bpomber

@Kezelpaso Did you get to play co-op at all? I'm wondering how co-op progression will work.

I want to see games. Especially Hellblade 2.

Could be a very busy month for gaming between Starfield and also Spider-Man 2 potentially releasing in September since they currently are projecting a "fall 2023" release.

This might be my favourite one so far.
Also, the colour scheme reminds me of Yoshi with the green and white and the black buttons as Yoshi's black eyes.

@Kaloudz Sorry that happened to you, that sucks. I'll never understand why so many gamers get so passionate about review scores. If someone doesn't like a game then so be it. Let them have their own opinion. These people are capable of forming their own opinions, rather than attacking someone else for theirs.

@NarutosBiggestFan For me, a game doesn't have to look great with high-end visuals to be good. If the gameplay is fun then that's what matters the most to me. This game has always just looked like good, senseless fun to me. Visuals is just an added bonus in these types of games.
That being said, no way I'm buying this game at full price. There are very few games these days that I'm willing to spend $80-$100 (CAD) on.

Looking forward to playing this game. It looks fun. Reviews are subjective and have never and never will sway a gaming decision for me.

Side note: I've noticed Xbox focused websites have reviewed this game poorer than other sites, for the most part. Coincidence or maybe it runs poorly on Xbox?

@Deshalu This conversation just keeps getting further and further away from the point of my original comment which you clearly took out of context.

I said I don't understand why people shamelessly defend huge corporations. It's that simple. You somehow took that and made assumptions that I'm a disgruntled employee and that I need to save money and so on.

Let's just end this conversation now before it gets even worse. It's Friday, time to start the weekend and enjoy some down time and gaming!

@Deshalu I see you have nothing left to say so you have just resorted to baseless assumptions about me. You know it's okay to end a conversation in disagreement without stooping to that low.

@Deshalu I stated some facts about Microsoft and then said:

"This is why I'll never understand why people (especially on this site) will spend so much effort shamelessly defending a corporation who doesn't care about you."
That's my point here. That people shamelessly defend huge corporations.

I think you're missing that point and getting too tied up in the reasoning behind the lay-offs, and in turn are defending the corporation. Which is adding to my point.

@Deshalu I made a comment specifically about Microsoft because this is Pure Xbox and that's who the article is about. I know many corporations do this. I don't understand why people get attached to and defend these corporations. That's my point. I don't see the use in defending Microsoft or Sony or any of these huge corporations.

@Deshalu Why does Sony always have to come up in the comment section of Pure Xbox? But since you brought it up, yes I do think the same way about Sony. I'm not going to defend them.

@GamingFan4Lyf That's good to hear! I hope that's all true. Doesn't change the fact that they will still cut you out if they want to, and these lay-offs are proof of that.

My overall point is that I just don't understand why people will get so attached to and defend multi-billion (or in this case, trillion) dollar companies. These companies would not do the same for you.

@NeoRatt I understand where you're coming from. But, upon an organizational shift, I think a company that truly cared about their employees would find positions in the company that better suit the employees' skill sets and work ethic, rather than lay them off. For some people, that may end up mean moving to a position that is lower on the pay scale, but it's a lot better than being laid off.
Training and development for employees can also go a long way in helping them improve within the company.
There are many ways that a business, especially a trillion dollar business, can get maximize the use of their current employees' skill sets. Laying off employees is just the easy and cheap way out.

@Sifi If they're going to bring them back when the deal goes through, then why not keep them? It's not like they can't afford to keep them. They should stop messing with their employees' lives. Besides, in the time they are laid off, I'd hope and think that many of them will find jobs elsewhere and then not want to go back to the place that treats them like they are nothing more than a number. This isn't a problem for only Microsoft. Most large corporations are the same. It's corporate greed.

@stvevan I believe that's the Lunar Shift controller.

It's really fun. Many of the time trials later on in the game get really hard. I haven't been able to beat them.

Microsoft's net worth is $1.7 trillion. They just spent $69 billion on the Activision/Blizzard deal. Yet they lay-off people who are just trying to scrape by. This is why I'll never understand why people (especially on this site) will spend so much effort shamelessly defending a corporation who doesn't care about you.

I sure hope so. It's been my most anticipated Xbox game for years.

For me, personally, the Ninja Theory Acquisition is more interesting to me than Activision/Blizzard. I'm just not into Activision/Blizzard games but I've loved many Ninja Theory releases.

@Banjo- And Like I said earlier, you're not wrong about that. But let's not act like Microsoft is innocent and not hypocritical. Someone who follows Microsoft as much as you clearly do should know this.
Both companies are just looking out for themselves. Let's just continue to enjoy the products and services they produce.

@Banjo- Alright so what I've got from this entire interaction is that you're only interested in expressing your disdain for Sony.
That's your choice, but I'd recommend lightening up a bit and enjoying the product that these multi-billion dollar companies, who do not care about you and I, produce.

@Banjo- I mean it seems to be working for them. Who are you to say that it's not the best way? They have been the market leader for many years now.
All we can do as a consumer is hope they both continue to produce high quality games for us to enjoy. Let's let them do their thing and enjoy the product.

@Banjo- Instead they're spending an astronomical amount of money that only a handful of companies in the world would be able to comfortably spend, in order to gain some market advantage (which could be considered to be moneyhatting). They have every right to do so. Sony has every right to fight back. It would be bad business practice if Sony just rolled over and let Microsoft use their $69 billion to gain ground on them.
Microsoft and Sony are both using what resources they have to attempt to strengthen their business. In the gaming division, they are each other's biggest competition, it's not all going to be flowers and rainbows. Like I said, both companies are looking out for their own interests only, and will do what is necessary to defend those interests.

Edit: Just saw all your edits to your comment. I'll just say this, you're not wrong about what you're saying about Sony. But don't act like Microsoft is any different.

@Banjo- You couldn't be more correct that Sony only cares about themselves. Same can be said for Microsoft and really any multi-billion dollar company. These companies didn't become world leaders by being caring and considerate of their competeition. They are looking out for their own interests and nothing else. It's business.

@Chaudy If you're referring to Bill as the overprotective character that lets a stranger in, then I would argue that was done on purpose to show the human nature of Bill. Yes he's overprotective, but he's barely had human interaction for 20 years. He comes across someone who poses no threat and who seems like a decent human being. Loneliness sets in at some point and as you can see later in the episode, Bill was craving some human interaction.
By the way, I'm not trying to make you like the episode, you are completely entitled to your opinions. I just thought I'd bring up that point because it stuck out to me in your comment.

@themightyant I very much agree. In the game, much of Bill and Frank's story is told through collectibles and other visuals you may or may not come across as the player. That kind of storytelling wouldn't work in a TV Show so they had to change it up. The overall purpose of Bill and Frank remained the same - to provide a truck and supplies for Ellie and Joel - just the way that they got to that point was changed and expanded.

For the past year or however long this whole situation has been going on, I've always been able to understand the arguments on both sides, to some extent. This is the first time I can't. This is a reach.

Oh nice! I just finished Road 96 last week and I enjoyed it. I'll definitely be picking this up at some point.

The Pathless is an amazing game. One of the first non-AAA PS5 games I played this console generation and is still probably my favourite. I highly recommend this to anyone who didn't get a chance to play on PlayStation or PC.

@Kaloudz Yeah that is pretty crazy. Maybe someone in the Xbox marketing department just doesn't like the UK.

@Kaloudz hahaha I can say the same thing about Nintendo advertising for me. I very rarely see Nintendo ads. Xbox and PlayStation are almost daily being marketed to me in some way.

@Kaloudz I see Xbox ads constantly. I'm in Canada, so maybe their advertising is different here than in the UK.

It would be weird if they said anything other than this.

Imagine Xbox saying: "It's going to be a mediocre year for Xbox. Watch our Developer Direct showcase, or don't, we don't care."

Relax, people. He takes 30 seconds to make a tweet commending PlayStation about something every now and then. That doesn't mean he's not focusing on Xbox.

Nintendo Direct and PlayStation State of Play are a lot better than E3 type showcases, in my opinion. They are short, sweet, and to the point. I'd like to see Xbox do something similar.

None of my top 3 reveals were even an option on this poll.

1) Scars Above
2) Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores
3) After Us

@Phantasystar77 Fair point. I guess I don't really think about it that way personally because Xbox isn't my main platform.

I do agree with you that Xbox does have issues getting quality first party games released. This is why my preferred platform is PlayStation, because they do not lack quality first-party games.

But at least for the people who do main Xbox, there's still lots to look forward to.

@cburg "was Nintendo even present?"
Bayonetta 3, Splatoon 3, Kirby, and Mario + Rabbids all won awards. Doug Bowser was actually one of the few people to go on stage multiple times to accept a major award. So yeah, Nintendo was definitely present.

I think the better question is, did you even watch it or did you just come straight to the comment section to complain because you didn't like all the results?

The show was great! Lots more games to look forward to now and, although I don't agree with all the winners, I can't complain about any of the award winners.

As for the Xbox side, not sure why so many of you are upset that Xbox didn't show anything themselves. There was lots of cool announcements for games that will be playable on Xbox. Having no first party Xbox game announcements doesn't change the fact that there's still lots of games to look forward to!

I hate when The Game Awards announcements get leaked early.

Geoff Keighley: "I'd like to welcome Lina Khan to the stage for the next announcement"
Lina Khan: (walks on stage) "I have a lawsuit to announce..."

@FraserG That's fair. I understand the desire to have all these posts, from the site's perspective. It's just tiring for me to come to this site and have to see it posted front and centre day after day.

You're right, I'll just have to learn to live with these posts and avoid them until the deal (most likely and hopefully) goes through in the next few months.

I know this topic gets clicks for this site, but can we stop with the constant articles on it please? I can't wait until this deal goes through, which it will.

Edit: Maybe make a dedicated section for the Activision/Blizzard situation, similar to how on the side of the homepage there are sections for "Features" and "Forum Topics". That way there can still be an article on every little report and rumour that has to do with the deal, but it won't take over the homepage.

@StylesT Yes and every time I've mentioned that in other comments I go on to say that both sites have their issues and that this site is no better than what goes on over on PushSquare. I didn't say that to seem unbiased (I even specifically said I use PushSquare more) and then take one side. Both sites suck, but both sites are great at the same time. I have a love-hate relationship with them lol.. But anyway, now I'm getting way off topic.

@StylesT That's my point. You clearly prefer Xbox, which is fine. No need to start off by saying "I own both a PS5 and Series X" as if that has any relevancy to the topic unless you are trying to convey a seemingly unbiased opinion. Why else would you say it?

And trust me, I'm not triggered that you think Sony is a joke. Like I said, Sony is a multi-billion dollar corporation who does not care about me. Sony will be fine no matter what you and this user base (which is an extremely niche section of the gaming market) think of them.

@StylesT I do have a bias towards PlayStation because I prefer their games, for the most part. Some of my favourite games of all-time happen to be PlayStation IP. I'm not trying to hide that fact. But that doesn't mean I automatically hate Xbox.

I can also look at your comment history and see that you have a bias towards Xbox, which is fine. But why try to hide it? Is it because you will have more acceptance from other users on this site because your opinion will seem unbiased and more valued?

Sony and Microsoft are two multi-billion dollar corporations who do not care about you and I. I don't see why you and people on this site feel the need to get so worked up to defend Microsoft and criticize Sony. Both companies have their strengths and weaknesses.

I find it funny when people like @StylesT and @cburg use the argument of owning both consoles to try to convey no bias. That's like when a white person says "I'm not racist because I have a black friend."

@Kaloudz I see where you're coming from, too. But banter that is completely unrelated to the topic and is at the expense of other people I think can fairly be categorized as toxic. That seems like spitting negativity by reflex.

We'll just have to disagree about the toxicity level of this site but that's okay, not everyone has to agree with everyone on every topic. The fact the you (a PureXbox user) and I (a user of both, but mainly PushSquare) are able to have a level discussion is highlighting the more important picture here, that thankfully the toxicity can be avoided, even when in disagreement. I just wish more people on these sites could recognize that.

@Kaloudz I agree with your definition. I would also add that name calling and mocking people's appearance (which was a big part of the comment section on this site yesterday, in regards to Jim Ryan) is also toxic. That's flaming and trolling and hating just for the sake of it. So my point is that this site is no better.

I can't speak for N4G because I don't even know what that is, but I'm not disagreeing with you about the toxicity at PushSquare. But like I said, larger user base and I also find more pleasant conversations there. Unfortunately, you have to weed out the toxicity everywhere but you can almost always find some good people to have good discussion with.

Edit: Kind of unrelated but I just went and checked out N4G to see what it is. I hated the layout of the site from the first second I saw it. I don't see myself ever using that site lol.. so I'll remain ignorant to the toxicity of that site, but I'm sure you're right that it's bad.