We Happy Few Devs Says Xbox Game Pass Has 'No Negative Impact' On Development

I really feel Compulsion Games is the one developer that will benefit most from the MS acquisition. Both their previous games, Contrast and We Happy Few were exceptional in their ideas and intention, however both fell short with bugs, glitches and other niggling gameplay issues. Under MS's wing they may finally be able to deliver the finished product that their concepts promise so much with.
Definitely the dark horse studio of the recent acquisitions.

The sooner we leave the old generation behind the better, let’s make games for this new generation only.
You could see last night how God of War 2 was held back by last generation, what they call pc sliders etc can only do so much.
These new generation consoles have a lot of power like 12tflops and super fast ssd and ram and cpu. Make a game for new generation only could look and play a lot different.
Those who say it would not, should ask themselves what is the point of the new generation and paying £450 for it then.
Should we have stopped with the Atari 2600 😂

Also why I’m at it dam all these sodding remakes and remasters, focus resources and time on new games, far to many remasters etc.

Ya know with the pace Insomniac is developing games left and right it kind of puts the rest of ps&xbox' first party studios to shame. To have to be reminded of compulsion's games existence by way of yet another 'gamepass is not the devil' article is kind of disheartening. But I get it, games take time just ranting.

@Dezzy70 I have literally been saying this on every post. Enough with the remakes and remasters!!!

@OliverOwen
Some how some think they are great or do well for console sales. To me it’s old and boring.
Nothing sells a new generation like new games.
It’s like this backward compatibility the percentage of general public gamers don’t care at all, maybe one generation backwards but after that new games please.

Microsoft 2021 :

1. The Medium
2. Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition
3. Second Extinction
4. Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis
5. Wasteland 3: The Battle of Steeltown - DLC
6. The Elder Scrolls On-line - Blackwood - DLC
7. Microsoft Fligt Simulator
8. The Ascent
9. Death`s Door
10. 12 Minutes
11. Psychonauts 2
12. Age of Empires IV
13. Forza Horizon 5
14. Halo Infinite
15. The Gunk
16. ???????? CrossfireX ????????
17. ???????? Scorn ???????

Sony 2021 :

1. Returnal
2. Ratchet and Clank
3. Deathloop
4. Kena
5. Ghost Of Tsushima Director's Cut - DLC

@Dezzy70 The top ten highest rated games (according to Metacritic) so far this year are;

1) A Switch game
2) an indie title
3) an indie title
4) same indie title
5) MS flight sim
6) a remake
7) a remaster
8) Psychonauts 2
9&10) small dev title

I reject this notion that graphics are needed to make good, interesting games, and to actual sell games.And that re-releases aren't enjoyed.

@Richnj
That’s mainly because nothing new AAA has come out.
It’s more of a point of new games not dam remasters or remakes of games I played years ago.

By the way Psychonauts 2 great game and guess what a new game for me to play 😂

@Cyberhu slightly disengenuous there. Neither The Medium nor Psychonauts have stayed exclusive in 2021 (in fact Psychonauts never was), and to the PS list you can add F.I.S.T, Death Stranding DLC, Destruction All-Stars, FFVII DLC, Jett Far Shore, Avengers PS5 exclusive DLC..
Not saying XBox doesn't have the better exclusives this year (although Returnal is brilliant and personally I just don't get on with Halo, but I know I'm in a minority) but your list doesn't tell the whole story. Especially coupled with the fact that Sony launched a bunch of exclusives right at the end of last year and look set to front load next year too

@Dezzy70 but these games were rated around 90. That's a high score. They wouldn't be worse games because other AAA titles exist. I'm not sure what other games there were but Sony have released games like Ratchet and Clank and Returnal, and released others like Ghost Tsushima and Nioh, and the top ten games obviously scored higher.

And yeah. You enjoyed Psychonauts 2. A brand new game, "held back by last gen" and "not taking advantage of those 12 Terraflops".

@Widey85 yeah I hope so as well, announcing a game that releases within a year just works better than one you'd have to anticipate for years. I also always thought We Happy Few looked beautiful enough on old hardware so as far as cross gen games and better graphical fidelity goes I don't mind it that much honestly.
Yeah for sure, developing developers takes time as well and I hope that we can see that come halfway this gen, especially the teams you've mentioned(as well as The Coalition might I add) to me are the better and actually capable developers under microsoft (looking at w/e 343 is supposed to be). But it still doesn't quite sit right with me how for example outer worlds 2 got the announcement trailer, after which just before the following event rumours started to pile up saying how outer worlds 2 was already considerably far into its development cycle and then just nothing from them at the aforementioned show. Or even Ninja Theory having games like Project Mara and Hellblade 2 but deciding to release Grounded (which is a good game to be honest) and bleeding edge (which might've been a passion project, I don't know either way it should not have seen the light of day), and only so far giving us the announcement trailers and the random Iceland filming thing for hellblade. Be it the absurd amount of game shows a year where you've got the possibility of a world premiere, my nitpicking or false expectations I just can't help but be a tad bit disappointed.

@Widey85 though in all fairness I am an impatient fellow so I think I'll just have to bare with it. You make some excellent points! Here's to hoping for the Asobo buyout somewhere this gen so we can have more quality games. Maybe Remedy as well if they haven't yet gotten enough chinese money.

@Richnj
Yes I certainly did enjoy pyschonaughts 2 and yes you are right it was held back in some way by last generation.
I would just prefer games made to take full advantage of the new generation. That is what a new generation really is for better experiences brought by better technology, else what is the point of having a new £450 generation console.
I guess I’m used to the old days when new generations moved in and that was that, I’m getting old see 😂

@Dezzy70 How was Psychonauts 2 held back?

"That is what a new generation really is for better experiences brought by better technology"

As I've been pointing out, Pyschonauts 2 has been rated better than Sony's first party PS5 exclusives. Which is the better experience in this example, cross gen Pyschonauts 2 or next gen exclusive Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart?

@Richnj
Well imagine if Xbox said make a platform game from scratch using all the power of the series x.
Surly it would have to bring some new next generation things to the table, else what is the point of a new generation.
We might as have stuck with our Atari 2600 playing flat sprite based games like Pac-Man.

@Richnj
I think you are mixing up a brilliant cross generation game with regards ratings.
Yes a cross generation game can get a very good rating above new generation games of course it can.
But that does not mean if a developer took full advantage say a series x that a game should do us some next generation improvements, again else what is the point of next generation.

LOL, I can't tell if the "developing for multiple consoles eg X1 and Series" is intentional or accidental shade thrown at Sony after yesterday, but it's hilarious either way.

@NEStalgia
I’m having such fun

@Widey85 hey just wanted to say I've read your replies and don't want to continue this conversation. Didn't want to leave you hanging so to say. I appreciate your thoughts and input 🤗

@Dezzy70 You could be my best friend in terms of our thoughts on this. I agree 100%. Strictly make new games and maybe every once in a great while completely remake an old classic to the newest generation, but companies should completely focus on making new games that are designed for the newest generation console.

@OliverOwen
Lots seem disagree with me and you.
Not sure why, to many remasters and cross generation games this new generation.
It’s like nearly a year down the line being in last generation.
The odd special one now and again, but just look at gta v, not again please, it’s not you can’t play it with backwards compatibility.

@Dezzy70 The only reason i can think of is to give teams enough time to create a brand new IP using the systems they have available. If the system has only been out a year, then i can see why there are not many games made specifically for it. But seriously, i would even take smaller games to supplement my time instead of so many remakes. Or like i said earlier, give me a remake of something that is very very old that i would Never think of.

@OliverOwen
I think it could be Covid thing, where their main games are now taking to long to make, new generation and Covid and they need some quick way to make a few bucks, so chuck a remaster out there to bring a bit of cash into the business.
Though the gta v developers have no excuse for that or do some of the other big developers that are financially ok.

@Dezzy70 "We might as have stuck with our Atari 2600 playing flat sprite based games like Pac-Man."

The issue is that game design has pretty much plateaued due to computers being very capable now, and "taking full advantage" of the most high tech of tech, requires a lot of work and money.

You look at any game over the last two generations, and their aren't many new genres (and the ones that do exist, like Battle Royale, could have been done on the 360 era). There's a handful of ambitious titles. Most fail or are so unfocused, that they stop being fun. So most games stick to tried and true game designs and just up the graphics. It's not the hardware that's holding devs back anymore. It's the time, effort and money to make those ideas come to life (and whether the experience will even be fun).

And it would be a grave mistake to treat every project as a AAA project. Double Fine especially, make much smaller style games. They have 65 employees, which is something like a tenth of that of a large studio like, say, Bungie. Trying to turn them in to a "AAA" developer, so that you can have your next gen only pixel fest, rather than letting them continue to make smaller yet high quality titles, would actually result in a company like Double Fine getting shut down.

@Richnj
Can’t disagree with the double fine situation that is a fair point.
Just had enough of remasters especially the big developers, just look at gta v remaster next year, we can play it already with some enhancements with backward compatibility. Now they have money and are a massive developer.

@Richnj
I pretty sure of one thing had Halo Infinite been a series console release only I don’t think it would have got in the mess it did do so easily.

@Cyberhu

Don't forget Echo Generation (not coming to PS as far as I understand). I know that's not everyone's cup of tea but I'm pumped.

Plus Starfield, Fable, Redfall, Contraband and so much more being worked on. I have both consoles but MS/Xbox is bringing the heat this gen.