antifyre

Looking at Starfield and Fallout 4 upgrades, potentially handing Fallout 5 to another developer is a blessing.

New Vegas Sequel from Obsidian would be lovely.

Shout out to Lil Gator game, playing with the kids here and it’s just a great fun time, with some stellar fun mechanics/charm/ writing….

@Bimba I think it's this.

Imagine - As part of the Gamescon announcements over the next few days, Phil announces that Ubi + is now included in Game Pass - potentially UK customers have to pay extra for it, whereas worldwide it's locked into the Ultimate Price Point...

@themightyant Agree on this - Has been shown as in development, but no dates mentioned (did any of us expect it to show up and release before June? I didn't)....

I think the experiences of game development landing on time has really been about crunch and insane late production. With that being now frowned upon / finally flagged for being cruel to the developers, the industry is finding it hard to manage the expectations and communications around these things

I will happily try a reduced fidelity 60fps mode, and a quality mode at 30 -> but as long as it's not as messed up as Redfall has been at launch, I really don't care that much.

But this stick is getting shorter and shorter for XBOX -> this entire showcase is becoming a DO it Large or Die for MS

Anyone having issues getting local co-op racing on this. Kids are a bit peeved they can’t play together….

@mousieone apart from their refusal to stay where they’re asked! Need to unlock the toys asap 😆

This has been one of those series for the kids and I. Played the first one tonnes (still not finished), and they are VERY taken with the Cotton Slimes already. Seems to be a really positive story (the fact that they were number one on the Steam charts over the weekend is pretty cool)

Found it hidden away in the Xbox store last night, so downloaded it from there at 6pm - kids and myself very excited running around hoovering Cotton Slimes and lots of explanations to the 4 year old that we 'can't hover just yet, so we can't get that shiny thing!'

Prey was one of those Games I'll remember set-pieces from for years...muscle memory to certain level designs, with huge fondness, and an ending that stuck the landing and then some. Dishonored 1 is fantastic also, 2 I need to retry on Xbox I feel...

SpiritFarer was a revelation and has had serious legs, so much so that 30 hrs later, I've still not finished, so off I go to buy it now (thanks for the reminder!)

Wonder if Shipbreaker will be cross-save with PC Game Pass version (it's always difficult to figure out!) - Love it, but would rather not start from scratch again

That's a good-looking line-up of games....

@themightyant right? - I still chuckle at the some in the community saying 'i've played everything, why is there not more free stuff?', and taking them at face value, I am very jealous of their seemingly abundant free time!

I think, like most of the world these days, approximately 80% of us would like folk to be civil to each other, and for everyone to be able to play in a respectful inclusive environment. We're not 'Woke' or not purposely aggressive. We would like people to be chill, and understand that there are a lot of young peeps online with us, and folk with different viewpoints. Not looking to change minds, or get into a ten-tonne debate every time we want to engage with our hobby and relax - just want everyone to be relaxed, and not fire aggression at folk for perceived differences, of any kind.

So; missed the train on Shadowrun completely. Is it worth the engagement?

@swedetrap Exactly - he's a professional in a business environment, and he's a job to do. You can do that and be a fan of something at the same time, and to be able to do both, still be considered 'authentic' by devs/insiders and still be successful enough to finally wake up MS to Xbox's potential, makes him even more impressive.

Literally one of my favourite games, that I had bought two days before for 15 euro... gotta love that returns policy!

@themightyant - Death's Door is a fantastic game. Haven't seen 'just one more shot' playability like it in a long time...

Found an offer on Amazon (my first non-digital Series X purchase!) - never played a 'Souls' game, so I am protecting a little bit so I can re-sell if it's not for me. But I am hugely intruiged!

Sucker for a platformer after a Cartoon - kids will love Spongebob, and I'll finally get a chance to play Flame/Flood!

This is going to be 60 bucks, isn't it.

Kotick - 'Phil and I started riffing on things for the future'

Phil - 'I sent a one-line email, that read 'Stop emailing me''

Microsoft are attempting to become what they once were- get enough studios under their wing so that a 'Game Pass' button on Playstation is an inevitability, as was Windows etc in the past... it's like they all watched the Xbox doc on You-Tube, and went "oh yeah! We're MICROSOFT! BUYITALL'

(understanding this deal is prob 2-3 years in the making)

@thatCFguy agreed - there's sneakier ways to move people to Xbox without necessarily going exclusive too....

I feel like there'll be a lot of (official / governmental) scrutiny over this one. Activation were screwed as a name (rightfully), and maybe a lot of the franchises are not necessarily going to be brand-specific. As a news bomb in itself, this is absolutely wild...

Gorogoa and The Pedestrian for me I think.... wondering if we'll get any more for the first two weeks, or will these be shadow drops and it'll be midmonth before we hear more

@CrazyJF holding out for it on Xbox, but it still may get a Steam purchase if they string it out too long..

Good list here, and I do think there are quite a few tasty things we don't know about yet....

Great if true, and as said above, competition breeds innovation and value.

Agreed on the progression (it's almost like achievement hunting) but lord, is it good fun rumbling around and getting up to speed (also, the lovely bots are a good way to get some killstreak confidence back when getting slapped in the main MP)

Sooooooo - Acquisition Announcement? More BC games, maybe more FPS improvements. Gamepass for the next two weeks (potentially big if there is an acquisition announced)

Castlevania Advance on Switch - Mass Effect LE - The Wild at Heart - Halo Infinite Tech Preview -

I played it last night on XSX and it was smooth and very responsive. Of all the shooters, Destiny/Halo were always more up my street. Response and fun are top of my wants for something like this, but the graphics were impressive, considering the resolution etc. Not ‘asghadismywitnesshesbrokeninhalf’ amazing, but very good. Definitely seems to be aimed towards series and souped pc rigs….

@SplooshDmg bojack gets so overlooked as a show. That’s pretty much the reminder/incentive i needed!

Just started Subnautica last few nights, well impressed, so happy for the DLC. Sable and a few more getting a try too (Lemnis Fate, Superliminal, Lost Words, Aragami…)

Ok,Gotta go finish Night in the woods so….

These are my comfort food, and very much so enjoying LSW: Force Awakens after avoidance for a while. Hurrah!

@SplooshDmg Parris is focused, engaged and very authentic. Chap is funny too. Having him and Gary Whitta on the Kinda Funny Xcast makes it a definitive listen for me.

This was better signposted than the last one, and I do like the exposure for the new devs, but they need to tighten it up A LOT.

Me: Still waiting on that cute fishing game

Everyone Else: Which one, there are seven now....

Me: Dagnab it....

Seriously though, still really wanna see Bear and Breakfast show up so I can play it with the kids......

Nipped in to grab FC5 Gold (has the BC FC3 included in it, so is a bit of a steal)... looking at my queue, I may get to play it sometime this year !

This is gonna be goooooood - Radio Silence now for any vids etc until it comes out.....

Dragon Quest Builders 2 on cloud + working from home = me getting fired………

Microsoft swoop on Io Interactive, with the Hitman Trilogy landing on GamePass (and sparking two years ‘Vidya Games press’ yap around whether Bond will be multi-plat)

Bigtime fun with the kids for that one, looks like.

Looking forward to this, at a relaxed and impressively relatable UK & Ireland friendly time! - 90 mins is a perfect time frame for these things too. Cut the presentations until they are leaping off the screen with intrigue, and colour in the gaps in the coming months.....

My predictions/ guesses after too much coffee and being up with the kids since 6.30

Announcements

New Banjo
Alan Wake sequel
Gears 6
Game Pass for Switch in some form (Hol 2021)
IO Xbox exclusive
Another Studio splurge - Warner’s potentially after all the stuff over there the last few weeks.
Ubisoft to Game Pass by end of year

Date Teaser Trailers(2022/3)

Fable
Perfect Dark
Final Fantasy VII remake
Unnamed Kojima horror series
Avowed
Indiana Jones
Everwild

Involved Trailers for 2021/2

Halo Infinite (Campaign Aug/ multiplayer Nov/Dec)
Psychonauts 2 (Shadow Drop)
Forza (2021)
Starfield (2022)
Wolfenstein (2021)
The Ascent (2021 - possible Shadow Drop)
12 Minutes (2021 Shadow Drop)
Crossfire X (2021)
Scorn (2021)
Flight Sim (2021)
Game Pass indie sizzle reel
FPS Boost sizzle reel

Looks great fun, the style and fun-orientated RPG mechanics paint it as a great ‘drop in and blast out’ play, with a tonne of customisation. But the Game Pass privilege strikes again… for a full price release, it needs to review WELL before I drop cash on it…..

Colour me invested and interested, but wary (like any good Gen Xr )

@Nightcrawler71 Same. Hopefully Fraser doesn't start writing great sales pitches for €70 games or .... oh wait, never mind

Oooooo. That’s a good list…. Not sure you’ll get all of a 120 upgrade from a lot of them, but that’s a good start to another MS news heavy week