What's clear is that without competition, Sony becomes one of the most despicable companies in the industry, so I hope Xbox keeps up the pressure for everyone's sake.
@strzelec Yeah, I think that's the only way to get one here.
But you have to specifically search for it on Amazon, and I don't think they'll sell many units. Anyone who goes to any mall will find nothing but Nintendo Switches and Playstations.
As soon as he finds another toy to sell to shareholders, he’ll go back to strangling his own products and abandoning his loyal customers, and that makes it hard for Xbox, Windows, Surface... or any consumer product to survive.
I'd rather have a new Halo, something fresh, to be honest. And exclusive, I think this series should never have stopped being an Xbox icon, and that's incompatible with being multiplatform.
It’s undeniable that pre-orders must be dramatically lower, though I don’t think they’re that low either, after all, that’s just how the game goes, and Xbox has sold around 30–40 million units.
But given Xbox’s terrible management in recent years, in many countries hardly anyone will play it on Xbox. In Spain, for example, Xbox is practically nonexistent, here, it’s going to be very difficult for anyone to play it on Xbox.
But anyway, Asha seems to be making the right decisions little by little,we’ll see what happens in the future.
Hopefully, out of the three major IPs, Starfield is my favorite. I love space-themed games, and even though I love The Elder Scrolls and Fallout, Starfield is the one I like best.
But given how long it takes them to develop their games, I don't expect to see a possible Starfield 2 in this decade. Hopefully we'll see The Elder Scrolls VI before 2030, and then we'll see.
I really love these kinds of details, especially the one that shows the number of achievements. Let's hope it doesn't take too long to roll out to everyone.
This is definitely a restart for Xbox. I know a lot of people won't like all these layoffs (obviously), but given Xbox's disastrous track record in recent years, I'd say ever since Phil stopped appearing and Sarah Bond took the helm, Xbox needed this fresh start.
I think the next few years will be very interesting for the brand and especially for the platform.
@Llamageddon Well, I'd say no exactly, The Order 1886 was objectively a bad game. Hellblade 2 is actually a good game, I think its problem is that it was a very modest project (except for the technical aspects) given what it promised to be.
A major change was needed in the management of Halo. It’s not that 343 hasn’t created great games, but it has required enormous resources just to end up making “only” notable games.
We’ll see if, under the umbrella of other studios, Halo finds its place again or ends up even more buried. I’m moderately optimistic.
All those years and all that money spent on something as “small” as Hellblade 2 are going to take a huge toll on this studio. They're talented, but they're incredibly inefficient, I'm not surprised that no one wants to take a chance on signing a deal with them.
It really saddens me when these layoffs happen, but honestly, I think studios like 343 need a major shake-up. It's hard to accept the amount of time and resources 343 needs to release titles that barely meet expectations.
That sounds great, although I would have called it “Master Achievement” and made the unlock animation the Master Chief nodding his head or something like that xD
Access to a game library that lives up to expectations, one without games that are typically skipped by the platform or released later, and/or strong exclusives.
It should preserve what makes consoles consoles: no complicated settings, no compatibility issues with display modes or virtual keyboards… achievements in ALL games… In other words, it shouldn’t have all the flaws that Xbox PC currently has.
And in terms of hardware, it should be powerful and affordable.
@strzelec I don't think that comment makes much sense. I think achievements are one of the most interesting features of Xbox. I understand that some people don't care much about them, but Xbox was the first platform to introduce them, they've been around for over 20 years, they're a hallmark of the platform, and there are many users who hunt them and have fun with them.
I’m 40 years old, and I still play mainly on Xbox and get the most out of games thanks to achievements.
I find it very strange that PS doesn't identify copies with an ID, it's something I think should be standard. Nintendo, for example, seems to use these IDs as well, just like Xbox, that's what they use to identify copies distributed online and to ban consoles that have run pirated games.
I hope they add Xbox achievements, it's one of the most important features (for me) of the platform, and it hurts to see how little importance they give it.
@themightyant I don't think there will actually be a PS7 or another Xbox after Helix. By 2037 or so, I'm not sure there will even be a market for traditional consoles anymore.
@Trmn8r I don't know all the methods, but many involve scams where fraudsters pose as influencers or fake media outlets to obtain sample keys, or the keys are simply purchased using stolen credit cards.
In other words, the keys themselves are genuine, it's the process used to obtain them that is fraudulent.
In Spain, there’s a YouTuber who conducted a fairly in-depth investigation into this and concluded that most key websites have fraudulent codes in their inventory.
It’s a very shady world with organized crime groups behind it. However, there are a few sites that appear to be legitimate and obtain the codes directly from the distributor.
I wouldn't pay too much attention to it for now, especially since PlayStation is going through its own apocalypse and there are a lot of fans on social media, in the press, and among insiders who may need more than ever to say negative things about Xbox.
In any case, I think Game Pass will need to make major changes in the coming years, but not even Microsoft knows what those changes will be yet.
I often think that, with hundreds of games being released every day, these kinds of projects risk being completely ignored by players, so they cling to any controversy just to get people talking about their game a little.
Honestly, I don't think almost anyone cares about this game. If they don't want to or can't release it on Xbox, I don't think anyone should make a fuss or pay it any more attention.
I'd say that in the video game industry, the platform is the foundation for building anything like Game Pass.
For Game Pass to have a chance, Xbox needs to have a healthy platform, that means having lots of active users, great exclusives, competitive hardware, and a store that developers don’t skip... What surprises me is that Game Pass reached 25–30 million subscribers despite the platform’s terrible state.
Maybe I'm being a little pessimistic, but I think that no matter what they do, PlayStation will never sell as well as it did in its heyday, and Sony is starting to realize that.
I’d say the next generation of consoles will have to find a way to survive with hardware sales figures that are significantly lower than those of any previous generation. And there are many traditional elements that might start to fall apart: funding exclusive games for a single hardware platform, closed systems that force developers to create specific versions, distribution of physical games...
Sony's in-house game production is at an all-time low, I think making games has become very expensive, and after the latest failures, I think that if they're not sure about it, they'll pull the plug.
@dskatter Nintendo also has an ID for each game, it's an obvious way to identify pirated copies and ban anyone playing online with a duplicate ID. I think it's practically certain that Sony also has these IDs, it's just that they may not want to take that step.
In any case, I can't complain, I've never used more than an hour of cloud gaming per month, and I think most Game Pass users hardly use it at all either.
However, it’s still another obstacle to popularizing a platform that’s in a very difficult situation. If they put this limit on cloud gaming but, on the other hand, improve console inventory, bring in many more exclusives, and spend more on marketing for the platform, well, I’m fine with that, it’s cutting back in one area to invest in another.
But the fact is, as of today, we’re still waiting for all that to happen.
I still remember just how disappointed I was with this game, the story went from being a sort of military game, with a touch of fantasy, to a kind of psychedelic, futuristic piece where every cutscene seemed like the result of smoking certain substances.
I don't even use it for an hour a month. There are a few situations where I do use it, trying out a game before downloading it, playing a quick round of something simple... In the past, I've even managed to finish a turn-based fighting game or a graphic adventure.
But the fundamental problem with the technology remains: input lag in demanding games and poorer image quality, so I practically never use it.
It looks good, but from what I can tell, it's PlayAnywhere, so I'll play it on Xbox PC. The difference between the PC version and the console versions has become astronomical.
Xbox desperately needs to create reasons for people to buy an Xbox and play on the Xbox platform, and this game could be another brick in the wall if it turns out well.
But I don't think that will happen, Xbox continues to do a terrible job of investing in its platform, and the fact that Halo and Fable are multiplatform is a clear sign of just how bad things are.
Maybe with Xbox Helix, Microsoft will start investing in Xbox as a platform again, but right now the money seems to have dried up, and I don’t think anyone’s going to give this guy any money.
They should have made the most of their time and money while they were with Xbox. It's absurd that Xbox was in desperate need of strong exclusives and Double Fine was in desperate need of money, yet they couldn't come up with anything better to do than make Kiln.
I don't know why they didn't produce games like Brutal Legends 2 instead of experiments like Kiln when they were at Xbox. I understand that a team with creative freedom might, at times, want to do something different or experimental, but it was obvious from the start that, commercially speaking, Keeper or Kiln weren't going to go very far.
There's no doubt about it: the Xbox Helix won't have a disc drive.
The Xbox Disc to Digital feature is a pretty decent solution, to be honest, for preserving physical collections. But this is solely due to Xbox's position in the market, which doesn't allow it to treat its users like idiots, the way Playstation does.
Comments 534
Re: Poll: How Many 'Mythic' Xbox Achievements Do You Reckon You'll Have?
345
The first one I got was Just Cause in 2006, what great memories.
Re: Xbox Boss Acknowledges Competition With Sony, But Says Collaboration Can Exist As Well
What's clear is that without competition, Sony becomes one of the most despicable companies in the industry, so I hope Xbox keeps up the pressure for everyone's sake.
Re: Mythic Achievements Are Officially On The Way, As Rollout Begins Today For Xbox Insiders
It looks great, it seems like they've done a great job.
Re: SEGA Finally Joins Xbox Disc To Digital
The contrast between Xbox and PlayStation on this point is incredible, Xbox is doing amazingly well, and PlayStation is doing ridiculously poorly.
Re: Xbox Pulled Out All The Stops To Deliver A Really Memorable FanFest London Event
@strzelec Yeah, I think that's the only way to get one here.
But you have to specifically search for it on Amazon, and I don't think they'll sell many units. Anyone who goes to any mall will find nothing but Nintendo Switches and Playstations.
Re: Xbox Pulled Out All The Stops To Deliver A Really Memorable FanFest London Event
I wish they'd do something like that in Spain, but I don't see that happening when they don't even have consoles for sale here anymore.
Re: Here's What The Witcher 3 Remastered Looks Like On Xbox Series X|S
@badboidre The new consoles? I think we'll have them by the end of next year.
Re: Here's What The Witcher 3 Remastered Looks Like On Xbox Series X|S
I think that, while we wait for new consoles to come out, this remaster makes the most sense on PC right now.
Re: Microsoft CEO Discusses His Goals For The Future Of Xbox, Feels 'Fantastic' About The IP Portfolio
I trust Asha a lot more than this clown.
As soon as he finds another toy to sell to shareholders, he’ll go back to strangling his own products and abandoning his loyal customers, and that makes it hard for Xbox, Windows, Surface... or any consumer product to survive.
Re: Talking Point: What Do You Think The Future Holds For A Potential Halo 2 Remake?
I'd rather have a new Halo, something fresh, to be honest. And exclusive, I think this series should never have stopped being an Xbox icon, and that's incompatible with being multiplatform.
Re: Xbox CSO Issues Response To Report About GTA 6 Sales Being 'Heavily Skewed' Towards PS5
It’s undeniable that pre-orders must be dramatically lower, though I don’t think they’re that low either, after all, that’s just how the game goes, and Xbox has sold around 30–40 million units.
But given Xbox’s terrible management in recent years, in many countries hardly anyone will play it on Xbox. In Spain, for example, Xbox is practically nonexistent, here, it’s going to be very difficult for anyone to play it on Xbox.
But anyway, Asha seems to be making the right decisions little by little,we’ll see what happens in the future.
Re: Starfield Developer Says They'd Be Surprised By A Sequel, But Reckons It Could Be Really Cool
Hopefully, out of the three major IPs, Starfield is my favorite. I love space-themed games, and even though I love The Elder Scrolls and Fallout, Starfield is the one I like best.
But given how long it takes them to develop their games, I don't expect to see a possible Starfield 2 in this decade. Hopefully we'll see The Elder Scrolls VI before 2030, and then we'll see.
Re: Xbox Is Adding New 'Game Tile Tags' To Help Track Achievements And Other Things
I really love these kinds of details, especially the one that shows the number of achievements. Let's hope it doesn't take too long to roll out to everyone.
Re: Devs From The Coalition, World's Edge, And Other Xbox Studios Confirm Layoffs
This is definitely a restart for Xbox. I know a lot of people won't like all these layoffs (obviously), but given Xbox's disastrous track record in recent years, I'd say ever since Phil stopped appearing and Sarah Bond took the helm, Xbox needed this fresh start.
I think the next few years will be very interesting for the brand and especially for the platform.
Re: Unlocking Xbox's New Mythic Achievement Sounds Incredible, And Here's How It Might Work
It looks like they're doing a great job, I can't wait for the update.
Re: Xbox Game Studios Suddenly Looks Very Different In New Fan-Made Infographic
@BacklogBrad I think it's actually the opposite, as painful as it may seem, Xbox needed this to survive.
Re: Xbox Warns Ninja Theory Could Be Closed As Two Agreements Fall Through
@Llamageddon Well, I'd say no exactly, The Order 1886 was objectively a bad game. Hellblade 2 is actually a good game, I think its problem is that it was a very modest project (except for the technical aspects) given what it promised to be.
Re: Xbox Confirms Activision Will Develop The Next Halo Title
A major change was needed in the management of Halo. It’s not that 343 hasn’t created great games, but it has required enormous resources just to end up making “only” notable games.
We’ll see if, under the umbrella of other studios, Halo finds its place again or ends up even more buried. I’m moderately optimistic.
Re: Xbox Warns That Ninja Theory Could Be Closed As Two Agreements Fall Through
All those years and all that money spent on something as “small” as Hellblade 2 are going to take a huge toll on this studio. They're talented, but they're incredibly inefficient, I'm not surprised that no one wants to take a chance on signing a deal with them.
Re: Roundup: The First Reviews Are Going Live For Well Dweller, And Critics Are Calling It An All-Timer
These days, there are a lot more hidden gems coming from the indie scene than from the AAA world. I'll give it a try.
Re: Report: Xbox Layoffs On The Way This Week, Multiple Studios To Be 'Consolidated'
It really saddens me when these layoffs happen, but honestly, I think studios like 343 need a major shake-up. It's hard to accept the amount of time and resources 343 needs to release titles that barely meet expectations.
Re: Xbox's Platinum Trophy Equivalent Appears To Be Called A 'Mythic Achievement'
That sounds great, although I would have called it “Master Achievement” and made the unlock animation the Master Chief nodding his head or something like that xD
Re: Talking Point: What Would Seal The Deal For You With Xbox Project Helix?
Access to a game library that lives up to expectations, one without games that are typically skipped by the platform or released later, and/or strong exclusives.
It should preserve what makes consoles consoles: no complicated settings, no compatibility issues with display modes or virtual keyboards… achievements in ALL games… In other words, it shouldn’t have all the flaws that Xbox PC currently has.
And in terms of hardware, it should be powerful and affordable.
Re: World Of Warcraft: Forever Appears To Play Amazingly Well On The ROG Xbox Ally X
@strzelec I don't think that comment makes much sense. I think achievements are one of the most interesting features of Xbox. I understand that some people don't care much about them, but Xbox was the first platform to introduce them, they've been around for over 20 years, they're a hallmark of the platform, and there are many users who hunt them and have fun with them.
I’m 40 years old, and I still play mainly on Xbox and get the most out of games thanks to achievements.
Re: New Report Delves Into The History Of Xbox Disc To Digital, And Why PlayStation Can't Copy It
I find it very strange that PS doesn't identify copies with an ID, it's something I think should be standard. Nintendo, for example, seems to use these IDs as well, just like Xbox, that's what they use to identify copies distributed online and to ban consoles that have run pirated games.
Re: World Of Warcraft: Forever Appears To Play Amazingly Well On The ROG Xbox Ally X
I hope they add Xbox achievements, it's one of the most important features (for me) of the platform, and it hurts to see how little importance they give it.
Re: Hideo Kojima Reveals New Details On Upcoming Xbox Games, Including Lead Actor For PHYSINT
@themightyant I don't think there will actually be a PS7 or another Xbox after Helix. By 2037 or so, I'm not sure there will even be a market for traditional consoles anymore.
Re: Roundup: All The Reveals From The Xbox Showcase At Tokyo Game Show 2026
It's clear that support for Day 1 releases on Game Pass remains very strong, for now...
Re: Talking Point: How Would You Feel If Xbox Game Pass Actually Dropped Day One Releases?
1. Fund large, expensive projects like those by Hideo Kojima.
2. Have exclusive games.
3. Offer day-one games on an affordable service.
Get used to the idea that you can't have all three at once, one of them will have to be scaled back or eliminated at some point.
Re: Xbox CTO Warns Against The Dangers Of Buying Fraudulent Game Codes
@Trmn8r I don't know all the methods, but many involve scams where fraudsters pose as influencers or fake media outlets to obtain sample keys, or the keys are simply purchased using stolen credit cards.
In other words, the keys themselves are genuine, it's the process used to obtain them that is fraudulent.
Re: Xbox CTO Warns Against The Dangers Of Buying Fraudulent Game Codes
In Spain, there’s a YouTuber who conducted a fairly in-depth investigation into this and concluded that most key websites have fraudulent codes in their inventory.
It’s a very shady world with organized crime groups behind it. However, there are a few sites that appear to be legitimate and obtain the codes directly from the distributor.
Re: Shaky Rumour Claims Xbox Game Pass Could Be Getting Major Changes In 2027
I wouldn't pay too much attention to it for now, especially since PlayStation is going through its own apocalypse and there are a lot of fans on social media, in the press, and among insiders who may need more than ever to say negative things about Xbox.
In any case, I think Game Pass will need to make major changes in the coming years, but not even Microsoft knows what those changes will be yet.
Re: KEMURI Dev Says It's Too Exhausting To Release An Xbox Version, And We Do Actually Sympathise
I often think that, with hundreds of games being released every day, these kinds of projects risk being completely ignored by players, so they cling to any controversy just to get people talking about their game a little.
Honestly, I don't think almost anyone cares about this game. If they don't want to or can't release it on Xbox, I don't think anyone should make a fuss or pay it any more attention.
Re: 'To Invention & Adventure Together' - Xbox Boss Visits Kojima Productions To Mark New Era
I think these are great decisions on Sharma's part, Xbox needs this kind of publicity to give people reasons and excitement to play on Xbox.
Re: Tim Schafer Talks 'Great Experience' At Xbox, But Questions Why Game Pass Wasn't More Successful
I'd say that in the video game industry, the platform is the foundation for building anything like Game Pass.
For Game Pass to have a chance, Xbox needs to have a healthy platform, that means having lots of active users, great exclusives, competitive hardware, and a store that developers don’t skip... What surprises me is that Game Pass reached 25–30 million subscribers despite the platform’s terrible state.
Re: Sony Dropped Kojima's 'PHYSINT' Over Budget, Profits & Timed Exclusivity Concerns, Sources Say
Maybe I'm being a little pessimistic, but I think that no matter what they do, PlayStation will never sell as well as it did in its heyday, and Sony is starting to realize that.
I’d say the next generation of consoles will have to find a way to survive with hardware sales figures that are significantly lower than those of any previous generation. And there are many traditional elements that might start to fall apart: funding exclusive games for a single hardware platform, closed systems that force developers to create specific versions, distribution of physical games...
Re: Xbox Is Officially Taking Over From PlayStation On Hideo Kojima's New 'PHYSINT' Game
Sony's in-house game production is at an all-time low, I think making games has become very expensive, and after the latest failures, I think that if they're not sure about it, they'll pull the plug.
Re: Loads Of Ubisoft Games Have Suddenly Joined Xbox Disc To Digital Overnight
@dskatter Nintendo also has an ID for each game, it's an obvious way to identify pirated copies and ban anyone playing online with a duplicate ID. I think it's practically certain that Sony also has these IDs, it's just that they may not want to take that step.
Re: Loads Of Ubisoft Games Have Suddenly Joined Xbox Disc To Digital Overnight
Good news. I wonder when they'll add Xbox achievements to their PC games, it's still one of the big things left to do.
Re: Xbox Appears To Be Experimenting With Cheaper Game Pass Offers For Ex-Members
Perhaps it's to win back subscribers who were loyal before the price increase and who are quite likely to return and stay with the service.
Honestly, I don't think the cloud limitations will have any impact on subscriptions, but the price increase a year ago must have been devastating.
Re: Xbox Is Telling Some People They Don't Need To Worry About Cloud Gaming Time Limits
Here in Spain, it seems we aren't so lucky.
In any case, I can't complain, I've never used more than an hour of cloud gaming per month, and I think most Game Pass users hardly use it at all either.
However, it’s still another obstacle to popularizing a platform that’s in a very difficult situation. If they put this limit on cloud gaming but, on the other hand, improve console inventory, bring in many more exclusives, and spend more on marketing for the platform, well, I’m fine with that, it’s cutting back in one area to invest in another.
But the fact is, as of today, we’re still waiting for all that to happen.
Re: Metal Gear Solid 4's Disc Swap Scene Is Slightly Different On Xbox, And Here's How It Plays Out
I still remember just how disappointed I was with this game, the story went from being a sort of military game, with a touch of fantasy, to a kind of psychedelic, futuristic piece where every cutscene seemed like the result of smoking certain substances.
Re: Poll: How Many Hours Of Xbox Cloud Gaming Do You Use Per-Month?
I don't even use it for an hour a month. There are a few situations where I do use it, trying out a game before downloading it, playing a quick round of something simple... In the past, I've even managed to finish a turn-based fighting game or a graphic adventure.
But the fundamental problem with the technology remains: input lag in demanding games and poorer image quality, so I practically never use it.
Re: Here's A Look At All Four Graphics Modes In The Blood Of Dawnwalker On Xbox Series X|S
It looks good, but from what I can tell, it's PlayAnywhere, so I'll play it on Xbox PC. The difference between the PC version and the console versions has become astronomical.
Re: 'Let's Make It Happen!' - Scalebound Dev Wants Asha Sharma To Revive The Cancelled Xbox Exclusive
Xbox desperately needs to create reasons for people to buy an Xbox and play on the Xbox platform, and this game could be another brick in the wall if it turns out well.
But I don't think that will happen, Xbox continues to do a terrible job of investing in its platform, and the fact that Halo and Fable are multiplatform is a clear sign of just how bad things are.
Maybe with Xbox Helix, Microsoft will start investing in Xbox as a platform again, but right now the money seems to have dried up, and I don’t think anyone’s going to give this guy any money.
Re: Xbox Is Officially Putting Time Limits On Cloud Gaming For Game Pass Members
And if you want to play longer, what do you have to do? Those numbers seem ridiculously low to me...
Although, honestly, I don't really care, I don't even use cloud gaming for 5 minutes a month.
Re: Former Xbox First-Party Title 'Kiln' Receives Permanent Price Drop And Massive New Update
They should have made the most of their time and money while they were with Xbox. It's absurd that Xbox was in desperate need of strong exclusives and Double Fine was in desperate need of money, yet they couldn't come up with anything better to do than make Kiln.
Re: 'We Aren't Joking' - Double Fine Promises Brütal Legend 2 If They Can Fundraise Enough Money
I don't know why they didn't produce games like Brutal Legends 2 instead of experiments like Kiln when they were at Xbox. I understand that a team with creative freedom might, at times, want to do something different or experimental, but it was obvious from the start that, commercially speaking, Keeper or Kiln weren't going to go very far.
Re: 'The Entire Supply Chain Is Collapsing' - Xbox Disc Drive Situation Gets More Awkward
There's no doubt about it: the Xbox Helix won't have a disc drive.
The Xbox Disc to Digital feature is a pretty decent solution, to be honest, for preserving physical collections. But this is solely due to Xbox's position in the market, which doesn't allow it to treat its users like idiots, the way Playstation does.
Re: The Witcher 3: Remastered Is A Major Free Upgrade Heading To Xbox This September
Will there be a new list of achievements? If so, I'll probably play it again.