Comments 458

Re: Microsoft Confirms Plans For Activision Blizzard Games On PlayStation, Nintendo Switch

EvenStephen7

It's an interesting move coming on the heels of Sony announcing Destiny will remain on Xbox.

I genuinely don't understand why anyone here is upset about this — this is good for gamers. Xbox gamers get the game Day 1 on Gamepass, Playstation gamers still get access, and those of us with access to all the consoles get to pick and choose where we want to play.

I think a lot of people want to have their cake and eat it too: it's good when Destiny stays on Xbox, but somehow bad when Xbox reciprocates the same gesture with Call of Duty.

Don't worry about Microsoft. They're going to be just fine. And with this move, millions of gamers are going to be fine too. I hope this friendlier approach between companies continues.

Re: Guess What, Everyone's Criticising Xbox Games With Gold Again

EvenStephen7

I think a lot of people forget that GwG was Microsoft following Sony's PS+ model and trying to dampen the sting of paying for online. Now that they've iterated on it with Gamepass, it just feels like a relic from yesteryear.

Gamepass sub prices will rise sooner than later anyway. Just cut Gold now, tell everyone that online is free, then make up the costs by raising GPU prices in a year or two. They'll look like heroes by doing something Nintendo and Playstation can't. Then they can quietly make back the money.

Re: Talking Point: 10 Days Later, How Are You Feeling About The Activision Blizzard Acquisition?

EvenStephen7

As others have said, I'm not happy that the industry continues to consolidate — and I don't really care that a bunch of rich executives just got richer. On the plus side, it'll provide more value to Gamepass (though at this point there are more games than I have time, at least at this point in my life).

What I find mostly interesting is how muted the reaction has been compared to Bethesda, despite it being a "bigger" deal. Playstation and Nintendo fans obviously have reason to be disappointed, but even Xbox personalities and podcasts have been MUCH less excited. It seems to be a mix: less enthusiasm for Activision's lineup, the Bethesda deal was more exciting because it came first, and (surprisingly) a lot of vocal concern about just how consolidated the industry is becoming. Even Podcast Unlocked started to trend towards a "Uh, okay, this is making us nervous" line.

At the end of the day, Microsoft is a business that's sole focus is making money. But I'm curious if this kind of reaction might influence how they handle these games going forward.

Re: Xbox Exec Teases Unannounced IP That Will 'Blow Your Mind'

EvenStephen7

@Dezzy70 Agreed. I can’t remember where I heard it, but I was listening to an Xbox podcast recently where they pointed out that Halo Infinite’s delay gets blamed a lot, but even if it came out on time we’d be done with the campaign now and still waiting around for more games. They argued that there was really no excuse to have such a barren slate of exclusives for the first year, and I have to agree.

I like my Series X and I’m hopeful for the future, but it almost feels like Microsoft was not as ready for next gen as Sony. It was a little quiet near the end of the One too; I assumed that this meant they were holding a lot back of games for Series X but I guess not. Thank God for Gamepass, but just what have these studios been doing all this time? I feel like MS gets off a little too easy in this regard.