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Gaming => Gaming Community => Topic started by: the-pi-guy on Mar 31, 2020, 12:51 AM

Title: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: the-pi-guy on Mar 31, 2020, 12:51 AM
(https://compass-ssl.xbox.com/assets/a2/53/a2536557-b3f4-48d6-a599-e41c5b11264b.jpg?n=Xbox-Game-Studios_Page-Hero-0_767x431.jpg)

The current status of the studios:

343 Industries
CDHalo Infinite (2021)
CA
PDHalo 5 (2015)
PAHalo Wars 2 (2017)
Halo Fireteam (2018)
Halo Recruit (2017)
Compulsion Games
CD
CA
PDWe Happy Few (2018)
Contrast (2013)
PA
Double Fine
CD
CA
PDPsychonauts 2 (2020)
Rad (2019)
Full Throttle Remastered (2017)
PA
InXile Entertainment
CD
CA
PDWasteland 3 (2020)
The Bard's Tale IV: Barrows Deep (2018)
The Mage's Tale (2017)
PA
The Coalition
CD
CA
PDGears of War 4 (2016)
Gears 5 (2019)
PAGears Tactics (2020)
The Initiative
CDPerfect Dark (TBA)
CA
PD
PA
Mojang Studios
CD
CA
PDMinecraft (2011)
PA
Ninja Theory
CDHellblade 2 (TBA)
CA
PDBleeding Edge (2020)
Star Wars VR (2019)
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice (2017)
PA
Obsidian
CDAvowed (TBA)
CA
PDGrounded (2020)
The Outer Worlds (2019)
Pillars of Eternity II (2018)
Tyranny (2016)
PA
Playground Games
CDFable (TBA)
CA
PDForza Horizon (2012)
Forza Horizon 2 (2014)
Forza Horizon 3 (2016)
Forza Horizon 4 (2018)
PA
Rare
CDEverwild (TBA)
CA
PDBattletoads (2020)
Rare Replay (2015)
PA
Turn 10
CDForza TBA (TBA)
CA
PDForza 6 (2015)
Forza 7 (2017)
PA
Undead Labs
CDState of Decay 3 (TBA)
CA
PDState of Decay (2013)
State of Decay 2 (2018)
PA
Arkane Studios
CD
CA
PDWolfenstein: Cyberpilot (2019)
Wolfenstein: Youngblood (2019)
Prey (2017)
Dishonored 2 (2016)
PA
Bethesda Game Studios
CDStarfield (TBA)
CA
PDFallout 76 (2018)
Fallout 4 VR (2017)
TES: Skyrim VR (2017)
TES: Skyrim Special Edition (2016)
PA
id Software
CD
CA
PDQuake Champions (2018)
Rage 2 (2019)
Doom (2016)
PA
MachineGames
CDWolfenstein III (TBA)
CA
PDWolfenstein: Cyberpilot (2019)
Wolfenstein: Youngblood (2019)
Wolfenstein II (2017)
PA
Tango Gameworks
CD
CA
PDThe Evil Within 2 (2017)
The Evil Within (2014)
PA
ZeniMax Online Studios
CD
CA
PDTES: Online (2014)
PA

This new format should work a lot better because it actually has a pretty clear meaning. 

Not to mention the formatting is quite a bit nicer and even allows for a lot more information. 

CD = current development title: title that is predominantly being developed by this studio.
CA = current assist title: title that is predominantly being developed by another studio. 
PD= previous development title
PA = previous assist title

Xbox Game Shows (https://vizioneck.com/forum/index.php?msg=267204)
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: the-pi-guy on Mar 31, 2020, 02:01 AM
I just lazily got the information from wiki.  
Some didn't have a page so they have very incomplete information.  

I probably shouldn't have included all the assisted titles since most don't have any, but I figured it was easier to have a template that includes it than try adding in for specific ones.  

Overall MS is at a pretty decent spot.  
Strong points:
Double Fine, Rare, Obsidian, inXile Entertainment, Ninja Theory are pretty big.

Weak points:
Turn 10 and Playground together means that 2 of MS's studios are just dedicated to Forza.  
Not bad per se, but Undead Labs and Compulsion games are pretty small.

Expected points:
Coalition, 343 are decent, but they are pretty much dedicated studios to specific games.

Unexpected points:
World's Edge and the Initiative are completely new and it's hard to say how much they'll do.    
Some studios are new and don't have a lot of information on them.  


Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: Legend on Mar 31, 2020, 08:37 PM
Obsidian are I think the only ones I'm personally excited for. Others are still on my radar but in a more general sense.

Did We Happy Few ever turn around? It had great trailers and world design but I remember early impressions being pretty negative.
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: kitler53 on Mar 31, 2020, 09:58 PM
Obsidian are I think the only ones I'm personally excited for. Others are still on my radar but in a more general sense.

Did We Happy Few ever turn around? It had great trailers and world design but I remember early impressions being pretty negative.
67, 64, and 62 on metacritic across ps4, xbox, and pc. 

user reviews rated it even worse.


obsidian are clearly the biggest purchase in terms of potetial to create a game with a large market impact.  i generally liked games from double fine as well even if they are generally smaller.
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: the-pi-guy on May 03, 2020, 07:20 PM
Rumor: 343i struggled with Halo Infinite development, rebooted project in 2018 | ResetEra (https://www.resetera.com/threads/rumor-343i-struggled-with-halo-infinite-development-rebooted-project-in-2018.197013/)

Quote
I say rumor because there's no article about it, but rather this is based on insights from another Era member who has been vetted.

Quote
tusharngf said: (http://vizioneck.com/goto/post?id=32951493)    They were struggling with halo infy developement. 2018 they rebooted the project based on the feedback. Now it's all good.  Click to expand... Click to shrink...  
This user knows their Microsoft stuff, and has been deemed reliable by Transistor and the mod team:

Quote
Transistor said: (http://vizioneck.com/goto/post?id=32946933)    We've verified this user's info to be reliable on the subject  Click to expand... Click to shrink...  
Pretty interesting takeaway imo. Thoughts?

 EDIT: As we know already, the creative director left 343i back in 2019, as reported by Jason Schreier, so the timing does make sense.
https://kotaku.com/halo-infinite-creative-director-leaves-company-1837312778  
[/size]

As stupid as it is, it's kind of nice to have a good place to put this.
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: Horizon on May 03, 2020, 07:38 PM
Everyone seems to think the initiative games is working on a Perfect Dark game.
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: Legend on May 03, 2020, 08:05 PM
Everyone seems to think the initiative games is working on a Perfect Dark game.
That would be cool. I never played it and know nothing about it, but it seems like a fan favorite.

Rumor: 343i struggled with Halo Infinite development, rebooted project in 2018 | ResetEra (https://www.resetera.com/threads/rumor-343i-struggled-with-halo-infinite-development-rebooted-project-in-2018.197013/)
This user knows their Microsoft stuff, and has been deemed reliable by Transistor and the mod team:
Pretty interesting takeaway imo. Thoughts?

 EDIT: As we know already, the creative director left 343i back in 2019, as reported by Jason Schreier, so the timing does make sense.
https://kotaku.com/halo-infinite-creative-director-leaves-company-1837312778 (https://kotaku.com/halo-infinite-creative-director-leaves-company-1837312778)  


As stupid as it is, it's kind of nice to have a good place to put this.
Yeah mega threads are great ways to keep news from getting lost. Great job.

Reboot's can come in all different shapes and sizes. Wonder how much was changed.
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: the-pi-guy on Jul 09, 2020, 05:35 PM
How Minecraft and Mojang taught Xbox how to buy studios - Gamesindustry.biz | ResetEra (https://www.resetera.com/threads/how-minecraft-and-mojang-taught-xbox-how-to-buy-studios-gamesindustry-biz.244582/)

Quote
(https://images.eurogamer.net/2020/articles/2020-07-09-13-58/Screenshot_2020_07_09_at_13.58.43.png)    How Minecraft and Mojang taught Xbox how to buy studios  (https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-07-09-how-minecraft-and-mojang-taught-xbox-how-to-buy-studios)  Xbox's new studios: Things have been almost exactly the same, just without the terror of going out of business   (https://www.gamesindustry.biz/favicon.ico) www.gamesindustry.biz    
Quote
Compulsion Games, Double Fine, InXile, Ninja Theory, Obsidian, Playground Games and Undead Labs had all joined the Microsoft family, and the news was greeted by whoops from the Xbox faithful and intrigued eyebrow raising from us in the business press.

 Yet among that excitement was an air of caution, too. Buying companies is easy, but integrating them is incredibly hard, and Microsoft is no stranger to acquisitions gone wrong.  Click to expand... Click to shrink...  
Mojang:
Quote
Mojang studio head Helen Chiang continues: "The approach we took to the acquisition came from Matt. A lot of times you see big companies buy smaller companies, and it's easy to lose the magic of what you've purchased. It was really important that this acquisition was about retaining all of that great talent within the studio, and ensuring that you're continuing to foster that creative spirit. It's not all about business results; it is about building a foundation of trust. As you can imagine, there was quite a gap in the culture between an indie studio and a large corporate company like Microsoft. It was about making sure they trusted that the leaders were not going to do harmful things to Minecraft."
 (...) Before, Microsoft acquired companies in a specific way. And this not only set the foundation for additional game studios, but when you look at LinkedIn and GitHub, they also have this minimally integrated approach. That really was something that Mojang set the foundation for."  Click to expand... Click to shrink...  
Double Fine:
Quote
"Things have been almost exactly the same, just without the terror of going out of business all the time," (...) Being able to apply it to games and creativity has been an adjustment, but a really great adjustment."  Click to expand... Click to shrink...  
Quote
"With Psychonauts 2, we could see the end of our budget coming up, and so we had cut a lot of stuff," Schafer explains. "We had cut our boss fights. Now we are able to put those back in, and we're like 'we think people would have noticed if we didn't have those boss fights'. Being able to complete the game in the way that it was meant to be was very important.  Click to expand... Click to shrink...  
Quote
"With Game Pass, it wouldn't make sense to acquire Double Fine and then assign us a bunch of Forza DLC. That's not what you'd want from a studio like Double Fine. And Game Pass seems like a great opportunity to have a diversity of games, a plethora of unusual content... I can see how the type of games that Double Fine makes could fit into that."  Click to expand... Click to shrink...  
Obsidian:
Quote
"The only really different aspect of my day-to-day is not having to be the guy getting the money from the publishers. That has also changed how we approach development. A lot of times as an independent, how you develop games is dictated by the partner, because it's their money and they have a way they want you to make a game. It's been cool to apply those years of experience, and say 'hey, we can make the games the way we want to make them'."  Click to expand... Click to shrink...  
Quote
"This idea of the limited integration studio was the best idea. Maybe it was intended or unintended, but by letting us be who we are, we then have a positive effect on Microsoft."  Click to expand... Click to shrink...  
InXile:
Quote
"I prepared the whole thing, I sat with Matt and said here is what we want to do, and he said 'if that's what you want to do, then great'. It was over in like 60 seconds. That was wild for me, because we're used to this six month process of back-and-forth with a million questions -- with things like 'how many pieces of art will there be?'  Click to expand... Click to shrink...  
Spencer on future acquisitions:
Quote
A lot of the business is doing really well, so we're always in the market for new opportunities with studios.

 "The first priority was making sure the studios had the things that they needed to build the best versions of their games. That means extending some of the timelines, and giving them more budgets. We have really strong support from Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, and Amy Hood, the CFO. And there's been no signal at all that we should be slowing down, but just to go at a pace that is maintainable for us as a leadership team. We're always out there talking to people. But it has to be the right opportunity."  Click to expand... Click to shrink...  
A lot more at the link  
[/size]
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: the-pi-guy on Jul 24, 2020, 01:46 PM
Kind of a disappointing update tbh.
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: Xevross on Jul 24, 2020, 02:14 PM
Kind of a disappointing update tbh.
Although its good to see they seem to be taking Sony's approach to their own studios now. Just let them be creative and do what they want and they'll hopefully grow and get better and better. Its the kind of approach that won't pay dividens for a while though, which is why I think this showcase was disappointing from them. Perhaps mid gen it'll be starting to look a lot better.
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: the-pi-guy on Sep 21, 2020, 10:05 PM
Kind of a disappointing update tbh.
Big update coming up!  
I might wait a bit...
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: kitler53 on Sep 21, 2020, 11:08 PM
someone needs to tweet at trump to block the sale...
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: Legend on Sep 21, 2020, 11:52 PM
Top 5 xbox studios:

Bethesda
Id Software
Arkane
Playground
Obsidian

All joined Microsoft in the last 3 years.
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: Xevross on Sep 22, 2020, 12:01 AM
Top 5 xbox studios:

Bethesda
Id Software
Arkane
Playground
Obsidian

All joined Microsoft in the last 3 years.
That's quite an amazing list of studios. There's some others that are very high quality as well: inXile, The Coalition, Turn10, Ninja Theory (maybe 343).

What would be Sony's top list?

Naughty Dog
Santa Monica
Guerrilla
Insomniac

I would say those are the clear top 4. You'd probably also list Polyphony, Sucker Punch, San Diego, Media Molecule as being very high quality too.

Naughty Dog and Santa Monica are above anything xbox have but after that xbox now have a lot more very good studios.
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: the-pi-guy on Feb 10, 2021, 05:59 PM
This needs some updating.

And probably should start working on putting together Bethesda, as that will likely be official next month.

Alpha Dog Games
Arkane Studios
Bethesda Softworks
id Software
MachineGames
Roundhouse Studios
Tango Gameworks
ZeniMax Online Studios
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: the-pi-guy on Feb 19, 2021, 04:59 AM
I'm working on a program to help manage these threads. Will be showing updates on that soon.  
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: the-pi-guy on Mar 31, 2021, 02:20 PM
343 Industries
CDHalo Infinite (2021)
CA
PDHalo 5 (2015)
PAHalo Wars 2 (2017)
Halo Fireteam (2018)
Halo Recruit (2017)
Compulsion Games
CD
CA
PDWe Happy Few (2018)
Contrast (2013)
PA
Double Fine
CD
CA
PDPsychonauts 2 (2020)
Rad (2019)
Full Throttle Remastered (2017)
PA
InXile Entertainment
CD
CA
PDWasteland 3 (2020)
The Bard's Tale IV: Barrows Deep (2018)
The Mage's Tale (2017)
PA
The Coalition
CD
CA
PDGears of War 4 (2016)
Gears 5 (2019)
PAGears Tactics (2020)
The Initiative
CDnull (???)
TBA (???)
Perfect Dark (TBA)
CA
PD
PA
Mojang Studios
CD
CA
PDMinecraft (2011)
PA
Ninja Theory
CDHellblade 2 (TBA)
CA
PDBleeding Edge (2020)
Star Wars VR (2019)
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice (2017)
PA
Obsidian
CDAvowed (TBA)
CA
PDGrounded (2020)
The Outer Worlds (2019)
Pillars of Eternity II (2018)
Tyranny (2016)
PA
Playground Games
CDFable (TBA)
CA
PDForza Horizon (2012)
Forza Horizon 2 (2014)
Forza Horizon 3 (2016)
Forza Horizon 4 (2018)
PA
Rare
CDEverwild (TBA)
CA
PDBattletoads (2020)
Rare Replay (2015)
PA
Turn 10
CDForza TBA (TBA)
CA
PDForza 6 (2015)
Forza 7 (2017)
PA
Undead Labs
CDState of Decay 3 (TBA)
CA
PDState of Decay (2013)
State of Decay 2 (2018)
PA
Arkane Studios
CD
CA
PDWolfenstein: Cyberpilot (2019)
Wolfenstein: Youngblood (2019)
Prey (2017)
Dishonored 2 (2016)
PA
Bethesda Game Studios
CDStarfield (TBA)
CA
PDFallout 76 (2018)
Fallout 4 VR (2017)
TES: Skyrim VR (2017)
TES: Skyrim Special Edition (2016)
PA
id Software
CD
CA
PDQuake Champions (2018)
Rage 2 (2019)
Doom (2016)
PA
MachineGames
CDWolfenstein III (TBA)
CA
PDWolfenstein: Cyberpilot (2019)
Wolfenstein: Youngblood (2019)
Wolfenstein II (2017)
PA
Tango Gameworks
CD
CA
PDThe Evil Within 2 (2017)
The Evil Within (2014)
PA
ZeniMax Online Studios
CD
CA
PDTES: Online (2014)
PA


Didn't mean to post this. 
Looks like it's coming along though....
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: the-pi-guy on Mar 31, 2021, 02:23 PM
Still needs some fixes.
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: the-pi-guy on Mar 31, 2021, 08:07 PM
.
Even closer still!
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: Legend on Mar 31, 2021, 09:35 PM
Still needs some fixes.
Getting fancy!

Needs perfect dark.

And wastelanders 3 fixed.
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: the-pi-guy on Mar 31, 2021, 10:04 PM
Getting fancy!
Not very robust, but it's functional.  

Makes it a lot easier to make updates.
Quote
Needs perfect dark.

And wastelanders 3 fixed.
Thanks!  
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: the-pi-guy on Jun 17, 2021, 07:12 PM
iXbox One Reveal - May 21, 2013 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uP4E3xNU9pU)
Xbox E3 2013 - June 10, 2013 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSXicnwHgss)
Xbox E3 2014 - June 10, 2014 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyz9MvPXWII)
Xbox E3 2015 - June 15, 2015 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=By5pF7i0SZ8)
Xbox E3 2016 - June 13, 2016 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRAhtB79b5I)
Xbox E3 2017 - June 11, 2017 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ4GpE3c97U)
Xbox E3 2018 - June 10, 2018 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6GAxUVs37c)
Xbox E3 2019 - June 9, 2019 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73kSvsQ_kkA)
Xbox Games Showcase - July 23, 2020 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7nkg_5ZfrM)
Xbox E3 2021 - June 13, 2021 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YnVzOA2wNs)
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: Legend on Sep 24, 2021, 03:09 PM


I wonder how big the studio is. They have a lot of ex crystal dynamics staff so will this feel like a regular crystal dynamics game? If this is taking the whole cd studio, it's just round two of buying a game from them.
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: the-pi-guy on Sep 24, 2021, 03:14 PM
I wonder how big the studio is. They have a lot of ex crystal dynamics staff so will this feel like a regular crystal dynamics game? If this is taking the whole cd studio, it's just round two of buying a game from them.
Supposedly around 75 employees.
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: kitler53 on Sep 24, 2021, 03:49 PM
yeah, it's an odd situation to say the least.
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: BananaKing on Sep 24, 2021, 05:54 PM
I really wonder why SE would allow them to do this. Why not let them work on their own game? Its an odd situation.
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: kitler53 on Sep 24, 2021, 06:13 PM
I really wonder why SE would allow them to do this. Why not let them work on their own game? Its an odd situation.
i'm pretty sure there are rumors about MS about to aquire another "Bethesda level" publisher.   so this is really just the pre-announcements of MS aquiring SE.   makes sense really, sony has a deal with SE for forsaken and there is a clear pattern emerging of MS acquiring the studios that work with sony...
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: the-pi-guy on Sep 25, 2021, 01:27 PM
I really wonder why SE would allow them to do this. Why not let them work on their own game? Its an odd situation.
I mean is it that odd?  

It's getting a lot of attention, sure. But there are tons of third party + first party collaborations.  
From Software + Japan Studio

I do wonder if this is a tighter collaboration than most end up being.
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: BananaKing on Sep 25, 2021, 01:50 PM
I mean is it that odd?  

It's getting a lot of attention, sure. But there are tons of third party + first party collaborations.  
From Software + Japan Studio

I do wonder if this is a tighter collaboration than most end up being.
Yeah but from software was the lead on the bloodborne. It was a From game. Japan studio was mostly assisting with the work.

This game has been in development for 3 years at the initiative, then they added crystal dynamics as a partner in the game. Why would SE let a team that worked on games the caliber of avengers and tomb raider assist another game, not even publish it, instead of working on a new game of their own.
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: the-pi-guy on Sep 29, 2021, 06:09 PM
This game has been in development for 3 years at the initiative, then they added crystal dynamics as a partner in the game. Why would SE let a team that worked on games the caliber of avengers and tomb raider assist another game, not even publish it, instead of working on a new game of their own.
Avengers was a massive failure, poorly received, and caused Square Enix a pretty substantial loss.

Square Enix's HD Gaming Unit Loses $63 Million After Marvel's Avengers Launch - GameSpot (https://www.gamespot.com/articles/square-enixs-hd-gaming-unit-loses-63-million-after-marvels-avengers-launch/1100-6484203/)
Quote
Square Enix's HD Gaming Unit Loses $63 Million After Marvel's Avengers Launch
That was their only game in the last 6 years.


Why The Initiative hired Crystal Dynamics to help with Perfect Dark | VentureBeat (https://venturebeat.com/2021/09/29/why-the-initiative-hired-crystal-dynamics-to-help-with-perfect-dark/)


Quote
But Gallagher, who previously worked at Crystal Dynamics, still had strong connections to the studio and publisher Square Enix. He also deeply understands the capabilities of Crystal Dynamics. That led him to pitch all parties about a collaboration.
So Square probably thought it was a good opportunity to make some of their money back.
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: the-pi-guy on Sep 29, 2021, 07:28 PM
https://www.resetera.com/threads/rumor-xbox-game-pass-at-30-million-subs-per-strauss-zelnick-ceo-of-take-two-spencer-clarifies-last-public-numbers-are-18million.493329/

Quote
SZ: Phil didn't pitch his own service, which he could...but you've got about 30 million subs Phil. Something like that(?)
PS: *chukles* The last public numbers we announced was 18 million.
SZ: *nervously shifting* Oh for some reason I thought it was more. *laughs* It's more than 18. Anyways...
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: Legend on Sep 29, 2021, 07:42 PM
Could be a slip, but the real numbers could be around 20 mil which would make his comment embarrassing too.
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: kitler53 on Sep 29, 2021, 11:36 PM
30 m would be impressive growth.  

I have a hard time believing it atm.  there haven't even been 12 million in Xbox sales since the last milestone.  that kind of growth doesn't jive well with a company that tried to double the cost of live gold to spur sales for me. 

we'll find out soon enough I suppose. 
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: BananaKing on Sep 30, 2021, 12:21 AM
I doubt its 30 million, last announced figure was 18. You think they are gonna reach 30 million and not announce it?

Its gonna be funny how fanboys will take this number as confirmed
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: kitler53 on Sep 30, 2021, 12:48 AM
what if the number is 16 million?
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: BananaKing on Sep 30, 2021, 01:33 AM
what if the number is 16 million?
I doubt the number is falling. They have crazy deals for it. If you buy 3 years of XBL. For just an extra dollar you get gamepass for 3 years.

Honestly thats a deal I'd do. If I know im gonna stay on a platform for that long, then yeah I'd pay upfront and get 3 years of gamepass for free basically.
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: the-pi-guy on Jan 18, 2022, 09:47 PM
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FJaeEBAWQAQvPoo?format=jpg&name=4096x4096)
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: Legend on Jan 18, 2022, 10:56 PM
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FJaeEBAWQAQvPoo?format=jpg&name=4096x4096)
(https://c.tenor.com/kCS1OZET5eoAAAAC/dumb-and-dumber-jim-carrey.gif)
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: kitler53 on Jan 18, 2022, 10:57 PM
where's the thumbs down button?
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: the-pi-guy on Jan 18, 2022, 10:58 PM
where's the thumbs down button?
You hit like, and then you hit unlike.
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: kitler53 on Jan 18, 2022, 10:59 PM
i'm in such a bad mood today.
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: BananaKing on Jan 19, 2022, 12:01 AM
i'm in such a bad mood today.
Me too, to be honest.

Honestly I'm not even in the mood to game
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: nnodley on Jan 19, 2022, 12:10 AM
I was just looking at the big games activision actually has all together.  Honestly i play probably zero of them.  I've hated COD for years and everything else isn't huge hitters.  Still doesn't make the acquisition suck any less for the industry.
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: kitler53 on Jan 19, 2022, 01:00 AM
it doesn't really matter that I don't play CoD.  it's a massive hole in Sony's lineup now.   the millions of CoD gamers will abandon PS5 and their ps+ subs. 
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: Legend on Jan 20, 2022, 04:34 PM
You know what this means?

It's time for Microsoft to make a fighting game with all their characters! Master chief can fight Crash Bandicoot.
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: kitler53 on Jan 20, 2022, 04:39 PM
You know what this means?

It's time for Microsoft to make a fighting game with all their characters! Master chief can fight Crash Bandicoot.
they have a lot of IP to chose from but i'm not sure its IP that would gel well together for a cross-over fighter.  feel free to prove me wrong with a list but i'm not imagining it right now.
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: SWORDF1SH on Jan 20, 2022, 05:08 PM
Just did some quick math. If Games Pass gets 100M subs,  at current pricing It will take 6 to 7 years to pay off the Bethesda and Activision acquisitions. MS are making mint off of  Games Pass. No wonder MS have finally fully got  behind Xbox.
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: kitler53 on Jan 20, 2022, 05:19 PM
Just did some quick math. If Games Pass gets 100M subs,  at current pricing It will take 6 to 7 years to pay off the Bethesda and Activision acquisitions. MS are making mint off of  Games Pass. No wonder MS have finally fully got  behind Xbox.
that only pays off the purchase price.  over the course of those 6-7 years they'll also need to pay billions in salary to the developers that work at those companies they acquired.  they defiantly aren't "making mint" on these acquisitions with their current 25 million subs.   MS really thinks they can get to 100 million subs.   if they can't this boat will belly up.
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: the-pi-guy on Jan 20, 2022, 05:31 PM
.   if they can't this boat will belly up.
Would be something if they opt to sell Activision in a few years.
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: Dr. Pezus on Jan 20, 2022, 06:13 PM
EA next? Would be a big blow for Sony to lose fifa
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: SWORDF1SH on Jan 20, 2022, 06:22 PM
that only pays off the purchase price.  over the course of those 6-7 years they'll also need to pay billions in salary to the developers that work at those companies they acquired.  they defiantly aren't "making mint" on these acquisitions with their current 25 million subs.   MS really thinks they can get to 100 million subs.   if they can't this boat will belly up.
This is at current prices. So even if they double the price (very possible) at 50M subs they get in $80B over 7 years. That's crazy amount of money to rake in.
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: the-pi-guy on Jan 20, 2022, 06:34 PM
Quote
Spencer said he's concerned about tech companies unfamiliar with the gaming industry barging in to the space, as opposed to the current, experienced competition against Nintendo and Sony.

"They have a long history in video games," he said. "Nintendo's not going to do anything that damages gaming in the long run because that's the business they're in. Sony is the same and I trust them. ... Valve's the same way. When we look at the other big tech competitors for Microsoft: Google has search and Chrome, Amazon has shopping, Facebook has social, all these large-scale consumer businesses. ... The discussion we've had internally, where those things are important to those other tech companies for how many consumers they reach, gaming can be that for us.
Xbox CEO Phil Spencer discusses reviving old Activision games after Microsoft’s acquisition - The Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2022/01/20/xbox-activision-blizzard-phil-spencer/)
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: kitler53 on Jan 20, 2022, 06:43 PM
Would be something if they opt to sell Activision in a few years.
it would be like any other aquisition.  they'll just close the studio and let the IP go dormant.  reselling is not going to happen imo.


EA next? Would be a big blow for Sony to lose fifa
i don't think they can.  i think all the sports games have contract requirements that multi-plat is required.   like how the show went multiplat despite being sony first party developed.

Xbox CEO Phil Spencer discusses reviving old Activision games after Microsoft’s acquisition - The Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2022/01/20/xbox-activision-blizzard-phil-spencer/)
eat a sucker.  this is only about crushing sony and you (spencer) know it.
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: the-pi-guy on Jan 20, 2022, 07:45 PM
On the bright side, Kitler, Microsoft can't buy anyone else for the next ~18 months.

There are already Congress people talking about scrutinizing the acquisition.



Microsoft isn't going to mess it up, especially because if it fails they will lose a few billion dollars to Activision.
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: kitler53 on Jan 20, 2022, 07:51 PM
On the bright side, Kitler, Microsoft can't buy anyone else for the next ~18 months.

There are already Congress people talking about scrutinizing the acquisition.



Microsoft isn't going to mess it up, especially because if it fails they will lose a few billion dollars to Activision.
i'm really glad they are at least looking into it.  the mood in the country is pretty anti-tech,.. it's one area that both republicans and democrats can agree on.  i'd be sooo happy to see this blocked by anti-trust laws.

and yes, the 18 month lock out is good to know too.  mark my words though, in 18 months is the TT announcement...
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: the-pi-guy on Jan 21, 2022, 02:44 PM


(https://i.imgur.com/EXzVLQp.png)
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: nnodley on Jan 21, 2022, 02:49 PM
good lord all those COD studios.  What a waste of studio use
Title: Re: Xbox Development Studios
Post by: the-pi-guy on Jan 25, 2022, 10:21 PM
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: the-pi-guy on Jan 29, 2022, 11:53 PM
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FKOMzxEXIAEwn60?format=jpg&name=large)
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: Legend on Jan 30, 2022, 12:03 AM
Is that employees? How is King so big?
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: the-pi-guy on Jan 30, 2022, 12:37 AM
Is that employees? How is King so big?
Its supposed to be employees, probably the last reported number so some might be off.  

King has 2000 employees.  
Blizzard had close to 5000 in 2012.  
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: kitler53 on Jan 30, 2022, 02:08 AM
Christ.  how does blizzard afford all those developers.  surely WoW isn't doing well enough anymore to need that many...
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: the-pi-guy on Jan 30, 2022, 03:48 AM
Christ.  how does blizzard afford all those developers.  surely WoW isn't doing well enough anymore to need that many...
Actually most of them are not developers. Most are support related

- WoW
- Diablo IV
- Overwatch 2
- some huge survival game
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: Legend on Apr 01, 2022, 05:32 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/3ZTvopc.png)
https://www.reddit.com/r/halo/comments/tttx44/yes_im_reposting_this_but_so_is_343/

I really wonder what the future of Halo and 343 is.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: BananaKing on Apr 01, 2022, 05:56 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/3ZTvopc.png)
https://www.reddit.com/r/halo/comments/tttx44/yes_im_reposting_this_but_so_is_343/

I really wonder what the future of Halo and 343 is.
I really do think there is a big possibility that ID software does a new halo game/single player
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: kitler53 on Apr 01, 2022, 07:52 PM
halo just isn't what it used to be.   i'm not expert about MS but MS is a quitter.   when something isn't working that kill it and buy something new.   ...so i expect halo to take a back seat to MS's newest toy,.. CoD.  
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: the-pi-guy on Apr 20, 2022, 02:03 PM
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: the-pi-guy on Apr 29, 2022, 11:31 PM
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: Legend on Apr 30, 2022, 09:17 PM

Can't watch the video atm, but I assume it's true thanks to gamepass. Xbox hardware is irrelevant if they can still get money from 3rd party games on gamepass.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: the-pi-guy on Apr 30, 2022, 09:45 PM
Can't watch the video atm, but I assume it's true thanks to gamepass. Xbox hardware is irrelevant if they can still get money from 3rd party games on gamepass.
In the video they basically say the first acquisition that Satya made was for Minecraft, and that's kind of the model they are using. They want to see Activision's games on PlayStation and even Nintendo.

I'm sure their hope for the future is that Gamepass by itself becomes basically the big Xbox exclusive, while they continue to sell games wherever.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: the-pi-guy on Jun 02, 2022, 02:18 PM
A big chart of everything Xbox posted on the gaming rumors Reddit

Spoiler for Hidden:
(https://i.imgur.com/9PEhBDm.png)
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: kitler53 on Jun 02, 2022, 03:44 PM
30 studios.  5-7 years to develop games these days.   almost nothing left announced (first party).  I guess we'll hear about all those 2nd party games this week...

Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: the-pi-guy on Jun 09, 2022, 01:10 PM
Quote
"If we acquire a game that comes with a big community across a number of platforms," Booty began, "the last thing we want to do is take something away. If anything, we feel that it's our job to be caretakers, to be shepherds, to continue to build and nurture that community, not to cut it up into pieces and try to take some of it away."
I thought this was interesting.  (https://www.ign.com/articles/microsoft-activision-blizzard-acquisition-game-pass-exclusives)

I feel like there's an argument for new IPs to be exclusive and old IPs to continue releasing on other platforms.

We will have to see how things shake out.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: Legend on Jul 28, 2022, 05:13 AM
Op needs redfall for Arkane.

Interesting to see how many games Microsoft announced years ago that still feel very far away. Will even a single one of these release in 2023?

Perfect Dark was announced in 2020
Hellblade 2 was 2019
Everwild was 2019
Avowed was 2020
Fable was 2020
State of decay 3 was 2020
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: kitler53 on Jul 28, 2022, 12:13 PM
Op needs redfall for Arkane.

Interesting to see how many games Microsoft announced years ago that still feel very far away. Will even a single one of these release in 2023?

Perfect Dark was announced in 2020
Hellblade 2 was 2019
Everwild was 2019
Avowed was 2020
Fable was 2020
State of decay 3 was 2020

hellblade if any is my guess. 
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: kitler53 on Jul 28, 2022, 12:40 PM
and you should list project mara as well. 
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: the-pi-guy on Oct 18, 2022, 06:11 PM
Apparently someone had on their linked in that Obsidian has yet another game in development (https://www.reddit.com/r/GamingLeaksAndRumours/comments/y6jzlc/new_unannounced_aaa_rpg_by_obsidian_entertainment/)

Quote
Didn't Jez or Grubb Grubb mentioned a while ago that Obsidian wants one released game every year until 2026 or something like that?

Maybe the plan is Avowed next year, and The Outer Worlds 2024?
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: Legend on Oct 18, 2022, 06:27 PM
Apparently someone had on their linked in that Obsidian has yet another game in development (https://www.reddit.com/r/GamingLeaksAndRumours/comments/y6jzlc/new_unannounced_aaa_rpg_by_obsidian_entertainment/)

Maybe the plan is Avowed next year, and The Outer Worlds 2024?
I'm pretty sure Avowed is not next year. On Google I can only find 2022/2023 hype posts but I'm pretty sure there was a leak a long while ago talking about all its ambitious features and a release date really far away.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: the-pi-guy on Dec 24, 2022, 03:15 AM


Apparently there is an Xbox show early next year, with a small Pentiment style game from Tango.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: the-pi-guy on Feb 02, 2023, 04:56 PM
Grubb talks about The Coalition's new ip (https://www.resetera.com/threads/jeff-grubb-the-coalition-has-canceled-its-smaller-non-gears-project-along-with-another-project-their-next-game-will-be-gears-6.682585/)  

Apparently canceled. Their next game will be Gears 6.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: kitler53 on Feb 02, 2023, 05:23 PM
Grubb talks about The Coalition's new ip (https://www.resetera.com/threads/jeff-grubb-the-coalition-has-canceled-its-smaller-non-gears-project-along-with-another-project-their-next-game-will-be-gears-6.682585/)  

Apparently canceled. Their next game will be Gears 6.
oh good.   another disappointing entry in a tired franchise is exactly that i wanted them to work on!!   this is exactly what playstation needs to stay relevant as MS acquires the remaining 3rd party publishers this year...
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: BananaKing on Feb 02, 2023, 06:11 PM
oh good.   another disappointing entry in a tired franchise is exactly that i wanted them to work on!!   this is exactly what playstation needs to stay relevant as MS acquires the remaining 3rd party publishers this year...
Phil Spencers amazing management strikes again
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: the-pi-guy on Mar 03, 2023, 01:37 AM
Andy Robinson (VGC) (https://www.resetera.com/threads/andy-robinson-vgc-podcast-avowed-and-hbii-nearest-after-starfield-fable-recently-went-into-full-production-perfect-dark-and-everwild-not-close.692734/)

Avowed and Hellblade 2 nearest after Starfield,
Fable recently went into full production,
Perfect Dark and Everwild "not close"
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: kitler53 on Mar 03, 2023, 01:46 AM
Andy Robinson (VGC) (https://www.resetera.com/threads/andy-robinson-vgc-podcast-avowed-and-hbii-nearest-after-starfield-fable-recently-went-into-full-production-perfect-dark-and-everwild-not-close.692734/)

Avowed and Hellblade 2 nearest after Starfield,
Fable recently went into full production,
Perfect Dark and Everwild "not close"
(https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/12/19/fashion/19TITANIC-ANNIVERSARY-top/19TITANIC-ANNIVERSARY-top-facebookJumbo.jpg)

wrt everwild.  

God, starfield doesn't have an official date yet so likely June at the earliest.  is MS going to have another year with nothing?
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: the-pi-guy on Mar 03, 2023, 01:50 AM
That's depressing but probably realistic.

I don't really understand why Sony's sequels have been so slow. GOW Ragnarok and Horizon Forbidden West have the pandemic as a pretty good excuse, but how is something like ghost of tsushima 2 probably taking 4 years? Infamous to got was only 6 years and that included time spent on a cancelled game.
And yet somehow MS seems like they're having a much harder time, than Sony even is.  

It's pretty wild.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: Legend on Mar 03, 2023, 04:09 AM
Andy Robinson (VGC) (https://www.resetera.com/threads/andy-robinson-vgc-podcast-avowed-and-hbii-nearest-after-starfield-fable-recently-went-into-full-production-perfect-dark-and-everwild-not-close.692734/)

Avowed and Hellblade 2 nearest after Starfield,
Fable recently went into full production,
Perfect Dark and Everwild "not close"
I'd love if Avowed was that close, or maybe it's still 2 years away and Microsoft just has nothing ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

And yet somehow MS seems like they're having a much harder time, than Sony even is.  

It's pretty wild.
Hellblade 2 and Forza are crazy. They are taking so many years yet just look like regular sequels.


Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: kitler53 on Mar 04, 2023, 03:34 PM


pretty bad considering that 25+ million people that can play this for free on gamepass. 
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: Legend on Mar 04, 2023, 04:47 PM
I'm one of those 23 million. I'm glad the game exists but I don't have any drive to play it.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: the-pi-guy on Mar 05, 2023, 08:26 PM
Quote
I've heard Hellblade 2 could be a Holiday 2023 or early 2024 release. A strategic delay could certainly be in play -- pending how Holiday 2023 develops. Timing of Starfield and Forza could play an influential role.
Quote
Hopefully Hellblade 2 can make this holiday and Avowed makes H2 2024.
Quote
Honestly, I don't think Starfield has a locked down release date yet -- not due to quality, as I've heard nothing but good things. My hope is June due to Forza resting at TBD but my rational thoughts are a slight delay to a late summer window (July-Sept) for Starfield. They need to date the dang Starfield event.
A few Nate Drake comments (http://"https://www.resetera.com/threads/andy-robinson-vgc-podcast-avowed-and-hbii-nearest-after-starfield-fable-recently-went-into-full-production-perfect-dark-and-everwild-not-close.692734/page-4#post-102111937")


He's reliably leaked some things in the past.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: Legend on Mar 05, 2023, 08:32 PM
If avowed really is early next year, wow!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: kitler53 on Mar 05, 2023, 10:07 PM
If avowed really is early next year, wow!!!!!!!
doesn't "H2 2024" mean the second half of next year?
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: Legend on Mar 05, 2023, 10:13 PM
doesn't "H2 2024" mean the second half of next year?
Oh look at that, your brain actually read the date correctly.

edt: I need sleep, even this reply was sloppy
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: BananaKing on Mar 05, 2023, 10:31 PM
How can MS have so little in such a long time?
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: the-pi-guy on Mar 05, 2023, 10:50 PM
Oh look at that, you're brain actually read the date correctly.
I somehow missed the "early" part of your post.
so I was surprised how excited you were about late next year.  

How can MS have so little in such a long time?
I think a combination of:
- development troubles at a few studios
- a few studios spreading their resources too thin
- a few studios focusing on live service
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: kitler53 on Mar 06, 2023, 12:19 AM
How can MS have so little in such a long time?
no idea but it's pretty grim.  wish MS was even half honest about why Sony is killing them.  MS's fuckups weight much greater than Sony's marketing deals. 
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: the-pi-guy on Apr 12, 2023, 03:16 PM
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: Legend on Apr 12, 2023, 03:26 PM

It's starting!!!

I kinda think performance mode will stop being as common as we move deeper into the gen.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: kitler53 on Apr 12, 2023, 03:43 PM
really?  

i wouldn't be surprised for series S to not always high frame rate options as the generation moves on.    ...but to not have a performance mode on series X day-1 is really surprising to me.  that really hurts their "most powerful console" image and i think it's a mistake by MS to let this go out the door like this.   a lot of xbox's biggest chearleaders are going to be very mad about this.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: kitler53 on Apr 12, 2023, 03:58 PM
yep, read the era thread.   page after page of people mad about this.  only 1 "positive" post and i'm like 90% sure it was steeped in sarcasm...
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: Legend on Apr 12, 2023, 04:30 PM
yep, read the era thread.
Why would you do that to yourself?  :'(

really?  

i wouldn't be surprised for series S to not always high frame rate options as the generation moves on.    ...but to not have a performance mode on series X day-1 is really surprising to me.  that really hurts their "most powerful console" image and i think it's a mistake by MS to let this go out the door like this.   a lot of xbox's biggest chearleaders are going to be very mad about this.
I think that crowd would be more mad if performance mode sucked. In the wise words of Miyamoto, "A delayed feature can be whatever fanboys hope, but a released feature that sucks is harder to defend."
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: the-pi-guy on Apr 13, 2023, 02:34 AM
It's starting!!!

I kinda think performance mode will stop being as common as we move deeper into the gen.
I'm sure we will get there eventually.

But still, so far there have only been 4 games at 30fps.


Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: Legend on Apr 13, 2023, 03:37 AM
I'm sure we will get there eventually.

But still, so far there have only been 4 games at 30fps.
I know the Medium was 30fps. What else?

2023 seems to be the first year most games are skipping PS4 and XBO. I think the count will increase rapidly.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: the-pi-guy on Apr 13, 2023, 03:40 AM
I know the Medium was 30fps. What else?

2023 seems to be the first year most games are skipping PS4 and XBO. I think the count will increase rapidly.
Plague Tale Requiem, Gotham Knights (which was poorly received).

Apparently The Quarry and Industria as well. Never heard of the latter.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: kitler53 on Apr 13, 2023, 04:26 AM
I'm sure we will get there eventually.

But still, so far there have only been 4 games at 30fps.
and zero not cross gen with Xbox One. 
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: the-pi-guy on May 03, 2023, 06:42 PM



Quote
Redfall doesn't even vaguely approach the quality bar expected of Arkane, and indeed, Xbox itself. However, I have been told by multiple sources that Xbox was entirely hands-off with the project, and that the game doesn't fall under Xbox Game Studios' director Matt Booty's responsibilities -- because rightly or wrongly, right now, Arkane is not an Xbox Game Studio by internal definition.

Spencer oversees the entire business as a whole and speaking completely realistically, it shouldn't fall on him to get into the minutiae of every single game launching under the brand. There are only so many physical human hours in the day. Other teams need to be responsible for their own stuff, but I think there's a fair question to be made with regard to oversight and intra-property support and cohesion.

In any case, this isn't a defense of how Microsoft has set up its internal game dev studios, nor is it a criticism. I'm just relaying the current facts as they are, with regard to how integrated some of the teams are. The question we're ultimately exploring here is, "Should Microsoft create a stronger pipeline for oversight?" Or, "Is there a happy medium between oversight, support, and independence?" Because it's absolutely true that everything that occurs within the Microsoft Gaming umbrella reflects on the public brand, and that is Xbox. And Xbox is hurting right now.




Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: the-pi-guy on May 03, 2023, 06:45 PM
Quote
Jez Corden : "I can confirm MS had no involvement in the decision to delay/release Redfall, but maybe they should have. This is a straight Youngbloodening."

Jeff Grubb : "I'll say about a month ago I was talking to somebody and they mentioned, 'yeah Redfall is going to be a disaster.' I'm like well let's wait and see, well I guess I should have trusted him. He knew what he was talking about and it's like.... that was coming from the Microsoft side. So I was like 'well you know they're aware' apparently, or they were aware. That it's in rough shape."

Jeff Grubb : "The understanded way it works at Microsoft is they don't change anything, they let the studios just keep doing what they're doing and barely interfere at all. You know interfere, they barely like manage it at all, it's like 'well the managers that were there before we hired them to and they're still managing those studios."



Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision coming soon
Post by: the-pi-guy on May 03, 2023, 06:48 PM
It seems to be a consistent message the past few years that MS is too hands off with their studios. Which can be great if the studio is already doing great things. But not great if there are no means to correct a studio off track.

I also wonder how integrated the studios are with each other. SIE seems to have tons of connections with their studios, for tech or suggestions.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: Legend on May 03, 2023, 08:06 PM



Lol nothing but damage control. "Xbox wasn't involved with Redfall, but it's still blamed for its quality."


Article would be good if it was just defending Matt Booty.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: kitler53 on May 03, 2023, 08:31 PM
very trumpian,.. take credit for other's success and give blame for your failures.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: the-pi-guy on May 03, 2023, 10:29 PM
I had a different read on the article than either of you.

I didn't read it quite as "it's not MS's fault, they weren't involved with the game". But more along the lines of "it's MS's fault, [because] they weren't involved with the game".  

Considering it's Jez though, I'll certainly say your interpretations are more correct than mine.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: Legend on May 04, 2023, 03:57 AM
I had a different read on the article than either of you.

I didn't read it quite as "it's not MS's fault, they weren't involved with the game". But more along the lines of "it's MS's fault, [because] they weren't involved with the game".  

Considering it's Jez though, I'll certainly say your interpretations are more correct than mine.
I really don't understand how this game happened. Why could Deathloop expand from the studio's roots and be a good multiplayer shooter while Redfall couldn't? Just going off the creators involved and such both games should have been of similar quality.

On paper, Deathloop should have been the worse game. Dinga Bakaba directed Deathloop and had only previously directed Wolfenstein Youngblood which got a 67 on opencritic. Meanwhile Harvey Smith directed both Dishonoreds and Redfall. Additionally, Redfall was made in Unreal Engine while Deathloop was their custom Void Engine.

Was Sony hands on with Deathloop or did they just write a check and wait for the end product?
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: kitler53 on May 04, 2023, 04:12 AM
since one turned out good and the other didn't I'm going to credit Sony and blame MS.  no evidence needed.  confirmation bias is all I need. 
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: BananaKing on May 04, 2023, 12:39 PM
I think its more if the developers fault here. No matter what MS do, they can't make a bad game turn good simply by giving it more time.

Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: kitler53 on May 04, 2023, 01:18 PM
I think its more if the developers fault here. No matter what MS do, they can't make a bad game turn good simply by giving it more time.
it's more about QC.  

no,.. MS could not have saved this.  it's not like they could have moved a bunch of azure developers to help out.  

but MS should be aware of the state of a project... especially one that already got delayed a year.  and if  a game doesn't reach a certain standard it shouldn't ship.  ..or get cancelled.   this game really hurts the Xbox brand.  
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: BananaKing on May 04, 2023, 01:54 PM
it's more about QC.  

no,.. MS could not have saved this.  it's not like they could have moved a bunch of azure developers to help out.  

but MS should be aware of the state of a project... especially one that already got delayed a year.  and if  a game doesn't reach a certain standard it shouldn't ship.  ..or get cancelled.   this game really hurts the Xbox brand.  
Well Ms was put in a situation where they either cancel and lose all the money and effort the team put in. Or, release it, get whatever revenue or engagement on gamepass, and take the hit to their brand.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: kitler53 on May 04, 2023, 02:00 PM
Well Ms was put in a situation where they either cancel and lose all the money and effort the team put in. Or, release it, get whatever revenue or engagement on gamepass, and take the hit to their brand.
a poorly executed position to be in but spencer gets paid the big bucks to make the hard decisions.   for redfall he made the wrong decision.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: the-pi-guy on May 04, 2023, 02:05 PM
I really don't understand how this game happened. Why could Deathloop expand from the studio's roots and be a good multiplayer shooter while Redfall couldn't? Just going off the creators involved and such both games should have been of similar quality.

On paper, Deathloop should have been the worse game. Dinga Bakaba directed Deathloop and had only previously directed Wolfenstein Youngblood which got a 67 on opencritic. Meanwhile Harvey Smith directed both Dishonoreds and Redfall. Additionally, Redfall was made in Unreal Engine while Deathloop was their custom Void Engine.
It seems like it had troubled development.
Redfall will require an online connection, even in single-player, Bethesda confirms (https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/redfall-will-require-an-online-connection-even-in-single-player-bethesda-confirms/)

Some seem to think it was intended to be a live service game.

Quote
Was Sony hands on with Deathloop or did they just write a check and wait for the end product?
I think Sony had a pretty good idea of what the end product was roughly going to look like.
I feel like people have been unconvinced about Redfall for quite a while.




 Concerning, is that he says there was a huge difference (double digits lower) internal reviews vs actual reviews.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: Legend on May 04, 2023, 03:27 PM
It seems like it had troubled development.
Redfall will require an online connection, even in single-player, Bethesda confirms (https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/redfall-will-require-an-online-connection-even-in-single-player-bethesda-confirms/)

Some seem to think it was intended to be a live service game.
I think Sony had a pretty good idea of what the end product was roughly going to look like.
I feel like people have been unconvinced about Redfall for quite a while.




 Concerning, is that he says there was a huge difference (double digits lower) internal reviews vs actual reviews.

I'm still going through watching the video but his comments seem pretty honest. Defends why Redfall wasn't delayed again, saying essentially that the game is what it is. Another few weeks would have helped with bugs but it wouldn't have changed Redfall's core.


Rewatching the reveal trailer, I guess I was being too positive on it. I love Arkane so I was hoping for more but that trailer isn't any better than the final game. Maybe they just had a horrible vision from day 1.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: the-pi-guy on May 04, 2023, 11:56 PM
I'm just going to say this.


Age of Empires is one of the best games Microsoft has ever made.

That is all.  

Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: Legend on May 05, 2023, 12:24 AM
I'm just going to say this.


Age of Empires is one of the best games Microsoft has ever made.

That is all.  


I'd pull out my disc and play the og, but I don't have a disc drive.

I loved it as a kid. Cobra car!
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: nnodley on May 05, 2023, 02:08 AM
Lol so now spencer is the greatest because he takes on the tough interviews unlike jim ryan. What a take to still find a way to make it all about console wars.  ::)

According to the cess pool of Twitter. Lol
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: kitler53 on May 05, 2023, 03:59 AM
Lol so now spencer is the greatest because he takes on the tough interviews unlike jim ryan. What a take to still find a way to make it all about console wars.  ::)

According to the cess pool of Twitter. Lol
yeah!  lt sucks so much that Jim has lead ps so well there has never been an opportunity to have taken on a tough interview like Spencer does all the time.  

/s
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: the-pi-guy on May 05, 2023, 01:32 PM
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: BananaKing on May 05, 2023, 02:17 PM
Wtf is with this mentality that "we cant win". No, you just suck MS. I've been saying it for years, Phil is just incompetent and can't run a first party publishing team. He has been at it for 3 generations now.

They don't have a culture at their first party publishing unit, they dont have consistency, and rarely do they have quality.

They arent competing because they keep making mistakes. Not because its "unfair".
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: the-pi-guy on May 05, 2023, 02:19 PM
Wtf is with this mentality that "we cant win". No, you just suck MS. I've been saying it for years, Phil is just incompetent and can't run a first party publishing team. He has been at it for 3 generations now.

They don't have a culture at their first party publishing unit, they dont have consistency, and rarely do they have quality.

They arent competing because they keep making mistakes. Not because its "unfair".

Did they say it's "unfair"?
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: BananaKing on May 05, 2023, 02:20 PM
Did they say it's "unfair"?
It surely feels like thats the sentiment coming from them. Specially after the CMA blocked the Activision deal
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: the-pi-guy on May 05, 2023, 02:33 PM
It surely feels like thats the sentiment coming from them. Specially after the CMA blocked the Activision deal
I may have missed some bits, but that's not particularly the message that I see Phil Spencer giving in that interview. Some of the other stuff, definitely tilts in that direction.

He's talking a lot about MS's failures.
- They messed up with Redfall. They're working to make some fixes.
- Even implied that Redfall wasn't worth $70
- They messed up with Xbox One, and lost a lot of momentum.


And he says "we're not going outconsole Nintendo and Sony".

Kyle Bosman: "I was shocked to discover it was in fact, Phil Spencer sitting there for 30 minutes willfully eating shame."
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: kitler53 on May 05, 2023, 02:58 PM
Wtf is with this mentality that "we cant win". No, you just suck MS. I've been saying it for years, Phil is just incompetent and can't run a first party publishing team. He has been at it for 3 generations now.

They don't have a culture at their first party publishing unit, they dont have consistency, and rarely do they have quality.

They arent competing because they keep making mistakes. Not because its "unfair".

honestly, i think it just comes down to culture.

sony had been in the business of movies since before entering gaming.   they've had a long time to understand how to manage "creative types".    MS's core is to make productivity software and they seem to manage that business well.  ...but i don't think you can have the same management style/processes for productivity software that you do for creative projects.   

maybe one of these days MS will figure it out but i think that need to cleave off xbox to make it work.  that doesn't have to mean selling xbox just making it it's own thing.   my company figured that out early thank goodness.   like 90% of my business makes hardware and it only took management about a year to figure out that the things they do to manage hardware successfully won't work for software.   now (via reverse merger) the software business is it's own independent company that is simply owned my my original parent company. 

MS needs to do something similar with xbox. 

Did they say it's "unfair"?
not sure if they used that specific word but it is the implication.    Satya Nadella specifically said:

https://gameluster.com/microsoft-ceo-tells-sony-let-us-have-competition/
"if this is about competition, let us have competition"

it's in reference to ABK acquisition and it's a not so subtle statement that MS can only compete in this market if they are allowed to acquire the biggest 3rd party publishers in gaming.   ...or that it is not possible for MS to compete in the current market.  it's a statement that heavily relies on a thought that MS has never done nothing wrong with their xbox brand and all of their lack of success is to be blamed on Sony.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: darkknightkryta on May 08, 2023, 12:59 AM
It goes back to the core of X-box.  I'm talking right from the beginning when the only reason it exists is because a bunch of execs tricked Gates into thinking Sony was going to take over the PC space with the PS2.  The entire division was created to destroy Sony.  Not created to advance their Direct X libraries.  Not created to push Windows as a gaming platform giving regular folk a reason to invest in Windows.  No, it was created because the only way it was going to happen was for some execs to say to Gates "Oh, what about Sony?".  While Apple went and stole their T.V. (Bonus to anyone who gets the reference).  The original Xbox didn't even ship with Windows as an OS.  I say that meaning; their OS wasn't built off of Windows.  So instead of creating a platform for their core business, they created a business to destroy competition.  Which is what Microsoft does.  Other than Internet Explorer, that doesn't exactly work out well for them (Bing, Zune, Window Mobile, etc).  All because the upper management at Microsoft are greedy, vengeful, assholes (Bing is an 8 billion dollar vendetta against Google by Balmer).
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: Legend on May 08, 2023, 01:20 AM
It goes back to the core of X-box.  I'm talking right from the beginning when the only reason it exists is because a bunch of execs tricked Gates into thinking Sony was going to take over the PC space with the PS2.  The entire division was created to destroy Sony.  Not created to advance their Direct X libraries.  Not created to push Windows as a gaming platform giving regular folk a reason to invest in Windows.  No, it was created because the only way it was going to happen was for some execs to say to Gates "Oh, what about Sony?".  While Apple went and stole their T.V. (Bonus to anyone who gets the reference).  The original Xbox didn't even ship with Windows as an OS.  I say that meaning; their OS wasn't built off of Windows.  So instead of creating a platform for their core business, they created a business to destroy competition.  Which is what Microsoft does.  Other than Internet Explorer, that doesn't exactly work out well for them (Bing, Zune, Window Mobile, etc).  All because the upper management at Microsoft are greedy, vengeful, assholes (Bing is an 8 billion dollar vendetta against Google by Balmer).
PlayStation was the exact same. They wanted to destroy Nintendo after being embarrassed with the disc drive deal.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: SWORDF1SH on May 08, 2023, 08:37 AM
PlayStation was the exact same. They wanted to destroy Nintendo after being embarrassed with the disc drive deal.
At least Sony had a reason. Nintendo screwed Sony over and made Kutaragi mad.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: darkknightkryta on May 08, 2023, 02:37 PM
At least Sony had a reason. Nintendo screwed Sony over and made Kutaragi mad.
@Legend I had your thoughts, but as Swordf1sh just put it, Nintendo screwed over Sony.  Kuturagi was more than happy to build out hardware for Nintendo and work with them.  Microsoft went apeshit cause Sony "said" they were going to put in the ability to use real player codecs...
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: BananaKing on May 08, 2023, 04:00 PM
Kutaragi also wanted to get into the video games business. Its not like the whole thing started out of spite.

Man, did Nintendo screw themselves over with that one
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: SWORDF1SH on May 08, 2023, 04:28 PM
Yeah and I don't think Sony ever had the intention to "destroy" Nintendo. More of "I'll show you" attitude. Sony have a different philosophy that a market is more healthier with competitive competition. At least I've heard them say that at some point. Could just be PR. MS philosophy is destroy competition so they own the market.
Hell, Sony could of finished Xbox last gen if they wanted to. But they stayed focused on profitability instead of destroying Xbox.  The other way around in MS's hands and PlayStation might not be here today.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: the-pi-guy on May 08, 2023, 11:14 PM
Seems like a thorough Xbox post (https://www.reddit.com/r/GamingLeaksAndRumours/comments/13c6k4e/the_state_of_xbox_game_studios_and_bethesda/)
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: Legend on May 08, 2023, 11:42 PM
Seems like a thorough Xbox post (https://www.reddit.com/r/GamingLeaksAndRumours/comments/13c6k4e/the_state_of_xbox_game_studios_and_bethesda/)
I'll wait a month and then read. Looking good for xbox or nah?
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: the-pi-guy on May 08, 2023, 11:56 PM
I'll wait a month and then read. Looking good for xbox or nah?
I should clarify, it's just a general list of everything they are working on. Doesn't give any indication of when anything would likely happen/be announced.  

There's definitely a lot in the works, and lots of potentially good showcases. Whether that includes this next one, I don't know.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: Legend on Jun 11, 2023, 07:18 PM
OP has been slacking, multiple games are missing  8)


The Coalition has had troubled development unless they've got a surprise 2024 game. Rare is doing good with sea of thieves about everwild is probably cancelled imo.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: kitler53 on Jun 12, 2023, 10:04 PM
OP has been slacking, multiple games are missing  8)


The Coalition has had troubled development unless they've got a surprise 2024 game. Rare is doing good with sea of thieves about everwild is probably cancelled imo.
i'd lol.   MS announces too early.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: the-pi-guy on Jun 16, 2023, 10:15 PM
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: Legend on Jun 17, 2023, 01:07 AM

Halo was their only big cross gen game. Maybe they learned from that.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: the-pi-guy on Jul 14, 2023, 06:08 PM
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: nnodley on Jul 14, 2023, 06:20 PM
He was always the worst.  Cringe all around for everything i watched him at E3 and stuff.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: Legend on Jul 14, 2023, 07:02 PM
He'll be missed. Not at all a fan of his xbox public image but it's the end of an era. No way will he have a replacement that's in front of the camera so much.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: BananaKing on Jul 14, 2023, 09:14 PM
He was always the worst.  Cringe all around for everything i watched him at E3 and stuff.
The worst was Greenburg.. isn't that the dude's name?

I think Phil is worse than this guy
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: nnodley on Jul 14, 2023, 09:44 PM
The worst was Greenburg.. isn't that the dude's name?

I think Phil is worse than this guy
Yeah Greeburg sucked.  I'm not really a fan of any of them
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: Legend on Jul 14, 2023, 10:09 PM
The worst was Greenburg.. isn't that the dude's name?

I think Phil is worse than this guy
So it's safe to say the best person at xbox is leaving?  :'(
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: BananaKing on Jul 15, 2023, 12:06 AM
So it's safe to say the best person at xbox is leaving?  :'(
From the marketing team? Probably. I don't think Greenburg is generally liked. Fans of other consoles definitely dislike him, and he takes are sometimes ridiculous, I don't think most Xbox fans like him either.

Major nelson has been there forever and feels like he has been a core part of the team. But perhaps him moving on and new blood arriving can be good for the Xbox team
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: the-pi-guy on Sep 23, 2023, 02:06 PM
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: SWORDF1SH on Sep 24, 2023, 01:48 PM
Major Nelson and Phil Spencer always came across as fake to me. They say what Xbox gamers want to hear and are successful at it. I just don't buy their "we are gamers like you" bs and everything they do is for the gamers first while every move they make is to maximise their profits and destroy competition.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: the-pi-guy on Sep 24, 2023, 02:08 PM
Major Nelson and Phil Spencer always came across as fake to me. They say what Xbox gamers want to hear and are successful at it. I just don't buy their "we are gamers like you" bs and everything they do is for the gamers first while every move they make is to maximise their profits and destroy competition.
Phil Spencer does play games at least.

But he doesn't seem as passionate about games in the way that Shuhei Yoshida was. Like there are pictures of Shuhei checking out Nintendo demos and he has a Nintendo Switch.

I feel like there's a scale between Jim Ryan who doesn't play games and Shuhei who plays a lot.

Phil seems to be in the middle.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: the-pi-guy on Nov 03, 2023, 03:08 PM
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: Legend on Nov 03, 2023, 03:38 PM
They've supported other studios but when was the last time they made a big hit? Didn't expect them to get expanded.

Good sign for their indiana jones game though.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: the-pi-guy on Jan 06, 2024, 07:00 PM
https://www.reddit.com/r/GamingLeaksAndRumours/comments/18ziy3x/internal_mock_reviews_for_hellblade_2_are_in_the/

Hellblade 2 internal mock reviews in the low 90's.

(Caveat: redfall's internal reviews were double digits off).
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: Legend on Jan 06, 2024, 11:37 PM
Would be a surprise if it gets only ok reviews. People loved the first
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: the-pi-guy on Feb 01, 2024, 06:55 PM
(https://i.redd.it/yeaaaaaahhhh-this-just-confirms-that-were-getting-a-ps-and-v0-h6fns8zsmyfc1.png?s=32cfd409945044c8d89a9dbf68179bdd4271fd00)


New Hi-Fi Rush T shirt textures I guess, seems to suggest PlayStation and Switch.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: kitler53 on Feb 01, 2024, 09:01 PM
Sorry,.. i missed it.  How does a tshirt imply a ps/switch port?
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: the-pi-guy on Feb 01, 2024, 09:13 PM
Sorry,.. i missed it.  How does a tshirt imply a ps/switch port?
They are game assets for different platforms:

Rock out anywhere = Switch
I'm here baby = PS5
Shadow dropped = Xbox
This is simply unreal epic = epic games store
Be positive = Steam
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: kitler53 on Feb 01, 2024, 10:54 PM
Still not getting it. 
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: the-pi-guy on Feb 01, 2024, 11:47 PM
Still not getting it.
What do you not get?
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: the-pi-guy on Feb 03, 2024, 10:57 PM
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: kitler53 on Feb 04, 2024, 12:32 AM
will be interesting to see how they sell this.  the only games I feel like can get a pass are live service games.  

..so sea of thieves is "fine".   

but hi fi rush?!? no idea how they sell the further dilution of Xbox value.  day-1 PC is half the reason Xbox is struggling imo.  
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: kitler53 on Feb 04, 2024, 03:02 PM
I'm reading the era thread and the narrative has moved to MS will be full multiplat with all of their games. 

while I would love that and love knowing I don't need to fear MS acquisitions Soo much I think the narrative is just out of control.

honestly that's the problem with having any multplats.   MS needs to say something soon or twitter will have decided for them.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: kitler53 on Feb 04, 2024, 03:09 PM
whelp.  got to the end of the thread now....



edit: false alarm?   apparently it's a troll?
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: Legend on Feb 04, 2024, 05:02 PM
Why would Jason troll?

edt: while I was on twitter, T.I.T.S. was trending. I thought clicking on it would show people talking about the Texas institute of technology and science, but instead it just showed random tweets with t's and i and s bolded. Good job twitter algorithm.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: the-pi-guy on Feb 04, 2024, 08:27 PM








Jez seems to be in panic mode.



Quote
FOR CLARITY. I'm saying multiplatform stuff for Xbox is happening, not the "Sarah Bond will announce it."

It would be awful to let Sarah take the heat for this, since it's failure of Xbox projects Sarah wasn't even vaguely involved in, since 2012, that has led to this.

Microsoft has essentially decided they aren't going to make enough money with the current strategy. They want to build healthier margins and cash flow using Sony's install base, to then reinvest in growing the Xbox ecosystem using that money.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: kitler53 on Feb 04, 2024, 09:06 PM
I have to assume someone that's never played video games is making the decision here.  you'd have to be incredibly tone deaf to the industry not to see putting your games on every platform will kill your own platform. 

how do you sell a system when you have no "system sellers"?!?

the lack of revenue from a multiplat release is made up for in other ways.   like just imagine how incredibly fast Nintendo hardware would collapse if all their games could be played on the better hardware offered by Sony/MS.

but fudge it,.. I'm not going to look this gift horse in the mouth.  I want hi fi rush but I don't want an Xbox and it doesn't support steam deck.   I'll gladly buy it day 1 so MS can see how great it will be to port all their games to PS5...
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: nnodley on Feb 04, 2024, 10:24 PM
I felt like this was inevitable based on how badly Xbox platform has been doing in terms of moving hardware compared to Sony and Nintendo.

I absolutely see starfield coming to ps5 in the next 2 years. And Indiana jones. Etc.

I think MS underestimated how much most gamers want to own their games and not just sub to play. Though it is a great value to buy gamepass and literally play the big blockbusters for less than $15 a month.

Sony has had the right strategy for their exclusives. Only on PlayStation first then ported to PC after a year to two years once the sales on the console dry up
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: the-pi-guy on Feb 05, 2024, 12:44 AM
whelp.  got to the end of the thread now....



edit: false alarm?   apparently it's a troll?
Why would Jason troll?

edt: while I was on twitter, T.I.T.S. was trending. I thought clicking on it would show people talking about the Texas institute of technology and science, but instead it just showed random tweets with t's and i and s bolded. Good job twitter algorithm.
Someone suggested it will be for a new book announcement.
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: the-pi-guy on Feb 05, 2024, 03:52 PM
whelp.  got to the end of the thread now....



edit: false alarm?   apparently it's a troll?
It was just for his book announcement:

Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: kitler53 on Feb 05, 2024, 04:07 PM
yeah, saw that a bit ago.   

he knew what he was doing....
Title: Re: Xbox | Zenimax Development Studios + Activision?
Post by: nnodley on Feb 05, 2024, 04:15 PM
Should it now be titled Rise, Fall, and Future Fall of Blizzard Entertainment given MS is probably gonna fudge everything up  :P