@Atariboy
Double D Dodgeball was a garbage game, meaning it reviewed poorly. But I was able to play it for many weeks. Then, I put it away because it wasn't good. Later after it delisted, I tried to play it and it just crashed to 360 dashboard everytime.
I play a lot of XBLA games and they mostly still work, but if a game is delisted, I find it less likely to work then games that are still listed.
I have the entire Game Room library. Thought it was a good classic arcade app/game. I got all the Game Room achievements a long time ago (2010) and haven't returned as there are many classic arcade apps/games that constantly come out and I play instead.
I really like Antstream and bought the lifetime subscription on XB when it came out. One thing I would love to see is a Colecovision collection on XB. I have yet to find one and there were some really good games there.
@Atariboy I have a lot of XB 360 hardware still and it is working perfectly fine. But when I play games like Double D Dodgeball it crashes in the same places no matter which 360 I play it on. lol, I have 7 North American region 360's. I am sure one of them would play it fine.
@Kilamanjaro I have all the XBLA games but a lot of the ones that aren't available to download just don't work anymore. I thought I was being smart by having copies on multiple hard drives. But, if you can't download it, it probably doesn't run anymore or if you can run it, it is unstable.
I have several 360's (even different regional 360's). Every now-and-then I boot them up and use them.
The only caution I would use is that if you have removed your password from your account you have to use a one time passcode to log into your 360 as it does not support the passwordless world.
@Cakefish Right now I think the Windows on XB is a deriviave of Windows rather then a true subset still. I think what they are saying is that it becomes a true subset next gen. Meaning one development exercise allows you to ship on both console and Windows PCs without (significant) modifications.
That is of course just speculation and we will have to see what this really is. We will probably get hints with the new ROG Ally UI. If it does multiple stores that would be super cool!
I saw the presentation as more MS is trying to own the narrative for the next generation rather then in the past where they have allowed Sony to own the narrative for pretty much each PS generation. We will get more detail later, but this presentation setup themes and principles that I think gives MS marketing control over the next generation's narrative.
You can be sure Sony/Nintendo will not go in any of these directions. They want total lock in to their hardware, PS Firmware/OS, and store. The only way Sony/Nintendo will go away from their approach is if their console sales plummet. Their whole ecosystems are built on the idea that they successfully sell locked in hardware, firmware/OS, and stores. If the hardware does not sell they want to move to the next generation quickly because they won't have the install base to make the profit they are used to making.
Windows - A fully fledged operating system that you can pretty much install any software you want on it through its desktop user interface. Including games.
Console OS - A full fledged operating system/firmware designed for TV and controller as the primary user interface. Going forward will be based entirely on the same code base as Windows but trimmed of the optionals that are required for installing all types of applications.
You can have both console and PC use the same base operating system and have two different User Interfaces. The only question I have is will I be able to configure a PC to bootup using the console interface? If so, I will be able to attach console or PC hardware to my TV seamlessly. That would be cool because I could buy high end PC gaming hardware and just say, "Make this a console". And voila! I have a hugely powerful console! Also, I could upgrade it whenever I felt like it, no more waiting for the next gen. The gen is what I can afford!
Backwards compatibility saves me money on having not to re-buy games. Hugely consumer friendly feature and a big reason why XB is my primary platform to play games.
@WildConcept6 Ya, Microsoft typically does not have bad ideas. They make a lot of mistakes, and their PR department isn't exactly stellar.
But, I have been with XB since their start in consoles as my primary console. They took way too long and meandered to get here, but since they started their buying frenzy with Mojang, and Phil's direction, they have righted the ship.
The biggest question is will they stick in the direction they are going in my mind. I hope so.
I liked everything about the announcement. This is what should have always been.
More XB devices and form factors give me more hardware choice. Buying once and being able to play them on all the devices saves me money and gives me flexibility to play anywhere.
I received a code and am going to play it as a freebie. Long live my Lancer chainsaw!
I expect that of this is successful on PS, then I would assume they will remaster the other Gears games as well and re-release them on all the platforms. Would love to see a massive Gears collection!
@acmiguens At the end of the day, I am not too concerned about labelling game 1st, 2nd, or 3rd party. The game either is great, ok, or not good. Doesn't matter who develops it and how many studios were contracted to develop it. My main point is that most games are developed by a lot of different studios with expertise in specific things. And therefore classifying games as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd party is moot. I have never gone looking for a game and saying, I will or will not buy the game becuase it is an "x" studio game.
To me Bayonetta is now a first party game for Nintendo. But, my definition is more around funding for the game then it is IP ownership and whether the studio making the game is owned by the publisher. I know the formal definition is around IP ownership and whether the lead studio is owned by the publisher who also owns the platform. I just find it hard to follow that definition now that almost every game has a large level of contracted studios working on them.
@IOI That can be said on any device now-a-days. There are very few devices where there is anything more than an incremental change. Using your arguement I might as well buy a Xbox One X instead of an XBox Series X because Series X was only incrementally better and the Xbox One X have the same UIs. The only real difference is the storage device. Everything else is virtually the same or only incrementally better. LOL.
@acmiguens I personally think the idea of second party games has disappearred. I do hear what you are saying, and it was truth at one time, but development outsourcing is in every AAA game now-a-days. The lines have blurred and more and more there is a publisher, a lead studio, and a bunch of other studios with specific expertise contributing to the game development.
Another good example is Perfect Dark. IP owned by Microsoft and where the Coalition is the lead studio, but Crystal Dynamics is probably doing a lot of the development. What is that game? 1.5 party? LOL.
I am just saying that 1st, 2nd, and 3rd party is no longer a black and white thing. To me it just comes to IP ownership. And even that is becoming nebulous with MS probably still owning Spyro but allowing Toys with Bob to develop a Spyro game completely independent of MS.
@acmiguens So, Absobo makes Flight Simulator for MS. Does that mean it is not a dirst party game? Since as you say it only fullfills one of your two requirements to be a first party game? It is not developed by MS but they own the IP.
Claimed! This is why I really am more committed to gaming on XB then the other platforms. They give away stuff like this rather than charging for it. Also, these games are on GamePass so I can play all MS releases day one... I will be able to play Outer World 2, Keeper, NG IV, and CoD BO7 all on day one with my GamePass subscription. my holiday season of gaming is booked and I don't have to pay any more than I am already paying!
@acmiguens Have you rolled through the credits of pretty much every game released now-a-days? There are next to zero games other than indies that are developed solely in one studio.
The only thing you can validly say is that there is no Microsoft own studio leading this project and Microsoft does not own the IP. I would bet in the credits of the game there will be quite a bit of different studios involved including many Microsoft. Heck you can't even say it is a "Ninja Theory game because Platinum Games was also a mjor studio in the project.
@IOI Yes, the UI can probably be shipped on existing handhelds.
ROG Ally X has a Ryzen AI Z2 processor... ROG Ally is a Z1 which is a full generation difference. ROG Ally X has 24 Gb of RAM but ROG Ally only has 16. ROG Ally X has 1 TB storage and is M.2 2280 not M.2 2230. ROG Ally X has a 80W battery not 40W in ROG Ally. ROG ally has only a USB-C port whereas ROG Ally X has USB4 Type-C and USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C. ROG Ally X has Bluetooth 5.4 while ROG Ally has bluetooth 5.2. That is a lot of technical differences.
There are almost no internal components that are exactly the same. Again not sure how you can say these are the same devices. They are clearly a generation apart from each other.
As for the UI on older devices. I have seen MS do that before. The new UI will not be optimized on those devices and will be slower if MS history is a guide.
@johnedwin If it allows you to play Steam games then it allows you to play a lot of the recent PS exclusives. Ghosts of Tsushima, The Last of Us, Spider-man, Uncharted, Helldivers, Ratchet & Clank, Horizon, etc.
@IOI
I have a ROG Ally and the experience is more Windows than XB (Boots to Windows Desktop/ASUS Game App). From what I have seen of the ROG Ally X UI booting directly as an XB device, the Windows background stuff running less, the hardware form looks better, and there is a longer lasting battery, more CPU power, memory, and storage in the device. The only resemblance to the current ROG Ally is it is made by ASUS and looks similar.
I'm not sure how you can say just get the current ROG Ally because they are the same. That is no where near anything that resembles the truth.
Looks like MS is starting to get the handheld world right. I still have to see what this actually runs like, it is possibly a Christmas gift from me, to me!
@Vaako007 Microsoft is not sharing a single IP with anyone. They still own all of the IP. They are just selling it in more places. It makes no business sense not to to sell the most units of game as possibly can be sold. Exclusives don't increase your game sales, they may increase hardware sales, but not the units sold of games. You increase game sales by selling your games to more people.
It is Sony and Nintendo shareholders that are losing. Because they often miss out in both PC and XB game revenues for their games. One day they will look at how much XB is making by selling their games on all platforms and they will ask why aren't we making that much too?
@Ricky-Spanish
I stopped buying discs where possible around 2009. The only physical discs I have from the XB One generation was things like Skylanders and Disney Infinity. Series X and S I have no physical media.
Between CDs, DVDs, and Blu Ray discs for music, movies, and games I have around 4,500 physical disc media. After going digital and re-buying a lot of them, I now store all my physical discs in binders and got rid of the packaging. They sit in storage never really being used. One day soon, I intend to go through them and only keep the ones that have no digital version.
I would not go back to physical media. The portability in being able to download or stream anything in my library of music, movies, and games is way more important to me then looking a disc and cherishing it in some demented way. In the world today ownership extends well beyond the physical world and I trust the vendors to keep it that way.
@Balaam_ What are you going to do, plug the cartridge ROM for these games into your XB and play them that way? Good luck finding the cartridge slot to do that.
@Moby Ya, all you have to do is look at Microsoft's financial performance from gaming. I doubt any of the shareholders are asking how many game sales Doom The Dark Ages has as they are counting the dollar signs from gaming.
MS has become very profitable in gaming. That is all shareholders care about to keep providing money to the gaming division.
@Member_the_game
So, it is 50+ games, part of GamePass, and games that could probably run on a raspberry pi with a 1 Mbps connection, but you are turned off because it is streaming?
LOL. I own the Antstream stuff (bought the lifetime subscription). There is no issue streaming these games. The platform is solid with no issues.
I remember in 2005 when I bought Frogger on XB Live people were saying the same thing about digital game purchases. Look where that is today.
@PlatinumMikey From a gamer point of view I think MS has taken a lot of risks to move consoles forward. At the end of the day XB Live was seen to push MP gaming, cloud based profiles were first on console with XB, XB 360 broke a ton of new ground in games, Kinect ended up failing but it was an enjoyable experience (they just shouldn't have thought it was for every game), among other experiences and models they have tried to varying degrees of success. You can't fault MS for trying new approaches, things, and models.
I do think XB One was an identity finding generation. They tried for an identity with Kinect and it was a brutal failure, combined with a bunch of studios under performing ended up being part of what I call the dark ages of XB.
But, I think they are on track now. They bought a ton of publishers and studios that are delivering game after game and ongoing games that keep getting new content. They still have some work to do on quality but they are again getting award nominations, and I really think that both Series X and S were great hardware as a high ticket item and a low ticket alternative. And most of all the gaming part of MS is becoming very profitable ensuring its long term existence.
People talk about if there is new gaming hardware and I don't see this as an IF. MS is in PC hardware and Microsoft isn't even considered a top 10 manufacturer of PCs. Microsoft is in the hardware business to set a standard for the industry. They don't hold a lot of stock in hardware sales. They want people to buy their software and services. That is where they make their money. Not hardware.
Sony and Nintendo are tied to hardware sales more than MS because they don't do as much multi-platform stuff. But, I see that changing. If MS ships a XB Console that has no difference from a PC, then Sony is in trouble because if my XB can run Steam I can play the Sony exclusives when they come to PC. Nintendo will be eventually forced to PC as well especially if their hardware doesn't do as good as Switch. So, in the end it consoles won't be about hardware anymore, they will be more about the services they provide. In that realm I think MS GamePass services are the leader in the industry.
Series X and S have been the best XB hardware I have bought to date. No issues at all. And MS seems to have figured out how to consistently deliver new games and content so things just continue to get better.
A far cry from what I call the dark years of Xbox One.
@BAMozzy It always goes back to stockholder's expectations. If I am a stock investor and can get a 20% higher return on my investment if I invest in other higher performing industries where do you think I will place my money? That is not about greed it is about smart investing. Stock investors will go where they can make good money. Yes, they want to balance their portfolio, so gaming will always get money, but, at the end of the day, it will be about potential return for the big bucks.
@Tasuki I expect that cancelled games weren't looking too great, the studios were under performing, and they needed to get costs in line with revenues.
That is happening throughout the gaming industry. Microsoft, Sony, EA, Ubisoft, have all done the same.
Not that I like it, but that is the current reality. I expect that most shareholders are putting their money into AI opportunities right now over gaming. I think the gaming market is mostly tapped out and we are going to actually see a decrease over time or very small increases until a major innovation comes along. The golden era of gaming is over.
A lot of people are looking at this from only a consumer lens. The reality is that game development/publishing companies are seeing their costs rise with inflation. In no version of the universe does this mean an industry will keep their prices stagnant. Most major game developer/publishers have stockholders to please and the stockholders are expecting a certain return on their investment. If they don't get it there are lots of other places to put their money where they will get the returns. Therefore prices go up rather than the game developers/publishers swallowing the costs. It is that simple.
Gaming is a completely optional purchase, which means that almost all people will drop gaming purchases instead of rent and food.
At the end of the day though I expect the market will balance itself out. I expect less development studios, more publisher consolidation, and less games being released. The current world just does not support the profitability required and the number of games being released. People will be more choosey and take less chances on unknown games with these higher prices. It used to be that people would lineup to buy games on day one, this will no longer exist. People will wait more before jumping on bandwagons to buy games.
The reality is prices have risen for everything everywhere. While I am not a fan of rising prices the reality is that consoles are not immune to the price increases.
At the end of the day I will keep buying XB. I like Microsoft although they have made many mis-steps with XB, I feel it is on the right track now.
@dreadful I am enjoying South of Midnight, others may not, but I am. I also enjoyed Starfield. And I liked this last year's Call of Duty. Like what you want, MS is delivering some pretty good games in my opinion.
@andrewsqual They are doing this to make sure their gaming unit is as profitable as possible. Sales of their games on other platforms are ensuring high profitability on the games they make.
@dreadful
South of Midnight is a new franchise, a solid game, and entirely Microsoft built. It may not be everyone's game, but to me it has broad appeal. I hope they do more games that take chances like this one did.
I am glad that MS is being the "bigger man" and promoting freedom of choice of platforms. I feel that exclusives do not unify gamers and that games should be available on as many platforms as possible. As a consumer this is good no matter how you look at it. The increased revenues across platforms allow them to keep funding their studios to make the games.
The numbers don't lie. Microsoft is succeeding really well in gaming. I think MS has to stay the course. Continue delivering great games through all its studios/publishers and find a way to sell more hardware. I am sure MS is happy with its gaming revenues.
@themightyant To be fair Lost Odyssey was a 2007-8 released game in the 360 era. It only stands to reason that a game developed 18 years later would be more complete since it was inspired by Lost Odyssey.
Is the story as good as Lost Odyssey? I found the Lost Odyssey story was one of the best stories I ever experienced in a video game.
I disagree with the logic that because subscription services have gone flat, they are not the future of gaming. I do agree that there will be a mixed model, but subscription services will always be central to gaming.
The vendors need a way to fund the cloud services that run gaming. This is best suited to value added subscriptions.
What gaming needs is new and innovative game experiences that bring more people into the gaming community. I haven't seen very many new experiences that make me think, "wow, this would appeal to people that currently don't play games".
As for getting more revenue from existing gamers, I think gaming is a completely optional expense people incur. People will only pay so much for completely optional expenses. And I feel I am pretty well off, but I cap my gaming spend each year. There is no way I will increase my spend, and I only buy maybe 1-3 games per year at full price. Everything else has to be at least 70% to get me to pay attention to it.
@donv2135
The only constant is change. I stream video and music services almost exclusively now, I wonder how long until games are the same way.
I still think there is room for consumer devices, but more and more they will become more generic and more commodity based. They will co-process with the cloud and everything will have to be online connected.
I remember the fiasco around Crackdown 3. I know its multi-player stunk, but the idea was in the forming stage. Today, I think in gaming the cloud vs local processing model is still forming, but I see it starting to take shape.
Eventually they will get the right balance in place for cloud vs. local processing. Then local consumer computing devices will become more generic.
I have XSX with blu-ray drive, I have literally many thousands of disc based media from OG XB, X360, XBO, blu-ray, DVD, and CD.
My drives and media collect dust 24 x 7 x 365. The only time I pull out discs is to play OG XB and X360 games that I have not purchased digitally on my OG XB and X360.
For movies and TV I subscribe to services or buy through MS Store to play on Films & TV. For music I have a family Spotify subscription. For games I have been all digital since early in the XBO generation. Would probably never go back to physical media.
Comments 812
Re: Five New Games Added To Retro Classics On Xbox Game Pass
@Atariboy
Double D Dodgeball was a garbage game, meaning it reviewed poorly. But I was able to play it for many weeks. Then, I put it away because it wasn't good. Later after it delisted, I tried to play it and it just crashed to 360 dashboard everytime.
I play a lot of XBLA games and they mostly still work, but if a game is delisted, I find it less likely to work then games that are still listed.
I have the entire Game Room library. Thought it was a good classic arcade app/game. I got all the Game Room achievements a long time ago (2010) and haven't returned as there are many classic arcade apps/games that constantly come out and I play instead.
I really like Antstream and bought the lifetime subscription on XB when it came out. One thing I would love to see is a Colecovision collection on XB. I have yet to find one and there were some really good games there.
Re: Report: Xbox Suffering Major Layoffs Next Week, Microsoft Declines To Comment
Hire... Hire... Hire... (If you have a pulse we will hire you).
Lay-off... Lay-off... Lay-off... (We don't re-train, we just create carnage)...
This is how tech works. I have worked in tech organizations since the 1990's... This cycle is nothing new.
Re: Five New Games Added To Retro Classics On Xbox Game Pass
@Atariboy
I have a lot of XB 360 hardware still and it is working perfectly fine. But when I play games like Double D Dodgeball it crashes in the same places no matter which 360 I play it on. lol, I have 7 North American region 360's. I am sure one of them would play it fine.
Re: Five New Games Added To Retro Classics On Xbox Game Pass
@Kilamanjaro
I have all the XBLA games but a lot of the ones that aren't available to download just don't work anymore. I thought I was being smart by having copies on multiple hard drives. But, if you can't download it, it probably doesn't run anymore or if you can run it, it is unstable.
Re: Reminder: The Xbox 360 Is Surprisingly Decent For Backwards Compatibility
I have several 360's (even different regional 360's). Every now-and-then I boot them up and use them.
The only caution I would use is that if you have removed your password from your account you have to use a one time passcode to log into your 360 as it does not support the passwordless world.
Re: Xbox & AMD Are 'Delivering On A Promise' By Making Existing Libraries Work On Next-Gen
@Cakefish
Right now I think the Windows on XB is a deriviave of Windows rather then a true subset still. I think what they are saying is that it becomes a true subset next gen. Meaning one development exercise allows you to ship on both console and Windows PCs without (significant) modifications.
That is of course just speculation and we will have to see what this really is. We will probably get hints with the new ROG Ally UI. If it does multiple stores that would be super cool!
I saw the presentation as more MS is trying to own the narrative for the next generation rather then in the past where they have allowed Sony to own the narrative for pretty much each PS generation. We will get more detail later, but this presentation setup themes and principles that I think gives MS marketing control over the next generation's narrative.
You can be sure Sony/Nintendo will not go in any of these directions. They want total lock in to their hardware, PS Firmware/OS, and store. The only way Sony/Nintendo will go away from their approach is if their console sales plummet. Their whole ecosystems are built on the idea that they successfully sell locked in hardware, firmware/OS, and stores. If the hardware does not sell they want to move to the next generation quickly because they won't have the install base to make the profit they are used to making.
Re: Xbox & AMD Are 'Delivering On A Promise' By Making Existing Libraries Work On Next-Gen
@Cakefish
I am not sure what the confusion is?
Windows - A fully fledged operating system that you can pretty much install any software you want on it through its desktop user interface. Including games.
Console OS - A full fledged operating system/firmware designed for TV and controller as the primary user interface. Going forward will be based entirely on the same code base as Windows but trimmed of the optionals that are required for installing all types of applications.
You can have both console and PC use the same base operating system and have two different User Interfaces. The only question I have is will I be able to configure a PC to bootup using the console interface? If so, I will be able to attach console or PC hardware to my TV seamlessly. That would be cool because I could buy high end PC gaming hardware and just say, "Make this a console". And voila! I have a hugely powerful console! Also, I could upgrade it whenever I felt like it, no more waiting for the next gen. The gen is what I can afford!
Re: With Its Next Console, Xbox Is Making A Big Commitment To Backwards Compatibility
Backwards compatibility saves me money on having not to re-buy games. Hugely consumer friendly feature and a big reason why XB is my primary platform to play games.
Re: Talking Point: Did Xbox Just Hint At A Hybrid Next-Gen Console?
@WildConcept6
Ya, Microsoft typically does not have bad ideas. They make a lot of mistakes, and their PR department isn't exactly stellar.
But, I have been with XB since their start in consoles as my primary console. They took way too long and meandered to get here, but since they started their buying frenzy with Mojang, and Phil's direction, they have righted the ship.
The biggest question is will they stick in the direction they are going in my mind. I hope so.
Re: Talking Point: Did Xbox Just Hint At A Hybrid Next-Gen Console?
I liked everything about the announcement. This is what should have always been.
More XB devices and form factors give me more hardware choice. Buying once and being able to play them on all the devices saves me money and gives me flexibility to play anywhere.
I've wanted gaming to be like this for decades!
Re: Talking Point: Would You Like To See A New Type Of Forza Game In 2026?
Three words...
Project Gotham Racing!
Re: According To Sales Estimates, Final Fantasy 16 Had A Rough First Week On Xbox
They will put it on GamePass to get the revenue up!
Re: Hands On: Gears Of War Reloaded Beta - Great Gnasher Gibbings, But Overly Familiar On Xbox
I received a code and am going to play it as a freebie. Long live my Lancer chainsaw!
I expect that of this is successful on PS, then I would assume they will remaster the other Gears games as well and re-release them on all the platforms. Would love to see a massive Gears collection!
Re: Xbox Has Three First-Party Games Coming Out Within 12 Days Of Each Other
@acmiguens
At the end of the day, I am not too concerned about labelling game 1st, 2nd, or 3rd party. The game either is great, ok, or not good. Doesn't matter who develops it and how many studios were contracted to develop it. My main point is that most games are developed by a lot of different studios with expertise in specific things. And therefore classifying games as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd party is moot. I have never gone looking for a game and saying, I will or will not buy the game becuase it is an "x" studio game.
To me Bayonetta is now a first party game for Nintendo. But, my definition is more around funding for the game then it is IP ownership and whether the studio making the game is owned by the publisher. I know the formal definition is around IP ownership and whether the lead studio is owned by the publisher who also owns the platform. I just find it hard to follow that definition now that almost every game has a large level of contracted studios working on them.
Re: Five Reasons Why I'm Incredibly Excited For The ROG Xbox Ally Handheld
@IOI
That can be said on any device now-a-days. There are very few devices where there is anything more than an incremental change. Using your arguement I might as well buy a Xbox One X instead of an XBox Series X because Series X was only incrementally better and the Xbox One X have the same UIs. The only real difference is the storage device. Everything else is virtually the same or only incrementally better. LOL.
Re: Xbox Has Three First-Party Games Coming Out Within 12 Days Of Each Other
@acmiguens
I personally think the idea of second party games has disappearred. I do hear what you are saying, and it was truth at one time, but development outsourcing is in every AAA game now-a-days. The lines have blurred and more and more there is a publisher, a lead studio, and a bunch of other studios with specific expertise contributing to the game development.
Another good example is Perfect Dark. IP owned by Microsoft and where the Coalition is the lead studio, but Crystal Dynamics is probably doing a lot of the development. What is that game? 1.5 party? LOL.
I am just saying that 1st, 2nd, and 3rd party is no longer a black and white thing. To me it just comes to IP ownership. And even that is becoming nebulous with MS probably still owning Spyro but allowing Toys with Bob to develop a Spyro game completely independent of MS.
Re: Xbox Has Three First-Party Games Coming Out Within 12 Days Of Each Other
@acmiguens
So, Absobo makes Flight Simulator for MS. Does that mean it is not a dirst party game? Since as you say it only fullfills one of your two requirements to be a first party game? It is not developed by MS but they own the IP.
Re: Switch 2 'Closer To Xbox Series S' Than Last-Gen Consoles, Says Ninja Gaiden Dev
Nintendo release Switch 2 which is similar to XB Series S and people buy it like crazy...
MS Released Series S and it has been critiqued as under powered and holding the generation back....
LOL. So what is Switch 2 doing if not holding the rest of this generation and next generation back?
Re: Xbox Has Started Giving Out Free Gears Of War: Reloaded Codes To 'Ultimate Edition' Owners
Claimed! This is why I really am more committed to gaming on XB then the other platforms. They give away stuff like this rather than charging for it. Also, these games are on GamePass so I can play all MS releases day one... I will be able to play Outer World 2, Keeper, NG IV, and CoD BO7 all on day one with my GamePass subscription. my holiday season of gaming is booked and I don't have to pay any more than I am already paying!
Re: Xbox Has Three First-Party Games Coming Out Within 12 Days Of Each Other
@JustinSane
I know it is highly unlikely but Spencer did they a franchise that has been with XB from the start....
People have failed to remember that Project Gotham Racing was also an OG XB Launch game.
I would love to see a new PGR or Halo game. Just saying!
Re: Xbox Has Three First-Party Games Coming Out Within 12 Days Of Each Other
@acmiguens
Have you rolled through the credits of pretty much every game released now-a-days? There are next to zero games other than indies that are developed solely in one studio.
The only thing you can validly say is that there is no Microsoft own studio leading this project and Microsoft does not own the IP. I would bet in the credits of the game there will be quite a bit of different studios involved including many Microsoft. Heck you can't even say it is a "Ninja Theory game because Platinum Games was also a mjor studio in the project.
Re: Five Reasons Why I'm Incredibly Excited For The ROG Xbox Ally Handheld
@IOI
Yes, the UI can probably be shipped on existing handhelds.
ROG Ally X has a Ryzen AI Z2 processor... ROG Ally is a Z1 which is a full generation difference. ROG Ally X has 24 Gb of RAM but ROG Ally only has 16. ROG Ally X has 1 TB storage and is M.2 2280 not M.2 2230. ROG Ally X has a 80W battery not 40W in ROG Ally. ROG ally has only a USB-C port whereas ROG Ally X has USB4 Type-C and USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C. ROG Ally X has Bluetooth 5.4 while ROG Ally has bluetooth 5.2. That is a lot of technical differences.
There are almost no internal components that are exactly the same. Again not sure how you can say these are the same devices. They are clearly a generation apart from each other.
As for the UI on older devices. I have seen MS do that before. The new UI will not be optimized on those devices and will be slower if MS history is a guide.
Re: Five Reasons Why I'm Incredibly Excited For The ROG Xbox Ally Handheld
@johnedwin
If it allows you to play Steam games then it allows you to play a lot of the recent PS exclusives. Ghosts of Tsushima, The Last of Us, Spider-man, Uncharted, Helldivers, Ratchet & Clank, Horizon, etc.
Re: Five Reasons Why I'm Incredibly Excited For The ROG Xbox Ally Handheld
@IOI
I have a ROG Ally and the experience is more Windows than XB (Boots to Windows Desktop/ASUS Game App). From what I have seen of the ROG Ally X UI booting directly as an XB device, the Windows background stuff running less, the hardware form looks better, and there is a longer lasting battery, more CPU power, memory, and storage in the device. The only resemblance to the current ROG Ally is it is made by ASUS and looks similar.
I'm not sure how you can say just get the current ROG Ally because they are the same. That is no where near anything that resembles the truth.
Re: Xbox Handheld Is Called 'ROG Xbox Ally', Releases Holiday 2025
Looks like MS is starting to get the handheld world right. I still have to see what this actually runs like, it is possibly a Christmas gift from me, to me!
Re: Forza On PS5 Has 'Easily' Made $100 Million For Xbox, Says Analyst
@Vaako007
Microsoft is not sharing a single IP with anyone. They still own all of the IP. They are just selling it in more places. It makes no business sense not to to sell the most units of game as possibly can be sold. Exclusives don't increase your game sales, they may increase hardware sales, but not the units sold of games. You increase game sales by selling your games to more people.
It is Sony and Nintendo shareholders that are losing. Because they often miss out in both PC and XB game revenues for their games. One day they will look at how much XB is making by selling their games on all platforms and they will ask why aren't we making that much too?
Re: Hellblade 2 Is Getting A Physical Release On Xbox, But Not By Microsoft
@Ricky-Spanish
I stopped buying discs where possible around 2009. The only physical discs I have from the XB One generation was things like Skylanders and Disney Infinity. Series X and S I have no physical media.
Between CDs, DVDs, and Blu Ray discs for music, movies, and games I have around 4,500 physical disc media. After going digital and re-buying a lot of them, I now store all my physical discs in binders and got rid of the packaging. They sit in storage never really being used. One day soon, I intend to go through them and only keep the ones that have no digital version.
I would not go back to physical media. The portability in being able to download or stream anything in my library of music, movies, and games is way more important to me then looking a disc and cherishing it in some demented way. In the world today ownership extends well beyond the physical world and I trust the vendors to keep it that way.
Re: Talking Point: Will You Be Buying The 2025 Xbox Handheld From ASUS?
For me, it really depends on what the portable offers. I already have an Asus ROG Ally, so it would have to be a substantial improvement upon it.
For me, a huge increase in battery life and a more seamless XB UI would probably get me there.
Re: Rumour: Xbox's Starfield Is Moving To PS5, Should Be Announced This Year
@Qu1n0n3z
I can sell both my XB and PS5, since the best of both consoles are playable there.
Re: 'Retro Classics' Raises Questions About The Future Of Xbox Backwards Compatibility
@Balaam_
What are you going to do, plug the cartridge ROM for these games into your XB and play them that way? Good luck finding the cartridge slot to do that.
Re: Microsoft Celebrates As Xbox Vs. FTC Officially Comes To An End
They finally gave up well after the game was over.
Re: Xbox & Bethesda Say DOOM: The Dark Ages Is id Software's 'Biggest Launch' Ever
@Moby
Ya, all you have to do is look at Microsoft's financial performance from gaming. I doubt any of the shareholders are asking how many game sales Doom The Dark Ages has as they are counting the dollar signs from gaming.
MS has become very profitable in gaming. That is all shareholders care about to keep providing money to the gaming division.
Re: Xbox Announces 'Retro Classics' For Game Pass, 50+ Activision Titles Included
@Member_the_game
So, it is 50+ games, part of GamePass, and games that could probably run on a raspberry pi with a 1 Mbps connection, but you are turned off because it is streaming?
LOL. I own the Antstream stuff (bought the lifetime subscription). There is no issue streaming these games. The platform is solid with no issues.
I remember in 2005 when I bought Frogger on XB Live people were saying the same thing about digital game purchases. Look where that is today.
Re: Talking Point: Do You Feel You've Had Value For Money With Your Xbox Series X|S?
@PlatinumMikey
From a gamer point of view I think MS has taken a lot of risks to move consoles forward. At the end of the day XB Live was seen to push MP gaming, cloud based profiles were first on console with XB, XB 360 broke a ton of new ground in games, Kinect ended up failing but it was an enjoyable experience (they just shouldn't have thought it was for every game), among other experiences and models they have tried to varying degrees of success. You can't fault MS for trying new approaches, things, and models.
I do think XB One was an identity finding generation. They tried for an identity with Kinect and it was a brutal failure, combined with a bunch of studios under performing ended up being part of what I call the dark ages of XB.
But, I think they are on track now. They bought a ton of publishers and studios that are delivering game after game and ongoing games that keep getting new content. They still have some work to do on quality but they are again getting award nominations, and I really think that both Series X and S were great hardware as a high ticket item and a low ticket alternative. And most of all the gaming part of MS is becoming very profitable ensuring its long term existence.
People talk about if there is new gaming hardware and I don't see this as an IF. MS is in PC hardware and Microsoft isn't even considered a top 10 manufacturer of PCs. Microsoft is in the hardware business to set a standard for the industry. They don't hold a lot of stock in hardware sales. They want people to buy their software and services. That is where they make their money. Not hardware.
Sony and Nintendo are tied to hardware sales more than MS because they don't do as much multi-platform stuff. But, I see that changing. If MS ships a XB Console that has no difference from a PC, then Sony is in trouble because if my XB can run Steam I can play the Sony exclusives when they come to PC. Nintendo will be eventually forced to PC as well especially if their hardware doesn't do as good as Switch. So, in the end it consoles won't be about hardware anymore, they will be more about the services they provide. In that realm I think MS GamePass services are the leader in the industry.
Re: Talking Point: Do You Feel You've Had Value For Money With Your Xbox Series X|S?
Series X and S have been the best XB hardware I have bought to date. No issues at all. And MS seems to have figured out how to consistently deliver new games and content so things just continue to get better.
A far cry from what I call the dark years of Xbox One.
Re: 2K Studio Says Next Game 'Might' Be $80 Due To Doubled Development Budget
@BAMozzy
It always goes back to stockholder's expectations. If I am a stock investor and can get a 20% higher return on my investment if I invest in other higher performing industries where do you think I will place my money? That is not about greed it is about smart investing. Stock investors will go where they can make good money. Yes, they want to balance their portfolio, so gaming will always get money, but, at the end of the day, it will be about potential return for the big bucks.
Re: Warner Bros Games Revenue Declines By Almost 50% At The Start Of 2025
@Tasuki
I expect that cancelled games weren't looking too great, the studios were under performing, and they needed to get costs in line with revenues.
That is happening throughout the gaming industry. Microsoft, Sony, EA, Ubisoft, have all done the same.
Not that I like it, but that is the current reality. I expect that most shareholders are putting their money into AI opportunities right now over gaming. I think the gaming market is mostly tapped out and we are going to actually see a decrease over time or very small increases until a major innovation comes along. The golden era of gaming is over.
Re: 2K Studio Says Next Game 'Might' Be $80 Due To Doubled Development Budget
A lot of people are looking at this from only a consumer lens. The reality is that game development/publishing companies are seeing their costs rise with inflation. In no version of the universe does this mean an industry will keep their prices stagnant. Most major game developer/publishers have stockholders to please and the stockholders are expecting a certain return on their investment. If they don't get it there are lots of other places to put their money where they will get the returns. Therefore prices go up rather than the game developers/publishers swallowing the costs. It is that simple.
Gaming is a completely optional purchase, which means that almost all people will drop gaming purchases instead of rent and food.
At the end of the day though I expect the market will balance itself out. I expect less development studios, more publisher consolidation, and less games being released. The current world just does not support the profitability required and the number of games being released. People will be more choosey and take less chances on unknown games with these higher prices. It used to be that people would lineup to buy games on day one, this will no longer exist. People will wait more before jumping on bandwagons to buy games.
Re: Talking Point: Would You Still Buy An Xbox At Microsoft's 2025 Prices?
The reality is prices have risen for everything everywhere. While I am not a fan of rising prices the reality is that consoles are not immune to the price increases.
At the end of the day I will keep buying XB. I like Microsoft although they have made many mis-steps with XB, I feel it is on the right track now.
Re: Talking Point: With Forza Horizon 5 Now On PS5, Do You Expect To See Horizon 6 Anytime Soon?
I doubt we will see FH6 until at least a year after Fable ships.
Re: Xbox Achieves Record-Breaking Results In Latest Earnings Report
@dreadful
I am enjoying South of Midnight, others may not, but I am. I also enjoyed Starfield. And I liked this last year's Call of Duty. Like what you want, MS is delivering some pretty good games in my opinion.
Re: Microsoft CEO Announces 'Top Publisher' Milestone For Xbox Games On PS5
@andrewsqual
They are doing this to make sure their gaming unit is as profitable as possible. Sales of their games on other platforms are ensuring high profitability on the games they make.
Re: Xbox Achieves Record-Breaking Results In Latest Earnings Report
@dreadful
South of Midnight is a new franchise, a solid game, and entirely Microsoft built. It may not be everyone's game, but to me it has broad appeal. I hope they do more games that take chances like this one did.
Re: Microsoft CEO Announces 'Top Publisher' Milestone For Xbox Games On PS5
I am glad that MS is being the "bigger man" and promoting freedom of choice of platforms. I feel that exclusives do not unify gamers and that games should be available on as many platforms as possible. As a consumer this is good no matter how you look at it. The increased revenues across platforms allow them to keep funding their studios to make the games.
Re: Xbox Achieves Record-Breaking Results In Latest Earnings Report
The numbers don't lie. Microsoft is succeeding really well in gaming. I think MS has to stay the course. Continue delivering great games through all its studios/publishers and find a way to sell more hardware. I am sure MS is happy with its gaming revenues.
Re: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Is Reminding People Of This Classic Xbox 360 JRPG
@themightyant
To be fair Lost Odyssey was a 2007-8 released game in the 360 era. It only stands to reason that a game developed 18 years later would be more complete since it was inspired by Lost Odyssey.
Is the story as good as Lost Odyssey? I found the Lost Odyssey story was one of the best stories I ever experienced in a video game.
Re: Subscriptions Like Xbox Game Pass 'Not The Future Of Gaming', Says Analyst
I disagree with the logic that because subscription services have gone flat, they are not the future of gaming. I do agree that there will be a mixed model, but subscription services will always be central to gaming.
The vendors need a way to fund the cloud services that run gaming. This is best suited to value added subscriptions.
What gaming needs is new and innovative game experiences that bring more people into the gaming community. I haven't seen very many new experiences that make me think, "wow, this would appeal to people that currently don't play games".
As for getting more revenue from existing gamers, I think gaming is a completely optional expense people incur. People will only pay so much for completely optional expenses. And I feel I am pretty well off, but I cap my gaming spend each year. There is no way I will increase my spend, and I only buy maybe 1-3 games per year at full price. Everything else has to be at least 70% to get me to pay attention to it.
Re: Poll: As Forza Horizon 5 Cruises To PS5, Are You Still Playing It On Xbox?
I continue to play most of the FH games where they still work. I love the series and just do a few races at a time to keep it fresh.
Re: OG Xbox Creator Shares His Thoughts On The State Of The Brand In 2025
@donv2135
The only constant is change. I stream video and music services almost exclusively now, I wonder how long until games are the same way.
I still think there is room for consumer devices, but more and more they will become more generic and more commodity based. They will co-process with the cloud and everything will have to be online connected.
I remember the fiasco around Crackdown 3. I know its multi-player stunk, but the idea was in the forming stage. Today, I think in gaming the cloud vs local processing model is still forming, but I see it starting to take shape.
Eventually they will get the right balance in place for cloud vs. local processing. Then local consumer computing devices will become more generic.
Re: Talking Point: Will Any Next-Gen Xbox Have A Disc Drive?
I have XSX with blu-ray drive, I have literally many thousands of disc based media from OG XB, X360, XBO, blu-ray, DVD, and CD.
My drives and media collect dust 24 x 7 x 365. The only time I pull out discs is to play OG XB and X360 games that I have not purchased digitally on my OG XB and X360.
For movies and TV I subscribe to services or buy through MS Store to play on Films & TV. For music I have a family Spotify subscription. For games I have been all digital since early in the XBO generation. Would probably never go back to physical media.