Xbox Series S/X: Thread 04

[Cassius_Smoke]

'Free' on game pass day one vs £70 on PlayStation. Not a good look for them.

[Lebowski]

'Free' on game pass day one vs £70 on PlayStation. Not a good look for them.

Theirs been almost a year of no decent big budget day one free on Gamepass type stuff. Theirs been some quality surprise indie hits like power wash simulator, vampire suvivors and TMNT Shredders revenge (i'm looking forward to High on Life this week too) but its not felt like the mega bargain it was last Christmas with a new Forza Horizon and a new Halo landing with a one two punch.

Coming in 2023 (because of slips from 2022) we have some massive games hitting gamepass STALKER 2, Atomic Heart, Starfield, and Redfall are now jostling with Forza Motorsport, Diablo 4 and Minecraft Legends. its gonna be xbox's year if these all land well and review well.

[fishbowlhead]

CoD isn't the problem for Sony; CoD on Gamepass day one is the problem. They don't want to make a gamepass equivalent (for whatever reason, maybe they can't, I dunno) and they don't want Microsoft to have gamepass either, especially not if it has popular games on it.

No one can make a gamepass equivalent, especially not for an extra £1 a year as well, MS know this, everyone knows this, their not our friends, or doing it as a favour, its simple attrition for them until the competition gives up because it can no longer operate, its not even competition.

[Cassius_Smoke]

I'm 99% on getting a PC next year and honestly, gamepass will be one of the bigger factors. The fact I can just jump in and get a good catalogue of games straight away.

[Neon Ignition]

Hopefully MS properly fixes PC GP at some point

https://www.eurogamer.net/high-on-life-review-a-mediocre-shooter-with-an-unfunny-attitude-problem

High on Life looks like a last minute dump on the schedule

[Lebowski]

Hopefully MS properly fixes PC GP at some point

https://www.eurogamer.net/high-on-life-review-a-mediocre-shooter-with-an-unfunny-attitude-problem

High on Life looks like a last minute dump on the schedule

seen it get 80s and 4s elsewhere that eurogamer reviewer seems to have taken the game personaly and didnt get the joke

https://www.godisageek.com/reviews/high-on-life-review/ 8 here

and

https://gamerant.com/high-on-life-review/ 8 here

the eurogamer review is trending as the lowest score so far

https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/high-on-life?ref=hp

[wakka]

I enjoyed reading that review. I much prefer a review like that, which contains an actual take, rather than an exhaustive description of how the game mechanics work or one that only marks a game down for technical issues.

I can kinda tell from reading the review that I think I would probably agree. Although the graphics look excellent, the game design seems mostly perfunctory with a thick coating of Rick and Morty Ronseal to add appeal. As he points out, the programme works because of how it deconstructs tropes imaginatively. This game seems to have layered a by-the-numbers template with sardonic dialogue about how it's done just that. Which is kind of annoying since, if you know that you are doing that, just don't do it, rather than doing it then making fun of yourself for doing it?

But idk I haven't played it or anything.

[nonny]

I think a game that lives and dies on its humour is bound to get mixed reviews. The face it's in game pass means there's little risk in finding out if you like it personally.

I think content wise game pass has been good this year but it hasn't had anything major that would entice anyone not already invested in the service.

If I think about exclusives the biggest one would be As Dusk Falls, which I really enjoyed. But nothing triple A from the firsty party studios.

I think MS also made a wrong move not showing anything at the game awards. That is a different audience to a normal xbox showcase. They should have done a sizzle reel of what's coming in the next 6 months, 12 months and then further out.

[nonny]

Microsoft have kept the price of the Series S low until Christmas... it'll retail at £199

[Lebowski]

I think a game that lives and dies on its humour is bound to get mixed reviews. The face it's in game pass means there's little risk in finding out if you like it personally.

I think content wise game pass has been good this year but it hasn't had anything major that would entice anyone not already invested in the service.

If I think about exclusives the biggest one would be As Dusk Falls, which I really enjoyed. But nothing triple A from the firsty party studios.

I think MS also made a wrong move not showing anything at the game awards. That is a different audience to a normal xbox showcase. They should have done a sizzle reel of what's coming in the next 6 months, 12 months and then further out.

Microsoft are really lacking in their marketing they really should be hyping Starfield as it's supposed to be launching in a few months but its radio Silence. I wouldn't be surprised to see it slip again to late 2023, its a crazy big project and id rather it slips and slips than get another cyberpunk debacle.

[MartyG]

It's "first half" of 2023, pretty big window. That it isn't being fanfared at the moment makes me suspect it'll be delayed to the "second half" of 2023.

Last thing Bethesda needs is to launch it in a similar state to Fallout 76. That game has been improved since it first hit that market, but the stink (rightly) has never fully left it.

[wakka]

An acquaintance at an ad agency was asked to pitch for the Starfield advertising about ~2 months back. No idea if they got the work but the timing suggests that MS were getting ready to spin up marketing for it in early 2023. Which would imply a launch in the first half of 2023.

Really I just don't want to believe I'll be waiting nearly a year longer to play it. Sob.

[Neon Ignition]

They really should get some sort of showcase in place before the end of March, then do more reveals and expanded showings around E3 time. In 2023 we're going to be pushing through Year 3 and into Year 4 of this generation and MS isn't just dealing with the sense that this generation still hasn't even begun but that they cannot get their act together. We really shouldn't be waiting any longer for results to be coming through, it's been nearly two generations now and even the studios they bought seem to have immediately dried up.

343 Studios
I can't imagine we'll see anything barring more updates for Halo Infinite

Activision Blizzard
If the deal goes through then we'll either get nothing in 2023 or at best some last minute older game additions to Game Pass

Arkane
Should be ensured to get Redfall out

Bethesda
Need to ensure Starfield doesn't slip

Compulsion Games
Should have something ready as it will have been five years since We Happy Few

Double Fine
Presumably have something, they typically knock out 2-3 games per year but it will be two years of silence in 2023

id Software
Three years since Doom Eternal, might get a reveal at the least

Inxile Entertainment
Another studio with three years of radio silence

MachineGames
Seems likely to come up with something, Wolfenstein III is due but it would be canny timing to have Indiana Jones ready in 2023

Mojang
Has Minecraft Legends on the way

Ninja Theory
Three years again. Two games in development but really Hellblade II: Senua's Saga could do with rearing its head after four years

Obsidian
Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2 seem likely to at least get airings

Playground Games
After five years the potential of Fable IV seems possible, otherwise there'll be nothing in 2023 from these

Rare
Christ knows with Rare. Sea of Thieves is five years old and Everwild has been circling development for nine years now.

Roundhouse Studio
Nothing likely this year from these

Tango Gameworks
Likely nothing in 2023

The Coalition
Four years on you'd expect Gears of War 6 to be ready

The Initiative
Five years from being formed and three years from its announcement, Perfect Dark should be baked

Turn 10 Studios
Forza Motorsport 8

Undead Labs
Five years since their last game, State of Decay 3 should be due

World's Edge
Has Age of Empires IV coming to consoles

Zenimax Online
Presumably just continuing with Elder Scrolls Online and Fallout 76


So, whilst the first half of 2023 is looking quiet again from the second half of next year MS really should be out of excuses even if the Activision deal doesn't go through

[nonny]

Agree there's an absolute tonne in the pipeline, as it should for so many 1st party studios.

At this point I'd like to see Xbox take a page out of the Sony playbook and have a showcase every quarter. The silence is deafening, though I do believe we will see Redfall, Forza and Starfield before the end of 2023... with possibly Avowed or another title joining it.

I'd love to see Indiana Jones hit alongside the movie or shortly after but that's just a pipedream.

id Software could be working on a Quake re-imagining. Given how good the engine is in scalability and their expertise with it they could deliver something but I think if you mention Quake you immediately need to consider multiplayer and getting that right. If anything maybe it's a two part project with multiplayer coming later.

I'm a huge Quake fan from years past so if this was announced I'd be super hyped.

[Cassius_Smoke]

Heres my take:

343 Studios
Halo Infinite for the next 5+ years and nothing else. Then someone else will take over.

Arkane
Redfall Xmas 2023

Bethesda
Starfield November 2023.

Compulsion Games
Dead Studio. Nothing coming from them ever again.

Double Fine
Dead Studio. Nothing coming from them ever again.

id Software
Doom 3 minimum 2025

Inxile Entertainment
Dead Studio. Nothing coming from them ever again.

MachineGames
Indiana Jones minimum 2025

Ninja Theory
Hellblade II: Senua's Saga summer 2024

Obsidian
Avowed autumn 2023. The Outer Worlds 2 minimum 2025

Playground Games
Fable IV probably doesn't exist. 2026 at best.

Rare
Sea of Thieves forever more. Dead Studio. Nothing coming from them ever again.

Roundhouse Studio
Dead Studio. Nothing coming from them ever again.

Tango Gameworks
Dead Studio. Nothing coming from them ever again.

The Coalition
Gears of War 6 minimum 2025

The Initiative
Perfect Dark probably doesn't exist. 2026 minimum.

Turn 10 Studios
Forza Motorsport 8 2023 release

Undead Labs
Dead Studio. Nothing coming from them ever again.

World's Edge
Age of Empires IV