Checking my game predictions: how clean was my crystal ball in 2023?

2023 was a turbulent year for the gaming industry. For one thing, Baldur’s Gate 3, Alan Wake 2 and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom are some of the best games ever released. Microsoft also completed the largest takeover in video game history and acquired Activision Blizzard. At the same time, the industry recorded over 9,000 redundancies, despite the market only getting better. Read on to see how much of this I, Philstradamus, foresaw at the beginning of the year.

Wrong: Switch 2 will debut

The rumours are intensifying. A launch, or rather an announcement, seems to be imminent. Various new details have been leaked. Unfortunately, Nintendo failed to make an official announcement about the Switch 2. Which is why my forecast rundown starts with an L.

Right: Apple will come out with an AR/VR headset

Similar to the Switch, rumours have also been growing about Apple’s VR goggles. The only difference being that the iPhone manufacturer got down to business and presented its device to the public at the beginning of the year. The exorbitantly expensive goggles are due to be released shortly.

Wrong: games developed by artificial intelligence

Since I apparently overlooked that such a game was already released in 2022, I’m not giving myself any points here. Even if the trend towards using AI in games hasn’t diminished.

Right: new PlayStation handheld

True, the PlayStation Portal isn’t a fully fledged gaming handheld à la PS Vita. Games can only be streamed onto the device from your own PS5. Still, it’s definitely a handheld. But I wouldn’t be surprised if this little detail escaped the attention of many Christmas gift givers and recipients. I’l have to check with our returns department when I get the chance.

Right: new Counter-Strike

Valve didn’t just present and release Counter-Strike 2 in the same year. The company even replaced the last instalment, Counter-Strike: GO, removing it from the store. To the displeasure of many fans of the predecessor. This doesn’t change my correct prediction. I hit my target.

Right: Overwatch 2 single-player mode will be postponed or cancelled

I even managed a hat trick. True, Blizzard released Overwatch 2 and, like Valve with CS2, replaced its predecessor. However, the much-heralded single-player mode with a campaign and story didn’t make it to the light of day.

Wrong: Super Mario Bros. The Movie will become the highest-rated video game movie

Looks like I got too cocky. If I hadn’t used «critic ratings» in my prediction, I could’ve scored another hit. With 95 per cent positive ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, Super Mario Bros. The Movie is the most popular video game movie with the public. Unfortunately, critics weren’t as generous. Mario received a paltry 59 per cent for his on-screen performance. This puts it in seventh place, even behind Gran Turismo.

Wrong: the Federal Council will participate in a Twitch stream

A missed opportunity. No livestream of the Federal Council elections and no heated battles in Super Smash Bros. or any other game.

Wrong: Amazon Luna will be discontinued

They could’ve done it and nobody would’ve noticed. Amazon’s game streaming service is practically invisible, but officially it’s still running.

Wrong: Zelda as a playable character in Tears of the Kingdom

The princess does play a key role in the latest instalment. But as in the 19 parts that came before, Zelda remains a spectator.

Right: Game Pass will become more expensive

The console and Ultimate versions of Microsoft’s game subscription went up in price slightly around mid-year. The new low-cost Core option costs 9 francs, Ultimate a whopping 17 francs.

Wrong: the first Activision Blizzard title in Game Pass

Although Microsoft was able to finalise the almost 70 billion dollar deal, it wasn’t quite enough for games from the Activision Blizzard library. They should arrive in Game Pass in the next few months.

Wrong: Game Pass for Steam Deck

Wishful thinking. There has been no indication that Game Pass games will be playable natively on Steam Deck, nor has anyone discovered their own way to do so.

Right: a hidden potshot at J.K. Rowling in Hogwarts Legacy

In the open-world game based on the work of controversial author J. K. Rowling, you meet a bartender (article in German) who turns out to be trans. If you keep in mind Rowling’s views and the debate surrounding them, it can be seen as a veiled dig – even if I would’ve liked something clearer.

Wrong: John Carmack will start making games again

The legendary developer made his first appearance at Quakecon in a decade. However, there’s no information as to whether he’s working on a game again.

Wrong: a Swiss game among Steam bestsellers

Even though there were some promising candidates with Nocturnal, The Wandering Village or the soon-to-be-released Grimoire Groves, none of them made it into the Steam top sellers.

Wrong: resentful NPCs in Fable 4

Since we only got a new (presumably) pre-rendered trailer for the eagerly awaited role-playing game, nothing can be said about NPC behaviour. Hopefully that’ll change this year.

Wrong: Pac-Man will make its namesake protagonist a junkie

Whether it was due to the Hollywood strikes or anything else interrupting filming – there was no new information about the Pac-Man movie. But there’s still a chance of him becoming a yellow pill junkie. Just a shame my prediction has been ruined.

Right: one third of my predictions will come true

One third of 19 is 6.3. Including this last prediction, I hit the mark 7 times. Only just got there, but Philstradamus is still happy about the small victories. Fuelled by this energy, I recover the crystal ball from my cellar and see what it’s got to say about this year.