We made 10 bold Microsoft predictions for 2014. How did we do?

What I said: "Xbox received a superior port of San Andreas back in the day, GTA 4’s DLC was a timed-exclusive for Xbox 360 and now GTA 5, while clearly brilliant, is starting to fade from the public consciousness. Rockstar has said that GTA Online will continue to be developed, but let’s face it, it's only going to survive on last-gen tech for so long. No, it needs to come to next-gen, Microsoft needs exclusives… I predict XBO will get at least GTA Online announced at E3 this year, and released in time for Christmas."

Right or wrong? Wrong! Arguably, a timed exclusive is exactly what Microsoft should have secured, but as it turned out, both new-gen machines got the game at the same time.

What I said: "Even though Dead Rising 3 carries an 18 certificate, I think it's the launch title most likely to be the first to go free on Xbox Live's Games With Gold service. It's a decent technical showcase, is published by Microsoft (so they should have the rights already), offers mindless zombie-mashing fun and is a big enough franchise name to make people think 'ooh, now that's pretty good for free'. I also suspect Assassin's Creed IV will appear on the service, maybe around the same time."

Right or wrong? Wrong. Games With Gold has improved, but this didn't happen. Crimson Dragon did come to the service... but that wasn't a full-fat, boxed release in the first place.

What I said: "I don’t think Microsoft will - or even needs to - reduce the price of XBO just yet. Reports suggest the consoles are keeping relative pace with each other right now and the higher price point for Microsoft’s new console is arguably necessary when you consider the pack-in Kinect peripheral. Obviously there’s no way Microsoft will drop Kinect as a pack-in any time soon. But I do think Microsoft will add more incentive to buy the machine over a PS4, such as free Gold membership or Netflix subscriptions. And these will be announced at E3."

Right or wrong? Wrong like drinking sellotape. Microsoft did drop Kinect and the price came down too. To below PS4, incredibly. Good job I don't write about games stuff for a living, eh? Oh.

What I said: "The handheld gaming market is all sewn up thanks to Nintendo and smartphones. If smartphone gaming isn't dedicated enough for you, 3DS should be. There’s absolutely no niche left from Microsoft’s point of view in which to force another handheld device. It wouldn’t sell. And Microsoft's already investing in Surface and Windows Phone, which will do everything just fine in terms of second screen functionality. Even though a Windows/Xbox/Phone hybrid has been on the cards for years, I am certain it will not be revealed this year."

Right or wrong? Right! Handhelds are poison unless your company name starts with 'Nintend' and ends in 'o'. So unless Microsoft changes its name to Nintendromino, it's probably not worth exploring this sector.

What I said: "A new Fallout will be great, sure, but I still love the Elder Scrolls universe enough to want to play it again in glorious next-gen shinyvision. However, Microsoft’s Windows-based OS for Xbox One means there is a slim but definite chance that modding could play a part in any conversion. I think XBO Skyrim will be announced at E3 2014 and some sort of modding pack will be available with it. That’s my prediction. And I've got a fully-charged Fus Ro Dah waiting for anyone who says otherwise."

Right or wrong? Wrong. More like 'Fus Ra D'oh'. Even though every game ever made seems to be getting some kind of new-gen remake, Skyrim did not. FOR SHAME.

What I said: "Major Nelson has already said that Microsoft is listening to what gamers want to see, so expect rollouts throughout the year. The small updates will tweak minor things, but I suspect we'll see a 'New Xbox Experience'-sized dashboard rejig before the year is out--but it probably won't come with much fanfare from Microsoft. Not unless it adds anything significantly more useful than just fixing the original version."

Right or wrong? Wrong! We've seen several updates, but no 'New Xbox Experience'-style redesigns. No, I don't know why not.

What I said: "All signs point to this being a certainty. Developer CVs have hinted at undisclosed next-gen Forza titles, car manufacture leaks of a new licensed Forza game were hastily covered up and suggestions of a new Project Gotham Racing have been met with ‘we don’t need three racing franchises’. Why? Because (apparently) Forza Motorsport and Forza Horizon count as two separate, active Xbox franchises, according to Phil Spencer. Go figure. So I predict we’ll be playing Forza Horizon II by the end of November. It’ll have seamless online integration, more Drivatar shenanigans and a game world rivalling Ubisoft’s The Crew in scale. Get excited."

Right or wrong? Right! Totally on the money. I didn't foresee Sumo Digital making a 360 version, but that's besides the point. I didn't claim to. Chalk one up for the yessirs.

What I said: "Even though Xbox One needs new games and the big-hitters must surely be on their way I don’t think the Gears series is anywhere ready for another installment. Now that Cliff Bleszinski is no longer at the helm, the series needs a rethink, and recent interviews suggest it could go grittier. And bigger in terms of scale."

Right or wrong? Right! The game is happening now that Microsoft owns the rights to the series, but it's still early in development. Exciting to know it's coming, but it's an unknown quantity at the moment.