With ‘Just Dance 2023 Edition,’ Ubisoft evolves franchise into a on-demand platform

It’s not enough for games to just come out anymore. They have to become services, living places of play that evolve over time. “Just Dance 2023 Edition” is headed in this direction with the biggest change to the formula in years.

Ubisoft is billing this iteration as a new era that finally turns what it calls “the No. 1 music video game franchise of all time” into a dance-on-demand platform. One of the keys to that new vision is the online multiplayer, a feature that fans have been asking for. “Just Dance 2023 Edition” will let players join up with up to five of their friends for competition in Online Groups.

It’s a move that makes sense in a world just emerging from the pandemic. Not everyone is comfortable having a lot of people over so having dance-offs via the internet is the next best thing. The mode features a new emote stickers system and it will support cross-play. Speaking of that, the game will also be coming to Stadia at a later date.

As for the content, “Just Dance 2023” has 40 new songs and universes and includes the following tunes:

• “Physical” by Dua Lipa
• “More” by K/DA Ft. Madison Beer, (G)I-DLE, Lexie Liu, Jaira Burns & Seraphine
• “CAN’T STOP THE FEELING!” by Justin Timberlake
• “Love Me Land” by Zara Larsson
• “Locked Out of Heaven” by Bruno Mars
• “STAY” by The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber
• “Sweet But Psycho” by Ava Max
• “Rather Be” by Clean Bandit Ft. Jess Glynne
• “If You Wanna Party” by The Just Dancers

Players should expect more songs as creative director Matthew Tomkinson said the game will evolve throughout the year, and Ubisoft will provide regular updates with new modes, songs and themed seasons for years to come. The “Just Dance” franchise will still have yearly releases with new songs, and if players purchase future editions of the game, it will be added to that same platform, according to Ubisoft.

It’s not just the gameplay side that’s receiving a revamp. “Just Dance 2023 Edition” features a new art direction and redesigned user interface. The camera is more dynamic and moves to create immersive worlds, and players will follow new characters as they progress and dance through different songs on special playlists.