Banjo-

@HonestHick Yes, I think that Microsoft has the most future-proof stance right now and that it has benefited both Xbox and PC users, with the occasional PS and Switch ports that haven't changed the big picture either. They still earn billions on Xbox consoles yearly. Sony is slowly copying this approach, because Sony realised that it is safer and more profitable than the console exclusive scenario.

@Feffster I'm also curious about the technical details, but I guess that we will have to wait for that. I'm sure that Digital Foundry will analyse the Series S, Series X and Windows versions as soon as they have access to them. There is no Xbox One version this time and that's good news, in my opinion. I think that Series X might get a 60fps video mode.

@HonestHick That's right! It's way too early to know how new Call of Duty games affect Xbox and Game Pass in the long term, but all the data so far is positive. The game is being a resounding success on all platforms, including Game Pass. Unsurprising, because Modern Warfare III was also a hit on Game Pass in spite of joining the service many months later.

It's also very interesting that when Black Ops 6 launched topping the Game Pass charts, Modern Warfare III jumped back to number 2, which means that Call of Duty has a layered effect.

There was not a single thing I did not like in this gameplay video, but I like the focus on the adventure and puzzle-solving the most. It looks like a great experience. The video says that the game releases on PS5 on 9 December, but that's wrong. It will only be available on Series X|S and Windows at launch.

@Kezelpaso Will you review it? I hope so. I am glad that you like it! I found very weird -or not- that some users have already rated this game "7/10 at best" without playing it and have also stated that it will be a "disappointment". If it was a Sony exclusive, it will probably be the opposite.

Anyway, I think that Machine Games have improved a lot. I was not a fan of their early games, mostly because of the level design that I found boring and confusing, but The New Colossus is excellent in all senses -graphics, gameplay, level design, characters, audio- and I think that I will like this even more because of the setting and Indiana Jones.

@TheGiraffe You are right. If anything, I see more future-proof Microsoft's stance than Sony's and Nintendo's.

@dreadful Not just that, they censored Knuckles joking about classic Sonic's rounder figure (a funny joke after travelling in time), Sonic trying to get rid of Amy... Besides, the animations now don't match the inert dialogue. This is unnecessary and ridiculous.

@Jaxx420 I hear you. I got 100% in Sonic Generations and still replay the acts. I will get this new version someday, for Shadow's campaign. Is it a separate part in the menu?

The Evil Within 2 reduced by 80%.

@Lrapsody Sonic Frontiers is awesome in terms of gameplay, camera and story; it just lacks some more Sonic flavour. It seems that the next Sonic 3D game will be awesome based on what they have achieved with Sonic Frontiers. Fingers crossed.

Sonic Generations is the best Sonic 3D game and it's 4K60FPS on Series X. This remaster shows a indiscernible graphical update and has been ridiculously and cheaply censored, with animations not matching the new sterilised dialogue, so its only value is the added campaign.

I liked Modern Warfare III, and this looks just better.

@Stamnoso You should also play the Banjo-Kazooie games on Rare Replay. The original Yooka-Laylee is inspired by these classics, but can't hold a candle to them.

@Scrubchub Sorry to step in, but knowing him a little bit, I don't think that he really means it, just probably tired of everyone being politically correct and just a way of saying he disapproves what they've being doing lately, in a small community where he can speak his mind.

@Fenbops I didn't play that Prince of Persia either, it looked a bit like the new characters in Crash Bandicoot 4. I read somewhere about an article about The Rings of Power, that all this is getting ridiculous and, at the same time, shallow, skin-deep. The original article said that Tolkien was racist because elves were white, like wtf are you talking about. I don't know if you have watched the second season, but I was far more distracted by the shoehorned variety than by anything else. Also, doesn't the new Joanna Dark look like Terminator? A wider jaw, even. In the new version of Sonic Generations, Knuckles is not allowed to make a joke about the rounder, classic version of Sonic.

I was talking days ago here or on NL about how Ubisoft was diversifying with Rayman Legends and Immortals Fenyx Rising, two of the best games in recent years and then a new Prince of Persia entry. They needed to do so, because focusing almost exclusively on Assassin's Creed is insane in the long term. Why many gamers didn't care about these games is beyond me. Immortals Fenyx Rising is a must-play and Rayman Legends is one of the best platformers ever.

@Utena-mobile Truly, it's only Xbox haters who are saying that Xbox has no future and spreading that baseless rumour. Microsoft confirmed their next-gen console and there is this rumoured Xbox handheld or hybrid that, in between, these threads reveal that it's a no-brainer. You can always buy the Play Anywhere version while you are hesitating. All first-party games have this feature and some third-party games do, including Sega's. I dare to say that it's the most reliable option for a console player, considering that PC/hybrids is the only market that would survive an hypothetical console apocalypse. 😁

@Dm9982 That's right! Gamecube was absolutely awesome, had a lot of excellent first and third-party games and was technically very impressive. Heck, it was Nintendo's last great console in many ways. I think that my parents could afford the games, but they wanted me to focus on school as much as possible. Indeed, prices were expensive and I remember Neo Geo was considered the arcade experience and was the most expensive. Great times for growing up and being a player. 😁

@nomither6 Super Mario Sunshine is my favourite Mario 3D game 😁. I didn't have the Wavebird controllers, but I had and still have four regular GameCube controllers.

@nomither6 Wave Race was my first Gamecube game. I love it. 1080° Snowboarding was released later. On Nintendo 64, there were also Wave Race 64 and 1080° Snowboarding, but I didn't get those until much later. I wasn't allowed to have many N64 games. 😁

@NEStalgia What is wrong with Tears of the Kingdom's clunky building mechanics combined with a choppy and not made by Nintendo spiritual successor of a 2.5 remake of a great GB/GBC game? I don't get you. 😜

@nomither6 No Wave Race, no Snowboarding and no Donkey Kong either.

Everything but a Nintendo exclusive is purchased for Xbox. I owned Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fuelled for Switch first, but when I got the Xbox version, it was like a remaster of what I had been playing. Another good reason is that Xbox purchases remain across generations in contrast to Nintendo and Sony.

@Utena-mobile I didn't know either but I just watched it here. It has been ridiculously censored, so I won't get the updated version.

https://youtu.be/f3pSR654rRQ

@Bigmanfan Right, it equals a 100 Sony or Nintendo game 😂.

I have to love Xbox free upgrades and Smart Delivery. It was not mandatory for third parties, but most have done it! Some of them twice, on Xbox One X and Series S|X. Amazing. Thank you.

The Xbox 360 version in 4K60fps on Series X is amazing, so I would recommend (and get) this expanded new version as well. This game is the best Sonic in 3D. Frontiers is close and is extremely well done, but it needs more Sonic flavour. I hope that they make a sequel.

Crash Bandicoot was one of the most-played games on Game Pass when it was added, right between the behemoths you are thinking of. I'm sure that Banjo-Kazooie would be successful, but they should make faithful remakes first, like the N.sane Trilogy. After that, Rare, that still has the creator of Banjo-Kazooie, and Playtonic, that has some of Rare staff, would be the perfect team. The personalities of Banjo and Kazooie must not be corrupted. Kazooie and Rare's Cranky Kong have the best lines in a video game ever.

Predictably, some people believe a random Youtuber and not Microsoft. It reminds me when those people were saying that there were not going to be more Xbox consoles because someone started spreading the rumour and didn't pay any attention when Microsoft was specific and clear about it not being true. It also reminds me when those people were assuring everyone else that Xbox was going to release every game for PS5. All the malicious rumours about Xbox were spread as true, but they did not care about anything Microsoft said looking at the camera in a podcast. Since the acquisition of ABK, the rain of ill-intentioned comments about Xbox has been ridiculous, like all the salt in the world was raining down on them.

Both editions of The Evil Within are 75% off and The Evil Within 2, 80% off.

@OldGamer999 Certainly, Microsoft doesn't crunch like Sony's Naughty Dog, but I partly agree, Microsoft should supervise their studios more.

You also remember that it has been reported many times that Rare, Id and The Coalition have been assisting the less capable studios and the amount of time and dedication that assisting entails is considerable, even more now with Unreal Engine 5. Some studios have been slowing down the others and some of them haven't even made anything I like, e.g., Compulsion Games. I can criticise several Xbox studios (I just did), but I would never criticise Id, The Coalition or Rare because not they just make objectively excellent games, but they also assist the other studios.

@OldGamer999 Ah, Gears of War E-Day looks like the reboot we all wanted, let them take their time!

@OLD64FOREVER Yeah, it was changed significantly. The funny thing is that without the Star Fox IP, it would not be a Nintendo game now and would have been included in Rare Replay.

@Utena-mobile This remake is selling more than expected on PC and PS5, so perhaps more are coming? 😊

@The-Grezzly-Bear It's the way to go! You get used to the mechanics and the world, and get totally immersed after a while.

@jesse_dylan Right, making an Xbox port is easy when there is a Windows version. It wouldn't be the first indie angry because of that. Eternal Strands is by another studio and not related to Immortals Fenyx Rising. If you haven't played it, I recommend it!

@HarmanSmith Yeah, backwards compatibility is the best feature of Xbox to me. It's easy to access old games and you don't have to buy them again like on other platforms.

@HarmanSmith Good to see you! I played it when it became a Game with Gold.

@OldGamer999 Call of Duty campaign for me, too. I do the opposite, I try to play only one game at a time for extra immersion, except racing and sports games.

@OldGamer999 I haven't played Alan Wake 2, but it's on my radar. The DLC launches next week, so I expect a new edition soon. I will get it in any case.

@OldGamer999 Good choices. Note that the Gold Edition of Resident Evil 4 is not discounted at the moment.

@CenturianShark The gameplay was also good in my opinion: simple and fun combos. It was one of the first Xbox games I played.

2025 is looking incredible so far. Avowed, Doom The Dark Ages and Fable! Frankly, I'm just praying the latter won't be too much #shoehorned woke.

A meaty addition to the already busy Xbox release schedule. I don't know which would by highlight. I like horror, but Bloober still has to convince me. I love Immortals Fenyx Rising, but we will have to wait and see how good Eternal Strands is (oh, it's coming to Game Pass!). It's nice to see Alan Wake 2 being expanded.

@jesse_dylan @Bigmanfan I also find it weird, because there was a Windows version at launch. No PS4 version, in between. Maybe they asked for a Game Pass deal and they didn't reach an agreement, so they pushed the Series version as a punishment, who knows... 🤣

I have really enjoyed all Atlus games I have played so far. Even the biggest ones, they were all worth my time and I didn't want them to end. The only one I didn't enjoy as much was Persona 5 Tactica, but at least the gameplay is decent after a while, when you get used to it. It is also the only game in that genre (turn-based tactics) that I have played, because I never beat Mario+Rabbids and I haven't played Xcom, which people said was the inspiration of Mario+Rabbids and Persona 5 Tactica.

@Utena-mobile I am already looking forward to the inevitable Xbox version of Silent Hill 2, but if you say so as a Silent Hill expert, I'm relieved to know that it turned out well. I'm not a fan of Bloober's original games, I find them nonsensical so far, but I'll keep an eye on "Cronos".

@OLD64FOREVER Nice profile picture.

@FraserG Both editions of The Evil Within are 75% off and The Evil Within 2, 80% off. Project Zero/Fatal Frame Maiden of Black Water is 30% off. Three must-have if you like horror.

@The-Chosen-one Modern Warfare III is available on Game Pass. I enjoyed it more than I expected after reading a few reviews. I'm excited about Black Operations 6.

Also remember that posters represent 0.00000001% of the consumers. Most PS players don't buy a PS for PS exclusives, but because PS4 was the default console last generation and some of them along with PS fans are on PS5 now. We can see on the best-selling charts last generation and this generation, that the best-selling games are usually third party: Minecraft, Call of Duty, GTA and EA FC/Madden. Two of them belong to Xbox now. What really matters is the revenue, including software sales and subscriptions. PS is approaching Windows for a reason. Xbox is already there.

Were not they Sony angry fans? Maybe Sony's executives? Why did they not sue Sony when they released exclusive content and early access for the Playstation versions of Call of Duty?

Most Call of Duty fans are casual players that barely spend time reading about these things, let alone suing Microsoft. Quite appropriate to write "these 'gamers'."