16BitHero

I generally like DONT NOD games and was looking forward to this, but after 4 hours I just can't bring myself to continue. There haven't been any moments that truly grabbed me, narrative, gameplay or otherwise. It feels like a small team created this as a sort of side 'passion project' rather than a mainstream entry in their portfolio.

A collaboration with ID and/or Machine Games could be interesting.

It's supposedly 8.5 hours long on average. I'm about 3 hours into it but rushing if I'm being honest. It's a very basic and linear experience but looks nice enough. Unfortunately console graphics options are non existent so we're stuck with 30fps. I fancied something simple today with hopefully a decent sci fi premise and characterisation so here I am. It's definitely a very niche game and not a patch on the massively underrated gem that was Banishers.

Remakes have their place. I enjoy a few from time to time despite how many games we're constantly bombarded with nowadays - does anyone NOT have a backlog?! We also tend to forget younger generations are growing up all the time so it's nice for them to get to play better versions of classic games.

What I don't like are remasters. Lazy cash grabs.

If we as gamers want a truly competitive industry then Xbox needs it's exclusives again. With their umbrella of studios they could really seize a decent market share to compete with Sony and Nintendo once more. There have been exclusives since the beginning of gaming so to stop putting certain games on PlayStation or even PC wouldn't be particularly shocking regardless of studio acquisition. I personally would like to see their games remain on PC as buying/upgrading all three systems every generation is an incredibly expensive hobby. As some have said, they could let games like COD remain multi platform. I think this is the only way Xbox competes in a hardware sense.

I hope there's an afterlife to take my ever increasing backlog into...

@AI-Generation this seems the most likely outcome, if indeed Helix is essentially running PC games.

@IronCrow86 Agreed. They're clearly not budgeting much for the music but that's not an issue for me. I turn it off. The Project Gotham series on the other hand had some bangers!

I'm not sure why they didn't give it a little extra time to cook. Some more variety in the melee combat mechanics a la Sifu and some bug fixes could have made this a solid game for $25. Hopefully patches do the trick and this can be another No Man's Sky/Cyberpunk redemption arc, albeit on a much smaller scale.

@DukeeDukems Lynx and Game Gear but no Gameboy? I got to try out all three at boarding school. Games might have been rather basic and relatively sparse back then but the excitement factor was beyond anything I generally feel today.

@Banjo- that N64 VHS might have been the same one I watched. Shoshinkai 1995. There weren't that many games but the 3D graphics blew us away, especially Mario.

It took a while to convince my parents of the merits of owning a Sega Megadrive, Super Nintendo and Sony PlayStation on day one but I did get a Nintendo 64 on release day then, as an adult, Xbox, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 all on release day with various rival consoles purchased during those particular generation cycles. My only regret was a PSP.

I don't have a lot of time as a friend is visiting from the UK but I'm squeezing in some Asgards Wrath 2 on Quest 3 and maybe some more Banishers Ghosts of New Eden on Series X - such an underrated gem of a game.

Happy gaming y'all.

@EVIL-C 100% agree.

@TrollOfWar I work in a high school and there is limited interest in games in the 'traditional' sense. Most kids are playing browser games on laptops and tablets, cellphone games and Roblox. There are blank looks when I ask about console games. Obviously many do have consoles at home I'm sure, maybe through their parents generation even, but they are OBSESSED with Instagram and TikTok. It's a new landscape and always evolving.

Even without global upheaval caused by political dimwits and megalomaniac billionaires, inflation will almost certainly mean $800 minimum next gen prices if not higher. I paid £2.50 for cinema tickets and 30p for chocolate bars/cans of coke 25 years ago. The only thing that isn't going up are the games thank goodness. Street Fighter 2 was £59.99 on the Megadrive on release!

Can't wait for the Expanse, my favourite sci fi show ever along with Battlestar Galactica.

@Lup thank you! Now I just need to clear my schedule for a year or two.

@ThCajunAsian the Xbox install base is still significant, especially in the US where many owners possibly can't afford a gaming PC as well. It's an attractively priced game made by experienced devs who know this genre inside out. I think it's well worth at least making it available digitally for the Xbox ecosystem. Hopefully it doesn't become another Mindseye.

@Lup as someone keen to try the Yakuza and spin off games, where on earth do you recommend I start?

@space_g0blin same! That's all.

No future purchase? This was a really underrated game in my opinion, the single player was like an interactive TV show and done very well I reckon. The switch to police and criminals was a refreshing break from large scale warfare. The mechanics are very solid being a Battlefield entry. It's always very cheap so for any FPS single player fans out there, I highly recommend this one.

@GeminiX53 I really didn't think it would be for me and it's now in my top ten all time. Keep an eye out for Esoteric Ebb (and the Disco follow up).

More or less what I expected. I'll skip it as my backlog is extensive and there are some great games still to come this year. Those who play it, enjoy!

It's about time we had Xbox 2. But seriously it should probably be called Xbox Swansong.

Potential GOTY 'Esoteric Ebb' for me. If they eventually add full voice acting - as Disco Elysium did - then it's already GOTY (so far) for me.

@BacklogBrad I doubt Xbox will charge for online play in the next generation. That defeats the point of creating a PC hybrid and won't sit well with many. If they want to compete then this seems like a necessary business decision.

Since I finally built a beefy PC (after saving for 15 odd years!) I've spent 95% of my gaming expenditure on the Steam storefront. I still like gaming on PS5 and Xbox so it's not a power or graphics thing necessarily, more so the frequent and steep discounts Steam offers compared to the stingy PS and Microsoft stores. Online has to be PC too so I don't pay to play online anymore. The PC ecosystem is far more console esque and accessible these days so I'm not at all surprised by these statistics.

Hoping for Esoteric Ebb console announcement, could be GOTY contender although it's probably too indie to win.

@Fiendish-Beaver yeah definitely agree with this and with regard to charging for online play - that should be something they look to eliminate with their next console. If they want to stay relevant in hardware circles, I think that decision alone could grab a little more of the pie currently being scoffed by Sony.

@Fiendish-Beaver I think Gamepass is generally excellent and probably as good as it's ever been however, I think it's really aimed at Xbox only or gamers who rarely purchase, erm, games. I'm stacked until December but have barely used the service only because I usually get what I want during the frequent and excellent value Steam Sales. Sometimes there's a month with multiple great games I haven't played and I think I end up getting value out of the service in the long run. Most Xbox studios games are of interest to me and I only purchased Indiana Jones being a big fan of the IP. That's a bit of a ramble but you catch my drift.

Gamers are still willing to pay $70 for a 10 hour game because it's a polished and excellent experience. We don't need so many 30/50/100 hour games.

Of course I'm nostalgic for SSX Tricky but SSX 3 was definitely the best in the series in my opinion. Didn't know about this bc version, what a treat!

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is huge! For all Xbox woes and uncertainty, Gamepass has been incredible value for the last 12-18 months or more perhaps.

It's still the most bombastic game you can play with friends or other folks. Pure unadulterated fun.

Day 1 on Xbox/PC Gamepass for games with large budgets/long development cycles is an insane business practice. Simple as that. Maybe releasing on PS5 will pick up some of those lost sales but it'll rarely be enough outside of titles like Forza.

Is it me or is there a themed sale every month these days?

@Fiendish-Beaver Crikey mate, that's a lot of games!

PC gaming has come a long way in the last decade or so. Games are generally well optimized despite the wealth of hardware variation and settings available. The ecosystem is fluid and easy to use like never before (I'm glad I jumped in when I did) BUT certain components are skyrocketing in price once again and may remain that way for years. It's therefore still a pricey investment for most people which is why I'm curious to see the pricing and eventual popularity of the Steam Machine and a possible PCbox. I think PlayStation will remain a popular affordable choice even if it creeps up to say $600/700 for the base PS6. Nintendo will be fine with their price point and continued focus on family and kids games.

Change is inevitable. I'm honestly surprised these figures are this 'low'. In the US it's difficult to find physical Xbox games. Even with PS5, the selection at shops like Target, Walmart and Best Buy is incredibly limited considering the vast library available digitally.

It would be a fitting announcement for the 25th anniversary, even if they're light on the actual details.

Blood Dragon (Series X) is still 30fps for me. 4.45pm. East Coast time. Primal (PS5) is fantastic at 60 fps though!

I'll definitely give Indika a go on PC. I've already enjoyed the main attractions listed here.

I wonder how big this market actually is at the moment but cloud gaming is going to become more and more prominent - you've got to start somewhere I suppose.

I'm going to enjoy Cyberpunk 2077 VR before I accidentally let it update and the incredible VR mod is removed (CDPR indulging in the same capitalist nonsense as Take 2).

Original plan was to play the Indiana Jones dlc on my friend donated OLED monitor but I'm missing the power supply doh!

I then decided to continue with the engrossing Death Stranding 2 but have instead been going through Baldur's Gate 3 again in co-op - such an incredible game.

@Nintendo4Sonic it depends on whether or not you have any interest in a sort of caveman simulator lite with lots of action/combat, a gorgeous map (overhauled from Farcry 4) and a language created specifically for the game. I'm a long time Farcry fan having played every game in the series to date and Primal is still my favourite.

I've been subscribed on and off since the Series X launched and definitely gotten incredible value for money over the years - from catching up with Xbox One exclusives to all the indie gems and more recent exclusives. I'm stacked until December but I think this will be my last long term commitment. I'll re sub occasionally for new Microsoft Studios games I want to play but I primarily game through Steam nowadays. The backlog across PS5, Xbox and PC is real!

@UltimateKGB good point, I should have mentioned that in my comments yesterday for the Xbox memories article. Ripping CDs and listening to your own music was so great in many games. My best memory for that would be tearing up Rallisport Challenge 1 then 2 with classic drum n bass/jungle tracks!

@Cakefish the US has more major/popular sports which always take up a good quarter/third of this list. I buy every Hazelight game!

Great to see Ready or Not getting some console love on both continents. Best shooter in years for those craving a gritty single player/co-op experience in my opinion. So many tense and hilarious moments.

Anyone else still hear the splinter cell 'bad guys are looking for you' music all these years later?!