@Wardstone234 I'm still using the rewards for this. My GPU sub should have expired in June 2023 and instead has been extended to August 2026 and counting.
@PhileasFragg It is not so bad — the game pass achievement requirement was dropped from 45 to 36 which is reasonable. I didn't have a problem achieving it in January or February. These are rewards points, so it is not something we are entitled to or have to do; it is just an option to save some money.
If it is savings you're after, you can earn more rewards by using the other apps (Bing phone, Xbox phone, Xbox Profile Rewards Tab, MS Rewards, Bing/Edge PC search, Edge quizzes).
@ScoTTieDLighT That all depends on the game and how you play it. If you play a game on easy or normal, then yeah, someone who plays games at all could probably shlub through it in a timely manner. Don't use the majority of game mechanics, make tons of mistakes, and still succeed.
As for Ready or Not, releasing on PC is simpler and far less restrictive than publishing to consoles. A dev doesn't even have to use a storefront, necessarily. The PC is wide open and has state-of-the-art consumer tech.
@UBERSICKO If the FFVII Remakes' sales continue to underperform, Square will become increasingly dissatisfied and ask for more money from Sony or drop the practice altogether. The Rebirth exclusivity is supposed to be 3 months, and I doubt we will see a PC version immediately afterwards. We'll see. That will restrict sales and dampen interests for the eventual PC release.
@MaccaMUFC I have to disagree — the difference is readily apparent. Not the leap from 30 to 60 fps, no, but I've had games on PC drop to 60 (due to a config bug) from the normal 90-120 at the time, and immediately felt something was visual wrong.
@themightyant The game is funny and you build stuff. Similar to Grounded and other survival games. I guess the crafting/basebuilding/shipbuilding aspect of Starfield is another comparison. You have objectives, crafting materials to collect, unlockable technology, and captured pals that can work on your base.
The pals have different fighting and assistance abilities. They also have different personalities and suffer real world ailments and exhibit behaviors (slacking off at work, lazy, ulcers, stressed out). When assigned to a camp, they automatically help you out.
That's the hook. The "Fauxkemon" and what you can do to them is kind of funny. The player works on their base & improving combat effectiveness. Slowly you realize there are a lot of layers the devs put in. I've seen photos/clips of people who are way ahead of me, and it is surprising the things you can do.
@Weebleman I, too, think Sony will (begrudgingly) do something similar to a different degree over time. Xbox is acting erratically. They just had a big Direct show and 2024 is FINALLY lined up for them to start firing on all cylinders. Then within a couple weeks they pull this. If this decision is tied to not moving enough consoles (let's be real) then be prepared to move even less consoles.
Their timing is horrendous. Get a few solid years in the bank first, just maybe? They seem to suffer from cognitive dissonance or something. If you saw a couple grand on raft in the middle of an alligator pond, would you try to get to it or just leave it be? LOL
Could be someone else (MS suits) is grabbing at the wheel while they drive down the highway.
@SodaPop6548 I beat Sea of Stars over XCloud. The network performed pretty well the vast majority of the time. Time-to-completion was 65 hours. I did not expect that.
At some point in the ABK trial, I would imagine most people came to terms with those games remaining multi-plat while MS reaped the earnings, for starters. ABK is not really part of the contention here, though the games media goes there first.
Rich on Digital Foundry had the most thoughtful examination of the situation. The other two were just off on their own fanciful desires, far to give any thought to the survival of Xbox the console. Being able to leverage the installed base of other platform-holders (consoles your company did not have to pay to produce) without deleterious effects to your own console is a fleeting dream.
PS is in a far better position to attempt this porting experiment than Xbox. They could do it without taking much of a hit to sales, the installed base is already high, and the right games would sell reasonably well. Xbox, on the contrarily, is doing this because of lagging sales, which will undoubtedly lag more severely after this.
@Weebleman It would be a gamble to swell Game Pass numbers and keep them high, while attractive new people to the platform.
I have certainly had my doubts the MS would launch a new CoD into GP or even add the previous year's CoD, which continue to outsell most of everything. This is just about guaranteed to come with a $35 DLC/early-access upgrade package in Game Pass. More people will be inclined to jump on that with GP giving a feeling of being ahead of the game.
@BacklogBrad Grounded is great. I stepped away because I was playing too much (and solo). Palworld kind of reminds me of it, in some ways. I got through the first murder in Pentiment. That is a very good game, just a different type of game than one that targets the lowest common denominator.
There would need to be a new tier inserted; Xbox...Penultimate?
Historically, I have bought most Ubisoft games that interested me. There is not enough in their service to warrant a subscription for me. Maybe the option of adding a discounted Ubi Plus as a "channel" (as some streaming services do) would work for some.
@Kang81 Xbox will recoup the ABK money through ABK games and services. Those titles (definitely the highly popular ones) will remain multiplatform. Porting other games a year late won't bring in comparable profit. What will do is make the console less and less attractive. Lower console sales (what got us here in the first place) means lower Game Pass subscriber growth.
The notion that putting Xbox games on PC will make people more interested in Xbox is...amusing. Porting those games will only further disassociate them from Xbox, undermining the console and core ecosystem.
@DennisReynolds Sony definitely has reasons to games on release on Xbox, they're just stubborn. Look home clumsy they are about PC releases. PC is the DMZ in the "console war."
Sony's model is the old Nintendo model of holding games hostage, whether you made them or not. I don't blame them; I think Xbox should be extremely careful about porting games.
@PsBoxSwitchOwner I don't think it will it will come to Xbox anytime soon or possibly ever. However, these platform holders are struggling to create growth and certainty in the market. Playstation has pivoted to Live services and more consistent PC releases.
We see with Xbox acquiring ABK, they will be a larger 3rd party publisher. That has apparently sparked the question, "Why not bring over other games?" Critically-acclaimed-yet-lesser-performing titles have been selected, along with live service games that need a sustainable community. How long until the suits come back to ask, "Why are we not trying ports of the more popular games? Why not port sooner?"
Both platform holders are looking for places to milk their completed games further.
@electrolite77 Same here, pretty much. Well, to be more precise, I had older siblings so as a kid we had ColecoVision, then Sega Master System and Nintendo. Genesis then SNES.
By '95 I was in college and worked to buy a PS. I was waiting for N64, but Nintendo is on their own timetable. One roommate at school got an N64 and my brother had one back home.
I bought PS1-3 and Xbox OG/360. I even bought PS4 and Xbox One at launch. The PS2 hype got me and I did not buy a Dreamcast until after it was discontinued. I always felt bad about that.
Times change and I was rather disillusioned with console hardware, so I sold the PS4 unopened. That set a precedent and I did not bother to buy a PS5.
Since '95 I also been playing on PC. The Series X is in the living and provides a certain convenience and synergy.
Will MS/Xbox have the guts to drop the new CoD in Game Pass? That would be a gamble. Maybe it would work out for them. The ol' $35 for DLC, boosts and early access will be offered, of course.
@HammerKirby Sarah Bond could have meant cumulatively. The next box will have much higher native compute no doubt. Xbox could also leverage cloud computing, AI, new controller technology, portability, etc. Maybe even VR or AR. In those way ways it could prove to be a larger technological leap.
Consider the leap we've had in recent years with DLSS1-3, DLSS, frame generation, GPT-4...
If we are speaking pure CPU cycles, IPC, TFLOPS, and RAM, then the next Xbox would have to have a greater leap than OG to 360.
A lot of time has passed since I completed the first two (hell, even since Exodus at this point). I recall that they were good and not too long. You may want to play them to better understand what is going on. Exodus has a graphical leap, so you may not recognize all the characters right away.
The games were definitely upgraded on PC. That may have carried over to Xbox.
@Kaloudz No, nothing like Borderlands. It is a mix of STALKER and ...well...let's see — it is a more modern and focused STALKER with a heavier narrative. Maybe a little like Far Cry (not the amusement park aspect, though) with smaller areas. Open-region not open-world. Metro is grounded other than mutant creatures.
The missions are chapter-based. There are survival aspects (health, gas mask, radiation, oxygen), managing your ammo, finding the correct ammo, and understanding how some of the homemade guns work. Better to sneak around, avoid enemies or get the drop on them. They are smart enough to hunt you down.
Metro Exodus is one of the most atmospheric games. Wind, heavy storms, explosions. The guns also sound incredible, and change based on your environment. The first time I fired the magnum was out in the open, and it sounded amazing. There is appropriate echo and reverb.
@ShadowofTwilight31 Right now there is no way to play Xbox games natively on a portable. XPlay only supports Game Pass titles, not titles you own. So, if you have a Steam Deck, Xbox support is hampered. Game Pass and ID@Xbox have a ton of games that work well on portable.
Price (for the console market) and memory would be major concerns, though.
@armondo36 I don't think this will be some fount of profit. There may be additional profit, and efforts to pursue greater profits will further undermine the console and ecosystem, while discouraging new hardware purchases.
I say so because people only have so much time and money to spend on games. PS5 is hostile territory with a larger library of games to contend with.
NTM, unless Microsoft has developed some AI porting software, significant time and resources must be dedicated to porting games. Resources that could be dedicated to Xbox. Is this a wise choice when Starfield, Redfall, and Forza each arrived a year late and in varying states of completeness? When updates are arguably slow and not substantial? The fanbase will take umbrage as the focus drifts from Xbox.
@armondo36 Sony is bringing their games to PC like a kid forced to take Castor oil.
Yes, they let Xbox go ahead and try things while they sit back and watch. It is a benefit of their market share as well as having a well-funded competitor.
MS also thought they knew what they were doing in 2013. The made numerous mistakes simultaneously (ultimately leading them to tomorrow's announcement).
Let's take a lot at the competition:
Nintendo #1 - an ardently exclusive library
Sony #2 - stubbornly exclusive despite PC being a reasonable compromise and potential sales boost
MS/Xbox #3 - apparently plotting self-sabotage (again)
Xbox games are already on PC. ABK has been assumed to remain 3rd party since the trial. Apparently, that is not enough.
Xbox 1st party currently has home court advantage and only a subset of third-party games as competition. On PS5, they will (presumably) be a year late, and go up against PS5 1st party and all of the industry's 3rd party output. If sales are good, they may be encouraged to put more games and more popular games on PS5 sooner and sooner. If sales don't go well, they may come to the same conclusion.
Xbox is not going away tomorrow. However, they may embark on a course that will impede console sales and Game Pass subscriber growth further and further. There are allegedly plans for new hardware now, but as we have been reminded, "things change."
@RonF I think it is a bad move. They could have come to this conclusion before OG Xbox. Instead, the created their own console and produced exclusives.
@Cikajovazmaj The media is saying this another example of Xbox bad message, when the situation is pretty complicated. For whatever reason, they are making what will be an unpopular opinion. They care trying to figure out how to express it. Who will do it. In the meantime, vague news of it leaked.
The specifics may not be set in stone. This may be forcing them to make rigid distinctions. For example; "all Xbox Studios games are exclusive, all Bethesda are timed-exclusive, all ABK games are multi-plat." MS may desire something more granular, which would result in uncertain exclusivity.
Honestly, how can they be surprised? You let slip that you have intent to send multiple exclusives to competing consoles. People will speculate what will go and when will it end. There is a whole cottage industry on YT, built on speculation, rumors, and "leaks." Then you put the lid on the pressure cooker by not responding for a couple weeks.
ABK will largely remain multi-plat. Fine.
Otherwise, nothing should go — not one port. In this climate, as soon as you engage in porting Xbox to PS, you eradicate confidence in your commitment to the platform.
@BRT15 Well, you're being hyperbolic on one hand, and I guess insinuating Turn 10 was too slow developing the game on the other. I chose not the address the latter.
@Ashadelo It is not worth it. I completed GoW 2018 on PC, the best version. As a result, I have no interest in playing Ragnarok. People do accept that exclusivity can promote the perception of an air of superiority and desirability. Rarity versus abundance.
@Ashadelo Regulators are not going to stand by while MS makes another large acquisition. They will hesitate to even a smaller studio right now. They need to get the current stable in order. There is little sense in acquiring more before stabilizing and integrating ABK.
Consoles will be around for another couple of generations, at least. They fill a gap and create a bridge to tens of millions of customers. I've had broadband in the northeast for 20+ years and there are still areas of America with shotty internet service. People want dedicated hardware at an affordable price.
To set the house on fire now is a colossal mistake. We don't have official word, but let's be real.
Nothing changes for the worse, nothing goes to other consoles.
The bludgeoning of the platform gets softer, though significant damage has been done. Appearances from the Xbox public facing team become incredibly awkward going forward.
What do I expect to see (as of today):
At minimum a few titles are going multiplatform. Game Pass will be reconfigured to a negative effect in the eyes of most customers.
Even a few titles going to PS, coupled with the rumor plague going around, will crush interest in the platform. Cultivated goodwill would evaporate. Connections to the platform will be severed or impaired for many. Those who unfortunately frequent comment sections or view game content on YT will have a hard time.
The Xbox figures who have worked so hard over the past few years to connect with the community will slink into the dark recesses where Nintendo and Sony execs reside. Some may resign or be removed.
I truly hope the latter prediction does not transpire.
Xbox may be forced to reveal hardware plans (controller, revision) early in an attempt to demonstrate commitment to the platform.
@smokes70 I'm still cleaning up on MS Reward Points. G.P.U. expires July 27, 2026. Already 3 free years on top of the original 3 years converted. That is with redeeming for multiple $25 and $50 gift cards last year.
The 1k monthly is easier for February. Thirty-six dailies needed versus forty-five.
Bing search was slowed down and that is understandable. You must wait 5 seconds between searches. Same on mobile. The reward of 30 points daily for reading news articles has been eliminated. Xbox App reward goals & point totals remain the same (Play Jewel 2, play a PC G.P. game, use the mobile app).
@JustinSane The problem is those may have been Xbox's plans before Microsoft higher ups arbitrarily step in a screw everything up. If it seems nonsensical for Xbox, it is probably because it is not their doing. Why would any games be ported to PS at all? If not ever, at this time?
@Shushibda I don't get the emphasis on Xbox being last place (1-2-3). If another company makes a console, even a FAANG company, they will be in 4th place and stay there until they quit. Xbox is always going to be in third place. To what degree is the question. More realistically, Xbox could take the lead in NA next gen if they would stop doing stuff like what is rumored.
Xbox had their best run with 360 because they were aggressive and launch great hardware a year ahead of Sony. That not only gave them a install base boost & lead, but the third-party support that comes with it.
I'm dubious about the inclusion of Nintendo because they lost and sidestepped Sony to refocus on children. Sony and MS target the same demographic. Nintendo targets the base of the user age pyramid. To call it a pyramid is being generous — it maybe more like an upside-down wine glass.
@Kaloudz That is too bad — Lies of P was fantastic. Many of the bosses were crazy tough. I took breaks and would leave it for a day or two then come back. Excellent game, almost like a fighting game; it gave me that rush.
I still need to go back and complete Wo Long. I believe there are DLC campaigns, too.
@Shushibda Overall, I don't think MS will get out of the hardware market intentionally. MS might steer Xbox hardware into an early grave or near irrelevancy due to meddling. After this they will ask, "Why are sales declining further?"
We are a long, long way from a suitable cloud solution or other hardware (phone, TV, etc.) replacing consoles. Dedicated hardware remains essential to success (physical, digital, Game Pass media). MS would also want a level of control over their platform's primary interface with customers.
Comments 1,012
Re: Xbox Announces Major Changes To Microsoft Rewards Going Forward
@Wardstone234 I'm still using the rewards for this. My GPU sub should have expired in June 2023 and instead has been extended to August 2026 and counting.
Re: Xbox Announces Major Changes To Microsoft Rewards Going Forward
@PhileasFragg It is not so bad — the game pass achievement requirement was dropped from 45 to 36 which is reasonable. I didn't have a problem achieving it in January or February. These are rewards points, so it is not something we are entitled to or have to do; it is just an option to save some money.
If it is savings you're after, you can earn more rewards by using the other apps (Bing phone, Xbox phone, Xbox Profile Rewards Tab, MS Rewards, Bing/Edge PC search, Edge quizzes).
Re: Ninja Theory Shares Four New Screenshots From Hellblade 2's Photo Mode
@ScoTTieDLighT That all depends on the game and how you play it. If you play a game on easy or normal, then yeah, someone who plays games at all could probably shlub through it in a timely manner. Don't use the majority of game mechanics, make tons of mistakes, and still succeed.
As for Ready or Not, releasing on PC is simpler and far less restrictive than publishing to consoles. A dev doesn't even have to use a storefront, necessarily. The PC is wide open and has state-of-the-art consumer tech.
Re: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Producer Defends Lack Of Xbox Series X|S Release
@UBERSICKO If the FFVII Remakes' sales continue to underperform, Square will become increasingly dissatisfied and ask for more money from Sony or drop the practice altogether. The Rebirth exclusivity is supposed to be 3 months, and I doubt we will see a PC version immediately afterwards. We'll see. That will restrict sales and dampen interests for the eventual PC release.
Re: Bethesda Teases Four New Features Included In Starfield's March Update
@rustyduck Davinder. I played as him solo, also.
Re: Soapbox: 15 Years On, We Reckon Capcom Should Have A Crack At Resident Evil 5 Remake
Code: Veronica is in far greater need of a remake. I'd argue that RE5 does need it and RE6 was so bad that it doesn't deserve it.
Re: Xbox First-Party Title 'Pentiment' Seems To Run Much Better On PlayStation 5
@MaccaMUFC I have to disagree — the difference is readily apparent. Not the leap from 30 to 60 fps, no, but I've had games on PC drop to 60 (due to a config bug) from the normal 90-120 at the time, and immediately felt something was visual wrong.
Re: Palworld Hits Ridiculous Player Milestone In Just One Month On Xbox & PC
@themightyant The game is funny and you build stuff. Similar to Grounded and other survival games. I guess the crafting/basebuilding/shipbuilding aspect of Starfield is another comparison. You have objectives, crafting materials to collect, unlockable technology, and captured pals that can work on your base.
The pals have different fighting and assistance abilities. They also have different personalities and suffer real world ailments and exhibit behaviors (slacking off at work, lazy, ulcers, stressed out). When assigned to a camp, they automatically help you out.
That's the hook. The "Fauxkemon" and what you can do to them is kind of funny. The player works on their base & improving combat effectiveness. Slowly you realize there are a lot of layers the devs put in. I've seen photos/clips of people who are way ahead of me, and it is surprising the things you can do.
Re: Two Xbox Exclusives Are Launching On Nintendo Switch In The Next Few Months
@Weebleman I, too, think Sony will (begrudgingly) do something similar to a different degree over time. Xbox is acting erratically. They just had a big Direct show and 2024 is FINALLY lined up for them to start firing on all cylinders. Then within a couple weeks they pull this. If this decision is tied to not moving enough consoles (let's be real) then be prepared to move even less consoles.
Their timing is horrendous. Get a few solid years in the bank first, just maybe? They seem to suffer from cognitive dissonance or something. If you saw a couple grand on raft in the middle of an alligator pond, would you try to get to it or just leave it be? LOL
Could be someone else (MS suits) is grabbing at the wheel while they drive down the highway.
Re: 'Pacific Drive' On Xbox Is A Possibility, But Probably Not Anytime Soon
@SodaPop6548 I beat Sea of Stars over XCloud. The network performed pretty well the vast majority of the time. Time-to-completion was 65 hours. I did not expect that.
Re: 'Pacific Drive' On Xbox Is A Possibility, But Probably Not Anytime Soon
Eh...I already bought it on greenman...
Re: Two Xbox Exclusives Are Launching On Nintendo Switch In The Next Few Months
Thanks for the reply, I'm in the same boat. 😄
At some point in the ABK trial, I would imagine most people came to terms with those games remaining multi-plat while MS reaped the earnings, for starters. ABK is not really part of the contention here, though the games media goes there first.
Rich on Digital Foundry had the most thoughtful examination of the situation. The other two were just off on their own fanciful desires, far to give any thought to the survival of Xbox the console. Being able to leverage the installed base of other platform-holders (consoles your company did not have to pay to produce) without deleterious effects to your own console is a fleeting dream.
PS is in a far better position to attempt this porting experiment than Xbox. They could do it without taking much of a hit to sales, the installed base is already high, and the right games would sell reasonably well. Xbox, on the contrarily, is doing this because of lagging sales, which will undoubtedly lag more severely after this.
Re: Two Xbox Exclusives Are Launching On Nintendo Switch In The Next Few Months
@Weebleman It would be a gamble to swell Game Pass numbers and keep them high, while attractive new people to the platform.
I have certainly had my doubts the MS would launch a new CoD into GP or even add the previous year's CoD, which continue to outsell most of everything. This is just about guaranteed to come with a $35 DLC/early-access upgrade package in Game Pass. More people will be inclined to jump on that with GP giving a feeling of being ahead of the game.
Re: Two Xbox Exclusives Are Launching On Nintendo Switch In The Next Few Months
@BacklogBrad Grounded is great. I stepped away because I was playing too much (and solo). Palworld kind of reminds me of it, in some ways. I got through the first murder in Pentiment. That is a very good game, just a different type of game than one that targets the lowest common denominator.
I wonder how these games will be priced...
Re: Two Xbox Exclusives Are Launching On Nintendo Switch In The Next Few Months
@ShadowofTwilight Most people take it for granted that Hi-Fi Rush would run on the Switch.
Re: Two Xbox Exclusives Are Launching On Nintendo Switch In The Next Few Months
@Muddy Play Anywheeeeree...sssoort of...
Re: These Six Games Are Coming To Xbox Game Pass (February 22 - March 5)
Boltgun is pretty good. I was playing it a lot on Steam Deck before getting burnt out.
Re: Phil Spencer Tells Xbox Fan To Expect Major xCloud Feature 'This Year'
This would be clutch since I play through XCloud on Steam Deck for some Game Pass games and can't do the same for the ones I own.
Re: Talking Point: Would You Be Interested In A New 'Multi-Subscription' Tier On Xbox?
There would need to be a new tier inserted; Xbox...Penultimate?
Historically, I have bought most Ubisoft games that interested me. There is not enough in their service to warrant a subscription for me. Maybe the option of adding a discounted Ubi Plus as a "channel" (as some streaming services do) would work for some.
Re: Xbox Petition For Helldivers 2 Goes Viral Overnight, Aims To 'Redefine The Console Wars'
I think the Until Dawn "remake" (being generous here) has a better chance of launching on Xbox than HD2.
Re: Xbox Petition For Helldivers 2 Goes Viral Overnight, Aims To 'Redefine The Console Wars'
@Kang81 Xbox will recoup the ABK money through ABK games and services. Those titles (definitely the highly popular ones) will remain multiplatform. Porting other games a year late won't bring in comparable profit. What will do is make the console less and less attractive. Lower console sales (what got us here in the first place) means lower Game Pass subscriber growth.
The notion that putting Xbox games on PC will make people more interested in Xbox is...amusing. Porting those games will only further disassociate them from Xbox, undermining the console and core ecosystem.
Re: Xbox Petition For Helldivers 2 Goes Viral Overnight, Aims To 'Redefine The Console Wars'
@DennisReynolds Sony definitely has reasons to games on release on Xbox, they're just stubborn. Look home clumsy they are about PC releases. PC is the DMZ in the "console war."
Sony's model is the old Nintendo model of holding games hostage, whether you made them or not. I don't blame them; I think Xbox should be extremely careful about porting games.
Re: Xbox Petition For Helldivers 2 Goes Viral Overnight, Aims To 'Redefine The Console Wars'
@PsBoxSwitchOwner I don't think it will it will come to Xbox anytime soon or possibly ever. However, these platform holders are struggling to create growth and certainty in the market. Playstation has pivoted to Live services and more consistent PC releases.
We see with Xbox acquiring ABK, they will be a larger 3rd party publisher. That has apparently sparked the question, "Why not bring over other games?" Critically-acclaimed-yet-lesser-performing titles have been selected, along with live service games that need a sustainable community. How long until the suits come back to ask, "Why are we not trying ports of the more popular games? Why not port sooner?"
Both platform holders are looking for places to milk their completed games further.
Re: Xbox Series X|S Sales Have Now Surpassed Original Xbox In The UK
@electrolite77 Same here, pretty much. Well, to be more precise, I had older siblings so as a kid we had ColecoVision, then Sega Master System and Nintendo. Genesis then SNES.
By '95 I was in college and worked to buy a PS. I was waiting for N64, but Nintendo is on their own timetable. One roommate at school got an N64 and my brother had one back home.
I bought PS1-3 and Xbox OG/360. I even bought PS4 and Xbox One at launch. The PS2 hype got me and I did not buy a Dreamcast until after it was discontinued. I always felt bad about that.
Times change and I was rather disillusioned with console hardware, so I sold the PS4 unopened. That set a precedent and I did not bother to buy a PS5.
Since '95 I also been playing on PC. The Series X is in the living and provides a certain convenience and synergy.
Re: Activision Blizzard's First Game Pass Release Has Been Confirmed By Xbox
Will MS/Xbox have the guts to drop the new CoD in Game Pass? That would be a gamble. Maybe it would work out for them. The ol' $35 for DLC, boosts and early access will be offered, of course.
Re: Xbox's Next Console Will Feature The 'Largest Technical Leap Ever' In A Generation
@HammerKirby Sarah Bond could have meant cumulatively. The next box will have much higher native compute no doubt. Xbox could also leverage cloud computing, AI, new controller technology, portability, etc. Maybe even VR or AR. In those way ways it could prove to be a larger technological leap.
Consider the leap we've had in recent years with DLSS1-3, DLSS, frame generation, GPT-4...
If we are speaking pure CPU cycles, IPC, TFLOPS, and RAM, then the next Xbox would have to have a greater leap than OG to 360.
Re: Metro Exodus Receives Massive Xbox Discount As Game Surpasses 10 Million Players
A lot of time has passed since I completed the first two (hell, even since Exodus at this point). I recall that they were good and not too long. You may want to play them to better understand what is going on. Exodus has a graphical leap, so you may not recognize all the characters right away.
The games were definitely upgraded on PC. That may have carried over to Xbox.
Re: Metro Exodus Receives Massive Xbox Discount As Game Surpasses 10 Million Players
@Kaloudz No, nothing like Borderlands. It is a mix of STALKER and ...well...let's see — it is a more modern and focused STALKER with a heavier narrative. Maybe a little like Far Cry (not the amusement park aspect, though) with smaller areas. Open-region not open-world. Metro is grounded other than mutant creatures.
The missions are chapter-based. There are survival aspects (health, gas mask, radiation, oxygen), managing your ammo, finding the correct ammo, and understanding how some of the homemade guns work. Better to sneak around, avoid enemies or get the drop on them. They are smart enough to hunt you down.
Metro Exodus is one of the most atmospheric games. Wind, heavy storms, explosions. The guns also sound incredible, and change based on your environment. The first time I fired the magnum was out in the open, and it sounded amazing. There is appropriate echo and reverb.
Re: Random: Phil Spencer Has Been 'Liking' Tweets About Xbox And Handhelds
@ShadowofTwilight31 Right now there is no way to play Xbox games natively on a portable. XPlay only supports Game Pass titles, not titles you own. So, if you have a Steam Deck, Xbox support is hampered. Game Pass and ID@Xbox have a ton of games that work well on portable.
Price (for the console market) and memory would be major concerns, though.
Re: First Two Xbox Exclusives Coming To 'Rival Consoles' Reportedly Revealed
@armondo36 I don't think this will be some fount of profit. There may be additional profit, and efforts to pursue greater profits will further undermine the console and ecosystem, while discouraging new hardware purchases.
I say so because people only have so much time and money to spend on games. PS5 is hostile territory with a larger library of games to contend with.
NTM, unless Microsoft has developed some AI porting software, significant time and resources must be dedicated to porting games. Resources that could be dedicated to Xbox. Is this a wise choice when Starfield, Redfall, and Forza each arrived a year late and in varying states of completeness? When updates are arguably slow and not substantial? The fanbase will take umbrage as the focus drifts from Xbox.
Re: First Two Xbox Exclusives Coming To 'Rival Consoles' Reportedly Revealed
@armondo36 Sony is bringing their games to PC like a kid forced to take Castor oil.
Yes, they let Xbox go ahead and try things while they sit back and watch. It is a benefit of their market share as well as having a well-funded competitor.
MS also thought they knew what they were doing in 2013. The made numerous mistakes simultaneously (ultimately leading them to tomorrow's announcement).
Let's take a lot at the competition:
Nintendo #1 - an ardently exclusive library
Sony #2 - stubbornly exclusive despite PC being a reasonable compromise and potential sales boost
MS/Xbox #3 - apparently plotting self-sabotage (again)
Xbox games are already on PC. ABK has been assumed to remain 3rd party since the trial. Apparently, that is not enough.
Xbox 1st party currently has home court advantage and only a subset of third-party games as competition. On PS5, they will (presumably) be a year late, and go up against PS5 1st party and all of the industry's 3rd party output. If sales are good, they may be encouraged to put more games and more popular games on PS5 sooner and sooner. If sales don't go well, they may come to the same conclusion.
Xbox is not going away tomorrow. However, they may embark on a course that will impede console sales and Game Pass subscriber growth further and further. There are allegedly plans for new hardware now, but as we have been reminded, "things change."
Re: First Two Xbox Exclusives Coming To 'Rival Consoles' Reportedly Revealed
@RonF I think it is a bad move. They could have come to this conclusion before OG Xbox. Instead, the created their own console and produced exclusives.
Re: Tension Builds As Xbox Prepares For Major 'Business Update Event' This Week
@Darylb88 For me either. However, it will likely have a negative effect on how I feel about Xbox as a device, brand/company, and ecosystem.
Re: Tension Builds As Xbox Prepares For Major 'Business Update Event' This Week
@Cikajovazmaj The media is saying this another example of Xbox bad message, when the situation is pretty complicated. For whatever reason, they are making what will be an unpopular opinion. They care trying to figure out how to express it. Who will do it. In the meantime, vague news of it leaked.
The specifics may not be set in stone. This may be forcing them to make rigid distinctions. For example; "all Xbox Studios games are exclusive, all Bethesda are timed-exclusive, all ABK games are multi-plat." MS may desire something more granular, which would result in uncertain exclusivity.
Re: Tension Builds As Xbox Prepares For Major 'Business Update Event' This Week
@BaldBelper78 That will just make the situation worse.
Re: Talking Point: What Did You Think Of The Xbox Kinect?
"Xbox On" never worked for me. That undermined the entire experience.
Re: Xbox Supposedly 'Very Surprised' At The Extent Of The Latest Rumours
Honestly, how can they be surprised? You let slip that you have intent to send multiple exclusives to competing consoles. People will speculate what will go and when will it end. There is a whole cottage industry on YT, built on speculation, rumors, and "leaks." Then you put the lid on the pressure cooker by not responding for a couple weeks.
ABK will largely remain multi-plat. Fine.
Otherwise, nothing should go — not one port. In this climate, as soon as you engage in porting Xbox to PS, you eradicate confidence in your commitment to the platform.
Re: Forza Motorsport Update 6 Changing 'Car Progression' Next Month
@BRT15 Well, you're being hyperbolic on one hand, and I guess insinuating Turn 10 was too slow developing the game on the other. I chose not the address the latter.
Re: God Of War Creator Suggests New Exclusive Strategy Could Be 'Desirable' For Xbox
@Ashadelo It is not worth it. I completed GoW 2018 on PC, the best version. As a result, I have no interest in playing Ragnarok. People do accept that exclusivity can promote the perception of an air of superiority and desirability. Rarity versus abundance.
Re: Forza Motorsport Update 6 Changing 'Car Progression' Next Month
@BRT15 FM came out in October, right. How the hell is that 6 months ago?
Re: Phil Spencer Addresses Xbox Speculation Ahead Of 'Business Update Event'
@Ashadelo Regulators are not going to stand by while MS makes another large acquisition. They will hesitate to even a smaller studio right now. They need to get the current stable in order. There is little sense in acquiring more before stabilizing and integrating ABK.
Consoles will be around for another couple of generations, at least. They fill a gap and create a bridge to tens of millions of customers. I've had broadband in the northeast for 20+ years and there are still areas of America with shotty internet service. People want dedicated hardware at an affordable price.
To set the house on fire now is a colossal mistake. We don't have official word, but let's be real.
Re: Talking Point: What Do You Expect To See From Microsoft's Update On The Future Of Xbox?
What do I hope to see:
Nothing changes for the worse, nothing goes to other consoles.
The bludgeoning of the platform gets softer, though significant damage has been done. Appearances from the Xbox public facing team become incredibly awkward going forward.
What do I expect to see (as of today):
At minimum a few titles are going multiplatform. Game Pass will be reconfigured to a negative effect in the eyes of most customers.
Even a few titles going to PS, coupled with the rumor plague going around, will crush interest in the platform. Cultivated goodwill would evaporate. Connections to the platform will be severed or impaired for many. Those who unfortunately frequent comment sections or view game content on YT will have a hard time.
The Xbox figures who have worked so hard over the past few years to connect with the community will slink into the dark recesses where Nintendo and Sony execs reside. Some may resign or be removed.
I truly hope the latter prediction does not transpire.
Xbox may be forced to reveal hardware plans (controller, revision) early in an attempt to demonstrate commitment to the platform.
Re: Talking Point: What Do You Expect To See From Microsoft's Update On The Future Of Xbox?
@smokes70 I'm still cleaning up on MS Reward Points. G.P.U. expires July 27, 2026. Already 3 free years on top of the original 3 years converted. That is with redeeming for multiple $25 and $50 gift cards last year.
The 1k monthly is easier for February. Thirty-six dailies needed versus forty-five.
Bing search was slowed down and that is understandable. You must wait 5 seconds between searches. Same on mobile. The reward of 30 points daily for reading news articles has been eliminated. Xbox App reward goals & point totals remain the same (Play Jewel 2, play a PC G.P. game, use the mobile app).
Re: Talking Point: What Do You Expect To See From Microsoft's Update On The Future Of Xbox?
@JustinSane The problem is those may have been Xbox's plans before Microsoft higher ups arbitrarily step in a screw everything up. If it seems nonsensical for Xbox, it is probably because it is not their doing. Why would any games be ported to PS at all? If not ever, at this time?
Re: Talking Point: What Do You Expect To See From Microsoft's Update On The Future Of Xbox?
@Enigk The troubling thing is that it was thrown together or moved up because of what is happening, but still a week away.
Re: Lies Of P x Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Content Comes To Xbox Game Pass Next Week
@FatGuyInLilCoat I know they patched the final boss in Lies of P quite literally the day before I beat him, thus tainting my victory. LOL
Re: Phil Spencer Addresses Xbox Speculation Ahead Of 'Business Update Event'
@Shushibda Then they are tone deaf, as the internet says.
It is not "spin," it is the facts of the matter.
Re: Phil Spencer Addresses Xbox Speculation Ahead Of 'Business Update Event'
@Shushibda I don't get the emphasis on Xbox being last place (1-2-3). If another company makes a console, even a FAANG company, they will be in 4th place and stay there until they quit. Xbox is always going to be in third place. To what degree is the question. More realistically, Xbox could take the lead in NA next gen if they would stop doing stuff like what is rumored.
Xbox had their best run with 360 because they were aggressive and launch great hardware a year ahead of Sony. That not only gave them a install base boost & lead, but the third-party support that comes with it.
I'm dubious about the inclusion of Nintendo because they lost and sidestepped Sony to refocus on children. Sony and MS target the same demographic. Nintendo targets the base of the user age pyramid. To call it a pyramid is being generous — it maybe more like an upside-down wine glass.
Re: Lies Of P x Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Content Comes To Xbox Game Pass Next Week
@Kaloudz That is too bad — Lies of P was fantastic. Many of the bosses were crazy tough. I took breaks and would leave it for a day or two then come back. Excellent game, almost like a fighting game; it gave me that rush.
I still need to go back and complete Wo Long. I believe there are DLC campaigns, too.
Re: Phil Spencer Addresses Xbox Speculation Ahead Of 'Business Update Event'
@Shushibda Overall, I don't think MS will get out of the hardware market intentionally. MS might steer Xbox hardware into an early grave or near irrelevancy due to meddling. After this they will ask, "Why are sales declining further?"
We are a long, long way from a suitable cloud solution or other hardware (phone, TV, etc.) replacing consoles. Dedicated hardware remains essential to success (physical, digital, Game Pass media). MS would also want a level of control over their platform's primary interface with customers.