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 18
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
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