Comments 195

Re: Xbox Leadership Issues Massive Statement On The Future Of The Brand

Vaako007

Just corporate talk, marketing lingo, words for investors to invoke confidence, and fillers for their board of directors. Corporations make long term plans and before she was at the “helm” decisions were made. Going to take time to see the previous plan unfold and/or the new direction take effect. Executives always are in the shadow for a bit of their predecessors. With that said I like competition and want a strong Xbox brand. No one needs an expensive degree to know the problems and what the brand needs. Until we get action and consistency from the Xbox division, I won’t be cheerful yet.

Re: Here's What Starfield's New Update Looks Like On Xbox Series X|S & PS5

Vaako007

@ZeD another thing to remember is that TV technology back then was different and arguably better in some ways. Some of us were still using CRT tvs the PS3/X360 era allowed for smoother images even till this day. Especially for motion. LED technology just isn’t there yet to look like a CRT. With that said I’m no so critical of games that release at 30 fps especially RPGs. For me as long as the game is playable I’m okay. I enjoyed the Witcher 3 on my Xbox one last generation. Of course I love the current generation version of the game. But I appreciate that the developer gave a true next gen game last generation. Same for RDR2. Game plays good to me.

Re: 'It Will Lead In Performance' - Xbox's Price Tag For Project Helix Could Be Pretty High

Vaako007

I’m intrigued. A powerful console at launch with enough overhead to last for the generation is a good thing. PS3 and Xbox 360 were the last strong bespoke consoles. The challenge for I see for Microsoft is convincing the casual gamer console audience why a more expensive Xbox is a must have over what Sony puts out next and the switch 2. I hope it’s really competitive. As I like competition and I want a good Xbox brand. I expect a minimum of what I paid for my PS5 pro with a disc drive.

Re: Halo: Campaign Evolved Officially Announced, Coming To Xbox In 2026

Vaako007

@Questionable_Duck nah Sony doesn’t have to do this just because MS decided to make more money because of subsidized gamepass not working as planned. Sony will hold it cards as exclusives still matter. And even more so now as the next Xbox increases its library due to the hybrid PC model. So Sony has to lure people into its hardware which will be weaker. So they have their work cut out for them. And they cannot afford to do what MS has done by being 3rd party due to their market position since Xbox one. It should be interesting next generation between Sony and MS.

Re: Sarah Bond: Our Next-Gen Console Will Be 'Very Premium' & Informed By ROG Xbox Ally

Vaako007

A console with a lot of overhead sounds good to me. Especially about the rumors of how the next Xbox will be a hybrid. MS could really make things more interesting by making the next Xbox slightly more expensive than the PS6 then raising windows by 0.01$ to make up on the backend. Then actually advertising their offerings for real unlike how they treated the series consoles. Will force Sony and Nintendo to be really innovative. It will be good for all.

Re: Sarah Bond: Our Next-Gen Console Will Be 'Very Premium' & Informed By ROG Xbox Ally

Vaako007

@stuie123 even so console gaming is still cheap compared to inflation. People expecting 300$-400$ consoles with 50$ games are mistaken. As people make more money and the industry is more expensive. Gaming has always been a luxury. At least those that opt for the Xbox will get hardware that will have more overhead compared to the PS6. As it won’t be until a PS6 pro comes out that it may be able to get close to the next Xbox assuming rumors are true. Besides the current generation consoles will be available for the foreseeable future.

Re: Sarah Bond Shows Off Where Microsoft Is 'Prototyping For The Next Generation Of Xbox'

Vaako007

@SalaciousCrumb as long as the next Xbox is powerful like they say then I’m okay with high prices. As honestly gaming hasn’t kept up with the price of inflation. People still expect 300$ to 400$ consoles and 50$ games. Despite making more money even with inflation. Gaming is a vanity hobby at the end of the day. People that work in the industry need compensation too just like you and I. Even as a young lad consoles were expensive for my parents to buy and it was a big deal to have one. Still the same now.

Re: Xbox Journalist Says Latest Rumours Are 'A Huge Challenge For The Brand Right Now'

Vaako007

@themightyant subsidized gamepass is still cheap. I don’t see why people complain about it. One can play nearly any new game on it and doesn’t haven’t to buy new games. I don’t care for the service as I buy real physical when possible. But it’s a great subscription service for consumers. Even if it was 70$ a month it would still be a steal. As some people buy one new game a month. People just want free free free and more free.

Re: Xbox 'Magnus' Leak Suggests Next Console Will Be Powerful, Expensive & Maybe A Hybrid Device

Vaako007

@fatpunkslim yes it will be easier for PC game developers. One less game version to specifically develop for is beneficial. Sony and Nintendo will still do what they do. Which is fine in my opinion. More competition is better and MS has added many good contributions to the gaming industry.
It will be interesting how MS will price this. They should price it as near the PS6 as possible. Make up the money over the generation.

Then lastly actually advertise Xbox worldwide!! MS is a rich company. Makes no sense how weak their marketing has been for the series consoles post launch.

Re: Helldivers 2's Player Count Spikes Massively Following Xbox Series X|S Release

Vaako007

@WildConcept6 Sony will keep a tighter LID on its IPs. MS only opened up and created subsidized gamepass as it is due to its position since Xbox one. MS’s investors wanted revenue. Across gaming, studios need to manage their budgets more like previous eras. Exclusives are still profitable. Console hardware is more important to Sony than it is MS. So they will continue to provide a reason for one to get a PS. Like I said MS adapted to their position in the console space and Xbox is a subsidiary of MS. Sony and Nintendo will manage their IPs better.

Re: Leaker Reveals 'Final Prices' For ROG Xbox Ally Handheld In The US

Vaako007

@Medic_alert MS just needs to raise the price by windows by one cent for each respective currency and keep Xbox proprietary for another generation. Xbox isn’t a stand alone gaming entity like SEGA whom had to leave the console market nor like Nintendo. I do hope we can get another console generation from Xbox that is an Xbox. With the ethos from the Xbox 360 era. This is what I really want. As competition is what pushes innovation and MS had people whom loved gaming in charge during the X360 era. Which forced Nintendo and Sony to be innovative too. MS can do it they have the leverage and many talented engineers.

Re: Microsoft Explains Why ROG Xbox Ally Price & Pre-Orders Haven't Been Announced Yet

Vaako007

@BAMozzy unfortunately the global market isn’t even strong for Xbox outside of the Anglo countries due to Microsoft’s lack of marketing this generation for the series consoles. So in reality we are only talking USA and the commonwealth countries plus maybe Japan for Xbox branded handhelds. So even more of a niche product than a steam deck perhaps. Maybe it will surprise everyone just like the streaming only PS portal did.

Re: Microsoft 'Wraps Up' Xbox Series X|S Era As Hardware Chief Teases What's Next

Vaako007

@fatpunkslim will be tough. As people of the world didn’t want to pay for series consoles which are a great deal for a consumers with subsidized gamepass. It will be a tough sell for a more expensive hybrid PC box console. Families will likely still flock to PS. And Xbox will become more niche even if the hardware is better as it will cost more. And since Xbox is a huge publisher they might not spend as much time optimizing their PC Xbox’s. Instead just relying on the huge power overhead to make up for the time needed to optimize a weaker PS6.

Re: Report: Two Of Xbox's Upcoming First-Party Titles Are In Development For PS5

Vaako007

@fatpunkslim don’t be surprised if E-day goes day 1 on PlayStation. As the suits at MS know that the PS fan base actually buys games. MS tied its hands with its subsidized gamepass service by going day 1 for everything they own. I’m still disappointed that gears 1 is going to PS. It was a staple IP during the great X360/PS3 generation. Gears 1 going to PlayStation is to generate excitement about the IP which seriously leads me to believe E-day will be out the same time as day 1 subsidized gamepass.

Re: Report: Two Of Xbox's Upcoming First-Party Titles Are In Development For PS5

Vaako007

@NeoRatt families and young lads worldwide will still covet a PlayStation. The more separation from these mega corporations the better. I support each having their own bespoke hardware. It will be a tough sell for MS worldwide to push its Xbox PC as it was a super struggle to push the good value Series S console. I’m surprised it took MS this long to make a hybrid PC Xbox but they still have their work cut out for them. As the PC base isn’t the console or mobile phone base. PC gamers are mostly folks that are 18+ and have a real job. So there will always be a demand for a console device that goes under one’s TV. If MS kept most of the Xbox games as exclusive this hybrid device would be more alluring to me. As it stands now, I’ll just get a PS6 pro whenever it comes out. And I’ve had an Xbox since the beginning so I’m not a hater. I just appreciate brand identity.

Re: Two More Xbox Games Are Being Cancelled, Including Perfect Dark

Vaako007

I like the Perfect Dark IP! Perfect dark zero was great. I’m Glad this one got canceled as judging by the trailer and character design I wasn’t interested. Hopefully in a few years it will be made when there is a different ethos at Xbox gaming internally. Same for all of Xbox! There is so much potential among the entity.

Re: According To Sales Estimates, Final Fantasy 16 Had A Rough First Week On Xbox

Vaako007

The Xbox crowd isn’t so into these JRPG SE games as the PlayStation base which made these games famous. So no surprise here. I’m sure if it was on subsidized game pass it would have more engagement. SE should have known it would not be a hit if they did their homework on the base so that their expectations would be kept in check. But it’s SE and they weren’t happy with how much it sold on PS which is ridiculous.

Re: According To Sales Estimates, Final Fantasy 16 Had A Rough First Week On Xbox

Vaako007

@Fiendish-Beaver first point isn’t true. The Xbox crowd historically isn’t fond of these SE JRPGs. They should remain on PlayStation which cater historically to those whom like East Asian style fantasy. By your logic Microsoft’s “old” forza horizon 5 should have failed on PlayStation which doesn’t have subsidized game pass. But! Horizon sold so well at full price despite being old.

Re: Full Specs Revealed For Both Versions Of The 2025 Xbox Handheld

Vaako007

@endlessleep yup and we already see how lazy developers are in regard to the series x this generation. Since it’s stronger than the PS5 they just get it running on the console since PS5 is the lead console. No matter how powerful the next Xbox is, developers will still be lazy with it I expect. It’s up the MS to leverage its hardware with all of their 1st party studios.

Re: Forza On PS5 Has 'Easily' Made $100 Million For Xbox, Says Analyst

Vaako007

@OldGamer999 for profit companies don’t have to share their IPs. As from Sony and nintendos perspective they want people using their mediums. Microsoft has decided to adapt as post Xbox one they haven’t been doing well hardware wise outside of the anglosphere. Had they been number one worldwide since Xbox one, subsidized gamepass wouldn’t be as it is today. It would be Sony that would have to innovate. I don’t understand this modern mindset of sharing is caring. Not how businesses work.

Re: Xbox Achieves Record-Breaking Results In Latest Earnings Report

Vaako007

No surprise really as MS has gone down the publisher route. It would be the same story if they bought EA or Ubisoft. The story would read the same. As Xbox is essentially a publisher now which just so happens to sell hardware. I don’t know why people are so impressed with these numbers. The PS and steam bases still mostly buy games, in which MS owns now some very popular Established IPs. MS needs the other bases to buy their games so subsidized game pass can continue to be a great value on Xbox hardware. I’m not hating on them. Just saying it’s nothing to really special to see here. It would be similar if the Toyota corporation acquired the Volkswagen automotive group. Then brags about how much more revenue Toyota brings in now due to established brands its would own in this hypothetical situation. But here we are MS adapted their strategy because they had to.

Now with all of these studios just please make a few Xbox only experiences so that I can want an Xbox Prime or whatever it will be called.

Re: Indiana Jones PS5 Fans Not Happy With Xbox's Physical Media Habits

Vaako007

@Fiddleroyolanda most publishers still put the full game on a disc. MS’s Xbox studios have been among the first to do this practice. With “smart” delivery. No IMO smart delivery is having a full playable version 1 of a game on a physical disc at launch. That’s all us physical media fans want including myself. As I don’t like this internet of everything world. Always online. I keep my consoles and they won’t always be online once their successor comes out.

Re: Nintendo's Doug Bowser Just Channelled One Of The Most Infamous Xbox Quotes Ever

Vaako007

@themightyant thank you for saying this mate. I’ve been getting annoyed seeing people melting down on various social media outlets about the price. Last time I checked gaming has gone up with each new generation. Due to inflation, weakening purchasing power etc…. But it can be said that each new generation brought more value in terms of hardware and software even if a little incremental. In the grand scheme gaming is just a vanity hobby. No one is entitled to it. Just like everything else. Also like you and I, blokes that work at these companies need compensation and benefits too. And manufacturing costs are increasing due to semiconductor demand.

Re: January Hardware Sales The Worst Since 2020 In The US As Xbox Consoles Decline By 50%

Vaako007

Considering all of the publicity surrounding the Xbox brand the past several months, it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. Also worth noting that MS virtually does no advertising outside of the anglosphere. It seems they only “try” and I’m using that loosely in the USA and the commonwealth nations. With that said going forward I hope that they come up with a consistent plan that consumers have confidence in. As people don’t want to waste their money on something that might go away. I want Xbox to succeed also and bring strong competition like the Xbox 360 era.

Re: Review: Avowed (Xbox) - Flashy Action & Excellent Exploration Make Up For A Surprisingly Breezy Narrative

Vaako007

@Cikajovazmaj I don’t think anyone should take a critics review seriously at all. That is unless you know the critic has similar or exact tastes as you. I.e. I’d never take advice about beer from someone whom drinks beer I consider to be low tier. So it’s all relative to one’s tastes. So give the game a shot if you have subsidized gamepass. It won’t hurt to try.