Comments 110

Re: Indiana Jones PS5 Fans Not Happy With Xbox's Physical Media Habits

Godot25

@NishimuraX You probably didn't "get" my post. But okay.

Hilarious to me is reaction like if it's first time this happened. Not fact that gamers have "less choice." I already made my choice. I don't care if physical continues to exist for next 50 years for others to buy.

Fact that even consoles are moving towards digital is not "me championing that" but reality. Even Nintendo in my region is starting pricing physical games to be more expensive (as they should have been from beginning) than digital in obvious attempt to move players towards digital. PS5 Pro releasing without BD drive is obvious attempt to test adoption rate of external BD drive before next-gen and Xbox and PS making handhelds will move even more players towards digital.

Also, you have ability to buy Xbox digital games outside of Xbox Store, just like Steam games. So "less choice" is interesting way to frame that lol.

All and all, market has decided. Microsoft don't see a worth of "printing" second disc just to fit whole game on physical edition. They probably know that people are mainly buying physical games because they want to resell them (which they can even if full game is not on disc) or they want to put that case on shelf so they can have good vibes from it. And amount of people who will not buy Indy on PS5 just because BD just hold 20GB is just miniscule.

And expecting Microsoft to treat PS5 users in some kind of privileged position is foolish. The moment I saw how much GB Indy takes and how Xbox physical version was released, I knew that this exact treatment would be there for PS version. And that's not me saying that I agree with Microsoft. I'm just stating the obvious.

Re: Indiana Jones PS5 Fans Not Happy With Xbox's Physical Media Habits

Godot25

It's hilarious reading these meltdowns while I personally haven't bought physical game since 2017 lol.

And while I don't fully understand it, it was expected. Microsoft for sure won't treat PS users as some kind of special breed. Indy has 125GB which would mean getting two discs in case. And Microsoft is clearly not willing to do that. So I expect DOOM TGA to be the same.

It's maybe a shock for PS users, since PS is more prevalent in terms of physical discs. Seeing cries about FH5 not getting physical version or this is funny. But not surprising. Xbox is already 90% digital. First party even more (because of Game Pass).

Re: Lots Of Activision Blizzard Games Aren't On Xbox Game Pass Yet, But Why?

Godot25

I call ***** on this one.
Okay, if there are some problems with licensing, deal with those problems. But I doubt there are any problems with releasing Modern Warfare 2 (new one) or even Vanguard or Black ops Cold War on Game Pass. They are modern games and I doubt there are any problems with licensing.

I just think they are not bringing them to Game Pass, because Black Ops 6 is their moneymaker and they are afraid that people will back to the games that can't be monetised that well.

Re: Xbox Reporter 'Pretty Sure' New Console Is Set To Launch In 2027

Godot25

It's pretty clear that Microsoft can't launch new Xbox as a closed ecosystem. It would too niche and devs would probably stop supporting it.
So making a PC with Xbox shell sounds pretty logical. But it's a case of "how will you implement." Because on paper it sounds good.

We would have access to many more games thanks to PC ecosystem including PlayStation games. It would basically solve "will devs support a platform" problem. But there are many questions that needs to be answered.

Re: CoD Leaker Doubles Down On Belief That Xbox's Next Console Will Arrive In 2026

Godot25

I'm more interested in vision of Xbox ecosystem moving forward. It's pretty clear that it doesn't make sense for Xbox to make closed ecosystem like they used to do, because with them moving to multiplatform releases, it would be death sentence for the hardware and support from third-party devs.

I don't have plans to leave Xbox ecosystem, so I would be obviously interested into new hardware. Series X will be 6 years old and it have served me well. So I would welcome more horsepower even for higher price.

Re: Xbox Developer Direct Returns This Month To Highlight Four 2025 Titles

Godot25

@GeorgeKal It makes sense if my theory is correct. If they are releasing all D_D games in first half of 2025, it really doesn't make sense to include Fable there. Especially since there will be summer showcase.

To me, bigger issue with D_D in inclusion of third-party games. I think that D_D should be reserved for first-party titles only. For third-party games, there is Partner Preview.

Re: Xbox Developer Direct Returns This Month To Highlight Four 2025 Titles

Godot25

@GeorgeKal My theory is that The Outer Worlds 2 and Fable are for second half of 2025, so they will be in summer showcase. I would be surprised if Fable wasn't given "Direct" style presentation like BO6 in 2024 and Starfield in 2023

Hence SoM and Doom will be out before June. With Avowed it makes great first half of year for Xbox.
So, february for Avowed, march of SoM and may for DooM?

Re: Xbox Fans Plead With Microsoft: 'Don't Forget About Us Physical Gamers'

Godot25

It's pretty obvious which way wind is blowing. And not just on Xbox.

Xbox is just way ahead in share of digital sales. But PS5 Pro already came out with BD drive as optional accessory, and I fully expect that next Xbox and PS6 will both be without BD drive out of the box with option to connect one.

And publishers will move away from retail towards style that Remedy implemented with AW2. Digital only release and then some kind of physical limited release few months after release.

Re: Surprise! Death Stranding Director's Cut Is Now Available On Xbox Series X|S

Godot25

@UnusedBabyWipes OG game is published by Sony. On PlayStation. But Sony still owns IP. So as I said. There is no way 505 Games could have released Xbox port without Sony saying "okay, you can do that"

EDIT: Okay. Now I'm reading that KojiPro secured Death Stranding IP. https://automaton-media.com/articles/newsjp/20241107-317236/

Which probably means that Death Stranding 2 on Xbox is matter of "when" not "if"

Re: Roundup: All The Reveals From October 2024's Xbox Partner Preview Showcase

Godot25

I like how Xbox finally found a structure in their presentations after they hired Tina Amini.
You have Developer_Direct for upcoming first-party games in january/february, Partner Preview in march, big blowout showcase in june, Gamescom in august, TGS in september and then another Partner Preview in october.
Every showcase has different theme and direction so you can distinguish them.

So well done.
In terms of games, that new Bloober Team game looks promising and Eternal Strands on GP is great news since I wanted to pick up the game.

Re: Xbox's Hi-Fi RUSH Studio Tango Gameworks Revived, Acquired By PUBG Publisher

Godot25

I don't understand why are people bitching about it.
It's honestly good. Microsoft clearly wasn't interested in Tango, but they at least found a company that is interested in Tango.

Hi-Fi Rush 2 will be on Xbox.

Fine.

Only bad thing about this whole situation was their stupidity to announce closure of studio and dealing with PR disaster, while they found buyer few months later. It would be preferable to first find a partner and announce a sale. Like with Toys for Bob.

Re: Xbox Will Reportedly Tone Down Its Game Pass Messaging For Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6

Godot25

Microsoft during CMA trial said that they can't put COD on Game Pass until 2025 implying that Sony have marketing deal.
But since they are putting Black Ops 6 in Game Pass in 2024, I guess that they altered the deal with Sony.

  • Sony would allow Black Ops 6 hitting Game Pass in 2024
  • Microsoft have to tone down Game Pass marketing for the game
  • split of revenue is going back to 70:30 (Sony gave Activision special deal for 80:20 revenue split)

And that's not me saying that this is exactly what happened. I just think that this is huge probability of what happened.

Re: Take-Two CEO Says 'Rational Decisions' Result In No Day One Xbox Game Pass Releases

Godot25

I mean...duh?
It's obvious rational for him as a third-party publisher. He knows that GTA VI will sell tens of millions of copies, so he is in comfortable position saying that.
On the other hand it's hilarious that he is saying that considering he recently slashed entire publishing division on it's knees (Private Division). Also, he is fortunate enough to have GTA Online and NBA 2K funding his company for years on end.

Also, even if he wanted to create sub service, it isn't feasible for Take-Two considering fact that they are only able to make 2-3 games per year, which is just not enough.

Re: It's Official, Xbox's Avowed Has Been Delayed Until 2025

Godot25

@fizban3332 What?
This is exactly the thing Microsoft is doing - spacing games. They have 9 pieces of games/expansions for next 5 months. Without Avowed.
Also, I really doubt that Fable was even considered for early 2025. It always sound like "late 2025" game and we will be glad if it even make it for 2025.

What a dumb take.

Re: Xbox First-Party RPG Avowed Reportedly Delayed Until Early 2025

Godot25

I'm kinda okay with it.

With how dumb Microsoft's strategy of releasing games usually is (releasing every game in second half), spreading games is nice change of pace.

They already have huge amount of content for rest of this year. And Dragon Age is also releasing in fall. And november is packed with games especially after Stalker 2 delay into november.

So having
Q1 - Avowed, South of Midnight
Q2 - Doom The Dark Ages
Q3 - Fable
Q4 - Call of Duty 2025
With few other games sprinkled? Sounds good to me.

Re: Microsoft Provides More Detail On Its New Xbox Game Pass Standard Tier

Godot25

@PsBoxSwitchOwner Saying that PS Plus Extra is doing day 1 stuff is pretty generous tbh. Because since launch of the service there were maybe 5 games that were released day one(Stray, Sea of Stars, Animal Well, Dave the Diver and Tales of Kenzera). None of the was first-party.

Also, Standard is not getting first-party games day one. But that doesn't mean that it won't get third-party games day one

Re: Microsoft Provides More Detail On Its New Xbox Game Pass Standard Tier

Godot25

@PsBoxSwitchOwner Well, it currently have. If it won't have I will stop subbing. Because day one releases are main point of subbing for me.

Even at 17,99€, Ultimate is well worth to me. Next year I would had to buy Doom The Dark Ages, Fable, South of Midnight and plenty other games that will be in Game Pass. Only those three full priced games covers my yearly Ultimate payment.

Re: Microsoft Provides More Detail On Its New Xbox Game Pass Standard Tier

Godot25

@Ricky-Spanish What? How can it be "not in the news," but Spencer said it? If he said it, you probably read it somewhere. And if you read it, googling it takes probably 15 seconds.

But you can't find it, because he didn't said it. Not recently. Fact that he was talking about "holding prices" in 2021 is pretty irrelevant in 2024 after inflation surge.

And that's not me defending Microsoft. Every price increase is bad for consumer. But this price increase was pretty much telegraphed months in advance for everyone who is reading Xbox news. So many people around Microsoft (like Tom Warren) was talking about it, that expecting no price increase was stupid. It was just about "how big of a price increase"

Re: Xbox Apparently Could Have Shown Much More At This Year's Showcase

Godot25

I'm not going to hold my expectations for Gamescom. Maybe Towerborne release date...

Honestly, I don't think we currently need any more games being showcased this year. Yea, their Showcase lacked some games that were announced ages ago (mainly Everwild and Contraband), but current Microsoft focus should be on fall and holiday period.

They have stacked last three months of the year. ARA, Age of Mythology and Stalker 2 in september, COD in october, Avowed and Flight sim in november and Indy in december. Make sure you are tying those releases to Game Pass and consoles (especially Call of Duty). Be aggressive with pricing.

And if those games will pan out in expected quality, then you can talk about more games in January.

There would be nothing better like Developer_Direct with Fable, South of Midnight and Doom after stacked late 2024.

Then prepare next showcase for june 2025 with new announcements.

Re: New Xbox Showcase Rumour Hints At Plenty Of Surprises This Sunday

Godot25

So..to recap

Will be there: Indiana Jones and the Golden Circle, Starfield Shattered Space, Avowed, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

Probably will be there: Towerborne, ARA, Age of Mythology Retold, Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred

Heavily hinted: Gears 6, Doom: The Dark Ages, Silksong, Dragon Age 4

Less heavily hinted: Perfect Dark, State of Decay 3, Assassin's Creed Shadows

That's 16 from 30

And another unannounced first-party games? Good lord.

Re: Bethesda's Indiana Jones Game Reportedly Set To Launch This Year

Godot25

@NeutronBomb Well. Game Pass is everything for Microsoft and it's growth is bedrock of future of Xbox business. And what is the better way to grow a Game Pass then with most popular yearly shooter?

To me, only thing that could prevent COD 2024 being day one in Game Pass is when SOny still have marketing deal which would prevent this possibility.

But I can also imagine Microsoft trying to put ABK games into Game Pass Ultimate exclusively.

Re: Xbox's New AI Partnership Is Stirring Up A Heated Debate On Social Media

Godot25

It's inevitable. Genie is already out of bottle and you can't put him back.
If X company will use AI during game development and lower time/budget of AAA game while Y company will refuse to use AI and will make more expensive game with higher budget then X company will be more successful. It's just how things work.

Houdini (for example) was introduced to allow developers to create huge lands of gaming space in small amount of time. Did anybody employed 100+ more devs to create this by hand instead? Nope. Nobody is that stupid. But even Houdini requires "touch" from developer after generating land. Same here.

Re: Quantum Error Dev: Xbox Version Needs More Time Due To 'Slower SSD'

Godot25

I don't want to be rude to developer, but I have not seen any game that needs speeds of PS5's SSD. Not even Rift Apart where developer touted it as a necessity and voila....on PC in same game you won't even need an SSD.

And if you find dev of this game, he seems like pretty insane PS fanboy.
So maybe it is tinfoil hat time but it really seems like he is using console war fuel to boost marketing for his game. And since this messages are covered by media, it is clearly working.

I would not be surprised if he released PS5 version of a game by driving on this nonsense and then made statement like "DirectStorage is magic. Everything is solved." And then he will try to sell Xbox port on console war ***** once again...

Just look at the gameplay. If you want to claim that this stuff needs 8GB/s SSD for it to function something is seriously wrong with optimisation