Last week, there was a bit of media attention on a game called "1348 Ex Voto" following its release date announcement (March 12th) and surprise cancellation for Xbox — to be honest, we'd never even heard of it before then!
The action-adventure game set in Medieval Italy looks pretty cool though, and we're disappointed not to be getting it. The official reason (via Gematsu) is that the Xbox version has been cancelled to focus on the PC and PlayStation versions instead.
The previously announced Xbox Series version has been canceled “in order to focus the studio’s efforts on delivering the best experience possible for PC and PlayStation.”
To be honest, we were just going to let this pass and not discuss it here at Pure Xbox, but now exactly the same situation has happened with the Nickelodeon Splat Pack. This is a collection of '90s Nickelodeon games (GUTS, Rocko's Modern Life, and AAAHH!!! Real Monsters) that was supposed to be coming to Xbox, but it's now been cancelled with no reason given. The Splat Pack is launching this week (Jan 30th) for PC, PS5 and Switch.
Again, here's what Gematsu had to say about the cancellation in an article earlier today:
The previously announced Xbox Series version has been canceled, a Limited Run Games representative told Gematsu.
And so, we won't be seeing either of these two games on Xbox — at least not for the foreseeable future. It's not unheard of for games to be cancelled for various platforms, and it's not like it hasn't happened with the PS5 or Switch before, but to get two instances in one week is a bit surprising, especially considering they're both launching very soon.
We'll leave you with some trailers and details for both of these games down below anyway — you could always pick them up for your ROG Xbox Ally on Steam instead!
1348 Ex Voto
Journey through a tumultuous Medieval Italy as Aeta, a young knight errant who sets off on a brutal quest to find and save her closest one. 1348 Ex Voto is a cinematic action-adventure game inspired by chivalric tales.
Nickelodeon Splat Pack
Relive the 90s in this collection of classic Nickelodeon games! GUTS, Rocko's Modern Life, and AAAHH!!! Real Monsters are back.
Disappointed to be losing either of these games on Xbox? Tell us down in the comments section.
Comments 36
Has to be a lack of effort on the part of Xbox to support developers. Maybe they cut back on it to give the shareholders a good quarterly meeting. Or because Nadella needed a new boat.
I read about the cancellation of 1348 Ex Voto yesterday on Push Square, and have to admit that this is disappointing as I was quite looking forward to the game.
Have to say this isn't the first time, and most certainly won't be the last. Unfortunately, I think this will get worse as time marches on as we will see this more and more often. I think it has to do with the much smaller install-base on the Xbox, when compared to the PlayStation, but also the fact that comparatively, we buy fewer games on the Xbox thanks to Game Pass.
Unfortunately this kind of thing, plus the fact that Xbox will most probably have no first-party exclusives going forward, does potentially make PlayStation the better place to game (and I say that as an avid Xbox gamer) particularly if you do not use Game Pass all that much, or use Cloud or Play Anywhere. I think this is a real problem for Xbox. I wish this wasn't the case, but I think the facts speak for themselves...
If Limited Run Games keep disrespecting Xbox communities, I will vote with my wallet by skipping buying all their games starting from today!!
@SodaPop6548 Honestly, I don't think it's a lack of effort. Look at all the ID@Xbox games that launched last year, and there are often 40+ new releases on the Xbox Store every week.
There are just some isolated cases where it doesn't make sense to launch on Xbox for whatever reason — I assume a big one for Limited Run Games is that they're pushing the physical versions of Nickelodeon Splat Pack quite heavily, and we all know that physical games don't sell well on Xbox these days.
It always sucks when that happens, but I'll be honest: zero interest in these two.
It's a shame for Xbox fans but also understandable. If you are feeling the pinch as a developer and need to focus on just 1- 2 platforms the obvious one to skip is usually going to be the one in last place.
This is something Microsoft is seemingly addressing next gen with their XboxPC, but until then it will continue to happen sadly.
Oh no...anyway last week.
@FraserG You are likely correct.
Apologies, I just get cynical with the way Microsoft handles Xbox.
Absolutely right, @themightyant, the PCBox will solve these problems, though it will mean buying it via Steam rather than on the Xbox so you will miss out on all those perks that we see people advocating so often when discussing Xbox.
News of when the PCBox is coming, and exactly what it entails cannot come soon enough...
Xbox players has had some relief lately, with fewer third-party games skipping the platform. But with this new, nebulous Xbox policy, you can bet we’re heading back to the Xbox skip era…
@themightyant Yes, that’s the only solution… but it will just feel like a pc
When console hardware sales are 'weak' and it costs money to port and support a game on a Platform, if they don't believe it will sell enough, not enough 'interest/hype' etc to sell enough copies to be profitable, then it makes sense to cancel.
A 'lot' of Xbox customers are now on PC anyway as PC gamers don't need to buy an Xbox console to play Xbox games Day/Date, to play via Game Pass etc so their console is not required or wanted - hence 'low' sales figures. From the publishers perspective, they also probably can't compete with Game Pass so feel that sales will be minimal on the Xbox Console and not worth the 'cost' and project a big loss if they do spend the time/money on porting/supporting on that hardware.
@Fiendish-Beaver I don't think you'll get that news anytime soon to be honest! With all this talk about RAM shortages and delays, it feels like the next generation will be delayed by quite some time...
@SodaPop6548 No need to apologise! I get the frustration.
@Fiendish-Beaver Not necessarily - Publishers may well consider MS's store if its PC based and don't have to port to console and supoort a Console build post launch too.
It could work out better for MS as they are a 'big' PC platform along with Steam, Epic, GoG etc and its not 'just' the PCXbox customer base that would/could buy that version as any PC gamer could - unlike the few million only that can buy an Xbox Console version and would require its own port too.
As far as costs go, it wouldn't cost them anymore than it would cost to release on Steam for example, even any post launch support (DLC, Patches/updates etc) wouldn't incur additional costs as its the same 'PC' build so they have more incentive and a LOT LESS to lose.
@Fiendish-Beaver @Sindayl I'm cautiously optimistic about Xbox-PC. I think it's the right direction for them... IF they can deliver on the alleged promise of a high-end PC with the convenience of an under TV console that plays everything XSX plays plus other PC launchers all under one roof, then it could be brilliant. But that's a big IF.
Xbox steps on so many rakes with any good news they seem to self destruct too. Here's my concerns e.g.
So they have a lot of hurdles to climb. But as I said yesterday I'll likely be there day 1 again.
"Disappointed to be losing either of these games on Xbox?"
No.
Unfortunately I think you are absolutely right, @FraserG, and as I have said elsewhere, I think the further that the PCBox slips into the future, the more the chances of it never releasing become a reality, though I hope I am wrong about that.
Have to say, such is my despondency with the direction of travel for Xbox, and my genuine concern that we may never see the PCBox, that I am actually considering getting a PS5 Pro, and I never thought I would do that.
The trigger for my sudden interest in a Pro is actually the article on Push Square regarding Resident Edit: Requiem, and how much better it sounds like it will play there over the base PS5 (and thus presumably the Series X, which I already own). If I knew for certain that the PCBox is coming and when, and what it is capable of, I might be prepared to wait, but the nagging feeling I have that we will never see the PCBox does mean that I could be denying myself the prospect of playing games where they will play at their best, which will be the Pro until the eventual PS6, which itself sounds like it could be delayed by quite some time.
I'm in a real quandary what I should do right now, partly because I do not know what the future holds for Xbox, but also because I don't know whether the improvements the PS5 Pro offers are really worth it over the Series X...
Par for the course with Limited Run Games, Fighting Force collection completely missed Xbox as well
Ex Voto got completely bogged by a slimier better game called a Knight’s Path.
@SodaPop6548 Nadella truly needs to go. He is destroying Microsoft.
@Retrokingdan Yeah and it still blows my mind that rom based emulated ports are considered so costly and time consuming that devs skip an entire platform. It’s the smallest market for sure but it’s not like Xbox S|X sold only ten consoles.
Anyway, this is just another lazy emulation/port running in SD, without any enhancements whatsoever just like Tomba, Fear Effect or Metal Gear Solid 1.
Meanwhile, even on Xbox in Dev Mode, you can run all of these PS1 games in HD, with forced widescreen and texture filtering… (assuming you own the original game, of course )
Ive said this a few times but if the next xbox is essentially a PC, why focus efforts on an xbox version when it'll will just play the PC one. While the next gen is likely some time off, I imagine this will become more and more the case sadly.
Tbh they could have shouted these from the roof and I don't think anyone would have noticed either
@Gooseuk Precisely what I was thinking. I mean, I feel bad for the 14 people that were really looking forward to reminiscing about Nickelodeon games, but they really weren't that great back in the day, so you're probably better off and just need to take off the rose-colored glasses.
In 1348, is the character supposed to be a boy, or a girl masquerading as a boy? Anyway, I've already completed two Plague Tale games, and 1348 does not look as impressive.
These tea leaves are awfully easy to read.
1348 Ex Voto looked interesting. I was looking forward to.
It is unfortunate, but I personally don't think I'll miss anything as I didn't even knew those games existed before reading this article.
So far I have at least 12 games that I'm interested in play, all releasing this year on Xbox, and with the time I have to play this is pretty much packed.
Right— don’t much care about either game, but it’s not a trend you like to see. Plus, there are still a lot of other non-exclusive games that don’t come to Xbox, some of which I’d like to play.
@FraserG I believe the Ren & Stimpy game is also absent from Xbox. Limited run games again. - could potentially be more that they have data that the ports aren’t worth it financially for them?
Removed - unconstructive
Is it the end of the world? No. But precedent is there.
PS5 is now base console for devs. While most wont care about nickelodeon games, I am sure many wanted to play day 1 games like BG3 or wukong. And where is xbox version of dispatch - another big hit from last year.
It starts to feel like xbox makes sense only if you are heavy into GP and play anywhere titles but its just a fraction of all games being released. The biggest and most supported library currently is with steam and PS.
It's inevitable that the Xbox wouldn't get every game but overall I am content with the number of titles that do get released for the Xbox. My opinion is that the Series S is both an advantage and disadvantage for MS. The big advantage to the Series S is that it a lower price point which means more games will jump into the Series S. The disadvantages are that not all developers want to bother programming for both the Series S and Series X and with the Series S there is less incentive to create physical games. I think the game looks kind of like the Plague Tale games in a way. Can't say that it's a game I am interested in.
First one I heard about and that's just unfortunate for Xbox only users, it looked good.
Well I'm just glad Xbox's pivot to selling their games everywhere else hasn't effected console sales which hasn't effected developer support. Oh wait...
"a medieval knight errant..... HER closest one" sounds like absolute trash anyway, so not much missed
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