somnambulance

@Balaam_ I couldn’t say it better myself. I was totally put off Dragon Age’s color palette too, and honestly unless Avowed scored in the 90s on my favorite review outlets, I’d probably steer clear of it, but, hey, Gamepass post-Black Ops, right? I’ll try it, same as I’ll try Stalker and… honestly have tried Black Ops… and I’ll save money over buying things I normally would be skeptical of. Outside Gamepass, 2025’s sort of looking like a wasteland to me, so I hope for the best on anything I try there

@Fiendish-Beaver Well, that’s no matter because the PS5 is an Xbox.

I’m genuinely curious about this game. Reading that it’s the best but most broken game of the year is like a hook yanking my ear, making me need to see.

I still want to try it. I’ve not sat down and read the reviews, just the snippets, but it’s sort of disheartening to see how off Uncle Phil is with saying this is a GotY tier game when it’s clearly far too buggy for that. At the very least, if I don’t like this and Flight Sim is still unplayable, surely Indy and Nine Sols will work ok, right?

…right?

@parappatherapper Lol. I understand that. I’m in a similar position, though not in software… and directly in QA. I hear it all. I’m my whole department… in the entirety of the two largest offices in my company. It’s sad that business is like that, but I know it is. Gotta feed the family though, right?

This is why QA shouldn’t be laid off in droves at MS, I suppose. The gaming industry gets away with far too much.

If you go to a restaurant and the food was half cooked, you’d leave the establishment and never come back. I don’t know what the solution is for gaming, but things clearly need to change.

With this one, DQ3, potentially Stalker, probably Indy, and Flight Sim, my year is done. Happy with this selection big time. Best Xbox Gamepass line up in ages (I know DQ3 isn’t, but I mean the rest).

Jeez, at this rate, I’m going to have to delete Black Ops 6 before I finish it just to fit Flight Sim and Stalker…

@YeyoFairy It’s a Keita Takahashi game. He made Katamari and Wattam. His games are for you or they are not. They aren’t necessarily kids games, but typically anyone can play them. They’re definitely distinctive in how they play and what they are. For me, personally, I’d rather play To a T than 90% or what actually hit Gamepass this year, and I could say the same for Silksong, except that’d be a 100% instead.

I just want To A T and Silksong. Just an update on either would be nice.

@OldGamer999 I don’t mind when the reviews come out as long as I get to read something before I play. It’s Game Pass, so that’s lower stress than a purchase (especially with this month having such a strong release schedule), but I still like to read the reviews. I trust this site’s staff in particular.

File size is probably one of the bigger issues with Xbox this generation as a Series S owner. I’m basically either streaming games on xCloud or playing basically two games and that’s it because there’s so little space and file sizes are massive. I wasn’t expecting to wait on the reviews for Stalker 2 and Flight Sim to install, but I literally can’t figure out yet if I can fit them on my Xbox without just dumping the hard drive clean. 😂

Cant believe how big Genshin’s file is, given its size elsewhere!

I hope PureXbox has a review code!

Don’t sleep on Rollerdrome. It’s quick to beat, but absolutely worth the play

Looking forward to Stalker and Flight Sim, as I’m sure everyone else is. It’s the week that Gamepass became more than just a sub for Black Ops 6 this year.

I have to work, but Dragon Quest 3 will be started this weekend, and that… realistically could be the last game I finish this year, honestly (pending a certain trio of Xbox titles, of course)

The PS5 Pro isn’t a competitor because “It Is an Xbox.”

Honestly, if Xbox wants to do this, fine. They’re not aiming to keep their existing fanbase, but make a new one since the existing one is fairly limited. They’ve got the money to make this happen.

For me personally, next year looks to be the best slate Xbox has offered on Gamepass is years. After a few flop years, it looks like they planned out a redemption arc pretty carefully. Hopefully the games deliver. If they start having solid releases, it’ll justify their approach.

I resubbed to GP for it and Indy, so I hope so!

Honestly, I’m not sure I fully believe that. You’d think they’d have pushed the game up then since Game Pass was sort of barren this year. Makes me feel this one may not be GotY tier and Xbox knows perhaps. I can see them not wanting to pit Dragon Age against Avowed because similar demographics are interested in them both.

I really have no idea on how to feel about Avowed since I thought it looked best in the initial Series X announcement showcase and have sort of lost a little interest along the way, mostly for the same reason as my skepticism for Dragon Age, which is just that I’m not particularly fond of the art. I hope to like it more in action though, as I trust Obsidian. I felt like Outer Worlds looked like Borderlands at first, which I dislike, and was pleasantly surprised to find that it was my favorite Bethesda-like game since… well… Skyrim…

I sort of agree. The show was the best thing to happen to Fallout since New Vegas. If they had rushed out a subpar or even just good enough Fallout, it would’ve hurt things, especially right next to Fallout London too.

Game Pass drop incoming? Xbox’s attempt to conquer China. Best way to increase subs is to try a new country.

This one just keeps sounding better and better. Man, am I glad this one is going to be concise in its vision. 12 hours is perfect, especially if you can extend it with exploration if you desire.

My daughter’s name is Hazel, so of course I need to support another Hazel’s journey!

But seriously, this game looks so unique and I appreciate the Southern Gothic atmosphere of the game. The “imaginary nostalgia,” as they say, is really cool to me, that magic realism. I eat that up. I think this might be my most anticipated title on Xbox next year, honestly.

@Grumblevolcano I mean, realistically Flight Sim usually clears up on some awards and rightfully so. I can see Geoff and co wanting to wait for Stalker more-so than Indy, but Indy’s had really great previews too, so who knows? I’m sure some of those industry people know if they want to include it or not. Xbox isn’t cagey like Nintendo where they didn’t let anyone touch Smash Ultimate and therefore let it slip from the Awards due to a late release date. Xbox probably has open lines of communication with TGA. I could see them waiting to announce the titles on 12/2…

Even though, man, a shadow drop would be welcome. With my personal GotY list as it currently is, it just feels like it’s missing things… but it’s not. At least not outside the last minute Xbox releases, which frankly all have a decent shot of making my top 10 as it currently is.

@Jenkinss I certainly hope so! Rebirth is my favorite game of the year! And, alternatively, Astro Bot is a masterpiece, a platformer that competes directly with Mario.

But who knows, honestly. Helldivers was very popular and was the frontrunner for a lot of people early in the year. Even I don’t get it, it could win. Metaphor Refantazio has been something of a whirlwind with the internet gaming community too. Same with Wukong. Honestly, there’s about a dozen games that could be in the running. I do think Astro Bot probably should win, even if I’m rooting for Rebirth. I have a feeling Rebirth, much like FF16 will get overlooked largely by games that are more popular with “the internet.”

@Grumblevolcano For sure. I don’t think we’re getting Silksong this year, but I can dream!

Maybe they’re legitimately waiting for Xbox since they decided to wait so long to release Indy?

It’s a hard year for GotY. Even if my personal pick is very clear for me, the industry at large hasn’t had an Elden Ring or BotW or Last of Us that basically rallies the full industry. This is a year where things are quite divisive and sure it’s hard to pick things. I’m hoping the categories have diverse nominees to reflect the way this year panned out.

There’s rumors going around about Silksong too. Hope that one’s real! Maybe it’s a Game Pass dump day! That’d be a way to start the week, huh?

My wife is going to be happy. She loves Spyro. I own the collection on the Xbone (and on Switch), but it’s always easier when it’s accessible digitally these days.

Great that Xbox owners get to experience my absolute favorite game of all time! The 10/10 is absolutely warranted.

Does it mean it’ll have solid first party games? That’d be the technical leap I want.

Halo Infinite was definitely the one moment that sticks out to me. With there being nothing of unique interest to me the first year of the Series life cycle (I had gotten a PS5, so I was playing that for next gen games), when Halo Infinite’s beta dropped, I ran out and got a Series S right away, so I could play the campaign. That was the highlight.

Playing Immortality was really fun too. I enjoyed Gamepass a lot in 2022. Signalis, Beacon Pines, Plague Tale, Vampire Survivors, etc. that was a solid year for the service. 2022 was the year I just stayed subbed to GP all year and didn’t really think about it.

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden if I get the chance to play the surprisingly solid journey of Red Mac Raith and Antea Duarte on a haunted island in New England. I’ve got to play that new Astro Bot level too! My wife may want to try out Black Ops 6, so there’s that as well. It’s better than expected to me.

It sort of feels like GotY season though. I’m contemplating getting DQ3 and of course Xbox is releasing their whole slate super late in the year all on top of each other, ensuring few will be able to savor all those last minute games, but I’m in the mood to compile lists and celebrate the year in my own way.

It feels like Activision and Xbox are still basically separate companies, but both under the Microsoft Gaming banner, honestly. Realistically, it’s no big deal that they aren’t on there for me, but I get the frustration. For me, I just want to see some retro titles.

This is one of my most anticipated games next year. Outside Fable, it’s the Xbox title I’m most curious about. I know many have complained about the stop motion style cinematics, but I dunno, I like it. It’s different.

Quidditch Champions is certainly the best of the bunch, in my opinion. I actually enjoy a casual match of it here and there. It’s a well made, if basic title.

Multiversus screwed itself by being a F2P title. Feels like a game people would’ve bought as a Smash clone rather than a grind-to-win F2P. When they repackaged the game, you’d have thought they saw this, but no, they sent it out to die. They learned nothing from the beta, so they get what they deserve, I suppose.

And Suicide Squad… should have sold less than Concord.

Forget GTA, I want Judas. I hope that one’s sooner rather than further away.

@themightyant I’ve never understood the love for Borderlands either. If I made a top 10 list for most hyped games that I disliked the most strongly when I played them, Borderlands 2 would certainly make the list.

Confirmed for Switch 2, amirite?

Enjoy it, Xbox fans! Death Stranding is likely my favorite game of all time and I’m happy more people will get to enjoy it and help fund Kojima’s future projects by buying the game!

I agree that I miss the hype up for the console. The games media world was so different then. 2019 was arguably the peak time to be interested in gaming news, honestly. So many interviews, so many stories, we knew a lot about what was happening in the industry. But now the big three has decided that silence is a better way to advertise, I suppose, and I don’t like that at all. The way this generation has panned out has been rough too. I miss the optimism in the future of the industry, not just from media outlets and developers, but from the fans too.

@Ken_Kaniff Given the way consoles are trending, I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re fully digital in a generation or two. I haven’t had any issues with anything I play regularly. I pray the 360 version of Catan will remain available forever. I know there’s newer versions and I own them, but I just like that one best.

Yeah, I had seen that error code a couple times in the past couple months. Sort of a bummer, but I mean, I got years and years out of the 360, so I wasn’t too mad. Most of the games it happened on I have downloaded to the Series S too, so nothing earth shattering.

I wouldn’t say I’m hyped, but interested. I have no ties to the past of the franchise, but I’m curious. Based on what I’ve read about the old games, I’m fairly confident I’ll either like it a lot or… it’ll be a Baldur’s Gate 3 for me, where I appreciate what it does a lot, but did not personally enjoy it because I don’t like the combat. That’s my guess.

It’s Flight Sim, so I’m sure it’ll be a solid yet incredibly niche product that does very well for itself despite that. Same as it ever was.

The day these are on Xbox is the day I’m playing them. Don’t be shy, Blizzard.

All three of them (and Metal Slug and Nine Sols), but Indy most of all. It’s a really solid Gamepass line up, in my opinion. I’ve been a naysayer for 2-3 years now, but it seems like Xbox is finally giving me the types of games I want! Now just put Starcraft on console please!

Wish SC was on Xvbox. I’d drop what I’m doing and play it NOW!

@Fiendish-Beaver I agree with that. Where is my beloved Pitfall? It would be nice if Xbox, you know, communicated properly. As silence is Sony’s thing now, double speak is Xbox’s. At times I wonder if Activision is still technically a separate company also owned by Microsoft rather than a part of Xbox. It’s been weird.

Rebirth for me, though I’d be totally happy if Astro Bot won. If I remove personal biases, I would say Astro Bot probably deserves the nod.

Balatro was my third pick.

I actively dislike Gears. It’s just not my taste.

@Fiendish-Beaver I don’t necessarily think that’s a Microsoft problem, but rather an industry at large problem. At least I can say that this year. It was a Microsoft problem at times throughout the years for sure, but this year not so much something I can say is their fault. Sorry to say, but there’s been months this year that I struggled to find something I wanted to play this year across all platforms. 2024 has been a strange year in gaming. Practically the entire release schedule came out in October.

@Fiendish-Beaver I actually disagree. I’m subbing to Gamepass for the first time in about 6 months or so because I like the November line-up. Sure, I wish Starcraft was also coming to consoles, but Stalker, Flight Sim, and Nine Sols all hopping on the service (and Metal Slug Tactics, which is such a wildcard title) this month with Indy right on the tail of that, had me ready to sub for a couple months for the first time in a long time. When I let my sub lapse too, I had only played maybe 2, 3 games on GP this year and mostly kept it for my son because he likes it (my personal playtime on Xbox this year is 12 hours, so I can’t say I’ve enjoyed Xbox’s trajectory most of the year). Honestly, it’s so refreshing to see such a varied list for this month to me and it makes me curious to see what’s next, as I’m far more happy with what’s on offer this month than I’ve been in months, potentially years. It’s been a rough generation for myself with my Xbox, but this gives me faith things may change.