@J_Mo_Money Yeah, I don’t think Gears would have exploded on PS5 the way some folks online are thinking… even with a more limited user base on XSX, it would completely trounce the sales numbers on another console given the IP roots with Xbox and fan base that is cultivated there. It’s no wonder that Helldivers 2 actually did relatively well on Xbox - it’s just so aligned with the community’s interest. Racing actually has some deep roots on PlayStation thanks to GT, Wipeout, and Motorstorm - so Forza seems right at home there as an interesting contrast.

It’s all so weird given this price increase. On both accounts, but mostly for Microsoft because shifting to locking games exclusively won’t do anything to grow the console base if they’re this damn expensive. Even if Forza were to no longer be accessible on PS, that wouldn’t pull anyone there to get an Xbox for it. At these prices, it just feels like everyone is stuck with what they have until things change.

@MinervaX76 Appreciate that, and seems to be the most realistic. I think any of those options would be desirable at this point for them if closure is next on the list. Not holding my breath, but it’s been done before.

@FraserG Do you know what it would take for these studios to get an exit where they retain their form without being terminated or closed down? I know it’s a loaded question, but I think what we all want to see is that the studios negotiating for their existence somehow remain with independence in a way that Toys For Bob did (and could maintain partnerships likewise afterwards). Anything you can touch on helps, this is honestly devastating to hear for the devs who will be affected. Many thanks 😎

@Banjo- I think being more hands off is a double edged sword. It’s good when Xbox can trust their devs at Playground to continue developing with delays as needed because they seemingly trust the talent there. If they ask for more and more time, it’s given - that’s trust and that’s good. But it’s a case by case to me, as hands off also led to Redfall as far as I understand the history there.

We can see this strikingly with Sony as well in Bungie. “Autonomy means autonomy” as Jimbo said upon acquisition, and this was at a time when it was already known that management had run riot with ego and poor leadership. We’ll be seeing more layoffs there too without a doubt.

It sounds though like you’re referring to the hands off approach, particularly under Phil, as a practice where creative freedom is provided the sandbox it needs to cultivate their project visions. Again, there’s Redfall and other such examples where I think this has dire consequences, but my personal desire would be to give devs freedom while supporting them through a variety of benefits like job security, strong leadership checks, and mental health resources. It sounds like we have the same idea though - supporting game dev work with positive reinforcements.

@Friendly Understood, though I think you’d agree that optional overtime is very seldom offered in gaming studios. Game development might even be the worst out there given how volatile the nature of making a game is.

I would also caution against team building exercises as something that necessarily indicates a good workplace. I’m not saying this is what your place of work does, and certainly not that you are indicating it yourself, but I know businesses here in my city that romanticize overtime with some morale guise that masquerades as team building. Not joking, I know a company that regularly does overtime here in Manitoba into Friday nights and posts online about how they order doughnuts and “hustle” to release a project while growing as a team. It’s something I try to keep an eye on. If it’s not what your team does, then super 👍

But it looks like we agree on the core issue. The decision should be in the hands of workers, the people that actually make the damn games. Not Asha Sharma, Hiroshi Titoki, etc.

@Friendly we use agile in our environment as well (I’m a software dev, full stack) and forced overtime is never a good thing. You might need to elaborate on what you mean by good things coming from a stretch of overtime that yields rewards as many studios have demonstrated you can release a great game without compelling overtime on your workers. Nintendo would still have gotten their 99 (I don’t care about metacritic, the comment I made was to be cheeky) if they’d added a few weeks of time instead of panicking to release their game at some marketable time. Studios like CD Projekt Red and FromSoft have also practiced forced overtime and their games still released with issues. So the game either releases at the cost of worker health or both worker health and the game’s quality.

The only instance where you could convince me that overtime is acceptable is when workers agree to it. In other words, it’s democratic, not some decision made by executives or a managerial body.

@Banjo- MercurySteam is a good example, and an interesting one given it is based in a country with strong labour laws and unions. I played Metroid Dread, enjoyed it, but did notice some pacing inconsistencies towards the end. I won’t go into detail here, but when I heard that there was poor management and forced overtime, I was sad and unsurprised. And Nintendo doesn’t have them internally, so we can’t blame them I guess 🤷🏼‍♂️

Sony has their history too, notably Naughty Dog. The crunch they had reads like a rockstar situation, I can’t believe what some of them went through, and yet we can go online and see high ratings for employment standards. Funny that!

And now we’re seeing Microsoft repeating their song and dance. We should be critical, but I do wish our fellow fans would share this scrutiny and passion for such practices under Red and Blue, not just Green.

Also a little bonus… the original OoT development had severe crunch weeks before its release on N64. Employees probably burned out and had to visit a health centre (very common in Japanese game studios historically), but it’s good they got a 99 metacritic 👍 bravo good guy Nintendo

@AI-Generation The team that did LM3 also developed the last Strikers game which released in ‘22 if I’m not mistaken. They’re a small studio in Canada, so I’m not sure if they were able to split resources efficiently for the next big Luigi game. Very talented studio, so the pain of waiting is felt with you.

The Mario absence is definitely what raises eyebrows given that Bananza was greenlit using a good chunk of the Odyssey team and it no doubt pushed back dev time for a new Mario (assuming they didn’t replace the og members or outsource elsewhere).

But to your main point, yes, Nintendo does rely loads on external teams to release content for their IPs, unbeknownst to many. My question about that is… how well are these teams and contractors actually paid and supported? Microsoft and Sony (to an extent) have done the same, and it’s shockingly exploitative.

What are your thoughts on overall replayability?

I’m getting a good energy from how the design sounds, but what’s obviously crucial for RE fans is that the game’s design (level, AI, side quests) practically invites you to jump back in for another play-through. All of the modern RE remakes come to mind, as well as 7 and 8. Would you add 9 as a loyal iteration to the series’ replayability?

Beyond excited. I had a 360 but this somehow passed me by in the 2000s. Maybe there’s something wrong with me, but then again, I played Halo 3 endlessly in those days. It’s time, let’s rock 😎

Couldn’t complain about the show if I tried, the pipeline indeed is coming together with gusto. I’m hoping it doesn’t lose momentum in the future, but with a summer showcase yet to come, things look great for ‘25/‘26.

Doesn’t hit with me personally, but it looks very solid for those wanting to try. A couple reviews noted some interesting strengths, I can see this being quite the time sink. And all developed in the context of geo-political pandemonium… well done to the team for persevering. Enjoy folks!

Helldivers 2 fits the Xbox environment really well as a Sony IP, just as Hellblade and Indiana Jones do on PlayStation as Microsoft IPs. I think it would be great if Xbox console players could enjoy the game alongside PC and PS5 players, the game is a blast.

But therein lies the issue… PS5 and (especially) PC holds sway with the players that show interest in the game, and Xbox hardware users just don’t seem to move the needle enough for Sony to consider expanding this IP’s reach. I hope I’m wrong… we live in wild times within this industry, and I would love for more players from other environments (that includes Nintendo too) to join in what I think is a banger multiplayer.

I understand I’m saying nothing new or insightful, but what else is there to say at this point? I think Helldivers 2 just makes sense on Xbox, and I’m hoping against the grain that Sony might at the very least consider what the next Helldivers project could do on Xbox at launch. Regardless, the wait would be a while for series x players given how much Arrowhead have on their plate… but as I’ve mentioned, this industry is deep in the chaos of change. I absolutely see this as a possibility.

It was my highlight of the Direct earlier this year, cannot wait to play. Pre-installed

@Vaako007 Come on, man…

I don’t have high hopes it will happen, but I’ll always have a little hope. Too great an IP to leave dormant, and it doesn’t need to be Double Fine to take care of. Lots of great talent out there begging to make a BK game, Microsoft just needs to find them and put a little faith in their craft. Fans ain’t going anywhere we’ll be waiting

It does need a patch or two, couple of audio and visual glitches, like units getting stuck and the music (one of the best aspects of AoM 😭) stopping intermittently until a battle triggers a tune again. Otherwise, loving it.

Was always my favourite in the series, I was smiling ear to ear at the announcement. The QoL enhancements are more than welcome, and I can’t wait to mess around in this Wonder Age mentioned. Very exciting!

Very excited. I think I just want to be surprised. Have a total curveball thrown in, a massive game we never expected. I’m confident the first party showings will be strong, so it’s not as much on my mind as what could be there. Not saying I’ll complain if we get gameplay from Fable, Indy, etc, certainly not the case! Just hoping something out of nowhere floors us. Can’t wait

Played a couple hours over the weekend, intimidating at first, but engrossing. Didn’t want to stop, especially with a soundtrack that made me sit back at times to simply enjoy its composition. Everything so far comes together excellently.

There’s a lot to learn and it’s early for me, not to mention it’s in preview mode, but a joy to play, quintessential medieval sim.

@Divide_and_Wander You should absolutely try the trilogy. I think you’ll be spellbound by the colour palette and level design, Toys for Bob gave the og PS1 games the modern care they deserved. And it’s cheap, easy to afford! Go for it.

Why so much negativity in these comments? The game is in the hands of a great studio, and it’s clear they’re giving it the care a beloved IP deserves by bringing in more talent. Even with what we saw in the showcase trailer (which granted, lacked a gameplay focus), I’m excited for what’s to come. Currently my most anticipated Xbox title, so maybe that’s why I don’t much understand people’s resistance to the game’s potential.

@Romans12 actually, a top 10 list of PS games coming to Xbox would be fun to me lol. Don’t tell me you don’t want Bloodborne or GoT on a series x 😁

But seriously, yes this has gotten out of hand, we’re not even out of the rumour well yet and fans are fantasizing about something not yet clarified. Dumb or not, I think it’s just people having fun, and are hopefully not taking these wishes too seriously.

I’ve generally enjoyed the side content more in Bethesda games, so this timeframe to beat the main story is very welcomed to me. Hell, less would have been fine! Side quests and exploration have always been the key joy of Bethesda rpgs for me. Skyrim’s stories apart from the main narrative, for instance, were more interesting to me.

The hype is real, can’t wait for more juicy details over 2022 😎

So excited for the showcase. Props to Phil for making it about the games, not the platform 😎 state of play was indeed a great start.

Now let’s see some Ashen!!

@BAMozzy yeah! That’s exactly how I see it. It’s an amazing fundamental package for folks new or getting familiar with Sony’s catalogue. There’s a lot of good value there, even without day one drops.

I’ve played so many of these games in repetition growing up, so I don’t think it’s for me personally, at least not now. But a very hopeful first look 👀 I’ll reserve my full judgement after everything has been revealed and released in June

@RevGaming I’m not sure I understand your ultimate point, but it’s fine, I think we agree at least somewhat on the pandemic’s impact on these studios. Both SM and Bethesda knew almost immediately they’d have to delay their games once covid hit everyone. Every studio wrestled with this differently in terms of when to release these titles, when they had forecast something completely different before 2020 changed everything.

For instance, do you think it’s Bethesda’s fault this is being delayed? I certainly don’t. It sucks, but they worked with what they could the last couple of years and couldn’t hit their target date. It’s happening all through the industry.

@RevGaming that might apply to studios who are starting development now. Everyone who’s been making games during covid had their schedule completely altered, and studios like Bethesda and Santa Monica have been transparent about this. Ragnarok and Starfield were pushed back massively due to remote work and countless other factors.

@StylesT only thing I disagree with here is Spiderman. It’s the best superhero game I’ve ever played, and probably a bit above the Arkham games. But that’s me 🙂

Otherwise I think you’re right on. The PS4 gen was really solid but I am tired of hearing that it’s god tier or that it has the best exclusives. I thought some were great, and some were… fine, but nothing special. I just don’t understand the bonkers mentality for games like Zero Dawn and Days Gone.

Sorry you feel you were a little duped, hype can be deceptive.

I would say you should give GoW a try, you may fall in love with it! Just a thought.

@Richnj I appreciated your take on the Sony site 🙂 it’s unfortunate that some fans just can’t shake the idea that Gamepass can sustain itself year over year with great releases. I believe most Sony fans know and respect this, it’s that some, erm, struggle with their bias against competitors. It’s a superiority mindset that stubbornly maintains Sony > Microsoft, no matter what the results are. I suppose there’s no arguing there, sadly. Not a problem for me as I love both and enjoy having two completely unique gaming options between them as a consumer 🙂

Everyone’s already articulated my hopes, so I’ll just add that I want avowed. A lot. As much as they can possibly show.

Bravo! Not that I care about a console beating out others in sales, but glad the current gen Xbox is doing so well.

Yeah, I’m hoping these rumours aren’t accurate. It seems the two biggest requests are day one drops and legacy title access. The latter matters most to me, as there are so many classic games I want to play again.

I also don’t want Sony to do their own Gamepass which Bloomberg seems to think they’re doing. I want Microsoft to keep trucking with Gamepass and for Sony to do something unique, not a copy of GP. Nate The Hate (who may be mistaken here) believes that Spartacus will be focused on classic titles, calling it “NSO Expansion, but good.” I can get excited for that and would be willing to pay for the associated tier. Rumours are rumours though, so I’ll keep my expectations cool and just enjoy Gamepass as the service for me currently.

@Bmartin001 you should be excited! Be more excited!!

… sorry, that happens to be my favourite port to the Switch. I love Pikmin 3 😅

Bummer, but I’m still interested in the game. After some patches and maybe a good sale, I don’t see a reason to pass it up.

@Snake_V5 it’s very strategic, not as much a waste as you might think. Destiny accrues hundreds of millions in revenue alone, and Sony will likely have them develop another shooter to remain competitive with the loss of COD (resistance, socom, who knows…) Sony also has aligned itself more to the western market and would have prioritized a team for shooters rather than rpgs like sqenix.

And yes, I believe Sony could retail the original trilogy after the ink dries, but fact check me on that one in case there’s some IP conditions.

I’ve grown optimistic about it, I see a lot of good that can come from this for gamers, and of course, the devs at AB. I think Sony will also benefit from it as well, to realign themselves with the gaming market more from the pressure - primarily their services. I’m hoping this pushes their Spartacus efforts even further so that I actually regain an interest in their online goodies, I just don’t have any desire to get back into PS Plus yet.

But for Microsoft, sky’s the limit now and I’m genuinely excited for Gamepass in the future, as well as what Sony might cook up as a result.

Job security, salary increases, safe environment are just a few of what the employees want. I’m hoping Phil can actually sit down with the teams and meet their needs. The bar is very low for improving conditions at Activision Blizzard, there’s a decade’s worth of videos and complaints of current and former employees about how bad it is. Phil needs to go above and beyond for them, and we should all hope he delivers.

@Medic_Alert I don’t understand it much myself! I’m certainly not worried about the service’s sustainability. However, I’m a consumer. A single chap making ends meet as a data engineer in Canada (also paying off student debt). Given my economic situation, I have to be careful with the media services I consume, even if they’re as wonderful a deal as Gamepass. Call me paranoid - I’m only worried that a year or two later, the rates will go up more than we expected, and that may mean gamers like myself may have a harder time paying for a service that they love.

Been bouncing around the 3 sister sites this morning, what a day lol. Push Square is a sad place today 😔

What does this mean for Gamepass though, in terms of pricing? I can’t see Microsoft retaining its rate as it stands now, I’m hoping it doesn’t increase… too much.

“There are 4 to 5 reveals on the scale of Elden Ring”

Geoff, you got some explaining to do.

Sorry, I just wasn’t crazy about the XBone. I don’t think it’s a bad system, but it didn’t compare to 360 - they’re worlds apart in gen quality for me. The latter system is still one of my favourite consoles ever, nothing but fond memories of online gaming with friends after school.