Bobobiwan

I swear to you I'm really wondering how many hours before the actor Robert Pattison is gonna be suing this team for having used his face like that.

I mean : come on !

(Remember how Helen Page was not happy about The Last of Us ?)

Oh, by the way, can't wait to play the title, it really looks excellent !

These prices are wild, no doubt about it. But we have to be clever : as I was on the fence to go with the Mario kart Bundle to save some money (and despite the fact that I love to buy my games on physical format), I just managed to secure a preorder of the game at my local store at the price of 69€. So 10 bucks cheaper than the digital version, and 20 bucks cheaper than that insane price that is given on the official website.

I won't buy my games at 90 bucks, that's for sure.

One thing I don't understand, with that multiplatform thing, is their desire to stay in the console manufacturer market.

I mean, when Sega went full multi-platform, it was because it ceased totally its activity as a console constructor.

But Microsoft ? They talk about "next Xbox" but then really seem to go the full multi-platform way.

So, as a consumer, why should I buy their future console ? If I'm gonna find the sames games, PLUS SOME EXCLUSIVES ONES, on other platforms ?

I really don't see the logic, here. From a business's point of view, and from a consumer's one.

@Dimey Yeah, if you want a complete experience, these days, you have to wait at least a year or two before playing a game.

That's a shame.

Live service ? Yeah, patch me this one anytime you want. But a solo adventure game ? It should be finished and polished, from the beginning to the end, on the VERY FIRST DAY.

But yeah... we have to be patient, now. This is 2024.

I bought Cyberpunk on day one. Never even tried it. I plan to play it in six months, more or less. I'm sure it will be a good experience ! xD

Super excited to play this game, my expectations are VERY HIGH, since I'm a Indiana Jones fanboy that even manages to like Indy 4 (but not 5, come on, let's be serious).

When I saw this cut-scene sequence, in the snow... It really was Indiana Jones, it FELT Indiana Jones, so much more than 4 and 5.

Not to mention I really love adventure games, so, yeah...

Can't wait !

I can't wait to play that game.

Wait. I HAVE waited. A full year. To get the physical edition.

Time to wake up, Alan !

This is very good news.

Cause it surely looks like a hell of great game !

@jesse_dylan Yep, but the game is still very pretty, even without 4k enhancements.

I encourage every RPG lover to at least try it !

I plan to grab it very soon, but right now, I've just started a new game on... Lost Odyssey !

And man. Still a masterpiece.

Developers who skip Xbox do it because sales are going the pointless way on this platform.

The sales are going the way they do because of Gamepass, AND because more and more gamers are leaving for other platforms.

They're leaving because Xbox is going multi platform, which is an aberration.

There. Xbox know the truth now.

(And I'm saying all that as an Xbox fan who still plays mostly on his Series X)

FFXVI is a given, a this state, and that's good because, while quite imperfect in its form (I did not particularly like the action gameplay it tried, sort of Devil May Cry thing), its story was one of the better this series produced over the years.

I really loved the characters and their quest.

Xbox players have to discover this gem.

Oh, and I would not exclude an FFVII Remake announcement either, cause we know Square Enix did not like the sales numbers, so, more plateforms, more sales.

And to think that PS5 disc-drives begin to be sold out everywhere, in anticipation of that PRO model to come...

I fear that these players may give a bad signal to the suits in control, here...

I play on every console, I'm a fanboy. That's what I am.
I play on Xbox, on Playstation, on Nintendo consoles.

And I'm used to always get the last model of each one.

But not this time, honestly. The presentation DID sold me the thing, I have to be honest. But the price is just too high. As passionate as I am, 800 euros WITHOUT A DISC DRIVE (and WITHOUT A SIMPLE STAND !) is just way, way too much.

I loved it for what I played, but I never finished the game.

I waited for a few patches (I wanted maps !) and now I'm thinking about returning to it.

I've downloaded all the Star Wars Mods I can find, meanwhile. I'll soon return to my ship, for sure !

That's great news, really.

I can wait, that's not a problem.

Off course I will.

Waiting for my copy right now ..

What is very not cool here, despite the fact that Microsoft is currently porting Xbox games to PS5 and that Sony is doing exclusivity deals in return... what is very not cool is the fact that it is not a clear, plain and simple, exclusivity deal announced like one.

Because this kind of move participates to create general suspicion around the Series X console itself, and its general power / quality.

So, when not saying things clearly like that, you take away some game from gamers AND damage an entire brand (Xbox).

Sony is playing dirty right now, exactly when Microsoft is in Wonderland, where everybody is nice and happy, giving away its exclusive games with a smile.

How can we not suspect something similar with all those Capcom games, right now ? "MT Framework problem" ? And not on Windows PC ? Come on...

Personally, it does not bother me as I always play on Quality Mode - I prefer to play with better visuals and as a movie lover, my brain is totally accustomed with 30 fps movements (well, 24, for cinema, but it's a tie).

BUT not offering the choice is a HUGE mistake for Microsoft as it sends ANOTHER bad message to the players (and the company clearly doesn't need that right now).

It is my understanding that Sony is planning a PS5 Pro in the months to come. Whether this model is really needed is almost irrelevant - it will send a clear message to the players : "We've got the most powerful console for you".

And the 30 fps debacle, on the other hand, is clearly sending another message.

A message not really good for Microsoft's business.

@Scummbuddy Exactly.

Plus, I hugely suspect that this Galaxy model will be a limited one, perhaps exclusive to the Microsoft store...

And that would mean the official ending of physical games on Xbox.

I know that most of Xbox players have gone full digital nowadays, but I'm among the few who still buy their games on discs (waiting for Alan Wake 2, currently).

Xbox is definitely moving on...

You would think that, with Xbox actually giving games to the Playstation community the way they're doing (see the success of Sea of Thieves), Sony would return the favor, at least for some titles, LIKE THIS ONE, which is also planed on another competitor.

I don't call this a fair game, Sony. And I'm saying that as a PS5 owner. Not cool, bro. Not cool.

All I've ever wanted from this game.

So Starfield is now the KOTOR 3 I've always dreamed about !

Is there a mod that make you leave a planet seamlessly, as in : you enter your ship, see her take off, getting of the atmosphere then entering space... without any loading screen ?

Something à la "No Man Sky", or "Star wars Outlaws".

That would be extraordinary for me.

I don't know what to think, or who to believe.

Timed exclusivity ? I know the concept is considered pretty fair play, nowadays. So I can accept it with no problem.

But the fog around it ? Like when we can never really know about the time frames, or even the possibility of the port (FFVII R)... That's not cool.

And this, if true, is a step in this bad direction. I mean : a lie ? A LIE ? "Optimization", instead of a deal ?

If true, this is a real bad guy move. Like the villains usually do in movies. In bad movies.

If it's a deal, just say it. We're grown up people, grown up players. We can manage. Us Xbox players have learned the hard way to manage, anyway.

@BacklogBrad I'm in the same position ! And I've decided, whith all the hype around this DLC, that it is god damn time to put myself to the test.

So I've made a great decision : Elden Ring will be the game of my summer. I'm already looking at guides on classes.

Honestly can't wait (and I've waited two years - damned backlog !)...

Have to download this ASAP before it gets removed. Like my Pikachu painting in Forza Horizon 5 xD

I'm totally understanding it for Doom, The Elder Scrolls, or Starfield. Even Hellblade, if they want. Because the first one was also liked by the Playstation community.

But those Halo rumors ? I'm really not sure about that.

The next Gears will be a big hit, I have no doubt about it. Keep it exclusive, Microsoft, just to give personality to your hardware, to your ecosystem.

And do the same with Halo.

I was pleasantly surprised by the state of this game : it just looks so colorful and fun ! I'm liking it !

Really interesting to see that they're keeping at least one model with a physical disc drive, which means that we're still given a choice on this matter.

Yes, you can love Xbox and physical media. For at least a little more.

I notice two things, nevertheless :
1) This Galaxy Black look is a beauty. I want it.
2) I'm guessing the original Series X is gonna be replaced by this model, so, now, for those who really want a disc drive, the console is even more expensive. A sign of times, I guess.

But even Alan Wake 2 is coming on disc. So, yeah... we can still play a little longer with physical medias. For those who want to.

@Fenbops Totally agree with you, this game just blew my mind.
This one, Expedition 33, and Mixtape (what is this game ???) totally got me with their artistic direction.

Just can't wait to play them.

It was awesome. They really nailed it, and I'm glad, cause they HAD to.

After this show, I regained some kind of confidence in the brand.

I really wasn't expecting Perfect Dark, for example. And I found it awesome.

Really surprised that Phil was there, too, cause I was under the impression that something was going on under the curtain, and that he had quit or got fired.

But no, he was there, and seemed ok. And that made me happy, cause I simply just like the guy.

Gears of War really surprised me, too, with it prequel angle. I liked 4, and loved 5 (really loved it), so I was fine with continuing this story. But let's be honest : Xbox needs a big hit with its flagship franchises. So, bring Marcus and Dom back ! I can understand it, and even : I'm glad they're going this way.

I really think that this game is gonna success where Halo Infinite failed (and I'm saying that as a fan of Infinite), and is gonna reinstall the franchise in gamers's conversations.

So, yeah. It was awesome.

Can we take a second to appreciate the extraordinary Harrison Ford impression that Troy Baker did, here ? I was literally listening to the real Indiana Jones ! Or at least, I thought I was.

Also, the writing and directing in this sequence was so spot on : a perfect Indy adventure, far more enjoyable, in my opinion, than the last movie.

I'm sold !

PHYSICAL COPY !!! YES !!! NOW I'M GIVING THEM MY MONEY !!

(and my Baldur's Gate 3 copy just arrived ! Happy day, indeed !!)

@Gamer_X I totally understand you.

The last physical release that really surprised me, on Xbox, was Tekken 8 : some goodies included in a nice slipcase and, foremost, the complete game on two discs ! So no download required, as it's more and more often the case on Series X...

This may seem silly, or useless, but I really felt respected, as a consumer, when I saw that.

Deluxe edition, for me. And that's an instant buy, as I was really waiting for this !

Next : Hi-Fi Rush !

And maybe, someday... Alan Wake 2 and Hellblade 2...

I loved to death the first one, which I own in physical, and I know that I will love this one, too.

Maybe even more.

As soon as I've finished Stellar Blade (really great game, by the way), it will be an immense pleasure for me to replay the first Hellblade and to discover its sequel, back to back.

Finally some good news for Xbox : that's great !

@MaccaMUFC It's almost like they wanted the game to crash and fail.

Look at Sony : they even throw a BURGER about Stellar Blade.

A burger.

Ok, in Australia only, but still. We can see it on social network, it makes people talk. At least a little.

And where is Phil Spencer, by the way ?

I really don't understand why Microsoft isn't advertising more it's biggest game since Forza Horizon 5. I mean... Hellblade 2 was shown during the console reveal itself !

And now that it is finally about to release... we hear nothing. We see nothing. There's an embargo till the launch date, and absolutely zero commercials. At all, and anywhere.

Look at Nintendo : the keep throwing to the public ads and ads, about Paper Mario, or Princess Peach ! On TVs, on buses, on buildings !

Hellblade 2 ? Nothing.

Why ? Just... Why ?

Halo.

I was literally dreaming about that game.

I remember having read a fantastic article about it in a magazine (yes ! on paper, you know !). The article was claiming that this was a masterpiece, a game-changer for the genre and the video games in general, like Golden Eye 64, in a way.

I immediately sold my PS2 and all my games to get one. A crazy move, but I wanted to play that game.

And when I finally was able to boot it... Man, that title screen ! It was transcendent. This impossible ring in space, those voices who were singing like monks, or something... It was unreal.

I naturally followed with the 360, the One and now the Series X. The one thing that brought me back, for Series X, was the backward compatibility program. It is so important, to me.

PS : one thing I should add is that I always played on every console, for each generation. But I still consider my Series X as my main console.

Nice price for Hellblade, for those who did not try the first one, yet.

But I would appreciate a sale on "Enslaved", you know, to celebrate Ninja Theory.

Before closing the studio.

... and I'm gonna buy a copy as soon as it's available.

Although, I always planed to get the Series X version, but now I must say : I'm tempted to get it on PS5 instead. Which I know would mean nothing : some money will still go to the company that closed this studio, regardless of the version you choose...

But I don't know why, maybe I'll feel better about myself if I'm going the PS way on this one. We'll see.

@Banjo- Me, too, buddy !
(For real)
(Now stop, you're gonna make me cry xD)

I just LOVED to death the first one.

Yeah, the gameplay was kinda... anecdotal. And yeah, the puzzles were... well they were just puzzles. Signs in the trees, and all that.

But man, that performance. That lore. That story. That ambiance.

It was a masterpiece, in my humble opinion. The ending left me silent. Speechless. And I still think about it, regularly.

I bought it on physical the first day it was available.

I cannot wait for part two.

(hoping that Ninja Theory is not about to be closed, after that)

@Banjo- Yeah, I know... Sony is not a hero neither. For example, I just can't stand the way they treat their PSVR2 users... People who bought an accessory that cost more than the console itself DESERVE at least some kind of communication, a sort of roadmap, this kind of thing.

I know PSVR2 is doomed, and Sony is not going to spend a single cent on communicating about an accessory that is already on its grave, but maybe if it is there, it's BECAUSE they never told anyone anything about that (how many people know that the PS5 exists ? A LOT. How many people know about the PSVR2 ? Nobody. Just a few geeks. And that is just crazy.)

I think at this moment, Nintendo may be the healthier company of them all.

I just cannot wait about that Switch 2 presentation.

Personally, I keep playing the old school way as I'm waiting for a physical edition to buy.

I bought the first Hellblade, like that. Just after having played it on Gamepass. And i'll do the same for the second one if it ever comes to physical.

Also, I'm waiting for that Limited Run Hi Fi Rush edition. But now I'm tempted to get it on PS5, over Xbox, just because reasons...

People who are trying to defend those decisions are making guesses, maybe educated ones, but guesses nevertheless.

This decision was SO UNPOPULAR and generally perceived as SO EVIL (including by myself) that Microsoft NEEDS to be absolutely crystal clear on its reasons, on this one.

The general opinion absolutely cannot be satisfied by their usual "Trust me, bro, it's all for the greater good".

Not after Hi-Fi Rush, the ONLY game that saved their year in the general opinion.

I'm loving my Series X, I really do. I have tons of incredible games to play on it, from various generations, and I'm keeping this superb piece of hardware close to my chest and I'm never letting it go.

But I swear this is the last time I buy a Microsoft console. And I'm saying that as a proud owner of every Xbox ever released.

But this is just too much. This was the final call.

I also have the others consoles from Nintendo and Sony. And I shall continue to play only on those, from now on.

But we all know that even Star field is going to release on Playstation, so...

I'm disgusted. And tired.

I don't get the hate about that, really.
The game is clearly designed to look like a movie, so even if it is a technique to save up some resources, I'm all fine with it.
30 fps, black bars on top and bottom. Short length. It's a cinema scope adventure. And I'm all-in for that.

And yes, it really reminds me of The Order 1886. A game (interactive movie ?) that I loved very much.

I just can't wait to play this gem !

I'm all in for the 30 fps / Quality team, but I don't know, for this game, I'm eager to test this 60 frames mode.
Maybe because we can play the game in first person view, and I think for this kind of game, 60 is probably the way.

@CutchuSlow That's a very fair point, actually.

I know it's the end of an era. But I just don't want to accept it. I'm still buying my movies and games in physical whenever I can.

I'm waiting for my Baldur's gate III copy to arrive, right now. And I'm also waiting for a physical announcement of Alan Wake 2.

A man can hope !

I'm quoting the great philosopher Dua Lipa : "LET'S GET PHYSICAL !!"

God damn it, it's not hard to understand : for a game of that caliber, and at this price, you need to put it on shelves, so people can see it in shops, and you know... buy it.

I know that I'm still waiting myself. And I know that I'm not alone.