Xbox Series S/X: Thread 05

[nonny]

In a slow news week for Xbox a few snippets you might have missed.

343 released a new update for Halo Infinite adding 5 new BTB maps. These are all community made forge creations but a quick play last night confirms they are every bit as good as the standard maps. I am personally chuffed with this as I mostly play BTB for less sweaty gameplay...

After the news that Toys for Bob was being shutdown apparently that is false. New today is that the staff count has been reduced and the offices have been closed as the lease was up... but the studio themselves wanted to go 100% remote and requested this from Microsoft / Xbox.

So it seems Toys for Bob is very much alive, albeit remotely... and continuing to develop on new titles.

Roll on tomorrow!

[Lebowski]

BTB? isn't that a K-pop group

[nonny]

BTB? isn't that a K-pop group

Close enough I guess...

[nonny]

[Lebowski]

Still none the wiser what BTB is google says its "Bring that Booty" and relates to texting your partner about their rotund behind, which is well-timed, is it for a Valentine's day event?


That doesn't seem right to me though, Is it some sort of Pirate Treasure Themed mode cross over event with Sea of thieves? "ARR ye be after me booty, ye will be sleeping in Davey Jones locker ya skurvery sea dog".

BTB also brings back results for Bovine Turberculosis Testing, im hoping they're not bringing that to halo though, as i don't think as a game mode it would be that fun.

[hudson]

Back to basics?

[nonny]

Come on team... Big Team Battle innit

[Yakumo]

Nah, it's some new Korean boy hand 😜

[fishbowlhead]

Big turd box?

[Neon Ignition]

IT'S THURSDAY...

[nonny]

Everyone have their bingo cards ready? Been an eventful week before we've even begun... didn't expect Sony to come out discussing more aggressive multiplatform strategy... with Xbox going today we could have Nintendo release Switch games into Steam by Sunday... it might happen (probably not).

Top 5 predictions:

- Xbox is still very much in the hardware game. This will be explicitly stated.

- Some games will go multiplatform after they've had timed exclusivity on Xbox. First batch will be Hifi Rush now on Switch/PS5 and Sea of Thieves later this Summer.

- Some games will never go multiplatform and remain Xbox exclusive.

- Game Pass Ultimate may change. Core will continue to offer limited access and day/date releases will only be on Ultimate.

[MartyG]

Some minor releases such as Hi-Fi Rush will go multi-platform after 6 months of exclusivity. Core Xbox releases such as Halo, GoW remain exclusive. Everything remains day-1 on Game Pass - ends up being mostly a nothingburger. People made mountain out of molehill.

[Lebowski]

Predictions

New strategy, sees certain studios it owns returning to third party development and releasing across all platforms simultaneously, Starfield is now in development for PS5, and Indiana Jones, and Hell blade Two have entered development.

In a scale back for game pass Activision, Bethesda, Id and Arkane's releases will also not be guaranteed day one releases. And will be a game by game basis, No call of duty games will ever launch into game pass day one.

Franchsies like Halo, Forza, Gears will remain xbox exclusives as they have clear brand identity with xbox.

[Brad]

1. They say sorry for not making any good games.
2. They say they'll do better
3. Some bull**** about Microsoft Game Studio games being playable everywhere (they're doing this for the gamers!)

[Neon Ignition]

I'm still in the camp that things there wouldn't be a Special Business Event for a here nor there reveal, especially when something inconsequential could have been addressed before it drove a stake through the platforms PR heart. My list is largely an edit of Nonny's:

-Microsoft to remain in the hardware game but very much in a manner that leaves them destined to an exit through making the format incredibly irrelevant to consumers

-All major Activision/Bethesda/Live Service games moving forward will be multiformat with many remaining titles being released 6-12 months post Xbox launch

-Everything is up for grabs at some point on the basis that each title is now expected to be profitable

-Game Pass Ultimate to look to widen the range and number of titles available but head toward abandoning Day One launches of first party titles