The fact that it appear to have defied the sceptics is wonderful. Now we just have to hope that it finds the audience that it sounds like it deserves. Personally, I'm not one for playing competitive shooters, so I doubt this is for me, but I hope it does well...
Yes, I saw that, @Shinato2024. I do hope it is real, and that it comes to consoles. My point was that I don't think it will get a mention during these presentations purely because each showcase is dedicated to a particular game. I could easily be wrong, of course, but I would have thought they would have a separate show for Starcraft, just as they are with Overwatch etc, particularly so if it is coming to consoles, or is the rumoured first-person shooter...
I think, and have said previously, that the PCBox is likely to twice as expensive as the PS6, @themightyant. As I have said before, you may well have the choice of buying the Steam Box and the PS6 for less than the cost of the PCBox, and I think that will be an option for many.
I see it is now being reported that the PS6 maybe delayed, which if true, does potentially give Microsoft a little bit of breathing room, which I hope they take. If Sony do delay the PS6, then if I were Microsoft I would get the PCBox out the door at the earliest possible opportunity and in doing so avoid going head-to-head with the PS6. If they can get the PCBox out a year or two before the release of the PS6 then that head start may well come to aid of Xbox, particularly so if it is well received and it proves to be more powerful than the PS6 even if the PS6 lands a couple of years later. Going early will put Microsoft in a much better position than going up against the PS6 in a head-to-head fight regardless of whether it is more powerful because the PS6 will have the advantage of a larger install-base and it costing considerably less.
I'll end up buying both, assuming that the PCBox does make it to market, but I don't really have need for the Steam Box, so I'll probably give that a miss, but these rumours of Sony considering a delay in the PS6 could be to Microsoft's advantage. We just have to hope they take it...
Honestly, unless there are some console announcements in the first 2 showcases, then for console gamers the pickings are exceptionally light.
When it comes to Overwatch, the changes they made when launching Overwatch 2 have not been that warmly received, and it's kind of surprising to see it get a showcase of its own. The game feels like its on life-support, but then it has been a few months since I last played it.
I am interested to see what they do with Diablo though, and would love to see them port WoW over to console in particular, however I doubt that will be happening. Whether we would see the likes of Starcraft even mentioned is doubtful, in my view, bearing in mind that each of the show is linked to one particular game, rather than it being a showcase highlighting multiple games. Indeed, I think if Starcraft were to be being ported to console, for example, then the game would have its own showcase, so I think that is highly unlikely.
Something to be read about afterwards, rather than taking the time to watch the showcases, me thinks...
Honestly, this is how the game will make money, so anyone trying to hold on to the notion that Microsoft will not be putting ALL of their games on the PlayStation going forward is in for major disappointment. It is not going to be a case by case basis, it is going to be a case of everything day and date unless the PlayStation version started too late in development to allow that to happen, as is the case with Forza Horizon 6. It'll be great for the Microsoft coffers, and may well feed back into the games development side of things, which will be great for everyone (literally!), but I have considerable concerns on what it means for Xbox in terms of consoles...
With the rumours of the February PlayStation State of Play starting to circulate, then I think the most likely time for another Developer Direct would be March or April as I think they will want to leave a little breathing room before the big June Showcase. Here's hoping the rumours are true....
I'd settle for a Developer Direct that featured E-Day as one of 4 games, @Lup, but I'd much prefer one of those 45 minute deep dives Microsoft sometimes do (usually after their Summer Showcase).
Regardless, I'll take anything Gears of War related right now because we've been waiting a long time since Gears 5 came out in 2019, and no, a performance boost for Gears of War: Reloaded does not count, as that was a pretty dreadful offering...!
I really enjoyed the last Developer Direct, and the fact is that Microsoft have so many studios that there is every chance that they have a fair few games ready to release over the course of this year, and with it being the 25th anniversary of Xbox too, then I would not be shocked if they didn't hold back a few titles in order to release them this year. It would explain why the start of 2025 saw more first-party releases than the last 6 months too.
Anyway, I am here for another Developer Direct, though I'd much prefer them to settle my anxiety and have a showcase for E-Day, and tell us when it will release too.
I'd also like a presentation revealing the PCBox, but that's a whole other matter...
Honestly, @jesse_dylan, that is pretty much it. I just cannot see me enjoying pixel-art games. I did give Vampire Survivors a go, but that's about as close as I have come to playing games that look like that, and I fell off it after one evening.
I don't doubt that I missing out on some fun games though, but I also don't really enjoy side-scrolling games either, although I have played a couple of those over time.
Thing is, I am 62, and have been gaming since 1979 when I played Pong for the first time. So it's not like I have not lived through many, many years of 'sub-standard' visuals, it's just that I love my games to have sharp graphics, and the more realistic the better. Don't ask me why that is my preference, but it is the truth...
Totally agree, @themightyant. I've said it a number of times on these forums, but the direction that Microsoft are taking is not the one they foresaw at the start of the generation. I have been saying for a while now that Microsoft are reacting to the circumstances in which they find themselves, and whilst ending up in the PC space may well have been the ultimate destination, the journey there was always intended to take the scenic route, not sudden change of direction we are seeing now with the PCBox.
I think we would, had things panned out for Xbox, we would be getting the PCBox either on the 6th or 7th generation, not the 5th as we are now seeing.
I also think that pretty much every first-party game would have been exclusive, and they may even have been ruthless enough to bring certain games that were once multiplatform back as exclusives (games such as Doom etc.).
The fact that no future first-party game will be exclusive, and the lurch to the PCBox, speaks to how dire things have become at Xbox. No matter how much some want to see this as positive for Xbox and for gamers, the truth is that this is not what Microsoft wanted at this point in time.
With all that said, I do think that Microsoft are in a position to be exceptionally successful as a publisher, providing they can up the quality of their releases. Games that score 7s and 8s will do the job to some extent, but games that score 9s and 10s should be the target. Hopefully they will get there.
As for the PCBox, whether it actually comes out is not set in stone, as far as I am concerned because I can foresee the possibility of it being cancelled if the RAM crisis delays its release into 2028 or beyond. Basically, as time moves on, I think the chances of it releasing become less and less, and if it is not released in 2027, then we may never see it. If it does come out, then I will buy it, but right now, I think there is a 5% to 10% chance it will be cancelled, though I hope I am wrong...
I hope that Microsoft offer us an option of a disc drive even though I buy about 99% of my games digitally, with the other 1% being those times when a disc is included in a Collector's Edition. The reason I would still like to have the availability of a disc drive is because I play all of my Blu-rays and 4K discs on my Series X, because although I buy pretty much all of my games digitally, I buy every single one of my films and television series on disc, and I have around 1000 Blu-rays and 4K films in my collection.
I guess if Microsoft don't provide one, I could get one get for my PS6, though right now my plan is to go all digital with my next PlayStation because the only time I have used the disc drive on my PS5 was so that I could get the £10 upgrade for Days Gone: Remastered, and I needed to insert my PS4 disc in order to qualify for the deal. Thus, in reality, I don't need one for my PlayStation at all.
So, as Xbox is my main console, and as much as I'm not sold on the idea of the PCBox, I do always like to have the best Xbox console, and so would much prefer to have a disc drive with it too...
The graphics for this game demonstrate with precision the type of game that I actively seek to avoid! I just cannot imagine myself wanting to play this game for even one moment. I liked the song though...
That's my point, @OldGamer999, the choices that Microsoft are making are making us an after thought on the very platform that has stood by them through thick and thin. Microsoft need to hurry up and either bring out the PCBox, so that we can have the best system, or they need to just call it quits so that we know that if we want the best system that we should go elsewhere.
Honestly, I feel like they are treating their loyal fanbase appallingly with the lack of certainty, the lack of clarity, the lack of communication, and by not offering us the best service. I'm not suggesting that they should dumb down the quality for the PlayStation, but equally they need to treat us better than they are...
E-Day will be day one on the PlayStation, @OldGamer999, and I think doing so will put Xbox, in terms of console sales going forward, in a huge amount of trouble. What's worse, the chances are that these flagships titles, Gears or War, Forza, Halo and even Fable, will likely play best on the PS5 Pro, which is, in my opinion, a kick in the teeth to the loyal Xbox fanbase.
I do agree that if E-Day, or indeed any game Microsoft are making, need further time in the oven, then that is precisely what they should get, but unfortunately, I think the need for a constant stream of new games on Game Pass means that Microsoft are content to put out games before they are polished with a view to undertaking better optimisation and bug killing post-release.
I cannot wait to play E-Day (albeit I would have preferred them to make Gears 6 first!), but I want it to shine, and also after the hugely disappointing Gears of War: Reloaded release on the PlayStation I think they need to get it right so as to demonstrate why we are all so passionate about the franchise...
I still think that Fable will be delayed into early 2027 purely because Playground Games gave a release window rather than a specific month. Now, that may have been because they are waiting to see what happens with GTA 6 before determining what they do, but it also may be because the game still needs work.
As for E-Day, I fear that it may miss the coveted 25th anniversary of Xbox because we have seen zero gameplay, and so chances are that game is not ready either.
When it comes to GotY, the reason that Xbox games do not feature in those discussions is simple; polish. Microsoft do put out some hugely entertaining games, but they always score 7s and 8s (disregarding sites that are either PlayStation or Xbox orientated who always seems to either mark down, or mark up due to inherent biases). Games that are spoken about in terms of GotY usually score 9s and 10s, and the thing that they do tend to have is polish. If Microsoft want their games to get those kind of scores, then they need to keep them in the oven for a few extra months, give them a proper spit and polish, and squish those bugs.
Unfortunately, Game Pass, and the need for constant new games, means that Microsoft are content to push games out the door before they are ready to shine, and consequently they get marked down, and thus whilst the gameplay may be excellent, those valuable marks they lose on optimisation, and bugs means they then fall out of contention for GotY.
I like the look of Fable, and if Microsoft really want it to be in the running for GotY awards, then they need to keep polishing it, and only release it when it is truly ready...
Yeah, that's really interesting, @darylb24. I continue to think that Fable will be delayed into early 2027, and I think that will do everything they can to get E-Day out this year being as the franchise is synonymous with Xbox, and this being the 25th anniversary. However, having said that, as I have said elsewhere, the fact that we have seen zero gameplay for E-Day tends to suggest to me that the game is not going to be ready for this year no matter how desperate they might want it to be so...
I'm with you on the possibility of E-Day coming out next year, @OldGamer999, though I would be more inclined to think that it will be around September. I have said elsewhere that having seen absolutely no gameplay is a huge red flag for me. It does not mean that it won't come out this year, but it is exceptionally odd and unsettling. The only reason why I think they may still try and get it out this year is the 25th anniversary of Xbox, and not having it out this year would be a huge omission...
Wow! I am jealous that you actually have so much inside knowledge, @darylb24. Everything I predict is obviously based on what I'm reading and trying to make educated guesses, but that is all it is... guesses.
I absolutely believe that both Sony and Microsoft are waiting to see confirmation of GTA 6's release (or it's delay) before setting in stone when they then release their own games, and I can absolutely believe that Microsoft also have an eye on Wolverine too, which I keep forgetting about despite the fact that I am really looking forward to it. I guess that tells you that the reason I keep forgetting about Wolverine is because Xbox is my primary console, and pretty much every game revolves around that for me.
Have to say, when there is a game that really disrupts the games industry in the way that GTA 6 will do, you'd think that Take 2 would have a little bit more respect for other publishers and developers and communicate with them a bit better. I mean, once you know exactly what you are doing with GTA 6, it enables everyone else to clear their schedules, or release their games accordingly, and after all, if everyone else decides not to release their games at the same time as GTA 6 then it can only result in more sales for the game as there would be nothing else coming out. All companies want less competition, even Take 2, so I don't understand why they wouldn't want to advise their competitors of their plans. Probably shows I would be a terrible businessman because I am too considerate!
My only concern about what you are saying is that I've put my money on Forza Horizon 6 releasing in November on the PlayStation because I think GTA 6 will be delayed once again, so in order for my prediction to be right, it's not allowed to come out in October...! 😂
August: Gears Of War: E-day. Day and date on the PlayStation too.
September: Fable
October: Call of Duty
November : GTA 6 delayed into 2027
November: Forza Horizon 6 on PlayStation.
There also exists the small possibility of Gears of War 2: Reloaded, and Fallout 3: Remastered coming in the months when there are no big first-party games incoming. The reason I think GoW2:R may exist is because for about a year we were hearing rumours of the existence of remasters of the entire trilogy, so it makes sense that the second game may already be ready.
I think the fly in the ointment will be the delay of GTA 6 because it does create a void in the release schedule, one that Microsoft might have game on standby in order to fill it. So for example, Microsoft might be lining up Clockwork Revolution as a game to slot into November should GTA 6 not release, but equally, they may be content to allow a bit more polish on the game and hold it back until next year should GTA 6 actually come out. Obviously it might be something other than Clockwork Revolution, and both Microsoft and Sony will likely know of GTA 6's delay in advance of us in order to give them time to shuffle their own schedules, but I do think Microsoft have enough games brewing that they could fill that vacancy if need be...
I kick-started InXile last game, @Sol4ris, and it is pleasing to see them in the position they are now. I agree that it will make an excellent launch title for the PCBox, and maybe that is the plan. I do feel that with having seen so little of the game that next year is the most likely scenario, though having said that, I felt the same way about Fable, but for some reason I don't feel that way about E-Day, which I am fairly confident we will see later this year. In fact, truth be told, I am more confident that we will see E-Day, than I am Fable, as I still think there is a chance that it will be delayed into early 2027.
Regardless of all that, what I want to see from Microsoft is them giving their studios sufficient time to properly polish their games because I want to see Xbox games spoken about in terms of Game of the Year, rather than nearly-runs. Xbox keeps putting out serviceable games that score 7s and 8s, but rarely 9s, and never 10s. I want to see those 9s and 10s, and if that means studious are given a few more months to polish their game, and I have to wait, then so be it. It's the finished product that counts, and I think that Clockwork Revolution could prove to be a Game of the Year contender when it does release...
That's kind of you, @HonestHick. I do like the community here, even if there are some I knock heads with on a regular basis, it is still usually mild-mannered and polite(ish!).
I am set on buying the next Xbox no matter what it is, nor how much it costs. I will be getting it, and it will be my main console. I will get a PS6 because I like to have the latest generation of PlayStation because I never buy the Pro. I only ever play a couple of exclusive games on it a year, and truth be told I don't get real value out of it, but I buy one every generation even though I know that. And yes, I know that there is a chance of every PlayStation game coming to PC and being playable on the PCBox when it releases, but I don't like to wait a year or two for the game to arrive on PC, and thus I know I will be getting the PS6. Ultimately, my issue is not whether or not I will get the PCBox, it is I can foresee circumstances where it does not come to pass, but I truly hope that doesn't happen. As much as we all like to say, "told you so" every now and again, this is one thing I'll be happy to be wrong about.
I'd like to be around to see the arrival of the PS7 (and the PS8..!), but I'll be in my mid-70s before it appears, and honestly, at that point all bets are off. What I will say though is I am in no hurry to die, and I have a huge gaming backlog to work through. In fact, I have so many unplayed games in my library that I could probably be gaming until I'm 100 before I complete them all. So that's my challenge sorted! 😉
Anyway, keep smiling, matey. Not long before E-Day should be out, and I might have to reach out to you to get me a Collector's Edition because Gears 5 Collector's Edition was not available in the UK... 😂
Very much looking forward to Clockwork Revolution, but I have my doubts as to whether we will see it release this year.
Prior to the Developer's Direct, this game occupied the number two spot in my most anticipate first-party game, but after seeing Fable it has not slipped to third. Of course, that could change when I see more of Clockwork Revolution, which will hopefully be at the next showcase...
Yes, @Cakefish, I pre-ordered it the moment I saw you mention the pricing error, so thank you very much for that!
I am hoping to finish King Arthur: Knight's Tale in time to be on Code Vein 2 day one, but it's actually quite long game, so I might be a day or two late starting. Very much looking forward to playing it, has to be said.
Just checked, and my pre-order still stands as well, which is excellent news...!
On my Series X - I'm currently playing through King Arthur: Knight's Tale, which is a little bit like an XCOM game. I am currently in Act 3 of 4, and am undertaking my 34th mission right now. I'm really enjoying the game.
My PS5 has not been switched on since October last year when I finished Ghost of Yotei.
My Switch has not be switched on for about 3 years now, and the last game I played on my gaming PC was in 2023...
Totally agree with your point about it being impossible to say what Sony or Microsoft will definitively do in 10 years, @HonestHick. As I said, I do think that the PS6 will be a traditional console, but what they do after that will be open to question. If the PCBox is in any way successful, then I think Sony will follow suit with the PS7. If it is an unmitigated disaster, then I think the PS7 will be far more console like in its design (though we are then talking another 10+ years away, and I may not be around to see what form it takes!).
I know people keep talking about the deals that Microsoft have struck, and that it means there will definitely be a PCBox, but honestly, if it is a loss-making project, I can see Microsoft shelving it. Indeed, there are two possibilities in that regard, first is that Microsoft will just take the hit on the contracts, and break them (though there is probably a buyout or buyback clause anyway that will likely cost less than just breaching the contracts), or secondly, and more likely, I would suggest, is that Microsoft will use whatever components they have acquired by way of contracts in other devices, or amend what components they have so that the companies in question still get the headline money.
Ultimately, I have been saying for a while it all depends on what happens this year; if Microsoft reveal the PCBox either in June or at the Game Awards (which is what they did with the Xbox One), then I think it is almost certain that the PCBox will come next year. If we get more radio silence, then with each passing month I think the probabilities lessen as to whether the PCBox sees the light of day.
I want to think that Microsoft will definitely remain in the console business, albeit with what will effectively be a PC, but I am not 100% confident that they will. There are many market forces pushing against Microsoft right now, and we all know that Nadella can be exceptionally ruthless. Sometimes he probably gets it right, but other times his decisions are questionable, but he is a numbers man, and if the numbers do not make sense, then I can see him pulling the plug on the PCBox.
It's going to be a tense wait for information on the PCBox, and right now it's all a little too quiet for my liking...
PC will almost undoubtedly prove to be the final destination of gamers, @HonestHick, but that is not the nub of what I was getting at.
Firstly, the point we agree on; I think the PS6 will be a traditional console, and that the PS7 will be much more akin to the planned PCBox.
Now to the parts we disagree on; you can legitimately ask why own an Xbox and not a PS5, but you cannot ask why own an Xbox but not a PS5? In other words, going forwards, you will be able to play all Xbox games on a PlayStation, but not all PlayStation games on an Xbox. It is a crucial point.
It is also a crucial fact that whilst you gaming PCs cost significantly more than a console. At the very bare minimum, you could get the equivalent of a potato as a gaming PC for double the cost of a console, but realistically speaking you are looking to spend three times the cost of a PS5 before you are getting a capable gaming PC.
Add to that, not every PlayStation is landing on the PC, and many of those that are take a year or two to do so, so whilst it is true that you can play every Xbox game on a PC, you will have to wait a year or two for the same to be true of PlayStation games (and that's before you get into the rumours that Sony maybe rethinking their strategy of releasing games on PC at all).
So is the direction of travel PC? Yes, but if you only want to buy one console right now, the PlayStation is the obvious choice, and that then leans into the possibility of Microsoft withdrawing from consoles altogether. Microsoft are barely making consoles available for purchase now, at a time when they are more or less the same price as their competitor, and if the rumours are true that both Sony and Microsoft may delay their next consoles due to RAM prices, then I think there exists the real possibility that Microsoft may just opt to withdraw completely because releasing an uber expensive niche console when no one is buying their consoles as is, may well be a pointless venture as far as Microsoft are concerned, and putting all their games on the PlayStation just means that fewer and fewer people will see the need to own an Xbox...
Sorry if my comments came over like I was offended, that wasn't my intention.
I think people are passionate about gaming, but also some are immature, it is, after all just a plastic box! That said, I really want Xbox to succeed, because I think the competition with Sony is precisely why Xbox bought out a fantastic console in the Series X and why Sony brought out an equally fantastic PS5. Without that competition, the need to push boundaries is lessened, because then it becomes about saving money rather than innovation, and also charging maximum prices to what would effectively be a captive audience. I want both Sony and Microsoft to succeed, though the truth is that Sony are able to forge the path they want to, and Microsoft are being forced to react to the circumstances they find themselves in.
Regardless, these are certainly interesting times. All we can do is keep smiling... 👍
I agree, @themightyant. I think he said, without saying, that the consistency they will give will be day one games Xbox and PlayStation.
What I also read into what he said is that the delays in some games being day one on the PlayStation is down to a change in strategy after development has begun, leading to delays in getting the game out of the door.
Also, Grounded 2 is a really poor example of a game that is not out on the PlayStation already because it has been released in Early Access...
I think going forward it will be every game going day and date on the PlayStation, @themightyant. Kiln makes sense because it is a multiplayer game, but I would not be shocked if every game goes to the PlayStation now. I think the writing has been on the wall for a while now, and it is just a case of getting used to it.
Personally, I think it is a massive mistake, but I don't think that Microsoft really have any choice in the matter anymore. Xbox consoles sales are basically irrelevant now, people just are not buying them, and worse than that, they are buying those consoles provided by their competitors, so it's not a case of consoles are not selling, it is a case of Xbox consoles are not selling.
Add into that equation Game Pass, and the fact that it has undoubtedly altered peoples buying habits on the Xbox, and you can see that Microsoft have no choice but to recoup their investments on rival consoles.
My biggest concern is what this means for Xbox as a console. I know that we are apparently going to have the PCBox next year, but I do believe that if it is delayed out of 2027 there is a strong possibility of it being shelved completely, which for me personally will be pretty devastating because I have over 1600 games in my digital library, and if I am unable to replace my Series X with an upgrade, or even a new Series X, could be very problematic. I don't think the PCBox is a done deal until we actually have a proper reveal, and maybe even a release date. I think if we get a reveal during the Summer's showcase, then we should be safe. If not, then it could mean there are problems on the horizon....
I utterly disagree, @Llamageddon. Certainly in my case it is not a matter of feeling superior, or having a console that is superior. For me it is the fact that Xbox as a console may well vanish in the next few years because Microsoft choose to step away from that particular path because that is not where they are making money.
I know some will cheer the demise of Xbox, but it is a particularly short-sighted mindset because even PlayStation needs competition from Xbox in the console space because if there is no competition, there is nothing to stop Sony from increasing the prices of their consoles, and also nothing to make Sony innovate when it comes to making consoles. Competition keeps prices down, and sees companies trying to do things differently, and better in an effort to one-up their rivals.
So, speaking personally, I couldn't give a toss about wanting to feel superior over a plastic box. It is utterly meaningless in that regard, but what I do care about is Xbox continuing to make consoles, and I fear that Microsoft releasing every game they make on rival consoles without any period of exclusivity does mean that people will be less inclined to either buy the next Xbox, nor stick with Xbox, which will hasten the demise of the Xbox consoles...
The problem is, @HonestHick, whilst I totally get your opinion that games should be everywhere, what it means for us Xbox gamers is that the more Microsoft move into being a publisher, the more likely they are to step away from being a console provider too. That will potentially leave many of us with huge games libraries stuck on ageing consoles because Microsoft don't introduce any more.
It really is a double-edged sword as far as being an Xbox gamer is concerned, though I do see the benefit for Microsoft themselves, as they rake in the money from PlayStation, and also I see the advantage for the PlayStation gamer as they get to play the games, and of course, all the money that these games bring in does benefit all gamers as it is fed back into developers enabling them to make more games.
The problem is that you have to consider Microsoft's position; they have a console that barely sells, people playing on Game Pass leading to people not buying games to the same extent as those on the rival platform, and, just to top it off, likely as not subscriber numbers falling on Game Pass due to all the increases in prices.
So yes, Microsoft putting these games on the PlayStation is definitely a benefit to PlayStation gamers, but it could well prove to bring about the demise of Xbox (in terms of consoles)...
In fairness, @fatpunkslim, none of the games that I have been saying will be day one releases on the PlayStation have released as yet. Not one! I have been saying that Fable and Gears of War: E-Day will be, and also that Forza Horizon 6 would have been but, in line with the rumours that work on the port began to late, it will release at the end of this year.
As none of that has happened as yet, I have not been wrong.
It is the same as I have said that Game Pass will cease about 3 years after the release of the PCBox, which, if it releases in 2027, means we will see the end of Game Pass in around 2030.
As none of those events have come to pass, simply because we have not yet reached that point in history, I cannot be wrong, which is something that I have pointed out before. I cannot be wrong about something that is going to happen in the future when we are not there yet.
What I will say is that I firmly believe that the fact that Fable is going to be day and date marks a turning point for Microsoft. What I think it means is that every game will be released multi-platform day one. I think the 'case by case' basis is now past.
Lastly, I will add that none of this pleases me. In fact quite the opposite because I strongly believe that this approach that Microsoft is now taking will hasten the end of the foray into consoles, and that is the very last thing that I want to happen. Thus, had I been wrong about all of this, I would have been at my happiest, and I would also have put my hands up and said so...
All I can suggest, @fatpunkslim, is what I have said a few times now; I don't think Avowed, Hellblade 2 or South of Midnight were released first on the Xbox with the intention of them being timed-exclusives. I think the situation with those games is exactly as we saw with Forza Horizon 5; the games were made for the Xbox, and then the strategy changed. Then the strategy evolved into 'let's put these games on the PlayStation', and because it takes time to make these ports there was an inherent period of exclusivity that was only there for as long as it took the teams to prepare the PlayStation ports.
I think you'll find that now every game will be day and date on the PlayStation, and I would put money on it that there are a few games that have been internally delayed whilst the PlayStation ports are finalised, just so those games can then release day and date too.
I think it's something we will have to get used to. In a rare moment of agreement, I do concur that I think not having exclusives is a mistake. With the cost of Game Pass now, and with what sounds like a premium priced next Xbox on the horizon, I think not having exclusives, even timed-exclusives, will mean that people will wonder whether it is worth joining the Xbox ecosystem. It is great that more people get to play these games on their preferred platforms, but I don't think it will help Microsoft shift consoles, and that could be very problematic for the future. We just have to hope that Microsoft nail the next console, and put an end to their missteps, because I want Xbox to thrive not just in the games space, but also with their consoles, and that's the part that has me concerned...
It was a gentle brag, @GuyinPA75, but it is fun to make predictions, so I meant no harm. I was thinking about changing my name to Mystic Beaver though... 😉
I thought the show was excellent. I like Forza Horizon games for a while, maybe 50 hours, but then I get bored. Have to say that 6 is looking excellent, and I will likely play my son's copy as he will get the Premium Edition.
Beast of Reincarnation looked stunning and creative. I didn't know much about it going into the showcase, but it is definitely a game I shall play. It might even be the one game I play on Game Pass this year. I have Ultimate stacked until June 2027, but for the past two years have only played one game on it. There is a strong chance that RoB will be that game this year! 😂
As much as I thought FH6 was going to be the best showing for the night, I actually thought that Fable looked amazing, and was exactly what I wanted from a Fable game. Really looking forward to diving in. Hoping they announce a Collector's Edition, as although I am trying to cut back on how much I spend on gaming this year, I had already factored in buying a CE of Fable, so fingers crossed for that. I literally cheered when I saw a chicken get a proper kicking. This is what we want in a Fable game! 😂
Overall, I thought it was an excellent showcase, with the only bit I skipped being Kiln for which I have zero interest. Fine if you like that kind of thing, but not for me.
Anyway, I gave the Developer Direct a well deserved A...
Not interested, and indeed, because I watched the showcase around 30 minutes after it started, it was the one game that I skipped. For those that enjoy that type of thing, great, but it's definitely not for me...
The game looks pretty incredible, creative, and visually stunning. I didn't know that much about the game prior to the showcase, but now I am really looking forward to playing it...
What can I say, I was right about Forza Horizon 6 releasing on the PlayStation this year, and I was right about Fable being a day and date game across all platforms.
These were my predictions:
May: Forza Horizon 6
July: Fable (although I still think it will be delayed until next year). Day and date on the PlayStation too.
August (or June if Fable is delayed): Halo: Combat Evolved
September: Gears Of War: E-day. Day and date on the PlayStation too.
October: Call of Duty as it will want to avoid the November release of GTA 6 (assuming it isn't delayed again, which I think it will be).
November: Forza Horizon 6 on PlayStation.
I did get the notion that Fable was going to be delayed wrong, by the looks of things. It'll be interesting to see how the rest of my predictions pan out. Thus far, the one I have right is the release month of Forza on the Xbox. Hopefully I'm right about E-Day in particular as that is my most anticipated game this year..
My thoughts exactly, @Weebleman. I've been telling him this would happen, and kept being told I was wrong! As I have said so often, just because have staggered releases and timed-exclusives is what they have done up until now, it does not mean it will always be that way. Maybe we can finally put that so often cited argument to bed...
It seems to me all these youngsters think life is eternal, @BleedingDreamer. It's only when you get to our age that you realise time is a valuable resource and very much limited...! 🤣
But it doesn't make sense, @fatpunkslim. If 55% of console gamers also game on a PC, then surely that 42% of people that game on a PC are exactly the same people, just counted twice?
What I will say though is I find it highly doubtful that 55% of people that game on a console also game on a PC. That seems to me to be a massively inflated number. From what I can gather, the vast majority of gamers only game on a single platform, and when that comes to consoles, more of them are on either the Switch or the PlayStation When console gamers do have more than one platform, it is usually a PS5 or Xbox, and a Switch. I find it very difficult to believe that they also have access to a PC too, unless, that is, having a cheeky game of Patience on your work PC during your lunchbreak counts, which if that is the case, then the source that you are quoting is highly suspicious.
So, out of curiosity, what is the source? I'd very much like to read it for myself so that I can get a better understanding of the figures, and the methodology behind it...
I think the most layoffs have been resultant from companies chasing the mythical cash-cow that is Live Service games, @jesse_dylan. Even when layoffs happen from a AAA single-player game, there is often a Live Service game that has gone caput somewhere else within the company. Basically it is the failure of one that leads to money being withdrawn from elsewhere. Obviously that is not true in every case, but it certainly seems to be the case more often than not...
Do you think the release of news regarding E-Day today of all days, is a coincidence, @Kezelpaso & @FraserG, or do you think it might feature in the Developer Direct? Or do you think this is a titbit designed to feed us something because it is not in the DD?
I do find the timing interesting, but cannot make my mind up why they have released this today. Personally, I do not think it will be in the DD, but I say that as a pessimist because E-Day is my most anticipated game of this year, not just first-party, but of all of them, and I feel starved of information...
Plus, 42% of PC gamers also play on console, and 55% of console gamers also play on PC.
Make that make sense, @fatpunkslim! How can it be that if 55% of console gamers play on PC, and yet only 42% of PC gamers play on console? Surely the figures would be exactly the same?
I mean, if I game on my Xbox, and on my PS5, then surely I game on both?
The other thing that needs to be questioned is; what is a console, and what is a PC. Is the Steam Deck a PC or a console, or is it both? Is the Switch a console or a handheld, or both?
How many of those PC gamers own both a PC and a Steam Deck, and therefore does that mean they are really only gaming on a PC, or does the Steam deck then mean they are also gaming on a console?
The most likely combo for a PC gamer is PC and Steam Deck, or PC and Switch, because that means they have access to the vast majority of games out there.
I own a gaming PC, and a Series X, and a PS5, and a Switch. How many times do I count within those percentages? Does the fact that I have not gamed on my PC or my Switch for 2 and 3 years respectively, still mean that I count as a PC and Nintendo gamer? And that's before we get into the fact that I also play a couple of games on my mobile!
Do you see how meaningless these percentages can become? The only thing we know for sure is that PC gaming is growing, but beyond that, it becomes a lot less certain.
The point is that you like to throw out all these facts and figures, but you provide no details of from where they are derived, and also no context whatsoever. You tell me that I should not base my assessments on my own needs and wants, before then going on to do the exact same thing for yourself! Honestly, I do not share your fanaticism for Xbox, and that is despite, most likely being much more financially invested in the brand. What I do try to do is cast a far more objective eye on things. Like everything in life, we all have are innate biases, but I do at try and keep mine in check to at least some degree...
I think that having it as a GotY title for an Xbox site such as this is entirely acceptable, @FraserG, as it is definitely going to be one of the biggest games to hit Xbox this year. The reason I posed the question though was because they have obviously made a fair few changes to the game, and then brought it to Xbox, and so I wondered whether that would allow it to be considered for GotY more generally, which I would not have agreed with...
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Re: Roundup: Here's What The Reviews Are Saying About Highguard, Out Now On Xbox
The fact that it appear to have defied the sceptics is wonderful. Now we just have to hope that it finds the audience that it sounds like it deserves. Personally, I'm not one for playing competitive shooters, so I doubt this is for me, but I hope it does well...
Re: Xbox's Blizzard Team Announces Multiple Showcases Laying Out The Company's Future
Yes, I saw that, @Shinato2024. I do hope it is real, and that it comes to consoles. My point was that I don't think it will get a mention during these presentations purely because each showcase is dedicated to a particular game. I could easily be wrong, of course, but I would have thought they would have a separate show for Starcraft, just as they are with Overwatch etc, particularly so if it is coming to consoles, or is the rumoured first-person shooter...
Re: Fable Showcases Stunning Gameplay Deep Dive, Arrives On Xbox, PC & PS5 Later This Year
I think, and have said previously, that the PCBox is likely to twice as expensive as the PS6, @themightyant. As I have said before, you may well have the choice of buying the Steam Box and the PS6 for less than the cost of the PCBox, and I think that will be an option for many.
I see it is now being reported that the PS6 maybe delayed, which if true, does potentially give Microsoft a little bit of breathing room, which I hope they take. If Sony do delay the PS6, then if I were Microsoft I would get the PCBox out the door at the earliest possible opportunity and in doing so avoid going head-to-head with the PS6. If they can get the PCBox out a year or two before the release of the PS6 then that head start may well come to aid of Xbox, particularly so if it is well received and it proves to be more powerful than the PS6 even if the PS6 lands a couple of years later. Going early will put Microsoft in a much better position than going up against the PS6 in a head-to-head fight regardless of whether it is more powerful because the PS6 will have the advantage of a larger install-base and it costing considerably less.
I'll end up buying both, assuming that the PCBox does make it to market, but I don't really have need for the Steam Box, so I'll probably give that a miss, but these rumours of Sony considering a delay in the PS6 could be to Microsoft's advantage. We just have to hope they take it...
Re: Xbox's Blizzard Team Announces Multiple Showcases Laying Out The Company's Future
Honestly, unless there are some console announcements in the first 2 showcases, then for console gamers the pickings are exceptionally light.
When it comes to Overwatch, the changes they made when launching Overwatch 2 have not been that warmly received, and it's kind of surprising to see it get a showcase of its own. The game feels like its on life-support, but then it has been a few months since I last played it.
I am interested to see what they do with Diablo though, and would love to see them port WoW over to console in particular, however I doubt that will be happening. Whether we would see the likes of Starcraft even mentioned is doubtful, in my view, bearing in mind that each of the show is linked to one particular game, rather than it being a showcase highlighting multiple games. Indeed, I think if Starcraft were to be being ported to console, for example, then the game would have its own showcase, so I think that is highly unlikely.
Something to be read about afterwards, rather than taking the time to watch the showcases, me thinks...
Re: Fable Likely To Be A Huge Hit On PS5 As Sony-Hosted Trailer Hits 1 Million Views
Honestly, this is how the game will make money, so anyone trying to hold on to the notion that Microsoft will not be putting ALL of their games on the PlayStation going forward is in for major disappointment. It is not going to be a case by case basis, it is going to be a case of everything day and date unless the PlayStation version started too late in development to allow that to happen, as is the case with Forza Horizon 6. It'll be great for the Microsoft coffers, and may well feed back into the games development side of things, which will be great for everyone (literally!), but I have considerable concerns on what it means for Xbox in terms of consoles...
Re: Rumour: Xbox Might Be Planning A Second Developer Direct Showcase For 2026
With the rumours of the February PlayStation State of Play starting to circulate, then I think the most likely time for another Developer Direct would be March or April as I think they will want to leave a little breathing room before the big June Showcase. Here's hoping the rumours are true....
Re: Rumour: Xbox Might Be Planning A Second Developer Direct Showcase For 2026
I'd settle for a Developer Direct that featured E-Day as one of 4 games, @Lup, but I'd much prefer one of those 45 minute deep dives Microsoft sometimes do (usually after their Summer Showcase).
Regardless, I'll take anything Gears of War related right now because we've been waiting a long time since Gears 5 came out in 2019, and no, a performance boost for Gears of War: Reloaded does not count, as that was a pretty dreadful offering...!
Re: Rumour: Xbox Might Be Planning A Second Developer Direct Showcase For 2026
I really enjoyed the last Developer Direct, and the fact is that Microsoft have so many studios that there is every chance that they have a fair few games ready to release over the course of this year, and with it being the 25th anniversary of Xbox too, then I would not be shocked if they didn't hold back a few titles in order to release them this year. It would explain why the start of 2025 saw more first-party releases than the last 6 months too.
Anyway, I am here for another Developer Direct, though I'd much prefer them to settle my anxiety and have a showcase for E-Day, and tell us when it will release too.
I'd also like a presentation revealing the PCBox, but that's a whole other matter...
Re: Why Is Nobody Talking About One Of The Best Xbox Exclusives Of 2025?
Honestly, @jesse_dylan, that is pretty much it. I just cannot see me enjoying pixel-art games. I did give Vampire Survivors a go, but that's about as close as I have come to playing games that look like that, and I fell off it after one evening.
I don't doubt that I missing out on some fun games though, but I also don't really enjoy side-scrolling games either, although I have played a couple of those over time.
Thing is, I am 62, and have been gaming since 1979 when I played Pong for the first time. So it's not like I have not lived through many, many years of 'sub-standard' visuals, it's just that I love my games to have sharp graphics, and the more realistic the better. Don't ask me why that is my preference, but it is the truth...
Re: Fable Showcases Stunning Gameplay Deep Dive, Arrives On Xbox, PC & PS5 Later This Year
Totally agree, @themightyant. I've said it a number of times on these forums, but the direction that Microsoft are taking is not the one they foresaw at the start of the generation. I have been saying for a while now that Microsoft are reacting to the circumstances in which they find themselves, and whilst ending up in the PC space may well have been the ultimate destination, the journey there was always intended to take the scenic route, not sudden change of direction we are seeing now with the PCBox.
I think we would, had things panned out for Xbox, we would be getting the PCBox either on the 6th or 7th generation, not the 5th as we are now seeing.
I also think that pretty much every first-party game would have been exclusive, and they may even have been ruthless enough to bring certain games that were once multiplatform back as exclusives (games such as Doom etc.).
The fact that no future first-party game will be exclusive, and the lurch to the PCBox, speaks to how dire things have become at Xbox. No matter how much some want to see this as positive for Xbox and for gamers, the truth is that this is not what Microsoft wanted at this point in time.
With all that said, I do think that Microsoft are in a position to be exceptionally successful as a publisher, providing they can up the quality of their releases. Games that score 7s and 8s will do the job to some extent, but games that score 9s and 10s should be the target. Hopefully they will get there.
As for the PCBox, whether it actually comes out is not set in stone, as far as I am concerned because I can foresee the possibility of it being cancelled if the RAM crisis delays its release into 2028 or beyond. Basically, as time moves on, I think the chances of it releasing become less and less, and if it is not released in 2027, then we may never see it. If it does come out, then I will buy it, but right now, I think there is a 5% to 10% chance it will be cancelled, though I hope I am wrong...
Re: In The US, 66% Of Xbox Series X|S Sales Were Digital-Only In 2025
I hope that Microsoft offer us an option of a disc drive even though I buy about 99% of my games digitally, with the other 1% being those times when a disc is included in a Collector's Edition. The reason I would still like to have the availability of a disc drive is because I play all of my Blu-rays and 4K discs on my Series X, because although I buy pretty much all of my games digitally, I buy every single one of my films and television series on disc, and I have around 1000 Blu-rays and 4K films in my collection.
I guess if Microsoft don't provide one, I could get one get for my PS6, though right now my plan is to go all digital with my next PlayStation because the only time I have used the disc drive on my PS5 was so that I could get the £10 upgrade for Days Gone: Remastered, and I needed to insert my PS4 disc in order to qualify for the deal. Thus, in reality, I don't need one for my PlayStation at all.
So, as Xbox is my main console, and as much as I'm not sold on the idea of the PCBox, I do always like to have the best Xbox console, and so would much prefer to have a disc drive with it too...
Re: Why Is Nobody Talking About One Of The Best Xbox Exclusives Of 2025?
The graphics for this game demonstrate with precision the type of game that I actively seek to avoid! I just cannot imagine myself wanting to play this game for even one moment. I liked the song though...
Re: Clockwork Revolution Dev Talks Choice & Consequence In Its Upcoming Steampunk RPG
That's my point, @OldGamer999, the choices that Microsoft are making are making us an after thought on the very platform that has stood by them through thick and thin. Microsoft need to hurry up and either bring out the PCBox, so that we can have the best system, or they need to just call it quits so that we know that if we want the best system that we should go elsewhere.
Honestly, I feel like they are treating their loyal fanbase appallingly with the lack of certainty, the lack of clarity, the lack of communication, and by not offering us the best service. I'm not suggesting that they should dumb down the quality for the PlayStation, but equally they need to treat us better than they are...
Re: Clockwork Revolution Dev Talks Choice & Consequence In Its Upcoming Steampunk RPG
E-Day will be day one on the PlayStation, @OldGamer999, and I think doing so will put Xbox, in terms of console sales going forward, in a huge amount of trouble. What's worse, the chances are that these flagships titles, Gears or War, Forza, Halo and even Fable, will likely play best on the PS5 Pro, which is, in my opinion, a kick in the teeth to the loyal Xbox fanbase.
I do agree that if E-Day, or indeed any game Microsoft are making, need further time in the oven, then that is precisely what they should get, but unfortunately, I think the need for a constant stream of new games on Game Pass means that Microsoft are content to put out games before they are polished with a view to undertaking better optimisation and bug killing post-release.
I cannot wait to play E-Day (albeit I would have preferred them to make Gears 6 first!), but I want it to shine, and also after the hugely disappointing Gears of War: Reloaded release on the PlayStation I think they need to get it right so as to demonstrate why we are all so passionate about the franchise...
Re: Fable Could Finally Be Xbox's Big 'Game Of The Year' Contender, But There's One Problem
I still think that Fable will be delayed into early 2027 purely because Playground Games gave a release window rather than a specific month. Now, that may have been because they are waiting to see what happens with GTA 6 before determining what they do, but it also may be because the game still needs work.
As for E-Day, I fear that it may miss the coveted 25th anniversary of Xbox because we have seen zero gameplay, and so chances are that game is not ready either.
When it comes to GotY, the reason that Xbox games do not feature in those discussions is simple; polish. Microsoft do put out some hugely entertaining games, but they always score 7s and 8s (disregarding sites that are either PlayStation or Xbox orientated who always seems to either mark down, or mark up due to inherent biases). Games that are spoken about in terms of GotY usually score 9s and 10s, and the thing that they do tend to have is polish. If Microsoft want their games to get those kind of scores, then they need to keep them in the oven for a few extra months, give them a proper spit and polish, and squish those bugs.
Unfortunately, Game Pass, and the need for constant new games, means that Microsoft are content to push games out the door before they are ready to shine, and consequently they get marked down, and thus whilst the gameplay may be excellent, those valuable marks they lose on optimisation, and bugs means they then fall out of contention for GotY.
I like the look of Fable, and if Microsoft really want it to be in the running for GotY awards, then they need to keep polishing it, and only release it when it is truly ready...
Re: Clockwork Revolution Dev Talks Choice & Consequence In Its Upcoming Steampunk RPG
Yeah, that's really interesting, @darylb24. I continue to think that Fable will be delayed into early 2027, and I think that will do everything they can to get E-Day out this year being as the franchise is synonymous with Xbox, and this being the 25th anniversary. However, having said that, as I have said elsewhere, the fact that we have seen zero gameplay for E-Day tends to suggest to me that the game is not going to be ready for this year no matter how desperate they might want it to be so...
Re: Clockwork Revolution Dev Talks Choice & Consequence In Its Upcoming Steampunk RPG
I'm with you on the possibility of E-Day coming out next year, @OldGamer999, though I would be more inclined to think that it will be around September. I have said elsewhere that having seen absolutely no gameplay is a huge red flag for me. It does not mean that it won't come out this year, but it is exceptionally odd and unsettling. The only reason why I think they may still try and get it out this year is the 25th anniversary of Xbox, and not having it out this year would be a huge omission...
Re: Clockwork Revolution Dev Talks Choice & Consequence In Its Upcoming Steampunk RPG
Wow! I am jealous that you actually have so much inside knowledge, @darylb24. Everything I predict is obviously based on what I'm reading and trying to make educated guesses, but that is all it is... guesses.
I absolutely believe that both Sony and Microsoft are waiting to see confirmation of GTA 6's release (or it's delay) before setting in stone when they then release their own games, and I can absolutely believe that Microsoft also have an eye on Wolverine too, which I keep forgetting about despite the fact that I am really looking forward to it. I guess that tells you that the reason I keep forgetting about Wolverine is because Xbox is my primary console, and pretty much every game revolves around that for me.
Have to say, when there is a game that really disrupts the games industry in the way that GTA 6 will do, you'd think that Take 2 would have a little bit more respect for other publishers and developers and communicate with them a bit better. I mean, once you know exactly what you are doing with GTA 6, it enables everyone else to clear their schedules, or release their games accordingly, and after all, if everyone else decides not to release their games at the same time as GTA 6 then it can only result in more sales for the game as there would be nothing else coming out. All companies want less competition, even Take 2, so I don't understand why they wouldn't want to advise their competitors of their plans. Probably shows I would be a terrible businessman because I am too considerate!
My only concern about what you are saying is that I've put my money on Forza Horizon 6 releasing in November on the PlayStation because I think GTA 6 will be delayed once again, so in order for my prediction to be right, it's not allowed to come out in October...! 😂
Re: Clockwork Revolution Dev Talks Choice & Consequence In Its Upcoming Steampunk RPG
My thinking is as follows, @OldGamer999:
May: Forza Horizon 6 - now confirmed
July: Halo Combat Remastered
August: Gears Of War: E-day. Day and date on the PlayStation too.
September: Fable
October: Call of Duty
November : GTA 6 delayed into 2027
November: Forza Horizon 6 on PlayStation.
There also exists the small possibility of Gears of War 2: Reloaded, and Fallout 3: Remastered coming in the months when there are no big first-party games incoming. The reason I think GoW2:R may exist is because for about a year we were hearing rumours of the existence of remasters of the entire trilogy, so it makes sense that the second game may already be ready.
I think the fly in the ointment will be the delay of GTA 6 because it does create a void in the release schedule, one that Microsoft might have game on standby in order to fill it. So for example, Microsoft might be lining up Clockwork Revolution as a game to slot into November should GTA 6 not release, but equally, they may be content to allow a bit more polish on the game and hold it back until next year should GTA 6 actually come out. Obviously it might be something other than Clockwork Revolution, and both Microsoft and Sony will likely know of GTA 6's delay in advance of us in order to give them time to shuffle their own schedules, but I do think Microsoft have enough games brewing that they could fill that vacancy if need be...
Re: Clockwork Revolution Dev Talks Choice & Consequence In Its Upcoming Steampunk RPG
I kick-started InXile last game, @Sol4ris, and it is pleasing to see them in the position they are now. I agree that it will make an excellent launch title for the PCBox, and maybe that is the plan. I do feel that with having seen so little of the game that next year is the most likely scenario, though having said that, I felt the same way about Fable, but for some reason I don't feel that way about E-Day, which I am fairly confident we will see later this year. In fact, truth be told, I am more confident that we will see E-Day, than I am Fable, as I still think there is a chance that it will be delayed into early 2027.
Regardless of all that, what I want to see from Microsoft is them giving their studios sufficient time to properly polish their games because I want to see Xbox games spoken about in terms of Game of the Year, rather than nearly-runs. Xbox keeps putting out serviceable games that score 7s and 8s, but rarely 9s, and never 10s. I want to see those 9s and 10s, and if that means studious are given a few more months to polish their game, and I have to wait, then so be it. It's the finished product that counts, and I think that Clockwork Revolution could prove to be a Game of the Year contender when it does release...
Re: Poll: How Would You Grade 2026's Xbox Developer Direct?
That's kind of you, @HonestHick. I do like the community here, even if there are some I knock heads with on a regular basis, it is still usually mild-mannered and polite(ish!).
I am set on buying the next Xbox no matter what it is, nor how much it costs. I will be getting it, and it will be my main console. I will get a PS6 because I like to have the latest generation of PlayStation because I never buy the Pro. I only ever play a couple of exclusive games on it a year, and truth be told I don't get real value out of it, but I buy one every generation even though I know that. And yes, I know that there is a chance of every PlayStation game coming to PC and being playable on the PCBox when it releases, but I don't like to wait a year or two for the game to arrive on PC, and thus I know I will be getting the PS6. Ultimately, my issue is not whether or not I will get the PCBox, it is I can foresee circumstances where it does not come to pass, but I truly hope that doesn't happen. As much as we all like to say, "told you so" every now and again, this is one thing I'll be happy to be wrong about.
I'd like to be around to see the arrival of the PS7 (and the PS8..!), but I'll be in my mid-70s before it appears, and honestly, at that point all bets are off. What I will say though is I am in no hurry to die, and I have a huge gaming backlog to work through. In fact, I have so many unplayed games in my library that I could probably be gaming until I'm 100 before I complete them all. So that's my challenge sorted! 😉
Anyway, keep smiling, matey. Not long before E-Day should be out, and I might have to reach out to you to get me a Collector's Edition because Gears 5 Collector's Edition was not available in the UK... 😂
Re: These 20+ Games Are Coming To Xbox Next Week (January 26-30)
Nothing for me on Game Pass, which is not unusual, as I have already played all the big hitters landing on the service.
I do have Code Vein 2 on pre-order though, and I am very much looking forward to that...
Re: Clockwork Revolution Dev Talks Choice & Consequence In Its Upcoming Steampunk RPG
Very much looking forward to Clockwork Revolution, but I have my doubts as to whether we will see it release this year.
Prior to the Developer's Direct, this game occupied the number two spot in my most anticipate first-party game, but after seeing Fable it has not slipped to third. Of course, that could change when I see more of Clockwork Revolution, which will hopefully be at the next showcase...
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (January 24-25)
Yes, @Cakefish, I pre-ordered it the moment I saw you mention the pricing error, so thank you very much for that!
I am hoping to finish King Arthur: Knight's Tale in time to be on Code Vein 2 day one, but it's actually quite long game, so I might be a day or two late starting. Very much looking forward to playing it, has to be said.
Just checked, and my pre-order still stands as well, which is excellent news...!
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (January 24-25)
On my Series X - I'm currently playing through King Arthur: Knight's Tale, which is a little bit like an XCOM game. I am currently in Act 3 of 4, and am undertaking my 34th mission right now. I'm really enjoying the game.
My PS5 has not been switched on since October last year when I finished Ghost of Yotei.
My Switch has not be switched on for about 3 years now, and the last game I played on my gaming PC was in 2023...
Re: Poll: How Would You Grade 2026's Xbox Developer Direct?
Totally agree with your point about it being impossible to say what Sony or Microsoft will definitively do in 10 years, @HonestHick. As I said, I do think that the PS6 will be a traditional console, but what they do after that will be open to question. If the PCBox is in any way successful, then I think Sony will follow suit with the PS7. If it is an unmitigated disaster, then I think the PS7 will be far more console like in its design (though we are then talking another 10+ years away, and I may not be around to see what form it takes!).
I know people keep talking about the deals that Microsoft have struck, and that it means there will definitely be a PCBox, but honestly, if it is a loss-making project, I can see Microsoft shelving it. Indeed, there are two possibilities in that regard, first is that Microsoft will just take the hit on the contracts, and break them (though there is probably a buyout or buyback clause anyway that will likely cost less than just breaching the contracts), or secondly, and more likely, I would suggest, is that Microsoft will use whatever components they have acquired by way of contracts in other devices, or amend what components they have so that the companies in question still get the headline money.
Ultimately, I have been saying for a while it all depends on what happens this year; if Microsoft reveal the PCBox either in June or at the Game Awards (which is what they did with the Xbox One), then I think it is almost certain that the PCBox will come next year. If we get more radio silence, then with each passing month I think the probabilities lessen as to whether the PCBox sees the light of day.
I want to think that Microsoft will definitely remain in the console business, albeit with what will effectively be a PC, but I am not 100% confident that they will. There are many market forces pushing against Microsoft right now, and we all know that Nadella can be exceptionally ruthless. Sometimes he probably gets it right, but other times his decisions are questionable, but he is a numbers man, and if the numbers do not make sense, then I can see him pulling the plug on the PCBox.
It's going to be a tense wait for information on the PCBox, and right now it's all a little too quiet for my liking...
Re: Poll: How Would You Grade 2026's Xbox Developer Direct?
PC will almost undoubtedly prove to be the final destination of gamers, @HonestHick, but that is not the nub of what I was getting at.
Firstly, the point we agree on; I think the PS6 will be a traditional console, and that the PS7 will be much more akin to the planned PCBox.
Now to the parts we disagree on; you can legitimately ask why own an Xbox and not a PS5, but you cannot ask why own an Xbox but not a PS5? In other words, going forwards, you will be able to play all Xbox games on a PlayStation, but not all PlayStation games on an Xbox. It is a crucial point.
It is also a crucial fact that whilst you gaming PCs cost significantly more than a console. At the very bare minimum, you could get the equivalent of a potato as a gaming PC for double the cost of a console, but realistically speaking you are looking to spend three times the cost of a PS5 before you are getting a capable gaming PC.
Add to that, not every PlayStation is landing on the PC, and many of those that are take a year or two to do so, so whilst it is true that you can play every Xbox game on a PC, you will have to wait a year or two for the same to be true of PlayStation games (and that's before you get into the rumours that Sony maybe rethinking their strategy of releasing games on PC at all).
So is the direction of travel PC? Yes, but if you only want to buy one console right now, the PlayStation is the obvious choice, and that then leans into the possibility of Microsoft withdrawing from consoles altogether. Microsoft are barely making consoles available for purchase now, at a time when they are more or less the same price as their competitor, and if the rumours are true that both Sony and Microsoft may delay their next consoles due to RAM prices, then I think there exists the real possibility that Microsoft may just opt to withdraw completely because releasing an uber expensive niche console when no one is buying their consoles as is, may well be a pointless venture as far as Microsoft are concerned, and putting all their games on the PlayStation just means that fewer and fewer people will see the need to own an Xbox...
Re: Poll: How Would You Grade 2026's Xbox Developer Direct?
Sorry if my comments came over like I was offended, that wasn't my intention.
I think people are passionate about gaming, but also some are immature, it is, after all just a plastic box! That said, I really want Xbox to succeed, because I think the competition with Sony is precisely why Xbox bought out a fantastic console in the Series X and why Sony brought out an equally fantastic PS5. Without that competition, the need to push boundaries is lessened, because then it becomes about saving money rather than innovation, and also charging maximum prices to what would effectively be a captive audience. I want both Sony and Microsoft to succeed, though the truth is that Sony are able to forge the path they want to, and Microsoft are being forced to react to the circumstances they find themselves in.
Regardless, these are certainly interesting times. All we can do is keep smiling... 👍
Re: Xbox Exec Explains Why Some Games Are 'Day One' For PS5, And Others Aren't
I agree, @themightyant. I think he said, without saying, that the consistency they will give will be day one games Xbox and PlayStation.
What I also read into what he said is that the delays in some games being day one on the PlayStation is down to a change in strategy after development has begun, leading to delays in getting the game out of the door.
Also, Grounded 2 is a really poor example of a game that is not out on the PlayStation already because it has been released in Early Access...
Re: Fable Showcases Stunning Gameplay Deep Dive, Arrives On Xbox, PC & PS5 Later This Year
I think going forward it will be every game going day and date on the PlayStation, @themightyant. Kiln makes sense because it is a multiplayer game, but I would not be shocked if every game goes to the PlayStation now. I think the writing has been on the wall for a while now, and it is just a case of getting used to it.
Personally, I think it is a massive mistake, but I don't think that Microsoft really have any choice in the matter anymore. Xbox consoles sales are basically irrelevant now, people just are not buying them, and worse than that, they are buying those consoles provided by their competitors, so it's not a case of consoles are not selling, it is a case of Xbox consoles are not selling.
Add into that equation Game Pass, and the fact that it has undoubtedly altered peoples buying habits on the Xbox, and you can see that Microsoft have no choice but to recoup their investments on rival consoles.
My biggest concern is what this means for Xbox as a console. I know that we are apparently going to have the PCBox next year, but I do believe that if it is delayed out of 2027 there is a strong possibility of it being shelved completely, which for me personally will be pretty devastating because I have over 1600 games in my digital library, and if I am unable to replace my Series X with an upgrade, or even a new Series X, could be very problematic. I don't think the PCBox is a done deal until we actually have a proper reveal, and maybe even a release date. I think if we get a reveal during the Summer's showcase, then we should be safe. If not, then it could mean there are problems on the horizon....
Re: Poll: How Would You Grade 2026's Xbox Developer Direct?
I utterly disagree, @Llamageddon. Certainly in my case it is not a matter of feeling superior, or having a console that is superior. For me it is the fact that Xbox as a console may well vanish in the next few years because Microsoft choose to step away from that particular path because that is not where they are making money.
I know some will cheer the demise of Xbox, but it is a particularly short-sighted mindset because even PlayStation needs competition from Xbox in the console space because if there is no competition, there is nothing to stop Sony from increasing the prices of their consoles, and also nothing to make Sony innovate when it comes to making consoles. Competition keeps prices down, and sees companies trying to do things differently, and better in an effort to one-up their rivals.
So, speaking personally, I couldn't give a toss about wanting to feel superior over a plastic box. It is utterly meaningless in that regard, but what I do care about is Xbox continuing to make consoles, and I fear that Microsoft releasing every game they make on rival consoles without any period of exclusivity does mean that people will be less inclined to either buy the next Xbox, nor stick with Xbox, which will hasten the demise of the Xbox consoles...
Re: Poll: How Would You Grade 2026's Xbox Developer Direct?
The problem is, @HonestHick, whilst I totally get your opinion that games should be everywhere, what it means for us Xbox gamers is that the more Microsoft move into being a publisher, the more likely they are to step away from being a console provider too. That will potentially leave many of us with huge games libraries stuck on ageing consoles because Microsoft don't introduce any more.
It really is a double-edged sword as far as being an Xbox gamer is concerned, though I do see the benefit for Microsoft themselves, as they rake in the money from PlayStation, and also I see the advantage for the PlayStation gamer as they get to play the games, and of course, all the money that these games bring in does benefit all gamers as it is fed back into developers enabling them to make more games.
The problem is that you have to consider Microsoft's position; they have a console that barely sells, people playing on Game Pass leading to people not buying games to the same extent as those on the rival platform, and, just to top it off, likely as not subscriber numbers falling on Game Pass due to all the increases in prices.
So yes, Microsoft putting these games on the PlayStation is definitely a benefit to PlayStation gamers, but it could well prove to bring about the demise of Xbox (in terms of consoles)...
Re: Fable Showcases Stunning Gameplay Deep Dive, Arrives On Xbox, PC & PS5 Later This Year
In fairness, @fatpunkslim, none of the games that I have been saying will be day one releases on the PlayStation have released as yet. Not one! I have been saying that Fable and Gears of War: E-Day will be, and also that Forza Horizon 6 would have been but, in line with the rumours that work on the port began to late, it will release at the end of this year.
As none of that has happened as yet, I have not been wrong.
It is the same as I have said that Game Pass will cease about 3 years after the release of the PCBox, which, if it releases in 2027, means we will see the end of Game Pass in around 2030.
As none of those events have come to pass, simply because we have not yet reached that point in history, I cannot be wrong, which is something that I have pointed out before. I cannot be wrong about something that is going to happen in the future when we are not there yet.
What I will say is that I firmly believe that the fact that Fable is going to be day and date marks a turning point for Microsoft. What I think it means is that every game will be released multi-platform day one. I think the 'case by case' basis is now past.
Lastly, I will add that none of this pleases me. In fact quite the opposite because I strongly believe that this approach that Microsoft is now taking will hasten the end of the foray into consoles, and that is the very last thing that I want to happen. Thus, had I been wrong about all of this, I would have been at my happiest, and I would also have put my hands up and said so...
Re: Fable Showcases Stunning Gameplay Deep Dive, Arrives On Xbox, PC & PS5 Later This Year
All I can suggest, @fatpunkslim, is what I have said a few times now; I don't think Avowed, Hellblade 2 or South of Midnight were released first on the Xbox with the intention of them being timed-exclusives. I think the situation with those games is exactly as we saw with Forza Horizon 5; the games were made for the Xbox, and then the strategy changed. Then the strategy evolved into 'let's put these games on the PlayStation', and because it takes time to make these ports there was an inherent period of exclusivity that was only there for as long as it took the teams to prepare the PlayStation ports.
I think you'll find that now every game will be day and date on the PlayStation, and I would put money on it that there are a few games that have been internally delayed whilst the PlayStation ports are finalised, just so those games can then release day and date too.
I think it's something we will have to get used to. In a rare moment of agreement, I do concur that I think not having exclusives is a mistake. With the cost of Game Pass now, and with what sounds like a premium priced next Xbox on the horizon, I think not having exclusives, even timed-exclusives, will mean that people will wonder whether it is worth joining the Xbox ecosystem. It is great that more people get to play these games on their preferred platforms, but I don't think it will help Microsoft shift consoles, and that could be very problematic for the future. We just have to hope that Microsoft nail the next console, and put an end to their missteps, because I want Xbox to thrive not just in the games space, but also with their consoles, and that's the part that has me concerned...
Re: Fable Showcases Stunning Gameplay Deep Dive, Arrives On Xbox, PC & PS5 Later This Year
It was a gentle brag, @GuyinPA75, but it is fun to make predictions, so I meant no harm. I was thinking about changing my name to Mystic Beaver though... 😉
Re: Poll: How Would You Grade 2026's Xbox Developer Direct?
I thought the show was excellent. I like Forza Horizon games for a while, maybe 50 hours, but then I get bored. Have to say that 6 is looking excellent, and I will likely play my son's copy as he will get the Premium Edition.
Beast of Reincarnation looked stunning and creative. I didn't know much about it going into the showcase, but it is definitely a game I shall play. It might even be the one game I play on Game Pass this year. I have Ultimate stacked until June 2027, but for the past two years have only played one game on it. There is a strong chance that RoB will be that game this year! 😂
As much as I thought FH6 was going to be the best showing for the night, I actually thought that Fable looked amazing, and was exactly what I wanted from a Fable game. Really looking forward to diving in. Hoping they announce a Collector's Edition, as although I am trying to cut back on how much I spend on gaming this year, I had already factored in buying a CE of Fable, so fingers crossed for that. I literally cheered when I saw a chicken get a proper kicking. This is what we want in a Fable game! 😂
Overall, I thought it was an excellent showcase, with the only bit I skipped being Kiln for which I have zero interest. Fine if you like that kind of thing, but not for me.
Anyway, I gave the Developer Direct a well deserved A...
Re: Roundup: Here's What Was Revealed At The Xbox Developer Direct 2026 Showcase
Sorry, @Lazar_Kaganovitch, but I have absolutely no idea what you saw that I didn't. What is it that you disapprove of...?
Re: Double Fine's 'Kiln' Revealed As The Surprise Game At Xbox Developer Direct 2026
Not interested, and indeed, because I watched the showcase around 30 minutes after it started, it was the one game that I skipped. For those that enjoy that type of thing, great, but it's definitely not for me...
Re: Fable Showcases Stunning Gameplay Deep Dive, Arrives On Xbox, PC & PS5 Later This Year
You've lost me, @Lazar_Kaganovitch. What agenda? Did I miss something...?
Re: Beast Of Reincarnation Continues To Impress, Releases On Xbox Game Pass In Summer 2026
The game looks pretty incredible, creative, and visually stunning. I didn't know that much about the game prior to the showcase, but now I am really looking forward to playing it...
Re: Fable Showcases Stunning Gameplay Deep Dive, Arrives On Xbox, PC & PS5 Later This Year
What can I say, I was right about Forza Horizon 6 releasing on the PlayStation this year, and I was right about Fable being a day and date game across all platforms.
These were my predictions:
May: Forza Horizon 6
July: Fable (although I still think it will be delayed until next year). Day and date on the PlayStation too.
August (or June if Fable is delayed): Halo: Combat Evolved
September: Gears Of War: E-day. Day and date on the PlayStation too.
October: Call of Duty as it will want to avoid the November release of GTA 6 (assuming it isn't delayed again, which I think it will be).
November: Forza Horizon 6 on PlayStation.
I did get the notion that Fable was going to be delayed wrong, by the looks of things. It'll be interesting to see how the rest of my predictions pan out. Thus far, the one I have right is the release month of Forza on the Xbox. Hopefully I'm right about E-Day in particular as that is my most anticipated game this year..
Re: Fable Showcases Stunning Gameplay Deep Dive, Arrives On Xbox, PC & PS5 Later This Year
My thoughts exactly, @Weebleman. I've been telling him this would happen, and kept being told I was wrong! As I have said so often, just because have staggered releases and timed-exclusives is what they have done up until now, it does not mean it will always be that way. Maybe we can finally put that so often cited argument to bed...
Re: Gears Of War: E-Day Will Be Packed With 'Heart & Emotion', Set In A Single War-Ravaged City
It seems to me all these youngsters think life is eternal, @BleedingDreamer. It's only when you get to our age that you realise time is a valuable resource and very much limited...! 🤣
Re: Halo Studios Admits That The Series Needs A Bigger Playerbase As PS5 Community Awaits
But it doesn't make sense, @fatpunkslim. If 55% of console gamers also game on a PC, then surely that 42% of people that game on a PC are exactly the same people, just counted twice?
What I will say though is I find it highly doubtful that 55% of people that game on a console also game on a PC. That seems to me to be a massively inflated number. From what I can gather, the vast majority of gamers only game on a single platform, and when that comes to consoles, more of them are on either the Switch or the PlayStation When console gamers do have more than one platform, it is usually a PS5 or Xbox, and a Switch. I find it very difficult to believe that they also have access to a PC too, unless, that is, having a cheeky game of Patience on your work PC during your lunchbreak counts, which if that is the case, then the source that you are quoting is highly suspicious.
So, out of curiosity, what is the source? I'd very much like to read it for myself so that I can get a better understanding of the figures, and the methodology behind it...
Re: Gears Of War: E-Day Will Be Packed With 'Heart & Emotion', Set In A Single War-Ravaged City
Well, maybe a bit more than a titbit then, @FraserG...! 😂
The problem is, I am desperate for E-Day to see the light of day, and so there is never enough information coming out...
Re: Ubisoft Cancels Multiple Games, Closes Studios, And Unveils New Strategy For The Future
I think the most layoffs have been resultant from companies chasing the mythical cash-cow that is Live Service games, @jesse_dylan. Even when layoffs happen from a AAA single-player game, there is often a Live Service game that has gone caput somewhere else within the company. Basically it is the failure of one that leads to money being withdrawn from elsewhere. Obviously that is not true in every case, but it certainly seems to be the case more often than not...
Re: Gears Of War: E-Day Will Be Packed With 'Heart & Emotion', Set In A Single War-Ravaged City
Do you think the release of news regarding E-Day today of all days, is a coincidence, @Kezelpaso & @FraserG, or do you think it might feature in the Developer Direct? Or do you think this is a titbit designed to feed us something because it is not in the DD?
I do find the timing interesting, but cannot make my mind up why they have released this today. Personally, I do not think it will be in the DD, but I say that as a pessimist because E-Day is my most anticipated game of this year, not just first-party, but of all of them, and I feel starved of information...
Re: Gears Of War: E-Day Will Be Packed With 'Heart & Emotion', Set In A Single War-Ravaged City
we only have so much time on this planet
And therein lies my problem, @Kezelpaso... 😂
Re: Halo Studios Admits That The Series Needs A Bigger Playerbase As PS5 Community Awaits
Plus, 42% of PC gamers also play on console, and 55% of console gamers also play on PC.
Make that make sense, @fatpunkslim! How can it be that if 55% of console gamers play on PC, and yet only 42% of PC gamers play on console? Surely the figures would be exactly the same?
I mean, if I game on my Xbox, and on my PS5, then surely I game on both?
The other thing that needs to be questioned is; what is a console, and what is a PC. Is the Steam Deck a PC or a console, or is it both? Is the Switch a console or a handheld, or both?
How many of those PC gamers own both a PC and a Steam Deck, and therefore does that mean they are really only gaming on a PC, or does the Steam deck then mean they are also gaming on a console?
The most likely combo for a PC gamer is PC and Steam Deck, or PC and Switch, because that means they have access to the vast majority of games out there.
I own a gaming PC, and a Series X, and a PS5, and a Switch. How many times do I count within those percentages? Does the fact that I have not gamed on my PC or my Switch for 2 and 3 years respectively, still mean that I count as a PC and Nintendo gamer? And that's before we get into the fact that I also play a couple of games on my mobile!
Do you see how meaningless these percentages can become? The only thing we know for sure is that PC gaming is growing, but beyond that, it becomes a lot less certain.
The point is that you like to throw out all these facts and figures, but you provide no details of from where they are derived, and also no context whatsoever. You tell me that I should not base my assessments on my own needs and wants, before then going on to do the exact same thing for yourself! Honestly, I do not share your fanaticism for Xbox, and that is despite, most likely being much more financially invested in the brand. What I do try to do is cast a far more objective eye on things. Like everything in life, we all have are innate biases, but I do at try and keep mine in check to at least some degree...
Re: Roundup: The First Reviews Are In For Final Fantasy 7 Remake On Xbox Series X
I think that having it as a GotY title for an Xbox site such as this is entirely acceptable, @FraserG, as it is definitely going to be one of the biggest games to hit Xbox this year. The reason I posed the question though was because they have obviously made a fair few changes to the game, and then brought it to Xbox, and so I wondered whether that would allow it to be considered for GotY more generally, which I would not have agreed with...