RentedPanda

NeXus is my vote. Because it is a meeting point with PC, it is the nex(t) box, and it has an X in it : )

Aphelion looks interesting but I am awful at stealth. Checking it out on GP would be great over buying outright and confirming it isn't for me.

I bought GP ultimate codes before the price increase, waiting on pulling the trigger. I think that won't be until Fable, but there is some tempting stuff on now or coming soon

I still don't understand what is meant by being able to build once and ship everywhere. This implies there is no porting. So you build once, assumably on xbox because they say it ensures gamea come to xbox quicker, and your build works on other systems? How? Does xbox AI do your port for you? If the statement is not literal, then what does it mean, what is leading to getting games on xbox faster?

Couple that with "the plan is the plan until it isn't the plan" and you have a clear path forward

@Balaam_ I feel pretty much the same way about what I want from Sony, but there is no denying that other gamers exist. They bought Bungie at the height of Destiny's games as service reign to do GaaS work for them and speak to that audience, so Marathon makes sense from that perspective. Where Sony really messed up is in asking most of their other studios, who did make PS signature games and didn't already work in the space, to convert to GaaS.

AI trained by Letmesoloher

I don't think it helps anything to keep this exclusive. Maybe I'm wrong but I don't think a single player only remake of a game that already has a remaster is going to sell systems. Especially when the prices on those systems, depending on SKU, are creeping up to compare with Switch 2 and PS5 pro.
For any help to brand identity, canceling the port is a hit to brand credibility.

Not to be too spicy, but the brand identity part is kind of sad in my mind. A once great franchise as the last exclusive for a brand in trouble (on the hardware side). "At least we have Halo" seems tragic. I'm pinning my hopes on Fable to reignite excitement for Xbox

@Jenkinss are these games couch co-op or online only? If online, I assume I would need some level of GP for online access?

Are they kind of escape room type games, or more action?

I've seen them in sales and such and was intrigued but was never sure

Also, he is proud they got Gears running great on xbox hardware, and this is an example of commitment to first party? This seems like the bare minimum for first party or third party - the game runs on the intended platform. Not sure why of all the recent corporate nothing speak, this person's blurbs bother me, but it seems particularly vapid. maybe just fatigue

What does commitment to first party mean when you are a multiplatform publisher? Are the games they publish exclusive to a platform or not? Otherwise, does EA consider Madden a first party title? It seems like the terminology doesn't make sense.

Whoever earned that gamerscore, my takeaway is I need to up my game. I got a few bronze trophies and no GS this month. I did play through And Roger and a lot of Hades 2 on Switch, but they don't give points. Challenge accepted!

Ok, I will be buying this. Played a fair amount on gamepass but dropped off. Will pick this up and get back into it, try to get to the dlc content. Thanks for the tip!

I grabbed Rogue Lords yesterday for $2. Totally different style game, similar steal of a price.

I don't usually find much of interest in the sales, but this one is a hit for me

Looks like this person also got the dollar gamepass deal and binged like crazy for a month. I can relate to that

@HonestHick right? I bet they would be amazing at Switch 2 ports and updates. I know it is not their current specialty, but I bet they could do great things if given the opportunity

@Banjo- I see your sarcasm but the irony here is that Blue Point is exactly the resource they could/should have been using to do all their remasters and remakes.

I see the argument that maybe Blue Point wanted to be more than the remaster studio but if this is the case, it is a huge failure of both PS and studio leadership not to come to terms. I guess, whatever the story in the background, it is a huge failure of leadership. I cannot imagine 70 people would rather be laid off than do some remakes.

On original topic, I think it would be fantastic if xbox or anyone could step in and save this studio, or that they find a way to go back to independence, but doubt it is going to happen

So disappointing for me as a gamer, and so awful for the 70 impacted staff. What bungled management by Sony. Sad. Good opinion piece over on PushSquare

I am kind of surprised they can keep spending resources on this game when there seems to be much more appetite for new releases or re-leases in their other franchises. Does not seem like a typical corporate decision (not that I am complaining) . Or maybe these updates generate revenue somehow, like improving future sales

@stefan771 I think people of course buy later, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the big example of this, with games like Alan Wake 2 being a more normal but still publicized example. However, shareholders and MS execs are not patient, so if their releases are not big splashes, I think it hurts the studios even if there is a long tail.

That said, I think I have read that most of a game's sales come around launch window. I have no reference for this, so, take it for what it's worth

Started Dispatch this morning, I've been looking forward to it for a while, and now have some time

@Fiendish-Beaver thanks for the reveal! I have not played any Zelda games, it's a blind spot for me. I have my son's copies, but I have so much backlog, and I hear they are quite a commitment

@Fiendish-Beaver what was the one switch game? I know it's off topic, but I'm really curious now.

On topic, I like that the feature exists. I primarily game via console while my son has a new gaming pc as his go to. A couple of times now, he has checked out a game via my GP ultimate sub (either on console or GP PC), then purchased to play on pc going foward, continuing the existing save

I played A Game About Digging a Hole over the break. I did not contribute to the numbers for the other games.

Took advantage of the dollar for a month of gamepass offer to play that game, Keeper, Ball x Pit and try a bunch of others. I think this coming weekend is the end of the dollar month, sadly

@ILuvGames it would be great if we heard that there was something else in full development. I always hear they are a small studio, so wasn't sure if anything was truly ongoing during Keeper development. Thanks for keeping my dream afloat!

More realistically, I'm interested in updates on Clockwork Revolution

I know it is extremely unlikely with Keeper having just released, but I would love to hear that a subteam at double fine has already started a new small project. For me, that would be a great surprise. Again, I know it is not likely. It's just my hope

@Titntin if you already have gamepass, lost in ransom the eternal die is a fun rogue lite, a lot like Hades in its progression systems and game play, but different enough to be interesting. I never finished it but I enjoyed my time with it

@Coletrain it looks like Outlaws is not in premium, unfortunately, unless there was a typo/omission. Looks like the only one that is not on premium in this announcement

I have been interested in Little Nightmares, but I don't like stealth games. Maybe I am wrong, but it reminds me of Bramble, which I liked for vibes but not mechanics.

I'll probably check out Brews and *****, if it can pull me away from sinking all my gaming time into Halls of Torment and Ball x Pit

I have picked up Nier Automata and Griftlands. I think that's it for me. Maybe one last check before it ends....

This year, I think there are already some big releases in March. If I had only 1 game to launch, and it wasn't a huge IP, I'd probably be looking at May or June. Maybe try to time after summer game fest?

If you're in a position like xbox, launching Gears, Halo and CoD this year, spacing these shooters out will be interesting. I would not want to bunch them up, and then you want to avoid GTA - assuming it is not delayed again. So I would be going for one in Feb/March, one in June/July, COD in its usual spot in Q4. Then they have RPGs to space around those (Fable, I'm assuming a Fallout remaster, probably forgetting something), which don't overlap with the shooters, but I would still want to space out for gamepass and other reasons.... doing their launch planning would be a fun Sim!

For me, across all platforms:
Mario and Rabbids, Sparks of Hope
[Redacted]
Steamworld Heist 2
Shady Part of Me
Dave the Diver
Avowed
South of Midnight
To a T
Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3
Tactical Breach Wizards
Neva
Paranormasight
Revenge of the Savage Planet
Herdling
Donkey Kong Bananza
Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion, Reraptored
Yet Another Zombie Survivor Game, early access version (finished all available modes)
Dead Take
Inkshade
Promise Mascot Agency
Keeper

@White_oyster I recently took the 1 dollar offer. I have about 5 or 10 games I want to check out in that time. I'll cancel in a week or 2 and I believe it just runs out as normal (suppose I should double check, but there was no time commitment I saw) Might be a good way to stretch your gaming dollar and dip into a few games, see if they are worth a purchase, or complete a shorter game or 2 (Keeper is on my list). I suppose I am not helping them make their not-30% though...

Tempted by RE4 remake and Original Sin 2. I played OS but never finished. I held off 2 figuring it was just too long a commitment. But 15 dollars, I kinda want to check it out

@rhyno_888 if Sony were to start porting beyond PC, my thought is they would go to Switch first, due to the large install base. Xbox Ally and future iterations - if the rumors are true - will already be able to play PS games via their PC ports. But we will all just wait and see what happens

I have only played a handful of new games, and am not one for ranking things, but would like to shout out a few indies/smaller games I liked:
Promise Mascot Agency
Inkshade
Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3 (and Reraptored)
Dead Take

None of these things address a problem. Gamerscore and achievements are already on a dashboard I can see on my machine or my phone. Why waste resources to do the same thing slightly differently? (Assuming they actually use AI and don't just rename the existing functionality) There are legit uses for AI, but stuff like this is pretty much The Emperor's New Clothes - this is so great, you must see how great it is, right?!?

@Fiendish-Beaver I like the game, but bounced off because I don't like stealth mechanics in general. I will go back, as what I played was fun. The Star Wars of it is excellent!

Much has been written on gaming trends showing free to play games like Fortnite and Roblox dominate time played, you have the multi player and live service stuff people are committed to, subscriptions, and many other alternatives to traditional full price games (sales, great indies at lower prices). So these comments by Ubi are no surprise

The real question is, will there be a new hardware fandom sister site to PureXbox, PushSquare and NintendoLife?

I wonder if Devolver is still committed to a day and date counter release? As someone who could not care less about GTA, seeing whether Devolver was serious and curiosity about what they might drop are the only things that impact me about the delay

I think I confused Dead Static Drive with the October shadow add, was it Pacific Drive? I am interested in Dead Static Drive, but will need to check reviews (or just wait until I renew my GP)

@RagnarLothbrok was the commitment thing about a handheld? I thought it was for a "traditional " console, but wasn't following closely, as I don't plan on buying into the next generation

@RegnumSolipsi they saw another player in the market and didn't attempt to buy them outright. That's pretty innovative for MS these days, in my opinion.

Kidding aside, it seems like a smart decision, de risking the hardware side while they concentrate on the user experience. I think shrinking the Windows footprint while providing a positive, mostly seemless user experience seems like the innovative part (arguable as to how innovative this is, but it was an issue that needed addressing, from what I understand)

At least we know it will be a curated experience. Nothing is worse than an uncurated console experience

3 fun games, although there have been many great adds lately to take their places

@RiverGenie I expect you are right about it being a puzzle platformer at its core, but I had fun for a minute imagining it as an immersive Sim in the vein of Deus Ex, or stealth combat like, "metal gear, but you're a lighthouse"

Psychonauts 2 for me, just wanted to shout out Costume Quest, which was a charming, bite sized rpg with some fun mechanics. I wanted to love Brutal Legend but never went back after a few hours with it. I should give it another shot. I've enjoyed many of their games and look forward to Keeper

The thing that boggles my mind is that someone in MS must have signed a deal with Ubi and thought this was a good idea. Unless maybe it has something to do with the Ubi deal for cloud streaming rights or whatever from the Activision merger. Still weird to include even if that is the case

My sub lapsed in Sep, I was planning to work on my backlog then come back. That plan has changed. Unless I can buy ultimate gift cards at currentbprice and redeem later, in which case maybe I pick up a 3 month card now. Probably not worth the bother

@Nighto4 yes, what you say is right. Hades launched on Switch then came to PS and XBox 6 or 12 months later. It was available on pc prior, but I did not have a pc and the time and remember pre ordering on Switch. If I recall, when it launched on Xbox, it was day 1 on GP