstein has a similar history, and both these IPs are thriving today. While Wolfenstein Youngblood was an unfortunate misstep, Wolfenstein 2 and Doom Eternal are both excellent games, showcasing the phenomenal id Tech engine that drives Bethesda’s shooter IPs.
Halo, while struggling recently, is still loved by many, so I believe Xbox has always had a strong first-person shooter presence. However, what about the future?
Crushing The Competition
Xbox now owns the Call of Duty franchise, which has a massive impact on the industry. With annual releases, this series has stayed relevant for two decades, and a new Call of Duty is already prepared for release in 2024, taking the franchise to the Gulf War.
Following the Activision merger, Halo, Call of Duty, Doom, Wolfenstein, and Overwatch 2 are all under the same umbrella. While PlayStation has an IP like Destiny and Nintendo owns Splatoon, neither can compete with the combined force of the first-person shooters falling under the Xbox brand.
Barring the excellent first-party lineup, 2024 will also see the release of Stalker 2 as a console exclusive for Microsoft. This is one of the most exciting games of the year for me due to the unique premise and stunning visuals showcased so far.
With a focus on publishing games, Xbox will become the most notable driving force behind first-person shooters on consoles. Since games like Valorant and Counter-Strike 2 are limited to PC, competition is already slim.
The likes of Destiny 2 and Apex Legends are not to be taken lightly, but Xbox’s offerings have everything covered. From narrative-driven games to live-service titles, the studio has covered all the bases of first-person shooters on consoles.
Featured Image Credit: OVOGaming.
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[News Editor]
Obaid is pursuing a Law degree while working as a content writer. He has worked as a gaming writer for over three years because of his passion for the medium and reporting the latest updates in the industry. Having played hundreds of games, Obaid finds himself coming back to Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, and Red Dead Redemption 2, with these games being among his favorites. He has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as Wccftech, Metro UK, PS Lifestyle, GamePressure, VGC, and Gamespot.
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