It’s Aspyr. They are a low quality porting house, they get code running (usually), do a pass mapping controls, and leave it at that. No effort to refine the look or feel, missing effects or anything. Don’t really fix stuff either (try playing KOTOR on a Switch 2!)
A graphical powerhouse; I think it’s the best looking 360 game and possibly the best looking Halo for its hardware.
Gameplay is ok; campaign was playable but felt rougher than earlier games. Story was all over the shop! Multiplayer had a lot going on, but it was too afraid to be Halo, leaning into CoD tropes of the time.
It’s 343’s best Halo. I think all their work after is worse. But it’s not as good or polished as Bungie Halo overall.
The absolute bull this charlatan pipes out!
“ we give development teams a little more time to avoid putting them under strain.”
You fired them you soulless corporate stooge! That’s not giving time, space and showing off flexibility! It’s somehow worse to me that thy keep spewing these NewSpeak untruths over and over instead of saying times were tough we fired people. Instead it’s all sunny uplands, ignore the tense environment, the random huge firings, the ungodly huge rewards upper management take (despite causing all this!), the falling sales, the over-squeezed customers.
It’s all just a great, happy-clappy flexible working environment, and I reallllllly care about these people actually cos Microsoft is so nice and lovely!!!
I really don’t like it. The art style is completely off. The tones, the vibe, the readability…it feels corporate and bland; technically impressive but devoid of the soul that Halo: CE had.
I’m also a bit miffed by some of the lazy changes. All the weapons looks and animate just like the ones in Infinite, but with UE5 lighting. The building look like Infinite too, as do the foes, and the weapon sounds seem off. Plus the gamplay looks a bit neutered (smaller Assault Rifle clip, less beefy pistol, energy swords added into the mix).
I don’t come away from that thinking Halo CE-Again will be much of a patch on the Original for me. It does looks better than Anniversary graphics; but it has the same issue of taking the shape of the levels and shoving it into a different looking and feeling era of Halo.
I don’t think this is inevitable with high end graphics (FF7 Remake captures the tone and vibe of that game well, or say the System Shock remaster). But, for me personally, the art direction is way off. They would have been better making an original game.
@EvenStephen7 I agree. The colour palette is way off, the visuals look noisy and busy, all the models and animations look ported from Infinite. Devoid of soul. I’ll stick to the OG.
These games are frequently as cheap as a pound or two; on a sales month you could get all the one you wanted for less than a GamePass sub. There’s no spinning this “change” to GPU, it’s the latest in a seemingly unending string of anti-customer decisions from some staggeringly out-of-touch executives.
It's not just GamePass: The hardware prices are insane next to PlayStation now (in the US the Series S costs as much as a more powerful, more storage inside PS5 Digital edition, the Series X costs as much as the PS5 Pro, despite matching the base model). The developer firings and mess ups don't strike much confidence they can even get a single great game out each year, never mind enough hits to make a GP subscription worth it.
The attitude of MS around callous firings, franchises (like look what happened to Halo, or the state of Forza MS, or the gutting of Rare and dust-gathering of it's IP, or Lionhead, or new Perfect Dark, or Hi-Fi Rush...), the lack of effort in UI or performance, the up-and-down messaging, the lacklustre releases like Redfall...
My main regret is the investment I have in the post-360 Xbox eco-system that makes it tough to leave. Game saves, digital games, friend playing on Xbox etc. I makes it hard to truly bin off Xbox this gen, but now it exists in my house for what I have on it for single player only and that is it. I will be getting a PS5 next time I get a good bit of time off work to play on it I think; and the Series X will go back into it's box and into the cupboard.
Record revenue, but they still slashed the dev teams and now are massively hiking the price (50%!?)
"so we’re evolving Game Pass to offer more flexibility, choice, and value to all players" more value? At a much higher price? It's not evolving, it's not a pokemon. It's a callous price rise on a sub-service for a frankly failing console business.
Microsoft were offered an open-goal this gen and they proceed to score multiple own goals instead. What a disaster.
I've cancelled GamePass as £280 is plenty of games (that I can trade into CeX!). However as I need some level of GamePass to play online at all..I'm just switching to PC until the PS6 arrives I think. Done with Microsoft's puppeteering of the ragged remains of a brand that I loved to bits 20ish years ago.
What on Earth is with these comments? I get there seems to be a dislike for Digital Foundry’s technical analysis over general game reviews (that you can just not watch? Feels like several commentators are annoying themselves when there is far more regular game journalism out there?)
But also it’s so out of place in this article? They didn’t read it or comment on the (disgusting, IMO) lack of standards on the Xbox Store. It's all whining that they are “bias and only care about frame rates”; completely at odds with this (illegally resold Retro emulator) article.
Can we moderate this nonsense off? They can go make a forum topic to whine about DF, not do it under unrelated articles adding nothing to the discussion.
Tragic. I really didn’t like the latest entry, it felt soulless and patchy. But the core technology was always great; and it’s always good for GT to have a rival games series.
I’d love a new Banjo; but I’ve also wanted a Halo local co-op, a new UI, a new Perfect Dark, more games form Lionhead, Everwild… It’s so far from happening I really can’t get excited. An Xbox published game feels like it has a very high chance of getting canned and the team getting the boot before it’s done.
@CadErik hasn't it been Matt Booty for years or is that anotehr job (not CEO)?
Besides my general feeling (not an analyst, just as a customer) is that this isn't an isolated case for Rare. This keeps happening to Xbox Studios, and Xbox console market share has plummeted in the meantime too. At some point the man at the top taking the big bucks should take some damn responsibility. I used to like Phil Spencer, but that fat paycheck comes with the weight of ensuring that the units under him aren't constantly failing. Rare, Lionhead, 343, Turn 10, Tango Gameworks, Arkane, Raven, Sledgehammer...After a point it can't all be chalked up to managers under him (and even if it can, he should take some responsibility after the first, second, third, fouth...). Thousands of job losses in brutal cuts means they overhired and mismanaged. I means they see staff as nowt but numbers. Years of promising games that never come or releasing barely held together games shows their internal development isn't working, it's not just a blip. I personally feel Microsoft (and Xbox) have become rotten. They lack an artistry or care, it's just greed and corporate waffle. I don't know how or when exactly, but I just hate Xbox now, I can't help but see the ruin of these great firms and the years of broken promises whenever I use it, it has become enough to drown out my Og/360 era nostalgia.
Probably won't sell/bin my Series X (seems like a waste? I've got too many game saves on it that I'd have to restart on PS5 like Elden Ring! And Rare Replay still isn't on PC?) but I won't get an Xbox console ever again.
Yet another classic UK studio bought up, mismanaged and discarded by greedy, uncaring corporate [insert expletive]’s from the US.
Microsoft has done so much damage to games this generation. Where was the oversight? And what’s going to happen to Rare now, job loses and obscurity? Why bother buying them and pumping money in? Can’t even make studios to use the IP looking at Perfect Dark or the lack of Banjo/Jet Force/Viva.
Phil Spencer is a dreadful leader. He should resign immediately in disgrace for leading to such awful job losses. (I’m sure he’ll simply get another fat bonus and leave with a big party and lots of celebration for how great he is!)
If they can’t get windows/Xbox app to work on existing gaming handhelds after all this time, this will be a disaster. At the current trajectory of Xbox this will be incredible hardware handicapped by the OS performance and UI. I’d like to hope not, but given the lack of updates to the Series console OS or work on the Xbox app on Windows, I just can’t believe this will work out.
There was a long article on the FT this week about the “genius” of UK Christmas ads, and it was also widely mocked in the comments.
If it makes customers unhappy, if your product is selling poorly, I can’t see how it is secretly genius. Maybe I’m wrong and this will cut through to new markets like the DS/Wii advertising…but I doubt it.
I feel like such a chump for buying into Series X over a PS5.
I’d be less annoyed with these overpaid morons if they did this with a fresh generation; but I feel missold. Look back to the launch and Phil Spencer sold it as a new machine that had a load of great exclusives and a lot of development work put in, after years of game drought for the poor Xbox One.
But it wasn’t true, and after barely half the life cycle they’ve thrown in the can. And unlike Sega with Dreamcast it’s not like their hand is been forced.
I’ve never felt so let down by a console, I deeply regret getting one. And I was a Wii U owner!
MachineGames have done some great work of late (their new campaigns for Quake games for example); and I got Indy-meets-Butcher-Bay vibes from the trailer. Don’t want to get my hopes too high, but I think it could be a fun Christmas release. Weirdly Indy doesn’t feel like the blockbuster franchise it used to be; but we’ll see how people take to it!
I can see a handheld Steam Deck alike been something Microsoft might do (position it as a “reference device” for other makers like the Surface Pro/Laptop lines, make some small adjustments to windows 11 and the Xbox app for it, as neither is great on a handheld currently!)
But I don’t think they will do what most would consider a console. And to be honest, I’m so downbeat about their lacklustre efforts on home console these last two gens, I have zero faith they will make something worth buying.
My guess is that word Xbox are making a handheld certainly won’t be what’s giving Nintendo sleepless nights!
I’m a bit befuddled about some aspects of how the game plays. I’m getting combat is a more real-time affair, but how is the world navigated? Each Dargon Age has been quite different in that regard. Is it a series of open-world like zone ala Inquisition? A single big world linking out from the hub mentioned? Do you wander to markers Witcher-style? Or is it more focussed and directed like Mass Effect?
It seems like the wrong mitigation for the issue of contractors cycling in and out (use an engine that reduces the learning time/complexity for an ever rotating staff of short-term contractors, rather than say use the massive reserves of cash to hire people for the long run to bed in). I'm sure it will help a bit, but I'm out after Infinite, so unpolished and frankly unfinished at launch. I won't even believe the hype from journalists this time.
@GamingFan4Lyf They needed killer games earlier in the lifespan I think. That's what sells units. Without the carry over from Xbox One, they needed a reason for people to buy into the new systems.
I agree they did all those things well you mentioned, and GamePass was great. I even think the Series S turned out to be a good idea given the economic hardships, whatever issues it brought. But it needed a bigger launch game that resonated. And the suits at Microsoft just don't seem to have the insight into their customers to tell is a game is that or not, or the steer to make that kind of game.
My Series X was covered in Halo branding...but the game came out without much fanfare half-baked and a bit rubbish nearly a year later. For that year almost nothing "next-gen" arrived, even the menu was just the same as my Xbox One S. On a 1080 telly, I felt like I bought a phone upgrade; and their was no awesome title to get my hyped for the new machine to boot for agggges. And this is from someone who bought into it! The most memorable time I've had on it is Elden Ring, and I could have played that on any hardware, including my old Xbox!
Eurogamer are becoming a bit of a snobbish joke tbh; although this review was not one of the typical offenders and was in-depth; the reviewer just seemed to genuinely dislike the game.
But I’ve almost stopped reading the site at all, they’ve started to be contrarian for the sake of it. Reminds me of Guardian film reviews: rarely ever good; but typically just short, snobbish, and stupid.
I skipped through as it’s hard to watch 30mins right now, but wasn’t amazed by what I saw. Looked a bit garish, and otherwise quite Skyrim-ish? Which could be fun; but something isn’t clicking for me right now. Not sure what exactly…maybe the lack of great music in that video, or much understanding of the world (is Pillars of Eternity a pre-requisite for the plot?)
Not amazing tbh. They are nicer, but they are hard to see and don’t move half as much as you’d expect. Would rather a more throughout redesign of he dash for a new gen machine, over some slight animation. (I leave the OG Xbox greenball one on)
Urgh, Aspyr. So a low effort re-release rather than a worked on port. Often playable, but even their “good” efforts like Jedi Knight and Racer are very rough around the edges and low effort. Wish Nightdive could do them all!
Look pretty good in graphics and tone. Would have liked to see more gameplay. I'm very confident Playground can deliver a good game, I'm just terrified it won't hit a big audience or something about it will put players off, and MS will swoop in and shut down Playground.
The showcase was surprisingly good throughout, but I’m still mega cautious about this. Perfect Dark is a big legacy to live up too (look how Zero failed!). I’m a bit concerned this will be a okay game but nowhere near the breadth and brilliance that PD was on launch.
Weirdly, my OG 360 (60GB, so not the very original model, but not the slim) has never died despite a tough Uni-house life of backpack journeys, kicked over during rock band, running films and 6 peoples gaming been on non-stop…
While my Series X has crashed a few times and the keeled over early on (was replaced on warranty)
I know the X is more robust and the OG 360 is famously not. But opposite for me by chance!
Nothing new, there is so much "on the way". Everwild, Perfect Dark, Avowed, Fable, Gears...I don't want more CGI for never-arriving games. Also some mention of the future. Right now Xbox feels on very shaky foundations.
@NEStalgia you are probably right, while those few exclusives are nice (and most of the Xbox ones are there); I had similar distain for Jim Ryan partying with the London studio and getting gifts from them for his leaving do, days before he fired them all.
I do feel really let down my Xbox though. If they hadn’t kept promising so much, and throwing out so much doublespeak it would bother me less. Also the sheer scale of the Big Tech firms like MS make it much easier to dislike them. They trampled over regulators (and Brad Smith publicly attacked the UK over not getting their way) during the Activision take over. They plead over having to fire people, but made nearly as much as the entire worth of Nintendo and Sony in pure profit in just one year. They could afford to be even a tiny bit more moral. And if they won’t, at least like it if Phil S et al would stop pretending with smug self-righteous they exude as they pat themselves on the back over some small thing.
Comments 90
Re: Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition On Switch 2 Is 'Cut Back' Even From The Xbox 360 Version
It’s Aspyr. They are a low quality porting house, they get code running (usually), do a pass mapping controls, and leave it at that. No effort to refine the look or feel, missing effects or anything. Don’t really fix stuff either (try playing KOTOR on a Switch 2!)
Re: Talking Point: Exactly 13 Years Later, How Are You Feeling About Halo 4 These Days?
A graphical powerhouse; I think it’s the best looking 360 game and possibly the best looking Halo for its hardware.
Gameplay is ok; campaign was playable but felt rougher than earlier games. Story was all over the shop! Multiplayer had a lot going on, but it was too afraid to be Halo, leaning into CoD tropes of the time.
It’s 343’s best Halo. I think all their work after is worse. But it’s not as good or polished as Bungie Halo overall.
Re: Xbox Boss Says Forza Motorsport Isn't Dead Despite 'Scaling Back' At Turn 10 Studios
The absolute bull this charlatan pipes out!
“ we give development teams a little more time to avoid putting them under strain.”
You fired them you soulless corporate stooge! That’s not giving time, space and showing off flexibility! It’s somehow worse to me that thy keep spewing these NewSpeak untruths over and over instead of saying times were tough we fired people. Instead it’s all sunny uplands, ignore the tense environment, the random huge firings, the ungodly huge rewards upper management take (despite causing all this!), the falling sales, the over-squeezed customers.
It’s all just a great, happy-clappy flexible working environment, and I reallllllly care about these people actually cos Microsoft is so nice and lovely!!!
[throws up in mouth]
Re: Here's A Full Walkthrough Of 'The Silent Cartographer' Level In Halo: Campaign Evolved
I really don’t like it. The art style is completely off. The tones, the vibe, the readability…it feels corporate and bland; technically impressive but devoid of the soul that Halo: CE had.
I’m also a bit miffed by some of the lazy changes. All the weapons looks and animate just like the ones in Infinite, but with UE5 lighting. The building look like Infinite too, as do the foes, and the weapon sounds seem off. Plus the gamplay looks a bit neutered (smaller Assault Rifle clip, less beefy pistol, energy swords added into the mix).
I don’t come away from that thinking Halo CE-Again will be much of a patch on the Original for me. It does looks better than Anniversary graphics; but it has the same issue of taking the shape of the levels and shoving it into a different looking and feeling era of Halo.
I don’t think this is inevitable with high end graphics (FF7 Remake captures the tone and vibe of that game well, or say the System Shock remaster). But, for me personally, the art direction is way off. They would have been better making an original game.
Re: Halo: Campaign Evolved Officially Announced, Coming To Xbox In 2026
@EvenStephen7 I agree. The colour palette is way off, the visuals look noisy and busy, all the models and animations look ported from Infinite.
Devoid of soul. I’ll stick to the OG.
Re: 20+ Games Are Reduced By 90-95% In This Year's Xbox Shocktober Sale
These are some good discounts…but is Back for Blood: Ultimate Edition really £100 RRP!?? That’s bonkers!
Re: Xbox Issues Statement Denying Rumour That Next-Gen Console Could Be Cancelled
Believe it when I see it. If you lie to your customers over annd over like Xbox execs have; we need to take any claim with a bucketload of salt.
I went out and got a PS5 this weekend. I’m done with Microsoft going forward.
Re: Talking Point: How Do You Feel About Ubisoft+ Classics Being Added To Game Pass Ultimate?
These games are frequently as cheap as a pound or two; on a sales month you could get all the one you wanted for less than a GamePass sub.
There’s no spinning this “change” to GPU, it’s the latest in a seemingly unending string of anti-customer decisions from some staggeringly out-of-touch executives.
Re: Poll: What Are Your Plans For Xbox Game Pass After This Week's News?
It's not just GamePass: The hardware prices are insane next to PlayStation now (in the US the Series S costs as much as a more powerful, more storage inside PS5 Digital edition, the Series X costs as much as the PS5 Pro, despite matching the base model). The developer firings and mess ups don't strike much confidence they can even get a single great game out each year, never mind enough hits to make a GP subscription worth it.
The attitude of MS around callous firings, franchises (like look what happened to Halo, or the state of Forza MS, or the gutting of Rare and dust-gathering of it's IP, or Lionhead, or new Perfect Dark, or Hi-Fi Rush...), the lack of effort in UI or performance, the up-and-down messaging, the lacklustre releases like Redfall...
My main regret is the investment I have in the post-360 Xbox eco-system that makes it tough to leave. Game saves, digital games, friend playing on Xbox etc. I makes it hard to truly bin off Xbox this gen, but now it exists in my house for what I have on it for single player only and that is it. I will be getting a PS5 next time I get a good bit of time off work to play on it I think; and the Series X will go back into it's box and into the cupboard.
Re: Xbox Game Pass Is Getting A Major Overhaul With New Names, Games & Price Changes
Record revenue, but they still slashed the dev teams and now are massively hiking the price (50%!?)
"so we’re evolving Game Pass to offer more flexibility, choice, and value to all players" more value? At a much higher price? It's not evolving, it's not a pokemon. It's a callous price rise on a sub-service for a frankly failing console business.
Microsoft were offered an open-goal this gen and they proceed to score multiple own goals instead. What a disaster.
I've cancelled GamePass as £280 is plenty of games (that I can trade into CeX!). However as I need some level of GamePass to play online at all..I'm just switching to PC until the PS6 arrives I think. Done with Microsoft's puppeteering of the ragged remains of a brand that I loved to bits 20ish years ago.
Re: Xbox Takes Action After WipeOut For PS1 Gets Ported To Series X|S
@Kaloudz given the state of Xbox store and Nintendo eShop (no idea if PS store is better); it clear these kind of devs make enough not to stop.
It’s hard to put controls in place that don’t hurt indie devs somewhat, but I think it’s past time to do something to stem the flow of crap.
Delay payments on launch (time for reports to come in), manually review all store uploads, maybe even cap how many they allow per week?
Re: Xbox Takes Action After WipeOut For PS1 Gets Ported To Series X|S
What on Earth is with these comments? I get there seems to be a dislike for Digital Foundry’s technical analysis over general game reviews (that you can just not watch? Feels like several commentators are annoying themselves when there is far more regular game journalism out there?)
But also it’s so out of place in this article? They didn’t read it or comment on the (disgusting, IMO) lack of standards on the Xbox Store. It's all whining that they are “bias and only care about frame rates”; completely at odds with this (illegally resold Retro emulator) article.
Can we moderate this nonsense off? They can go make a forum topic to whine about DF, not do it under unrelated articles adding nothing to the discussion.
Re: Poll: Helldivers 2 Isn't On Xbox Game Pass, So Will You Be Buying It?
I won’t be buying, but it more because I’m planning to divest as much as possible from Xbox after the insane layoffs.
I don’t want to pay for GamePass to play online, so I’ll stick to offline games I already own.
Re: Former Xbox Dev Claims Turn 10's Forza Motorsport Team 'Is No More'
Tragic. I really didn’t like the latest entry, it felt soulless and patchy. But the core technology was always great; and it’s always good for GT to have a rival games series.
Re: Just Got Laid Off By AI-Loving Microsoft? Why Not Speak To AI About It, Suggests Xbox Producer
https://youtu.be/RKnND2D31eI?si=XWoYCeK5tD_XfxJy
Re: Rumour: Multiple Studios Interested In Making New Banjo-Kazooie Game
I’d love a new Banjo; but I’ve also wanted a Halo local co-op, a new UI, a new Perfect Dark, more games form Lionhead, Everwild…
It’s so far from happening I really can’t get excited. An Xbox published game feels like it has a very high chance of getting canned and the team getting the boot before it’s done.
Re: Xbox Series S Compared To Switch 2 In Hogwarts Legacy Analysis, And The Results Are Surprising
Not surprising, the power draw of a series S in gameplay is 6-7 times any portable; it takes some humongous silicon improvements to overcome that.
Re: Phil Spencer Isn't Retiring Anytime Soon, Says Xbox In Response To Rumour
Shame, lying _____ (https://www.eurogamer.net/yes-rares-everwild-is-still-in-development-and-xbox-is-committed-to-giving-the-team-the-time-it-needs)
Re: Xbox's Everwild Gets Cancelled As Layoffs Hit Sea Of Thieves Developer
@CadErik hasn't it been Matt Booty for years or is that anotehr job (not CEO)?
Besides my general feeling (not an analyst, just as a customer) is that this isn't an isolated case for Rare. This keeps happening to Xbox Studios, and Xbox console market share has plummeted in the meantime too. At some point the man at the top taking the big bucks should take some damn responsibility. I used to like Phil Spencer, but that fat paycheck comes with the weight of ensuring that the units under him aren't constantly failing. Rare, Lionhead, 343, Turn 10, Tango Gameworks, Arkane, Raven, Sledgehammer...After a point it can't all be chalked up to managers under him (and even if it can, he should take some responsibility after the first, second, third, fouth...).
Thousands of job losses in brutal cuts means they overhired and mismanaged. I means they see staff as nowt but numbers. Years of promising games that never come or releasing barely held together games shows their internal development isn't working, it's not just a blip.
I personally feel Microsoft (and Xbox) have become rotten. They lack an artistry or care, it's just greed and corporate waffle. I don't know how or when exactly, but I just hate Xbox now, I can't help but see the ruin of these great firms and the years of broken promises whenever I use it, it has become enough to drown out my Og/360 era nostalgia.
Probably won't sell/bin my Series X (seems like a waste? I've got too many game saves on it that I'd have to restart on PS5 like Elden Ring! And Rare Replay still isn't on PC?) but I won't get an Xbox console ever again.
Re: Xbox's Everwild Gets Cancelled As Layoffs Hit Sea Of Thieves Developer
Yet another classic UK studio bought up, mismanaged and discarded by greedy, uncaring corporate [insert expletive]’s from the US.
Microsoft has done so much damage to games this generation. Where was the oversight? And what’s going to happen to Rare now, job loses and obscurity? Why bother buying them and pumping money in? Can’t even make studios to use the IP looking at Perfect Dark or the lack of Banjo/Jet Force/Viva.
Phil Spencer is a dreadful leader. He should resign immediately in disgrace for leading to such awful job losses. (I’m sure he’ll simply get another fat bonus and leave with a big party and lots of celebration for how great he is!)
Re: Xbox Layoffs Begin As Phil Spencer Shares Internal Microsoft Gaming Update
That’s over 1000 more people than work at Nintendo in total. Some of those games were announced and trailered over half a decade ago.
This is epic mismanagement. Why on Earth is Phil Spencer still in post? The Xbox division is a travesty.
Re: Talking Point: What Should Microsoft Call The '2027' Xbox Console & Handheld?
Xbox DOA and Xbox DOA- Portable
Re: Xbox Handheld: Everything We Know So Far, Including The Latest Rumours
If they can’t get windows/Xbox app to work on existing gaming handhelds after all this time, this will be a disaster.
At the current trajectory of Xbox this will be incredible hardware handicapped by the OS performance and UI. I’d like to hope not, but given the lack of updates to the Series console OS or work on the Xbox app on Windows, I just can’t believe this will work out.
Re: YouTuber Breaks Down Xbox's 'Almost Perfect' New Ad Campaign
There was a long article on the FT this week about the “genius” of UK Christmas ads, and it was also widely mocked in the comments.
If it makes customers unhappy, if your product is selling poorly, I can’t see how it is secretly genius. Maybe I’m wrong and this will cut through to new markets like the DS/Wii advertising…but I doubt it.
Re: Microsoft CEO: 'We Are Redefining What It Means To Be An Xbox Fan'
I feel like such a chump for buying into Series X over a PS5.
I’d be less annoyed with these overpaid morons if they did this with a fresh generation; but I feel missold. Look back to the launch and Phil Spencer sold it as a new machine that had a load of great exclusives and a lot of development work put in, after years of game drought for the poor Xbox One.
But it wasn’t true, and after barely half the life cycle they’ve thrown in the can. And unlike Sega with Dreamcast it’s not like their hand is been forced.
I’ve never felt so let down by a console, I deeply regret getting one. And I was a Wii U owner!
Re: Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Isn't On Xbox Yet, But The Director Clearly Wants To See It Happen
@GamingFan4Lyf that’s a good theory, and very savvy from PlayStation if true given how long modern dev times have become!
Re: Just One Game Is Confirmed For Xbox Game Pass In December 2024 So Far
MachineGames have done some great work of late (their new campaigns for Quake games for example); and I got Indy-meets-Butcher-Bay vibes from the trailer. Don’t want to get my hopes too high, but I think it could be a fun Christmas release. Weirdly Indy doesn’t feel like the blockbuster franchise it used to be; but we’ll see how people take to it!
Re: Xbox Set To Be Joined By PlayStation In Creating New Handheld Console
I can see a handheld Steam Deck alike been something Microsoft might do (position it as a “reference device” for other makers like the Surface Pro/Laptop lines, make some small adjustments to windows 11 and the Xbox app for it, as neither is great on a handheld currently!)
But I don’t think they will do what most would consider a console. And to be honest, I’m so downbeat about their lacklustre efforts on home console these last two gens, I have zero faith they will make something worth buying.
My guess is that word Xbox are making a handheld certainly won’t be what’s giving Nintendo sleepless nights!
Re: Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Isn't On Xbox Yet, But The Director Clearly Wants To See It Happen
Can’t see the point of bringing out Rebirth (part 2) without Remake (part 1). I’d be more interested in Remake or FF16 personally.
Re: Finally, Assassin's Creed Syndicate Is Getting An FPS Boost On Xbox
Bah, we just finished 100%-ing Syndicate and the Jack the Ripper DLC a few months ago!
Re: Is Xbox Successful Right Now? Phil Spencer Shares His Thoughts
Considering the firing they’ve been doing and the nose-diving reputation of Xbox in recent years, I would say “room for improvement”.
GamePass, and Xbox hardware design have remained stellar, games have been so-so, in my opinion.
Re: Review: Dragon Age: The Veilguard (Xbox) - Bioware Is Back On Form With An Inquisition-Besting Banger
I’m a bit befuddled about some aspects of how the game plays. I’m getting combat is a more real-time affair, but how is the world navigated? Each Dargon Age has been quite different in that regard. Is it a series of open-world like zone ala Inquisition? A single big world linking out from the hub mentioned? Do you wander to markers Witcher-style? Or is it more focussed and directed like Mass Effect?
Re: Halo Dev Explains Decision Behind Ditching Its Old Game Engine
It seems like the wrong mitigation for the issue of contractors cycling in and out (use an engine that reduces the learning time/complexity for an ever rotating staff of short-term contractors, rather than say use the massive reserves of cash to hire people for the long run to bed in).
I'm sure it will help a bit, but I'm out after Infinite, so unpolished and frankly unfinished at launch. I won't even believe the hype from journalists this time.
Re: Xbox Wants More Feedback From Devs, Including Why Some Are Avoiding The Platform
@GamingFan4Lyf They needed killer games earlier in the lifespan I think. That's what sells units. Without the carry over from Xbox One, they needed a reason for people to buy into the new systems.
I agree they did all those things well you mentioned, and GamePass was great. I even think the Series S turned out to be a good idea given the economic hardships, whatever issues it brought. But it needed a bigger launch game that resonated. And the suits at Microsoft just don't seem to have the insight into their customers to tell is a game is that or not, or the steer to make that kind of game.
My Series X was covered in Halo branding...but the game came out without much fanfare half-baked and a bit rubbish nearly a year later. For that year almost nothing "next-gen" arrived, even the menu was just the same as my Xbox One S. On a 1080 telly, I felt like I bought a phone upgrade; and their was no awesome title to get my hyped for the new machine to boot for agggges. And this is from someone who bought into it! The most memorable time I've had on it is Elden Ring, and I could have played that on any hardware, including my old Xbox!
Re: Talking Point: Xbox's Forza Horizon 2 Changed The Open-World Racing Game 10 Years Ago
I like all the Horizon's in different ways, (and in some ways the 360 versions are even more impressive given what they are running on!).
For me FH4 is the ultimate, it just hit the sweet spot in tone, location, challenges, polish.
Re: All Xbox Games With Mouse & Keyboard Support
@FraserG The snappily named RTS “Warhammer: Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin” from Frontier has full mouse and keyboard support, can confirm.
Re: Roundup: Here's What The Critics Are Saying About Ubisoft's Star Wars Outlaws
Eurogamer are becoming a bit of a snobbish joke tbh; although this review was not one of the typical offenders and was in-depth; the reviewer just seemed to genuinely dislike the game.
But I’ve almost stopped reading the site at all, they’ve started to be contrarian for the sake of it. Reminds me of Guardian film reviews: rarely ever good; but typically just short, snobbish, and stupid.
Re: Avowed Gets Massive Uncut Gameplay Demo During Xbox's Final Gamescom Event For 2024
I skipped through as it’s hard to watch 30mins right now, but wasn’t amazed by what I saw. Looked a bit garish, and otherwise quite Skyrim-ish? Which could be fun; but something isn’t clicking for me right now. Not sure what exactly…maybe the lack of great music in that video, or much understanding of the world (is Pillars of Eternity a pre-requisite for the plot?)
Re: Talking Point: Have Xbox Series X|S Dynamic Backgrounds Lived Up To The Hype?
Not amazing tbh. They are nicer, but they are hard to see and don’t move half as much as you’d expect.
Would rather a more throughout redesign of he dash for a new gen machine, over some slight animation.
(I leave the OG Xbox greenball one on)
Re: Halo TV Show Cancelled By Paramount+ After Two Seasons
No Halo after 2 seasons of a show called Halo. It was all over the place sadly.
Re: 22 Years Later, Star Wars: Bounty Hunter Is Finally Coming To Xbox
Urgh, Aspyr. So a low effort re-release rather than a worked on port. Often playable, but even their “good” efforts like Jedi Knight and Racer are very rough around the edges and low effort.
Wish Nightdive could do them all!
Re: Talking Point: How Are You Feeling About Fable After The Xbox Games Showcase?
Look pretty good in graphics and tone. Would have liked to see more gameplay. I'm very confident Playground can deliver a good game, I'm just terrified it won't hit a big audience or something about it will put players off, and MS will swoop in and shut down Playground.
Re: Xbox's Perfect Dark Reboot Returns With An Awesome Gameplay Trailer
The showcase was surprisingly good throughout, but I’m still mega cautious about this. Perfect Dark is a big legacy to live up too (look how Zero failed!). I’m a bit concerned this will be a okay game but nowhere near the breadth and brilliance that PD was on launch.
Re: Hellblade 2 Developer Ninja Theory Thanks Fans For 'Incredible Response'
Congrats. Hope they don’t consider hiring anyone new for their next game lest Xbox Execs catch wind insert grim reaper door meme
Re: These 10+ Games Are Coming To Xbox Next Week (May 27-31)
Ooooo, Horizon Chase is like the spiritual successor to Top Gear on SNES right? Enjoyed that on Evercade, could give it a go…
Re: Talking Point: Which Has Been The Most Reliable Xbox Console For You?
Weirdly, my OG 360 (60GB, so not the very original model, but not the slim) has never died despite a tough Uni-house life of backpack journeys, kicked over during rock band, running films and 6 peoples gaming been on non-stop…
While my Series X has crashed a few times and the keeled over early on (was replaced on warranty)
I know the X is more robust and the OG 360 is famously not. But opposite for me by chance!
Re: Talking Point: What Dream Reveal Would You Like To See At The Xbox Games Showcase 2024?
Nothing new, there is so much "on the way". Everwild, Perfect Dark, Avowed, Fable, Gears...I don't want more CGI for never-arriving games.
Also some mention of the future. Right now Xbox feels on very shaky foundations.
Re: Free Play Days: Try These Nine Xbox Games For Free (May 23-26)
Gonna try Rogue Trader and Realms of Ruin; can see how they run/control on console and see if they really need PC to play or not!
Oh hang on, only until Sunday? That’s rubbish, got full-time care giving away from Xbox all weekend. Damn.
Re: Xbox's Sea Of Thieves Plunders PS5 Charts, Becoming Europe's Best-Selling Game In April
Great news for Rare! Hope Philly S doesn’t decide to random close them regardless…
Re: Reaction: Xbox's Push Towards 'Microsoft Gaming' Looks More Drastic Than We First Thought
@NEStalgia you are probably right, while those few exclusives are nice (and most of the Xbox ones are there); I had similar distain for Jim Ryan partying with the London studio and getting gifts from them for his leaving do, days before he fired them all.
I do feel really let down my Xbox though. If they hadn’t kept promising so much, and throwing out so much doublespeak it would bother me less. Also the sheer scale of the Big Tech firms like MS make it much easier to dislike them. They trampled over regulators (and Brad Smith publicly attacked the UK over not getting their way) during the Activision take over. They plead over having to fire people, but made nearly as much as the entire worth of Nintendo and Sony in pure profit in just one year. They could afford to be even a tiny bit more moral. And if they won’t, at least like it if Phil S et al would stop pretending with smug self-righteous they exude as they pat themselves on the back over some small thing.