@Kevw2006 Yeah, I think it comes down to a few biases that do not allow the reviewers to evaluate the game itself:
1. MS won and acquired ABK 😢
2. "Consolidation is bad!" fearmongering
3. Call of Duty is "too popular"
4. Call of Duty is "too successful"
5. Bobby Kotick "won"
6. The campaign is not the normal fleshed out standard
7. "I'd rather be playing Mario or Zelda"-anything types
These sites thought the game or ABK needed to be punished. The reviews were their version of review bombing. An attempt to "send a message." It didn't work. No reasonable person would think MWIII was actually a 4/10.
@InterceptorAlpha The FTC scenario wasn't that simple. Their lawyer asked a series of questions that were unreasonable, until the judge stopped them. They were trying to block the acquisition for glory, not protect consumers.
Many people here are ignoring the facts of the matter. A lawyer's question can't handcuff a company to never change a service or increase prices. When Game Pass console was announced, it was widely ridiculed for being "pointless." Now everyone desperately wants to keep it?
@IOI The FTC are just lawyers and all they care about is winning a case against big tech here. Their argument remains poor, and they are misrepresenting the facts to slap something together. This isn't water, electric, or housing — it's videogames. VIDEOGAMES. Even worse, they chose to focus on one.
The scenario (1a) they presented was that MS would make ABK games exclusive to Xbox "harm" Sony. The next hypothetical (1b) was a huge price increase for Call of Duty, Game Pass and XCloud to "extort" people. This would be highly effective because as we all know, humans need CoD to live. They also asked if MS would do several things that Sony has done for a decade regarding the Call of Duty.
The ABK deal will have been closed for 12 months by the time the next Call of Duty arrives. Starfield, Forza, and STALKER will be in the service with Avowed and Indy's arrivals imminent. The service was always going to undergo a price increase (ABK or no ABK) and restructuring.
@GeeEssEff Whether you personally "don't like those games" or think they arrived in the service too late is of no relevance. It has no bearing on whether or not MS should be clear to acquire ABK. That has nothing to do with "protecting the consumer." Any game in the service is for sale outside of Game Pass, an optional service.
@EvenStephen7 I agree, for the most part. Twisted Metal was pretty dumb. Watchable, but dumb. It was something I put on and didn't bother to sit in front of the TV the whole time. It belongs in the Halo bucket, not with the other two.
No, I only remember Driver and maybe Driver 2 on PS. It was a big deal when you were able to step out of the car. I was not aware that Ubisoft had control of the series.
@IOI Whether those people end up joining Game Pass or not, it means more eyes on those games. Game Pass is a great promotional mechanism across all platforms. Awareness of the platform and the title are greatly increased. The onus is still on the consumer to buy a game, rent it (BB and HV are gone, GameFly still exists), join Game Pass, or do nothing.
People might want to compare Game Pass Ultimate pricing & offerings to GameFly (https://www.gamefly.com/registration).
@Pac_Bot It seemed rather clear to me. MS sent the notification to multiple points of contact (Xbox console, email, etc.). There was even an included link to other point redemption options. Insiders, game sites, and YTbers jump the gun on every bit of news or rumor, releasing leaks and sparking confusion for profit.
Game Pass has been absurdly cheap considering what you get and the efficacy of reward points. I converted about 3 years of XBLive to Ultimate, have been on pure rewards point for year after that period ended, and my membership won't expire until Nov. 27, 2026 (add climbing). The service has to be paid for somehow.
Halo Infinite swept the legs out of FH5 and killed its momentum for me. I've revisited over the last few years and recently have been playing near-daily. FH5 is a fantastic game.
@themightyant Thanks for the tip about 3 months of Core being a better deal. Coincidentally, I started receiving notifications that the 1-month GPU auto renewal is ending August 12, 2024.
@AccessibleDaydream Why? Because Ytbers and "insiders" leak everything they can (or fabricate info) for clicks (profit). MS/Xbox has been carrying the games media or streamer news for years now. Sony and Nintendo provide little and Xbox garners stronger response, even if the news bits were 1:1. This article has links to 3 other articles about the same thing on this very site.
@themightyant I mistyped — my membership currently expires Nov. 27, 2026. So, it is about to cross into 2027, not 2028. Two years and 5 months to go. That's purely fueled by rewards points since June 2023. I changed to 1-month GPU auto renewal from redeeming 3-month GPU, as it works out to less points.
Lately, I've become lazy about earning Edge, Bing, and mobile points. I've been doing the same routine for years now.
@themightyant I'm in a similar situation regarding the cost of GPU and MS reward points (pushing expiration into 2028 shortly). If it were somehow a financial issue, I'd simply cancel one of my streaming service subscriptions or subscribe to GPU discontinuously.
I have to say, though...Ryan McCaffrey is a goof and has grown tiresome. He only attributes the phrase "stepping on rakes" to MS Xbox and never to Sony and Nintendo screw ups. Nor can he make a video without saying, "banger/bang-ger," or "this/that ain't it." I've grown to dislike him.
This does not affect me, nor is it surprising. Game Pass Ultimate is worth it even without Day One first party. Still, GPU includes those titles, discounts on purchase, along with MS Reward points for playing. I am stocked up due to those points. Regardless, I would pay the monthly sub fee if need be. Twenty dollars is the cost of buying lunch outside for one day.
P.S. That family tier was never coming to US/Europe; that has been obvious for some time.
@armondo36 Same here. I vowed to never to buy or play another Madden game after they did this, and never did. I'm someone who had played Madden since I was elven or twelve and the first game released on Sega Genesis. Twenty years later, they still have the NFL/NFLPA licenses locked down. NFL game progression was destroyed by this.
DR1 and DR3 are my favorites. I voted for #1. One, two, and three were cool, with only DR4 being lackluster. DR3 really needs a performance boost on Series X.
I tried the Steam demo for Flintlock this weekend. The game is not something I would buy. It may take some more time with it (upgrades and unlocks) and hopefully the finished product is a little more polished.
@Fiendish-Beaver We are speculating way too much on all Xbox games going to PS. Right now, we are focused on a narrow sliver of time that has been heavily meddled with by regulatory gaze. The Xbox was created for a reason. MS wants control and the player base is 30 million on Series alone.
Console players are the easiest to indoctrinate to new services; it's the $500 barrier that is a problem when phones offer mobile utility & necessity, tablets are cheaper, and the console competition is entrenched. MS won't want to be beholden to Sony as the only console platform today any more than in 2001.
@Mustoe I have about 9 hours in Mankind Divided — though I doubt I've played since 2020 (just checked Steam, yes Jan. 2020).
My most egregious backlog completion is the original Deus Ex. I bought it at launch after playing a demo disc. Two restarts and 13 years later, I beat the Steam version. Half-Life 2 is the second longest stretch.
@GuyinPA75 The only really damning moment (that I recall) was immediately after the PS4 E3 2013 show, when Xbox got trounced on price and changing/amorphous policy. Angry Joe tried to interview him, and Major Nelson was pissed off and rude. I can understand in that moment being upset. Regardless, he should have handled it better. Mattrick also made the "If you can't get online, we have a console for you; Xbox 360" right in that window.
@Kooky_Geezer I haven't encountered stick drift on an Xbox controller since the first half of last gen. I've had other issues with them, like the D-pads were not great, but became much better. Also, the cushion on the backstop of the triggers is some kind of neoprene material. It seems to melt under pressure over play-time and can be pretty annoying in play.
On one or two controllers (e.g. Project Scorpio), the trigger does not immediately return upon release. It sticks, like it is giving the backstop a little kiss.
I've seen some people complain about the grips on the controller coming off. I'm curious how someone accomplishes this.
@Ricky-Spanish They have many studios making games in parallel. Additional games could be in a similar state or further along. The show has a time limit and Xbox has partners whose game also needed time. Some games don't make the cut. There is significant time involved in putting together each of those trailers.
Because Xbox did not show more gameplay for SoD3 (for example) does not mean it is not playable or that there are not others like it. E-Day is early so we likely won't see gameplay for a year or so.
@PsBoxSwitchOwner I understand having a preference, I just don't get the people being absolute about it. When there is a choice, I pick male every time, automatically. It is not even a thought, more like I'm answering a question about myself on a questionnaire. Now if the main character is female (Lara Croft, Joanna Dark, even the dreaded Kat) that is not a big deal.
@RadioHedgeFund You picked male or female (I think, I always pick male by default) and doing evil things or good things changed your appearance. I don't need to create a character in every game. These days, there may the option or a male option. Not really my concern for this game, as he will probably look goofier than the girl character.
@jesse_dylan MS does partner shows now (two a year?). So there's Developer Direct, Partner Showcase, and Xbox Summer Showcase (yesterday). Then externally there's GamesCon (August), Keoughley's Summer Showcase, Keoughley's Game Awards, and I think there was a Japanese showcase last year. Those are just the shows I can remember.
@jesse_dylan This is just one (long) show, and they have others coming. Persona 3, 5, 5 super-deformed, 4 is coming, Methaphor Refantasmo, Secrets of Mana, Octopath 1&2...There are plenty of JRPGS and JRPG-inspired games on or coming to Xbox. There could be even more if Xbox were a Japanese company, but hey...
Indie games are added to Game Pass every month. No shortage there.
@Danny272 That is just one significant change they added. It is not trivial. If you play a lot of shooting games (1st and third person) over the years, you will notice little annoyances like not being able to aim straight up or straight down (especially over railings), bullets hitting obstacles that appear to be cleared by the muzzle, stiff crouched and prone positions, heavy vulnerability peek around corners to the off-hand side, etc. Any improvements to aiming and movement (especially on console) are appreciated.
The improvements to aiming in the dive and prone positions look pretty good to me. Time will tell. You will have a chance when outnumbered and sandwiched between enemies. MGS4 did something like this in the prone position, to a lesser level.
The studio(s) stated that they have more showings before release. MP and Zombies will get more time; however, they are not going to reveal all the changes before release (and no one should want them to).
@themightyant That could very much be true. We don't have enough information. Could a combination of the theorized events that lead to Xbox missing the Aug. 20th date.
@Boogaloo_Jenkins Halo made the Xbox. Resident Evil, FFVII, Madden, NCAA Football, MGS, and Tekken made PlayStation. Crash was more of a mascot than a game that was an actual draw.
Either way, these are more conveniently timed rumors.
@JayJ Yeah...If only all those people had...bought the game? At least played and completed it? The outrage over closure of studios and layoffs stems from various motivations, many of which are irrational, disingenuous and/or profit-driven.
@somnambulance No, Bethesda and ABK would not have died without acquisition. Well, ABK, anyway. Bethesda/ZeniMax was struggling financially (not the first time) and Starfield may have been released prematurely. Studio closures, project cancellations, and layoffs would have happened sooner (and perhaps be more widespread).
ABK was public and the stock price was taking a hit. The value of the company was declining by billions of dollars. Microsoft paid a substantial premium on each stock unit. If the acquisition had been blocked or fallen through, the stock price would have plummeted, losing the company billions in value.
Comments 1,032
Re: Hands On: Call Of Duty MW3's Campaign Is Here For A Good Time, But A Short Time
@Kevw2006 Yeah, I think it comes down to a few biases that do not allow the reviewers to evaluate the game itself:
1. MS won and acquired ABK 😢
2. "Consolidation is bad!" fearmongering
3. Call of Duty is "too popular"
4. Call of Duty is "too successful"
5. Bobby Kotick "won"
6. The campaign is not the normal fleshed out standard
7. "I'd rather be playing Mario or Zelda"-anything types
These sites thought the game or ABK needed to be punished. The reviews were their version of review bombing. An attempt to "send a message." It didn't work. No reasonable person would think MWIII was actually a 4/10.
Re: Microsoft Says FTC Is Being 'Misleading' In Response To Xbox Game Pass Criticisms
@InterceptorAlpha The FTC scenario wasn't that simple. Their lawyer asked a series of questions that were unreasonable, until the judge stopped them. They were trying to block the acquisition for glory, not protect consumers.
Many people here are ignoring the facts of the matter. A lawyer's question can't handcuff a company to never change a service or increase prices. When Game Pass console was announced, it was widely ridiculed for being "pointless." Now everyone desperately wants to keep it?
Re: Microsoft Says FTC Is Being 'Misleading' In Response To Xbox Game Pass Criticisms
@IOI The FTC are just lawyers and all they care about is winning a case against big tech here. Their argument remains poor, and they are misrepresenting the facts to slap something together. This isn't water, electric, or housing — it's videogames. VIDEOGAMES. Even worse, they chose to focus on one.
The scenario (1a) they presented was that MS would make ABK games exclusive to Xbox "harm" Sony. The next hypothetical (1b) was a huge price increase for Call of Duty, Game Pass and XCloud to "extort" people. This would be highly effective because as we all know, humans need CoD to live. They also asked if MS would do several things that Sony has done for a decade regarding the Call of Duty.
The ABK deal will have been closed for 12 months by the time the next Call of Duty arrives. Starfield, Forza, and STALKER will be in the service with Avowed and Indy's arrivals imminent. The service was always going to undergo a price increase (ABK or no ABK) and restructuring.
Re: Microsoft Says FTC Is Being 'Misleading' In Response To Xbox Game Pass Criticisms
@GeeEssEff Whether you personally "don't like those games" or think they arrived in the service too late is of no relevance. It has no bearing on whether or not MS should be clear to acquire ABK. That has nothing to do with "protecting the consumer." Any game in the service is for sale outside of Game Pass, an optional service.
Re: Sony PlayStation 'Regrettably Outspends Us', Says Xbox EMEA Marketing Boss
@x3King84 "Let’s be honest, most rumours have been right."
I wouldn't say that — the media and general internet denizens are manufacturing rumors incessantly. Some of them have to be true.
Re: Halo TV Show Cancelled By Paramount+ After Two Seasons
@EvenStephen7 I agree, for the most part. Twisted Metal was pretty dumb. Watchable, but dumb. It was something I put on and didn't bother to sit in front of the TV the whole time. It belongs in the Halo bucket, not with the other two.
Re: FTC Calls Out Xbox's New 'Degraded' Game Pass Tier & Price Increases
The way things are going, the FTC better pad their resumes before October. Why don't these guys go after cable companies?
Re: Here's The Final List Of Xbox 360 Store Sales Ahead Of July 29th
I'm tempted to get Yie Ar Kung-Fu for old times' sake.
Re: Xbox Confirms Next Three Game Pass Titles, Teases 'Another Update' Coming Soon
@Owyn I think it cycled out.
EDIT:
Persona 3 is still on the console Game Pass Ultimate. I'm not sure if I tried searching for the PC version in the Xbox app before the other day.
Re: Remember Driver On Xbox? Ubisoft Says It's Working On 'Exciting Projects' For The Franchise
No, I only remember Driver and maybe Driver 2 on PS. It was a big deal when you were able to step out of the car. I was not aware that Ubisoft had control of the series.
Re: Stalker 2 Dev Drops Beautiful New Screenshots As We Near Xbox Game Pass Launch
@IOI Whether those people end up joining Game Pass or not, it means more eyes on those games. Game Pass is a great promotional mechanism across all platforms. Awareness of the platform and the title are greatly increased. The onus is still on the consumer to buy a game, rent it (BB and HV are gone, GameFly still exists), join Game Pass, or do nothing.
People might want to compare Game Pass Ultimate pricing & offerings to GameFly (https://www.gamefly.com/registration).
Re: Microsoft Rewards Is Making Big Changes Relating To Xbox Game Pass
@Pac_Bot It seemed rather clear to me. MS sent the notification to multiple points of contact (Xbox console, email, etc.). There was even an included link to other point redemption options. Insiders, game sites, and YTbers jump the gun on every bit of news or rumor, releasing leaks and sparking confusion for profit.
Game Pass has been absurdly cheap considering what you get and the efficacy of reward points. I converted about 3 years of XBLive to Ultimate, have been on pure rewards point for year after that period ended, and my membership won't expire until Nov. 27, 2026 (add climbing). The service has to be paid for somehow.
Re: Talking Point: If You Had To Limit Yourself To Three Xbox Games, What Would They Be?
Starfield, FH5, and a third that needs more consideration before choosing.
Re: Forza Horizon 5 Still Growing As Playground Games Hits Impressive New Player Count
Halo Infinite swept the legs out of FH5 and killed its momentum for me. I've revisited over the last few years and recently have been playing near-daily. FH5 is a fantastic game.
Re: Xbox Game Pass Gets Price Increases And New 'Standard' Subscription Tier
@themightyant Thanks for the tip about 3 months of Core being a better deal. Coincidentally, I started receiving notifications that the 1-month GPU auto renewal is ending August 12, 2024.
Re: Rumour: Day One Releases Delayed On A 'Case-By-Case Basis' For Xbox Game Pass Standard Tier
@dreadful What?!? "Literally?" Not even close.
Re: Rumour: Day One Releases Delayed On A 'Case-By-Case Basis' For Xbox Game Pass Standard Tier
@AccessibleDaydream Why? Because Ytbers and "insiders" leak everything they can (or fabricate info) for clicks (profit). MS/Xbox has been carrying the games media or streamer news for years now. Sony and Nintendo provide little and Xbox garners stronger response, even if the news bits were 1:1. This article has links to 3 other articles about the same thing on this very site.
Here is the actual US Game Pass site (just Core and Ultimate offered):
https://www.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-game-pass?xr=shellnav
Re: Xbox Game Pass Gets Price Increases And New 'Standard' Subscription Tier
@themightyant I mistyped — my membership currently expires Nov. 27, 2026. So, it is about to cross into 2027, not 2028. Two years and 5 months to go. That's purely fueled by rewards points since June 2023. I changed to 1-month GPU auto renewal from redeeming 3-month GPU, as it works out to less points.
Lately, I've become lazy about earning Edge, Bing, and mobile points. I've been doing the same routine for years now.
Re: Reaction: Microsoft's Constant Tweaking Of Xbox Game Pass Is Becoming Exhausting
"Just pick a plan and stick with it"
Ultimate. Why would you ever choose anything but GP Ultimate?
Re: Xbox Game Pass Gets Price Increases And New 'Standard' Subscription Tier
@themightyant I'm in a similar situation regarding the cost of GPU and MS reward points (pushing expiration into 2028 shortly). If it were somehow a financial issue, I'd simply cancel one of my streaming service subscriptions or subscribe to GPU discontinuously.
I have to say, though...Ryan McCaffrey is a goof and has grown tiresome. He only attributes the phrase "stepping on rakes" to MS Xbox and never to Sony and Nintendo screw ups. Nor can he make a video without saying, "banger/bang-ger," or "this/that ain't it." I've grown to dislike him.
Re: Xbox Game Pass Gets Price Increases And New 'Standard' Subscription Tier
This does not affect me, nor is it surprising. Game Pass Ultimate is worth it even without Day One first party. Still, GPU includes those titles, discounts on purchase, along with MS Reward points for playing. I am stocked up due to those points. Regardless, I would pay the monthly sub fee if need be. Twenty dollars is the cost of buying lunch outside for one day.
P.S. That family tier was never coming to US/Europe; that has been obvious for some time.
Re: 'Nobody Wants To Die' Extended Gameplay Shows Off Impressive Unreal Engine 5 Visuals
This one looks interesting, and I hope it gets the necessary polish to impress. The female cops voice does seem like a placeholder, though.
Re: 'Double Dragon' Is Officially Getting A 3D Revival On Xbox In 2025
Just make it look & play faithful to the series. Double Dragon was king of the arcades before Street Fighter (II).
Re: Talking Point: Is There A Place For 'Snap Mode' On Xbox In 2024?
I used to put a game (sports) on while playing...games. My only major complaint about snap is that it wasted a lot of screen real estate.
Re: The Incredible 'ESPN NFL 2K5' Celebrates Its 20th Anniversary This Month
@armondo36 Same here. I vowed to never to buy or play another Madden game after they did this, and never did. I'm someone who had played Madden since I was elven or twelve and the first game released on Sega Genesis. Twenty years later, they still have the NFL/NFLPA licenses locked down. NFL game progression was destroyed by this.
Re: Capcom's Upcoming Game Pass Release Scores Xbox Series X|S Demo
@Savage_Joe I'm in the U.S. and I had to search for it. The GP tile leads right to preinstall for the full game, but no mention of the demo.
Re: Pick One: Which Dead Rising Game Is Your Favourite On Xbox?
DR1 and DR3 are my favorites. I voted for #1. One, two, and three were cool, with only DR4 being lackluster. DR3 really needs a performance boost on Series X.
Re: Xbox Game Pass: All Games Coming Soon In July 2024
I tried the Steam demo for Flintlock this weekend. The game is not something I would buy. It may take some more time with it (upgrades and unlocks) and hopefully the finished product is a little more polished.
Re: Talking Point: Xbox Fans, How Do You Feel About The Future Of The Brand In 2024?
@Fiendish-Beaver We are speculating way too much on all Xbox games going to PS. Right now, we are focused on a narrow sliver of time that has been heavily meddled with by regulatory gaze. The Xbox was created for a reason. MS wants control and the player base is 30 million on Series alone.
Console players are the easiest to indoctrinate to new services; it's the $500 barrier that is a problem when phones offer mobile utility & necessity, tablets are cheaper, and the console competition is entrenched. MS won't want to be beholden to Sony as the only console platform today any more than in 2001.
Re: Digital Foundry Breaks Down Xbox's Impressive Perfect Dark Showcase
@Mustoe I have about 9 hours in Mankind Divided — though I doubt I've played since 2020 (just checked Steam, yes Jan. 2020).
My most egregious backlog completion is the original Deus Ex. I bought it at launch after playing a demo disc. Two restarts and 13 years later, I beat the Steam version. Half-Life 2 is the second longest stretch.
Re: Former Xbox Exec 'Major Nelson' Announces Next Move In Gaming
@GuyinPA75 The only really damning moment (that I recall) was immediately after the PS4 E3 2013 show, when Xbox got trounced on price and changing/amorphous policy. Angry Joe tried to interview him, and Major Nelson was pissed off and rude. I can understand in that moment being upset. Regardless, he should have handled it better. Mattrick also made the "If you can't get online, we have a console for you; Xbox 360" right in that window.
Re: Talking Point: Are You Interested In Any Of The New Xbox Series X|S Models?
@Kooky_Geezer I haven't encountered stick drift on an Xbox controller since the first half of last gen. I've had other issues with them, like the D-pads were not great, but became much better. Also, the cushion on the backstop of the triggers is some kind of neoprene material. It seems to melt under pressure over play-time and can be pretty annoying in play.
On one or two controllers (e.g. Project Scorpio), the trigger does not immediately return upon release. It sticks, like it is giving the backstop a little kiss.
I've seen some people complain about the grips on the controller coming off. I'm curious how someone accomplishes this.
Re: Xbox Apparently Could Have Shown Much More At This Year's Showcase
@jesse_dylan Tokyo Game show in late September. Gamescon is in late August.
Re: Xbox Apparently Could Have Shown Much More At This Year's Showcase
@Ricky-Spanish They have many studios making games in parallel. Additional games could be in a similar state or further along. The show has a time limit and Xbox has partners whose game also needed time. Some games don't make the cut. There is significant time involved in putting together each of those trailers.
Because Xbox did not show more gameplay for SoD3 (for example) does not mean it is not playable or that there are not others like it. E-Day is early so we likely won't see gameplay for a year or so.
Re: Talking Point: How Are You Feeling About Fable After The Xbox Games Showcase?
@Spider-Kev Kat from Gears 4 & 5. Many people complained about her.
Re: Talking Point: How Are You Feeling About Fable After The Xbox Games Showcase?
Fable looks great — looking forward seeing more (or even playing the game) a year from now.
Re: Talking Point: How Are You Feeling About Fable After The Xbox Games Showcase?
@PsBoxSwitchOwner I understand having a preference, I just don't get the people being absolute about it. When there is a choice, I pick male every time, automatically. It is not even a thought, more like I'm answering a question about myself on a questionnaire. Now if the main character is female (Lara Croft, Joanna Dark, even the dreaded Kat) that is not a big deal.
Re: Talking Point: How Are You Feeling About Fable After The Xbox Games Showcase?
@RadioHedgeFund You picked male or female (I think, I always pick male by default) and doing evil things or good things changed your appearance. I don't need to create a character in every game. These days, there may the option or a male option. Not really my concern for this game, as he will probably look goofier than the girl character.
Re: Reaction: Xbox's 2024 Showcase Felt Like A Throwback To The 360 Era, In The Best Way Possible
@jesse_dylan MS does partner shows now (two a year?). So there's Developer Direct, Partner Showcase, and Xbox Summer Showcase (yesterday). Then externally there's GamesCon (August), Keoughley's Summer Showcase, Keoughley's Game Awards, and I think there was a Japanese showcase last year. Those are just the shows I can remember.
Re: Reaction: Xbox's 2024 Showcase Felt Like A Throwback To The 360 Era, In The Best Way Possible
@jesse_dylan This is just one (long) show, and they have others coming. Persona 3, 5, 5 super-deformed, 4 is coming, Methaphor Refantasmo, Secrets of Mana, Octopath 1&2...There are plenty of JRPGS and JRPG-inspired games on or coming to Xbox. There could be even more if Xbox were a Japanese company, but hey...
Indie games are added to Game Pass every month. No shortage there.
Re: Reaction: Xbox's 2024 Showcase Felt Like A Throwback To The 360 Era, In The Best Way Possible
@Danny272 That is just one significant change they added. It is not trivial. If you play a lot of shooting games (1st and third person) over the years, you will notice little annoyances like not being able to aim straight up or straight down (especially over railings), bullets hitting obstacles that appear to be cleared by the muzzle, stiff crouched and prone positions, heavy vulnerability peek around corners to the off-hand side, etc. Any improvements to aiming and movement (especially on console) are appreciated.
The improvements to aiming in the dive and prone positions look pretty good to me. Time will tell. You will have a chance when outnumbered and sandwiched between enemies. MGS4 did something like this in the prone position, to a lesser level.
The studio(s) stated that they have more showings before release. MP and Zombies will get more time; however, they are not going to reveal all the changes before release (and no one should want them to).
Re: Reaction: Xbox's 2024 Showcase Felt Like A Throwback To The 360 Era, In The Best Way Possible
@Danny272 "Extra frames"? Do you mean the realistic range of motion?
Re: Reaction: Xbox's 2024 Showcase Felt Like A Throwback To The 360 Era, In The Best Way Possible
Black Ops 6 upgrade just went live, and it is $30.
Re: Black Myth: Wukong Suffers Delay, But Only For Xbox Series X|S
@themightyant That could very much be true. We don't have enough information. Could a combination of the theorized events that lead to Xbox missing the Aug. 20th date.
Re: Tango Gameworks, Arkane Austin Tribute Appears In LA Ahead Of Summer Game Fest
"We hate money."
Sure you do...
Re: Another Two Games Rumoured For Xbox Game Pass This Month, Including PS5's 'Tchia'
**Ahem** PC's TChia.
Re: Report: Xbox Is Working On A Halo Remaster, Also 'Considering' PS5 Release
@Boogaloo_Jenkins Halo made the Xbox. Resident Evil, FFVII, Madden, NCAA Football, MGS, and Tekken made PlayStation. Crash was more of a mascot than a game that was an actual draw.
Either way, these are more conveniently timed rumors.
Re: Bethesda Developers Now Have Stronger Employee Rights Within Microsoft
@JayJ Yeah...If only all those people had...bought the game? At least played and completed it? The outrage over closure of studios and layoffs stems from various motivations, many of which are irrational, disingenuous and/or profit-driven.
Re: These Four Games Are Coming To Xbox Game Pass (June 12-18)
Another one I bought that hits Game Pass. I can really pick 'em!
Even when I wait for big sales, Game Pass waits with me. LOL
Re: Talking Point: 10 Years Ago, Phil Spencer's First E3 In Charge Marked A Turning Point For Xbox
@somnambulance No, Bethesda and ABK would not have died without acquisition. Well, ABK, anyway. Bethesda/ZeniMax was struggling financially (not the first time) and Starfield may have been released prematurely. Studio closures, project cancellations, and layoffs would have happened sooner (and perhaps be more widespread).
ABK was public and the stock price was taking a hit. The value of the company was declining by billions of dollars. Microsoft paid a substantial premium on each stock unit. If the acquisition had been blocked or fallen through, the stock price would have plummeted, losing the company billions in value.