Based on what I heard and read until now, I think it will be an expensive, niche devices for those who are invested in the Xbox platform and want to take their library to PC. Microsoft will not be concerned about selling millions of devices, as long as millions of gamers play on Windows and buy their games.
I think the future of Xbox will be on PC. The question is, how Microsoft will sell the vision and how well it will work on launch?
@Balaam_ I don't mind PlayStation studios creating live-service games, as long as they are good. Helldivers 2 is good, Gran Turismo 7 is good, MLB The Show has players who enjoy it.
But I totally agree with you. I love the style and aesthetics of Marathon, but I also wish it was some sort of weird sci-fi single-player horror shooter with a mind-blowing story.
But for a live-service leaning towards PvP game I don't think it offers enough, especially at the price of $ 40. I could see myself playing it with friends for a few sessions, but honestly there are enough free alternatives which people can play instead.
I don't want Marathon to fail and it may be a game for a different audience than the people you find on these forums, but it fails to get me hyped. And this review embargo doesn't really give a positive impression.
@fatpunkslim @TrollOfWar Using that headline as a metric is disingenuous since Helldivers 2 is pretty much the only exception to the rule as it’s the only game that has sold more on PC than PS5 with nearly 2/3 of its total sales being on PC, it’s even stated on the article itself that’s an anomaly due to Helldivers 2.
True, Helldivers 2 was an exceptional and tremendous success on PC. It's also the only truly new game (ignoring remakes and remasters) which was released day 1 on PlayStation and PC simultaneously.
Player interest in new single-player games typically lasts one to two weeks, with engagement declining by approximately 60 % by the fifth week. By the time a PlayStation game releases 1-2 years later on PC with no fanfare, interest in those games has declined dramatically. But who am I to tell PlayStation how to do their business, they are the industry leaders. 😄
@Questionable_Duck Yeah, could be the case that the Steam Machine will only sell a few millions, but I heard that they want orher hardware manufacturers like Lenovo to create their own Steam OS based Steam Machines. I think it could strengthen Valve's position where PC players would get a Steam Machine for the big screen TV rather than a console.
My guess is that Sony's strategy might be more capturing players new to gaming and players from PS4/Xbox One to whom Steam might be more attractive, and less of PlayStation vs Xbox move. But what do I know, I'm just a random gamer. 😅
I think for Sony the next Xbox is less of a concern, even if it's a PC with an Xbox sticker that plays Steam and Epic games, and who knows when it will release and at which price.
Their bigger problem is Valve's Steam Machine, a console-like gaming PC which connects to your TV, is in the same price range as a PS5 Pro, has more exclusives from indie developers by default, has cheaper games, a bigger back-catalog due to no generational limits and doesn't require a subscription for online gaming. Plus a handheld in form of the Steam Deck rounding up the Steam ecosystem.
While PS5 sales numbers are in-line with PS4's numbers there is still some way to go, especially with PS6 being postponed if the rumors are true. Usually in previous console generation you would see strong permanent price reductions on console hardware towards the end of a generation. With rising component costs, it looks like Sony will have to rely on exclusive games to attract more people rather than lowering the price of the console.
If not I imagine he could very well tell Activision to do one.
And let's be honest, who gives a monkey's fart about Activision. 🤷
I can see Activision being successful with their case in front of a court. I'm not sure who exactly leaked it, but it was already known that Black Ops 7 would have some online coop campaign with an open ended "extraction" -like last mission and some weird fantastic boss fights, which was a huge bummer for people who were looking to buy Call of Duty for a classic offline single-player campaign and the game was negatively branded before the release - which lead to lower than expected sales numbers and Activision losing money.
I'm not saying Activision's approach is good, as they try to take advantage of people's expectations, who otherwise would blindly buy the Call of Duty games. But Activision is right that the leaks had a negative impact on the performance of last year's Call of Duty release.
The second thing is the 'return to Xbox,' we are going to start with console, and make sure that we understand that this is our reference experience.
It reads like, whatever they are planning to create, the experience needs to be "as good as the Xbox console experience ".
BTW, Digital Foundry's take on the current state of Xbox is also worth listening to: https://youtu.be/0_6BUiAycxY They address the current problems the Xbox brand faces and which sort of changes are feasible in the future.
While I see the argument that according to reports, Sony is also planning to keep their games exclusive to the PlayStation console, so everyone is now looking at locking in content, personally I don't think this is a good approach, especially for Xbox.
These games cost a lot to develop and if we want Microsoft/Xbox to continue releasing games like Halo, Fable, Gears and Forza Horizon in the future, we also need to understand that the games need to sell successfully (that includes on PlayStation and Nintendo). Otherwise Microsoft will close down the studios and invest in other more profitable endeavors.
I think Seamus Blackley comment, about Microsoft sunsetting Xbox, is his perception of the current state at Xbox. He knows how Microsoft works and thinks as he was part of that organization, but he doesn't know Microsoft's current plans and strategies.
@Globo There is also a YouTuber called Carzy Burger who has a lot of Evercade related videos. He created an Evercade collection starter guide 2 weeks ago: https://youtu.be/Pod4Ir58Mzk
@Globo I've got 2 Super Pockets, Capcom and Neo Geo Edition. Also have the 2020 released and now discontinued original Evercade Handheld, bought it used and replaced the display. And I'm considering getting a EXP-R and VS-R.
In my opinion the build quality of the Super Pocket handhelds is fairly good. Yes, the IPs display is small (about the same size as a GBA display, but the it's sharp and has bright colors. The back buttons are a bit awkward to press. But the Super Pockets are regularly on sale (as low as € 47,90 / £ 35) which makes them a good deal in my opinion.
I got my first Super Pocket last year because I wanted to play Tomb Raider on the go. Now I'm more excited about new Evercade games than current gen games. I'm considering getting an EXP-R because it has a Tate-mode for vertical scrolling arcade shoot'em ups.
I would be tempted to buy this new Rare Edition of the Super Pocket, if I didn't already have 2 of them. So I will patiently wait for Banjo Kazooie to release on cart. I saw several people concerned about Banjo Kazooie's analog controls not being suited for the d-pad controls of the Super Pocket, but apparently Blaze Entertainment has found a studio which which can adapt the N64 games with "modern optimisations and refine the emulation of the game specifically for Evercade devices". Link: https://evercade.co.uk/introducing-64-bit-console-gaming-on-evercade/
If I were head of Xbox, what would I do... Create an addictive social gaming platform similar to Roblox, where kids can use GenAI to generate new games. /s
@Gemini53 @themightyant @ilyn Regarding the timing of the announcement, I believe Windows Central had it in their article, that IGN was planning to break the news before Microsoft was ready. That's why it seems so hasty.
Seriously, this guy sounds bitter — what is he even talking about? He worked at Xbox for only three years, and that was 24 years ago… He’s completely out of touch with what’s happening at Xbox today. So honestly, his opinion matters about as much as any random troll on Twitter. Thanks for designing the first Xbox, sure — but that’s it. It’s obvious he just wants attention by siding with the haters who say anything for clicks, because that’s the easy route. But the guy clearly has no idea what’s going on anymore
Having read the entire interview now - it's worth a read by the way - I think you're wrong about Seamus Blackley.
He was invited by GameBeat for the interview to give his opinion on the current situation with Xbox. He is not seeking for attention.
He has been a key member of the team which created Xbox, so he and his team faced some big challenges and learned a lot, like how to build partnerships with developers and build trust with the gaming community, things the new Xbox CEO needs to learn if she wants to be successful.
Even after he left Microsoft, Blackley was still active in the gaming business. He did all the mechanical licenses for Guitar Hero and Rock Band at the Creatice Artists Agency.
Of course, if Microsoft's plans for gaming are about moving away from a traditional gaming business and integrating AI into games then everything Blackley has to say is unimportant to them.
Why are people mixing up 'pivot away from console' with 'exclusive games'?!
Issue is not the exclusives. Xbox has no exclusive since 2016. The issue was that console was left aside in favor of PC and Cloud.
The problem wasn't the 'This is An Xbox' marketing either, problem was that Xbox consoles weren't part of that.
Main issue is the lack of support for the console. Would they keep supporting Series X|S and have done all the rest exactly the same there would be no problem by now.
I don't think people are mixing up 'pivot away from console' with 'exclusive games'. They are speculating if "exclusive games" would be a partial solution to fixing the support for the Xbox consoles.
Personally I am not a big fan of exclusives, I think everyone should be able to play games on their preferred hardware. But the question is, how would Microsoft/Xbox show their support to the Xbox consoles, apart from "exclusive games"? How would they stand out and differentiate themselves from PS5? GamePass apparently is not enough.
The message ‘This is an Xbox’ was impactful — everyone remembers it, for better or worse — but it probably lacked subtlety.
@FraserG
I agree that the messaging is what's wrong with Xbox right now. They're actually doing a lot of things right, but it doesn't feel like it... "This is an Xbox" feels like it's alienated more people than brought them on board.
I think the problem with the "This is an Xbox" message was the missing delivery. It's critical and vague, it confused many people, but there was no delivery tied to it. No new Xbox device which would validate the message, no Xbox mobile store on all devices, no clarification on what's to come.
The fact that all of this is a thing for a trillion dollar software company is absolutely f pathetic.
That's often the case with large corporation. The bigger they are the slower, more number focused they become. That's why large corporations usually aquire small start ups with a good idea.
they’re not going to be able to walk back on those multi platform commitments as that’s what got their mergers approved legally.
As far as I know, Microsoft only committed contractually to release Call of Duty on all platforms for the next 10 years and the cloud streaming of Activision-Blizzard gamed via Ubisoft for the next 15 years. There was no agreement on all Microsoft owned games to release multi-platform.
So they could theoretically walk back on the strategy, but it's not something they can change from one week to the other, and it wouldn't make players happy on other platforms.
I get the feeling there was a deep disagreement between Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond. And the fact that Phil Spencer will continue supporting Sharma for many more months seems to reinforce that idea.
Maybe one day we will learn what really happened. Sarah Bond was probably appointed by Phil Spencer as the Head of Xbox and apparently he trusted her to make the right decisions, which seems to have had a negative impact on Xbox. At one point it had to stop.
With Spencer’s retirement official, Microsoft is hitting the reset button on Bond’s Xbox strategy instead of embracing it further. Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma is now promising “the return of Xbox” in a clear message to employees that the strategy over the past few years has not been working. “I want to return to the renegade spirit that built Xbox in the first place,” says Sharma.
I wonder how is she aiming to achieve the "return of Xbox" , now that Xbox publishing started releasing their games on all platforms? Are they planning to walk back on the multi-platform release strategy (which would be terrible for players on other platforms). The console business can only work when the hardware is subsidized and there is some attractive unique selling point like exclusive games. With PC component prices exploding PC is also a very costly alternative.
24 hours after the news broke, it still feels hard to believe and there is definitely a strange uncertainty what it means for Xbox.
On the one hand: Asha Sharma has no history in gaming or console business. She has no connections to the publishers and development studios.Her Xbox profile was create in January this year. Her background is in commerce, building platforms and AI. She seems like the Jim Ryan of Xbox at first sight.
On the other hand: Xbox has lost it's USP (unique selling point). Those who already have an Xbox console might be satisfied, but Xbox hardly attracts anyone new via traditional console business. Compared to PlayStation 5, most will choose a PS5 over an Xbox Series console. If Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond couldn't find a new USP for Xbox, then maybe someone like Asha Sharma with a fresh perspective and experience in building platforms might be more successful.
The question is... What will it mean for players? I'm not sure if Microsoft's future Xbox plans include traditional console gamers.
@kmtrain83 I also find the timing suspicious, as I believe Phil and Sarah would have liked to be part of Xbox's 25th anniversary since they were the leads on Xbox for the last 10 years.
Edit: Last year, Phil Spencer made the decision to retire from the company.
I hope this quote holds true and that Spencer wasn't pushed/forced into retirement. Anyway, I think he'll be missed 😔.
It seemed like a matter of time until Phil leaves and I probably would have done the same in his position. Being in a position where all the negative decisions made a level above you are blamed on you, as you are rhe public figure head sucks. Phil was the scapegoat for every price hikes, canceled projects and studio closures.
"The next 25 years belong to the teams who dare to build something surprising, something no one else is willing to try, and have the patience to see it through."
Maybe Bluepoint could work on a new IP for Xbox called "Ichor of Endurance". A souls-like in a gothic victorian city where the player character is seeking for a cure for a cosmic virus. 🤔
Have you looked at the Evercade retro gaming platform? While it's focused on retro games (80s & 90s) it has been the best fun I had playing games in recent years. Good old fun games without the modern ***** (live-services & micro-transactions).
It probably could have been worse on PS5 Pro. Based on the visuals on other UE5 games, PSSR often has ugly jittery artifacts, especially with gras foliage. The developers could have implemented PSSR and then have Digital Foundry criticize the issue.
I also wonder if Sony funded themselves some of the better PS5 Pro enhancements, like in case of Stellar Blade, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Death Stranding 2, as they need those enhancements to promote the PS5 Pro as a product.
...there's even a story on push square about why people are happy next gen is going to be delayed and the author of the article is asking why?
I read the article and I have to agree with you. I don't get why the author doesn't understand why people are perfectly happy with the current generation and aren't in desperate need to feel the pressure of buying new hardware just to keep up with the Joneses.
Did you 2 check how high the engagement (number of comments) was on that article? 326 comments in 24 hours.
The PushSquare authors know what they are doing. They stir up some controversial opinion, not because the authors think like that, but because it divides opinions and will invite people to defend their beliefs. It's also the reason why whenever they have something about Xbox, it always has a negative, debatable tone, always questioning things and putting them into doubt. It's very effective.
On that topic: it's clear that many people are satisfied with the graphical fidelity seen on PS4 and Xbox One. Some of the most gorgeous games of the past 10 years ran on those consoles, like Red Dead Redemption 2, Forza Horizon 4, God of War 2018, Death Stranding, Horizon Zero Dawn, The Last of Us Part 2, Uncharted 4, Gears 5, Resident Evil 2 Remake, Battlefield 1, Sea of Thieves, Ryse: Son of Rome. If this generation is struggling to provide meaningfully better visuals then "next gen" will struggle even more.
But like I've said it's years away from now I love my series x I still think it performs amazingly and I wouldn't want to upgrade anytime soon myself!
I guess most players on Xbox Series consoles are satisfied with the consoles, apart from missing out on certain titles which are exclusive to other consoles.
But Microsoft fails to bring new players to the Xbox consoles (we don't need to list the reasons, many of them are Microsoft's fault), so I think for them, the transition to "Xbox on PC" needs to happen soon.
@Daffy-Duck So let's say the entire Xbox playerbase decides to just buy off Steam how exactly does MS make money? Oh they cut a deal with Valve? The same Valve known for not wanting to play nice with others? Why would Valve cut a deal where they have to give MS a bit of the % when Valve will have a competing "console"? Either MS or Valve is going to suffer with this next Xbox so i would be shocked if Steam will be on it, Valve DOES NOT NEED MS
Valve does not need Microsoft, but Microsoft needs Valve. And PlayStation. And Nintendo.
Microsoft's gaming division has grown too large and game development is too expensive to limit their output to the Xbox store. And many Xbox players will wait for a discount especially if they can play those games day 1 on GamePass. Selling an $ 80 game to a larger playerbase on Steam at $ 56 - 64 (after Valve gets their 20-30% cut) or on PlayStation is more profitable than selling it to a smaller playerbase on Xbox who might buy the game discounted at $ 30.
It seems like console players will now choose a PlayStation over an Xbox, so for Microsoft apparently the traditional console business isn't working. Some have a PS5 as their main console where they buy all their games and an Xbox for GamePass to try out new games. That's why Microsoft and Xbox are likely moving their gaming business - the Xbox ecosystem - to the open PC platform.
Of course this hasn't been fully confirmed by Microsoft, but based on their recent efforts on Windows as a gaming platform, the messaging around the ROG Xbox Ally and the next generation Xbox hardware, are good pointers that Xbox is moving to PC, an open ecosystem where Steam, Epiic Games, GOG and other stores are present. If Microsoft doesn't allow those 3rd party stores on their next hardware, then there is no point in producing that hardware.
@fatpunkslim I remember reading a developer interview, where it was explained that the difficulty is a result of the game not being playtested by during development. I think Rayman is considered to be one of the hardest games of it's time.
There are some really frustrating levels. Checkpoints are far apart, Rayman has a weird momentum and an unintuitive hitbox, some platforms appear via secret triggers and often you cannot tell if there's anything dangerous below the platform you are standing on.
I still have my physical cart for the Gameboy Advance which I finished a few years ago.
While Rayman is a gorgeous game for it's time, the difficulty is all over the place. If I remember correctly you need to find and free all lums to unlock the ending.
I think Microsoft is in a tricky situation. They need to get their new Xbox on PC experience out as soon as possible to make Windows PC a viable option for Xbox console users to move to.
It would have a bigger Impact of course if they could release that with a set of new hardware, but the rising prices of PC components definitely is a problem. I'm wondering how it would go down with players, if Microsoft releases their "Xbox on PC" update to every Windows 11 PC, without new hardware?
I also find this mentality from Insomniac a bit disappointing. They would have everything to gain by having as many players as possible play their games…
I don't think the statement reflects the mentality of Insomniac Games. It's a message mandated from the parent company. They would probably like to have the game on as many platforms as possible, just like Xbox studios are excited to release games on PlayStation, but Sony doesn't allow it.
It's a shame that Spider-Man, one of the most popular and iconic comic superheroes, with fans of all ages and in all parts of the world, is not available for everyone to play on all platforms.
@TrollOfWar I think the opposite. i think they're going back to high budget single player games. The 15 games they canned a year or two ago they had in development were predominantly live service multiplayer titles. And these got canned after Concords failure.
PlayStation still has several ongoing and future live services: MLB The Show, Gran Turismo, Helldivers 2, Marathon, Destiny 2 (and maybe 3), 2 Horizon multiplayer games, Marvel Tokon and of course Fairgames. While they cancel multiple projects, don't see them slowing down all that much regarding live-service games.
They need to get their studios in line with however Sucker Punch manage to do things. Both Tsushima and Yotei had a similar budget of around 70-80 mil and absolutely killed it in sales and profit. I don't understand why other studios need to have this ridiculous £200mil plus budget. Excluding the superhero games which will have licensing costs, I just cant fathom how the other AAA games are costing the same.
Not sure if Sucker Punch should be a template to follow: Ghost of Tushima and Yotei are fairly similar games in mechanics and visual presentation, making a sequel in that template relatively easy. But not every studio can work on that budget, especially if they try and prototype several different games and types of games.
A lot of budget is spent on expensive motion captures and voice recording, on prototyping and playtesting. Especially with games, where the team doesn't have a clear idea or vision from the beginning (like for example Anthem) a lot of time and money is spent on building prototypes and trying to find a fun gameplay loop.
@moodmatcha Actually Peter Molyneux left the Fable franchise in 2012 when he decided to leave Lionhead Studios & Microsoft after the completion of Fable: The Journey and join 22cans.
Lionhead Studios went on to develop Fable Legends without him, a coop multiplayer live-services game, which got cancelled in 2016 before it's release.
@GamingGod PlayStation still continues to develop high-budget single player games, like Saros, Wolverine and Interstellar: The Heretic Prophet. It's less than during the PS4 generation as now they have mix of single and multiplayer games, but they can hopefully satisfy all types of gamers with a more divers genre offering.
...but not 4Loop. That’s surprising. Looked awful and I doubt any Xbox player is missing anything here, ...
There was an analysis a while ago that multiplayer shooters are quite popular on Xbox with Helldivers 2 and Battlefield 6 sales proving that. 4 Loop could be pretty popular with the Xbox audience.
Perhaps this is a blessing in disguise, in that it’ll tank faster and they’ll go back to making the single player epics everyone actually wants from them.
I doubt PlayStation will go back to focusing exclusively on high-budget single player games. Helldivers 2 is a phenomenal success and they are definitely not blind to the successes of other live-service multiplayer games like Minecraft, Roblox, Arc Raider and Marvel Rivals.
Hopefully some of those games will be released on Xbox as well. Silent Hill and Kena are already available on Xbox, so it would make sense to release new games in those series.
@Kezelpaso I think they misunderstood the fans when they asked for "enhanced steering wheel integration" for racing wheels, not "enhanced steering wheel animations". 😆
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Re: Talking Point: Will 'Project Helix' Be A Niche Device, Or An Xbox Console For The Masses?
Based on what I heard and read until now, I think it will be an expensive, niche devices for those who are invested in the Xbox platform and want to take their library to PC. Microsoft will not be concerned about selling millions of devices, as long as millions of gamers play on Windows and buy their games.
I think the future of Xbox will be on PC. The question is, how Microsoft will sell the vision and how well it will work on launch?
Re: Marathon's Final Reviews Are Mostly Being Held Back, So Here's What Xbox Players Are Saying
@Sol4ris
Looking at the Marathon Metacritic page, it looks like all gaming outlets respect Bungie"s request.
Maybe they fear from Sony putting them on a blacklist and not providing review codes anymore if someone breaks the embargo.
Re: Marathon's Final Reviews Are Mostly Being Held Back, So Here's What Xbox Players Are Saying
@Balaam_ I don't mind PlayStation studios creating live-service games, as long as they are good. Helldivers 2 is good, Gran Turismo 7 is good, MLB The Show has players who enjoy it.
But I totally agree with you. I love the style and aesthetics of Marathon, but I also wish it was some sort of weird sci-fi single-player horror shooter with a mind-blowing story.
But for a live-service leaning towards PvP game I don't think it offers enough, especially at the price of $ 40. I could see myself playing it with friends for a few sessions, but honestly there are enough free alternatives which people can play instead.
I don't want Marathon to fail and it may be a game for a different audience than the people you find on these forums, but it fails to get me hyped. And this review embargo doesn't really give a positive impression.
Re: Next Xbox Console Could Be Affected By PlayStation Pulling Back On PC
@IOI
True, Helldivers 2 was an exceptional and tremendous success on PC. It's also the only truly new game (ignoring remakes and remasters) which was released day 1 on PlayStation and PC simultaneously.
Player interest in new single-player games typically lasts one to two weeks, with engagement declining by approximately 60 % by the fifth week. By the time a PlayStation game releases 1-2 years later on PC with no fanfare, interest in those games has declined dramatically. But who am I to tell PlayStation how to do their business, they are the industry leaders. 😄
Re: Next Xbox Console Could Be Affected By PlayStation Pulling Back On PC
@Questionable_Duck Yeah, could be the case that the Steam Machine will only sell a few millions, but I heard that they want orher hardware manufacturers like Lenovo to create their own Steam OS based Steam Machines. I think it could strengthen Valve's position where PC players would get a Steam Machine for the big screen TV rather than a console.
My guess is that Sony's strategy might be more capturing players new to gaming and players from PS4/Xbox One to whom Steam might be more attractive, and less of PlayStation vs Xbox move. But what do I know, I'm just a random gamer. 😅
Re: Next Xbox Console Could Be Affected By PlayStation Pulling Back On PC
I think for Sony the next Xbox is less of a concern, even if it's a PC with an Xbox sticker that plays Steam and Epic games, and who knows when it will release and at which price.
Their bigger problem is Valve's Steam Machine, a console-like gaming PC which connects to your TV, is in the same price range as a PS5 Pro, has more exclusives from indie developers by default, has cheaper games, a bigger back-catalog due to no generational limits and doesn't require a subscription for online gaming. Plus a handheld in form of the Steam Deck rounding up the Steam ecosystem.
While PS5 sales numbers are in-line with PS4's numbers there is still some way to go, especially with PS6 being postponed if the rumors are true. Usually in previous console generation you would see strong permanent price reductions on console hardware towards the end of a generation. With rising component costs, it looks like Sony will have to rely on exclusive games to attract more people rather than lowering the price of the console.
Re: Next Xbox Console Could Be Affected By PlayStation Pulling Back On PC
@PsBoxSwitchOwner
Not quite. It's 30% - 40% of PlayStation's first party sales. Link: https://www.techspot.com/news/109514-pc-sales-now-account-nearly-third-sony-first.html
It's 2% of PlayStation total revenue, which includes Fortnite, Call of Duty and Genshin Impact micro-transactions.
Re: 'They Hurt People Building The Game' - Activision Takes Legal Action Against Call Of Duty Leaker
@Gemini53
I can see Activision being successful with their case in front of a court. I'm not sure who exactly leaked it, but it was already known that Black Ops 7 would have some online coop campaign with an open ended "extraction" -like last mission and some weird fantastic boss fights, which was a huge bummer for people who were looking to buy Call of Duty for a classic offline single-player campaign and the game was negatively branded before the release - which lead to lower than expected sales numbers and Activision losing money.
I'm not saying Activision's approach is good, as they try to take advantage of people's expectations, who otherwise would blindly buy the Call of Duty games. But Activision is right that the leaks had a negative impact on the performance of last year's Call of Duty release.
Re: Xbox Head Doubles Down On The Importance Of Console, Says It's A 'Reference Experience'
It reads like, whatever they are planning to create, the experience needs to be "as good as the Xbox console experience ".
BTW, Digital Foundry's take on the current state of Xbox is also worth listening to: https://youtu.be/0_6BUiAycxY They address the current problems the Xbox brand faces and which sort of changes are feasible in the future.
Re: Opinion: Xbox Should Consider Cancelling Halo: Campaign Evolved For PS5
While I see the argument that according to reports, Sony is also planning to keep their games exclusive to the PlayStation console, so everyone is now looking at locking in content, personally I don't think this is a good approach, especially for Xbox.
These games cost a lot to develop and if we want Microsoft/Xbox to continue releasing games like Halo, Fable, Gears and Forza Horizon in the future, we also need to understand that the games need to sell successfully (that includes on PlayStation and Nintendo). Otherwise Microsoft will close down the studios and invest in other more profitable endeavors.
Re: 'Is Xbox Ending?' - The Official Answer Is No, But A Recent Interview Clearly Caused Panic
I think Seamus Blackley comment, about Microsoft sunsetting Xbox, is his perception of the current state at Xbox. He knows how Microsoft works and thinks as he was part of that organization, but he doesn't know Microsoft's current plans and strategies.
Re: Two Massive Xbox Franchises Are Getting The Evercade Treatment Very Soon
@Globo There is also a YouTuber called Carzy Burger who has a lot of Evercade related videos. He created an Evercade collection starter guide 2 weeks ago: https://youtu.be/Pod4Ir58Mzk
Re: Two Massive Xbox Franchises Are Getting The Evercade Treatment Very Soon
@FraserG Can you maybe rename the website to "EvercadeEra"? Seems like there are many of us Evercade enthusiasts here. 😄
Re: Two Massive Xbox Franchises Are Getting The Evercade Treatment Very Soon
@Globo I've got 2 Super Pockets, Capcom and Neo Geo Edition. Also have the 2020 released and now discontinued original Evercade Handheld, bought it used and replaced the display. And I'm considering getting a EXP-R and VS-R.
In my opinion the build quality of the Super Pocket handhelds is fairly good. Yes, the IPs display is small (about the same size as a GBA display, but the it's sharp and has bright colors. The back buttons are a bit awkward to press. But the Super Pockets are regularly on sale (as low as € 47,90 / £ 35) which makes them a good deal in my opinion.
I got my first Super Pocket last year because I wanted to play Tomb Raider on the go. Now I'm more excited about new Evercade games than current gen games. I'm considering getting an EXP-R because it has a Tate-mode for vertical scrolling arcade shoot'em ups.
I would be tempted to buy this new Rare Edition of the Super Pocket, if I didn't already have 2 of them. So I will patiently wait for Banjo Kazooie to release on cart. I saw several people concerned about Banjo Kazooie's analog controls not being suited for the d-pad controls of the Super Pocket, but apparently Blaze Entertainment has found a studio which which can adapt the N64 games with "modern optimisations and refine the emulation of the game specifically for Evercade devices". Link: https://evercade.co.uk/introducing-64-bit-console-gaming-on-evercade/
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (February 28 - March 1)
Hidden Cats in Istanbul
Cathedral on Evercade (nearly done)
The Sword of Ianna on Evercade
Re: Talking Point: You're The New Head Of Xbox, What Do You Do Now?
If I were head of Xbox, what would I do... Create an addictive social gaming platform similar to Roblox, where kids can use GenAI to generate new games. /s
Re: Xbox's 'Pivot Away From Console' Had Been Failing And Questioned At Microsoft, Claims Report
@Gemini53 @themightyant @ilyn Regarding the timing of the announcement, I believe Windows Central had it in their article, that IGN was planning to break the news before Microsoft was ready. That's why it seems so hasty.
Re: Xbox's 'Pivot Away From Console' Had Been Failing And Questioned At Microsoft, Claims Report
@themightyant
Fully agree and that Seamus Blackley interview does give a somewhat cautious perspective on the current things.
Re: Xbox Creator Reveals His Two Tips For The New Microsoft Gaming CEO
@fatpunkslim
Having read the entire interview now - it's worth a read by the way - I think you're wrong about Seamus Blackley.
He was invited by GameBeat for the interview to give his opinion on the current situation with Xbox. He is not seeking for attention.
He has been a key member of the team which created Xbox, so he and his team faced some big challenges and learned a lot, like how to build partnerships with developers and build trust with the gaming community, things the new Xbox CEO needs to learn if she wants to be successful.
Even after he left Microsoft, Blackley was still active in the gaming business. He did all the mechanical licenses for Guitar Hero and Rock Band at the Creatice Artists Agency.
Of course, if Microsoft's plans for gaming are about moving away from a traditional gaming business and integrating AI into games then everything Blackley has to say is unimportant to them.
Re: Xbox's 'Pivot Away From Console' Had Been Failing And Questioned At Microsoft, Claims Report
@eduscxbox
I don't think people are mixing up 'pivot away from console' with 'exclusive games'. They are speculating if "exclusive games" would be a partial solution to fixing the support for the Xbox consoles.
Personally I am not a big fan of exclusives, I think everyone should be able to play games on their preferred hardware. But the question is, how would Microsoft/Xbox show their support to the Xbox consoles, apart from "exclusive games"? How would they stand out and differentiate themselves from PS5? GamePass apparently is not enough.
Re: Xbox's 'Pivot Away From Console' Had Been Failing And Questioned At Microsoft, Claims Report
@fatpunkslim
@FraserG
I think the problem with the "This is an Xbox" message was the missing delivery. It's critical and vague, it confused many people, but there was no delivery tied to it. No new Xbox device which would validate the message, no Xbox mobile store on all devices, no clarification on what's to come.
Re: Xbox's 'Pivot Away From Console' Had Been Failing And Questioned At Microsoft, Claims Report
@EdgarTheBug
That's often the case with large corporation. The bigger they are the slower, more number focused they become. That's why large corporations usually aquire small start ups with a good idea.
Re: Xbox's 'Pivot Away From Console' Had Been Failing And Questioned At Microsoft, Claims Report
@TryToBeHopeful
As far as I know, Microsoft only committed contractually to release Call of Duty on all platforms for the next 10 years and the cloud streaming of Activision-Blizzard gamed via Ubisoft for the next 15 years. There was no agreement on all Microsoft owned games to release multi-platform.
So they could theoretically walk back on the strategy, but it's not something they can change from one week to the other, and it wouldn't make players happy on other platforms.
Re: Xbox's 'Pivot Away From Console' Had Been Failing And Questioned At Microsoft, Claims Report
@fatpunkslim
Maybe one day we will learn what really happened. Sarah Bond was probably appointed by Phil Spencer as the Head of Xbox and apparently he trusted her to make the right decisions, which seems to have had a negative impact on Xbox. At one point it had to stop.
Re: Xbox's 'Pivot Away From Console' Had Been Failing And Questioned At Microsoft, Claims Report
The whole article is definitely worth a read.
I wonder how is she aiming to achieve the "return of Xbox" , now that Xbox publishing started releasing their games on all platforms? Are they planning to walk back on the multi-platform release strategy (which would be terrible for players on other platforms). The console business can only work when the hardware is subsidized and there is some attractive unique selling point like exclusive games. With PC component prices exploding PC is also a very costly alternative.
Re: Who Is Asha Sharma? A Look Back At The Career Of The New Xbox Boss
@Gemini53 Good point, Peter Moore also was at Reebok, before starting at Sega and later joining Microsoft.
Re: Who Is Asha Sharma? A Look Back At The Career Of The New Xbox Boss
24 hours after the news broke, it still feels hard to believe and there is definitely a strange uncertainty what it means for Xbox.
On the one hand: Asha Sharma has no history in gaming or console business. She has no connections to the publishers and development studios.Her Xbox profile was create in January this year. Her background is in commerce, building platforms and AI. She seems like the Jim Ryan of Xbox at first sight.
On the other hand: Xbox has lost it's USP (unique selling point). Those who already have an Xbox console might be satisfied, but Xbox hardly attracts anyone new via traditional console business. Compared to PlayStation 5, most will choose a PS5 over an Xbox Series console. If Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond couldn't find a new USP for Xbox, then maybe someone like Asha Sharma with a fresh perspective and experience in building platforms might be more successful.
The question is... What will it mean for players? I'm not sure if Microsoft's future Xbox plans include traditional console gamers.
Re: Microsoft CEO Shares His Thoughts On The Major Leadership Changes At Xbox
@kmtrain83 I also find the timing suspicious, as I believe Phil and Sarah would have liked to be part of Xbox's 25th anniversary since they were the leads on Xbox for the last 10 years.
Re: Microsoft CEO Shares His Thoughts On The Major Leadership Changes At Xbox
@Sol4ris
It seemed like a matter of time until Phil leaves and I probably would have done the same in his position. Being in a position where all the negative decisions made a level above you are blamed on you, as you are rhe public figure head sucks. Phil was the scapegoat for every price hikes, canceled projects and studio closures.
He will definitely be missed.
Re: New Xbox Boss Makes Official Statement As She Takes Over From Phil Spencer
Sounds risky, who is going to greenlight that? 🤔
Re: Talking Point: What Are The Best 'Hidden Gem' Xbox Games You've Played In Recent Years?
So many indie games...
Re: God Of War Creator Suggests Xbox Should Get Involved In Bluepoint Games Situation
Maybe Bluepoint could work on a new IP for Xbox called "Ichor of Endurance". A souls-like in a gothic victorian city where the player character is seeking for a cure for a cosmic virus. 🤔
Re: Sony's Bluepoint Games Might Be Gone, But We'll Never Forget Their 'Impossible Port' For Xbox 360
@Savex
Have you looked at the Evercade retro gaming platform? While it's focused on retro games (80s & 90s) it has been the best fun I had playing games in recent years. Good old fun games without the modern ***** (live-services & micro-transactions).
Re: Digital Foundry Delivers Its Verdict On Avowed For PS5, And How It Compares To Xbox Series X|S
It probably could have been worse on PS5 Pro. Based on the visuals on other UE5 games, PSSR often has ugly jittery artifacts, especially with gras foliage. The developers could have implemented PSSR and then have Digital Foundry criticize the issue.
I also wonder if Sony funded themselves some of the better PS5 Pro enhancements, like in case of Stellar Blade, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Death Stranding 2, as they need those enhancements to promote the PS5 Pro as a product.
Re: Insomniac Shares Cold-Hearted Response To The Chances Of Spider-Man 2 Coming To Xbox
@Gemini53 @Daffy-Duck
Did you 2 check how high the engagement (number of comments) was on that article? 326 comments in 24 hours.
The PushSquare authors know what they are doing. They stir up some controversial opinion, not because the authors think like that, but because it divides opinions and will invite people to defend their beliefs. It's also the reason why whenever they have something about Xbox, it always has a negative, debatable tone, always questioning things and putting them into doubt. It's very effective.
On that topic: it's clear that many people are satisfied with the graphical fidelity seen on PS4 and Xbox One. Some of the most gorgeous games of the past 10 years ran on those consoles, like Red Dead Redemption 2, Forza Horizon 4, God of War 2018, Death Stranding, Horizon Zero Dawn, The Last of Us Part 2, Uncharted 4, Gears 5, Resident Evil 2 Remake, Battlefield 1, Sea of Thieves, Ryse: Son of Rome. If this generation is struggling to provide meaningfully better visuals then "next gen" will struggle even more.
Re: Insomniac Shares Cold-Hearted Response To The Chances Of Spider-Man 2 Coming To Xbox
@Daffy-Duck
I guess most players on Xbox Series consoles are satisfied with the consoles, apart from missing out on certain titles which are exclusive to other consoles.
But Microsoft fails to bring new players to the Xbox consoles (we don't need to list the reasons, many of them are Microsoft's fault), so I think for them, the transition to "Xbox on PC" needs to happen soon.
Re: Insomniac Shares Cold-Hearted Response To The Chances Of Spider-Man 2 Coming To Xbox
@DennisReynolds
Valve does not need Microsoft, but Microsoft needs Valve. And PlayStation. And Nintendo.
Microsoft's gaming division has grown too large and game development is too expensive to limit their output to the Xbox store. And many Xbox players will wait for a discount especially if they can play those games day 1 on GamePass. Selling an $ 80 game to a larger playerbase on Steam at $ 56 - 64 (after Valve gets their 20-30% cut) or on PlayStation is more profitable than selling it to a smaller playerbase on Xbox who might buy the game discounted at $ 30.
It seems like console players will now choose a PlayStation over an Xbox, so for Microsoft apparently the traditional console business isn't working. Some have a PS5 as their main console where they buy all their games and an Xbox for GamePass to try out new games. That's why Microsoft and Xbox are likely moving their gaming business - the Xbox ecosystem - to the open PC platform.
Of course this hasn't been fully confirmed by Microsoft, but based on their recent efforts on Windows as a gaming platform, the messaging around the ROG Xbox Ally and the next generation Xbox hardware, are good pointers that Xbox is moving to PC, an open ecosystem where Steam, Epiic Games, GOG and other stores are present. If Microsoft doesn't allow those 3rd party stores on their next hardware, then there is no point in producing that hardware.
Re: Ubisoft Says Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition Support Is Planned, Physical Version Skips Xbox
@fatpunkslim I remember reading a developer interview, where it was explained that the difficulty is a result of the game not being playtested by during development. I think Rayman is considered to be one of the hardest games of it's time.
There are some really frustrating levels. Checkpoints are far apart, Rayman has a weird momentum and an unintuitive hitbox, some platforms appear via secret triggers and often you cannot tell if there's anything dangerous below the platform you are standing on.
Re: Ubisoft Says Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition Support Is Planned, Physical Version Skips Xbox
I still have my physical cart for the Gameboy Advance which I finished a few years ago.
While Rayman is a gorgeous game for it's time, the difficulty is all over the place. If I remember correctly you need to find and free all lums to unlock the ending.
Re: New Report On PS6 Delay Throws Next-Gen Timing Into Doubt
I think Microsoft is in a tricky situation. They need to get their new Xbox on PC experience out as soon as possible to make Windows PC a viable option for Xbox console users to move to.
It would have a bigger Impact of course if they could release that with a set of new hardware, but the rising prices of PC components definitely is a problem. I'm wondering how it would go down with players, if Microsoft releases their "Xbox on PC" update to every Windows 11 PC, without new hardware?
Re: Insomniac Shares Cold-Hearted Response To The Chances Of Spider-Man 2 Coming To Xbox
@fatpunkslim
I don't think the statement reflects the mentality of Insomniac Games. It's a message mandated from the parent company. They would probably like to have the game on as many platforms as possible, just like Xbox studios are excited to release games on PlayStation, but Sony doesn't allow it.
Re: Insomniac Shares Cold-Hearted Response To The Chances Of Spider-Man 2 Coming To Xbox
It's a shame that Spider-Man, one of the most popular and iconic comic superheroes, with fans of all ages and in all parts of the world, is not available for everyone to play on all platforms.
Re: Silent Hill: Townfall Not Coming To Xbox At Launch, Along With A Few Other State Of Play Titles
@TDHorizon
PlayStation still has several ongoing and future live services: MLB The Show, Gran Turismo, Helldivers 2, Marathon, Destiny 2 (and maybe 3), 2 Horizon multiplayer games, Marvel Tokon and of course Fairgames. While they cancel multiple projects, don't see them slowing down all that much regarding live-service games.
Not sure if Sucker Punch should be a template to follow: Ghost of Tushima and Yotei are fairly similar games in mechanics and visual presentation, making a sequel in that template relatively easy. But not every studio can work on that budget, especially if they try and prototype several different games and types of games.
A lot of budget is spent on expensive motion captures and voice recording, on prototyping and playtesting. Especially with games, where the team doesn't have a clear idea or vision from the beginning (like for example Anthem) a lot of time and money is spent on building prototypes and trying to find a fun gameplay loop.
Re: 'I Felt Incredibly Emotional' - Peter Molyneux Shares His Reaction To Xbox's Fable Reveal
@moodmatcha Actually Peter Molyneux left the Fable franchise in 2012 when he decided to leave Lionhead Studios & Microsoft after the completion of Fable: The Journey and join 22cans.
Lionhead Studios went on to develop Fable Legends without him, a coop multiplayer live-services game, which got cancelled in 2016 before it's release.
Re: Xbox Announces Social Clubs Will Be Removed From Consoles In April 2026
@Master_Cthulhu70 The Awesome Screenshot Club?
Re: Silent Hill: Townfall Not Coming To Xbox At Launch, Along With A Few Other State Of Play Titles
@GamingGod PlayStation still continues to develop high-budget single player games, like Saros, Wolverine and Interstellar: The Heretic Prophet. It's less than during the PS4 generation as now they have mix of single and multiplayer games, but they can hopefully satisfy all types of gamers with a more divers genre offering.
Re: Silent Hill: Townfall Not Coming To Xbox At Launch, Along With A Few Other State Of Play Titles
@Balaam_
There was an analysis a while ago that multiplayer shooters are quite popular on Xbox with Helldivers 2 and Battlefield 6 sales proving that. 4 Loop could be pretty popular with the Xbox audience.
I doubt PlayStation will go back to focusing exclusively on high-budget single player games. Helldivers 2 is a phenomenal success and they are definitely not blind to the successes of other live-service multiplayer games like Minecraft, Roblox, Arc Raider and Marvel Rivals.
Re: Silent Hill: Townfall Not Coming To Xbox At Launch, Along With A Few Other State Of Play Titles
Hopefully some of those games will be released on Xbox as well. Silent Hill and Kena are already available on Xbox, so it would make sense to release new games in those series.
Re: Xbox Announces Excellence Awards Winners, Including For 20 Best-Selling Games
@TuscanUK
In case of Black Ops 7 it's most likely for the number of ratings, not the average rating score. 😉
Re: Xbox & Playground Games Highlight '10 Incredible New Features' Coming To Forza Horizon 6
@Kezelpaso I think they misunderstood the fans when they asked for "enhanced steering wheel integration" for racing wheels, not "enhanced steering wheel animations". 😆