Weebleman

@Millionski to be fair, and this sadly applies to 99% of modern games, you are better holding off from day 1 and waiting for the inevitable patches to fix/improve them.

Question. Why do mine and others comments show as removed yet young Banjo's comment, who was clearly doing the same, has just disappeared completely.

@Kaloudz furthermore, there's a category that clearly says '...within the first week'. The one I refer to does not.

@Kaloudz again though, the article literally confirms its units sold in 2024. That's the part I was originally commenting on. I'm just not sure where you are getting your weighted confirmation from. Happy to hold my hands up of you can point me to confirmation of it. Otherwise it's pretty clearly labelled why things are in that list, units sold in 2024.

@Kaloudz I mean, the article says 'Units Sold: "Top-selling content across Xbox and Microsoft stores."' In 2024. Im not sure why you think it's weighted.

@Kaloudz see my response above. I still stand by the fact that a game selling less than 1.5 mill across 3 platforms shouldn't be in any top sellers list for a platform. I do get the gamepass factor comes into play here though.

@WildConcept6 ahhh, I missed that. Appreciated man. It did seem a little odd

@Cakefish either of those options paints a bleak outlook on the sales front considering it sold less than 1.5 million across all platforms. It shouldn't be in the top 10 of anything full stop, let alome at number 4, as that means the others below sold even less on the console.

If they were on gamepass, like Indy say, it makes complete sense. But there's some big names in there that aren't.

The comments in every article of late really just devolves into people telling each other xbox is doing awesome (which it clearly isn't looking at sales data and that it was reported the whole division nearly got wrapped up) or people saying Sony have nothing to worry about (despite it sinking millions into games that will never see daylight, except one that only saw it for a week).

Can we not just all be grateful that we are still getting some good games to play, regardless of where you choose to play them, and just enjoy them.

@bazchillin hey man, no worries. It was actually somethings I wasn't aware of (apart from the audio cd thing, which always felt odd).

@themightyant well you learn something new every day. I've never come across an issue on it (or my series x) but I guess they're out there.

@bazchillin ummmm I have plenty of uhd blurays that play just fine on the PS5.

This all just feels like the next step towards becoming a full time publisher. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for playing more games on the move, but it hardly gives incentive to buy an xbox going forward if you aren't interested in gamepass. Which, based on reports of stagnating sub numbers, is still a fair whack of people.

@fatpunkslim Honestly man, I respect that you can spin anything into a positive. Do you work in the Government?

I know stock was low in the months running up to Christmas (mainly because @OldGamer999 told us). It's either a positive in that they sold it all for Christmas and struggled to get more, or it's a really big missed opportunity for MS to build some momentum on the back of some solid game releases.

@OldGamer999 you did it you old sonofab*tch, you actually did it.

@InterceptorAlpha save your breathe my friend.

@ZuneTattooGuy I also hope they update the engine for their next big release. I've had some good times in the creation engine but I'm definitely ready to move on.

@fatpunkslim mate, I've seen your nonsense on other sites and I already regret this interaction. Enjoy your day and all the best for the new year.

@fatpunkslim ummm you seem to be missing Indiana Jones is going to PS. You know, that 1st party release some consider to be game of the year.

The majority of titles you listed are IP by studios MS bought. None of them compare to the example above or the other examples already given.

@Banjo- wasn't attacking you buddy, no need to be stand offish.

The link i sent clearly shows they made over both those figures you quoted in November 24, with the gaming division performing strongly.

They are selling more consoles and more subs (based on last reported figures). It's reasonable to assume that software sales are higher as well as those new users buying software.

It just seemed odd to say they are hobbling along.

'they have fewer premium subscribers than Xbox'. This is incorrect. Last gamepass subscribers reported was 34 million which, taking into account the gold members bumped, is actually a drop in gamepass users. Plus had 47 million at the last report. This whole claim about more subscriber numbers is incorrect.

I genuinely want to see xbox keep pushing consoles as competition is needed. But throwing random claims that are clearly incorrect just sounds like fanboyism when you don't need to.

@Banjo- Sony recently reported their highest earnings (profit) for years, which was widely reported. Where are you getting your figures that they are struggling from? Not arguing or anything man, just curious as to what drives the thought process.

Edit. Link for reference. https://www.cnbc.com/2024/11/08/sony-reports-73percent-jump-in-operating-profit-beating-expectations.html

As I said on another post, the console can do what ever it wants, getting folks to drop their digital libraries and switch platform is an uphill struggle. PS4 came out on top in the generation when people bought into digital games. They carried their libraries to PS5 and those sales numbers tell the rest of the story.

Folks like us who buy multiple consoles are a really small corner of the market compared to casual folks who buy consoles. The vast majority will just stick where their games exist. Which is why MS are pushing more into multi platform and 'everything's an xbox'. They will just be in the same predicament with the next gen as people either stick with what they have or pick up the newer version that plays the games they own.

There isn't really much they can do to turn this around at this point, this gen or next. Those ps owners have spent the best part of two generations building digital libraries. MS can build the greatest console the world has seen but getting people to walk away from a pile of games they own to start again is a mammoth task.

Especially when the PS6 is guaranteed to tell them they can still access them if/when they choose to pick a new console.

@nisrecon this is factually incorrect. Last count showed 47.4 million subscribers on plus. Gamepass was around 34 million.

Edit: which included those bumped from Gold to gamepass.

@DennisReynolds that all depends on the question asked. Let's also not forget that the quote was originally given by a MS spokesperson in response to a question from Windows Central. It wasn't directly from Phil.

If they said 'can you comment on the deal Sony have...' then the response that they can't comment on deals is simply a response to the question posed. Problem being nobody prints the question, they just take the answer and run to their own conclusions.

For clarity, I'm not fan of phil spencer, or any of these company execs, but this is just folks making mountains of mole hills.

Edit: For reference, here's the original article where they gave the quote. https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/report-black-myth-wukong-may-have-a-secret-exclusivity-deal-with-playstation-preventing-an-xbox-release

@Ilyn but he was asked a question specifically about another company.

@Ilyn I'm not sure what they are calling him out on though. What he said is literally the facts of the matter, he can't comment on other company's deals, regardless of a deal being, or not being, in place. There really is nothing more to it.

I really don't get the fuss this causes. Everyone reads into everything to much.

Phil didn't lie. He was asked to comment on an alleged/rumoured deal. He said we can't comment on other people's deals. He isn't saying there is one. It's just a stock business response. Simple as that.

MS requires titles release simultaneously on X and S. The developer can't get it running on the S. Game doesn't come out. Simple as that.

Hasn't been delayed for reasons raised to us. The developer hasn't raised them.

Sometimes the answers for things are the simplest explanations. Folks just dig into stuff to much and it all gets lost in the mud.

@Ricky-Spanish pretty sure it was reviewed very highly by adults.

@S1ayeR74 sounds like you like people of a different colour to your own. Muppet.

@TheGameThrifter The thing is while they may shift a few consoles, they still won't shift enough. The momentum is to far gone. People have digital libraries in the PS eco system that they won't drop. Most are casual users who won't drop on a second console, others simply won't drop all the stuff they own to shift.

MS want to make keep making money and this is now the way they have to do it in the console space to get to their targets.

The sound design in both Hellblade games is genuinely wonderful. Well Deserved.

@Millionski If you didn't like the first one then it's very unlikely this one will do it for you. It's stunning to look at but it isn't changing the formula in any way.

(I enjoyed both before I get told otherwise).

@trev666 Ignoring the fact they were reviewed by different people with different opinions? Hence proving the point above. They aren't all a single hivemind.

Even if they were, you could argue the fact the game runs better on the newer consoles, giving it a better score.

You could put the same bowl of food in front of 10 people, do you think they'd all rate it the same?

For all the arguing, bickering and accusations in these comments, it only goes to prove a point. People have different opinions, and it's okay. One man's trash is another man's treasure. And that's perfectly fine.

People jumping on Ben because he gave his opinion and it's different from other people's is just ridiculous. The guy is paid to give his individual opinion, and he did. Personally I want that in a game reviewer.

It's also why I read as many reviews as I can to balance my own opinions. People love games I hate (looking at you breathe of the wild), but reading other opinions and listening to friends who love it almost makes me wish I could get that from it as well, even though I can't no matter how hard I try. And that's fine.

All this talk of articles for clicks is nonsense. Every website reviewing games does articles for clicks. That's how they survive. I'd rather they get those clicks by being honest about their opinions, regardless if they align with mine, because it means they will continue getting my clicks.

If you like it, great, enjoy your game. If you don't, it's not the end of the world. Either way, it's okay to feel differently about something. Don't let people who think brand loyalty or some nonsense means you shouldn't stand by your opinion.

The world would be pretty dull if we all liked the same things.

@PsBoxSwitchOwner yeah, I saw someone else mention it so I jumped. Had i not, I wouldn't have bothered.

@PsBoxSwitchOwner I used this code to get a pro. Brought the price to a smidge under 560. Got a buyer for my ps5 at 350, which makes the whole thing more palatable.

@OldGamer999 ahhh, good times my man. I thought I was going mad! Congrats on the new TV also!

@OldGamer999 hang on, you said you sold your series x.

@theduckofdeath they just reported their highest earnings across their division with increases of 180+% and you think they are struggling.

That's as bad as the other chap saying 3rd parties don't sell on PS.

Acquisition suck regardless of who makes them, but the arm chair statistics being thrown around that can quickly be proven wrong by googling are insane.

There are some truly wild comments in here.

@RetroMan71 HELLoooooooo....

@RetroMan71 yeah, it's one of the many kooky little things in the game. If you are in range of another player and they shout hello, you will hear them do it and vice versa. Part of Kojimas 'we're all connected' thing he had with the game.

Phil is probably the greatest snake oil salesman of our generation. Remember when the one x launched and everyone raged about the drm, always online, can't give a game you bought to your pals to play? Killed the resale market? There was absolute uproar.

Phil took that idea, removed the fact you even own your game, then sold millions of it and its praised. One of the best business moves you will ever see.

Now he's telling you that you don't even need the console to play it. You can play games with downgraded visuals and lag on anything and guess what, folks are praising it.

Honestly, the man's a genius.

I love death stranding even though I was convinced I wouldn't. There's just a genuine sense of exploration to it that is very hard to achieve in games. I loved the moments like when you would be in some desolate corner of the world feeling thinking you were stuck, only to find someone had left a helpful ladder to keep you on your way. Or how you occasionally here other players shouting hello. You can't see them but you know someone else is roaming nearby. Lovely experience all round.