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Just found out they are NOT raising prices in America! So the rest of the world is paying for the Activision Blizzard merger then. What a ***** move.
Will be looking at Nintendos next console with great interest.

@Sifi So nobody has to pay full price apart from everyone who already has Game Pass monthly or their stack has expired…

@Sam_TSM You are having a laugh mate! Microsoft is worth over a trillion dollars not millions!

Hmm better get some cheap deals in CDKeys and stack em soon. Not very impressed how they are not raising PC Game Pass or Series S prices, obviously cause they sell better.

@TakeItEasy I feel that way currently too. Will see what happens at the end game.

I am REALLY looking forward to this one, put a fair few hours into State Of Decay 2. Was a bit upset they didn’t show anything at their show the other day.

@SplooshDmg And you are ignoring what a GPU does. At the end of the day reducing graphics settings and resolution WILL increase FPS even in a CPU bound game, that is my point and I’m sticking to it. And I am also sticking by the fact Bethesda should be offering a mode like this in the game.

I watched it and found it very boring, just DLC and closer looks at games already announced, nothing new that was note worthy, for me at least.

@SplooshDmg Ok so according to you graphics don't impact frame rates.

Your theory is half right, but GPU processors are separate to CPU ones. The entire point of GPUs is to take the load off the CPU. Games can be more CPU or GPU bound yes, but I don't know of a game where rescuing graphics settings or resolution doesn't increase frame rates.

@SplooshDmg Your first sentence is funny as 😂 so graphics don’t dictate frame rate, ok… and yes they can reduce the resolution, I never said they couldn’t. They should reduce it and offer a 60FPS mode with reduced graphics settings as an option to players.

@SplooshDmg Well we will see what Hellblade 2 and Stalker 2 are like in UE5, so far they look better then Starfield IMO and don’t mention scale as that’s just texture sizes, which is proven by Starfield’s 125GB size.

@Retron This, I am awaiting to see if Unreal Engine 5 manages to knock games out at 1440P to 4K 60FPS, with ray tracing and stunning graphics. Fortnite looks pretty darn good using it but I'm not sure what resolution that is on Xbox.

FTC is right now filing for an injunction to block the deal. So Microsoft can say all the shop talk they want, they have a real battle to win this one.

@SplooshDmg Massive scale whilst trying to create lifelike graphics with ray tracing is the killer. I await Unreal Engine 5 games to see how they perform.

I am just so stoked Richard what’s his name is in it! Have your firmed it off and on again? He was great doing The Crystal Maze.

@Green-Bandit Seems you just want something new and shiny to blow money on, and are making excuses for it to exist. I’d rather devs did their jobs properly and optimised games properly, it then we live in the age of throwing a game out half done, patch it up later, so shouldn’t expect any of them to optimise games properly for the hardware they run on.

@StylesT More like queue, most powerful games console ever created, and, games do not utilise all the power of new consoles yet still, VRS is hardly used, VRR isn’t in every game, RDNA2 feature set isn’t used to its fullest.

Devs are lazy, including first party ones with supposedly full backing and support from Microsoft Xbox design engineers and programmers, to cost of other games such as Redfall, and they still only offer the game at 30FPS, no 60FPS mode.

This game looks very good and is the perfect Game Pass game, I'll give it a blast when it's out.

@Green-Bandit We do not need 'Pro' model consoles, what is the point when not one single game, including Starfield is utilising all the power available and hardware techniques being offered, VRR? VRS? Etc. the fully suite of RDNA2 that Xbox Series supports? Pro model consoles just means an excuse to charge a higher price and allow devs to be more lazy and push games out faster. IMO.

Have to say I am disappointed in there being no option for a performance mode being offered. People want the choice and they should be giving that instead of admiring 'fidelity' at 30FPS.

Still playing Star Wars. Tried that Lies Of P demo but can't get past that first boss. Waiting to see what's shown tomorrow to see if I need to renew my Game Pass or not, yet.

People on You Tube claimed this demo had performance issues? I’m damned if I can see them? Looked smooth and good to me.

@IronMan30 By far easily the best looking game of the whole show, Unreal Engine 5 flexing its muscles. Looks very good and fun. Great art style.

This one looks great. Downloading the demo now.

@InfamousOrange Agree with that! This is not a patch on what E3 was in its best days.

Pretty meh, a couple of interesting games, only 1 Unreal Engine 5 game and it looked stunning. And no surprise he hyped up and closed with a PlayStation exclusive, which I really could not care less about and am confused why they are announcing it now? Sundays show should be much better, fingers crossed.

@teknium_ Yeah I’ll give it a watch, will probably miss the beginning at that time though. I suspect I’ll fall asleep half way through if it’s a 3 hour event or something anyway. And end up reading the new on Friday lol.

@teknium_ God I’m blind…

@ParsnipHero Lol that’s true. It does go on a bit.

Issue with this show is the stupid time it's on in the UK. Around 2 or 3AM if I recall on a weekday. It's a live show for Americans only really despite it supposedly replacing E3 which was for everyone.

@pip_muzz Yeah not as much as I thought it would be.

Although normally this would get me really excited, I've learnt from experience to temper my expectations anyway. Shall see what they announce but 'keep an open mind' doesn't sound good.

@Kaloudz That would be incredibly dangerous precedent to set, if a cabinet minister undermines and over rules an independent regulatory body.

I'll give Game Pass a sub for a month for this, seen some gameplay already and it's the typical Amnesia scare fest!

@pip_muzz Where did you get those figures from? As that will be for Xbox exclusively I take it, I couldn’t find those results. Only ones I can see are the ones posted at Companies House as legally required, where they clearly show figured in the billions:

http://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01624297/filing-history

@GrumpyGrey Considering Hunt and his wife’s company was officially investigated for fraud, he sees too many ££££ signs… let’s not even mention his wife and her antics.

@Kaloudz Brad Smith certainly comes across as the sort of person who would intimidate and threaten I have to say, considering his childish remarks when the CMA blocked the deal. Acted like a baby throwing its toys out of the pram, not a highly paid powerful executive of one of the worlds largest companies.

But he’ll be a good pairing with Hunt who is the same type of character, just replace the first letter of his name if you know what I mean.

@Moonglow I think the fact you believe 3 people have blocked the deal shows how little you do know and understand. Stop taking your advice from Reddit or You Tube, God I’ve made that mistake, and Google for the actual facts.
CMA is made up of a majority of people from the regulatory body we had to have under the EU, they are expanding by around 200 people, when they review cases they have panels of experts internal AND external who review and rule on the cases in hand,

It is not 3 people, and another FYI is Microsoft’s 2 biggest markets have blocked the deal, Xbox is not very dominant across the rest of Europe, so maybe the experienced regulators who’s markets Microsoft is most prominent in blocking it should tell you something?
The EU themselves stated that the merger WOULD damage the cloud gaming market, that’s why they not MS came up with the free licenses for all games on all cloud services, which MS then spread to be global. I think the fact the EU only approved it with that clause in place should tell you something.
We shall see if the CMA is asked to review it again, if they also look at the same clause as the EU has setup, if it is workable and works in our law frame.

I suspect what you will find is IF the CAT requests the CMA to review the merger again then they may look into the same system as the EU has setup and if it covers all their concerns, OR IF the CAT accept the CMA’s decision and rule it stands, Activision Blizzard King will move any offices in the UK to the EU and sell their games and services via UK distributors, which legally has to be done before the merger completes.

Hunt hahaha, firstly Brad can apologise for his belittling childish remarks he made towards the UK when the deal was blocked.
Then Hunt will tell him give me 5 million cash and 5% stock options in Microsoft and we'll talk. Oh and stop using out loopholes to avoid taxes is another thing Hunt will probably say.

If I ever met Hunt I cannot guarantee I wouldn't smack him n his face he's such a traitorous greedy selfish sod.

@Kaloudz I think pre-merger is how I read it. It's got something to do with the additional action the CMA took which Microsoft has protested against, not sure how or to who though?

I could say more but to honest we need to see how it plays out really, even ignoring FOSS guy, need to see what the CAT does next rather then hypothesising as we all thought the CMA would pass the deal.....

Seriously just have everything crossed for a new Gears Of War game. And for the previous ones to be announced remade in Unreal Engine 5.
Indiana Jones better deliver too.

But to be honest Xbox’s first party games are in such a release mess it’s a third party machine at present. I’d just love for them to announce some actual release dates and stick to them.

@Kaloudz I should add there is a plethora of misinformation out there on the latest Bloomberg report, so many people claiming it states MS are looking at just leaving the UK market with Activision games. The report being taken totally out of context for click bait views and the masses following the same belief.

@Kaloudz I looked into it, actually it’s Activision who would need to leave. They would need to move offices to the EU and then sell COD etc by a UK distributor. Seems to be confusion over how that would work though with the CMA blocking any interest in acquisition of Activision or its subsidiaries by Microsoft.

One thing I did also learn though is the issue with the Xbox hardware, apparently the SSD is coded to the APU via a hardware key, and this key is changed with every software update, so if your SSD drive fails and cannot be copied your entire console is dead. I hope they figured a long lifespan for the drives!

@Kaloudz No, what is being said is that Microsoft are considering removing Activision games from sale in the UK to get the deal through, on all platforms. That’s the threat being made according to Bloombergs article, and I don’t appreciate that if true. Even if it’s an empty threat it’s completely unprofessional and not how a corporation should behave. It shows a bully boy immature response to a legal entity and large scale market.

@Kaloudz We will see, I've already decided though that if Microsoft pulls Activision games IE COD out of the UK market. My Series X would be on eBay faster than I can blink! I won't support that action. Not with my wallet.

@Kaloudz I think you are reading too much to the CATs remit, as others who claim to have legal training and knowledge have claimed the CAT cannot direct the path the CMA take, only pass the case back for another review and conclusion.

And whilst 3 billion is a lot of money, I really could not care if MS ends up having to pay it, why should I? I don’t work for the company. If I started to let the penalties Microsoft had to pay play on my mind I’d be a toxic game fanboy, making You Tube videos spitting pure hatred at the competition.

I saw some video with someone making three options that MS could take, and that they will just block Activision Blizzard games from sale in the UK if needed, well if that happened my Series X would be on eBay quicker then I jump when I see a spider! But I know that won’t happen as that’s a lot of money they would lose and have to explain to share holders why they should lose it, other options available that avoid that.

@themightyant I wouldn't underestimate the CMA, all the CAT can do is pass it back for review and the CMA will just block it again. Still only see tactics from a giant corporation to undermine the oppositions preparedness and avoid penalties.

@Kaloudz ?? Court cases consistently bring in third party experts, why shouldn't this be any different? It gives another persons viewpoint and strengthens your argument.

@Kaloudz Personally I couldn't care less about Microsoft's 3 billion, that's pocket change to them in this deal.
MS purely used it as a tactic to u see one the CMA's preparedness and get themselves out of being penalised in the deal.

@Kaloudz Did the lawyers of trillion and billion dollar US companies really tell a government entity to just cancel all their family holidays, all so they don't get penalised in their merger? To me that comes across as arrogant bullying. And an attempt to undermine the CMA's ability to prepare properly.
I wouldn't be applauding that tactic.