I had considered buying Resident Evil many times just for the nostalgia. Horror games aren't for me. But that was my first way back when Blockbuster Video rented consoles.
Everyone keeps talking about the bugs, but it was clear from the beginning that players bought a content-incomplete alpha version. The AIs are all placeholders. The NPCs are are as shallow and lifeless as NPCs 20 years ago. Every review says the combat difficulty isn't balanced. Whole areas from the trailers are sealed off. It's nothing like The Witcher 3, though they said it would be as late as 2019.
It will be a good game when it's done. But that still won't be until 2022. And I won't pay full price since the execs continue to lie about it.
@BigP Galactic Conquest mode made all the difference. It kills me that EA didn't copy that.
They could even add elements from LOTR: Battle of Middle Earth 2 — another EA game. Add a RISK-style layer of map strategy and then actually fight the battles.
Nothing complicated. Just Skyrim in the Star Wars universe!
Seriously, I want a similar game in that setting. That means you gradually craft your own character and wander as often as progress through independent narratives. I could play as a Jedi one time, a Sith the next, then a smuggler, etc. I want Bethesda-style freedom while exploring a handful of planets (limited to zones).
Like Star Wars: Galaxies, but single-player (so nothing watered down or balanced for multiplayer).
Ideally, Bethesda Game Studios will get a shot at Star Wars too. An Elder Scrolls / Fallout-style Star Wars game could be amazing. Imagine being able to play a big world like that one time as a Jedi, again as a smuggler with a blaster, etc.
Ubisoft might make a fun open world in Star Wars, but they are more about narrative adventures with a particular character.
Awesome. Reports a year or two ago claimed EA had scrapped its open world plans in favor of more scripted experiences. So I'm glad Ubisoft is reviving that hope.
EA could probably negotiate with Disney to sublicense its contract. My guess is that is what happened.
Ideally, Disney will eventually open it up so any developer can make a Star Wars game. Tight control hasn't protected the IP from Disney's own bad decisions. A few bad Star Wars games are not a problem if we also see more good Star Wars games.
I haven't plugged it in since I got an Xbox One. But I only recently put it away. That's because NCAA Football, Blur, and The Saboteur are not backward compatible.
Release dates are worthless in this industry. The only AAA game with a believable release date right now is Hitman 3 (which still could slip) and many games that sites are reporting as TBA 2021 will slip into 2022.
I wouldn't be surprised if even games that were announced for 2020 get pushed into 2022, like Vampire: The Masquerade 2 and Dying Light 2.
I keep mine wired, so no connection problems. But I have had to detach and reattach the headphones audio console to get any sound from my Series X after bootup sometimes.
The simplest straightforward design change would be to add 2 paddles or back buttons to the basic Xbox controller. I recently had to switch to the next-gen basic controller after my Elite 1 controller's stick had problems. All the tactile additions are great. But clicking the thumbsticks is not half as good as using the paddles and probably shortens the longevity before stick drift.
At least, there could be an option somewhere between a $60 basic controller and a $190 Elite 2. I might try a PowerA controller just for a cheaper option with paddles.
But I would rather Microsoft invest in software to enable custom voice commands by way of any headset microphone. The way Bethesda integrated Kinect's software into Skyrim is just the tip of the iceberg.
As normal as Siri and Alexa have become even among people who are not tech-savvy, Xbox games should all have the option of multiplying command options beyond the handheld controller with voice commands to equip items, use items, access menus, navigate menus, use skills, etc. There is potential for Xbox gamers to have as many quick control options while using an Xbox controller as PC gamers have while using a keyboard.
Why will Microsoft not allow 3rd-party VR headsets and VR games on Xbox?
Even if Microsoft doesn't perceive console VR as profitable yet, despite PSVR and despite Microsoft's own investment in VR/AR on PC with the HoloLens, they don't need to bear the brunt of exploration costs. All Microsoft needs to do is verify that 3rd-party hardware and software are compatible with Series X/S hardware. And now Microsoft owns Bethesda, which has been a VR pioneer.
So how does VR on Xbox not make financial sense? Does Spencer think it will be cheaper to catch up to Sony's market share when that nut is finally cracked?
No preorders, even for previously reliable studios. Not even for Starfield.
I'm going to try to save money by focusing on old games. It would be nice to first experience games at their best, too. AAA studios all release games too early these days.
I wonder how similar it will be to Hitman (2016—). Could a 007 game be a playground like Hitman levels that let the player be creative in strategy and disguise? Or must it always be an on-rails cinematic script, with the player only following instructions?
Great as Goldeneye64 was for its time, I'm not sure similar gameplay would work today. It would be awesome if IO nodded to Rare's game with a bunch of unlockable cheats.
I think reviewers were the main reason they shortened the campaign. Game journalists are pressed for time. And many trained as writers, so they gravitate toward linear film-like games anyway. So a Call of Duty-like scripted campaign is more attractive to reviewers.
I wouldn't mind a short and linear campaign in an open world if there remain plenty of side stories and fun activities in the world. But some reviewers claim to have completed the main story and side missions of Cyberpunk 2077 in 60 hours.
That's still a lot of content. It's just not comparable to The Witcher 3. It's a different sort of game. They are both good in their own ways.
It depends on what the DLC is. In this long video, the host digs through years of CDPR interviews and trailers. Almost an entire city section advertised in a trailer was walled off before release. Some of the buildings are in the game but only accessible by bugging outside the current boundaries. Will they now pass it off as DLC?
The AI and combat balance are obviously not as CDPR intended. They are selling a beta version.
I will buy it when it's done a year from now, at a discount. I expected a world to wander, like The Witcher 3, but it's apparently more like Deus Ex.
Even when done, it won't be the game they advertised. From 2016 to 2018, they repeatedly said the game would be equivalent to The Witcher 3 in scope. Yet many players have already finished Cyberpunk 2077, whereas few players ever experience most of The Witcher 3 content.
It will be a great game in the end. It just won't be what they led fans to expect.
MS Flight Simulator will be released in the summer. E3 at the earliest.
Xbox and Game Pass will get a decent RTS game. It has been a long while, the Series X/S generation is capable, and we have mouse+keyboard support now.
Halo: Infinite will include a battle royale mode.
The Halo IP will be translated into a new genre, like card battles or some other phone game.
1st-party studios will emphasize linear narrative experiences this year. Halo: Infinite is the only non-Bethesda playground we will get from Microsoft this year.
I'm not interested in most games in Game Pass, and that's alright. Nobody would expect you to enjoy most or even half the content on Netflix or Amazon Prime. These services offer a wide variety of games as much to please a variety of customers as to introduce customers to new genres and new creations.
There are many games that seem well made but are not for me. Some are worth playing but don't fit my interests enough to buy in lieu of other games.
At least with Game Pass, games I wouldn't buy to try I will try and consider buying if I love them. And even if I don't buy a mildly enjoyable game, some contracts with Microsoft including payment for downloads and play time. Or I might recommend a game to a friend who would enjoy it more than I do.
Microsoft Flight Simulator is the only game I'm sure is coming to Game Pass in 2021. Possibly Starfield at the end of the year, if it is demoed in March or July. A Forza game, probably.
But there will be plenty of cool surprises. Planet Coaster, Undermine, and several other games were complete surprises to me in 2020. I would have missed Abzu, Jurassic World: Evolution, and Rocket League if not for Game Pass.
The limited production is understandable and perhaps unavoidable. Bot purchases are a challenge for all retailers.
What bothered me wasn't having to wait. It was the Xbox Store showing me an expected shipping time of one week during checkout and then altering the shipping estimate to over a month the moment my order was done.
Hopefully, Microsoft has sorted that out by now. Delays are acceptable if they are well communicated.
Game Pass is certainly a big win for Xbox this year. There is currently nothing like it. The game variety is excellent, even if I skip most. It's very consumer-friendly. The addition of EA Play and purchase of Bethesda blew me away, even if I had already played what I wanted to play from them.
I don't think I played any Games With Gold this year. The good ones I already owned. It's a better program for gamers who are catching up on older games.
The presentations were mostly disappointing. Many good games are on the horizon. But I hate how many "announcements" and trailers are for projects with nothing to show. So many major games are released unfinished or with severe bugs like crashing. The industry needs to move away from previewing games before production reaches the polish and optimization stage.
Anthem and Cyberpunk 2077 were major disappointments this year. Watch Dogs: Legion is alright. AC: Valhalla is good, but I prefer Odyssey.
It was a long wait until my Series X arrived. But now I'm enjoying it. Here's hoping 2021 offers some good exclusives. Maybe MS Flight Simulator will arrive by summer.
I used my refund to buy Valhalla instead. A save bug wiped an hour's progress, but there have been no other bugs and the game feels much more polished. That will keep me entertained in the months CDPR needs to fix the major bugs and AI issues. I hope the Series X/S optimizations are not too far away. Maybe by summer.
Skyrim VR should be available in Game Pass as soon as the Bethesda acquisition is processed. I assume they haven't added it already because that would require a new contract.
1st-party VR headset support is an investment. But I don't understand why Microsoft will not allow 3rd-party VR headsets on Xbox.
The 2nd "Templar" boss in Valhalla I assassinated without knowing she was anything more than a regular enemy. I killed her from behind and the screen faded to black (for a cutscene). I thought a bug had frozen the game and would make me reload, lol.
@MaccaMUFC It probably depends on what kind of gamer you are. I prefer action and exploration to narratives, so it doesn't bother me much to not complete a main storyline or face an endless number of quests and objectives. I love games like Skyrim and Odyssey that are almost endless.
The combat feels very different. I enjoy it in both Odyssey and Valhalla. But movement in Odyssey feels more fluid and controlled.
Skill progression in Odyssey is easier to plan. Valhalla's tangled web of skills is probably cool when you allow "fate" to auto-assign points. I will choose that option on my second playthrough, whenever that is.
I'm very tempted to buy Cyberpunk again now that I have a Series X. But it will be a while before the AI and systems are really how the developers want players to experience them.
I used the money refunded from my Cyberpunk 2077 preorder to buy AC Valhalla. It's definitely a more polished game at this point.
So far, I probably enjoyed Odyssey more overall. But on Series X Valhalla is beautiful with all the lighting and volumetric effects. I love how much the time of day and weather changes the landscape.
@tharsman Ah, sorry. I misread your comment. My purchase was not a gift.
I would guess that they refund the card of whoever puchased it. But Microsoft probably requires the buyer, rather than the recipient, to request the refund.
Many non-gaming news sites have picked up the topic because it's popular and there is so much money involved. Also, I suppose, gaming continues to become mainstream as gaming generations take leadership roles in other industries.
Sadly, my elderly dad was never open to the idea of video games. But maybe playing word games or mahjong on his phone has softened him up for Tetris or something.
I'm giving an old hunter a hunting game this year. It's not like really being out in the wilderness, but for someone too old to do the real thing The Hunter: Call of the Wild seems a great alternative. And there is no hunting season to wait for.
One bad decision doesn't justify another. Games should be sold when they are finished or else offered with a disclaimer. If platform providers sold games too soon before, doing so makes no more sense today.
Microsoft and Sony already vetted Cyberpunk 2077 and decided to sell it. That's on them. They knew a last-minute patch was unlikely to fix the worst problems. A disclaimer now is sufficient. CDPR probably decided to pull the game from Sony's store and not Microsoft's because of a difference in policies and flexibility. Remember that refunds cost platform providers money because it's their employees tied up with unhappy customers and processing claims.
CDPR probably hid the game's poor performance on base platforms because investors were losing confidence after so long without a new game and CDPR had already committed millions of dollars to marketing campaigns around the world. The videos on YouTube are cheap, but the billboards and commercials require contracts with advertising companies.
Even on the best platforms (high-end PCs, Series X, PS5), Cyberpunk 2077's AI systems would have been unacceptable a decade ago. The game was rushed. Granted, some bugs only occur late in development as a result of interacting systems and can't be easily fixed. Maybe the AI systems were okay and broke near release. Since they said in an investor call that AI issues are considered bugs, that seems to be the case (if anything they say is honest). CDPR probably would have delayed again if didn't cost them a ton of money. But they at least should have been honest and upfront with everyone.
That's the core problem: the dishonesty. Lots of companies sell games in early access. But it's unacceptable to sell something you claim is a finished product when it's not. Anthem, Fallout 76, and No Man's Sky were all incomplete or offered less than advertised at launch. CDPR isn't alone in that. Apparently, not even smaller publishers can be trusted with preorders. But CDPR has continued to lie by pretending they didn't know how bad the base console versions were before launch. If execs didn't see those products for themselves or didn't heed the warnings of employees who did, they were not doing their jobs.
Cyberpunk 2077 will be great eventually. Even players enjoying it now are not experiencing all the developers intended, since the AI systems are obviously broken or incomplete, along with some physics. CDPR can win back a lot of confidence like Hello Games and Bethesda did. But CDPR must stop lying.
Xbox refunded my purchase quickly and easily. I will buy the game again after the fixes and the Series X optimizations. Whether or not I pay full price for the truly finished version will depend on CDPR's actions from here on.
Also, don't forget that EA Play with Game Pass means Xbox players can take advantage of EA's game trials. You can try Star Wars: Squadrons, for example, for 10 hours.
I finally received my Series X, so I'll be bouncing around optimized games this week.
PC Gamer's article about police AI made me wonder. I was surprised from my gameplay that non-story NPCs are so limited. This Reddit thread about AI in Cyberpunk makes it seem awful. If much of this is accurate, games had better AI a decade ago.
I'm glad most here are enjoying it, though it looks like most are playing on next-gen consoles.
On XB1 X, the game crashed on me shortly after I entered Night City as a Nomad. I read that it crashes on Series X too, because it's the same XB1 version. The game looked alright, but not like a polished new game.
I considered waiting for a Series X to play it right. But CDPR kept lying. They claimed they somehow overlooked how bad the game is on base XB1 and PS4. But how could managers not have either seen those versions themselves or heard warnings from their team leaders and developers? Of course they knew or CDPR wouldn't have held back console review copies.
I'm sure the game will be great when it's done and polished. For now, it sounds fun (when it works) but doesn't even have the AI working as CDPR intended.
"We ignored the signals" is another lie. They didn't need signals. All they needed was to spend 15 minutes with each version of the game to know that half of them looked and performed terribly. They knew the Xbox One version couldn't even perform at 720p. If management didn't know the state of the game from direct experience (amid COVID work-from-home conditions), they made no effort to know or else didn't trust the team leaders who had hands-on experience with last-gen versions of the game.
Remember that CDPR managers told investors previously that there was little crunch and then apologized to their team (not to investors) for saying that. They are in a habit of lying. I'm sure there are many good people at CDPR, but the managers are untrustworthy.
Xbox quickly processed my refund yesterday. I will buy it again in a year or so, after the Series X optimizations and general improvements. But after being disrespected in this way I'm inclined to buy it at a discount.
I preordered because I thought a smaller company like CDPR was more trustworthy than the likes of EA and Activision. I was wrong. That was my last preorder.
Planet Coaster is the best game I have played this year. It offers loads of content with scripted challenges, ample room for creativity, and a sandbox mode to push the game to its limits. Hopefully, Series X will let me build even crazier parks. I just hope there is eventually a bundle with all the DLC combined.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 looks incredible. But I won't vote for it without having played it. Looking forward to the Series X version.
I considered voting for Watch Dogs: Legion because Ubisoft deserves major credit for the Play As Anyone system. That's the most innovative AI system since Monolith's Nemesis system in Shadow of Mordor. It could be a major step toward better NPCs in future games. But the gameplay gets redundant quickly and dialogue is juvenile. Since Ubisoft hired a "VP of Global Diversity and Inclusion" after purging straight white men from management positions, I expect their settings will get even more political.
Getting a refund from Xbox on my digital preorder was quick and easy. I haven't played it since launch day on my XB1 X.
If CDPR wants me to pay full price 6-12 months from now, when the game is truly finished, they will have to offer something more than words as an apology.
That's tough! Skyrim and Oblivion are among my favorite games of all time.
Skyrim polished many systems. The skills are better. The dragons are awesome. The civil war is great. Mod support on consoles is huge. Ultimately, I choose Skyrim.
But Oblivion had a fantastic world. The portals to Oblivion were cool but too common. The guilds were great. The blurry filter got old. I'd love to replay it with Skyrim's systems worked in.
I will finally have a Series X soon. Cyberpunk 2077 is the game I most looked forward to this year. But now even playing it on Series X seems like a hassle, since it's mainly running the Xbox One version and still freezes, still crashes on Series X.
There are several games already optimized for Series X. I might try to ignore Cyberpunk until it gets an optimized version — probably 6-12 months from now.
At least, CDPR's dishonest marketing puts more pressure on the Halo team to show Infinite on both generations and allow reviewers access to both before launch. The Infinite trailer was Series X only, right?
We don't know yet what changes are being made that would apply equally to both generations of hardware. Digital Foundry suggested lighting was a major source of complaints about Infinite's graphics. But it looked to me like a design problem of the environment being too bland and cookie-cutter. The latter could be improved on both generations, but only the new generation will get RTX.
It's mildly surprising that Skyrim VR isn't included. Even if Microsoft doesn't have imminent plans for VR on PC, it's foolish to let Steam corner that growing market.
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Re: Poll: Are You Happy With February 2021's Xbox Games With Gold?
I had considered buying Resident Evil many times just for the nostalgia. Horror games aren't for me. But that was my first way back when Blockbuster Video rented consoles.
Re: Cyberpunk 2077 Devs Expected It To Be Ready In 2022, Claims Report
Everyone keeps talking about the bugs, but it was clear from the beginning that players bought a content-incomplete alpha version. The AIs are all placeholders. The NPCs are are as shallow and lifeless as NPCs 20 years ago. Every review says the combat difficulty isn't balanced. Whole areas from the trailers are sealed off. It's nothing like The Witcher 3, though they said it would be as late as 2019.
It will be a good game when it's done. But that still won't be until 2022. And I won't pay full price since the execs continue to lie about it.
Re: Talking Point: What Type Of Star Wars Games Do You Want On Xbox Series X?
@BigP Galactic Conquest mode made all the difference. It kills me that EA didn't copy that.
They could even add elements from LOTR: Battle of Middle Earth 2 — another EA game. Add a RISK-style layer of map strategy and then actually fight the battles.
Re: Talking Point: What Type Of Star Wars Games Do You Want On Xbox Series X?
Nothing complicated. Just Skyrim in the Star Wars universe!
Seriously, I want a similar game in that setting. That means you gradually craft your own character and wander as often as progress through independent narratives. I could play as a Jedi one time, a Sith the next, then a smuggler, etc. I want Bethesda-style freedom while exploring a handful of planets (limited to zones).
Like Star Wars: Galaxies, but single-player (so nothing watered down or balanced for multiplayer).
Re: EA Is Working On Multiple Star Wars Projects, Confirms Lucasfilm Games
Ideally, Bethesda Game Studios will get a shot at Star Wars too. An Elder Scrolls / Fallout-style Star Wars game could be amazing. Imagine being able to play a big world like that one time as a Jedi, again as a smuggler with a blaster, etc.
Ubisoft might make a fun open world in Star Wars, but they are more about narrative adventures with a particular character.
Re: Ubisoft Has A New Star Wars Game In Development
Awesome. Reports a year or two ago claimed EA had scrapped its open world plans in favor of more scripted experiences. So I'm glad Ubisoft is reviving that hope.
EA could probably negotiate with Disney to sublicense its contract. My guess is that is what happened.
Ideally, Disney will eventually open it up so any developer can make a Star Wars game. Tight control hasn't protected the IP from Disney's own bad decisions. A few bad Star Wars games are not a problem if we also see more good Star Wars games.
Re: Poll: When Was The Last Time You Turned On An Xbox 360?
I haven't plugged it in since I got an Xbox One. But I only recently put it away. That's because NCAA Football, Blur, and The Saboteur are not backward compatible.
Re: Square Enix's Outriders Delayed Again, Now Releases In April
Release dates are worthless in this industry. The only AAA game with a believable release date right now is Hitman 3 (which still could slip) and many games that sites are reporting as TBA 2021 will slip into 2022.
I wouldn't be surprised if even games that were announced for 2020 get pushed into 2022, like Vampire: The Masquerade 2 and Dying Light 2.
Re: Microsoft Says It's Aware Of Connection Issues With The New Xbox Controllers
I keep mine wired, so no connection problems. But I have had to detach and reattach the headphones audio console to get any sound from my Series X after bootup sometimes.
Re: Xbox Wants To Know If You Like The PS5's Controller Features
The simplest straightforward design change would be to add 2 paddles or back buttons to the basic Xbox controller. I recently had to switch to the next-gen basic controller after my Elite 1 controller's stick had problems. All the tactile additions are great. But clicking the thumbsticks is not half as good as using the paddles and probably shortens the longevity before stick drift.
At least, there could be an option somewhere between a $60 basic controller and a $190 Elite 2. I might try a PowerA controller just for a cheaper option with paddles.
Re: Xbox Wants To Know If You Like The PS5's Controller Features
The touchpad offers gameplay possibilities.
But I would rather Microsoft invest in software to enable custom voice commands by way of any headset microphone. The way Bethesda integrated Kinect's software into Skyrim is just the tip of the iceberg.
As normal as Siri and Alexa have become even among people who are not tech-savvy, Xbox games should all have the option of multiplying command options beyond the handheld controller with voice commands to equip items, use items, access menus, navigate menus, use skills, etc. There is potential for Xbox gamers to have as many quick control options while using an Xbox controller as PC gamers have while using a keyboard.
Re: Talking Point: If You Could Ask Phil Spencer Anything, What Would It Be?
Why will Microsoft not allow 3rd-party VR headsets and VR games on Xbox?
Even if Microsoft doesn't perceive console VR as profitable yet, despite PSVR and despite Microsoft's own investment in VR/AR on PC with the HoloLens, they don't need to bear the brunt of exploration costs. All Microsoft needs to do is verify that 3rd-party hardware and software are compatible with Series X/S hardware. And now Microsoft owns Bethesda, which has been a VR pioneer.
So how does VR on Xbox not make financial sense? Does Spencer think it will be cheaper to catch up to Sony's market share when that nut is finally cracked?
Re: 2K's Battleborn Will Be Completely Unplayable After This Month
I miss the days when games were products and not services.
Re: Talking Point: What Are Your Gaming Resolutions For 2021?
No preorders, even for previously reliable studios. Not even for Starfield.
I'm going to try to save money by focusing on old games. It would be nice to first experience games at their best, too. AAA studios all release games too early these days.
Re: Hitman 3 Studio Seeking New Agents To Help Develop Its 007 Video Game
I wonder how similar it will be to Hitman (2016—). Could a 007 game be a playground like Hitman levels that let the player be creative in strategy and disguise? Or must it always be an on-rails cinematic script, with the player only following instructions?
Great as Goldeneye64 was for its time, I'm not sure similar gameplay would work today. It would be awesome if IO nodded to Rare's game with a bunch of unlockable cheats.
Re: CDPR Still Targeting Early 2021 Release For Cyberpunk 2077 DLC
I think reviewers were the main reason they shortened the campaign. Game journalists are pressed for time. And many trained as writers, so they gravitate toward linear film-like games anyway. So a Call of Duty-like scripted campaign is more attractive to reviewers.
I wouldn't mind a short and linear campaign in an open world if there remain plenty of side stories and fun activities in the world. But some reviewers claim to have completed the main story and side missions of Cyberpunk 2077 in 60 hours.
That's still a lot of content. It's just not comparable to The Witcher 3. It's a different sort of game. They are both good in their own ways.
Re: CDPR Still Targeting Early 2021 Release For Cyberpunk 2077 DLC
It depends on what the DLC is. In this long video, the host digs through years of CDPR interviews and trailers. Almost an entire city section advertised in a trailer was walled off before release. Some of the buildings are in the game but only accessible by bugging outside the current boundaries. Will they now pass it off as DLC?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qd4OSqX2GnM&feature=youtu.be
The AI and combat balance are obviously not as CDPR intended. They are selling a beta version.
I will buy it when it's done a year from now, at a discount. I expected a world to wander, like The Witcher 3, but it's apparently more like Deus Ex.
Even when done, it won't be the game they advertised. From 2016 to 2018, they repeatedly said the game would be equivalent to The Witcher 3 in scope. Yet many players have already finished Cyberpunk 2077, whereas few players ever experience most of The Witcher 3 content.
It will be a great game in the end. It just won't be what they led fans to expect.
Re: Feature: Here Are Our Xbox Predictions For 2021
Good predictions. Agreed on 4, 5, and 6.
MS Flight Simulator will be released in the summer. E3 at the earliest.
Xbox and Game Pass will get a decent RTS game. It has been a long while, the Series X/S generation is capable, and we have mouse+keyboard support now.
Halo: Infinite will include a battle royale mode.
The Halo IP will be translated into a new genre, like card battles or some other phone game.
1st-party studios will emphasize linear narrative experiences this year. Halo: Infinite is the only non-Bethesda playground we will get from Microsoft this year.
Sea of Thieves will add a new map region.
Re: Phil Spencer: 2021 Is Going To Be An Incredible Year For Xbox Game Pass
I'm not interested in most games in Game Pass, and that's alright. Nobody would expect you to enjoy most or even half the content on Netflix or Amazon Prime. These services offer a wide variety of games as much to please a variety of customers as to introduce customers to new genres and new creations.
There are many games that seem well made but are not for me. Some are worth playing but don't fit my interests enough to buy in lieu of other games.
At least with Game Pass, games I wouldn't buy to try I will try and consider buying if I love them. And even if I don't buy a mildly enjoyable game, some contracts with Microsoft including payment for downloads and play time. Or I might recommend a game to a friend who would enjoy it more than I do.
Re: Phil Spencer: 2021 Is Going To Be An Incredible Year For Xbox Game Pass
Microsoft Flight Simulator is the only game I'm sure is coming to Game Pass in 2021. Possibly Starfield at the end of the year, if it is demoed in March or July. A Forza game, probably.
But there will be plenty of cool surprises. Planet Coaster, Undermine, and several other games were complete surprises to me in 2020. I would have missed Abzu, Jurassic World: Evolution, and Rocket League if not for Game Pass.
Re: Xbox Boss: We're Constantly Working On Building Xbox Series X|S Consoles
The limited production is understandable and perhaps unavoidable. Bot purchases are a challenge for all retailers.
What bothered me wasn't having to wait. It was the Xbox Store showing me an expected shipping time of one week during checkout and then altering the shipping estimate to over a month the moment my order was done.
Hopefully, Microsoft has sorted that out by now. Delays are acceptable if they are well communicated.
Re: Year In Review: How Would You Grade Xbox In 2020?
Game Pass is certainly a big win for Xbox this year. There is currently nothing like it. The game variety is excellent, even if I skip most. It's very consumer-friendly. The addition of EA Play and purchase of Bethesda blew me away, even if I had already played what I wanted to play from them.
I don't think I played any Games With Gold this year. The good ones I already owned. It's a better program for gamers who are catching up on older games.
The presentations were mostly disappointing. Many good games are on the horizon. But I hate how many "announcements" and trailers are for projects with nothing to show. So many major games are released unfinished or with severe bugs like crashing. The industry needs to move away from previewing games before production reaches the polish and optimization stage.
Anthem and Cyberpunk 2077 were major disappointments this year. Watch Dogs: Legion is alright. AC: Valhalla is good, but I prefer Odyssey.
It was a long wait until my Series X arrived. But now I'm enjoying it. Here's hoping 2021 offers some good exclusives. Maybe MS Flight Simulator will arrive by summer.
Re: Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays From The Pure Xbox Team
Merry Christmas!
Re: CDPR Releases Hotfix 1.06 For Cyberpunk 2077, Here's What's Included
They might have a separate team on next-gen optimizations. The game employed hundreds of developers afterall.
Re: CD Projekt Has Already Sold 13 Million Copies Of Cyberpunk 2077
I used my refund to buy Valhalla instead. A save bug wiped an hour's progress, but there have been no other bugs and the game feels much more polished. That will keep me entertained in the months CDPR needs to fix the major bugs and AI issues. I hope the Series X/S optimizations are not too far away. Maybe by summer.
Re: Microsoft Flight Simulator's Free VR Update Is Now Available
Skyrim VR should be available in Game Pass as soon as the Bethesda acquisition is processed. I assume they haven't added it already because that would require a new contract.
1st-party VR headset support is an investment. But I don't understand why Microsoft will not allow 3rd-party VR headsets on Xbox.
Re: UK Boxed Charts: Assassin's Creed Valhalla Beats Cyberpunk 2077 To Christmas No. 1
The 2nd "Templar" boss in Valhalla I assassinated without knowing she was anything more than a regular enemy. I killed her from behind and the screen faded to black (for a cutscene). I thought a bug had frozen the game and would make me reload, lol.
Re: UK Boxed Charts: Assassin's Creed Valhalla Beats Cyberpunk 2077 To Christmas No. 1
@MaccaMUFC It probably depends on what kind of gamer you are. I prefer action and exploration to narratives, so it doesn't bother me much to not complete a main storyline or face an endless number of quests and objectives. I love games like Skyrim and Odyssey that are almost endless.
The combat feels very different. I enjoy it in both Odyssey and Valhalla. But movement in Odyssey feels more fluid and controlled.
Skill progression in Odyssey is easier to plan. Valhalla's tangled web of skills is probably cool when you allow "fate" to auto-assign points. I will choose that option on my second playthrough, whenever that is.
I'm very tempted to buy Cyberpunk again now that I have a Series X. But it will be a while before the AI and systems are really how the developers want players to experience them.
Re: UK Boxed Charts: Assassin's Creed Valhalla Beats Cyberpunk 2077 To Christmas No. 1
I used the money refunded from my Cyberpunk 2077 preorder to buy AC Valhalla. It's definitely a more polished game at this point.
So far, I probably enjoyed Odyssey more overall. But on Series X Valhalla is beautiful with all the lighting and volumetric effects. I love how much the time of day and weather changes the landscape.
Re: Microsoft Adds Warning About Cyberpunk 2077 To The Xbox Store
Ironic that the Xbox store nixed user reviews just before Cyberpunk 2077 was released.
Re: Xbox Is Now Offering Full Refunds To Anyone Who Bought Cyberpunk 2077 Digitally
@tharsman Ah, sorry. I misread your comment. My purchase was not a gift.
I would guess that they refund the card of whoever puchased it. But Microsoft probably requires the buyer, rather than the recipient, to request the refund.
Re: Xbox Is Now Offering Full Refunds To Anyone Who Bought Cyberpunk 2077 Digitally
@tharsman In the US, Microsoft refunded the money back to my credit card. I got my money back and didn't just get store credit.
Re: BBC News Anchor Mocks CD Projekt Red Over Cyberpunk 2077 Apology
Many non-gaming news sites have picked up the topic because it's popular and there is so much money involved. Also, I suppose, gaming continues to become mainstream as gaming generations take leadership roles in other industries.
Re: Deals: The Best Bargains In The Xbox Countdown Sale 2020
Imagine all the money I would save if I could just ignore games for 5 years! Anyone just starting Xbox this year is really fortunate.
Re: Xbox Is Encouraging Young People To Game With Older Family Members
Sadly, my elderly dad was never open to the idea of video games. But maybe playing word games or mahjong on his phone has softened him up for Tetris or something.
I'm giving an old hunter a hunting game this year. It's not like really being out in the wilderness, but for someone too old to do the real thing The Hunter: Call of the Wild seems a great alternative. And there is no hunting season to wait for.
Re: It Looks Like Cyberpunk 2077 Will Remain On The Xbox Store For Now
One bad decision doesn't justify another. Games should be sold when they are finished or else offered with a disclaimer. If platform providers sold games too soon before, doing so makes no more sense today.
Microsoft and Sony already vetted Cyberpunk 2077 and decided to sell it. That's on them. They knew a last-minute patch was unlikely to fix the worst problems. A disclaimer now is sufficient. CDPR probably decided to pull the game from Sony's store and not Microsoft's because of a difference in policies and flexibility. Remember that refunds cost platform providers money because it's their employees tied up with unhappy customers and processing claims.
CDPR probably hid the game's poor performance on base platforms because investors were losing confidence after so long without a new game and CDPR had already committed millions of dollars to marketing campaigns around the world. The videos on YouTube are cheap, but the billboards and commercials require contracts with advertising companies.
Even on the best platforms (high-end PCs, Series X, PS5), Cyberpunk 2077's AI systems would have been unacceptable a decade ago. The game was rushed. Granted, some bugs only occur late in development as a result of interacting systems and can't be easily fixed. Maybe the AI systems were okay and broke near release. Since they said in an investor call that AI issues are considered bugs, that seems to be the case (if anything they say is honest). CDPR probably would have delayed again if didn't cost them a ton of money. But they at least should have been honest and upfront with everyone.
That's the core problem: the dishonesty. Lots of companies sell games in early access. But it's unacceptable to sell something you claim is a finished product when it's not. Anthem, Fallout 76, and No Man's Sky were all incomplete or offered less than advertised at launch. CDPR isn't alone in that. Apparently, not even smaller publishers can be trusted with preorders. But CDPR has continued to lie by pretending they didn't know how bad the base console versions were before launch. If execs didn't see those products for themselves or didn't heed the warnings of employees who did, they were not doing their jobs.
Cyberpunk 2077 will be great eventually. Even players enjoying it now are not experiencing all the developers intended, since the AI systems are obviously broken or incomplete, along with some physics. CDPR can win back a lot of confidence like Hello Games and Bethesda did. But CDPR must stop lying.
Xbox refunded my purchase quickly and easily. I will buy the game again after the fixes and the Series X optimizations. Whether or not I pay full price for the truly finished version will depend on CDPR's actions from here on.
Re: Microsoft Flight Simulator Celebrates 2M Players, Teases Plans For 2021
So now a Microsoft-branded game will offer VR support but Skyrim VR isn't available with Game Pass.
Re: Nine More Games Are Now Available With Xbox Game Pass (Dec 17)
Also, don't forget that EA Play with Game Pass means Xbox players can take advantage of EA's game trials. You can try Star Wars: Squadrons, for example, for 10 hours.
I finally received my Series X, so I'll be bouncing around optimized games this week.
Re: Talking Point: How Are You Finding Cyberpunk 2077 So Far?
PC Gamer's article about police AI made me wonder. I was surprised from my gameplay that non-story NPCs are so limited. This Reddit thread about AI in Cyberpunk makes it seem awful. If much of this is accurate, games had better AI a decade ago.
https://www.reddit.com/r/cyberpunkgame/comments/kbk4ap/the_ai_of_cyberpunk_2077_an_indepth_look_at_the/
Re: Talking Point: How Are You Finding Cyberpunk 2077 So Far?
I'm glad most here are enjoying it, though it looks like most are playing on next-gen consoles.
On XB1 X, the game crashed on me shortly after I entered Night City as a Nomad. I read that it crashes on Series X too, because it's the same XB1 version. The game looked alright, but not like a polished new game.
I considered waiting for a Series X to play it right. But CDPR kept lying. They claimed they somehow overlooked how bad the game is on base XB1 and PS4. But how could managers not have either seen those versions themselves or heard warnings from their team leaders and developers? Of course they knew or CDPR wouldn't have held back console review copies.
I'm sure the game will be great when it's done and polished. For now, it sounds fun (when it works) but doesn't even have the AI working as CDPR intended.
Re: CD Projekt Red Admits Being 'Too Focused' Getting Cyberpunk 2077 Out The Door
"We ignored the signals" is another lie. They didn't need signals. All they needed was to spend 15 minutes with each version of the game to know that half of them looked and performed terribly. They knew the Xbox One version couldn't even perform at 720p. If management didn't know the state of the game from direct experience (amid COVID work-from-home conditions), they made no effort to know or else didn't trust the team leaders who had hands-on experience with last-gen versions of the game.
Remember that CDPR managers told investors previously that there was little crunch and then apologized to their team (not to investors) for saying that. They are in a habit of lying. I'm sure there are many good people at CDPR, but the managers are untrustworthy.
Xbox quickly processed my refund yesterday. I will buy it again in a year or so, after the Series X optimizations and general improvements. But after being disrespected in this way I'm inclined to buy it at a discount.
I preordered because I thought a smaller company like CDPR was more trustworthy than the likes of EA and Activision. I was wrong. That was my last preorder.
Re: Poll: What Is Your Xbox Game Of The Year 2020?
Planet Coaster is the best game I have played this year. It offers loads of content with scripted challenges, ample room for creativity, and a sandbox mode to push the game to its limits. Hopefully, Series X will let me build even crazier parks. I just hope there is eventually a bundle with all the DLC combined.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 looks incredible. But I won't vote for it without having played it. Looking forward to the Series X version.
I considered voting for Watch Dogs: Legion because Ubisoft deserves major credit for the Play As Anyone system. That's the most innovative AI system since Monolith's Nemesis system in Shadow of Mordor. It could be a major step toward better NPCs in future games. But the gameplay gets redundant quickly and dialogue is juvenile. Since Ubisoft hired a "VP of Global Diversity and Inclusion" after purging straight white men from management positions, I expect their settings will get even more political.
Re: Review: Cyberpunk 2077 - Packed With Potential, But Desperately In Need Of Some TLC
Getting a refund from Xbox on my digital preorder was quick and easy. I haven't played it since launch day on my XB1 X.
If CDPR wants me to pay full price 6-12 months from now, when the game is truly finished, they will have to offer something more than words as an apology.
Re: Review: Cyberpunk 2077 - Packed With Potential, But Desperately In Need Of Some TLC
It sounds all too familiar — a game launched before it was ready.
It might be best to wait for the Series X optimizations. Then buy it at a discount so maybe publishers will start respecting their customers.
Re: Pick One: Which Of These Xbox Elder Scrolls Games Is Your Favourite?
That's tough! Skyrim and Oblivion are among my favorite games of all time.
Skyrim polished many systems. The skills are better. The dragons are awesome. The civil war is great. Mod support on consoles is huge. Ultimately, I choose Skyrim.
But Oblivion had a fantastic world. The portals to Oblivion were cool but too common. The guilds were great. The blurry filter got old. I'd love to replay it with Skyrim's systems worked in.
Re: CDPR Rolls Out Hotfix For Cyberpunk 2077, Now Live On Xbox
I will finally have a Series X soon. Cyberpunk 2077 is the game I most looked forward to this year. But now even playing it on Series X seems like a hassle, since it's mainly running the Xbox One version and still freezes, still crashes on Series X.
There are several games already optimized for Series X. I might try to ignore Cyberpunk until it gets an optimized version — probably 6-12 months from now.
Re: Halo Infinite Fans Call For Xbox One Version To Be Cancelled Amid Cyberpunk Debacle
At least, CDPR's dishonest marketing puts more pressure on the Halo team to show Infinite on both generations and allow reviewers access to both before launch. The Infinite trailer was Series X only, right?
We don't know yet what changes are being made that would apply equally to both generations of hardware. Digital Foundry suggested lighting was a major source of complaints about Infinite's graphics. But it looked to me like a design problem of the environment being too bland and cookie-cutter. The latter could be improved on both generations, but only the new generation will get RTX.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (Dec 12th)
Rocket League and Planet Coaster until I have a Series X for Cyberpunk.
Re: These 10 Games Are Coming To Xbox Game Pass (Dec 15-17)
It's mildly surprising that Skyrim VR isn't included. Even if Microsoft doesn't have imminent plans for VR on PC, it's foolish to let Steam corner that growing market.
Re: Microsoft Flight Simulator Lands On Xbox Series X In Summer 2021
Summer 2021 is more than a few months away, which means the release date is likely to slip. It could be next fall or winter before we see it on Xbox.