These Are the Biggest Video Game Launches of Early 2023, so you can Plan Ahead

Only a few days remain until Christmas, and all the big 2022 games have been released.

Because of the way the industry works over the years, the holiday season has become less packed with more and more games being moved to early winter/spring next year. That happened with a few games this year and as such, I thought it would be good to take a look at what’s coming in early 2023 once we return from holiday break. And it’s quite a lot.

Here’s what we know so far, with confirmed dates. Potentially huge games could Redfall and Starfield, which are in the same window as Redfall, do not have any release dates yet.

JANUARY

Monster Hunter Rise (PS5/4 and Xbox Series X/S/One), January 20, – The famed portable Monster Hunter title is making its way to all consoles, so MH fans can satiate themselves on platforms with a touch more horsepower than the Switch.

Fire Emblem Engagement (Switch), January 20, – I would be remiss to forget a new Fire Emblem game for Switch even if it’s not high on my own personal list.

Forspoken (PS5, PC) – January 24 – The PlayStation/Square Enix delayed game with its wild spell combat will finally arrive next month.

Dead Space Remake (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – January 27 – This looks to be a pretty masterful remake as it looks to try to outperform The Callisto Protocol, its “spiritual successor.”

FEBRUARY

Hogwarts Legacy (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – February 10 – Hogwarts Legacy will likely be a top-performer and a blockbuster IP debut for WB/Portkey if it’s as large and high-quality as it appears. We will see if protests against anti-trans Harry Potter author JK Rowling may affect the game’s sales, but boycotts for any reason rarely have much of an impact in the industry if it’s a game people fundamentally want to play.

Horizon Call of the Mountain (PSVR2) – February 22 – This is the flagship PSVR2 title, an exploration of the gorgeous world of Horizon Zero Dawn in virtual reality, which is what it feels like the hardware was made for. It will be released alongside PSVR2 on the same day.

Octopath Traveler II (PS5/4, Switch, PC) – February 24 If it lives up to its expectations, dedicated Octopath Traveler fanatics have been waiting for this day since eons. This will be a niche megahit that will also make a great GOTY choice for some dedicated people.

Destiny 2: Lightfall (All platforms) – February 28 – This year, Destiny 2’s major expansion does not have to compete with Elden Ring or a console Horizon release in the same week, thankfully. It will introduce a new location and subclass and begin some major transformations of the game’s core systems.

MARCH

The Last of Us Part I (PC) – March 3 – By this point we will be well into The Last of Us TV series on HBO (debuting January 15), and once again we see PlayStation getting its games on PC…eventually.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty (All platforms) – March 3 – Team Ninja 2 looks another hit for the game developer. This time, it has a brand new IP.

Skull and Bones (All platforms) – March 9 – I’ll be honest, I’ll believe this beleaguered Ubisoft game is actually coming out when I have it in my hands, but after its latest delay, this is supposedly when the pirate ship outing is arriving at last.

Star Wars: Jedi Survivor (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – March 17 – The next-gen only sequel to Fallen Order looks to be another Star Wars fan’s dream, just like the first game. Everyone’s expecting another powerhouse from Respawn here.

Resident Evil 4 Remake (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) – March 24 – The latest remake in the Resident Evil series will be out here, and it’s one everyone is very much looking forward to, given how the past entries have gone.

So, that’s the first quarter. There are many other games in this window. I chose the ones I felt were the most important. You can also comment with your choices that you feel I should be spotlighting.

Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook Instagram. Subscribe to my weekly content roundup newsletter. God is everywhere.

Get my sci-fi novels! Herokiller series The Earthborn Trilogy.