TrollOfWar

"PCboxX", it rolls of the tongue nicely. 😄

@Xboxian360 It shows that Microsoft's gaming business is popular on other platforms as well and hopefully the additional revenue keeps their development studios alive and fund future projects, which also benefits Xbox players.

The more serious question is, if it's a good thing that Microsoft dominates the sales charts and gives them too much power?

But of course if you're not happy on Xbox and feel disrespected, you can always switch to a different platform. There's nothing wrong with that, they all how their benefits and disadvantages. 😉

@Mindurbiniss There's more than enough to play on PS5. Probably 90% of all games are released on both PlayStation and Xbox. This just shows that Microsoft released many games on PlayStation as well which are popular and many people want to play.

@Millionski

I am saying (as already replied above) that as a consumer I did not really get a lot of benefit from ABK deal except newer COD games on GP. Its not like they are developing a lot of games these days and for that ridiculous 70B so much could be done.

It's hard to say what the motivation was for Microsoft to acquire ABK, but at the time during COVID business in gaming was booming and Microsoft needed content for their growing platform fast. Somewhat shortsighted if they didn't expect gaming business to decline after COVID.

Maybe the ABK acquisition didn't benefit Xbox players directly, apart from stopping any exclusive COD content and marketing deals for Sony and guaranteed COD releases on Xbox. But the ABK acquisition made Microsoft shift their Xbox strategy, so players on PlayStation benefit from the acquisition. And if that again makes Sony shift their PlayStation strategies and release some of their games on Xbox, then you also benefit on Xbox in the end.

I know, it's a bit far fetched brain gymnastics, but it doesn't hurt to see things a bit positive. 😁

@Millionski

I have questions about the ABK tho...

According to a Eurogamer article, ABK boss Bobby Kotick was in contact with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella about the TikTok acquisition, when Satya Nadella suggested acquiring ABK. Seem like Xbox wasn't directly involved in the decision.
Link: https://www.eurogamer.net/microsofts-activision-blizzard-takeover-sparked-by-both-companies-failing-to-buy-tiktok-kotick-says

@Millionski From what I understand, this new "Xbox mode" in Windows 11 will be some full screen mode like in Steam and frees up system resources, but you can switch to the standard Windows desktop if you want to.

@Coletrain

Problem is this will lead to online posturing from "influencers" saying look Sony you're so dumb you should do multiplat too, but that's just not their business model

And would it be terrible if Sony changes their business strategy? Companies do that fairly often. 🙂

I guess it's only a matter of time until that new Xbox-centric Windows 11 version is available for everyone, then you can probably install it on any Windows 11 gaming handheld device.

You can buy the regular Asus ROG Ally handhelds for much cheaper.

@Millionski Yeah, I think we'll need to wait and see how long it takes until this new strategy starts rolling and PlayStation games are steadily released on Nintendo and Xbox as Sony is usually fairly slow in changing their strategy. This year maybe it's only MLB 2025 and Helldivers 2, but who knows what might release nezt year.

Crazy to believe that John Lennon predicted the end of the console wars in 1971 when he sang:

Imagine all the people
Sharing all the games

@Jenkinss

If that truly is MS's intention then they may have already told Sony privately, who is jumping the gun since they will have no choice but to support the next "Xbox" or stop putting their games on Steam.

The way the job description for the new role at PlayStation is written, it sounds like they will actually release (some?) games on the Xbox store, not just on Steam. They specifically mention "Xbox", otherwise they could have omitted "Xbox" as "Steam" and "Epic Games" would have covered the support for the next gen Xbox hardware.

Here is the relevant part:

... shaping and executing the global commercial strategy for PS Studios software titles across all digital platforms beyond PlayStation hardware, including Steam, Epic Games Store, Xbox, Nintendo, and mobile.

Source: https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/sonyinteractiveentertainmentglobal/jobs/5587289004

So the intention is apparently there for Sony to release PlayStation games on the Xbox store, the question/speculation is to which extent. Only multiplayer live-service games or older single player games as well?

I've been wondering why PlayStation haven't released their "remastered" releases of The Last of Us Part 1 & 2, Horizon Zero Dawn, Uncharted and Days Gone on Xbox, where they could have benefited from a player base new to those games, instead of trying to resell the same games to PlayStation players who already experienced them?

After competing in hardware sales numbers and monthly active users, now the next category for PlayStation and Xbox to compete in is "number of titles released on the other platforms". 😉

Definitely Knack 1 & 2! 🙏🏼

@Matthewnh I am happy to be helpful. In the end, gaming should be about everyone playing games and having fun, and not about grown men looking for a justification why their favorite plastic box is better than others.

@Matthewnh I guess if you are not happy with playing on Xbox and you don't see any value in it then why suffer. Go ahead and get a PS5 Pro. Both Xbox and PlayStation this generation are mostly the same hardware with around 90% of the same games released on both platforms. There's nothing wrong with choosing to play on one device over the other. Don't feel obligated to stick with one platform if it doesn't bring you joy. 🙂

@Balaam_ But there is already a place where you get all Remedy-universe games. It's called a PC. 😉

"Would Halo Infinite have been a bigger success using the Unreal Engine 5?"
I don't think this can be answered easily. Previous reports mentioned that 343i was using Unreal Engine for prototypes. Also the biggest problem with Halo Infinite's development was the Microsoft mandate to have contractors replaced every 18 months, where the Slipspace engine had a steep learning curve and many contractors took a lot of knowledge with them. Unreal Engine might have been able to mitigate that problem.

On the other hand if Unreal Engine 5 would have been used then probably the gane wouldn't have releaed in 2021 and there would have been no Xbox One version. I believe we saw the first true UE5 games in 2023. And compared to the Slipspace engine UE5 has some issues of it's own.

@BattleMonkey I am playing on my Evercade handheld until the little one is asleep. Then either I play for an hour on the TV or I am too tired and fall asleep myself 😉

@dskatter @Kraven I know the feeling. I hardly turn the Xbox on maybe once a week. Would love to play more but with work and other family duties there just isn't more time.