Incredibly bizarre but I guess it's a positive they're still supporting the game? ...Way too late, but, still supporting it.

I'm hoping this and the fact that Coalition is basically Xbox tech support means they won't get gutted, but I do have a bad feeling that Asha will just cut staff without really understanding the nuances of this particular one. (Like how iD was cut down and they lost a lot of staff who intricately knew idtech.)

I hope I'm wrong. I wasn't even that impressed with E-Day but I don't want the studio to get gutted over it.

I haven't got any yet. None have popped up for me yet, not sure why. I should definitely have 100+ so not sure why that's happening.

@RTGX I mean, no matter how well they try, some people will just not get an Xbox console at this point. Better to at least try to get them interested in the storefront they can access, if they are one of those.

Counterpoint: Console prices are insane, and are going to get even more mind-boggling incomprehensibly bad. I got my Series X in January of this year and that price was already fairly eye-watering. There's no way they're going to get many sales going forward, especially of a new console that's going to be double that cost. There's very little Xbox can do on that front.

@Banjo- I didn't know DF did that, it makes them sound incredibly parasitic and angry when they don't get fed for free. I watch some reviewers (smaller) who actually buy the game and give the review code they were given away to a viewer. Granted this reviewer is not reviewing/comparing on every platform, but DF is also big enough that they shouldn't be whining, and should be capable (and actually doing this) instead of passive-aggressively whining over not getting hand outs.

PS: I hope kitty is doing well!

Good. Afil Games is going to have a meltdown but this is a good change. Less garbage cluttering the store... in theory. They'll find new ways, I'm sure, but at least this is a starting point.

Not sure about Xbox, but I do hope some company saves all of these listed properties. Mirror's Edge too! And Dante's Inferno! Honestly there's a ton of older/unused series they have that would also be amazing to get out of their grubby, oily hands.

Would kind of come full circle, though. Xbox funded Mass Effect originally, and EA swooped in to buy BioWare after. Same thing happened with TitanFall.

Seeing the blades again made me smile, and the NXE. They could sell those 360 dashboard themes again if they bring it back.

As an option, I love this. Don't make it mandatory as some have moved on, but I'd absolutely swap and use these just to get a brief sensation of going back in time.

Also yes it's just a browser test at the moment, but my points apply if they move forward. I like it.

I have a bias, but Shrek 2 is my personal highlight. Chronoscript, Vanran, Paper Shredder, and maybe Arctic Eggs all look interesting too.

Mouthwashing and No I'm not a Human have already been on PC for a good while, I've played or seen both of these already.

@Banjo- If you've never seen it, I'd absolutely recommend giving Puss in Boots: The Last Wish a watch. Genuinely amazing movie, it aims for the stars and lands deep within the twinkling night sky. It's the second movie in the Puss in Boots spinoff series so some characters related to it appear, but it's just such an amazing film.

...I also have bias because I love cats and I've always affectionately nicknamed my 17 year old tabby Puss in Boots.

@strzelec As nice as this sounds on paper, this will accelerate the death of older game servers. Xbox 360 servers will absolutely get chopped not long after something like this would happen, with Xbox One gen games following suit within a few years.

@Banjo- Just lucky to have a few great movies (including the Puss in Boots Last Wish spinoff film) and little things like the 2nd game and the mini-series comic run from 2003. The reality is that the whole Dreamworks-era franchise was doomed from the start and against all odds ended up doing well, so I'll take a Shrek-related win wherever it comes.

@Banjo- Yes, though it's not very good. The most notable version of it was made by DICE (the EA Battlefield DICE) and had a lot of art and designs by Todd McFarlane (creator of Venom and Spawn, the comic characters), and it was actually an Xbox exclusive, originally!

..It was not very good. It got essentially a remixed/remake release on Gamecube with some improvements but it was still not good. As well as an unrelated PS1 game (also bad), a kart racer (also bad), and a hideously bad Shrek party game which I had as a kid and wow it's burned into my memory.

Shrek 2 The Game stands out because it was actually pretty decent. It's possible that it's actually just average/okay and the bar was so low from the previous games that it seemed like a great time in comparison.. guess we'll find out when this drops.

W-what? Is this real? I genuinely adored this game, it was really fun. Not ground breaking, but a solid 7/10 kind of game.

As someone who still loves Shrek as well, this is awesome. I kinda hope they re-do the other movies in this style if this sells well, though I sincerely doubt that'll happen.

I feel like I'm the odd man out here, the campaign has felt like a huge bait and switch so far. It was advertised and marketed heavily with a focus on Marcus and Dom, and they generally take a back seat to The Mags Show. She even interrupts the one moment they have about Carlos with her getting into a coughing fit.

I'm very sour because I don't care about this new character, and even though Lucas is growing on me he still doesn't get a whole lot of time to shine either.

And it's not the actress fault, she does a fine job. She was also equally fine in Peacemaker, though she didn't have that big of a role in that series, but my point is that her acting isn't the issue. The writing is as subtle as a brick swung through a plate of glass at mach 5.

They're obviously re-using the Siege maps in the campaign in yet another bid to try some kind of open-world format, too, but it bothers me how much they're re-using and how the campaign is just stuffed full of filler. They just can't let go of the idea of trying open-world stuff in the campaign. Counterpoint, though, it is done MUCH better here than in Gears 5-- though the bar is so low there you can't even trip over it.

But, one nice thing I will say is that I actually like how this locust villain 'Vraahk' is basically just a street-level threat. There's only so many times they can raise the stakes and the prequel can't go too nuts since they have to contend with RAAM in the future, so I'm fine with him basically being some low tier dude just doing whatever he pleases.

Haven't tried Siege outside of the beta yet, or Versus. I really don't want to be negative either, Gears is the reason I'm an Xbox player. I want to like this game, but I'm having to make a lot of effort to find that enjoyment.

I was over the moon when they announced this. I'm absolutely ready for this, just the chance to replay the SNES and N64 Toy Story games is going to put a big smile on my face.

Buzz always beat me silly during the gas station fight in the SNES Toy Story... NOT THIS TIME! I'm a grown man, questionably competent, no longer losing to childrens games! ...Maybe!

Wishlisting Witch's Bakery. The mention of Kiki's Delivery Service made me hone right in on that, stellar movie.

@FraserG I think I missed this when first published, but wishlisted! Thank you!

@HelloCraigo It's more.. just using music themes and terms for world building. Lot of cutscenes that are musical numbers. Rhythm is relegated to mini-QTE like prompts when attacking to damage boost.

It's not bad, but it definitely wasn't what I thought I was getting in to.

Gonna keep an eye out on Alpha. No Straight Roads scratched that itch too so I hope this fills the void.

Been playing People of Note lately, previews made me think it might do the same but in a turn based RPG rhythm flavor... boy does it not.

@Mr-Cage probably a year ago there was someone in the comments here on PX who turned me onto RoboCop Rogue City and I got to say I fell in love not just with the game but the movies too, which I'd never seen before playing Rogue City but watched immediately after playing it. I'm glad I saw their comment about it. I will back this up! Amazing especially for the price.

@Evilinsane I did feel foolish but at the same time I appreciate you telling me. The only thing to feel bad about (well, for me, you don't have anything to feel bad for obviously) is that I screwed up that badly in the first place, but I appreciate you telling me still

Minecraft Dungeons 2 for me. I'm in love with it so far, it's doing all the right things for me.

@Evilinsane ...Yeah I'm not sure why I didn't see that. I probably shouldn't be commenting any more today, doesn't seem like anything is going right for me, but thank you for pointing it out. edited my previous message at least

I will genuinely be surprised if they actually do release a console next year. Or in the next two. The prices will be even more absurd then what we are currently expecting.

@Banjo- Ever try Silent Hill? The HD Collection or the SH2 remake? Those are all about psychological horror.

A lot of these look great. I have nothing against 2D sprite based games in the horror genre, but there's so many that I appreciate seeing some indie games trying different styles out.

edit: nvm on that reply banjo apparently I'm barely functioning today and skipping over entire sentences sorry

Okay, at least it was publicly commented on. I have to say it hasn't totally reassured me, since Xbox has a history of reactionary statements that end up being lies.

But, that could be the Phil Spencer era. No more lies and deceit and doubletalk.

There's something really funny about seeing them hand out a bunch of old games, especially Dead Rising 4 that one just really made me laugh when I saw that picture. Getting rid of unsold inventory, I suppose.

That said, those ARE physical gamea, even if old... that's interesting.

I really liked the first one, so I'm optimistic. It being built in the Bedrock version of the game instead of Unreal Engine is also a huge bonus, as the mod possibilities and custom campaigns should be huge.

Now, hopefully at some point we can use skins from Bedrock to play as. Probably not, but I can still dream of running around as Zero from Mega Man X chopping down fools.

It's crazy to me that a Fortnite mode is getting shut down, but I guess live services inside a live service are even more precarious. The current gaming landscape is stupid.

I'm finally getting around to finishing South of Midnight. Good story, art, performances, music... generic game play. I really think it'd have been better off as a movie.

There's only two outcomes. Rare stays on the Sea of Thieves track but Activision whips them into shape

Or, Activision sends them to the COD mines. As much as I'd like a new Banjo/Conker/etc... it was like pulling teeth to get Acti to do something with Crash or Spyro, and they rewarded Beenox's runaway success with CTR Nitro Fueled by... throwing them into the CoD mines.

@VenomUK Thank you for putting it into words for me! And for the reassurance haha, much appreciated.

It really is unreal to see frequent, massive Xbox layoffs year after year. I hope everyone affected can find other work quick.

The sound doesn't really sound like Xbox, which I hope isn't coming off like schizo talk. Rare Achievements still have that 'xbox' sound, but I guess I'm harping on this because it's still a tie to the 360 era. Maybe it'll grow on me.

Whenever this happens is the day I put the console away. The en-expletive-ification of services just to squeeze more money out is absolutely the end of my time using them.

@Simu001 Announced 2020, so presumably around that time, if not a year or so beforehand. I imagine this was another example of devs taking Microsoft for a ride and doing nothing of note for ages.

@Banjo- This is the first time since Asha's takeover where I've had concern, and struggle to find a silver lining when this does feel like they're packaging studios up into neater bows in preparation (or consideration) of a sale.

With all that said, your comments actually made sense. I really, really hope you're right.

@Millionski You're right, though lately SoT has lost some shine but you're still absolutely right. I also don't personally play RTS games so they seem small to me but that's a bias of mine I shouldn't factor in here. It's just such an odd thing to boot them over, but.. well I hope you're right on the management.

It's hard to feel bad for 343. They've had a legacy of dropping the ball, and now that Phil isn't there to coddle them after endless screw-ups, they get a reality check.

Unfair to the actual developers/workers, yes, but stripping 343 of it's power was a long time coming.

(or 'halo studios' whatever, they just slapped a coat of paint over the old name but did nothing else different. meh.)

Okay so the Halo part was definitely something they were expecting, but Rare and World's Edge were "??? what the hell do we do with YOU?" reactions based on that tiny sentence at the end.

Can't deny this does feel like Xbox is booting the 'undesireables' to Acti if they decide to sell it.

Edit: Optimistic counterpoint? Acti has some actual experience with 3D platformers, so maybe Banjo....?

@Fiendish-Beaver I actually almost dropped my controller in shock when that happened. I was 19 when I played that and Gears was basically a huge part of my life at the time lol

I really like the ad for Gears 2, "How it Ends". Really, really good followup to Mad World.

@Fiendish-Beaver I thought that work had been done on the Decima engine, but with all these statements I'm starting to think that maybe that's not true and they really have nothing to show for all the time this game has been announced, which makes me think "wtf has he been doing all this time?"

Now we don't have the full story, but with him speaking in uncertainty on everything about this project is kind of baffling.

It does give me a whiff of BS artist, but again, don't have the full story. Just some very strange statements.

I'm... well, because I hate myself, I'm playing Funko Fusion. I like bad games and this one is a bizarre attempt to emulate the Lego games. It's not even the worst game ever, it's just... a lot of weird choices and a lot of corporate blindness thinking people will love collecting KFC buckets (???) as hidden collectables.

One nice thing I will say is that, though while the game kinda wastes the opportunity to replay huge scenes from movies/series it's basing stuff on, the fact it lets you play through the Katayanagi Twins fight in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is pretty cool. Takes a pretty short, amazingly memorable scene from the movie/book and stretches it out a bit.

I'm also playing RoboCop Rogue City: Unfinished Business. I finished Rogue City a few days back and absolutely adored it, having no knowledge of RoboCop before that. So after finishing RC, I actually watched the first two movies yesterday! The game was so good it made me a RoboCop fan.

I'm interested to see what exactly Lollipop Chainsaw 2 is about. Without James Gunn or Suda51, it's... I dunno. Not sure how to feel about it.

@Drewdub It's been running for 8 years with constant new updates. If no one cared, it would've died long before this.

A Mega Man Legends skin would have quite literally been perfect with my boy stuck on the moon... that was a slam dunk opportunity, even just as an alt skin with the helmet off.

Capcom really, really despises Legends.

Saw this last night. Huge shame, the VR market is accelerating towards its death.

This looks stupid enough to be real.

Game Pass having a separate sub that doesn't even let you play online, and the basic version you pay for making you watch ads... yeah, this looks like a classic Microsoft blunder ready to promptly smother all that goodwill they've got recently.

I've said before and I still stand by it, GP needed to change for Xbox to survive, and I still wholly believe that, but this is definitely not the way.

The biggest issue with Physint now is that Sony stripped the Decima engine away from him when they stopped funding it. I imagine this means they have to re-work everything, though with Xbox support and possibly having the Coalition help if things shift to UE5, I wonder if they could salvage some work already done. Porting assets, if possible, to UE5, but... yeesh. That's still essentially starting back at square one.

I just hope Xbox was aware of that when signing on, this likely isn't something to be done anytime soon.