1 - Xbox consoles will be a total shift to PC architecture with a specialized "console UI" going forward - no more "closed" console. It will still be a defined hardware spec for PC developers to validate against, but won't require special console development kits or licenses. This will help with the "not worth porting to Xbox" problem as the PC versions will just work.
2 - Official Xbox 360 and OG Xbox emulators that can work on mobile, PC, and "console" for games that don't have PC versions (e.g. Blue Dragon).
3 - Figuring out how cloud saves for X360 and OG Xbox games can be converted or imported into applicable PC versions so that emulation isn't required for those games (probably pie in the sky ask there)
4 - Transferring entire digital library from across the generations to their PC versions (where applicable).
5 - Figuring out how to get OG Xbox, X360, X1, Series physical media working for PC versions of the games on their "console" with an external Blu-ray drive.
So basically, Xbox wants all the benefits people with PCs have had forever, but with the tricky part of figuring out how people won't lose progress with games that didn't use Xbox Anywhere (or came before it) or access to games they own that only exist on OG Xbox, X360, and X1.
@Weebleman "Either way, I hope they find it. Sony needs a MS firing on all cylinders and vice versa. If one or the other drops out of the race the only folks that will suffer in the long run is us gamers."
Absolutely. I want a strong gaming market, not a lopsided one (no matter what side has the significant upper hand).
"Expecting folks to drop a digital collection on a competitor, buy a new console and game just to play online for free simply won't be a choice most make. Some will, but if all their pals are on the console they own, chances are they won't."
I mean, the vast majority of console buyers are the casuals who are only playing COD, FIFA, Madden, Fortnite, etc., so platform is a non-issue - it's more of a habitual purchase. Only about 20% of console owners are the "core" audience. And even less of that are people who comment on these pages.
And with cross-platform play being the norm, now, it really doesn't matter if all their friends are on PlayStation and you are on Xbox - you can still play with them!
"They will simply pick up what's hot and their kids want."
Ditching online service fees could be that thing that makes Xbox "hot".
But this is all just playground banter anyways. Since we don't have any idea what strategy Microsoft has with everything going on, it's tough to even tell what would even help.
I do know that price hikes and studio closures isn't the answer.
Saving consumers ~$50/yr on average might be, though. Sure, Microsoft loses that ~$50/yr for those who already pay, but it might entice people to actually play online more, buy games with an online component, and/or buy MTX knowing that they don't have to pay for online anymore. Do away with Game Pass completely is less money out the door keeping Game Pass alive.
Imagine being able to buy a cheap Series S, pay $70 for the latest Call of Duty, and that's it! That could be a huge boost in sales - well, until Sony inevitably has to also do away with PS+ requirement to try to draw people back (if it can afford to do so).
@EvenStephen7 I think it would be the right 180, though and long overdue. Besides, it only seems right that the one who started it should be the one who ends it!
I also think Cloud Saves should be free on PlayStation and Nintendo consoles because..let's face it...just about everywhere under the sun has Cloud Data at no cost.
@HonestHick It would be a start in the right direction in rebuilding good will with the community.
As much as I have enjoyed the benefits of Game Pass, I can take it or leave it.
If Microsoft is realizing it can't grow Game Pass subscriptions and it can't afford to put all its first-party games on it as promised, then it's time to do away with it!
Price-hiking if Call of Duty drops on the service isn't the answer.
Most people who buy Call of Duty don't buy it for the campaign and move on (which is the real benefit to a Game Pass subscription), they buy it to play multiplayer for a whole year until the next one comes out.
It already costs less to buy the game outright (even with cost of Game Pass Core to play online) than to pay for a year of Game Puss Ultimate, so a price hike will do nothing more than make Game Pass Ultimate even less appealing to play Call of Duty.
Honestly, Microsoft would do best just to roll traditional Call of Duty multiplayer Modes/Maps into the Warzone and skip the annual COD releases.
Here is a bold idea. Do away with paid online all together!
How many people would move over to Xbox consoles and buy Xbox versions if they knew that they could play the latest Call of Duty WITHOUT the need for PS+ or Game Pass Core or any of that nonsense, but also don't need to buy an expensive and less-casual-friendly PC to get free online play?
This is not what I expected with this merger. Some cuts due to redundancy with executives, accounting, etc., sure, but not cutting all this talent to focus on "tentpole" games.
I was hoping that by having a ton of studios with a wealth of IPs would mean some revitalization of forgotten games spread across those developers.
I thought it would mean that the "COD Factory" developers could perhaps work on passion projects for a change.
I hoped that things would be different under Microsoft as there was a time when developers were given a "longer leash" to work on projects.
Now, I worry about Ninja Theory if Hellblade II doesn't stick its landing.
I worry about Double Fine if their next game isn't well received (though I am sure if Microsoft closed that, Tim Schafer would just open another studio the next day and take his employees with him).
I worry that Perfect Dark will get canned because it's seeming to be too much of a hassle, now.
Is pressure on InXile with Clockwork Revolution?
Will Fable get canned?
I don't even know how to even respond to everything going on with Team Green right now.
If it really is an issue about profitability, it's time to kill the program and go back to the Games With Gold model but with better selection of games every month.
I know game development isn't easy (believe me, I tried and hated it), but FPS genre has been around forever - heck, Microsoft even owns the developer that defined the genre as well that company that originally developed the Perfect Dark franchise - how "troubled" could development possible be when you have the best resources possible for this kind of game?!
I think the problem is that Microsoft lets people run with ideas to the point that it lets Scoop Creep settle in a little too much. I also think there isn't as much collaboration as there should be among Microsoft Studios.
I get that all the studios have their own games to work on, but they should be able to share technology, lessons learned, etc. to help other studios, at the very least.
@Faruko That doesn't mean I think BGS is a good developer. The Creation Engine is hot garbage and the gameplay loop of their games is about as interesting as watching paint dry.
The problem with BGS is that their ambition outweighs good game design. What gameplay purpose does putting tens of thousands of potatoes in a cockpit serve when you have to have loading screens at every corner and your CPU is screaming for room to breath? It's immersive in that you can do these things at the expense of breaking immersion for the rest of the game!
Sure, it's great that you can grab and move and persist every little item in the game...but not if that means you have to save on animation cycles and talk to mannequins who can move their lips.
I guess my point is, BGS focuses on a lot of the wrong things that make games interesting in an effort to make the game "real".
Oh, cool, you can read every book in the game? I wish the writers had spent that much time on the actual Main Campaign to make it interesting rather than writing books that most players will probably ignore!
I'm not saying that those things aren't neat - it's definitely impressive - but it all comes at a significant cost to other more interesting things. BGS RPGs are the very definition of "too much" and I'd much rather see the IPs made by someone else who actually knows how to make fun games.
Tango made fun games - even if they weren't necessarily technically ambitious.
But, alas, as always, bean counting wins over fun.
@Ilyn Yeah, that's the rub. I was primarily a PC person for years and only played console games that didn't release on PC. I fully understand the "ease of use" issues they can have.
I stopped because I enjoyed the simplicity of a console. On PC, I'd be spending way too much time in the settings menu trying to maximize image quality to performance ratios and not enough time just enjoying the game.
But it seems like a lot of newer titles have the simpler settings than when I was gaming on PC where the "out of the box" settings will be just fine to get a good experience.
The only thing holding me back from going PC is that it's great as long as long as everything works, but a huge pain in the butt when things don't - something that really isn't an issue on consoles.
Sad to hear you were having Dead Space issues, though. I have that on my Steam library and never once had a problem using an Xbox controller connected via USB on my potato Surface Book 2.
One game I had issues with was Max Payne on Steam, but a community patch was just a download away to fix the sound problems I was having. Annoying, but thankfully fixable.
"if Xbox went the route of PC in the lounge how it would get access to the games."
I'd argue it would be the same way that the current Xbox works. In essence, an Xbox PC would act like a standard Xbox, but also acts as a sort of Launchbox experience for Steam, GOG, etc.
Now, Microsoft would certainly have to partner with Steam , GOG, Epic, etc. in order to be able to purchase/install games within the UI, but I could see a future where the Xbox UI looks almost identical as it does now, but adds new Tabs in the "All Games and Apps" section to include games available to you from other storefronts in their own Tabs (just like how EA Play has its own Tab).
The other thing is that Microsoft really needs to do is court more companies to release games on Microsoft Store. I am not sure the hesitation there unless it has something to do with the PC GDK being designed for Game Pass PC as most modern games that are on the PC Microsoft Store have been on Game Pass at one time or another.
Not all publishers plan/want to have a Game Pass release, so if there a requirement that a game needs to be subject to a Game Pass release in order to release on PC Microsoft Store and use GDK, that needs some re-thinking.
All I know is, the first company to give me a console-like way to access PC-versions of games (that isn't Steam Deck) will be the one to get my money going forward. PC has all the Microsoft Gaming games I would want to get as well as Sony titles that eventually get ported (and I don't really have FOMO, so I can wait). Plus emulation. Plus access to tons of classic gamers (even if playing those classic games isn't as straight-forward as Steam in Big Box Mode or a console).
I am strongly considering getting rid of both my PS5 and XSX (but keeping my Switch) and just getting an affordable gaming laptop - one that can play all the latest games with at least console settings.
For a laptop screen, 1080p/30fps at the absolute minimum would probably get me pretty far in gaming spaces.
Modern gaming is such a mess and with things like GOG selling older titles plus having the ability to use emulation, going back to PC is much more sensible than dealing with Sony or Microsoft consoles.
I don’t care about the plastic box, just the ability to play games and a gaming laptop could potentially save me money over buying multiple consoles.
They have a 20-hour forgettable story that is nothing more than a super-sized tutorial to their game world that has so many useless gameplay mechanics all for the sake of living in this world and generating your own fun for thousands of hours.
"These changes are grounded in prioritizing high-impact titles and further investing in Bethesda’s portfolio of blockbuster games and beloved worlds which you have nurtured over many decades."
Then close down BGS. Honestly, I'll miss Tango Gameworks' output more than Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and Starfield. Give development of those IPs to studios that know how to reel in development to make something more cohesive and focused.
"We are making these tough decisions to create capacity to increase investment in other parts of our portfolio and focus on our priority games."
Yeah, this is NOT the statement that makes it all better. You bought all these studios for their creative talent and various IP only to close some to focus a select few titles?!
@HonestHick I did have an LG OLED for a day (and it was glorious for the 20 minutes of gaming I did on it just to check it out)...but, it was...uhm...vetoed...when I revealed the price and I had to return it.
It sucks that I have a TV that does do VRR, but is only a 60Hz display. It can do 40 in VRR....
I guess that's what I get for saving money by getting a Vizio rather than an LG OLED or something. The color quality on my Vizio is really good, though since it's a QLED.
Seeing as how the codename for 2024 Call of Duty is "Cerberus" (according to a data breach from December 2022) and there is a Cerberus logo in this teaser...you are probably on the nose with it being Call of Duty.
Having as an Epic Games Store exclusive probably didn't help, either - PC gamers don't like it. I bet it would get a big boost if it dropped on Steam and GOG.
I'll go ahead and trust that Bethesda did in fact make the Xbox Series X version the best way to play by allowing Quality Mode to be 4K/60/Ultra and Performance Mode to be 4K/60/Standard.
Why were the patch notes even put out that way to cause both confusion for players as well create doubt that Bethesda is even telling the truth here?!
Someone had to look at those notes and say "Yup, seems right to me!" when, in fact, the patch notes weren't descriptive enough to single out the Series X version.
I'd like to see Bethesda use a new game engine. It doesn't matter how many graphical coats of paint you throw at it, it's busting at the seams at this point.
Perhaps allowing players to put tens of thousands of potatoes in a cockpit isn't exactly the thing to be focusing on when actual gameplay flow is hindered by that level of interactivity. There is such a thing as "too much".
The fact Tears of the Kingdom on a piece of hardware with a fraction of the power of PC and Series consoles has less load times and faster travel from Point A to Point B than Stafrield should tell you something. Yes, Zelda doesn't have the same level of world persistence or interactivity as Bethesda RPGs, but much can be learned from simply paring things back to focus on that which is most important rather than being excited you can collect every item in the game and store it your spaceship for no other reason than "why not?".
Actually, I'd like Bethesda to go outside of its wheelhouse and develop something that isn't an open-world game designed to be "lived in".
It really is bad when, for the second time, the PlayStation works "as intended" and the Xbox version is bugged.
I am sure there aren't a lot of people anxiously waiting to play the game in Quality Mode (due to 30fps) unless they have a 120Hz TV to run in 40fps, but the fact it's not available on Xbox is still unacceptable.
On top of that, does this mean the 1440p/60/Ultra Settings is also bugged on Xbox?!
And, again, WHY is 1440/60/Ultra Settings locked behind changing a system setting instead of being an actual selectable option in the game?!
@Fenbops That's the reports I have been seeing that PS5 is properly doing 4K/30 (or 40)/Ultra and Performance is 4K/60/Standard. So if you force 1440p, you should be getting 1440p/60/Ultra.
Xbox appears to be just 4K/60/Standard no matter what - though no one has mentioned if forcing 1440p works as it should on Xbox.
Some people are saying the Xbox version is bugged and stays in Performance Mode no matter what.
If this is true, Microsoft really needs to get stuff sorted out with its developers! This would be the second recent multi-console release that ended up working "correctly" on PlayStation and is bugged on Xbox.
If Microsoft really wants to restore good will with people, make sure the first-party games work correctly on its own system!
@BBB @Nenoeil I will be interested to hear Digital Foundry's thoughts on the 1440p Mode not being a selectable option in the game rather than having to set the console output to 1440p to do it.
To have the game running 1440p/60/Ultra Settings seems way better than Dynamic 4K/Standard Settings/60fps or 4K/Ultra Settings/30fps.
I swear, I feel like Microsoft really pushes that "4K native resolution" way more than Sony does as plenty of games in Sony's library run 1440p for Perfomance Modes. It was the same problem in the X1X days when resolution for most games was ruled in favor of performance.
"*When connected to a 1440p display, the title will run at 1440p resolution at 60 FPS w/ ultra settings regardless of rendering mode"
Kind of dumb that a Balanced Mode option wasn't added that renders the game at 1440p/60 with Ultra settings rather than forcing the system to 1440p to get arguably the best experience over the two selectable options for the game.
@Grumblevolcano I see. I don't play multiplayer so...what's wrong with just playing Gears 4 or Gears 5 multiplayer? It's the same thing, isn't it: pew pew pew other player and be toxic to everyone in voice chat?
I never understood how some people prefer multiplayer to one game in a series to the other as they all look the same to me with the same objectives only different weapon/character skins.
Why do people keep asking for Remasters when the original Trilogy is not only completely playable on Series X|S, but also enhanced?! They still hold up quite well!
I think that's kind of the nice part about the Xbox ecosystem: Microsoft enhances the old games for free and rarely charges for a remaster (there are some small exceptions like Gears of War Ultimate and Halo MCC - but that was long before backwards compatibility enhancements we really a thing - and the Quake games).
Anyways, I am hoping we got some Gears 6 news this year - though I will be curious how they handle the "Sophie's Choice" made at the end of Gears 5.
@IssaBrvndo There is the FPS Boost route, but it's limited to the Xbox One resolution only. The FPS Cap Mod was only for those who wanted "4K/60" on Series X - at the cost of no Achievements (should one even cares).
Hopefully, aside from bug fixes, this update does more for visuals than simply implement the FPS Cap Mod.
I have a feeling a lot of people already playing this on Series X|S and using the FPS Unlock Mod will probably not notice much difference with this update.
@trev666 Because they secretly like Microsoft games but either don't want to buy an Xbox to play them, or can only afford one console and chose PlayStation.
Plus, I think a lot of PlayStation gamers are jaded Xbox fans that didn't like decisions made during the X1 era so they jumped ship and are now "locked" into the PlayStation ecosystem (by choice, of course).
@BBB There was already a Tetris movie. It was all about getting Tetris released outside of Russia - which, apparently, is a rather gripping story mainly because of Soviet Era red tape and control as well as licensing disputes.
It's pretty wild the hoops that had to be jumped through for one game (I only read about it - I have not seen the movie).
@OldGamer999 Perfect example of the differences in thinking between Engineering and Software Development. 😅
I am sure an Engineer thought "Why consume the higher bandwidth memory for this smaller stuff when we can allocate a slower pool for it and leave the faster RAM for other things?"
A developer saw it was like "WTF is this?!" - especially with an engine that probably wasn't designed with this concept in mind as the slower memory was supposed to be use for:
audio data
stack data
executable data
script data
which feels more like a custom engine solution (or modifying UE4 to do so adequately).
Also and interesting note: both Hi-Fi Rush and Sea of Thieves use UE4.
When it boils down to it, Microsoft chose to use more CUs in its GPU and Sony chose higher clock speeds.
Perhaps UE4 is more suited for Sony's approach rather than Microsoft's and the PS5 can have slightly higher quality shadows to maintain target framerates than Xbox. Neither is wrong and one approach may have better results than the others under certain conditions.
Such is life.
If anything, this just means Microsoft needs to choose its PR points more wisely when on paper metrics don't necessarily translate to real world metrics in every scenario.
@GeeEssEff Sure, Microsoft was the first do it and will probably the first to end it, too, because the practice is just stupid. You can argue it is because its market share is so low, but regardless, it seems to be slowly ending the practice - love it or hate it.
Final Fantasy XVI will probably never see the light of day on Xbox - but it hasn't even been a year so time will tell. Only a PC version has been discussed.
This game is shockingly taking the leap, though I would have added that to the list.
Silent Hill 2 Remake will probably stay on PlayStation (time will tell)
Silent Hill Short Message (granted, it's not great and it's free) will probably never move over.
Forspoken has yet to get an Xbox date (probably never will)
JETT: The Far Shore has yet to make it to Xbox
Persona series and Like a Dragon series took FOREVER to release on Xbox.
Yes, ultimately the decisions to make these deals lies in the publishers making the deal with Sony - and the biggest culprit is Square Enix.
It is much more difficult to find timed exclusives though, because Sony generally publishes third-party exclusives and ensures the games will stay on PlayStation consoles only (and then jump to PC where applicable). Which, again, supports my argument that Sony doesn't like to share.
None of the games you listed are published by Microsoft, so most of what Microsoft gets is timed (and rarely for more than a year - barring some exceptions). Heck, I think even Stalker 2 only has a 3 month exclusivity window!
Look, I really don't care what plastic box people buy or don't buy. Sony's strategy is working for it. Kudos to Sony. I only get Sony consoles for exclusives (same with my Switch) and I use my Xbox for everything else (I find the Series X to have the better system feature set).
Yes, Microsoft did do some crappy things 19 years ago that rippled through the gaming industry (paid online really needs to go away). But things have changed and markets are changing.
Sony is chasing that live-service cash cow and PC market for a reason - because solely releasing on a single platform isn't sustainable as it was (especially when spending hundreds of millions on development).
And if Microsoft does make its next console PC-based and able to have multiple storefronts (Steam especially) AND still provide a console experience...that puts Sony in a serious bind if it continues with the mindset it has.
Sure, it could block access to its Steam games to the Xbox PC but it would get significant backlash as it would literally be dictate what brand of PC can run its games (and also looking incredibly petty in doing so).
I guess Sony could make its own marketplace on PC, but even Microsoft knows that Steam is where you want your games, so even that is a risky move to maintain market share in PC space.
Pulling out of the PC market all together is not an option for Sony.
Sony will have no choice but to let an Xbox PC play the PC versions of its games (assuming it goes where Microsoft seems to be heading, of course) at the risk of losing console market share as I bet a lot of people would probably migrate to an Xbox PC if Microsoft is able to improve upon what Valve has been doing with Steam Deck and making it a console-like experience, but still being a PC.
I know I would totally skip a PS6 if that were the case (in fact the only reason I don't have a PC is because the "living room" experience is terrible).
@GeeEssEff I don't think Sony is evil...I just know it's less prone to sharing than Microsoft.
It's no secret that if something hits Sony as an exclusive (even if marketed as timed), there is a 90% probability it won't come to any console for the foreseeable future. Heck, even third-party timed exclusives with Nintendo don't last as long as Sony's!
@Fiendish-Beaver I misinterpreted - not the first time I misunderstood something and won't be the last! 😅
It is hard with Sony exclusives since it does tend to latch on and does a good job making even timed exclusives seem like it was something Sony had a strong hand in creating (despite not being the case). It's good marketing, that's for sure!
Die-hards of PlayStation love that Sony puts PlayStation first and foremost and would argue that is what makes PlayStation great. And, it has worked for Sony as PlayStation is also just the habitual purchase for a lot of people who want to play the next FIFA/COD/etc.
But, it's also clear that Sony's way has drawbacks as the money it's bled into gaming is slowly becoming unstainable and has forced its hand to branch out to the PC-market.
Microsoft, on the other hand, knows software and services is where the most money is made. Sure, it can and will produce a piece of gaming hardware for those who choose to buy one, but it's the software and services that "bring the bling". So, it's "moved on" from solely focusing on the plastic box.
I know Xbox die-hards aren't happy about it and threaten to "jump ship" to PlayStation, but even going over there and buying Xbox games is still money in Microsoft's pocket (probably more so than buying the plastic box).
"Under Jim I think they still thought they were competing in the 32 bit wars with Nintendo and Sega trying to find mascots to rival Sonic and Mario"
I'd argue there are a lot gamers still in this mindset, though.
Comments 2,188
Re: Talking Point: Is Sarah Bond Hinting At Eventually Moving Away From Xbox Hardware?
Here's what I see:
1 - Xbox consoles will be a total shift to PC architecture with a specialized "console UI" going forward - no more "closed" console. It will still be a defined hardware spec for PC developers to validate against, but won't require special console development kits or licenses. This will help with the "not worth porting to Xbox" problem as the PC versions will just work.
2 - Official Xbox 360 and OG Xbox emulators that can work on mobile, PC, and "console" for games that don't have PC versions (e.g. Blue Dragon).
3 - Figuring out how cloud saves for X360 and OG Xbox games can be converted or imported into applicable PC versions so that emulation isn't required for those games (probably pie in the sky ask there)
4 - Transferring entire digital library from across the generations to their PC versions (where applicable).
5 - Figuring out how to get OG Xbox, X360, X1, Series physical media working for PC versions of the games on their "console" with an external Blu-ray drive.
So basically, Xbox wants all the benefits people with PCs have had forever, but with the tricky part of figuring out how people won't lose progress with games that didn't use Xbox Anywhere (or came before it) or access to games they own that only exist on OG Xbox, X360, and X1.
Re: Former Microsoft Exec Gives 'Two Reasons' Why Xbox Closed Bethesda Teams
@Weebleman "Either way, I hope they find it. Sony needs a MS firing on all cylinders and vice versa. If one or the other drops out of the race the only folks that will suffer in the long run is us gamers."
Absolutely. I want a strong gaming market, not a lopsided one (no matter what side has the significant upper hand).
Re: Former Microsoft Exec Gives 'Two Reasons' Why Xbox Closed Bethesda Teams
"Expecting folks to drop a digital collection on a competitor, buy a new console and game just to play online for free simply won't be a choice most make. Some will, but if all their pals are on the console they own, chances are they won't."
I mean, the vast majority of console buyers are the casuals who are only playing COD, FIFA, Madden, Fortnite, etc., so platform is a non-issue - it's more of a habitual purchase. Only about 20% of console owners are the "core" audience. And even less of that are people who comment on these pages.
And with cross-platform play being the norm, now, it really doesn't matter if all their friends are on PlayStation and you are on Xbox - you can still play with them!
"They will simply pick up what's hot and their kids want."
Ditching online service fees could be that thing that makes Xbox "hot".
But this is all just playground banter anyways. Since we don't have any idea what strategy Microsoft has with everything going on, it's tough to even tell what would even help.
I do know that price hikes and studio closures isn't the answer.
Saving consumers ~$50/yr on average might be, though. Sure, Microsoft loses that ~$50/yr for those who already pay, but it might entice people to actually play online more, buy games with an online component, and/or buy MTX knowing that they don't have to pay for online anymore. Do away with Game Pass completely is less money out the door keeping Game Pass alive.
Imagine being able to buy a cheap Series S, pay $70 for the latest Call of Duty, and that's it! That could be a huge boost in sales - well, until Sony inevitably has to also do away with PS+ requirement to try to draw people back (if it can afford to do so).
Re: Former Microsoft Exec Gives 'Two Reasons' Why Xbox Closed Bethesda Teams
@EvenStephen7 I think it would be the right 180, though and long overdue. Besides, it only seems right that the one who started it should be the one who ends it!
I also think Cloud Saves should be free on PlayStation and Nintendo consoles because..let's face it...just about everywhere under the sun has Cloud Data at no cost.
@HonestHick It would be a start in the right direction in rebuilding good will with the community.
Re: Former Microsoft Exec Gives 'Two Reasons' Why Xbox Closed Bethesda Teams
As much as I have enjoyed the benefits of Game Pass, I can take it or leave it.
If Microsoft is realizing it can't grow Game Pass subscriptions and it can't afford to put all its first-party games on it as promised, then it's time to do away with it!
Price-hiking if Call of Duty drops on the service isn't the answer.
Most people who buy Call of Duty don't buy it for the campaign and move on (which is the real benefit to a Game Pass subscription), they buy it to play multiplayer for a whole year until the next one comes out.
It already costs less to buy the game outright (even with cost of Game Pass Core to play online) than to pay for a year of Game Puss Ultimate, so a price hike will do nothing more than make Game Pass Ultimate even less appealing to play Call of Duty.
Honestly, Microsoft would do best just to roll traditional Call of Duty multiplayer Modes/Maps into the Warzone and skip the annual COD releases.
Here is a bold idea. Do away with paid online all together!
How many people would move over to Xbox consoles and buy Xbox versions if they knew that they could play the latest Call of Duty WITHOUT the need for PS+ or Game Pass Core or any of that nonsense, but also don't need to buy an expensive and less-casual-friendly PC to get free online play?
Re: Tango Gameworks Had Hopes For Hi-Fi RUSH 2 Before Xbox Closure, Says Report
@BacklogBrad Since I hate Bethesda RPGs, I'd rather Microsoft do anything BUT those types of games.
Re: Report Claims Xbox Is Planning More Cuts Following Studio Closures
This is not what I expected with this merger. Some cuts due to redundancy with executives, accounting, etc., sure, but not cutting all this talent to focus on "tentpole" games.
I was hoping that by having a ton of studios with a wealth of IPs would mean some revitalization of forgotten games spread across those developers.
I thought it would mean that the "COD Factory" developers could perhaps work on passion projects for a change.
I hoped that things would be different under Microsoft as there was a time when developers were given a "longer leash" to work on projects.
Now, I worry about Ninja Theory if Hellblade II doesn't stick its landing.
I worry about Double Fine if their next game isn't well received (though I am sure if Microsoft closed that, Tim Schafer would just open another studio the next day and take his employees with him).
I worry that Perfect Dark will get canned because it's seeming to be too much of a hassle, now.
Is pressure on InXile with Clockwork Revolution?
Will Fable get canned?
It's just sad and I hope this reporting is wrong.
Re: Xbox Reportedly Considering Game Pass Price Hike To Accommodate Call Of Duty
I don't even know how to even respond to everything going on with Team Green right now.
If it really is an issue about profitability, it's time to kill the program and go back to the Games With Gold model but with better selection of games every month.
This won't keep people around.
Re: Latest Rumours Suggest Perfect Dark Reboot Isn't Going Smoothly At Xbox
I know game development isn't easy (believe me, I tried and hated it), but FPS genre has been around forever - heck, Microsoft even owns the developer that defined the genre as well that company that originally developed the Perfect Dark franchise - how "troubled" could development possible be when you have the best resources possible for this kind of game?!
I think the problem is that Microsoft lets people run with ideas to the point that it lets Scoop Creep settle in a little too much. I also think there isn't as much collaboration as there should be among Microsoft Studios.
I get that all the studios have their own games to work on, but they should be able to share technology, lessons learned, etc. to help other studios, at the very least.
Re: Xbox Exec Provides Reasoning Behind Bethesda Studio Closures
@Faruko That doesn't mean I think BGS is a good developer. The Creation Engine is hot garbage and the gameplay loop of their games is about as interesting as watching paint dry.
The problem with BGS is that their ambition outweighs good game design. What gameplay purpose does putting tens of thousands of potatoes in a cockpit serve when you have to have loading screens at every corner and your CPU is screaming for room to breath? It's immersive in that you can do these things at the expense of breaking immersion for the rest of the game!
Sure, it's great that you can grab and move and persist every little item in the game...but not if that means you have to save on animation cycles and talk to mannequins who can move their lips.
I guess my point is, BGS focuses on a lot of the wrong things that make games interesting in an effort to make the game "real".
Oh, cool, you can read every book in the game? I wish the writers had spent that much time on the actual Main Campaign to make it interesting rather than writing books that most players will probably ignore!
I'm not saying that those things aren't neat - it's definitely impressive - but it all comes at a significant cost to other more interesting things. BGS RPGs are the very definition of "too much" and I'd much rather see the IPs made by someone else who actually knows how to make fun games.
Tango made fun games - even if they weren't necessarily technically ambitious.
But, alas, as always, bean counting wins over fun.
Re: Reaction: Xbox's Push Towards 'Microsoft Gaming' Looks More Drastic Than We First Thought
@Ilyn Yeah, that's the rub. I was primarily a PC person for years and only played console games that didn't release on PC. I fully understand the "ease of use" issues they can have.
I stopped because I enjoyed the simplicity of a console. On PC, I'd be spending way too much time in the settings menu trying to maximize image quality to performance ratios and not enough time just enjoying the game.
But it seems like a lot of newer titles have the simpler settings than when I was gaming on PC where the "out of the box" settings will be just fine to get a good experience.
The only thing holding me back from going PC is that it's great as long as long as everything works, but a huge pain in the butt when things don't - something that really isn't an issue on consoles.
Sad to hear you were having Dead Space issues, though. I have that on my Steam library and never once had a problem using an Xbox controller connected via USB on my potato Surface Book 2.
One game I had issues with was Max Payne on Steam, but a community patch was just a download away to fix the sound problems I was having. Annoying, but thankfully fixable.
"if Xbox went the route of PC in the lounge how it would get access to the games."
I'd argue it would be the same way that the current Xbox works. In essence, an Xbox PC would act like a standard Xbox, but also acts as a sort of Launchbox experience for Steam, GOG, etc.
Now, Microsoft would certainly have to partner with Steam , GOG, Epic, etc. in order to be able to purchase/install games within the UI, but I could see a future where the Xbox UI looks almost identical as it does now, but adds new Tabs in the "All Games and Apps" section to include games available to you from other storefronts in their own Tabs (just like how EA Play has its own Tab).
The other thing is that Microsoft really needs to do is court more companies to release games on Microsoft Store. I am not sure the hesitation there unless it has something to do with the PC GDK being designed for Game Pass PC as most modern games that are on the PC Microsoft Store have been on Game Pass at one time or another.
Not all publishers plan/want to have a Game Pass release, so if there a requirement that a game needs to be subject to a Game Pass release in order to release on PC Microsoft Store and use GDK, that needs some re-thinking.
All I know is, the first company to give me a console-like way to access PC-versions of games (that isn't Steam Deck) will be the one to get my money going forward. PC has all the Microsoft Gaming games I would want to get as well as Sony titles that eventually get ported (and I don't really have FOMO, so I can wait). Plus emulation. Plus access to tons of classic gamers (even if playing those classic games isn't as straight-forward as Steam in Big Box Mode or a console).
Re: Reaction: Xbox's Push Towards 'Microsoft Gaming' Looks More Drastic Than We First Thought
@ParsnipHero That’s another option that could prove cheaper for performance profile I am looking for.
I assume there are ways to get the computer to boot right into Big Picture Mode on Steam.
I’d probably still need to find like a cheap wireless keyboard/touchpad combo to handle more “power user” situations, though.
Re: Reaction: Xbox's Push Towards 'Microsoft Gaming' Looks More Drastic Than We First Thought
I am strongly considering getting rid of both my PS5 and XSX (but keeping my Switch) and just getting an affordable gaming laptop - one that can play all the latest games with at least console settings.
For a laptop screen, 1080p/30fps at the absolute minimum would probably get me pretty far in gaming spaces.
Modern gaming is such a mess and with things like GOG selling older titles plus having the ability to use emulation, going back to PC is much more sensible than dealing with Sony or Microsoft consoles.
I don’t care about the plastic box, just the ability to play games and a gaming laptop could potentially save me money over buying multiple consoles.
Re: Xbox Studio Shutdowns Are A 'F***ing Gut Stab', Says Arkane Lyon Boss
Glad he has the courage to publicly say what he said. I hope there is no retaliation for it.
Re: Xbox Insider Update Aims To 'Improve' Sale Searching On The Microsoft Store
"We just closed great studios today, but here's how you can easily spend more money on our store, Insiders!"
Yeah, probably not the best day to report on anything seemingly positive about Xbox today - especially if it involves ways of giving more money.
The whole division should just go on a press release sabbatical for a couple of weeks.
Re: Xbox Exec Provides Reasoning Behind Bethesda Studio Closures
@dskatter I don't like Bethesda RPGs one bit.
They have a 20-hour forgettable story that is nothing more than a super-sized tutorial to their game world that has so many useless gameplay mechanics all for the sake of living in this world and generating your own fun for thousands of hours.
Re: Xbox Exec Provides Reasoning Behind Bethesda Studio Closures
"These changes are grounded in prioritizing high-impact titles and further investing in Bethesda’s portfolio of blockbuster games and beloved worlds which you have nurtured over many decades."
Then close down BGS. Honestly, I'll miss Tango Gameworks' output more than Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and Starfield. Give development of those IPs to studios that know how to reel in development to make something more cohesive and focused.
Re: Xbox Is Shutting Four Studios, Including Arkane Austin And Tango Gameworks
"We are making these tough decisions to create capacity to increase investment in other parts of our portfolio and focus on our priority games."
Yeah, this is NOT the statement that makes it all better. You bought all these studios for their creative talent and various IP only to close some to focus a select few titles?!
Today is not a good day for Xbox at all.
Re: Starfield Is Getting A 60FPS Performance Mode On Xbox Series X
@HonestHick I did have an LG OLED for a day (and it was glorious for the 20 minutes of gaming I did on it just to check it out)...but, it was...uhm...vetoed...when I revealed the price and I had to return it.
Re: Starfield Is Getting A 60FPS Performance Mode On Xbox Series X
@Nalverus It does support Freesync.
The problem is these 40fps modes require that 120Hz mode is an option on the Xbox (and PS5)...which it is not.
But VRR has been fantastic for games that don't hold their 60fps targets (especially Elden Ring).
Re: Starfield Is Getting A 60FPS Performance Mode On Xbox Series X
It sucks that I have a TV that does do VRR, but is only a 60Hz display. It can do 40 in VRR....
I guess that's what I get for saving money by getting a Vizio rather than an LG OLED or something. The color quality on my Vizio is really good, though since it's a QLED.
Re: Xbox Games Showcase 2024 Confirmed For June, First Details Revealed
Seeing as how the codename for 2024 Call of Duty is "Cerberus" (according to a data breach from December 2022) and there is a Cerberus logo in this teaser...you are probably on the nose with it being Call of Duty.
Re: Alan Wake 2 Still Hasn't Made Profit Despite Huge Critical Success
Having as an Epic Games Store exclusive probably didn't help, either - PC gamers don't like it. I bet it would get a big boost if it dropped on Steam and GOG.
Re: Max Payne 1+2 Remake About To Enter Full Production At Remedy
I need this in my soul!
Re: Bethesda Has Adjusted The Patch Notes For Fallout 4 On Xbox Series X
Does anyone have an quality control anymore?
I'll go ahead and trust that Bethesda did in fact make the Xbox Series X version the best way to play by allowing Quality Mode to be 4K/60/Ultra and Performance Mode to be 4K/60/Standard.
Why were the patch notes even put out that way to cause both confusion for players as well create doubt that Bethesda is even telling the truth here?!
Someone had to look at those notes and say "Yup, seems right to me!" when, in fact, the patch notes weren't descriptive enough to single out the Series X version.
Re: Talking Point: Are You Excited For Remedy's Max Payne 1+2 Remake?
@The_Gamers_Grotto This is the way
Re: Talking Point: Would You Like To See Xbox Focus On A New Fallout Game?
I'd like to see Bethesda use a new game engine. It doesn't matter how many graphical coats of paint you throw at it, it's busting at the seams at this point.
Perhaps allowing players to put tens of thousands of potatoes in a cockpit isn't exactly the thing to be focusing on when actual gameplay flow is hindered by that level of interactivity. There is such a thing as "too much".
The fact Tears of the Kingdom on a piece of hardware with a fraction of the power of PC and Series consoles has less load times and faster travel from Point A to Point B than Stafrield should tell you something. Yes, Zelda doesn't have the same level of world persistence or interactivity as Bethesda RPGs, but much can be learned from simply paring things back to focus on that which is most important rather than being excited you can collect every item in the game and store it your spaceship for no other reason than "why not?".
Actually, I'd like Bethesda to go outside of its wheelhouse and develop something that isn't an open-world game designed to be "lived in".
Re: Fallout 4's Quality Mode Is Reportedly Bugged On Xbox Series X|S Right Now
It really is bad when, for the second time, the PlayStation works "as intended" and the Xbox version is bugged.
I am sure there aren't a lot of people anxiously waiting to play the game in Quality Mode (due to 30fps) unless they have a 120Hz TV to run in 40fps, but the fact it's not available on Xbox is still unacceptable.
On top of that, does this mean the 1440p/60/Ultra Settings is also bugged on Xbox?!
And, again, WHY is 1440/60/Ultra Settings locked behind changing a system setting instead of being an actual selectable option in the game?!
Re: Fallout 4 Comparison Reveals How Similar The Xbox One & Next-Gen Versions Look
@d0x3601 Creation Engine is Gamebryo-based. I mean, it's no better as it's been unused now for almost a decade (except for Creation Engine, that is).
Re: Fallout 4 Comparison Reveals How Similar The Xbox One & Next-Gen Versions Look
@Fenbops That's the reports I have been seeing that PS5 is properly doing 4K/30 (or 40)/Ultra and Performance is 4K/60/Standard. So if you force 1440p, you should be getting 1440p/60/Ultra.
Xbox appears to be just 4K/60/Standard no matter what - though no one has mentioned if forcing 1440p works as it should on Xbox.
Re: Fallout 4 Comparison Reveals How Similar The Xbox One & Next-Gen Versions Look
Some people are saying the Xbox version is bugged and stays in Performance Mode no matter what.
If this is true, Microsoft really needs to get stuff sorted out with its developers! This would be the second recent multi-console release that ended up working "correctly" on PlayStation and is bugged on Xbox.
If Microsoft really wants to restore good will with people, make sure the first-party games work correctly on its own system!
Re: Dead By Daylight Gets Huge File Size Reduction On Xbox Series X|S
Interesting that the file size has decreased with the engine shift. I wonder what makes UE5 more lightweight on drive space.
Re: Fallout 4 Next-Gen Update Now Live On Xbox, Here Are The Patch Notes
@BBB @Nenoeil I will be interested to hear Digital Foundry's thoughts on the 1440p Mode not being a selectable option in the game rather than having to set the console output to 1440p to do it.
To have the game running 1440p/60/Ultra Settings seems way better than Dynamic 4K/Standard Settings/60fps or 4K/Ultra Settings/30fps.
I swear, I feel like Microsoft really pushes that "4K native resolution" way more than Sony does as plenty of games in Sony's library run 1440p for Perfomance Modes. It was the same problem in the X1X days when resolution for most games was ruled in favor of performance.
Re: Fallout 4 Next-Gen Update Now Live On Xbox, Here Are The Patch Notes
"*When connected to a 1440p display, the title will run at 1440p resolution at 60 FPS w/ ultra settings regardless of rendering mode"
Kind of dumb that a Balanced Mode option wasn't added that renders the game at 1440p/60 with Ultra settings rather than forcing the system to 1440p to get arguably the best experience over the two selectable options for the game.
Re: Gears Of War Voice Actor Reckons We're Due A 'Gears 6' Announcement In June
@Grumblevolcano I see. I don't play multiplayer so...what's wrong with just playing Gears 4 or Gears 5 multiplayer? It's the same thing, isn't it: pew pew pew other player and be toxic to everyone in voice chat?
I never understood how some people prefer multiplayer to one game in a series to the other as they all look the same to me with the same objectives only different weapon/character skins.
Re: Gears Of War Voice Actor Reckons We're Due A 'Gears 6' Announcement In June
Why do people keep asking for Remasters when the original Trilogy is not only completely playable on Series X|S, but also enhanced?! They still hold up quite well!
I think that's kind of the nice part about the Xbox ecosystem: Microsoft enhances the old games for free and rarely charges for a remaster (there are some small exceptions like Gears of War Ultimate and Halo MCC - but that was long before backwards compatibility enhancements we really a thing - and the Quake games).
Anyways, I am hoping we got some Gears 6 news this year - though I will be curious how they handle the "Sophie's Choice" made at the end of Gears 5.
Re: Fallout 4 Next-Gen Update: Release Date, FPS Details & Estimated Launch Time On Xbox
@IssaBrvndo There is the FPS Boost route, but it's limited to the Xbox One resolution only. The FPS Cap Mod was only for those who wanted "4K/60" on Series X - at the cost of no Achievements (should one even cares).
Hopefully, aside from bug fixes, this update does more for visuals than simply implement the FPS Cap Mod.
Re: Fallout 4 Next-Gen Update: Release Date, FPS Details & Estimated Launch Time On Xbox
I have a feeling a lot of people already playing this on Series X|S and using the FPS Unlock Mod will probably not notice much difference with this update.
Re: Xbox Games Are Enjoying A 'Positive Upward Trend' On PS5, Suggests New Analysis
@trev666 Because they secretly like Microsoft games but either don't want to buy an Xbox to play them, or can only afford one console and chose PlayStation.
Plus, I think a lot of PlayStation gamers are jaded Xbox fans that didn't like decisions made during the X1 era so they jumped ship and are now "locked" into the PlayStation ecosystem (by choice, of course).
Re: Xbox Games Are Enjoying A 'Positive Upward Trend' On PS5, Suggests New Analysis
Glad it's working out for Microsoft. The more people playing, the merrier!
It's a shame this isn't a two-way street for Microsoft, but such is life (and it's more money in MS pocket)!
Re: Fallout Continues To Dominate On Xbox As Bethesda Reveals Incredible Player Numbers
@BBB There was already a Tetris movie. It was all about getting Tetris released outside of Russia - which, apparently, is a rather gripping story mainly because of Soviet Era red tape and control as well as licensing disputes.
It's pretty wild the hoops that had to be jumped through for one game (I only read about it - I have not seen the movie).
Re: Sea Of Thieves On PS5 Has Slight Edge Over Xbox Series X, Notes Digital Foundry
@OldGamer999 Perfect example of the differences in thinking between Engineering and Software Development. 😅
I am sure an Engineer thought "Why consume the higher bandwidth memory for this smaller stuff when we can allocate a slower pool for it and leave the faster RAM for other things?"
A developer saw it was like "WTF is this?!" - especially with an engine that probably wasn't designed with this concept in mind as the slower memory was supposed to be use for:
audio data
stack data
executable data
script data
which feels more like a custom engine solution (or modifying UE4 to do so adequately).
Re: Sea Of Thieves On PS5 Has Slight Edge Over Xbox Series X, Notes Digital Foundry
@Xbox_Dashboard "jump ship"
I see what you did there....
Re: Sea Of Thieves On PS5 Has Slight Edge Over Xbox Series X, Notes Digital Foundry
Also and interesting note: both Hi-Fi Rush and Sea of Thieves use UE4.
When it boils down to it, Microsoft chose to use more CUs in its GPU and Sony chose higher clock speeds.
Perhaps UE4 is more suited for Sony's approach rather than Microsoft's and the PS5 can have slightly higher quality shadows to maintain target framerates than Xbox. Neither is wrong and one approach may have better results than the others under certain conditions.
Such is life.
If anything, this just means Microsoft needs to choose its PR points more wisely when on paper metrics don't necessarily translate to real world metrics in every scenario.
Re: PlayStation Exclusive 'Kena: Bridge Of Spirits' Rated For Xbox Series X|S
@GeeEssEff Sure, Microsoft was the first do it and will probably the first to end it, too, because the practice is just stupid. You can argue it is because its market share is so low, but regardless, it seems to be slowly ending the practice - love it or hate it.
Final Fantasy XVI will probably never see the light of day on Xbox - but it hasn't even been a year so time will tell. Only a PC version has been discussed.
This game is shockingly taking the leap, though I would have added that to the list.
Silent Hill 2 Remake will probably stay on PlayStation (time will tell)
Silent Hill Short Message (granted, it's not great and it's free) will probably never move over.
Forspoken has yet to get an Xbox date (probably never will)
JETT: The Far Shore has yet to make it to Xbox
Persona series and Like a Dragon series took FOREVER to release on Xbox.
Yes, ultimately the decisions to make these deals lies in the publishers making the deal with Sony - and the biggest culprit is Square Enix.
It is much more difficult to find timed exclusives though, because Sony generally publishes third-party exclusives and ensures the games will stay on PlayStation consoles only (and then jump to PC where applicable). Which, again, supports my argument that Sony doesn't like to share.
None of the games you listed are published by Microsoft, so most of what Microsoft gets is timed (and rarely for more than a year - barring some exceptions). Heck, I think even Stalker 2 only has a 3 month exclusivity window!
Look, I really don't care what plastic box people buy or don't buy. Sony's strategy is working for it. Kudos to Sony. I only get Sony consoles for exclusives (same with my Switch) and I use my Xbox for everything else (I find the Series X to have the better system feature set).
Yes, Microsoft did do some crappy things 19 years ago that rippled through the gaming industry (paid online really needs to go away). But things have changed and markets are changing.
Sony is chasing that live-service cash cow and PC market for a reason - because solely releasing on a single platform isn't sustainable as it was (especially when spending hundreds of millions on development).
And if Microsoft does make its next console PC-based and able to have multiple storefronts (Steam especially) AND still provide a console experience...that puts Sony in a serious bind if it continues with the mindset it has.
Sure, it could block access to its Steam games to the Xbox PC but it would get significant backlash as it would literally be dictate what brand of PC can run its games (and also looking incredibly petty in doing so).
I guess Sony could make its own marketplace on PC, but even Microsoft knows that Steam is where you want your games, so even that is a risky move to maintain market share in PC space.
Pulling out of the PC market all together is not an option for Sony.
Sony will have no choice but to let an Xbox PC play the PC versions of its games (assuming it goes where Microsoft seems to be heading, of course) at the risk of losing console market share as I bet a lot of people would probably migrate to an Xbox PC if Microsoft is able to improve upon what Valve has been doing with Steam Deck and making it a console-like experience, but still being a PC.
I know I would totally skip a PS6 if that were the case (in fact the only reason I don't have a PC is because the "living room" experience is terrible).
Re: PlayStation Exclusive 'Kena: Bridge Of Spirits' Rated For Xbox Series X|S
@GeeEssEff I don't think Sony is evil...I just know it's less prone to sharing than Microsoft.
It's no secret that if something hits Sony as an exclusive (even if marketed as timed), there is a 90% probability it won't come to any console for the foreseeable future. Heck, even third-party timed exclusives with Nintendo don't last as long as Sony's!
Re: PlayStation Exclusive 'Kena: Bridge Of Spirits' Rated For Xbox Series X|S
@GeeEssEff Ori games are fantastic!
Re: Talking Point: Are You Excited For Remedy's Max Payne 1+2 Remake?
Having recently bought Max Payne 1 & 2 Bundle on Steam, I am very much looking forward to a Remake.
Max Payne 1 specifically hasn't aged too well.
I do wonder if Remedy will reuse the same voice acting recordings for the Remake or use a whole new cast.
It will be sad to not hear James McCaffrey as Max Payne anymore.
Re: PlayStation Exclusive 'Kena: Bridge Of Spirits' Rated For Xbox Series X|S
@Fiendish-Beaver I misinterpreted - not the first time I misunderstood something and won't be the last! 😅
It is hard with Sony exclusives since it does tend to latch on and does a good job making even timed exclusives seem like it was something Sony had a strong hand in creating (despite not being the case). It's good marketing, that's for sure!
Re: PlayStation Exclusive 'Kena: Bridge Of Spirits' Rated For Xbox Series X|S
@NEStalgia It's a double-edged sword.
Die-hards of PlayStation love that Sony puts PlayStation first and foremost and would argue that is what makes PlayStation great. And, it has worked for Sony as PlayStation is also just the habitual purchase for a lot of people who want to play the next FIFA/COD/etc.
But, it's also clear that Sony's way has drawbacks as the money it's bled into gaming is slowly becoming unstainable and has forced its hand to branch out to the PC-market.
Microsoft, on the other hand, knows software and services is where the most money is made. Sure, it can and will produce a piece of gaming hardware for those who choose to buy one, but it's the software and services that "bring the bling". So, it's "moved on" from solely focusing on the plastic box.
I know Xbox die-hards aren't happy about it and threaten to "jump ship" to PlayStation, but even going over there and buying Xbox games is still money in Microsoft's pocket (probably more so than buying the plastic box).
"Under Jim I think they still thought they were competing in the 32 bit wars with Nintendo and Sega trying to find mascots to rival Sonic and Mario"
I'd argue there are a lot gamers still in this mindset, though.