Kraven

I never beat it the first time around but I enjoyed it quite a bit. I think I’ll give the game another go!

@Questionable_Duck I’m not saying I want them to leave the console space - I’m saying that it’s clear going third party is working well for them, and Microsoft doesn’t have a clear vision for what they want, or if they do they are not marketing it well. They need a change in management because their strategy has changed drastically in just a one-year period. That is my biggest gripe with the ecosystem; they make bad decisions that don’t benefit their brand in terms of drawing people in.

Do you know what would be awesome - if Microsoft acknowledged publicly how well Forza Horizon 5 is selling on PlayStation. Unfortunately, they don’t want to celebrate its success despite it being a positive reflection on Microsoft. They need to start promoting themselves positively because everything that releases via media is negative. This is not because the media is making up information to paint them in that light, but they are creating it themselves. They are the definition of “one step forward, two steps back”.

We can debate about Sony going third party, but it will be very unlikely to be in the same vein as Xbox because they are actually selling their games. TLOU 1&2 has sold close to 30 million copies, Spider-Man 1&2 over 10 million, God of War above 10 million, and the list continues. There is no reason to release their games on their competitors platform because they are recouping the money spent on the games as it is.

In terms of traditional consoles, if you are new to gaming and are considering buying an Xbox or PlayStation, which one do you think people will decide if they do their research, and maybe have a basic understanding of what’s happening in the game industry? The answer is more than likely PS because of its AAA output and strong second party output. What incentive is there to join the Xbox ecosystem?

We — the Royal you — are in the minority. What I mean is that we keep up to date with the news going around every day. The majority of people will buy a console simply for sports games and Call of Duty. That will be Xbox’s main focus more than likely - having a CoD machine. However, you can also play it on other platforms. If I was an outsider looking in, I would see the Xbox games I want to play are migrating to PlayStation. Subsequently, there are plenty of exclusives (I’m not talking about PC) that are on that platform that gets critically and commercially praised. People discuss them via word of mouth and the sales show that. Which console would I choose? For me, the answer is simple.

And you’ve mentioned in other comments that the next console will be fully backwards compatible. I’m a big supporter of BC, but there comes a point where old is old and people want new. How many times are we going to replay Halo or Gears because of BC? How about we get new IPs? BC only takes you so far - I don’t need to constantly replay games I’ve already beat over and over again. And not every game is BC, either. Singularity should be (and it’s an Activision product), Chronicles of Riddick (an Xbox exclusive), and more. Again, I have no incentive to jump to the Xbox brand when they don’t have anything fresh to offer other than backwards compatibility.

I’m not here to talk poorly about the Xbox brand because I do love them as a whole. I grew up with the original Xbox and have fond memories, but I can criticize a corporation and see how badly they are losing their audience.

I’ve never heard of this game but it looks really cool. I’ll definitely add it to my wishlist.

@Fiendish-Beaver I agree. I think they really need to officially become a third-party publisher and stop developing consoles. In fact, them releasing their high profile games on PlayStation is one of the best decisions they’ve made this entire generation. I wish that wasn’t the case because I think there needs to be competition, but aside from that, Microsoft is making so much money right now off of Sea of Thieves and Forza Horizon 5 on PlayStation that it’s not even funny.

If they were still partaking in traditional consoles and doing these ports, the question you’d have to ask is: Are we driving people to our brand or driving them to PS? The answer is simple, and it’s been that way for a while. If they would have stuck to their strategy of releasing exclusives solely on their console they may have had a killer year in the traditional sense.

I understand optimism and pessimism, but there are some things you simply can’t turn into a positive. Unfortunately, this equates to about 95% of what the Xbox brand has been and currently still is.

On a side note, I just feel ripped off. I had the decision (six months into COVID) at GameStop to order either an Xbox Series S|X or a PS5. I chose an Xbox because I liked what they were doing, particularly with the Bethesda acquisition. It seemed as if they were going back to their roots as an Xbox brand. And then nothing happened. Once again, there were hardly any new AAA games of any consequence, and they just weren’t producing any meaningful gaming content.

Thankfully, I do own a PS5 and Switch because I feel burned by Xbox and their constant flip flopping on their strategy, the layoffs, a lack of focus on first party titles, and now the usage of AI. It truly has been a roller coaster of emotions. And honestly, November of last year when STALKER2 released, followed by Indiana Jones, I was finally happy with the brand. Xbox started releasing a steady cadence of games - Avowed, South of Midnight, Ninja Gaiden 2, and subsequently NG4 later this year. It looked like they finally found their footing, and what did the do? Change their strategy once again and had very poor marketing, with a handful of studios shutting down and games being canceled. The truth of the matter is, Xbox doesn’t know how to stop releasing negative information, and that is from upper management, meaning it needs a drastic change in leadership. Until that moment happens - perhaps from an outsider instead of internally - this ecosystem is one foot away from being six feet under.

@Vipor007 I think Wuchang Fallen Feathers releases next week. I’m drawing a blank on other notable releases, but I feel like there are.

@FarmDog08 Are you playing the first or second one? I couldn’t get into the first entry - it literally put me to sleep every time I played it - but OT2 is one of my favorite RPGs.

I’ve had an incredibly busy week(end) and therefore haven’t had the chance to play many games. Let me correct that - game, singular, because my obsession is solely on Death Stranding 2. And since I haven’t managed to get much further, I simply want to rant on certain aspects that I feel make this game shine.

I just reached Episode 8 after 60-hours of playtime. It certainly doesn’t feel like I’ve played that long which is a testament to the game itself. What I mean is, DS2 is a game that is always evolving its gameplay mechanics. The amount of options the game gives you is mind blowing, and reaching a new star ranks with facilities rewards you with something fresh. That’s the key to success, and where a lot of games falter.

As the two sayings go, Variety is the spice of life, and Things are better in moderation. This leads me to an odd comparison between this game and NiOh (along with other various souls-likes), but I find it apt. They may be two different genres, but in terms of offering new ways for combat in an ample amount of ways, you can see how the two coincide.

In Souls-likes, you are presented an overwhelming amount of weapons and armor - so much so you’re spending more time managing your inventory than playing the game - but with NiOh, all your obtaining is the same weapon and armor types, but with insignificant attributes attached. I suspect that, like myself, most players will find the weapon and (fashion) armor that suits them and stick to it for the rest of the game. The gameplay itself doesn’t actually evolve in any meaningful way.

With Death Stranding 2, the case is completely different. Every new piece of gear and weapon you receive can drastically change your play-style. The combat and gunplay is sublime. As I mentioned earlier, there are many weapons at your disposal, with each one having their own unique properties and secret mechanics - thank you, pizza (IFYKYK) - and the game encourages you to use them often. Furthermore, how you acquire them is fantastic, not only from a surprised standpoint, but how it’s interspersed within the pacing of the plot.

And then you have traversal - a basic mechanic that has a lot of depth that can be modified in unique ways. There is the option of trekking on foot, but also a plethora of vehicles that will surprise you. In addition to that, there are secret mechanics to uncover. To do my best to avoid spoilers, I’ll simply say three words: hot spring buckets. What’s even more impressive is how the world itself manages to allow all of these variations as if it transforms to cater to you. Everything just works.

There are so many more things I want to discuss about this game, but I’m already exceeding my word count. I’ve barely scratched the surface on what makes this game great. Only Kojima can make a game that has emotional depth to its story and characters, and yet be bat-***** crazy, funny, and outright weird. He somehow masterfully balances solemnity and eccentric, and I don’t creatively understand how. Nonetheless, he is a genius, and I think this is his best game yet.

@NotoriousWhiz Yep, especially when, particularly this generation, games cost well over 50million to make. It’s hard to see profits in that light.

@wildcat_kickz Exactly this. And the same goes with Final Fantasy 7 Remake. If these games don’t sell well on the Xbox console then you will see the very simple answer as to why things are the way they are with the brand. I’m very curious to see how it plays out.

I’ll buy that for a dollar.

For real though, I got the platinum in the first game. I’ll be picking this one up too — it looks awesome.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but that’s not entirely a lot of money - 50k to 50m - especially when games these days costs a lot more than that number to make. Supposedly, it cost around 40-80 million to make Hellblade 2 (that could be inaccurate), and with poor reception wouldn’t that be a negative?

I could absolutely be wrong and out of left field here, so apologies in advance.

This looks trippy as hell, but also really fun. I’ll definitely keep this on my radar.

@Kaloudz I think my issue with the third game is how dense it was. It felt like there was a new village to discover, or a cave to explore, every 20 steps. It’s a cool concept considering you’re in the jungle and you never know what’s around the corner, but it was too much for me. With that said, I think the game is great. I haven’t played it since its launch so my feelings might change for the better if I replay it. I will say, the entire reboot trilogy is an awesome set of games.

@Kaloudz Interesting. Rise is my favorite out of all three, with the third being my least favorite.

This looks great. I’m glad Hangar 13 is going back to Mafia’s more linear nature. August is going to be a stacked month for games.

@Millionski It seems you and I have shared almost the exact same experience. You are 100% right too - at the end of the day, it’s about the games. Game Pass is great, but if we are looking at an overall library of games from this generation to last, it’s quite easy to see which console has what people go to the platform for. It’s such a simple thing to see, in my opinion.

@themightyant Bingo. When many people are trying to put a positive spin on recent layoffs, and whether Game Pass is sustainable or not, all you have to do is Occam’s Razor. It’s pretty simple why things have turned sour once again in the Xbox ecosystem.

It’s unfortunate - I like my Series X, and if I was a gamer that ignored all of the drama surrounding it and was a relatively casual gamer that didn’t visit media sites, I would probably be very satisfied with my product. I don’t turn on my Xbox much over months at a time, but when I do I discover that there are handful of new titles out on Game Pass that I would like to play.

The problem is that I am not that casual gamer. I know what Xbox has messed up on; their cancellations, mismanagement of studios, indecisive approach to hardware and games, and broken promises have really soured my taste in the brand. I wish that wasn’t the case, and that I could be the former in what I outlined above, but alas, here we are.

Someone already mentioned it, but Condemned Criminal Origins has to be on that list for me. It was one of the three launch games I got with my 360 and was blown away by it. To this day, it’s one of my all time favorite horror games.

Other games worth mentioning: Lost Odyssey, Spec Ops: The Line, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, Max Payne 3, and Shadow Complex. There are many others, but these stand out to me.

@GameOverScreen Dante’s Inferno is a game I’ve had installed for a long time but haven’t got around to playing. I think I might give that game a shot within the next couple of weeks. It’s become somewhat of a cult classic which is nice, considering it got mixed reviews due to its God of War style of combat. It looks awesome.

Fallout 3 Remake would be cool. I’d like to see how the ending will look like without it being 10 frames per second.

I have so many memories of the Halo franchise, from playing cooperative with my best friend during summer break in Halo Combat Evolved, to playing Halo 2 as a semi-professional, and going to MLG tournaments. I also remember the Halo 2 tech demo at E3 and was blown away. This franchise holds a very special place in my heart.

This weekend I am trekking the plains, hills, and desert landscapes in Death Stranding 2, delivering precious cargo. My MP3 player has tailor made playlists for my traveling needs, and I have a varied arsenal of weapons to combat any hostile situation while on my journey.

I have to say - DS2 is a masterclass in every facet. That’s not hyperbole; it really succeeds on every level. The story is compelling and paced brilliantly. It’s also much easier to understand and follow along than the first game, but it still has the heart of Kojima within, with mysteries and bizarre things unfolding. Characters are interesting and fleshed out, all having their own unique identity’s and backstory. The cinematography is gorgeous, with an incredible art design, while the animation is punching above its weight. One word: Dollman.

Last but not least, there is gameplay. Traversal and combat itself has been upgraded since its predecessor. It all controls very well and is balanced between the two, especially when having to partake in both at the same time. You have a wide array of options to tackle these scenarios that will suit your play style whilst providing meaningful upgrades consistently to change your strategy if you deem it necessary. Don’t let the naysayers fool you - this is way more than a “walking simulator”. It might just be one of the best open-world sandbox games ever made, because it doesn’t forget what a game is ultimately meant to be: fun.

It’s genuinely hard to discuss this game properly without providing spoilers because there is so much depth within each episode (chapters). To say anything about the mechanics is only ruining the surprise - and believe me, I’m only 30 hours in, but I’ve been blown away by the amount of tools the game offers you. Simply saying that feels like a disservice to the player(s) that haven’t had a chance to play the game yet.

Death Stranding 2 is a remarkable achievement in game design, and one of the best sequels to a game I’ve ever played. It’s a game I didn’t know needed and has become one I’ll never forget. I’m utterly blown away. This is the PS5 experience we have truly been waiting for.

@AverageGamer If I’m not mistaken Arkane Austin also made the Dishonored series and those are incredible games. They also made Deathloop which is great. Prey, as you mentioned, is fantastic as well. I wouldn’t say they “didn’t make crap”.

As for Tango Gameworks and it being a Japanese studio is interesting. Microsoft themselves have stated profusely this generation that they are strongly pursuing the Japanese market. They want(ed) to tap into that market. Their games have been solid to great even. The Evil Within is practically a cult favorite; Ghostwire Tokyo is solid; and Hi-Fi Rush was incredible, and the game being shadow dropped shockingly brought in a lot of people to Game Pass.

@AverageGamer I agree - they had time to deliver but didn’t meet expectations. My question, however, is what is Microsoft’s vision? They shut down Arkane Austin and they have made tons of great games. The new Zenimax MMO was cancelled, and yet the game they were making had many people hyped about the game internally. I’m not saying it would have been good, but the buzz around it showed that it has promise and it was far along in development. Tango Gameworks got shutdown even after having a great successful game in Hi-Fi Rush, and thankfully someone came in to save the day. Blizzard’s new game “Odyssey” got canned, too. And 50% of the staff at Turn10 got laid off, and while their Forza Motorsport games may not be on the same level has Horizon, they are still quality games that helped make Xbox what it is today. My point is, I don’t know what Microsoft is doing. They have bought studios and created some and then they get shut down or their games canceled. I think it’s poor management from the higher ups and things need to change ASAP.

@Kieduss How is it overhyped? Critics and fans love(d) it and for a good reason. It’s pure fun.

@SeaDaVie Why? The Initiative haven’t had the chance to release a game yet, so they could have been worth saving. This looks bad on Microsoft because they crated this studio, only to shut it down without having a game release yet.

I highly doubt this is signaling Sony making a shift. They have no incentive to supply their competitors with their products - though I wouldn’t necessarily classify Nintendo and Microsoft as competitors for various reasons. In fact, Sony doesn’t own Arrowhead studios, and Arrowhead themselves recently stated they are going to remain independent. I think this is more of a case of attracting more players to their live service game, which this genre is better suited to be multi-platform. Moreover, Arrowhead also mentioned that their next game wasn’t going to be purely on PlayStation. I think this is much ado about nothing. With that said, I’m very happy to see Xbox players get a chance to play this game. Hopefully, consumers will support this title with their wallets.

Good news for Xbox for a change! Hopefully, consumers will support this product because it’s worth all the money. They have been clambering for this so I hope they speak with their wallets.

@BAMozzy Yeah, I’m not going to spin this situation into a positive. They could be leaving on their own free will, or they could be getting fired, but either way, it’s not a good sign when the news breaks during massive layoffs. I appreciate your long and informed responses, but what is happening right now - layoffs, Perfect Dark and other projects being canceled, 70 people from the Forza Motorsport team being let go - none of this is good.

I understand your sentiment - not all people being let go are essential, and they may find new role(s) within the company or elsewhere, but that doesn’t matter. The fact is, Microsoft has poor management. It has been that way for years. They are constantly changing their stance, they don’t have an identity, and they don’t know what they want to do. Their opinions change every month.

And the fact that you said, “If the restructuring means that the entire Xbox division, its Publishing, its R&D, Its PR, its Advertising and its studios are now better Organised, better supported and far more efficient and delivering Products and services to their Customers, the Gamers, then I'm sorry to hear of the losses but it's for the long term best -its ensuring their Customers stay happy and spending money and still making money for their Shareholders...”, particularly ensuring customers stay happy and spend money is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever heard. I agree with a lot of your points throughout various articles, but hardly any customers of the Xbox brand are happy. And spending money? On what? They don’t market their games. In fact, they barely market Game Pass. In terms of Xbox, the only money they are truly making is from people buying their games on PlayStation because lord knows they aren’t selling consoles and games on their own platform.

And organization? You can’t even put Xbox and organized in the same sentence. They haven’t been organized since the second year of Xbox One. They have done nothing but come up with empty promises year after year. And when they might fulfill what they said, “The games are coming”, which took essentially 12-13 years to happen, most of them are now getting canceled and/or not received that well aside from a select few. They are not good at management or organization.

Again, try to spin that any which way you want. None of this is good. Xbox does not know who they are or what their strategy is. Goodbye to Perfect Dark and The Initiative; I won’t be surprised if Fable, or Clockwork Revolution is next.

It just keeps getting worse and worse. While we don’t know if they are being let go, or leaving on their own accord, this entire situation is a disaster.

This is ridiculous. Perfect Dark looked incredible. Moreover, it looked like it was in a playable state and could be released soon. At this point, I don’t want to hear any excuses any longer - this is becoming inexcusable, and it’s poor management from the top down. If I’m being honest, Microsoft - and by Microsoft I mean the Xbox brand itself - needs to do a complete restructure with their staff, particularly management.

Clair Obscur is my #1. In fact, it’s probably my favorite game this generation, and easily a top 10 of all time. It’s a game I’m proud I got all trophies/achievements for.

On another note - I got all trophies/achievements for Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, Doom: The Dark Ages, and Oblivion. All three of those games were excellent.

I’ve yet to play Split Fiction, and I probably never will since it’s co-op centric and I tend to play by myself. I can see its greatness, though. I would like to eventually play Mullet MadJack - that looks like a fun game.

Let’s buy studios and then lay tons of those people off, or close down the studios altogether.

To be fair, letting people go is common in any business, but it’s how Microsoft goes about nearly all of their decisions. And let’s not forget Phil Spencer - I just can’t trust what this man says.

Pretty cool news. I’m interested in what kind of Halo they are going to make next. I’m in the camp of people that thoroughly enjoyed Infinite.

I agree wholeheartedly. Xbox has shifted their identity a handful of times this generation alone, and they have lost the essence of who they are as a brand. Moreover, they have misled their audience and consumers by doing just as much. Sometimes, it feels as if their priorities change every week. This is not good for business, and it shows.

@BAMozzy You make a very valid point. I look at it in a more simplified way.

1) Their games, most of which were meant to be exclusive, are not selling. This is why they push Game Pass so much, but it doesn’t seem to be beneficial for them, therefore they have to release their games on other platforms.

2) As a result, even though they may not be leaving the console business, they are becoming a third party publisher in the same vein as Sega, regardless of new consoles or not.

I truly believe if they would have marketed their “exclusives” properly, and had a regular cadence of releases dating back from the second year of Xbox One, then this situation wouldn’t be happening at all, and by that I mean their games coming to PlayStation. PC was always a given in my opinion - that’s how they touted their OG Xbox from the start.

I unfortunately have to agree with her sentiments as well. As a brand, and to drive hardware sales and exclusives to drive people to the console, it has failed immensely. As a publisher, however, they are currently the biggest in the industry. Microsoft is going the SEGA route which is a smart move, but they really need to work on their marketing.

1) Clair Obscur Expedition 33
2) Doom: The Dark Ages
3) The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

I got every trophy/achievement for all of these games, and that’s a testament to how special I think each one is. It has been a fantastic year of gaming, and I’ve yet to play some of the other popular titles released this year, such as Atomfall, Avowed, South of Midnight, and a few others.

I beat and got the platinum trophy for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion for PS5. It was your classic Bethesda game, and a special experience. I haven’t tackled the Shivering Isles DLC yet - I’m setting it to the side because I want to play other games.

My attention is now all on Death Stranding 2. I’m only four hours in but it’s been great so far. The gameplay mechanics are refined, and feel more like Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain in terms of movement, sound, and gunplay.

I like how there is a more emphasis on stealth combat. There have been numerous situations so far where I’m on the edge of my seat due to nerves combating my way through bandit camps, treacherous weather, and the terrain itself. It’s a perfect blend of environment story telling in a unique way. I also feel a sense of obligation to find lost cargo to deliver to other settlements despite the risky nature. It creates a real sense of urgency, but also forces you to be patient - until you can’t.

There was one instance where I had to make a delivery to a Chiral network, but it was pouring down rain. The rivers began to rise, and there were bandits surrounding me, but unaware of my presence. All the while the rain itself was damaging my cargo, almost forcing me to beeline my way straight to the objective. I offloaded my equipment, hiding it in tall grass so the enemies couldn’t see me carrying so much and alert nearby guards.

I systematically eliminated all enemies without being discovered, but my cargo eventually became damaged. I began scouring the area for container repair spray and found a handful of them, but even more importantly, I found a hidden vehicle. I quickly got inside, drove to my packages, loaded them into the bed of the truck, and carefully crossed the river. Once I reached my destination, I repaired all containers and delivered them safe and sound.

This moment-to-moment gameplay — a free sandbox to operate in — was really fun. It was essentially solving a puzzle that I could have optionally ignored, but with high risk there is a high reward. It’s these types of situations where MGSV: TPP shined immensely, and DS2 has evolved that process in peak form. I can’t wait to see how much more it expands as time goes on.

@Millionski Yeah, that also plays a huge role in this unfortunate event.

@rhyno_888 I have to agree, and this is the danger of putting a game on a subscription service instead of promoting it for people to buy. In my humble opinion, this is my biggest issue with Game Pass. It is absolutely fantastic for the consumer, but it has ripple effects across the industry that are negative.

Honestly, you have to have a certified banger on your hands to have success outside of Game Pass. Clair Obscur, arguably GOTY, made 3.3 million dollars in 3 weeks, and it’s higher now no question. However, how many of those sales are from Xbox players? If that game was an Xbox exclusive and day one on Game Pass, that studio would most likely be shut down despite the critical success it has received. The fact is, any developer/studio would tell you they would rather make a $60-80.00 sale outright then someone paying $20.00 for a subscription service with the hope — not guarantee — that audiences will play their game, and then make less money of that percentage.

As I said, as a consumer, Game Pass is awesome, but it’s not good for everyone else involved. This is why I prefer buying my games, whether it be on my PS5, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch.

@RedDuck9 That basement section was peak Resident Evil, and I think a true highlight out of the entire franchise. It was also very disturbing.

I’m still questing, exploring caves, tackling dungeons, killing trolls, and making my way to the platinum trophy in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Hopefully, I’ll have it wrapped up in time for Death Stranding 2, but I doubt it, and that’s okay because I love this world of Cyrodiil.

All I want is Singularity. I’ve been saying this for years. Give me that game and you’ll have my undivided attention.

Great game - got the platinum for it. I’d love to see it come to more consoles because it’s a fantastic game that deserves to be played.

I hope consumers will speak with their wallets for this game, since people have been clambering for Xbox version. It’s a superb game, in my opinion.

It’s hard for me to get excited about any kind of new console from Xbox. I personally do not care about how much of a leap next gen will be, and the power of the console - we hear that every time from Microsoft. To me, it’s all about games. Are you going to have a steady cadence of AAA games, interspersed with AA/indie games? If so, what is separating you from PS since those games will ultimately be on that console? If it’s Game Pass, and having that subscription across multiple devices - Play Anywhere - how confident are they that developers will want to release their games on that platform?

At the end of the day, GP is great for the consumer, but a detriment to the studios. I guarantee if you ask them, they would all say that they would prefer to make $60-80.00 per game rather than $20.00 or whatever the price is for the subscription service, and not have a guarantee it will find an audience. Look at PS - people are still happy paying for games, and owning them. Look at Clair Obscur, with 3.3 million copies sold (probably more at this point). How many of those copies do you think were on Xbox? Not many, I assume.

I don’t want to speak poorly on Xbox/Microsoft - I love my Series X and it’s a great consumer product if you have GP, but there is a reason why they are releasing their games on PS. If they had a strong AAA exclusive library of games that sold well, I highly doubt Microsoft would be in the situation that they are in now.

This sounds like awesome news, but it’s a wait and see for me. Prior to this generation of console releases, I chose to purchase a Series X rather than PS5 first (I was always going to get both). I was excited about the Bethesda acquisitions and other studios. And then the promise that Microsoft always makes - the games are coming - never came to fruition, until this year. By this point, most of, if not all the games I’m interested in from Microsoft is playable on the PS5, or will be. In my humble opinion, 2022 was an incredible year for Game Pass and I was blown away by the content. It was my main source of gaming from a console standpoint. And then it disappeared. I would love for this new iteration to be something to genuinely look forward to, but I can wait for PS5/6 versions (I also prefer the trophy system over achievements). Moreover, it’s becoming more and more likely that first party Xbox games are becoming day-and-day on console releases. All of that being said, I am enjoying the content Game Pass is delivering this year. If this remains steady and consistent, it might become my go-to choice for gaming, but that’s the key - consistency (and also genuine marketing).

I’m glad to see the game reviewing well, but it’s sadly not for me. I was surprised to see this be the next game after Sifu — and hopefully they will return to that universe sometime.