Absolutely, @Chip-Douglas. I played through the game twice; once on Hardcore and then on Insane, and Dom was often found to be at the beginning of the level sipping on a cup of tea whilst Marcus did all the work. The AI was absolutely atrocious...
I get what you are saying, @BAMozzy, but if, like me, you have an Xbox console and a gaming PC, it just might be that you want to play a game on both systems. Play Anywhere allows me to do that without any additional cost, which is great for me, but had Play Anywhere not existed, and I wanted to play on both systems, then I would have been forced to buy it twice, which is great for the developer.
The other issue that comes to mind is that people credit Microsoft with this initiative, so if a third-party developer does it, it is Microsoft that is reaping the gratitude, and not the developer.
Basically, I don't see how third-party developers are being rewarded in this process, particularly so if they are not being paid by Microsoft, or receiving a discount on how much they pay Microsoft when their game is sold. They're missing out on the additional sale, and the credit for Play Anywhere...
As much as I love the Gears of War franchise, this was just a minimal effort cash grab aimed squarely at the PlayStation gamer. The game is still fun, but man is it broken in places. Fortunately it looks like more effort has been put into remaking Halo: Combat Evolved...
I've no interest in GTA (ever!), @RegnumSolipsi, and I think it'll be years before we see the next Elder Scrolls (though I am looking forward to it). As for Halo, I have always enjoyed each of the campaigns (to varying degrees), and I have to say that I am looking forward to the remake of Halo Combat Evolved because they actually look to be making some effort in it (unlike the pitiful effort applied to Gears of War: Reloaded).
Exodus does look to be really good. Just have to hope we see some gameplay soon. I think it will fill the void until the next Mass Effect arrives, which I really hope they don't mess up...
Does Microsoft have to pay any money to these developers in order for them to allow a game to be bought on an Xbox but played on a PC, @Kezelpaso? Just seems to me that they are missing out on a potential second sale...
Really looking forward to Exodus. When I was young, all I ever really read was Sci-Fi and fantasy, and I always gravitated to the genre in film and television too. In later life, when video games became a thing, it proved to still be my favourite genre, so Exodus ticks all the boxes for me...
I'd be surprised if anyone, anywhere said that Game Pass didn't eat into game sales, @Markatron84. I mean, if a £70 game would have sold 10 million copies on Xbox, but one person chose to play it on Game Pass instead, then instead of raising £70,000,000 the game would have made £69,000,930 + whatever the person paid for Game Pass that month in order to play that game. We know that it is not just one person for a game too just by reading the comments here in Pure, and we also know that our playing habits will be repeated endlessly by all those well beyond the Pure Xbox forums.
Indeed, it is possible that a game that would have sold 10 million on the Xbox may miss out on a sale even if it is not on Game Pass simply because people are playing other games on Game Pass and so choose to skip buying the game, or maybe choose to buy it in a sale much later than they otherwise would.
The phrase that Xbox gamers do not buy games is most definitely a lie, but it is also most definitely not a lie that those of us that game on the Xbox buy fewer games, and the reason for that is the availability of Game Pass.
Honestly any Xbox leader that tries to say that Game Pass does not eat into game sales is not being straight with us, and is trying to take us for fools...
Nothing at all in the way of games, which is most unusual for me. In the sales in general, I have bought loads, around £400 worth of items, saving a couple of hundred in the process. I will probably buy a few Xbox gift cards if I can find some on offer in the Black Friday sales.
I did manage to buy myself a Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 headset for £126, which was a saving of £54, which was nice. Looking forward to seeing how they perform on my Xbox this weekend when I engage in a few Master Horde runs in Gears 5... 😊
Totally agree, @wildcat_kickz. Xbox is where it is due to many poor decisions dating back to the TV, TV, TV reveal of the Xbox One, and the enforced inclusion of Connect, which led to many people choosing to skip the Xbox One entirely. To my mind that is where the problems began, and then many decisions have been made since, which have gone on to compound the situation...
I never got my first console (an Intellivision) until I was 17, @themightyant, but by then I was working, and I was getting myself fit in readiness for joining the Royal Engineers Bomb Disposal Regiment, and at then went off to the Falklands. Basically, I never got to spend a whole Summer indoors and play video games, but I would dearly have loved too. I was never one for socialising, as such, much preferring my own company, so stuck indoors playing games would have been my idea of Heaven.
Back then my life revolved around listening to endless music and reading. Life without the internet, mobiles, and countless television channels was very different to todays. That said, I am making up for it now big time, as I play games for anything up to 8 hours in a day...! 😂
From a developers point of view, you can completely understand this; they want their games played by as many people as possible.
However, let us not kid ourselves, Microsoft have been forced into this position by weak console sales, and Game Pass eating into their sales. Had Microsoft sold as many consoles as Sony, had few to none of their games on PC, and not had Game Pass, virtually all home developed games would still be exclusive to the Xbox console...
Far from it, @themightyant. You don't get rich on a Police Officer's wage, I promise you. I would estimate that I was on somewhere between £30-40k back then, but I didn't drink, didn't smoke, obviously no drugs, and wasn't one to go out that often. Basically I was a bit careful with my money, and I used to save as much as possible, though with 4 kids that was not always that possible. However, I used to treat my wife to pretty much whatever she wanted, and so when the 360 rocked up, it was my turn to be spoilt.
And yes, I know you were kidding, but I just wanted to set the record straight. Even now, I live off my Police pension, which is about £30k a year, but as I still don't drink, smoke, or do drugs, rarely go out, with my kids having grown up, and with my wife having died a few years back, I do treat myself to games on a regular basis... 😉
Primal Fray sounds interesting, so I shall keep an eye on that one.
My son has bought Project Motor Racing, and as we game share it means I shall be able to have a pop at that too.
As for the Game Pass titles, The Bannishers is a great game that I highly recommend that everyone plays. It's really hope we see a sequel to it at some point...
Thank you for the poll, @FraserG! I have to say I am surprised of its importance to so many people.
It is of no interest to me whatsoever however, and that is despite me owning both a Series X and a gaming PC. Both systems are hooked up to my front room television, and as I really dislike gaming on a PC, I only ever actually game on my Xbox.
I guess it's good for those that game on a PC or on the go too, but my only concern is whether it might push up the price of games in the future if third-party developers seek to minimise the losses involved by selling one game instead of two. Time will tell on that I suppose.
Honestly though, I can see the possibility that Microsoft are doing this to effectively futureproof their games for when they bring out their PCBox, as the OS might be different then...
I went to Game to collect my Xbox 360 console, @OldGamer999, only to find that some error had occurred and my console order had been cancelled, although all the games I had ordered were still available on the order. Go figure! Anyway, I ended up leaving the store clutching a bunch of games that I had pre-ordered, but with no console to play them on because they had sold out literally everywhere.
What then transpired was a desperate hunt in all the shops, only to find no stock available anywhere, meaning I had to resort to eBay. Luckily for me, I still managed to get a console day one because I found some students in Plymouth, which is where I live, who were out to make a quick profit, and who were selling the console for £450. So, I quickly bought the console, and went round their house to pick it up. I seem to recall that I got 2 games with the console too, I think PGR3 and Kameo, both of which I already had picked up from Game, but I was happy to get my hands on the console, even if it did cost me a lot more than I expected...
I bought the following titles along side my day one Xbox 360:
Call of Duty 2 Condemned: Criminal Origins FIFA 06: Road to FIFA World Cup EA Sports Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06 Kameo: Elements of Power Need for Speed Most Wanted Perfect Dark Zero Project Gotham Racing 3
and Quake 4
Most of the my time gaming back then was spent in PGR3. I also remember particularly enjoying CoD2, Quake, and also PGA. My time back then was limited, and so I did gravitate towards games that I could play in shorter bursts. However, although I bought Condemned and Kameo, I never actually played them, and both games remain sealed to this day.
The 360 was the start of my terrible habit of buying games that I then never went on to play. Indeed, the start of the 360 era saw me buying pretty much every game that was made for it, and I kept that up until there were simply too many games available, and I realised that I was not playing a lot of them. Even to this day though that terrible habit remains, and just this year I have probably only managed to play half the games that I have bought. I'm getting better, but most people would be horrified it they saw what I bought, but only added to my library without playing them...
I was playing Dragon Age: Origins back in 2011 when events led me to needing grief counselling. Back then I loved gaming, but for a period of about 3 months I was unable to even contemplate picking up a controller, however, when I did, I started to play Gears of War 2's Horde mode with both my youngest son, and also random people online. At that time, I had never spoken to anyone online before, but after playing with the same two people for a couple of weeks I ended up taking the plunge and actually speaking to them. They have been two of my best friends ever since, (despite me being 20 years older than them), and indeed, I am now Godfather to one of their children.
So gaming has definitely helped me navigate grief, although I have never been able to recommence playing DO:A again...
Fantastic price. I've just bought it. 50% off makes it a no brainer. I thought they might try to fleece us on the Xbox by making us pay more that you could in a sale on the PlayStation, so the fact that they are offering it for less than that is superb...
People that already own a PC most likely won't want this device, @fatpunkslim, unless they want a secondary PC device linked up to their front room television, whereas their actual PC will be elsewhere and have a dedicated screen.
What I will say though is that this device, whilst technically inferior to the PS5 and Series X, will still be a very capable PC, and there will be many people that either want this to sit alongside their existing console, or want to have it as an entry point gaming PC. People may well choose to have this Steam Box to have access to Steam, GoG etc., just as people choose an Xbox to access Xbox games, and people choose a PlayStation to access PlayStation games.
Honestly though, I think the Steam Box will have a lot of appeal to those that want an entry point into PC gaming. After all, many people are perfectly happy with their Series S consoles, and this device, whilst more expensive, will actually be a gateway to far more games, and will perform better than the S too...
The Bannishers was just about my favourite game from last year. I absolutely loved it, and also thought that it was pretty unique. I highly recommend it...
Reading the user reviews, @RentedPanda, it appears there is only one forced stealth event remaining, and all other parts that had forced stealth have been removed. You can now either do those events stealthily, or go in guns blazing, and what stealth there is has been made easier. All in all it sounds like a lot of improvements have been made to the game.
Truthfully, I would have bought it at launch, however I always buy the best edition, but I baulked at the £119.99 asking price. It's simply too much, especially when there is every chance that I won't play it straightaway. I don't think the Ultimate Edition will go down much further than the £35.99 that I have just paid for it, so I am happy to have it sit in my library for the time being whilst I finish off a couple of other games first.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy the game when you go back to it...
Finally opted to buy Star Wars: Outlaws Ultimate Edition. I do enjoy most of the Star Wars games I play, and I enjoy the worlds that Ubisoft build (albeit that they do get very samey), so I think I will enjoy it. Regardless, I think £35.99 for a game that was selling for £119.99 is a pretty decent bargain...
I have to admire your optimism, @rhyno_888, but without a shadow of a doubt you are completely incorrect each time that you mention a Sony first party title... 😉
I think there are three reasons why games take so long to make these days, @OldGamer999. The devs are chasing ever diminishing returns when it comes to graphics using UE5, etc, when games looked absolutely fine last gen. Secondly, studios are far more risk averse, meaning that they are making basically safe games with little innovation, and are often changing direction midway through development, thus extending development time. And thirdly, I think there is an issue with too many people still working from home, which slows peoples work down considerably, and also makes it more difficult for their line managers to keep on top of them.
When it comes to Gen Z I do think there is an issue there, particularly when it comes to the UK. My youngest son is a Gen Z, and he is work averse. I've tried and tried to get him out to work, and to make him want to work, but he and all his friends are happy to live off benefits. It is exceptionally frustrating, especially when his older brother, and I, work/worked hard. He is one of the apparently 4 million people who have been told by the State not to look for work. No end date. No we will revisit this in 6 months. Simply don't bother to look for work, and that is what our Government's Department for Work & Pensions has told him, and it's shameful that our Country is in this state...
Could you please explain what the Ripatorium is, @FraserG? Is it a solo mode, co-operative mode, versus? It sounds like a Horde mode, but I could be way off. Thanks...
How do you think someone who has never, ever played Zombies would find it as a solo experience, @Kezelpaso? Is it a campaign that has an end, or is it a horde mode type experience? Thanks...
I played The Bannishers on the hardest difficulty on my first playthrough, @jesse_dylan, and absolutely loved it. Has to be said though that I am a masochist when it comes to playing games on hard difficulties. Such a good game...
People will keep saying that Microsoft is missing out, and maybe there is a bit of prejudice, but truthfully, most games that Microsoft make score 8s and below, whereas Sony make far fewer games, but they generally score 9s or 10s.
You cut me open, and I bleed green. I've been here since day one having pre-ordered my OG Xbox at Game. However, when you look at the outstanding quality of games that Sony make, they feel epic, and as exciting as Microsoft made games are, they are not of the same quality.
Honestly, if we want to see Microsoft better represented at these type of award shows, we need Microsoft to make better games. It really is as simple as that...
I was only watching a Professor earlier today who said it is an undeniable fact that not once scientist has proven a link between man-made CO2 emissions and global warming, @Balaam_.
The Earth has warmed and cooled countless times over the lifetime of the planet, and long before man ever existed.
Truthfully though, I think it more likely that man will be annihilated by AI, than man is solely responsible for destroying the planet through CO2 emissions...
I'm still undecided on whether to play the campaign. I never touch the multiplayer anyway, so it really is either campaign or nothing. Before the game released I didn't like what I saw of the campaign, which was way too trippy for my liking, and then I read Ben's excellent review and it was a pretty solid nope for me. However, a few other Pure commentators gave me their opinions too, and I have gone from a definitely not, to a maybe, though truth be told right now I have so much to get through I can see this game slipping me by without too much regret on my part...
You may not have said it yourself, @fatpunkslim, I honestly do not recall, but many have said that following the release of Helldivers 2, Sony will now port their big AAA games (God of War/Last of Us/Uncharted etc.). I am saying that Sony will not do so, and there is no indication whatsoever that they will.
The situation with Death Stranding is different, as you well know, because it was not Sony that ported the game to the Xbox, it was Kojima Productions who had acquired full control of the IP from Sony, and then ported it to the Xbox. So chances of any other developers doing the same is very slim because the circumstances with Death Stranding were very unique.
Likewise, whilst I agree with you that Sony is relying more and more on third-party exclusives, the salient point of that is that the games are third-party, so it remains entirely possible for those games to come to the Xbox at a later stage (just like Silent Hill 2), but regardless, they are not Sony first-party games so it is a moot point.
As for the 'Porting' team job description, the significant point of that job description is that the role does not cover Xbox alone, and therefore Xbox could account for 99% of the ports that they will do, or it could be just 1%. We've all had jobs where your primary role is one thing, but you also have to do smaller tasks too, and therefore, with regards to this team, it is entirely possible that Xbox is the smallest of the tasks involved, and indeed, may only involve Live Service games. We simply do not know right now...
What I would like, and what I expect are not the same thing, but what I would like is:
Gears of War: E-Day to be a truly good game with an excellent campaign, and an even better Horde mode
The release of Fable and Clockwork Revolution
The release of the PCBox (or at the very least the specs), and for it to be a truly compelling device that lives up to the statements that Microsoft have made regarding it, to the extent that it ensures that I want it
Can anyone recommend a website that gives details of the cheapest price a game has previously been on sale for, please? If that site offers tracking too, even better. I want to see if the current 'leaving' price is the best price it has been, or whether it is worth waiting as I won't be able to play it right now anyway. Thanks...
You tell me to stop making things up, @fatpunkslim, but then show me the proof of what you are saying. Show me the proof that Sony has explicitly confirmed that they will be bringing their AAA first-party single-player games to Xbox. That's Xbox, not PC. Xbox, not playing it on an Xbox via Steam, because that is not Sony porting their games to Xbox, that is Sony porting their games to Steam.
We have had not one iota of evidence that says Sony has decided to port their first party AAA single-player games to the Xbox.
Indeed, we are only assuming that all their new Live Service games will be coming over. Thus far, the only game that we know will be coming is Marathon, and that is only because we know it was written into Bungies acquisition contract.
So it's not a case of me making stuff up. In fact it is quite the opposite! I am only detailing what we know, not what we would like to think Sony and their 'porting' team are up to. For all we know, the only game we might get is Marathon, and the rest of the work undertaken by this team may well be to port games to PC and the Switch. Truthfully though, we have not had one iota of evidence to say that Sony will be porting anything more to Xbox (outside of Marathon)...
Ideal. Thank you for the responses, @BAMozzy & @Kezelpaso. I do usually enjoy the CoD campaigns, and believe they always get the feel of gunplay just right. I'm not sure this campaign is for me though. It just looks too trippy, but at least it doesn't sound too easy, which would put a real dampener on it for me...
What I never understand is the disparity between game sales on the Xbox, and those on the PlayStation. I fully expect to see it again this time round too. Xbox will have 1000 games on sale, and PlayStation will have 5000. I never understand why and how the PlayStation has so many more game in a sale than Xbox does. Does the PlayStation have 5 times the number of games that can be found on the Xbox? Or is there some sort of better incentive for developers to put their games in a sale on the PlayStation than there is for those on Xbox? I'd love to know what gives...
I think that the success that Helldivers 2 has enjoyed on the Xbox will undoubtedly mean that Sony will bring future Live Service games to the Xbox. However, Sony are not in the same position as Microsoft; their consoles continue to see well to this day, and their upper management still believes in the importance of exclusives, and they understand how those exclusives entice people into buying their consoles, and thus join their ecosystem.
The long and short of it is that I don't see Sony porting any of their big single-player games to the Xbox. I think the best we can hope is that they continue to port them to PC, and that we can access them via Steam on the PCBox...
"Simply put, the days of players being locked to a closed-off console ecosystem are starting to feel antiquated, and it seems Microsoft is feeling that too."
Truthfully, I don't think that Microsoft necessarily feel that way, but their hand has been forced into going multiplatform with all their titles.
People keep suggesting that Microsoft are being visionary, and I'm not so sure that is the case. Had the Series consoles sold in the same numbers as the PS5 (and probably without the S, for that matter), then Microsoft would probably be viewing this just as Sony are. Sony still regard exclusives to be important, just as Nintendo do. There are two reasons that Microsoft view this differently now, firstly they have sold insufficient consoles to make exclusivity viable, and then, partly due to the insufficient console sales, they are being forced by the likes of Hood into seeking unrealistic revenue targets meaning they basically have to seek that revenue on other platforms. It's not a question of choice, Microsoft have been forced into this position.
If the Series consoles had sold sufficient numbers, Microsoft would be doing what Sony is doing, which is to keep their games exclusive to their own consoles for at least a year (probably with the exception of Live Service games, which need to be everywhere early doors).
I really do not foresee Sony dropping their walled-garden for the next generation, and indeed, Microsoft's drive into multiplatform may well mean that Sony will double down on keeping their games exclusive for even longer, partly to keep them off PC, which in turn means they won't be playable on the PCBox, but also because Sony still believes (rightly, in my opinion) that exclusives can drive console sales.
Whilst making it easier for developers to get their games on the Xbox is a good thing, I think Microsoft will be fighting an uphill battle with the PCBox, because whilst it will be a premium product, it will come with a premium price, and significantly it will not come with any exclusives. Indeed probabilities are that the PCBox will cost more on its own that the SteamBox and the PS6 will combined, and the PS6 will come with exclusives included...
I understand that there is no difficulty settings this time round, @BAMozzy, @Kezelpaso, and @oopsiezz, but how would you rate the difficulty in terms of what we usually have (Easy/Normal/Hardcore/Veteran)? I take it you each played it solo...?
Great review, @Kezelpaso, and thank you for actually doing a review that concentrates on the campaign. That is of particular interest to me as the campaign is the only bit I play anyway.
Although I won't be playing the game having read your review, could you please tell me what happens with regards to the final mission? There were reports prior to the release of the game that you were forced into playing with other people, even random people if you had no one to play it with. Is that the case? Thanks...
I had my doubts after hearing about being forced into playing co-op at the end of the game, and now I know I will absolutely, most definitely, not be playing the Call of Duty this year. I only ever play the campaign, and have bought every single game in past years just to play that mode and no other. I never touch the multiplayer, and nor stuff like Zombies. I always pre-ordered the game too, so I was always paying top dollar for the game, and then playing only one small part of it, so I never really got my monies worth anyway, and this year they won't be getting a penny of my money.
I wonder how much of this campaigns co-op design came from the minds of Microsoft and their drive to push up revenue. After all, maybe more people will buy the game if they can play the campaign in co-op/
Not for one moment do I don't doubt that GTA6 will have a massive impact on the entertainment industry, @Noone2025, and I do mean entertainment, and not just games.
The issue under discussion though is whether Microsoft or Sony will wait to release their consoles so as to coincide with the release of GTA6, and I don't think either company will.
Yes, both the PCBox and, to a greater extent, the PS6 will shift more consoles when GTA6 arrives, but I don't think either console maker will delay the release of their consoles just because GTA6 is also delayed.
The thing is, manufacturing the consoles will begin a few months prior to their release to coincide with the announced release date, and once stock begins to build up, that is money sat in a warehouse that these companies would far rather be in their pockets. Both Sony and Microsoft will not be just relying on GTA6 to act as a launch title, as both companies will have at least one or two home made titles that will serve to show off their latest consoles. Plus, if Sony and Microsoft are set on a particular date to release their consoles, they won't want to rely on a third-party developer to release a game in order to propel their console when there is every chance that the game could be delayed yet again, and that Rockstar could choose to do so at the last minute. Neither company will want to keep delaying the release of their consoles just so as to wait for the release of GTA6.
So no, as important as GTA6 is to both companies, neither Sony nor Microsoft will allow it to dictate when they release their consoles...
Comments 3,754
Re: Xbox Players Are Seeing A Strange Game-Breaking Bug In Gears Of War: Reloaded
Absolutely, @Chip-Douglas. I played through the game twice; once on Hardcore and then on Insane, and Dom was often found to be at the beginning of the level sipping on a cup of tea whilst Marcus did all the work. The AI was absolutely atrocious...
Re: Xbox Play Anywhere Grew Substantially In October, With 60+ Games Added Last Month
I get what you are saying, @BAMozzy, but if, like me, you have an Xbox console and a gaming PC, it just might be that you want to play a game on both systems. Play Anywhere allows me to do that without any additional cost, which is great for me, but had Play Anywhere not existed, and I wanted to play on both systems, then I would have been forced to buy it twice, which is great for the developer.
The other issue that comes to mind is that people credit Microsoft with this initiative, so if a third-party developer does it, it is Microsoft that is reaping the gratitude, and not the developer.
Basically, I don't see how third-party developers are being rewarded in this process, particularly so if they are not being paid by Microsoft, or receiving a discount on how much they pay Microsoft when their game is sold. They're missing out on the additional sale, and the credit for Play Anywhere...
Re: Xbox Players Are Seeing A Strange Game-Breaking Bug In Gears Of War: Reloaded
As much as I love the Gears of War franchise, this was just a minimal effort cash grab aimed squarely at the PlayStation gamer. The game is still fun, but man is it broken in places. Fortunately it looks like more effort has been put into remaking Halo: Combat Evolved...
Re: The Game Awards 2025 First Reveal Confirmed Ahead Of Next Month's Showcase
I've no interest in GTA (ever!), @RegnumSolipsi, and I think it'll be years before we see the next Elder Scrolls (though I am looking forward to it). As for Halo, I have always enjoyed each of the campaigns (to varying degrees), and I have to say that I am looking forward to the remake of Halo Combat Evolved because they actually look to be making some effort in it (unlike the pitiful effort applied to Gears of War: Reloaded).
Exodus does look to be really good. Just have to hope we see some gameplay soon. I think it will fill the void until the next Mass Effect arrives, which I really hope they don't mess up...
Re: Xbox Play Anywhere Grew Substantially In October, With 60+ Games Added Last Month
Does Microsoft have to pay any money to these developers in order for them to allow a game to be bought on an Xbox but played on a PC, @Kezelpaso? Just seems to me that they are missing out on a potential second sale...
Re: The Game Awards 2025 First Reveal Confirmed Ahead Of Next Month's Showcase
Really looking forward to Exodus. When I was young, all I ever really read was Sci-Fi and fantasy, and I always gravitated to the genre in film and television too. In later life, when video games became a thing, it proved to still be my favourite genre, so Exodus ticks all the boxes for me...
Re: Two Games Are Available Today With Xbox Game Pass (November 25)
The Bannishers is such a good game. I highly recommend that people give it a go...
Re: Xbox Developers Are Reportedly 'Thrilled' To Release Their Games On PS5
I'd be surprised if anyone, anywhere said that Game Pass didn't eat into game sales, @Markatron84. I mean, if a £70 game would have sold 10 million copies on Xbox, but one person chose to play it on Game Pass instead, then instead of raising £70,000,000 the game would have made £69,000,930 + whatever the person paid for Game Pass that month in order to play that game. We know that it is not just one person for a game too just by reading the comments here in Pure, and we also know that our playing habits will be repeated endlessly by all those well beyond the Pure Xbox forums.
Indeed, it is possible that a game that would have sold 10 million on the Xbox may miss out on a sale even if it is not on Game Pass simply because people are playing other games on Game Pass and so choose to skip buying the game, or maybe choose to buy it in a sale much later than they otherwise would.
The phrase that Xbox gamers do not buy games is most definitely a lie, but it is also most definitely not a lie that those of us that game on the Xbox buy fewer games, and the reason for that is the availability of Game Pass.
Honestly any Xbox leader that tries to say that Game Pass does not eat into game sales is not being straight with us, and is trying to take us for fools...
Re: Talking Point: What Have You Bought In The Xbox Black Friday Sale 2025 So Far?
Nothing at all in the way of games, which is most unusual for me. In the sales in general, I have bought loads, around £400 worth of items, saving a couple of hundred in the process. I will probably buy a few Xbox gift cards if I can find some on offer in the Black Friday sales.
I did manage to buy myself a Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 headset for £126, which was a saving of £54, which was nice. Looking forward to seeing how they perform on my Xbox this weekend when I engage in a few Master Horde runs in Gears 5... 😊
Re: Xbox Developers Are Reportedly 'Thrilled' To Release Their Games On PS5
Totally agree, @wildcat_kickz. Xbox is where it is due to many poor decisions dating back to the TV, TV, TV reveal of the Xbox One, and the enforced inclusion of Connect, which led to many people choosing to skip the Xbox One entirely. To my mind that is where the problems began, and then many decisions have been made since, which have gone on to compound the situation...
Re: Poll: Which Is Your Favourite Xbox 360 Launch Title?
I never got my first console (an Intellivision) until I was 17, @themightyant, but by then I was working, and I was getting myself fit in readiness for joining the Royal Engineers Bomb Disposal Regiment, and at then went off to the Falklands. Basically, I never got to spend a whole Summer indoors and play video games, but I would dearly have loved too. I was never one for socialising, as such, much preferring my own company, so stuck indoors playing games would have been my idea of Heaven.
Back then my life revolved around listening to endless music and reading. Life without the internet, mobiles, and countless television channels was very different to todays. That said, I am making up for it now big time, as I play games for anything up to 8 hours in a day...! 😂
Re: Xbox Developers Are Reportedly 'Thrilled' To Release Their Games On PS5
From a developers point of view, you can completely understand this; they want their games played by as many people as possible.
However, let us not kid ourselves, Microsoft have been forced into this position by weak console sales, and Game Pass eating into their sales. Had Microsoft sold as many consoles as Sony, had few to none of their games on PC, and not had Game Pass, virtually all home developed games would still be exclusive to the Xbox console...
Re: Poll: Which Is Your Favourite Xbox 360 Launch Title?
Far from it, @themightyant. You don't get rich on a Police Officer's wage, I promise you. I would estimate that I was on somewhere between £30-40k back then, but I didn't drink, didn't smoke, obviously no drugs, and wasn't one to go out that often. Basically I was a bit careful with my money, and I used to save as much as possible, though with 4 kids that was not always that possible. However, I used to treat my wife to pretty much whatever she wanted, and so when the 360 rocked up, it was my turn to be spoilt.
And yes, I know you were kidding, but I just wanted to set the record straight. Even now, I live off my Police pension, which is about £30k a year, but as I still don't drink, smoke, or do drugs, rarely go out, with my kids having grown up, and with my wife having died a few years back, I do treat myself to games on a regular basis... 😉
Re: These 30+ Games Are Coming To Xbox Next Week (November 24-28)
Primal Fray sounds interesting, so I shall keep an eye on that one.
My son has bought Project Motor Racing, and as we game share it means I shall be able to have a pop at that too.
As for the Game Pass titles, The Bannishers is a great game that I highly recommend that everyone plays. It's really hope we see a sequel to it at some point...
Re: Poll: How Important Is The Xbox Play Anywhere Program To You?
Thank you for the poll, @FraserG! I have to say I am surprised of its importance to so many people.
It is of no interest to me whatsoever however, and that is despite me owning both a Series X and a gaming PC. Both systems are hooked up to my front room television, and as I really dislike gaming on a PC, I only ever actually game on my Xbox.
I guess it's good for those that game on a PC or on the go too, but my only concern is whether it might push up the price of games in the future if third-party developers seek to minimise the losses involved by selling one game instead of two. Time will tell on that I suppose.
Honestly though, I can see the possibility that Microsoft are doing this to effectively futureproof their games for when they bring out their PCBox, as the OS might be different then...
Re: Poll: Which Is Your Favourite Xbox 360 Launch Title?
I went to Game to collect my Xbox 360 console, @OldGamer999, only to find that some error had occurred and my console order had been cancelled, although all the games I had ordered were still available on the order. Go figure! Anyway, I ended up leaving the store clutching a bunch of games that I had pre-ordered, but with no console to play them on because they had sold out literally everywhere.
What then transpired was a desperate hunt in all the shops, only to find no stock available anywhere, meaning I had to resort to eBay. Luckily for me, I still managed to get a console day one because I found some students in Plymouth, which is where I live, who were out to make a quick profit, and who were selling the console for £450. So, I quickly bought the console, and went round their house to pick it up. I seem to recall that I got 2 games with the console too, I think PGR3 and Kameo, both of which I already had picked up from Game, but I was happy to get my hands on the console, even if it did cost me a lot more than I expected...
Re: Poll: Which Is Your Favourite Xbox 360 Launch Title?
I bought the following titles along side my day one Xbox 360:
Call of Duty 2
Condemned: Criminal Origins
FIFA 06: Road to FIFA World Cup
EA Sports Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06
Kameo: Elements of Power
Need for Speed Most Wanted
Perfect Dark Zero
Project Gotham Racing 3
and
Quake 4
Most of the my time gaming back then was spent in PGR3. I also remember particularly enjoying CoD2, Quake, and also PGA. My time back then was limited, and so I did gravitate towards games that I could play in shorter bursts. However, although I bought Condemned and Kameo, I never actually played them, and both games remain sealed to this day.
The 360 was the start of my terrible habit of buying games that I then never went on to play. Indeed, the start of the 360 era saw me buying pretty much every game that was made for it, and I kept that up until there were simply too many games available, and I realised that I was not playing a lot of them. Even to this day though that terrible habit remains, and just this year I have probably only managed to play half the games that I have bought. I'm getting better, but most people would be horrified it they saw what I bought, but only added to my library without playing them...
Re: Beloved YouTuber Shares How Xbox 360 Helped Them 'Process Grief And Find Peace Again'
I was playing Dragon Age: Origins back in 2011 when events led me to needing grief counselling. Back then I loved gaming, but for a period of about 3 months I was unable to even contemplate picking up a controller, however, when I did, I started to play Gears of War 2's Horde mode with both my youngest son, and also random people online. At that time, I had never spoken to anyone online before, but after playing with the same two people for a couple of weeks I ended up taking the plunge and actually speaking to them. They have been two of my best friends ever since, (despite me being 20 years older than them), and indeed, I am now Godfather to one of their children.
So gaming has definitely helped me navigate grief, although I have never been able to recommence playing DO:A again...
Re: Silent Hill 2 Remake Is Rolling Out Now On Xbox, And It's Discounted By 50% At Launch
Fantastic price. I've just bought it. 50% off makes it a no brainer. I thought they might try to fleece us on the Xbox by making us pay more that you could in a sale on the PlayStation, so the fact that they are offering it for less than that is superb...
Re: Rumour: Steam Machine To Be 'Priced Like A PC' Rather Than Traditional Xbox Or PS Console
People that already own a PC most likely won't want this device, @fatpunkslim, unless they want a secondary PC device linked up to their front room television, whereas their actual PC will be elsewhere and have a dedicated screen.
What I will say though is that this device, whilst technically inferior to the PS5 and Series X, will still be a very capable PC, and there will be many people that either want this to sit alongside their existing console, or want to have it as an entry point gaming PC. People may well choose to have this Steam Box to have access to Steam, GoG etc., just as people choose an Xbox to access Xbox games, and people choose a PlayStation to access PlayStation games.
Honestly though, I think the Steam Box will have a lot of appeal to those that want an entry point into PC gaming. After all, many people are perfectly happy with their Series S consoles, and this device, whilst more expensive, will actually be a gateway to far more games, and will perform better than the S too...
Re: PSA: You Can Start Banishers: Ghosts Of New Eden Early Before It Joins Xbox Game Pass
The Bannishers was just about my favourite game from last year. I absolutely loved it, and also thought that it was pretty unique. I highly recommend it...
Re: Deals: All 70+ Backwards Compatible Games In The Xbox Black Friday Sale 2025
Reading the user reviews, @RentedPanda, it appears there is only one forced stealth event remaining, and all other parts that had forced stealth have been removed. You can now either do those events stealthily, or go in guns blazing, and what stealth there is has been made easier. All in all it sounds like a lot of improvements have been made to the game.
Truthfully, I would have bought it at launch, however I always buy the best edition, but I baulked at the £119.99 asking price. It's simply too much, especially when there is every chance that I won't play it straightaway. I don't think the Ultimate Edition will go down much further than the £35.99 that I have just paid for it, so I am happy to have it sit in my library for the time being whilst I finish off a couple of other games first.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy the game when you go back to it...
Re: Deals: All 70+ Backwards Compatible Games In The Xbox Black Friday Sale 2025
Finally opted to buy Star Wars: Outlaws Ultimate Edition. I do enjoy most of the Star Wars games I play, and I enjoy the worlds that Ubisoft build (albeit that they do get very samey), so I think I will enjoy it. Regardless, I think £35.99 for a game that was selling for £119.99 is a pretty decent bargain...
Re: 16 Xbox Reveals Teased For Thursday's Partner Preview Showcase
I have to admire your optimism, @rhyno_888, but without a shadow of a doubt you are completely incorrect each time that you mention a Sony first party title... 😉
Re: Opinion: This Xbox 360 Launch Game Is Still One Of The Best Console Racers Ever
I remember having a lot of fun playing PGR3. The visuals seemed amazing for the time too...
Re: Talking Point: Do You Think GTA 6 Will Actually Launch On Xbox A Year Today?
Not a chance! I think we are looking at 2027...
Re: Review: Black Ops 7 (Xbox) - Zombies Mode The Shining Light In This Undercooked Call Of Duty
I think there are three reasons why games take so long to make these days, @OldGamer999. The devs are chasing ever diminishing returns when it comes to graphics using UE5, etc, when games looked absolutely fine last gen. Secondly, studios are far more risk averse, meaning that they are making basically safe games with little innovation, and are often changing direction midway through development, thus extending development time. And thirdly, I think there is an issue with too many people still working from home, which slows peoples work down considerably, and also makes it more difficult for their line managers to keep on top of them.
When it comes to Gen Z I do think there is an issue there, particularly when it comes to the UK. My youngest son is a Gen Z, and he is work averse. I've tried and tried to get him out to work, and to make him want to work, but he and all his friends are happy to live off benefits. It is exceptionally frustrating, especially when his older brother, and I, work/worked hard. He is one of the apparently 4 million people who have been told by the State not to look for work. No end date. No we will revisit this in 6 months. Simply don't bother to look for work, and that is what our Government's Department for Work & Pensions has told him, and it's shameful that our Country is in this state...
Re: DOOM: The Dark Ages Adds 'Ripatorium 2.0' In Its Third Big Update, Out Now On Xbox & PC
Thank you, @FraserG & @Pigrotto. Sounds a bit like a Horde mode then, so I'll have to take a goosey...
Re: DOOM: The Dark Ages Adds 'Ripatorium 2.0' In Its Third Big Update, Out Now On Xbox & PC
Could you please explain what the Ripatorium is, @FraserG? Is it a solo mode, co-operative mode, versus? It sounds like a Horde mode, but I could be way off. Thanks...
Re: Review: Black Ops 7 (Xbox) - Zombies Mode The Shining Light In This Undercooked Call Of Duty
How do you think someone who has never, ever played Zombies would find it as a solo experience, @Kezelpaso? Is it a campaign that has an end, or is it a horde mode type experience? Thanks...
Re: These Nine Games Are Coming To Xbox Game Pass (November 19 - December 2)
I played The Bannishers on the hardest difficulty on my first playthrough, @jesse_dylan, and absolutely loved it. Has to be said though that I am a masochist when it comes to playing games on hard difficulties. Such a good game...
Re: These Nine Games Are Coming To Xbox Game Pass (November 19 - December 2)
I cannot recommend The Bannishers highly enough. Really is an excellent game...
Re: Two Xbox Game Pass Titles Nominated For GOTY At The Game Awards, But Microsoft Misses Out
People will keep saying that Microsoft is missing out, and maybe there is a bit of prejudice, but truthfully, most games that Microsoft make score 8s and below, whereas Sony make far fewer games, but they generally score 9s or 10s.
You cut me open, and I bleed green. I've been here since day one having pre-ordered my OG Xbox at Game. However, when you look at the outstanding quality of games that Sony make, they feel epic, and as exciting as Microsoft made games are, they are not of the same quality.
Honestly, if we want to see Microsoft better represented at these type of award shows, we need Microsoft to make better games. It really is as simple as that...
Re: Xbox Dev Obsidian Says It Hasn't Used Generative AI 'At All' So Far
I was only watching a Professor earlier today who said it is an undeniable fact that not once scientist has proven a link between man-made CO2 emissions and global warming, @Balaam_.
The Earth has warmed and cooled countless times over the lifetime of the planet, and long before man ever existed.
Truthfully though, I think it more likely that man will be annihilated by AI, than man is solely responsible for destroying the planet through CO2 emissions...
Re: Poll: What Are Your First Impressions Of Black Ops 7 On Xbox Game Pass?
I'm still undecided on whether to play the campaign. I never touch the multiplayer anyway, so it really is either campaign or nothing. Before the game released I didn't like what I saw of the campaign, which was way too trippy for my liking, and then I read Ben's excellent review and it was a pretty solid nope for me. However, a few other Pure commentators gave me their opinions too, and I have gone from a definitely not, to a maybe, though truth be told right now I have so much to get through I can see this game slipping me by without too much regret on my part...
Re: Stalker 2 Team Shares Parting Message Ahead Of Xbox Game Pass Departure
Ideal. Thank you... @SeaDaVie
Re: Helldivers 2 On Xbox Helped Us 'Give The Players What They Want', Says Arrowhead CEO
You may not have said it yourself, @fatpunkslim, I honestly do not recall, but many have said that following the release of Helldivers 2, Sony will now port their big AAA games (God of War/Last of Us/Uncharted etc.). I am saying that Sony will not do so, and there is no indication whatsoever that they will.
The situation with Death Stranding is different, as you well know, because it was not Sony that ported the game to the Xbox, it was Kojima Productions who had acquired full control of the IP from Sony, and then ported it to the Xbox. So chances of any other developers doing the same is very slim because the circumstances with Death Stranding were very unique.
Likewise, whilst I agree with you that Sony is relying more and more on third-party exclusives, the salient point of that is that the games are third-party, so it remains entirely possible for those games to come to the Xbox at a later stage (just like Silent Hill 2), but regardless, they are not Sony first-party games so it is a moot point.
As for the 'Porting' team job description, the significant point of that job description is that the role does not cover Xbox alone, and therefore Xbox could account for 99% of the ports that they will do, or it could be just 1%. We've all had jobs where your primary role is one thing, but you also have to do smaller tasks too, and therefore, with regards to this team, it is entirely possible that Xbox is the smallest of the tasks involved, and indeed, may only involve Live Service games. We simply do not know right now...
Re: Talking Point: Xbox Is 24 Years Old Today, What Do You Expect From Next Year's 25th Birthday?
What I would like, and what I expect are not the same thing, but what I would like is:
Re: Talking Point: Xbox Is 24 Years Old Today, What Do You Expect From Next Year's 25th Birthday?
What do I expect?
That's not what I would like, but it is what I expect...
Re: Stalker 2 Team Shares Parting Message Ahead Of Xbox Game Pass Departure
Can anyone recommend a website that gives details of the cheapest price a game has previously been on sale for, please? If that site offers tracking too, even better. I want to see if the current 'leaving' price is the best price it has been, or whether it is worth waiting as I won't be able to play it right now anyway. Thanks...
Re: Helldivers 2 On Xbox Helped Us 'Give The Players What They Want', Says Arrowhead CEO
You tell me to stop making things up, @fatpunkslim, but then show me the proof of what you are saying. Show me the proof that Sony has explicitly confirmed that they will be bringing their AAA first-party single-player games to Xbox. That's Xbox, not PC. Xbox, not playing it on an Xbox via Steam, because that is not Sony porting their games to Xbox, that is Sony porting their games to Steam.
We have had not one iota of evidence that says Sony has decided to port their first party AAA single-player games to the Xbox.
Indeed, we are only assuming that all their new Live Service games will be coming over. Thus far, the only game that we know will be coming is Marathon, and that is only because we know it was written into Bungies acquisition contract.
So it's not a case of me making stuff up. In fact it is quite the opposite! I am only detailing what we know, not what we would like to think Sony and their 'porting' team are up to. For all we know, the only game we might get is Marathon, and the rest of the work undertaken by this team may well be to port games to PC and the Switch. Truthfully though, we have not had one iota of evidence to say that Sony will be porting anything more to Xbox (outside of Marathon)...
Re: Black Ops 7 Campaign Review (Xbox): Black Ops Pedigree Can't Save This Mess Of A COD Campaign
Ideal. Thank you for the responses, @BAMozzy & @Kezelpaso. I do usually enjoy the CoD campaigns, and believe they always get the feel of gunplay just right. I'm not sure this campaign is for me though. It just looks too trippy, but at least it doesn't sound too easy, which would put a real dampener on it for me...
Re: When Will The Xbox Black Friday Sale 2025 Be Revealed?
What I never understand is the disparity between game sales on the Xbox, and those on the PlayStation. I fully expect to see it again this time round too. Xbox will have 1000 games on sale, and PlayStation will have 5000. I never understand why and how the PlayStation has so many more game in a sale than Xbox does. Does the PlayStation have 5 times the number of games that can be found on the Xbox? Or is there some sort of better incentive for developers to put their games in a sale on the PlayStation than there is for those on Xbox? I'd love to know what gives...
Re: Helldivers 2 On Xbox Helped Us 'Give The Players What They Want', Says Arrowhead CEO
I think that the success that Helldivers 2 has enjoyed on the Xbox will undoubtedly mean that Sony will bring future Live Service games to the Xbox. However, Sony are not in the same position as Microsoft; their consoles continue to see well to this day, and their upper management still believes in the importance of exclusives, and they understand how those exclusives entice people into buying their consoles, and thus join their ecosystem.
The long and short of it is that I don't see Sony porting any of their big single-player games to the Xbox. I think the best we can hope is that they continue to port them to PC, and that we can access them via Steam on the PCBox...
Re: Developing For Xbox Can Be Difficult, So Microsoft Is Taking Major Steps To 'Remove Barriers'
"Simply put, the days of players being locked to a closed-off console ecosystem are starting to feel antiquated, and it seems Microsoft is feeling that too."
Truthfully, I don't think that Microsoft necessarily feel that way, but their hand has been forced into going multiplatform with all their titles.
People keep suggesting that Microsoft are being visionary, and I'm not so sure that is the case. Had the Series consoles sold in the same numbers as the PS5 (and probably without the S, for that matter), then Microsoft would probably be viewing this just as Sony are. Sony still regard exclusives to be important, just as Nintendo do. There are two reasons that Microsoft view this differently now, firstly they have sold insufficient consoles to make exclusivity viable, and then, partly due to the insufficient console sales, they are being forced by the likes of Hood into seeking unrealistic revenue targets meaning they basically have to seek that revenue on other platforms. It's not a question of choice, Microsoft have been forced into this position.
If the Series consoles had sold sufficient numbers, Microsoft would be doing what Sony is doing, which is to keep their games exclusive to their own consoles for at least a year (probably with the exception of Live Service games, which need to be everywhere early doors).
I really do not foresee Sony dropping their walled-garden for the next generation, and indeed, Microsoft's drive into multiplatform may well mean that Sony will double down on keeping their games exclusive for even longer, partly to keep them off PC, which in turn means they won't be playable on the PCBox, but also because Sony still believes (rightly, in my opinion) that exclusives can drive console sales.
Whilst making it easier for developers to get their games on the Xbox is a good thing, I think Microsoft will be fighting an uphill battle with the PCBox, because whilst it will be a premium product, it will come with a premium price, and significantly it will not come with any exclusives. Indeed probabilities are that the PCBox will cost more on its own that the SteamBox and the PS6 will combined, and the PS6 will come with exclusives included...
Re: Black Ops 7 Campaign Review (Xbox): Black Ops Pedigree Can't Save This Mess Of A COD Campaign
I understand that there is no difficulty settings this time round, @BAMozzy, @Kezelpaso, and @oopsiezz, but how would you rate the difficulty in terms of what we usually have (Easy/Normal/Hardcore/Veteran)? I take it you each played it solo...?
Re: Black Ops 7 Campaign Review (Xbox): Black Ops Pedigree Can't Save This Mess Of A COD Campaign
Good to know. Thank you, @Kezelpaso...
Re: Black Ops 7 Campaign Review (Xbox): Black Ops Pedigree Can't Save This Mess Of A COD Campaign
Great review, @Kezelpaso, and thank you for actually doing a review that concentrates on the campaign. That is of particular interest to me as the campaign is the only bit I play anyway.
Although I won't be playing the game having read your review, could you please tell me what happens with regards to the final mission? There were reports prior to the release of the game that you were forced into playing with other people, even random people if you had no one to play it with. Is that the case? Thanks...
Re: Black Ops 7 Campaign Review (Xbox): Black Ops Pedigree Can't Save This Mess Of A COD Campaign
I had my doubts after hearing about being forced into playing co-op at the end of the game, and now I know I will absolutely, most definitely, not be playing the Call of Duty this year. I only ever play the campaign, and have bought every single game in past years just to play that mode and no other. I never touch the multiplayer, and nor stuff like Zombies. I always pre-ordered the game too, so I was always paying top dollar for the game, and then playing only one small part of it, so I never really got my monies worth anyway, and this year they won't be getting a penny of my money.
I wonder how much of this campaigns co-op design came from the minds of Microsoft and their drive to push up revenue. After all, maybe more people will buy the game if they can play the campaign in co-op/
Anyway, my interest was low, and is now zero...
Re: Analyst Questions Whether Next Xbox & PS6 Could Slip To 2028 Following GTA Delay
Not for one moment do I don't doubt that GTA6 will have a massive impact on the entertainment industry, @Noone2025, and I do mean entertainment, and not just games.
The issue under discussion though is whether Microsoft or Sony will wait to release their consoles so as to coincide with the release of GTA6, and I don't think either company will.
Yes, both the PCBox and, to a greater extent, the PS6 will shift more consoles when GTA6 arrives, but I don't think either console maker will delay the release of their consoles just because GTA6 is also delayed.
The thing is, manufacturing the consoles will begin a few months prior to their release to coincide with the announced release date, and once stock begins to build up, that is money sat in a warehouse that these companies would far rather be in their pockets. Both Sony and Microsoft will not be just relying on GTA6 to act as a launch title, as both companies will have at least one or two home made titles that will serve to show off their latest consoles. Plus, if Sony and Microsoft are set on a particular date to release their consoles, they won't want to rely on a third-party developer to release a game in order to propel their console when there is every chance that the game could be delayed yet again, and that Rockstar could choose to do so at the last minute. Neither company will want to keep delaying the release of their consoles just so as to wait for the release of GTA6.
So no, as important as GTA6 is to both companies, neither Sony nor Microsoft will allow it to dictate when they release their consoles...