[Arkam]

Looks like Xbox Game Studios is getting a new head. Alan Hartman (Turn 10 founder) is retiring after 30 years at MS. He was only the head or Xbox Game Studios since last November.

Looks like Craig Duncan (previously head of Rare) will be taking the reigns of the Xbox Game Studios.

Will be curious how that shakes up their plans for the future. On the one hand they turned Sea of Thieves into a thriving game....on the other, where the fuck is Everwild?

 

[Kvally]

Looks like Xbox Game Studios is getting a new head. Alan Hartman (Turn 10 founder) is retiring after 30 years at MS. He was only the head or Xbox Game Studios since last November.

Looks like Craig Duncan (previously head of Rare) will be taking the reigns of the Xbox Game Studios.

Will be curious how that shakes up their plans for the future. On the one hand they turned Sea of Thieves into a thriving game....on the other, where the fuck is Everwild?

I need me some Everwild deets. As for Craig Duncan and Alan Hartman, I haven't heard of them. But then again, I don't pay attention much to employees outside of the big CEO names. Turn 10 (along with Playground Games) are a stellar team. Hopefully that carries over.

Rare with GaaS with Sea of Thieves (successfully). However, I don't care for that game. I hope that they are not going GaaS with Everwild and making it like Sea of Thieves.

 

[regawdless]

lol man the Xbots on X are becoming so desperate, it actually hurts



Yeah it's number one... In the Xbox category. PSVR2 is outselling the Series X at the moment.

 

[regawdless]

The most funny thing about this, I just checked the US Amazon videogame bestsellers. No Xbox console is even in the top 100.

 

[regawdless]

 

[CAPTAIN RAINCOAT]

the last 2 years in gaming have been pretty bland...on all consoles

 

[Mr Shifts]

My xbox year in review:

646 Hours - the end game min/max action is satisfying, this release has the most effective implementation of Bethesda's perk system to date. The S.P.E.C.I.A.L perks points and perk cards can be modified at will, and saved as build loadouts to call up on demand, weapons/armor legendary modules can be swapped out to compliment the perk loadout, mutations enhance these loadouts turning you into a god that eats worlds, not to mention food/alcohol and drug buffs to compliment the build currently in use.

With videogames, it's gameplay mechanics and systems with a well defined gameplay feedback loop that draw me in - this game has that covered off convincingly. And I'm still discovering stuff and have major content paths to dig into (Daily Ops/Expeditions/Raids).

The onion of Fallout games - layer after layer

 

[J-Roderton]

Neat.

MGS Phantom Pain - 57 hrs
Dark Souls Remastered - 41 hrs

 

[BlackOlivesMatter]

why though?

 

[Frito_Pendejo]

why though?

Why make games when you can do this instead?

 

[Hostile_18]

Any news on Clockwork Revolution? It is my most anticipated Xbox game, but I feel like they have been radio silent for at least a year.

 

[Bullet Club]

 

[regawdless]

For some reason, most Xbox games don't sell well in recent years. Even when being available on PS5 - outside of pirate games, apparently.

 

[Stilton Disco]

For some reason, most Xbox games don't sell well in recent years. Even when being available on PS5 - outside of pirate games, apparently.

Xbox is on the final stretch of the hood intentioned road to hell.

A console brand's success is due to a delicate balance of quality, value for money and FOMO. It's why it's very rarely the most powerful and expensive system that ever ends up the most popular each generation.

Yet just being cheap and having good games is no guarantee of success (the GameCube likely being the best example there).

Xbox took away their brand's mystique and allure as something people wanted but couldn't have as soon as they started releasing on PC. Now they're going full multiplatform, there is no X factor to drive each release's excitement. It's not the new Xbox game, it's just the new game from third party publisher Microsoft, that happens to be on Xbox and PC before Playstation.

We're already seeing the same trajectory of declining sales in Steam for Playstation titles. The first selling amazingly, then each since selling less as time goes on, even if it's only from one game in a series to the next, rather than a complete collapse in interest.

Next they've just not managed to maintain any semblance of quality, and they buy talent rather than nurture it. This game in particular is an example of a studio that was already having problems that's been made first party through purchase, not a studio Xbox made and that earned its prominence through proving its mettle.

Xbox games are the ultimate form of western AAA slop. A disposable product made for no one but the devs and with a general lack of direction or care for the actual audience.

And I fully expect to be seeing the same thing next gen for every Playstation release.

 

[Bullet Club]

It does feel like that MS are making games for the sake of making games these days, rather than being a company full of people that want to produce great games. Just putting out games to fill up their Game Pass quota.

 

[Polden]

It does feel like that MS are making games for the sake of making games these days, rather than being a company full of people that want to produce great games. Just putting out games to fill up their Game Pass quota.

With Game Pass, Xbox has turned into the Netflix of gaming. All filler content spread out periodically so you never unsubscribe. Xbox is no longer a part of culture, it just rides its coattails.

 

[regawdless]

Xbox is on the final stretch of the hood intentioned road to hell.

A console brand's success is due to a delicate balance of quality, value for money and FOMO. It's why it's very rarely the most powerful and expensive system that ever ends up the most popular each generation.

Yet just being cheap and having good games is no guarantee of success (the GameCube likely being the best example there).

Xbox took away their brand's mystique and allure as something people wanted but couldn't have as soon as they started releasing on PC. Now they're going full multiplatform, there is no X factor to drive each release's excitement. It's not the new Xbox game, it's just the new game from third party publisher Microsoft, that happens to be on Xbox and PC before Playstation.

We're already seeing the same trajectory of declining sales in Steam for Playstation titles. The first selling amazingly, then each since selling less as time goes on, even if it's only from one game in a series to the next, rather than a complete collapse in interest.

Next they've just not managed to maintain any semblance of quality, and they buy talent rather than nurture it. This game in particular is an example of a studio that was already having problems that's been made first party through purchase, not a studio Xbox made and that earned its prominence through proving its mettle.

Xbox games are the ultimate form of western AAA slop. A disposable product made for no one but the devs and with a general lack of direction or care for the actual audience.

And I fully expect to be seeing the same thing next gen for every Playstation release.

I think it's a way broader issue tbh.

Across all platforms and publishers, we see many AAA games struggling to some extend, interest in safe and by the numbers slogs being down.

All Ubi games despite good reviews bombing like even Avatar despite no woke controversy and despite being a well known IP. Star Wars bombing. Huge sequels like GoW Ragnarok selling less, Final Fantasy games not selling well, Indiana Jones not selling well etc. All not bad games by any means.

But at the same time, even many smaller games aren't selling like HiFi Rush, Prince of Persia or Hellblade 2, games with very good reviews in some cases great gameplay.

There seem to be only a few sales standouts like Helldivers 2 (Sony exclusive and day one PC btw) or Wukong for example. To me, it seems like the whole market is saturated and many different factors come together. Tons of options, a certain fatigue, players being caught in "forever games" and multiplayer communities, Xbox destroying the value of games with their subscription fuckery, VR cutting a bit into the market with millions of players, a general arrogance of game devs not developing games for the customers, tech issues especially on PC, but also regular launch issues with online games, games being discounted 40% after two months and so on and so on.

Many reasons that come together imo. The exclusivity thing is only a small part of that and seems to be an attempt to counter the market fatigue.

 

[Grinchy]

TBH I just wished they'd hurry up with the 3rd party movement. Put the Halo and Gears collections on PS5, print some money, and use that money to keep making more multiplatform games.

 

[TaySan]

Exclusive Xbox console games will be the exception rather than the rule moving forward — inside the risky strategy that will define Xbox's next decade

Microsoft's strategy has Xbox's core fans upset about the future of console hardware. Today, we're going to analyze the strategy that will define Xbox over the next decade, and settle its future once and for all.

www.windowscentral.com

After The Game Awards this year, Microsoft's previously-confirmed exclusive The Outer Worlds 2 was revealed for PlayStation, which reveals the next phase of Microsoft's gaming content strategy code-named Latitude. With comments from Phil Spencer describing how there are no red lines for what games could come to PlayStation, it's time to accept that Xbox will no longer have "console exclusives" moving forward — everything will either be timed, with a few outliers remaining console exclusive for incidental reasons, like developer bandwidth and so on. Even Halo, Forza, and Gears of War, games commonly associated with the Xbox brand, are not off the table.

As such, Xbox has to grow. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said to shareholders today that it wants to "redefine what it means" to be an Xbox fan, with a bigger emphasis on finding players where they are, rather than sinking millions, maybe billions of cash into increasingly expensive user acquisition efforts. People's libraries are digitally-locked to the platforms they are in. Microsoft figures at events like Summer Game Fest told me they're not seeing users switch between consoles much, despite their multi-platform plan.

The Outer Worlds 2 being announced for PlayStation was not a result of a game being delayed out of 2025 nor was it the result of Xbox or developer Obsidian needing a rapid cash injection. It was decided as a result of the "four Xbox games" previously slated to move to PlayStation having no material impact on active Xbox console users. Microsoft is taking this as a signal that people are happy where they are, and aren't willing to move platform on the basis of what the "other side" has access to.

 

[Stilton Disco]

I think it's a way broader issue tbh.

Across all platforms and publishers, we see many AAA games struggling to some extend, interest in safe and by the numbers slogs being down.

All Ubi games despite good reviews bombing like even Avatar despite no woke controversy and despite being a well known IP. Star Wars bombing. Huge sequels like GoW Ragnarok selling less, Final Fantasy games not selling well, Indiana Jones not selling well etc. All not bad games by any means.

But at the same time, even many smaller games aren't selling like HiFi Rush, Prince of Persia or Hellblade 2, games with very good reviews in some cases great gameplay.

There seem to be only a few sales standouts like Helldivers 2 (Sony exclusive and day one PC btw) or Wukong for example. To me, it seems like the whole market is saturated and many different factors come together. Tons of options, a certain fatigue, players being caught in "forever games" and multiplayer communities, Xbox destroying the value of games with their subscription fuckery, VR cutting a bit into the market with millions of players, a general arrogance of game devs not developing games for the customers, tech issues especially on PC, but also regular launch issues with online games, games being discounted 40% after two months and so on and so on.

Many reasons that come together imo. The exclusivity thing is only a small part of that and seems to be an attempt to counter the market fatigue.

But that's the point.

They're failing like third party multiplats because they've become just more third party multiplats.

Nintendo meanwhile is still doing gangbusters with its actual exclusives.

First party games going multiplatform doesn't just kill their mystique, it also means they're not able to focus on specific audiences and take chances catering to market segments that are underrepresented.

In a market that's healthy and expanding, as we briefly had last gen until Covid, that meant there was a temporary boost as they became available to new audiences while still having that FOMO shine, but now the market has collapsed, quality has declined while game designs have needed to be more safe and broad appealing (which sadly is still seen as being as woke as fuck amongst the elites), and there's no excitement around yet another XBox/Playstation game coming to PC, they're all just another AAA slop game ready for landfill.

Of course this also has a knock on effect on the hardware.

Xbox is dead. We all know it's just a matter of time at this point.

And Playstation has started to see the same pattern of hardware sale decline.

All that will remain strong is Nintendo, because there was never any fault with the old way of making consoles and exclusives. There was never any more money being left on the table. It was always short term greed at the cost of a long term mortal wound to a console brand.

 

[TaySan]

Consoles are dead all hail our PC overlords

 

[regawdless]

Consoles are dead all hail our PC overlords

 

[DonDonDonPata]

Consoles are dead all hail our PC overlords

Pls no modern PC sucks too.

The problem is decades in the making: the third parties held too much power and all platforms have suffered. We need to go back to the days of a splintered market where each platform had a distinct brand identity and a distinct expertise in specific genres.

 

[regawdless]

Pls no modern PC sucks too.

The problem is decades in the making: the third parties held too much power and all platforms have suffered. We need to go back to the days of a splintered market where each platform had a distinct brand identity and a distinct expertise in specific genres.

Hahaha instead we're getting gaming communism where all are the same and everything sucks haha

 

[TaySan]

Xbox znika z Polski. Szokująca decyzja Microsoftu

Zgodnie z nową kampanią marketingową Microsoftu, niemal wszystko jest Xboksem. Jeśli faktycznie uważamy, że nasz pecet, smartfon, tablet, komputer czy

www.chip.pl

According to Microsoft's new marketing campaign, almost everything is an Xbox. If we really think that our PC, smartphone, tablet, computer or smart fridge with a display is a console, then there will still be plenty of Xboxes to buy - but if you think that Xbox is Xbox, then unfortunately we don't have good news. The biggest competitor of PlayStation 5 and at the same time one of the two main gaming consoles for many years is disappearing from our country.

There have been rumors and speculations for a long time, and the increasingly difficult access to the console and absurdly high prices in electronics stores have only fueled it all. But that's the end of the speculations - yesterday, a Wykop user with the nickname Tetsuya published an official statement from Microsoft support that he received. And it is as follows:

The unavailability of the Xbox Series X in markets such as Poland and some European countries is largely due to Microsoft's strategic shift to focus on cloud gaming and subscription services such as Game Pass, rather than promoting or distributing physical consoles. This change came in the wake of lower-than-expected sales in those regions. As a result, Microsoft reduced its marketing efforts around Xbox hardware in favor of other gaming services.

No more Xbox in Poland

 

[Stilton Disco]

Xbox znika z Polski. Szokująca decyzja Microsoftu

Zgodnie z nową kampanią marketingową Microsoftu, niemal wszystko jest Xboksem. Jeśli faktycznie uważamy, że nasz pecet, smartfon, tablet, komputer czy

www.chip.pl

No more Xbox in Poland

So an Xbox is the one thing that isn't an Xbox.

 

[regawdless]

Xbox znika z Polski. Szokująca decyzja Microsoftu

Zgodnie z nową kampanią marketingową Microsoftu, niemal wszystko jest Xboksem. Jeśli faktycznie uważamy, że nasz pecet, smartfon, tablet, komputer czy

www.chip.pl

No more Xbox in Poland

Won't be much different in other EU countries. Xbox is being widely ignored, Europe is Sony country. With their current strategy, they'll lose their hardware business here completely. They're basically giving up because they failed. Poland is the largest growth market in Europe, this is a very, very bad sign for Xbox.

Phil will save Xbox. Or something. Maybe.

 

[Eneru]

Nothing of value was lost

 

[Bullet Club]

 

[Kvally]

Xbox keeping me busier than ever right now. I suspect the next gen console will be here in 2026. Day one for me.

 

[Grinchy]

Ouch, apparently the director of Wukong let it slip that the only reason it's not on Xbox is because of the Series S requirement. They can't get it running on the 10GB of shared memory and he says it could take years of optimizing.

Rough Translation

"Although there were no big surprises, I was still a little bit emotional after taking them all. Your combat capabilities are so terrifying, and the only thing missing is the XBOX robe... It seems a bit inappropriate (but the 10G shared memory, without several years of optimization experience, it is really difficult to use it) Can't come down [tears]"

 

[Amorous Biscuit]

Ouch, apparently the director of Wukong let it slip that the only reason it's not on Xbox is because of the Series S requirement. They can't get it running on the 10GB of shared memory and he says it could take years of optimizing.

It's a shame, as an offering for a low spec and easy entry point into console gaming, the Series S was a great idea in concept. The reality has been a disaster and I hope that, should we see a "next generation" offering from MS, that they limit themselves to one SKU.

 

[DonDonDonPata]

It's a shame, as an offering for a low spec and easy entry point into console gaming, the Series S was a great idea in concept. The reality has been a disaster and I hope that, should we see a "next generation" offering from MS, that they limit themselves to one SKU.

It's almost like Microsoft hardware holds back the market while claiming they've got the best hardware….

360 lacked a high-capacity disc media and a standard HDD. Xbox One was straight-up weaker until the X model came out. And now XsS continues to hamstring third party games (to the point where they don't even bother with an Xbox version).

 

[Kvally]

It's a shame, as an offering for a low spec and easy entry point into console gaming, the Series S was a great idea in concept. The reality has been a disaster and I hope that, should we see a "next generation" offering from MS, that they limit themselves to one SKU.

Seems like GTA 6 developers have no issue releasing their game on the Series S. Which we know, GTA6 will be a much bigger, much more intensive game. That said, I hope next gen Xbox is only one sku as well.

Not to mention, Wukong is Steam Deck verified. Series S exceeds the Steam Deck.

 

[Bullet Club]

Not to mention, Wukong is Steam Deck verified. Series S exceeds the Steam Deck.

The Steam Deck has 16GB of RAM though.

 

[Kvally]

The Steam Deck has 16GB of RAM though.

I found out it's not actually Steam Deck verified. That said, MS confirmed twice now it's not the Xbox but the deal GameScience (new unknown dev) made with a partner.

 

[Mr Shifts]

I've almost impulsed a ROG Ally X multiple times this past Christmas break - $1499.00 AUD is a bit steep but weighing it up having all my content from Steam/Xbox/Epic/GOG etc. stores plus emulators would be great for me. Being able to upgrade it to a 8TB NVME SSD and add an external GPU for docked use is the icing on the cake. If MS somehow gets my Xbox library running native on these handhelds then it's a done deal.

 

[Bullet Club]

I've almost impulsed a ROG Ally X multiple times this past Christmas break - $1499.00 AUD is a bit steep but weighing it up having all my content from Steam/Xbox/Epic/GOG etc. stores plus emulators would be great for me. Being able to upgrade it to a 8TB NVME SSD and add an external GPU for docked use is the icing on the cake. If MS somehow gets my Xbox library running native on these handhelds then it's a done deal.

I got a Steam Deck a couple of years ago and it's now the system I play the most. All these handhelds are great and will only get better as time goes on.

 

[Torrent of Pork]

People have gotten the game running on PCs that have 8 gigs of RAM. Not particularly well, mind you, but running.

I honestly believe both sides are telling half-truths. I believe Sony kicked a bunch of development resources to Game Science to get the PS5 port finished, and I believe Game Science are shitty developers who can't optimize their way out of a wet paper bag. If your game runs like trash on literally every method of gaming in existence then that's kind of on you.

 

[The_Mike]

Nothing of value was lost

Getting a console market monopoly is a pretty big deal.

Nintendo runs its own show, and Microsoft is so far behind that it is impossible to get your foot in again.

We've already seen Sony being anti consumer because they lack competition, and it will only be worse when Microsoft is going to go full multi platform with no console within the next couple of years.