Comments 633

Re: Xbox Game Studios Won't Show Any 'Full CG Trailers' During 2023 Showcase

Sakai

Good. I mentioned this a while ago that trailers should be clearly labelled so you know what you are watching. Sony were the masters of this, clearly labeling everything, but the last showcase a couple weeks ago they took some backwards steps and actually were alot worse than previously. Sony, MS, Nintendo, please be transparent.

And Microsoft, please show as much gameplay as possible, far to much cgi the other week from Sony, and cgi trailers are practically useless to the end cosumer

Re: Xbox's Appeal Against UK ActiBlizz Verdict Set For July 2023

Sakai

The CMAs lawyer seemed in way over his head yesterday, and i actually felt kind of sorry for him to be honest. I think he knows their case is pretty weak. Never seem somebody stutter so much in my life.

I managed to guess one of the grounds for appeal correctly, that the cma did not even follow their own guidelines regarding remedies. Judge seemed to see straight through the CMA yesterday and was not impressed with their dither and delay tactics

Re: Review: ASUS ROG Ally - The Xbox Handheld We've Been Waiting For?

Sakai

Managed to preorder a z1 extreme version early today at Currys for £699, as a friend works there. But preorders are not live at Currys until later next week.
Can't wait for this thing! May just end up being my main gaming platform, despite owning all the consoles and an oled TV. With a wife and 2 kids, this thing should free up some extra gaming time

Re: EU 'Expected' To Approve Xbox Activision Blizzard Deal Next Week

Sakai

The EU are fans of behavioural remedies, the CMA are not, so I can see the EU passing it, but who knows at this point. If it does pass:

Then MS will need to argue that the CMA took the "easiest/lazy" option, and not the "best/proper" option, CAT will approve the appeal and pass it back to the CMA to do the work again.

Blocking the deal solely for Cloud Concerns with all the concessions already offered, always seemed a needlessly costly option when there are less costly and less dramatic options available.
This is what the CMA will fail the appeal on, if I had to guess, as its in the CMAs guidelines that any remedies should be proportionate.
Blocking the whole deal at a cost of several billion pounds, for a nascent market, is like the total opposite of that. Very shaky ground for the CMA to be on.

I read an article last week that the CMA have been inundated with complaints about them blocking the deal. Apparently they have recieved a huge amount.
That's my guess for what it's worth, but I could be totally wrong, it wouldn't be the first time. I still think it's 50/50 at this point if it will be approved

Re: Xbox To Provide Update On Starfield's Frame Rate Ahead Of September Launch

Sakai

@NEStalgia I game on a 65" LG C2 OLED and 30fps isn't that bad. Before that I gamed on a 55" Lg B7 OLED, and again it wasn't that bad.
I am a gameplay over graphics guy, always will be. So i am there with you. But i am also a realist and realise that if i want 60fps fullstop, its PC or nothing really.
These consoles cost the same as a low to midrange graphics card after all. If people want next gen games, something has to give at that price point. Console are for the budget gamer afterall. Sure I prefer 60fps, who wouldn't. But it's not a deal breaker if I play a game or not

Re: Xbox To Provide Update On Starfield's Frame Rate Ahead Of September Launch

Sakai

@NEStalgia
A target of 1440p/60 does not mean it's a requirement or a stipulation, or all games will hit that, its just an imaginary target lol.
Honestly it sounds made up to me, but I'm happy for someone to provide a link or some evidence. Otherwise I think you are just mistaken or have taken a quote wrongly, like mistaking target for requirement.

I have never heard of any manufacturer stipulate a minimum framerate to release on their console, it sounds completely absurd just saying it.
Especially when the majority of non crossgen games have been 30fps for a decade or so.
Even Digital foundry expect 30fps to make a return after crossgen is over. These consoles are low/mid range pc parts afterall, people are expecting way too much for £450

Re: Xbox To Provide Update On Starfield's Frame Rate Ahead Of September Launch

Sakai

@NEStalgia Have you got a link for that? I have never heard that and I am really curious.
All I have seen on the xbox site is that games optimised for the series x can run upto 4k and 120fps.
"Next-gen framerates
Games that have been Optimised for Xbox Series X|S use the full power of the new consoles to deliver higher, steadier framerates at up to 120FPS while playing."
https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/optimized

Re: Xbox To Provide Update On Starfield's Frame Rate Ahead Of September Launch

Sakai

@NEStalgia "Plus 60fps is Xbox's STATED minimum target even for Series S. If 60fps isn't the standard, then MS is lying (again) about their platform."

Microsoft do not dictate what fps 3rd party games release at on their console, that's up to the developer and publisher. Some will aim for 120, some 60 and some 30.
Just because something is capable of 4k/120 does not mean everything will run at that. Its a capability not a requirement. How could Microsoft (who don't even make the vast majority of games on their platform) promise all games would be 60fps minimum?

Some PC games (like Jedi Survivor, a recent example, or Flight Sim) barely hit a consistant 60fps on a 4090 without DLSS3 frame generation, how do people expect a £450 console to do that? It sounds very unreasonable

Re: Xbox To Provide Update On Starfield's Frame Rate Ahead Of September Launch

Sakai

@Ralizah I have to agree on the 30fps, we are going to see it more and more once crossgen is over. If you are expecting 60fps on all games on a £450 console, you are setting yourself up for major dissapointment.

Some games have different priorities, like simulation or size and scope. These games will be cpu limited so lowering resolution or effects will not help a game hit 60fps. Consoles are cheap, if you want 60fps on everything, buy a £3000 pc

Re: Xbox To Provide Update On Starfield's Frame Rate Ahead Of September Launch

Sakai

@somnambulance Microsoft are more inconsistent than always terrible in my opinion. I personally think theres a huge amount of hyperbole around xbox at the minute. They were publisher of the year in 2021 with the highest metacritic average ever. Hardly a bad thing, but it didn't move the needle, nobody really cared. People still say "xbox has no games for a decade" That's why I actually agreed with alot of Phils words the other day. Alot of people didn't like his words, and I can respect their opinion, I just don't share it. They have released a number of good games this generation, they have also had some bad games. Redfall never looked good, but I hate looter shooter coop games. I just hope they learn from their mistakes moving forward, and correctly labelling game trailers to realisticly set expectations would be a good start

Re: Xbox To Provide Update On Starfield's Frame Rate Ahead Of September Launch

Sakai

I would guess most people just want them to be upfront and honest. Games should be shown on Xbox hardware, not pc, in my opinion.
And it should be clearly labelled if its gameplay or not. Then people can judge better. Honesty is always the best policy.
The developer direct at the start of the year was good, it was a really good format
Sony are still the best for labelling their trailers, being honest about what is gameplay and what is not, and what it is played on

Re: Phil Spencer Says Xbox 'Needs To Improve' Its Development Process

Sakai

Microsofts infamous hands off approach seems to work with some developers, and not with others.

What they need to do is learn from their mistakes and not repeat them. If a certain studio needs a stick, you best start beating them with it.
I imagine it is difficult balance to get, but that's not really the consumers problem. Maybe Microsoft was worried about stepping on toes, with developers who were half way through a game, when they were purchased. Pretty poor excuse in my opinion. I suspect Arkane will get alot more assistance after Redfall dropped so badly.

Think il give the whole interview a listen while I finish my work for the day. Hope he's honest

Re: Bethesda Will Show 'Tons Of New Gameplay' At Starfield Direct Next Month

Sakai

@themightyant Starfield has a whole galaxy to explore with thousands of planets, and is a heavy sim based game. Very different to Horizon Forbidden West. They are totally different types of games. Maybe I'm wrong and it will include 60fps, but I very much doubt it. Starfield will more likely be cpu limited and not gpu limited, so dropping resolution or visual fidelity more than likely wouldn't help a great deal.

If it doesn't hit 60fps, that doesn't mean it's not beneficial to release on less platforms. There is more to a game than framerate and it can be a benefit in other areas. Not sure why you think it's just wind if it's not 60fps. I see more and more 30fps games coming out once crossgen period is over.

Re: Microsoft Says To Expect 'New Surprises And First-Looks' From Xbox Games Showcase 2023

Sakai

@Dezzy70 ToTK looks great, it's one of only 2 games I have preordered this year. Just hope the wife doesn't hog my Switch when it comes out, like she usually does!

@Snake_V5 we all do from time to time. It's like the word inconsistent was invented specifically to describe Microsofts gaming division. It's either feast (2021) or famine (2022) there is no inbetween.

@NEStalgia I think VR is great for some genres (like Gran Turismo) but I'm still not convinced what it would add to my favourite types of games like Ninja Gaiden, Nioh etc. Even the dualsences adaptive triggers get in the way on those types of games, never mind motion controls. Hated the adaptive triggers when playing Nioh Remaster Collection on ps5, much more difficult and inconsistant than playing on a Dualshock on ps4. I'm not really chasing immersion, I need consistency and ultra responsive controls for the types of games I love.

Re: Microsoft Says To Expect 'New Surprises And First-Looks' From Xbox Games Showcase 2023

Sakai

@NEStalgia nobody can keep up with Dezzy he sells his xbox that many times lol. But we still love him anyway. I still love me some AAA from time to time, im playing Ragnarok at the minute for example, but I think the older you get, the less enamoured you are with AAA. Alot of de ja vu and been there done that kind of feelings.
My favourite developers is Team Ninja, and they sure are not AAA really! Gameplay over graphics for me.
I'm sure @Snake_V5 does, but alot of his comments recently have come across as trolling. Maybe he doesn't mean it, so sorry for asking @Snake_V5. My bad I apoligize

Re: Bethesda Will Show 'Tons Of New Gameplay' At Starfield Direct Next Month

Sakai

@TakeItEasy if people expect the impossible because of some poor PR, then more fool them. I prefer to live in the real world where decisions are based on facts and not feelings. I very much doubt a game the size and scope of Starfield will run at 60fps on a £450 xbox. I thought that would be obvious to most people. Has a Bethesda rpg ever launched at 60fps on any console?

Re: Microsoft Signs New 10-Year Deal Despite UK ActiBlizz Verdict

Sakai

I tried telling people that this wasn't over, it was perplexing how many thought it was over the other day and celebrated.
With more deals being announced and cloud providers like nvidia and boosteroid already publicly criticising the decision, there is plenty of legs left in this story.

I have also seen alot of people online say the CMA have never lost an appeal, which is completely wrong, they have several times, they even lost one a few months ago at the end of last year.

I'm not sure if it will go thru or not, but this is not the end. (I wish it was)