"There's games that are in development when we acquire a studio, and there's things that are either really early in development or not even conceived yet, and I think we need to improve on engaging in games that are midway through production when they become part of Xbox."
If Redfall was midway through development and Starfield was in its early stages, with both being hit by delays, how is a much larger and detailed game going to release a mere 4 months later? What they show next month better be an hour of uninterrupted and flawless Starfield gameplay. That’s the only way I’ll believe it will be ready to launch in September.
Microsoft showed their hand prematurely. They retracted, but we now know where they intend to go. GamePass isn't sustainable without the install base to pay for the costs. The $7.5 billion ZeniMax acquisition doesn't help either. Microsoft doesn't need money, but shareholders will demand justification for the spend. Forcing people into GPU or a higher Live sub is where this is all heading...and even then GPU will see gradual increases. That ZeniMax buy is going to cost Xbox gamers a lot of money in the next few years. $240/year annual subscriptions are coming...so a console that costs you over $2,000 a generation.
@WesEds
They were owned by Microsoft until 2007. Microsoft let them go, and Bungie became an independent studio. They signed a 10 year publishing agreement with Activision in 2010, but ended the agreement to launch Destiny 2. But yes, at one time Microsoft owned Bungie.
@armondo36 The only issue with that is the method of connecting the proprietary storage is 100% owned by Microsoft. Anyone making a knock off that fit with the XSX|S would be infringing on Microsoft's I.P.
Think of it as the PS Vita. The memory was a simple SD card. Cheap and easy to substitute...but Sony used a proprietaray design that prevented other SD cards from working while also preventing anyone else from making a SD card that would work with the Vita.
Meh...the 100% always correct (never wrong, mind you) Pachter predicted XSX would be priced at $400, then "retail sources" had the XSX at $600. Just wait and see.
I gave it a C here and an Okay on Push Square. I think Geoff tried to temper expectations during the pre-show, but with so little shown this year (and we're almost in September), the people that frequent gaming sites want more. And more has been in short supply.
I do believe that Microsoft's first party studios will eventually start releasing great games. I do not believe that it will happen until 2022 at the earliest.
Forza being the outliner. Most Forza games are pretty spot on.
@Ryall Not to mention that EA Play consists of mainly sports games, with some outliers like Titanfall 2, the Battlefront series and a few others. But mostly sports.
Not surprised, but at least it wasn't cancelled...yet. It's a hard sell when your only gameplay is for a 2021 game, and everything else you show comes as a CGI trailer. 2022? 2023? When will the games come?
@Tharsman All the people complaining about Sony making items console exclusive are conveniently ignoring the fact that Microsoft took a multitude of multiplatform game developers and made them Xbox exclusive. So yeah, there's that.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, The Medium, The Gunk, Warhammer, 12 Minutes, Dead Static, Drive, Exo One, Lake, Last Stop, Mad Streets, Sable, Shredders, Song of Iron, The Artful Escape, The Ascent, The Big Con, The Falconeer, Tunic, Unexplored 2: The Wayfarer's Legacy...all bought and paid for timed exclusives for Xbox.
Ultimately, the games we actually got to see gameplay for looked nice, crisp, more polished, and like better versions of this gen. Nothing looked like it couldn't be done on this gen, minus a fresh coat of paint. That's not a very good selling point.
I saw new games...but these are new games that could easily come to the Xbox One. So is the Xbox vision of "next gen" purely FPS and fidelity (1080p/4K), or actual next gen experiences? It looks like Xbox has a brighter future stuck in the past.
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Re: Xbox To Provide Update On Starfield's Frame Rate Ahead Of September Launch
I think Phil knows this won’t be ready to release in September, much less 2023.
EDIT: Keyword…ready. I’m not saying it won’t release.
Re: Phil Spencer Says Xbox 'Needs To Improve' Its Development Process
"There's games that are in development when we acquire a studio, and there's things that are either really early in development or not even conceived yet, and I think we need to improve on engaging in games that are midway through production when they become part of Xbox."
If Redfall was midway through development and Starfield was in its early stages, with both being hit by delays, how is a much larger and detailed game going to release a mere 4 months later? What they show next month better be an hour of uninterrupted and flawless Starfield gameplay. That’s the only way I’ll believe it will be ready to launch in September.
Re: Microsoft Admits It 'Messed Up' And Will No Longer Increase The Price Of Xbox Live Gold
Microsoft just showed their Xbox roadmap. GPU will be the eventual only offering, and it will cost more than $20 a month.
Re: Original Xbox Creator Praises Microsoft Following Xbox Live Gold Price Reversal
Microsoft showed their hand prematurely. They retracted, but we now know where they intend to go. GamePass isn't sustainable without the install base to pay for the costs. The $7.5 billion ZeniMax acquisition doesn't help either. Microsoft doesn't need money, but shareholders will demand justification for the spend. Forcing people into GPU or a higher Live sub is where this is all heading...and even then GPU will see gradual increases. That ZeniMax buy is going to cost Xbox gamers a lot of money in the next few years. $240/year annual subscriptions are coming...so a console that costs you over $2,000 a generation.
Re: Bungie CEO Denies Claims Surrounding Xbox Acquisition Talks
@HollowSpectre
You never know. I always though Insomniac would remain independent.
Re: Bungie CEO Denies Claims Surrounding Xbox Acquisition Talks
@WesEds
They were owned by Microsoft until 2007. Microsoft let them go, and Bungie became an independent studio. They signed a 10 year publishing agreement with Activision in 2010, but ended the agreement to launch Destiny 2. But yes, at one time Microsoft owned Bungie.
https://screenrant.com/destiny-bungie-activision-microsoft-halo-explained/
Re: Rumour: Could The Xbox Series X 1TB Expansion Card Be Upwards Of $200?!
@armondo36
The only issue with that is the method of connecting the proprietary storage is 100% owned by Microsoft. Anyone making a knock off that fit with the XSX|S would be infringing on Microsoft's I.P.
Think of it as the PS Vita. The memory was a simple SD card. Cheap and easy to substitute...but Sony used a proprietaray design that prevented other SD cards from working while also preventing anyone else from making a SD card that would work with the Vita.
Re: Rumour: Could The Xbox Series X 1TB Expansion Card Be Upwards Of $200?!
Meh...the 100% always correct (never wrong, mind you) Pachter predicted XSX would be priced at $400, then "retail sources" had the XSX at $600. Just wait and see.
https://www.tomsguide.com/features/xbox-series-x-can-afford-to-undercut-ps5-heres-why
https://www.tomsguide.com/news/xbox-series-x-price-just-leaked-and-its-shockingly-high
Re: How Would You Grade Gamescom Opening Night Live 2020?
I gave it a C here and an Okay on Push Square. I think Geoff tried to temper expectations during the pre-show, but with so little shown this year (and we're almost in September), the people that frequent gaming sites want more. And more has been in short supply.
Re: Xbox Studio The Initiative Hires More Top Talent For Its Secret Project
I do believe that Microsoft's first party studios will eventually start releasing great games. I do not believe that it will happen until 2022 at the earliest.
Forza being the outliner. Most Forza games are pretty spot on.
Re: Xbox Game Pass Success Could Lead To Poor Imitations, Warns Publisher
@Ryall
Not to mention that EA Play consists of mainly sports games, with some outliers like Titanfall 2, the Battlefront series and a few others. But mostly sports.
Re: Halo Infinite Has Been Delayed Until 2021
Not surprised, but at least it wasn't cancelled...yet. It's a hard sell when your only gameplay is for a 2021 game, and everything else you show comes as a CGI trailer. 2022? 2023? When will the games come?
Re: Sony Is Reportedly 'Moneyhatting' Some Huge Timed Exclusives
@Tharsman
The Tomb Raider deal was all Phil. Quit lying about hypocrite Phil.
https://www.siliconera.com/xboxs-phil-spencer-talks-rise-tomb-raider-exclusivity/
Re: Sony Is Reportedly 'Moneyhatting' Some Huge Timed Exclusives
@Tharsman
All the people complaining about Sony making items console exclusive are conveniently ignoring the fact that Microsoft took a multitude of multiplatform game developers and made them Xbox exclusive. So yeah, there's that.
Re: Sony Is Reportedly 'Moneyhatting' Some Huge Timed Exclusives
@KelticDevil
Definitely looking forward to Hitman in VR. Thank you Sony for being lousy and bringing us lousy games and gaming experiences!
Re: Sony Is Reportedly 'Moneyhatting' Some Huge Timed Exclusives
@mousieone
Oh, so it's like Tomb Raider, which Phil Spencer created a precedence for. Gotcha.
Re: Sony Is Reportedly Moneyhatting Some 'Huge' Timed Exclusives
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, The Medium, The Gunk, Warhammer, 12 Minutes, Dead Static, Drive, Exo One, Lake, Last Stop, Mad Streets, Sable, Shredders, Song of Iron, The Artful Escape, The Ascent, The Big Con, The Falconeer, Tunic, Unexplored 2: The Wayfarer's Legacy...all bought and paid for timed exclusives for Xbox.
Re: The New Superhot's Ending Makes You Wait Hours Before Playing Again
Wow, that just seems...unnecessary.
Re: Microsoft Responds To Negative Feedback For Halo Infinite's Visuals
Ultimately, the games we actually got to see gameplay for looked nice, crisp, more polished, and like better versions of this gen. Nothing looked like it couldn't be done on this gen, minus a fresh coat of paint. That's not a very good selling point.
Re: Poll: How Would You Grade July's Xbox Games Showcase?
I saw new games...but these are new games that could easily come to the Xbox One. So is the Xbox vision of "next gen" purely FPS and fidelity (1080p/4K), or actual next gen experiences? It looks like Xbox has a brighter future stuck in the past.