somnambulance

@BAMozzy Oh, I definitely agree that Microsoft will survive regardless of anything to do with Xbox. Xbox is small fry in comparison to everything else Microsoft does. I figure most people, even in trying to avoid Microsoft, may pour money into the company without being aware of it in the slightest.

@BAMozzy so in other words, it’s easier to let go of wages bought than inflated salaries that continue to cause problems? To me, it feels like Phil and co are slowly deflating the Xbox bubble. There’s literally executives that get hired industry to industry to allow businesses to burn down to be replaced by new businesses that are the same in all but name, and to me, the leadership at Xbox seems to be doing some similar strategies. My Dad worked for a big box that closed down shop last year and no one knew they were losing their jobs until maybe five weeks before it happened… and it was originally a two weeks notice, but stores were selling better than anticipated. Xbox’s current status reminds me of that, and I think that’s to rebrand the business to Microsoft gaming. Sierra Mist becomes Starry, you know?

@theduckofdeath The layoffs and investment into AI certainly affects the entertainment value of the product long term. If you’re expecting Xbox to continuously deliver strong titles, but you’re concerned that the titles they’ve announced may be cancelled in favor of something else, obviously that veers into bait and switch tactics. As @Millionski said, if a product isn’t supported or it doesn’t have a unique value to it, what’s the point? Xbox as a console platform just isn’t providing that value, or else the spin on Xbox across the media may be more positive.

@BAMozzy What you’ve said is true, but I would argue that the consistency in Xbox’s message is that they’ve continuously said something, done the opposite, and been on a trend to be less communicative. I almost miss the days of Redfall when Phil had a candid discussion about what went wrong there. I remember when Sega was losing steam as a console platform and I don’t remember people turning like this. It feels like the more they expand the thinner the fanbase is.

And you’re totally right that EA, WB, Sony, and Ubisoft are doing the same thing as Xbox. And I think people are frustrated with all of them as well right now. I know I am.

Hey guys, they’re clearly hiring for a reason.

@Fiendish-Beaver The Xbox strategy this generation has been baffling to say the least. Announce a console with huge fanfare while announcing a series of games that were 2-6 years out, basically change directions every 3 months, acquire developers and studios only to lay off significant amounts of staff, etc. The list goes on. It just feels like bad business. At the beginning of the generation, I’d say about 2/3rds of my friends had a Series console and were buying third party games on Xbox just to try to support Xbox. My friend group was more pro-Xbox than PlayStation or Nintendo five years ago. It’s weird to watch that slowly change over the last five years to the point where some of the same friends won’t even buy anything new that has Microsoft’s name attached to it. I’ve never seen a bigger shift away from a brand in realtime.

They’d be insane to go over $500/$800 in this climate.

That said, not sure how many people are going to want to buy one either. After announcing the layoffs and then that $80bn investment in AI, I can’t say I know anyone that wants to support Microsoft in the slightest right now. I did know people that were going to buy this, but at a certain point you erode too much trust, you know? I gotta wonder if Xbox has some plans for a positive curveball before this to get people supportive of them again.

@Titntin I’ll admit, I felt quite silly for rushing through the GP games earlier in the year in anticipation for DS2. Felt like I had nothing to play while my PS5 was in the shop. A reminder perhaps to take more time and smell the roses?

It’s Double Fine, so of course it’s worth looking into. No idea what they’ll do with this one and that’s a wonderful thing

@Titntin I’m pretty far removed from the warranty at this point. It wasn’t terrible to repair. It cost more than a new controller, but less than a new console. I’ll be keeping an eye on the console a bit more now that I know that it can do… that…. Apparently it’s not uncommon for early models of the PS5 to burn out the liquid metal that cools down the console. I was told that it may dry out again, but now I’ve got a year warranty, so I’ll be able to crank through Death Stranding, Yotei, Resi9, and Pragmata (and perhaps more) as blissfully as I want with a help card if I need it!

@ScalenePowers Enjoy Mirror’s Edge! Man, I remember buying the game ages ago when it was maybe two years old or so, and the game utterly blew me away. The level design and art direction are immaculate and the gameplay still feels like a revelation to this day. It’s a shame they tried to go with a darker, grittier sequel, misunderstanding that the absence of dark and grit is what makes the original so surreal and unique and a timeless classic. One of the best games of the 360 era for sure.

Finally Death Stranding 2 for me! After two weeks at the shop, my PS5 seems to be a-ok!

It’s the least of Bethesda’s RPGs to me and I’m honestly sort of shocked they didn’t try to pull a Cyberpunk narrative with it to try to shift public perception on the game. It may be in the top 10 biggest disappointments for me this generation. It’s not that it’s a bad game, no… It’s that it’s just ok. When you made some of the definitive RPGs in gaming and they’re fewer and far between, the expectation only increases, unfortunately, and Starfield just doesn’t come close to what Skyrim or Fallout 3 or Morrowind did ages ago now.

Paywalling two characters is sort of a junk move, but I expect this one will be a good way to sail out the last nine days of my Gamepass sub. It’s a pro that the whole game is on disk, as well. As safe as the game sounds to be, I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the most overall solid Xbox Games Studios game of the year.

@Fiendish-Beaver I’d say that sounds accurate to me. And knowing how MS is now, once a live service game starts losing steam, they’ll pull the plug on it and close the studio perhaps.

@Coletrain I totally agree. The endless remasters and transition to live service games have been my beef with PlayStation. And the fact that they waste so much time advertising Soulslikes. I just want fun games with unique premises or big, cinematic adventures. I mean, Astro Bot and Death Stranding are basically the only things they’ve made this generation that I think are essential for me, which is weird because I was loving the first party slate the last two generations.

To be frank though, Xbox has had a hard time getting out games I love too though…loved Psychonauts and Hi-Fi Rush, and Indiana Jones was a real triumph. The games have been trending in a positive direction, but that always feels like it comes before something catastrophic happens. It’s frustrating now.

This generation has been so slow to start and I don’t like that both platforms are already talking about next gen as if they’ve utilized this generation.

@Millionski @Coletrain I think I’m honestly sort of done with Xbox and PlayStation right now for future generations. I may change my mind, but this generation has pushed me away from both of them. I’ve bought every console from the both of them, but I dunno… it feels like they’ve both forgotten core concepts this generation.

Are the unrealistic expectations to have people excited about the brand? Each time Xbox does massive layoffs, they’ve hurt the integrity of their brand, which is already struggling with a higher price point and “no games” narrative. Even if the narrative changed last year a little bit, the harm’s done. I don’t know how Xbox will turn it around after burning so much goodwill.

As of two weeks ago, the last of the people I knew in real life with a Series Xbox outside myself sold theirs (outside myself). The same friend group is having a quicker and more complete abandon rate for Xbox than we had with Stadia. You can’t hit financials if you’re bleeding consumers.

@EVIL-C Second party is an informal term, but it’s a real thing. It’s the same thing as HAL Labs or Game Freak’s Pokemon series with Nintendo. It simplifies the explanation of a game that is published by a first party with license owned by a first party that is developed by a third party studio. Sega has certainly made 2nd party titles for Nintendo. 2nd party is a term that basically simplifies the discussion.

I’d imagine most on the business side of things would instead describe it as a Sony intellectual property developed under contract of an independent studio under Sony supervision rather than saying its 1st, 2nd, or 3rd party in a formal term. In the past, a second party studio may have been more or less described as a studio functioning under an exclusivity contract, as Insomniac did while developing Ratchet and Clank. The industry is changing though and exclusivity contracts function very differently than they did in previous generations. But something like Helldivers 2 does fit very directly for what the definition of what a second party product is.

@Kienda I really appreciate your comment. That’s the first time someone’s ever actually laid it out for why or what they enjoyed about the game. Thank you for giving me examples and details.

I suspect that a lot of my feelings on the game may have to do with the fact that it wasn’t a game my group socially connected to, and it’s not much a solo game. When I think of mp shooters, the ones I’ve enjoyed most felt like cultural moments as a gamer rather than a game I’m playing through.

@MasterTanookiChief If that’s the case, man, Helldivers 2 was not for me. My instant feeling on it was, “Why is everyone going crazy about this game online?” Maybe I just don’t get it. I don’t know anyone personally that was jazzed on Helldivers either. Most people I knew bought it, but didn’t really have much attachment.

I actually didn’t mind Concord taking a spin on Overwatch’s gameplay. It was different enough where it sort of felt a little Destiny-like, but not quite, you know? I liked Concord more than I liked Helldivers, but didn’t love either game. Biggest problem with Concord for me was that no one was playing it though.

I wouldn’t say I’m much of a multiplayer shooter player at this point, but I do miss being one and am seeking something that feels genuinely fresh and probably haven’t had that feeling with shooters in half a decade or so. The genre might just not be for me anymore.

@DennisReynolds @dskatter Not sure what the unique selling point is on Helldivers. I mean, it has friendly fire, which is unique these days, I guess. It’s a Starship Troopers game in all but name outside that. When I was playing it, my friend group was all sort of meh about it and we all bounced off it pretty quick. We all felt like it felt basically like a F2P game that we paid for.

I dunno. Did either of you actually play Concord? While it wasn’t an Overwatch killer as Sony was hoping, it was fairly competent as a hero shooter, just with generic designs and poor marketing. It also should’ve been F2P. The internet decided it was trash before anyone played it though, so it never had a shot. I’d hazard to guess that 95% of the people that complained about it never played it.

All that said though, what exactly was I missing with Helldivers? I don’t mind multiplayer shooters (and unlike many, I don’t care if something is live service), but I just never got the hype on this one, where it was so popular it busted the servers. Granted, I’ve been at odds with a lot of hype trains, but I’ve honestly been trying to get Helldivers for over a year and I’ve never gotten anyone get me an account of what makes it better than the similar games that have drawn criticism from the gaming community other than “it’s good and the other games aren’t.” I’m willing to try it again if I’m missing something, you know? …But on the console I already own it on.

@NishimuraX Technically, it’s a 2nd party game. Sony doesn’t own the studio, but they own the Helldivers IP. Arrowhead is independent, but the IP is basically licensed out to them, even if Arrowhead created the property. Sony is publishing the game.

That said, no way I’d buy Helldivers 2 a second time. Given that people trashed on Concord for being a $40 live service game, I don’t get why Helldivers gets the pass. The game is ok, but I truly thought it was baffling when it was a GotY frontrunner last year, given that it’s basically got the set-up of a F2P game that was sold at a premium price.

I should know later today if my PS5 is repairable after over a week of waiting for it now, so best case scenario, I’ll be picking it up tomorrow and playing some Death Stranding 2 finally!

Other than that, I’ve been out with family the last two days and today, so, while I do have my Switch 2 on me, I’ve not played it. I can see myself showing off Welcome Tour and Mario Kart World at some point.

As much as I’d love a new Banjo game, I really hope it’s made by a third party team. Xbox can license the IP. I don’t want to see another studio closed or more developers laid off because Microsoft is incompetent with how they fund projects.

9000 people lost their job, so these executives could continue to live cozy lives while pushing this AI narrative. Glad I cancelled my Gamepass subscription! Seriously, Microsoft has to have a few top execs step down if they want to save any face on this.

I’d sell my Xbox if this was cancelled. Just being honest, that’d burn the bridge with me if this was cancelled.

It’s probably coming next year in that case or, at the very least, Microsoft is confident that people will like it.

Nintendo Direct and port incoming, please!

Seriously though, I feel like I miss Halo and could use a Halo game, new, old, whatever.

1. To A T
2. Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo
3. Blue Prince

Voted for South of Midnight as a third game since I couldn’t vote other twice, but I wouldn’t say South of Midnight is a top 3 type of game. I liked it better than Doom and Clair Obscur though. I’d say Split Fiction’s a better game, but my wife didn’t like it, so it wasn’t as fun of a game! Lol. I’d put Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour above South of Midnight, fyi.

Yes, I like Welcome Tour more than Clair Obscur. The internet should take me away in the next 48 hours or so, correct?

My sub lapses on the 29th and I believe Tony Hawk will be my final Gamepass game until maybe I resub when that new Double Fine game releases.

I’m just hoping for a release date for Fable.

Ark 2 existed as an ad to regenerate interest in Ark 1 basically is what they’re saying.

I would play Warcraft today… if it was on the Xbox console.

@FatalBubbles No worries, it’s all good. I tend to play through to completion maybe 20-30 games a year and am trimming back this year, so I’m perhaps a bit more ornery about gaming than is typical and comment style is potentially reflective of that.

@FatalBubbles Already played through the previously released games, ie Indiana Jones, Blue Prince, Clair Obscur, Doom, South of Midnight, and a little bit of Avowed, though that one wasn’t a hit for me. I mean with upcoming releases this year. After Tony Hawk, which’ll be out two weeks before my sub expires, I can’t think of anything else coming to Gamepass that I want to play in 2025. Indiana Jones, Nine Sols, and Blue Prince were fantastic additions to the service recently, but if there’s not a new game every month or two that interests me, with the current price point, Gamepass isn’t worth it to remain subbed for me. I caught up with my backlog a few years back and think in terms of current and future releases. I’ve got enough old games in my digital and physical library.

Nope, I’m a software guy, and there’s just nothing coming to Xbox that really piques my interest until… Fable? My Gamepass sub ends again at the end of July and I’m letting it lapse again.

That said, I don’t really like Xbox or PlayStation’s vision at the moment for me as a consumer. At least Nintendo’s still doing the old, “We have a console, we make first party games, and they’re quality” thing. The Switch 2 line up has been barren to start, but I think I may find myself being a Nintendo-centric gamer in the near future rather than an all consoles gamer for the first time since the SNES era because I can see them sticking to that vision where Xbox feels like it’s going to be an app and PlayStation is becoming live service gatcha city.

No idea. Probably Mario Kart, but honestly… it feels like i don’t have anything I want to play right now. I’d like to play some Switch 2, but I don’t have anything new to play, so… I dunno if I’ll play anything. I’m caught up on the backlog again.

I’ll have Death Stranding 2 on Monday.

I’d like an RE9 and Pragmata demo and, less realistically, Megaman Legends shadowdropped onto modern platforms

0% chance I buy an Xbox or PlayStation in 2027. Sorry, but it’s true. This generation feels like it’s still been stuck in last generation and is finally starting to pick-up now, just slightly. If there’s a new generation, I’ll play the new games on xCloud on my Xbox One.

Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo and Mario Kart World probably

Well, I mean, I’m dropping my sub after I get what I need out of THPS 3+4, so… yeah… if it’s too pricey, I just won’t come back for Outer Worlds 2.

Wait… Keeper is this year!? Definitely didn’t expect that. I must’ve missed something during the showcase.

As an owner of both and the last gen consoles, I’d agree with this 100%.

@TheGameThrifter I’d argue that Xbox has been delivering since September, but that does feel like a mantra for Xbox at this point. At least the momentum is positive right now though.

@PsBoxSwitchOwner Even No Ghosts looks like a “I’ll play this on Gamepass when it comes out and see if I like it” type of game rather than a “Wow! I’m really looking forward to that!” type of game and I ranked it at #1. I know Clockwork Revolution was a the “big game,” getting buzz, but it remains to be seen if it’ll be able to get out of the Bioshock Infinite comparisons just yet. I still think the showcase was nice, but it just didn’t get me hyped for anything. Really odd Fable wasn’t there… Or a release date for like Witchbrook or Silksong.

Not E3 this year sold me on just two games for sure that I didn’t know about prior to the showcases in total though, and that’s Final Fantasy Tactics, which is an ancient game, and Resident Evil 9.

There are No Ghosts
Beast of Reincarnation
Keeper
Resonance
Clockwork Revolution

Now that I’ve voted, I’m sort of a little more meh about the Xbox Showcase than I was yesterday.

@Questionable_Duck Well… yeah… you’re right! Utterly questionable. It’s just.. why? It’s not like Outer Worlds has the fanbase and support to counteract this like Mario Kart does.

I left that Showcase feeling sort of confused in the Xbox vision a little bit.

The showcase was very ok to me. It sort of made me feel like this stretch of great games we got the last calendar year from CoD to CoD was sort of a fluke now though in terms of the styles of games I’d like to play from Xbox though. It feels like Fable isn’t any time soon, perhaps.

I dunno. There was some stuff announced that looks interesting, but probably nothing I’d buy without Gamepass.

Outer Worlds 2 being the first $80 game is pretty questionable. Not to knock on a game I haven’t played yet, but the first one felt sort of AA in terms of what the game was. You’d think they’d have put that risk on CoD instead. I almost feel like they’re sending Outer Worlds 2 out there to die on other platforms now.

I’d give it a C because A) after Tony Hawk, I think the hot streak for Gamepass is over for this year for my taste, B) everything is 2026 basically, so it sort of confirms that we’ll have a light fall release schedule, C) no Silksong release date, D) the old “this years old game is finally on Xbox… TODAY!” schtick, E) “You wanted a big game to end the year, well you’ve got it: COD!” F) even if I’m not too jazzed on much, the showcase was well made.

I dunno. There were a couple games that caught my eye, but I’m not sure I’d buy any of the games or play any of them if not for Gamepass. It was better than Summer Games Fest and Future Games Show, but there was no RE9 for me.

I feel like I’m really hoping for a Nintendo Direct that much more now.