I took a quick look and could not see the percentage, @themightyant, only the number of reviews. That said, if you told me 90% of 500 people thought a game was great, or 85% of 80,000 people thought it was poor, I'd be far more inclined to believe the 80,000, even though the percentage was lower.
I get what you mean, and personally, I'd include both stats because they really reinforce the wording of 'Positive' or 'Overwhelmingly Positive', or whatever. On it's own, I don't think they tell the whole story, @FraserG, and if you really want to impress your statement that a game has a certain level of review, I think saying how many people concur is really powerful. After all, how many times have we seen a game has hit a score of 80 on Metacritic, after just 10 reviews? Would you be more inclined to believe them, or 80,000 people telling you that it was in fact a 9/10?
In all honesty, I think that too much weight is given to professional reviews (some of whom have their own axes to grind), and that it is only when a game is in the hands of us gamers, and you see several thousand reviews that you get the real picture.
Anyway, apologies, @FraserG, I didn't mean to cause a headache...
Thank you, @GeeEssEff. I wasn't aware of that. I do note that they article has been amended with my suggestion though, which I think is excellent. I love it when the staff respond to suggestions...
I have played 4 of the games on the list, and so my order would be:
1. The Outer Worlds 2 2. DOOM: The Dark Ages 3. Gears of War: Reloaded 4. Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2
Still annoyed that I played the entirety of The Outer Worlds 2 on the Very Hard difficulty, and yet the achievement for doing so did not pop, but I did love the game.
I loved DOOM: The Dark Ages too, and if I could put it at joint top, I would, but obviously that is not an option. I felt it was far better than Doom: Eternal, simply because I was not a fan of the movement in that game.
When it comes to Gears of War: Reloaded, I enjoyed going back through the game and obtaining all the achievements for the campaign, but goodness me it was a poor effort (and I use the term effort very loosely!). The friendly AI was atrocious, and it really looked and played no differently to the Ultimate Edition.
Lastly Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 was not as good as the first game, in my opinion, however, the visuals and vistas were stunning.
My plan for 2026 is to try and get round to playing Avowed and South of Midnight, but honestly, despite being retired, I still find it difficult to get round to everything that I want to play, thus there is every chance that I will never get to play these games. Still, it was a decent year for Xbox games, but not stellar. I'd probably give them 8 out of 10, and a Could Do Better review... 😉
It's a real shame that it's come to this, @Questionable_Duck. From what I have read of the game, it is superb. Unfortunately, I think this kind of thing will become more and more frequent because I think that many developers look at Xbox and simply think that it is not worth the effort of putting their game on the platform. Whether that is true or not, is another matter, but I have a feeling that is what they think...
Fantastic game that I cannot recommend highly enough. Indeed, I managed to get all the achievements when it first released, and because I like to support Larian, I even bought the PS5 version yesterday (it's something like £12 at the moment, rather than the usual £50), meaning I now own it on Xbox, PC and PlayStation.
Now the challenge is to see if I can unlock the Platinum on the PS5, which is something I have never done in any game. That's me New Year game sorted... 😊
Hey, @FraserG, me again! Quick question, would it be possible to add the number of people who have given the reviews when stating what the Steam review status is, please? I find the number of people giving that opinion to be more telling than just the wording (Overwhelmingly Positive, in this case)?
So in this games particular case, it would be Overwhelmingly Positive with over 83,000 reviews, which I think is amazing. I just think that the sheer number of reviews adds credence to the positivity around the game. Just a thought. Feel free to ignore me... 😎
I much prefer it when the focus in solely single-player or it is designed as a co-operative experience, but find when they try to do both they usually make one or the other less enjoyable. Focussing solely on one is easily for the best, in my opinion, and focussing solely on solo is even better when it comes to me, as that is how I play pretty much everything with the exception of forced co-op in the likes of Split Fiction, or Horde in Gears 5...
I was wracking my brain trying to think whether there had been one, @Kezelpaso, and could not recall one. I think it would be a great setting for a gritty war. I'd just like something with a real setting that piques the interest...
What I really miss is Call of Duty in a proper war; so WW1 or WW2, or even maybe something like the Vietnam war. All this jetting to various locations as a specialist team is just not as entertaining to me.
I guess if it is in the 90's or 2000s it could be set in the Gulf or Afghanistan, but even then they were more a series of battles, and whilst horrendous, were not wars on the scale of the first two World Wars.
I don't know, maybe the more recent games just lack the feel of authenticity, and just lack feeling part of something far bigger...
I knew the name was relatively new, @SeaDaVie , but didn't realise it was Ricky himself. I did wonder whether he would return (and will again now!). I have to say, his most recent persona did not seem quite as confrontational as his original alter ego was when he got a bee in his bonnet.
Still, I wonder what the record is for the number of times people have been banned on this site, and whether he either holds that record, or is planning on going for the record... 😂
I have said the same myself, here on these very forums, @ilyn. If the PCBox comes in at £400+ more than the PS6, then you may as well keep your very capable Series console, get a PS6 and a Steam Box and you have all bases covered. Heck, if you're not fussed about Steam, you could save yourself the price of the Steam Box, and just run with a Series console and a PS6, that way you retain access to all your old Xbox titles, and most probably all the new content too because I very much expect the Series consoles to be supported for the entire generation of the PCBox, partly because I think the PCBox will prove to be very niche, but also because the Series consoles already do most things to a very high standard.
I really don't think even Microsoft believe that the PCBox will sell in huge numbers. I'd be surprised if they even think they will hit 10 million lifetime sales. However, I do think that Microsoft will keep making the Series consoles too, and maybe even a Series X2 at some point if they really want to remain in a console, rather than PC, market.
Time will tell, but I think backwards compatible, whilst nice, is not necessarily top of people's list when looking at getting upgrading their console, and certainly is not a factor when people are buying their first console. It's all about the current and future games, and then the cost, and if you are looking to buy your child their first home console, you probably are not going to be splurging £1000+ on the PCBox, particularly not if the PS6 is selling for £600-£700.
As a footnote, like you, I still have a PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4, and currently are using a PS5 (I don't have any of the mid-generation models, so they are all base versions). I also have an Xbox 360, Xbox One, and am currently using a Series X. With each of my Xboxes I do actually have the mid-generation refreshes too, as well as the base models. Indeed, I also have 3 different Collector's Xbox 360s (Halo/Gears of War/Modern Warfare), and I also have both the uber-limited Project Scorpio Xbox One and a Gears of War 4 Collector's Xbox One. The only one I'm not sure I have is the OG Xbox as I have a feeling I may have traded that one in when I got my first Xbox 360, although it could just as easily be in my loft, I honestly cannot remember. Thus, apart from the OG Xbox, I most certainly have all my bases covered... 😉😂
It is superbly recreated, and if you did not know that it was Counter Strike you'd be forgiven for thinking that it was actually Halo. I can totally understand why Microsoft would put a stop to this...
I think you are somewhat over-egging the desire of gamers to play older titles, @fatpunkslim. Now, I maybe speaking to my own personal tastes here, but I have always felt that most gamers prefer to play new or newer titles. You only have to look at all the comments about games releasing on Game Pass to see peoples eagerness to play upcoming games.
So yes, whilst having access to older games is always nice, and there will be people who have built up Xbox libraries that they do not wish to leave behind, I think when it comes to buying a new console people primarily think about what games it will get in the future, rather than what games it can play from the past. After all, if you are primarily thinking about older games, then really there is no need to move on from the Series consoles (which is something I think the majority will do), rather than buy a uber-expensive console to do so.
I know what you are getting at, but I do not believe it will be a priority for most gamers. Most gamers will likely be weighing up the cost of buying a PS6 versus the PCBox. I mean, the PS6 is quite possibly going to be £400 cheaper than the PCBox, maybe even cheaper still, and if it is a question of having access to a few older titles then it maybe cheaper to rebuy them on the PlayStation than pay considerably more to access them via the PCBox. That said, someone like myself, with over 1600 games in my Series X digital library, will likely want to get the PCBox, but I would suggest that I am the exception (because of the size of my library) rather than the norm...
I'm confused, @fatpunkslim, how is Ghost of Yotei not a Sony first-party game? It was made by Sucker Punch, which is owned by Sony having been acquired by them in 2011, and it is published by Sony...
I have completed both The Outer Worlds 2 and the main story of Expedition 33, and thoroughly enjoyed both. I got half way through Split Fiction, but then my friend became too busy to finish it. I also finished Doom: The Dark Ages, which I thought was excellent.
Really not sure why I have not yet played South of Midnight because it looks like a game that I would very much like. I can only put it down to having simply too many games to play. I will try to get to it at some point next year.
I really enjoyed the Outer Worlds 2. I played it on Very Hard, went through the entire game without touching the difficulty settings, and have to say there were moments in the game that were extremely tough and which had me considering lowering the difficulty. I'm glad I didn't, because I ultimately finished it, though I was exceptionally disappointed when the Very Hard achievement did not pop. Did anyone else experience similar issues...?
I can't say I really noticed any difference, @NickramCTID, and it played really well on my Series X, and I played it with a controller on both PC and the Xbox. I too prefer to play on my Xbox, and don't recall any issues at all. Hope that helps.
No doubt we will see the likes of XCOM 2 on sale because it is always in a sale! Nearly always 90%-95% off, and totally worth the money. Easily the best in the genre. Just wish they would release XCOM 3, because I would pre-order that in a heartbeat...
That's a great example, @Coletrain. Most games get updates and fixes after release for which they were marked down on when first reviewed, and most games are in a better state thereafter. Reviews of the bigger titles with issues at the start, or which have been significantly added to would be great to see.
However, that said, I do firmly believe that a game should release in optimal condition in the first place, and I am always puzzled as to why games are rushed out because when they then review badly for reasons that should have been known about prior to release, they are only hurting their bottom line in the long run.
I know some studios are strapped for cash, and pushing the game out early maybe the only option, but that is not the case for most. Why put out a game that scores a 7 or 8, when you can sort it prior to release and get 9s and 10s? No matter what people say, they see a game that scores a 7 (and even an 8), and people shy away from it. When it scores a 9 or 10, we are all over it. It makes zero sense to me because the developers are literally losing money in the long run. They're going to do the work to fix the game anyway, so why not just delay its release in the first place...?
I pre-ordered Mindseye, and then managed to get a refund on it. Funny enough I still have it installed on my Xbox, and the game gets updated every now and again. I never ever started the game when I owned it, and am curious whether I can still actually access it now, but I've never tried to start it as yet.
I have to say, I would love games to be reviewed, say, two years after they have released (two years being about the time when most, if not all, updates have been done to a game) so that we get a review that speaks to the current condition of a game, rather than when it first released...
I still have Divinity Original Sin 2 installed on my Xbox, @FraserG, and when I tried to start it just now, it immediately said it needed an update. The actual update is 19.82g, which seems fairly substantial to me, though I am no expert on these things...
I agree, @ZeD. I too enjoyed Expedition 33, and although I would not (and have not!) put it in my top spot, it certainly deserves a lot of acclaim, and I can totally understand people voting for it as their personal favourites. It is, after all, all about personal preferences. I think it is disrespectful to call people sheep because they like something that you may not have...
One of my favourite games of all time. I kick-started the game way back when, and then played it in Early Access before then playing the full release on the PC. When it released on the Xbox, I bought it again, and even managed to get the achievement for playing through on the hardest difficulty without dying, which remains to this day the achievement that I am most proud of, as I think it was the hardest one I have done. Indeed I just checked and I unlocked it on the 10th of November 2018, and it has been unlocked by 0.28% of other players. I seem to remember when I first unlocked it, that the achievement had only been popped by 0.09% of players. I actually managed to get the full 1000g on the game, which is something I rarely do, truth be told...
I agree with you entirely, @Naughtyottsel92. I bought my OG Xbox day one in Game, here in the UK, and have then pre-ordered every Xbox ever since, including the mid-generation refreshes. I have done the same with every PlayStation, except that I never bother with the mid-generation refreshes because it is not, and has never been my main console (except for the PS1, but that's only because the Xbox did not exist back then).
I buy a PlayStation every time, but only ever play a handful of games on it each generation. Indeed, I play more games on my Xbox in a single year than I do on a PlayStation in an entire generation.
I always feel the need to say these things because very often as soon as you say anything that is remotely critical of Xbox, or could be construed as such, people think you are a Sony fanboy, and I have been accused of such so many times it's ridiculous, but honestly, if you cut me, I bleed green.
I do own a very capable gaming PC, but I really do not enjoy gaming on it. The last game I played on there was Baldur's Gate 3 when it first released, as obviously there was quite a delay before it came to Xbox (where I bought it for a second time, I might add!).
However, I absolutely agree, probabilities are that the PCBox is going to cost in excess of £1000, putting it out of reach of families looking to buy a console for their kids, and also most casual gamers. Most PC gamers will probably already have a PC that is as capable, or more capable than the PCBox, and so will have no interest in the device.
If the rumours are true that the PS6 will release in 2027, then the PCBox will be in direct competition with it, and the PS6 is likely to be something like £400 cheaper, meaning it is the more affordable offering, and thus far more likely to sell very well indeed. I can foresee many people looking to jump off the Xbox at that point, and join PlayStation instead. The best chance that I can see for the PCBox is if it has a head start on the PS6, meaning that it needs to release this year, however, that scenario is looking less and less likely now...
I think you hit the nail on the head, @themightyant. What we, as the lay person, think of as graphics, is not what DF are awarding Doom for, which is why I said I think they are talking about performance as much as anything...
Is Metroid Prime Switch 2 only, @LordDieALot, or is it also available on the original Switch? The type of game looks like something that I would enjoy...
I totally agree @Naughtyottsel92. Microsoft could do the same, but I think truth be told, they have lost interest in console sales, and now that Game Pass is (reportedly) stalling, I think they are looking for a way out being a subscription service provider too. I think that Nadella is looking to push Xbox in a very different direction than we, the gamers, would wish...
I then to play every game upon release, @Shinato2024. I certainly played Spiderman within the first month, and the only reason I was slightly late playing it was because I play Miles Morales right before it.
I play GoY on the day it released, as I did Days Gone: Remastered. I also played The Outer Worlds 2 the day it released, as I did Gears of War: Reloaded and Doom: The Dark Ages.
I buy all my games by way of pre-order, rather than play them on Game Pass, and so prefer to get on them straight away...
Can't say I recall any vegetation or much variety in textures in Doom, @Shinato2024. Honestly, if you go through Doom, you will not see much in the way of detail in the game, and much of the game was pretty much the same when it comes to setting. There is undoubtedly more detail in GoY.
I have to say I am utterly baffled by the decision, though I do agree that it is down to personal taste. However, when a company is making a neutral decision, you'd think personal taste was not a factor...
As much as I hate it when Sony do these periods of exclusivity, I totally understand why they do it. Yes, this one game, taken in isolation, will probably not really move the dial when it comes to sales of the PS5, but it is the accumulative effect of many such titles being exclusive to the Sony ecosystem. It is not a matter of just this one game, but all of those games that are exclusive to the PlayStation.
If you watched the whole of the Game Awards show this year, as I did, there were something like 8-10 AAA games that were shown that said they were releasing either only on the PS5, or on both the PS5 and PC, in 2026 to 2027.
With that many games missing the Xbox, at least upon initial release, it is easy to see the PlayStation as a more attractive proposition than the Xbox, particularly when you also take into account the rising costs of both the Series consoles, and also Game Pass.
These things mount up, and are not good news for Xbox...
So because GoY has the same insane level of graphics as GoT has, it cannot be regarded as the best? That makes no sense at all to me.
It's like saying to Mo Farah, 'yes, we know you came in first place, and broke the World record again, but we're going to give the Gold Medal to @OldGamer999 because he got a personal best in this years London marathon.'
In other words, just because a studio has produced the best graphics in a past game, it should not exclude them from being regarded as the best once again.
I am honestly completely stumped by whatever it is that Digital Foundry are basing their decisions on, @OldGamer999. When I think of a games graphics, I am thinking of what a game looks like and the level of detail on display, so how Doom can beat out Ghost of Yotei is utterly baffling to me. If you are going to start including things such as framerates, etc. then you are talking about performance, not just what the games look like (though I have no idea if that's what DF are saying). I have no idea how Digital Foundry have come to their conclusions. It just seems very odd to me, and you know well that I am no Sony fanboy...
That Ghost of Yotei is not in the top 3 is really strange to me, @OldGamer999. It's one thing to not have it as the number one game, but completely another to omit it from the top 3. Honestly, it seems to me that Digital Foundry are basing this decision on more than just what the game looks like, unless I (or more likely they!) completely misunderstand the meaning of the word 'Graphics'...
I'm not going to lie, this surprises me. This is not a comment on Doom: The Dark Ages as a game, as I very much enjoyed it believing it to be far better than Eternal. Indeed, I bought the Collector's Edition, the Collector's Elite Controller (which I am using right now when I play), and also the Collector's Standard Controller, so it's not as if I am not a fan of the game.
However, from a visual standpoint, I would have thought best graphics would have gone to Ghost of Yotei, which was a beautiful looking game packed with detail. Doom, which ran beautifully, lacked detail in much of the terrain and rooms.
Maybe Digital Foundry are taking more into account than pure graphics, and are including things such as performance too. I don't know, it seems like a slightly odd decision when Ghost of Yotei doesn't even hit the top 3...
I can't say I agree with you, truth be told, @Shinato2024. I play most of the big Xbox games upon release, and I play many of the big PlayStation ones. I don't recall ever having experienced a bug in a PlayStation game, and that includes Spiderman, which did indeed have some reported bugs. However, the only game I can recall not experiencing a bug in from the games that Xbox released this year is Doom: The Dark Ages. In each of the other games that they released this year, I had bugs of varying degrees, and honestly, if you take a step back, and try to look at things through a more neutral viewpoint, Xbox games are criticised for bugs for good reason.
Out of the 3 games that I played on my Xbox, that were released by Xbox, as I said, the only game that I do not recall experiencing any bugs in was Doom. Gears of War: Reload is a shoddy game to say the least, The AI companions are completely broken for starters, though I accept that it is built on the foundations of a very old game.
The Outer Worlds 2 is an amazing game, but I also had several bugs whilst playing it, including one very frustrating one wherein I completed the game on Very Hard and the achievement did not pop.
I don't think that it is a case of Xbox being treated differently, or more harshly, for the most part, it is simply that their games do tend to release with far more issues, and so that gains traction in the media. Sony's games tend to have far fewer bugs, and consequently there is nothing to be reported widely in the media.
Personally, I do believe that Xbox games can be given slightly harsher treatment in the media, and there are probably more pro-PlayStation outlets than there are pro-Xbox, but that is not the same as the games themselves being the issue. If an Xbox game releasing in a less than optimal condition, then that will be reported widely by a lot more outlets because there are more outlets looking to take a swing at Xbox, whereas, conversely, when something like Spiderman releases with some bugs, it is not then reported on by the Xbox media in the same way. So yes, there is some difference in exposure, but that is in no way the same as saying that Sony's games release with as many issues as Xbox games do, because that would not be true...
I would not put money on any of those winning Game of the Year next year, @Shinato2024 & @OldGamer999, not when Wolverine is releasing on the PlayStation, and I say that as a huge Xbox fan. I think the problem that Xbox faces are that when Sony release a game it is pretty much in the best condition it can be. Very rarely do you hear complaints regarding performance or bugs. The same cannot be said of Xbox. It is why you so often see Sony made games scoring 9s and 10s, and why Xbox games score 8s and lower. Sony's single-player game tend to have a feel of being epic, which is usually something that feels like it is missing from games made by Microsoft.
If you look at this year, I think if it had not been for Expedition 33, then Ghost of Yotei would have run away with all the Game of the Year awards. Sony may be producing only one or two games a year, but they are very high quality, whereas we are now living in an era of Microsoft releasing far more games, but they do not have that same feel or quality. It seems to me that Sony are prepared to give the time for the games to be of the highest quality, whereas Microsoft seem to rush the games out in order to meet some internal target or another.
Just to be clear, I have bought 33 games this year. 30 of them on the Xbox, and 3 on the PlayStation. Over half the games I bought were bought day one, and would mostly be considered to be AAA games. So I am not a PlayStation fanboy by any stretch...
I've played 7 of the games on the list from this year, so my choices would be:
1. Cronos: The New Dawn 2. Hell Is Us 3. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 4. The Outer Worlds 2 5. Doom: The Dark Ages 6. Space Marine 2 7. Gears of War: Reloaded
Cronos: The New Dawn is simply fantastic, and I hope it had enough success to see a sequel. It's a shame that it doesn't even seem to be getting a mention when it comes to awards this season.
If we were to include the only two games that I have played on my PlayStation this year, then my list would be as follows:
1. Cronos: The New Dawn 2. Ghost of Yotei 3. Hell Is Us 4. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 5. The Outer Worlds 2 6. Doom: The Dark Ages 7. Days Gone 8. Space Marine 2 9. Gears of War: Reloaded
Nothing for me here, and to me it looks a little weak. Again though, PC Game Pass receives two games and the console just one (and yes, I know that this is just the start of what we will be getting!).
It seems to me that Microsoft are consciously building up PC Game Pass far more than they are console Game Pass, which is annoying on two fronts; firstly the majority of us are console users, not PC gamers (although there was a report a couple of years back (I think) to say that PC Game Pass was seeing the strongest growth), but secondly, yes, we may well be getting a PCBox next, but the probabilities are that it will have a premium price tag to go with its premium qualities. Thus, if it does cost £1000 or more, then the vast majority of current Xbox gamers will either stick with their current Xbox, or move to the PS6. So it's all well and good them building up PC Game Pass in anticipation of the PCBox (assuming that's what they are doing), but most of us will be sticking with our consoles so won't benefit at all from all these games landing on PC Game Pass.
I cannot help but wonder who makes all these decisions at Microsoft because they really seem to be utterly clueless a lot of the time...
I thought the show was excellent to be fair. I watched all of it (half live, and then went to bed at 2 a.m., and watched the second half this afternoon), but had to avoid these forums today as I did not want any spoilers!
One thing that really struck me though, was that there were something 8 or 10 AAA high-quality games that were shown, and which were skipping Xbox, but were releasing on the PS5. None of these games were made by Sony, most if not all were also releasing on PC, so it may not be the case that Sony had brought any exclusivity. However, it was really noticeable just how many of these games were not releasing on the Xbox, which if borne out, is really not good for the brand, and I'd love to know why these developers have chosen to avoid Xbox...
Absolutely love Larian. They are undoubtedly the best developer out there.
Divinity Original Sin 1 & 2 are two of my favourite games of all time, and Baldur's Gate 3 is my favourite game of all time.
Not going to lie, I was hoping for Divinity Original Sin 3, but I was still ecstatic to see the reveal for the new game. I'm left wondering whether it will have Early Access again, in which case I will buy it on PC first (as I doubt they will do EA on console), and I am also wondering whether it will release simultanesously on the PC and console, or be staggered as was the case with BG3. Regardless, I kick-started DoS2, and I was there day one with the EA for BG3, and I will be there day one, wherever I need to be with Divinity.
The other thing that I hope to see is another of Larian's wonderful Collector's Edition, as I managed to get one for BG3, and at one point they were selling for over £1500 on eBay as they were highly sought after.
If, like me, you are a massive Larian fan, these are most definitely exciting times, and I cannot wait to learn more...
I bet the chap who said that Call of Duty was too big to fail is regretting saying that now!
Yes, the game will still have made money, but done well it will make much, much more. And the problem is that when gamers believe that a franchise has cooked the goose, they steer clear of it, meaning that next year could sell even fewer copies of the game.
Basically Microsoft needs to have their teams putting more effort in than they did with this particular game. It wasn't even in the running for best multiplayer at the Game Awards last night...
Back issues are no laughing matter, @Titntin. I gave myself a prolapsed disc in 1990 when I was building a wall. I bent down to pick up a breezeblock and that was the start of all my problems.
At the time it happened I was a fit young man who used to run marathons, and used to run into work each morning, before running home at the end of my shift. It was a run of 7 miles each way.
After I injured my back it was never as strong again, and I had a prolapsed disc on multiple occasions thereafter. I used to try running, but I was never as fit again. Eventually I just had to stop because I was just aggravating my back all the time.
I had surgery about 20 years ago, but it did not help and I was told there was nothing more that could be done. Just to add to my woes, I developed arthritis in my spine, which was nice! I was supposed to retire in 2012, but had to take early retirement from the Police in 2010.
The one saving grace is that my pension is decent enough to allow me to get by, and as I do not drink, nor go out and about all that much, I am able to save enough money to buy games each month. It's not what I expected in life, but I am fortunate in many ways, which is more than some can say.
Anyway, I hope you fair better than me, because I take 48 tablets a day, all for issues caused by my back. It's all fun and games (literally!). Make the most of your retirement when it comes and take it easy, mate... 👍
Comments 4,249
Re: 2025 GOTY Contender 'Dispatch' Just Got Revealed For Switch, But What About Xbox?
I took a quick look and could not see the percentage, @themightyant, only the number of reviews. That said, if you told me 90% of 500 people thought a game was great, or 85% of 80,000 people thought it was poor, I'd be far more inclined to believe the 80,000, even though the percentage was lower.
I get what you mean, and personally, I'd include both stats because they really reinforce the wording of 'Positive' or 'Overwhelmingly Positive', or whatever. On it's own, I don't think they tell the whole story, @FraserG, and if you really want to impress your statement that a game has a certain level of review, I think saying how many people concur is really powerful. After all, how many times have we seen a game has hit a score of 80 on Metacritic, after just 10 reviews? Would you be more inclined to believe them, or 80,000 people telling you that it was in fact a 9/10?
In all honesty, I think that too much weight is given to professional reviews (some of whom have their own axes to grind), and that it is only when a game is in the hands of us gamers, and you see several thousand reviews that you get the real picture.
Anyway, apologies, @FraserG, I didn't mean to cause a headache...
Re: 2025 GOTY Contender 'Dispatch' Just Got Revealed For Switch, But What About Xbox?
Thank you, @GeeEssEff. I wasn't aware of that. I do note that they article has been amended with my suggestion though, which I think is excellent. I love it when the staff respond to suggestions...
Re: 15 First-Party Games Released On Xbox In 2025, But Which Was Your Favourite?
I have played 4 of the games on the list, and so my order would be:
1. The Outer Worlds 2
2. DOOM: The Dark Ages
3. Gears of War: Reloaded
4. Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2
Still annoyed that I played the entirety of The Outer Worlds 2 on the Very Hard difficulty, and yet the achievement for doing so did not pop, but I did love the game.
I loved DOOM: The Dark Ages too, and if I could put it at joint top, I would, but obviously that is not an option. I felt it was far better than Doom: Eternal, simply because I was not a fan of the movement in that game.
When it comes to Gears of War: Reloaded, I enjoyed going back through the game and obtaining all the achievements for the campaign, but goodness me it was a poor effort (and I use the term effort very loosely!). The friendly AI was atrocious, and it really looked and played no differently to the Ultimate Edition.
Lastly Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 was not as good as the first game, in my opinion, however, the visuals and vistas were stunning.
My plan for 2026 is to try and get round to playing Avowed and South of Midnight, but honestly, despite being retired, I still find it difficult to get round to everything that I want to play, thus there is every chance that I will never get to play these games. Still, it was a decent year for Xbox games, but not stellar. I'd probably give them 8 out of 10, and a Could Do Better review... 😉
Re: 2025 GOTY Contender 'Dispatch' Just Got Revealed For Switch, But What About Xbox?
It's a real shame that it's come to this, @Questionable_Duck. From what I have read of the game, it is superb. Unfortunately, I think this kind of thing will become more and more frequent because I think that many developers look at Xbox and simply think that it is not worth the effort of putting their game on the platform. Whether that is true or not, is another matter, but I have a feeling that is what they think...
Re: Here's What The Divinity: Original Sin 2 Upgrade Looks Like On Xbox Series X|S
Fantastic game that I cannot recommend highly enough. Indeed, I managed to get all the achievements when it first released, and because I like to support Larian, I even bought the PS5 version yesterday (it's something like £12 at the moment, rather than the usual £50), meaning I now own it on Xbox, PC and PlayStation.
Now the challenge is to see if I can unlock the Platinum on the PS5, which is something I have never done in any game. That's me New Year game sorted... 😊
Re: Is 'Xbox Wrapped' Happening For 2025? Fans Clearly Want To See It
Still no news or rumours on this one, I take it, @FraserG...?
Re: 2025 GOTY Contender 'Dispatch' Just Got Revealed For Switch, But What About Xbox?
Hey, @FraserG, me again! Quick question, would it be possible to add the number of people who have given the reviews when stating what the Steam review status is, please? I find the number of people giving that opinion to be more telling than just the wording (Overwhelmingly Positive, in this case)?
So in this games particular case, it would be Overwhelmingly Positive with over 83,000 reviews, which I think is amazing. I just think that the sheer number of reviews adds credence to the positivity around the game. Just a thought. Feel free to ignore me... 😎
Re: Roundup: The First Reviews Have Arrived For Fallout Season 2
Really looking forward to watching this. Season One was excellent...
Re: Terminator: Survivors Is Now Single-Player Only & Has Ditched Its 2025 Early Access Release
I much prefer it when the focus in solely single-player or it is designed as a co-operative experience, but find when they try to do both they usually make one or the other less enjoyable. Focussing solely on one is easily for the best, in my opinion, and focussing solely on solo is even better when it comes to me, as that is how I play pretty much everything with the exception of forced co-op in the likes of Split Fiction, or Horde in Gears 5...
Re: Rumour: COD 2027 Will Be A New Sub-Series With 'Completely New Characters' On Xbox
I was wracking my brain trying to think whether there had been one, @Kezelpaso, and could not recall one. I think it would be a great setting for a gritty war. I'd just like something with a real setting that piques the interest...
Re: Rumour: COD 2027 Will Be A New Sub-Series With 'Completely New Characters' On Xbox
What I really miss is Call of Duty in a proper war; so WW1 or WW2, or even maybe something like the Vietnam war. All this jetting to various locations as a specialist team is just not as entertaining to me.
I guess if it is in the 90's or 2000s it could be set in the Gulf or Afghanistan, but even then they were more a series of battles, and whilst horrendous, were not wars on the scale of the first two World Wars.
I don't know, maybe the more recent games just lack the feel of authenticity, and just lack feeling part of something far bigger...
Re: The Much-Hyped Action-RPG 'Phantom Blade Zero' Officially Has One Year Of PS5 Exclusivity
I knew the name was relatively new, @SeaDaVie , but didn't realise it was Ricky himself. I did wonder whether he would return (and will again now!). I have to say, his most recent persona did not seem quite as confrontational as his original alter ego was when he got a bee in his bonnet.
Still, I wonder what the record is for the number of times people have been banned on this site, and whether he either holds that record, or is planning on going for the record... 😂
Re: OG Xbox Fan Spends Over A Year Making A 'Complete List' Of 630 Unreleased Games
That's some serious dedication there. Congrats to them...
Re: The Much-Hyped Action-RPG 'Phantom Blade Zero' Officially Has One Year Of PS5 Exclusivity
I have said the same myself, here on these very forums, @ilyn. If the PCBox comes in at £400+ more than the PS6, then you may as well keep your very capable Series console, get a PS6 and a Steam Box and you have all bases covered. Heck, if you're not fussed about Steam, you could save yourself the price of the Steam Box, and just run with a Series console and a PS6, that way you retain access to all your old Xbox titles, and most probably all the new content too because I very much expect the Series consoles to be supported for the entire generation of the PCBox, partly because I think the PCBox will prove to be very niche, but also because the Series consoles already do most things to a very high standard.
I really don't think even Microsoft believe that the PCBox will sell in huge numbers. I'd be surprised if they even think they will hit 10 million lifetime sales. However, I do think that Microsoft will keep making the Series consoles too, and maybe even a Series X2 at some point if they really want to remain in a console, rather than PC, market.
Time will tell, but I think backwards compatible, whilst nice, is not necessarily top of people's list when looking at getting upgrading their console, and certainly is not a factor when people are buying their first console. It's all about the current and future games, and then the cost, and if you are looking to buy your child their first home console, you probably are not going to be splurging £1000+ on the PCBox, particularly not if the PS6 is selling for £600-£700.
As a footnote, like you, I still have a PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4, and currently are using a PS5 (I don't have any of the mid-generation models, so they are all base versions). I also have an Xbox 360, Xbox One, and am currently using a Series X. With each of my Xboxes I do actually have the mid-generation refreshes too, as well as the base models. Indeed, I also have 3 different Collector's Xbox 360s (Halo/Gears of War/Modern Warfare), and I also have both the uber-limited Project Scorpio Xbox One and a Gears of War 4 Collector's Xbox One. The only one I'm not sure I have is the OG Xbox as I have a feeling I may have traded that one in when I got my first Xbox 360, although it could just as easily be in my loft, I honestly cannot remember. Thus, apart from the OG Xbox, I most certainly have all my bases covered... 😉😂
Re: Microsoft Forces Removal Of Halo Multiplayer Mod In Counter-Strike 2
It is superbly recreated, and if you did not know that it was Counter Strike you'd be forgiven for thinking that it was actually Halo. I can totally understand why Microsoft would put a stop to this...
Re: Dead Island 3 Is Officially In Development, Studio Provides Release Window Target
Fantastic news. Personally cannot wait. For all its developmental troubles Dead Island 2 was still a superb game...
Re: The Much-Hyped Action-RPG 'Phantom Blade Zero' Officially Has One Year Of PS5 Exclusivity
I think you are somewhat over-egging the desire of gamers to play older titles, @fatpunkslim. Now, I maybe speaking to my own personal tastes here, but I have always felt that most gamers prefer to play new or newer titles. You only have to look at all the comments about games releasing on Game Pass to see peoples eagerness to play upcoming games.
So yes, whilst having access to older games is always nice, and there will be people who have built up Xbox libraries that they do not wish to leave behind, I think when it comes to buying a new console people primarily think about what games it will get in the future, rather than what games it can play from the past. After all, if you are primarily thinking about older games, then really there is no need to move on from the Series consoles (which is something I think the majority will do), rather than buy a uber-expensive console to do so.
I know what you are getting at, but I do not believe it will be a priority for most gamers. Most gamers will likely be weighing up the cost of buying a PS6 versus the PCBox. I mean, the PS6 is quite possibly going to be £400 cheaper than the PCBox, maybe even cheaper still, and if it is a question of having access to a few older titles then it maybe cheaper to rebuy them on the PlayStation than pay considerably more to access them via the PCBox. That said, someone like myself, with over 1600 games in my Series X digital library, will likely want to get the PCBox, but I would suggest that I am the exception (because of the size of my library) rather than the norm...
Re: The Much-Hyped Action-RPG 'Phantom Blade Zero' Officially Has One Year Of PS5 Exclusivity
I'm confused, @fatpunkslim, how is Ghost of Yotei not a Sony first-party game? It was made by Sucker Punch, which is owned by Sony having been acquired by them in 2011, and it is published by Sony...
Re: IGN Highlights These Five Games As The Best Xbox Titles Of 2025
I have completed both The Outer Worlds 2 and the main story of Expedition 33, and thoroughly enjoyed both. I got half way through Split Fiction, but then my friend became too busy to finish it. I also finished Doom: The Dark Ages, which I thought was excellent.
Really not sure why I have not yet played South of Midnight because it looks like a game that I would very much like. I can only put it down to having simply too many games to play. I will try to get to it at some point next year.
I really enjoyed the Outer Worlds 2. I played it on Very Hard, went through the entire game without touching the difficulty settings, and have to say there were moments in the game that were extremely tough and which had me considering lowering the difficulty. I'm glad I didn't, because I ultimately finished it, though I was exceptionally disappointed when the Very Hard achievement did not pop. Did anyone else experience similar issues...?
Re: Divinity: Original Sin 2 Receives Surprise Free Upgrade For Xbox Series X|S
I can't say I really noticed any difference, @NickramCTID, and it played really well on my Series X, and I played it with a controller on both PC and the Xbox. I too prefer to play on my Xbox, and don't recall any issues at all. Hope that helps.
Re: Xbox Announces Start Date And First Five Deals For The Countdown Sale 2025
Not that I am aware of, @husker42c. I do occasionally look it up, and never find anything, so end up disappointed...
Re: Xbox Announces Start Date And First Five Deals For The Countdown Sale 2025
No doubt we will see the likes of XCOM 2 on sale because it is always in a sale! Nearly always 90%-95% off, and totally worth the money. Easily the best in the genre. Just wish they would release XCOM 3, because I would pre-order that in a heartbeat...
Re: Metacritic Reveals The 10 Worst-Rated Video Games Of 2025
That's a great example, @Coletrain. Most games get updates and fixes after release for which they were marked down on when first reviewed, and most games are in a better state thereafter. Reviews of the bigger titles with issues at the start, or which have been significantly added to would be great to see.
However, that said, I do firmly believe that a game should release in optimal condition in the first place, and I am always puzzled as to why games are rushed out because when they then review badly for reasons that should have been known about prior to release, they are only hurting their bottom line in the long run.
I know some studios are strapped for cash, and pushing the game out early maybe the only option, but that is not the case for most. Why put out a game that scores a 7 or 8, when you can sort it prior to release and get 9s and 10s? No matter what people say, they see a game that scores a 7 (and even an 8), and people shy away from it. When it scores a 9 or 10, we are all over it. It makes zero sense to me because the developers are literally losing money in the long run. They're going to do the work to fix the game anyway, so why not just delay its release in the first place...?
Re: Metacritic Reveals The 10 Worst-Rated Video Games Of 2025
I pre-ordered Mindseye, and then managed to get a refund on it. Funny enough I still have it installed on my Xbox, and the game gets updated every now and again. I never ever started the game when I owned it, and am curious whether I can still actually access it now, but I've never tried to start it as yet.
I have to say, I would love games to be reviewed, say, two years after they have released (two years being about the time when most, if not all, updates have been done to a game) so that we get a review that speaks to the current condition of a game, rather than when it first released...
Re: Divinity: Original Sin 2 Receives Surprise Free Upgrade For Xbox Series X|S
I still have Divinity Original Sin 2 installed on my Xbox, @FraserG, and when I tried to start it just now, it immediately said it needed an update. The actual update is 19.82g, which seems fairly substantial to me, though I am no expert on these things...
Re: Poll: What Is Your Xbox Game Of The Year For 2025?
I agree, @ZeD. I too enjoyed Expedition 33, and although I would not (and have not!) put it in my top spot, it certainly deserves a lot of acclaim, and I can totally understand people voting for it as their personal favourites. It is, after all, all about personal preferences. I think it is disrespectful to call people sheep because they like something that you may not have...
Re: Poll: What Is Your Xbox Game Of The Year For 2025?
Thank you, @LordDieALot. Looks like I might see if I can pick of MP4 in the Christmas sales...
Re: Divinity: Original Sin 2 Receives Surprise Free Upgrade For Xbox Series X|S
One of my favourite games of all time. I kick-started the game way back when, and then played it in Early Access before then playing the full release on the PC. When it released on the Xbox, I bought it again, and even managed to get the achievement for playing through on the hardest difficulty without dying, which remains to this day the achievement that I am most proud of, as I think it was the hardest one I have done. Indeed I just checked and I unlocked it on the 10th of November 2018, and it has been unlocked by 0.28% of other players. I seem to remember when I first unlocked it, that the achievement had only been popped by 0.09% of players. I actually managed to get the full 1000g on the game, which is something I rarely do, truth be told...
Re: Poll: What Is Your Xbox Game Of The Year For 2025?
Thank you, @LordDieALot. I've not played any of the previous games, but what I've seen of MP4 looks really good...
Re: The Much-Hyped Action-RPG 'Phantom Blade Zero' Officially Has One Year Of PS5 Exclusivity
I agree with you entirely, @Naughtyottsel92. I bought my OG Xbox day one in Game, here in the UK, and have then pre-ordered every Xbox ever since, including the mid-generation refreshes. I have done the same with every PlayStation, except that I never bother with the mid-generation refreshes because it is not, and has never been my main console (except for the PS1, but that's only because the Xbox did not exist back then).
I buy a PlayStation every time, but only ever play a handful of games on it each generation. Indeed, I play more games on my Xbox in a single year than I do on a PlayStation in an entire generation.
I always feel the need to say these things because very often as soon as you say anything that is remotely critical of Xbox, or could be construed as such, people think you are a Sony fanboy, and I have been accused of such so many times it's ridiculous, but honestly, if you cut me, I bleed green.
I do own a very capable gaming PC, but I really do not enjoy gaming on it. The last game I played on there was Baldur's Gate 3 when it first released, as obviously there was quite a delay before it came to Xbox (where I bought it for a second time, I might add!).
However, I absolutely agree, probabilities are that the PCBox is going to cost in excess of £1000, putting it out of reach of families looking to buy a console for their kids, and also most casual gamers. Most PC gamers will probably already have a PC that is as capable, or more capable than the PCBox, and so will have no interest in the device.
If the rumours are true that the PS6 will release in 2027, then the PCBox will be in direct competition with it, and the PS6 is likely to be something like £400 cheaper, meaning it is the more affordable offering, and thus far more likely to sell very well indeed. I can foresee many people looking to jump off the Xbox at that point, and join PlayStation instead. The best chance that I can see for the PCBox is if it has a head start on the PS6, meaning that it needs to release this year, however, that scenario is looking less and less likely now...
Re: Xbox's DOOM: The Dark Ages Wins Digital Foundry's 'Graphics Of The Year' Award
I think you hit the nail on the head, @themightyant. What we, as the lay person, think of as graphics, is not what DF are awarding Doom for, which is why I said I think they are talking about performance as much as anything...
Re: Poll: What Is Your Xbox Game Of The Year For 2025?
You missed off the re-release of Gollum, @HeavyHoggJP... 😂
Re: Poll: What Is Your Xbox Game Of The Year For 2025?
Is Metroid Prime Switch 2 only, @LordDieALot, or is it also available on the original Switch? The type of game looks like something that I would enjoy...
Re: The Much-Hyped Action-RPG 'Phantom Blade Zero' Officially Has One Year Of PS5 Exclusivity
I totally agree @Naughtyottsel92. Microsoft could do the same, but I think truth be told, they have lost interest in console sales, and now that Game Pass is (reportedly) stalling, I think they are looking for a way out being a subscription service provider too. I think that Nadella is looking to push Xbox in a very different direction than we, the gamers, would wish...
Re: Poll: What Is Your Xbox Game Of The Year For 2025?
I then to play every game upon release, @Shinato2024. I certainly played Spiderman within the first month, and the only reason I was slightly late playing it was because I play Miles Morales right before it.
I play GoY on the day it released, as I did Days Gone: Remastered. I also played The Outer Worlds 2 the day it released, as I did Gears of War: Reloaded and Doom: The Dark Ages.
I buy all my games by way of pre-order, rather than play them on Game Pass, and so prefer to get on them straight away...
Re: Poll: What Is Your Xbox Game Of The Year For 2025?
Can't say I recall any vegetation or much variety in textures in Doom, @Shinato2024. Honestly, if you go through Doom, you will not see much in the way of detail in the game, and much of the game was pretty much the same when it comes to setting. There is undoubtedly more detail in GoY.
I have to say I am utterly baffled by the decision, though I do agree that it is down to personal taste. However, when a company is making a neutral decision, you'd think personal taste was not a factor...
Re: The Much-Hyped Action-RPG 'Phantom Blade Zero' Officially Has One Year Of PS5 Exclusivity
As much as I hate it when Sony do these periods of exclusivity, I totally understand why they do it. Yes, this one game, taken in isolation, will probably not really move the dial when it comes to sales of the PS5, but it is the accumulative effect of many such titles being exclusive to the Sony ecosystem. It is not a matter of just this one game, but all of those games that are exclusive to the PlayStation.
If you watched the whole of the Game Awards show this year, as I did, there were something like 8-10 AAA games that were shown that said they were releasing either only on the PS5, or on both the PS5 and PC, in 2026 to 2027.
With that many games missing the Xbox, at least upon initial release, it is easy to see the PlayStation as a more attractive proposition than the Xbox, particularly when you also take into account the rising costs of both the Series consoles, and also Game Pass.
These things mount up, and are not good news for Xbox...
Re: Xbox's DOOM: The Dark Ages Wins Digital Foundry's 'Graphics Of The Year' Award
So because GoY has the same insane level of graphics as GoT has, it cannot be regarded as the best? That makes no sense at all to me.
It's like saying to Mo Farah, 'yes, we know you came in first place, and broke the World record again, but we're going to give the Gold Medal to @OldGamer999 because he got a personal best in this years London marathon.'
In other words, just because a studio has produced the best graphics in a past game, it should not exclude them from being regarded as the best once again.
It literally makes no sense whatsoever...
Re: Poll: What Is Your Xbox Game Of The Year For 2025?
I am honestly completely stumped by whatever it is that Digital Foundry are basing their decisions on, @OldGamer999. When I think of a games graphics, I am thinking of what a game looks like and the level of detail on display, so how Doom can beat out Ghost of Yotei is utterly baffling to me. If you are going to start including things such as framerates, etc. then you are talking about performance, not just what the games look like (though I have no idea if that's what DF are saying). I have no idea how Digital Foundry have come to their conclusions. It just seems very odd to me, and you know well that I am no Sony fanboy...
Re: Xbox's DOOM: The Dark Ages Wins Digital Foundry's 'Graphics Of The Year' Award
That Ghost of Yotei is not in the top 3 is really strange to me, @OldGamer999. It's one thing to not have it as the number one game, but completely another to omit it from the top 3. Honestly, it seems to me that Digital Foundry are basing this decision on more than just what the game looks like, unless I (or more likely they!) completely misunderstand the meaning of the word 'Graphics'...
Re: Xbox's DOOM: The Dark Ages Wins Digital Foundry's 'Graphics Of The Year' Award
I'm not going to lie, this surprises me. This is not a comment on Doom: The Dark Ages as a game, as I very much enjoyed it believing it to be far better than Eternal. Indeed, I bought the Collector's Edition, the Collector's Elite Controller (which I am using right now when I play), and also the Collector's Standard Controller, so it's not as if I am not a fan of the game.
However, from a visual standpoint, I would have thought best graphics would have gone to Ghost of Yotei, which was a beautiful looking game packed with detail. Doom, which ran beautifully, lacked detail in much of the terrain and rooms.
Maybe Digital Foundry are taking more into account than pure graphics, and are including things such as performance too. I don't know, it seems like a slightly odd decision when Ghost of Yotei doesn't even hit the top 3...
Re: Poll: What Is Your Xbox Game Of The Year For 2025?
I can't say I agree with you, truth be told, @Shinato2024. I play most of the big Xbox games upon release, and I play many of the big PlayStation ones. I don't recall ever having experienced a bug in a PlayStation game, and that includes Spiderman, which did indeed have some reported bugs. However, the only game I can recall not experiencing a bug in from the games that Xbox released this year is Doom: The Dark Ages. In each of the other games that they released this year, I had bugs of varying degrees, and honestly, if you take a step back, and try to look at things through a more neutral viewpoint, Xbox games are criticised for bugs for good reason.
Out of the 3 games that I played on my Xbox, that were released by Xbox, as I said, the only game that I do not recall experiencing any bugs in was Doom. Gears of War: Reload is a shoddy game to say the least, The AI companions are completely broken for starters, though I accept that it is built on the foundations of a very old game.
The Outer Worlds 2 is an amazing game, but I also had several bugs whilst playing it, including one very frustrating one wherein I completed the game on Very Hard and the achievement did not pop.
I don't think that it is a case of Xbox being treated differently, or more harshly, for the most part, it is simply that their games do tend to release with far more issues, and so that gains traction in the media. Sony's games tend to have far fewer bugs, and consequently there is nothing to be reported widely in the media.
Personally, I do believe that Xbox games can be given slightly harsher treatment in the media, and there are probably more pro-PlayStation outlets than there are pro-Xbox, but that is not the same as the games themselves being the issue. If an Xbox game releasing in a less than optimal condition, then that will be reported widely by a lot more outlets because there are more outlets looking to take a swing at Xbox, whereas, conversely, when something like Spiderman releases with some bugs, it is not then reported on by the Xbox media in the same way. So yes, there is some difference in exposure, but that is in no way the same as saying that Sony's games release with as many issues as Xbox games do, because that would not be true...
Re: Poll: What Is Your Xbox Game Of The Year For 2025?
I would not put money on any of those winning Game of the Year next year, @Shinato2024 & @OldGamer999, not when Wolverine is releasing on the PlayStation, and I say that as a huge Xbox fan. I think the problem that Xbox faces are that when Sony release a game it is pretty much in the best condition it can be. Very rarely do you hear complaints regarding performance or bugs. The same cannot be said of Xbox. It is why you so often see Sony made games scoring 9s and 10s, and why Xbox games score 8s and lower. Sony's single-player game tend to have a feel of being epic, which is usually something that feels like it is missing from games made by Microsoft.
If you look at this year, I think if it had not been for Expedition 33, then Ghost of Yotei would have run away with all the Game of the Year awards. Sony may be producing only one or two games a year, but they are very high quality, whereas we are now living in an era of Microsoft releasing far more games, but they do not have that same feel or quality. It seems to me that Sony are prepared to give the time for the games to be of the highest quality, whereas Microsoft seem to rush the games out in order to meet some internal target or another.
Just to be clear, I have bought 33 games this year. 30 of them on the Xbox, and 3 on the PlayStation. Over half the games I bought were bought day one, and would mostly be considered to be AAA games. So I am not a PlayStation fanboy by any stretch...
Re: These 20+ Games Are Coming To Xbox Next Week (December 15-19)
Nothing of any interest for me in that list, which is absolutely great as I have already spent way too much on games this year...
Re: Poll: What Is Your Xbox Game Of The Year For 2025?
I've played 7 of the games on the list from this year, so my choices would be:
1. Cronos: The New Dawn
2. Hell Is Us
3. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
4. The Outer Worlds 2
5. Doom: The Dark Ages
6. Space Marine 2
7. Gears of War: Reloaded
Cronos: The New Dawn is simply fantastic, and I hope it had enough success to see a sequel. It's a shame that it doesn't even seem to be getting a mention when it comes to awards this season.
If we were to include the only two games that I have played on my PlayStation this year, then my list would be as follows:
1. Cronos: The New Dawn
2. Ghost of Yotei
3. Hell Is Us
4. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
5. The Outer Worlds 2
6. Doom: The Dark Ages
7. Days Gone
8. Space Marine 2
9. Gears of War: Reloaded
Re: Two Games Are Confirmed For Xbox Game Pass In January 2026 So Far
Nothing for me here, and to me it looks a little weak. Again though, PC Game Pass receives two games and the console just one (and yes, I know that this is just the start of what we will be getting!).
It seems to me that Microsoft are consciously building up PC Game Pass far more than they are console Game Pass, which is annoying on two fronts; firstly the majority of us are console users, not PC gamers (although there was a report a couple of years back (I think) to say that PC Game Pass was seeing the strongest growth), but secondly, yes, we may well be getting a PCBox next, but the probabilities are that it will have a premium price tag to go with its premium qualities. Thus, if it does cost £1000 or more, then the vast majority of current Xbox gamers will either stick with their current Xbox, or move to the PS6. So it's all well and good them building up PC Game Pass in anticipation of the PCBox (assuming that's what they are doing), but most of us will be sticking with our consoles so won't benefit at all from all these games landing on PC Game Pass.
I cannot help but wonder who makes all these decisions at Microsoft because they really seem to be utterly clueless a lot of the time...
Re: Poll: How Would You Grade The Game Awards 2025?
I thought the show was excellent to be fair. I watched all of it (half live, and then went to bed at 2 a.m., and watched the second half this afternoon), but had to avoid these forums today as I did not want any spoilers!
One thing that really struck me though, was that there were something 8 or 10 AAA high-quality games that were shown, and which were skipping Xbox, but were releasing on the PS5. None of these games were made by Sony, most if not all were also releasing on PC, so it may not be the case that Sony had brought any exclusivity. However, it was really noticeable just how many of these games were not releasing on the Xbox, which if borne out, is really not good for the brand, and I'd love to know why these developers have chosen to avoid Xbox...
Re: Larian Studios Unveils 'Divinity', An RPG With 'Greater Breadth & Depth Than Ever Before'
Absolutely love Larian. They are undoubtedly the best developer out there.
Divinity Original Sin 1 & 2 are two of my favourite games of all time, and Baldur's Gate 3 is my favourite game of all time.
Not going to lie, I was hoping for Divinity Original Sin 3, but I was still ecstatic to see the reveal for the new game. I'm left wondering whether it will have Early Access again, in which case I will buy it on PC first (as I doubt they will do EA on console), and I am also wondering whether it will release simultanesously on the PC and console, or be staggered as was the case with BG3. Regardless, I kick-started DoS2, and I was there day one with the EA for BG3, and I will be there day one, wherever I need to be with Divinity.
The other thing that I hope to see is another of Larian's wonderful Collector's Edition, as I managed to get one for BG3, and at one point they were selling for over £1500 on eBay as they were highly sought after.
If, like me, you are a massive Larian fan, these are most definitely exciting times, and I cannot wait to learn more...
Re: Black Ops 7 Sales & Players Down Massively On Last Year's Call Of Duty, New Data Shows
I bet the chap who said that Call of Duty was too big to fail is regretting saying that now!
Yes, the game will still have made money, but done well it will make much, much more. And the problem is that when gamers believe that a franchise has cooked the goose, they steer clear of it, meaning that next year could sell even fewer copies of the game.
Basically Microsoft needs to have their teams putting more effort in than they did with this particular game. It wasn't even in the running for best multiplayer at the Game Awards last night...
Re: Is 'Xbox Wrapped' Happening For 2025? Fans Clearly Want To See It
Back issues are no laughing matter, @Titntin. I gave myself a prolapsed disc in 1990 when I was building a wall. I bent down to pick up a breezeblock and that was the start of all my problems.
At the time it happened I was a fit young man who used to run marathons, and used to run into work each morning, before running home at the end of my shift. It was a run of 7 miles each way.
After I injured my back it was never as strong again, and I had a prolapsed disc on multiple occasions thereafter. I used to try running, but I was never as fit again. Eventually I just had to stop because I was just aggravating my back all the time.
I had surgery about 20 years ago, but it did not help and I was told there was nothing more that could be done. Just to add to my woes, I developed arthritis in my spine, which was nice! I was supposed to retire in 2012, but had to take early retirement from the Police in 2010.
The one saving grace is that my pension is decent enough to allow me to get by, and as I do not drink, nor go out and about all that much, I am able to save enough money to buy games each month. It's not what I expected in life, but I am fortunate in many ways, which is more than some can say.
Anyway, I hope you fair better than me, because I take 48 tablets a day, all for issues caused by my back. It's all fun and games (literally!). Make the most of your retirement when it comes and take it easy, mate... 👍