Just Dance 2023 Edition is a 2022 dance rhythm game developed and published by Ubisoft. It was unveiled on September 10, 2022 during the Ubisoft Forward September 2022 web presentation as the fourteenth main installment of the series. It marks a new release form for the series, switching to a live service format with annual downloadable content song packs. The game was released on November 22, 2022, for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. It was also planned for release on Stadia, but that port of the game was cancelled due to the service's shutdown on January 18, 2023.
Gameplay
As with the previous installments of the franchise, players must mimic the on-screen coach’s choreography to a chosen song using the game's associated smartphone app (Nintendo Switch players have the option to use the console's Joy-Con controllers). This installment is not released for Xbox One and PlayStation 4, thereby dropping support for Kinect, PlayStation Camera, and PlayStation Move.
Features
The game features an updated and redesigned user interface, which emulates those seen on streaming services, such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Max, Paramount+ or Peacock, all within a single Just Dance hub, serving as the home for the game and future installments of the series. A new online multiplayer feature is added, where up to six players can join a private group with cross-play support at launch, with the Xbox Series X/S version later being supported. Dancer cards, an in-game tool to express what the player was doing in-game, received a major overhaul, with avatars now being pictures of the coaches instead of their heads, and emotes are added to show how the player feels after each song. Score feedback animations can now be customized and are a toggleable option. Victory celebrations are a new addition, used for when the player finishes the song in single player or wins the song in multiplayer. Cross-progression is a new feature to the Just Dance series, allowing players to progress through multiple consoles. Furthermore, the "Beat Vibrations" function, which has been exclusive to the Nintendo Switch version of previous installments, has been added to the Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 versions.
On October 9, "Workout Mode", a mode designed for exercise, and "Challenge Mode", an online mode where a player attempts to beat a pre-set higher score from another player, are added as part of the 2024 Edition Celebration Event.
Story mode
2023 Edition includes a story mode-based playlist, a first in the series, titled "Enter the Danceverses". It features a woman named Sara, who is transported from the real world to a series of ten worlds called the "Danceverses" by a man named Wanderlust. The two must stop the evil witch Night Swan from conquering the Danceverses. They recruit a team of expert dancers—Brezziana, Mihaly and Jack Rose (Night Swan's son)—and defeat Night Swan and her mind-controlled soldiers in a dance battle. The soldiers are freed, but Night Swan escapes. The group celebrates before Wanderlust sends Sara back to the real world.
A follow-up to this story, titled "Dance with the Swan", is part of 2024 Edition.
Soundtrack
The following songs appear on Just Dance 2023 Edition:
Just Dance+
Just Dance+ is a new subscription service launched alongside 2023 Edition. Similar to Just Dance Unlimited from the previous seven games, it offers subscription-based access to a streaming library of songs (150 songs at launch) from previous Just Dance games alongside new exclusive tracks. Recently-ported classic (also known as legacy tracks) and new exclusive tracks will be added to the service through updates.
Legacy tracks
Songs from previous Just Dance installments and previously featured on Unlimited ported to the service (besides the 150 songs already available at launch) include:
Exclusive tracks
Songs exclusive to the service include:
Controversy
On March 20, 2023, a union claimed that ten percent of Ubisoft's employees experienced burnouts and work stoppages every four weeks during the production of Just Dance 2023 Edition.
Reception
Just Dance 2023 Edition received "generally favorable reviews", according to Metacritic.