GCU Fate Amenable To Change
July 25, 2020 6:47 AM Subscribe
Microsoft's Xbox Games Showcase unveiled trailers this week for Forza Motorsport, Tell Me Why, Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, Avowed, The Medium, Psychonauts 2, Fable, and more. Their flagship, Halo Infinite, was met with decidedly cool reactions – and while some lauded Microsoft for including every game in its Xbox Game Pass subscription bundle, others suggested Microsoft still hasn't made the case for Xbox Series X.
Everwild will also come to PC, so I wouldn't buy a console for that.
posted by Pendragon at 7:36 AM on July 25, 2020
posted by Pendragon at 7:36 AM on July 25, 2020
I would need a Series X only if Special Circumstances dictated it.
posted by nickggully at 8:14 AM on July 25, 2020 [11 favorites]
posted by nickggully at 8:14 AM on July 25, 2020 [11 favorites]
I feel some kind of way about that STALKER 2 teaser. Theres no way it can be real, but there it is. And theres no way it can be the STALKER I want in 2020, in a Microsoft show, but still… some say theres a place that grants wishes in the centre of The Zone.
posted by rodlymight at 8:22 AM on July 25, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by rodlymight at 8:22 AM on July 25, 2020 [3 favorites]
Not really that related but a rant: I bought Forza 7 this week because it had a local track in it that I've always wanted to drive. Real-life or video game, didn't matter. Bought it for Windows 10 in the Microsoft Store, as that appears to be the only way to do so for PC. It wouldn't install. Turns out Microsoft sets an arbitrary limit of 10 devices that you can have on your Microsoft account that access the Microsoft Store. Being an avid computer nerd I have multiple PCs and laptops to the point where I had maxed out my 10 devices. At this point I could have deleted some older devices and made it work but I was so mad I just told them to get fucked on principle, and got a refund. At least they gave me that. Bastards.
posted by glonous keming at 8:22 AM on July 25, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by glonous keming at 8:22 AM on July 25, 2020 [1 favorite]
That Halo Infinite demo, though. I guess 5 was enough of a narrative trainwreck that they decided grafting Halo 4 onto Halo Wars and calling it a "spiritual reboot" was the way to go, but geez. That looks like a beautiful mess.
posted by mhoye at 8:43 AM on July 25, 2020
posted by mhoye at 8:43 AM on July 25, 2020
Everyone seems to be focusing on the Halo Infinite trailer (and it indeed looked alarmingly bad, especially the facial animation on the big bad guy). The bigger issue to me is that they showed trailers for games that are either previously announced crossgen titles or are far in the future. I'm not sure why someone is going to buy this thing in November, and not just wait.
Now, with prior consoles this has also been the case, but Microsoft's lack of big exclusives was also an issue looking back at the past several years of XB1, so this drought has gotten really bad. They did buy a bunch of studios, but.. these things take time. I wouldn't be shocked if Avowed, for example, releases sometime in the 2023-24 time frame.
posted by selfnoise at 9:32 AM on July 25, 2020
Now, with prior consoles this has also been the case, but Microsoft's lack of big exclusives was also an issue looking back at the past several years of XB1, so this drought has gotten really bad. They did buy a bunch of studios, but.. these things take time. I wouldn't be shocked if Avowed, for example, releases sometime in the 2023-24 time frame.
posted by selfnoise at 9:32 AM on July 25, 2020
ROU You Made Me Think They'd Made A Culture Game For A Second And I'm Not Best Pleased
posted by lucidium at 9:39 AM on July 25, 2020 [31 favorites]
posted by lucidium at 9:39 AM on July 25, 2020 [31 favorites]
The halo is actually a Ring and Master Chief is an SC agent trying to stop an Aggressive Hegemonising Swarm Object.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 9:53 AM on July 25, 2020 [7 favorites]
posted by EndsOfInvention at 9:53 AM on July 25, 2020 [7 favorites]
Everwild has some cool visuals, but we still don't even know what kind of game it is, do we?
posted by I-Write-Essays at 10:11 AM on July 25, 2020
posted by I-Write-Essays at 10:11 AM on July 25, 2020
From the promo video it doesn't sound like Rare does either.
posted by selfnoise at 10:40 AM on July 25, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by selfnoise at 10:40 AM on July 25, 2020 [1 favorite]
ROU You Made Me Think They'd Made A Culture Game For A Second And I'm Not Best Pleased
5) [broadcast Mclear, received @n4.28.855.01.]: *xGCU Fate Amenable To Change, OGSV Ethics Gradient & *broadcast*: Ref. 3 previous compacs & precursor broadcast
Panic over. I misinterpreted.
It's a Microsoft press release.
Ho hum. Sorry. Full Internal Report to follow immediately Factor code.
posted by abulafa at 11:01 AM on July 25, 2020 [18 favorites]
5) [broadcast Mclear, received @n4.28.855.01.]: *xGCU Fate Amenable To Change, OGSV Ethics Gradient & *broadcast*: Ref. 3 previous compacs & precursor broadcast
Panic over. I misinterpreted.
It's a Microsoft press release.
Ho hum. Sorry. Full Internal Report to follow immediately Factor code.
posted by abulafa at 11:01 AM on July 25, 2020 [18 favorites]
What the fuck is up with Ethnic Sidekick's accent?
Also, there should be a law that every game ad has to be at least 50% ACTUAL game-play footage. I don't give a forking shirt about cool intros and cut scenes if the game-play sucks.
posted by Saxon Kane at 11:53 AM on July 25, 2020 [2 favorites]
Also, there should be a law that every game ad has to be at least 50% ACTUAL game-play footage. I don't give a forking shirt about cool intros and cut scenes if the game-play sucks.
posted by Saxon Kane at 11:53 AM on July 25, 2020 [2 favorites]
(that second part was in reference to some of the other trailers, not the Halo one)
posted by Saxon Kane at 11:54 AM on July 25, 2020
posted by Saxon Kane at 11:54 AM on July 25, 2020
Unsurprisingly, Digital Foundry (SLYT) does a good job of calmly dissecting the showing and why it was a bit of a mess.
posted by selfnoise at 1:33 PM on July 25, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by selfnoise at 1:33 PM on July 25, 2020 [1 favorite]
Putting super fancy graphics on game mechanics that have to be playable on far lower spec machines means that it's hard to get too exciting - the Sony approach of experimenting with genuinely new stuff and accepting it's ps5 exclusive is a lot more interesting to me.
posted by jaduncan at 1:42 PM on July 25, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by jaduncan at 1:42 PM on July 25, 2020 [1 favorite]
I'm actually quite into that Halo trailer, especially with the new headcannon established by EndsOfInvention. Halo 4 bounced me out of the series entirely, so I don't know what's happened in the interim, but that intro and demo felt like a very deliberate nod to Halo CE, and it looks like it's doing all of the core things I liked about Halo in incrementally improved ways.
Specifically: enemies with personalities and different strengths and weaknesses, short and varied fights that are more like puzzles than free for alls, a sidekick relationship that isn't just the lead writer having feels about their kids, an enemy relationship that actually exists, curious environmental storytelling, and huge attention to sound design and animation detail in terms of telegraphing strategic information.
I'm here for the novel ideas and innovative experiences too, but I feel like I can get that from Nintendo and Sony. If Microsoft wants to throw a bit of modern processing power at pushing the AI and variety of great games from twenty years ago, I'm happy with that in the same way I'm happy to see high def versions of old favourite films.
posted by lucidium at 2:34 PM on July 25, 2020
Specifically: enemies with personalities and different strengths and weaknesses, short and varied fights that are more like puzzles than free for alls, a sidekick relationship that isn't just the lead writer having feels about their kids, an enemy relationship that actually exists, curious environmental storytelling, and huge attention to sound design and animation detail in terms of telegraphing strategic information.
I'm here for the novel ideas and innovative experiences too, but I feel like I can get that from Nintendo and Sony. If Microsoft wants to throw a bit of modern processing power at pushing the AI and variety of great games from twenty years ago, I'm happy with that in the same way I'm happy to see high def versions of old favourite films.
posted by lucidium at 2:34 PM on July 25, 2020
Putting super fancy graphics on game mechanics that have to be playable on far lower spec machines means that it's hard to get too exciting
I lost a lot of interest in the early stages of this generation when MS announced their intention to cross-generation everything for a few years. Now everything, or at least everything MS has a hand in, is gonna have to perform well-enough on slow-ass jaguar cores and spinning rust. No better AI, no freed-up level design, no more numerous or better NPCs, at least not until they finally bury the XB1.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 3:04 PM on July 25, 2020
I lost a lot of interest in the early stages of this generation when MS announced their intention to cross-generation everything for a few years. Now everything, or at least everything MS has a hand in, is gonna have to perform well-enough on slow-ass jaguar cores and spinning rust. No better AI, no freed-up level design, no more numerous or better NPCs, at least not until they finally bury the XB1.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 3:04 PM on July 25, 2020
...does this mean Psychonauts 2 is a Microsoft exclusive game now? Feh.
posted by egypturnash at 4:03 PM on July 25, 2020
posted by egypturnash at 4:03 PM on July 25, 2020
Microsoft still hasn't made the case for Xbox Series X.
C'mon, this is just a blatant falsehood. There's a zillion press photos. It's a boring black monolith, but they've clearly made the thing.
posted by straight at 4:35 PM on July 25, 2020 [5 favorites]
C'mon, this is just a blatant falsehood. There's a zillion press photos. It's a boring black monolith, but they've clearly made the thing.
posted by straight at 4:35 PM on July 25, 2020 [5 favorites]
...does this mean Psychonauts 2 is a Microsoft exclusive game now? Feh.
No, it seems like MS is only doing that for games that the now-owned studios make going forward. So Psychonauts 2 is still coming to PS4 (I mean, if it ever comes out at all lol), and MS seems to be OK with Obsidian making Outer Worlds DLC for Private Division (although they may be contractually required, not sure).
Now, if you want to talk about some timed exclusive bullshit, let me tell you about Tetris Effect's multiplayer update...
posted by selfnoise at 7:00 PM on July 25, 2020
No, it seems like MS is only doing that for games that the now-owned studios make going forward. So Psychonauts 2 is still coming to PS4 (I mean, if it ever comes out at all lol), and MS seems to be OK with Obsidian making Outer Worlds DLC for Private Division (although they may be contractually required, not sure).
Now, if you want to talk about some timed exclusive bullshit, let me tell you about Tetris Effect's multiplayer update...
posted by selfnoise at 7:00 PM on July 25, 2020
See, to me the interesting thing is that the Xbox console is suddenly and unexpectedly not the Xbox platform. The Xbox platform is the Xbox Game Pass, and the console is a thing you buy if you don’t have a gaming PC.
I mean yes it’s the Netflix of games just like we all feared but Microsoft has done it like Netflix, instead of trying to do the Stadia thing where you stream a laggy game to a tablet. It’s running locally, because right now that’s the best experience, and they sell what sounds like might be a range of boxes optimised for Xbox Game Pass. It’s the Steam Machine, built by a company who knows how to ship things.
Microsoft have cocked things up before, but it’s quite the pitch.
posted by Merus at 7:57 PM on July 25, 2020 [1 favorite]
I mean yes it’s the Netflix of games just like we all feared but Microsoft has done it like Netflix, instead of trying to do the Stadia thing where you stream a laggy game to a tablet. It’s running locally, because right now that’s the best experience, and they sell what sounds like might be a range of boxes optimised for Xbox Game Pass. It’s the Steam Machine, built by a company who knows how to ship things.
Microsoft have cocked things up before, but it’s quite the pitch.
posted by Merus at 7:57 PM on July 25, 2020 [1 favorite]
Don’t be ridiculous they’ve obviously made the case. The case is black and cube like. It covers all the important fragile electronic components with what appears to be plastic while being internally supported by some kind of metal frame. Haven’t made the case!? Are you mad sir or madam? What is this nonsense......
posted by interogative mood at 8:12 PM on July 25, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by interogative mood at 8:12 PM on July 25, 2020 [1 favorite]
The halo is actually a Ring
At the risk of starting the kind of holy war online gaming arguments are known for, surely we can all agree that the Halo is an Orbital...?
posted by The Tensor at 12:06 AM on July 26, 2020 [3 favorites]
At the risk of starting the kind of holy war online gaming arguments are known for, surely we can all agree that the Halo is an Orbital...?
posted by The Tensor at 12:06 AM on July 26, 2020 [3 favorites]
Sorry, my memory must be a little corrupted.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 3:39 AM on July 26, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by EndsOfInvention at 3:39 AM on July 26, 2020 [2 favorites]
I mean yes it’s the Netflix of games just like we all feared but Microsoft has done it like Netflix, instead of trying to do the Stadia thing where you stream a laggy game to a tablet. It’s running locally, because right now that’s the best experience, and they sell what sounds like might be a range of boxes optimised for Xbox Game Pass. It’s the Steam Machine, built by a company who knows how to ship things.
It's the Steam Killer Machine. I would suggest that the PC emphasis is to push Steam out of the mainstream market if possible, and I would suspect that this has been brewing for at least half a decade. The original Steam Machines were essentially a hedge against just this type of MS move.
posted by jaduncan at 5:52 AM on July 26, 2020
It's the Steam Killer Machine. I would suggest that the PC emphasis is to push Steam out of the mainstream market if possible, and I would suspect that this has been brewing for at least half a decade. The original Steam Machines were essentially a hedge against just this type of MS move.
posted by jaduncan at 5:52 AM on July 26, 2020
Data point: I used to be a PC-only gamer, I now own an Xbox One, I am not at all interested in an Xbox Series X, and I am very, very interested in the further development of Game Pass, which I adore. It perfectly fits my frenetic, play-em-all-for-3-hrs-obsess-over-one-for-1000-hours gaming style. Having tested the Stadia, Nvidia, and Shadow streaming services pretty extensively, I prefer the Game Pass hardware model ANY DAY.
And now my music/gaming PC can be just my music PC, and I can use the Xbox for all my video streaming needs? Yes please. Take my money, Microsoft.
posted by nosila at 10:11 AM on July 26, 2020 [1 favorite]
And now my music/gaming PC can be just my music PC, and I can use the Xbox for all my video streaming needs? Yes please. Take my money, Microsoft.
posted by nosila at 10:11 AM on July 26, 2020 [1 favorite]
And re: Everwild -- I kinda don't care about the mechanics of it. It looks SO COO. And don't even talked to me about Avowed. As a Skyrim junkie w/ 3 digits of mods, 4 digits of hours, currently playing Witcher 3 on Game Pass AGAIN to scratch the itch, I could REALLY use a fix.
posted by nosila at 10:14 AM on July 26, 2020
posted by nosila at 10:14 AM on July 26, 2020
I plan to get the Xbox Series X pretty much because of Game Pass. I'll get the PS5 for the exclusives, but I like what Microsoft is doing, and the price is right – especially if you convert Xbox Live Gold. $180 for three years of Game Pass Ultimate? Don't mind if I do!
posted by adrianhon at 12:39 PM on July 26, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by adrianhon at 12:39 PM on July 26, 2020 [1 favorite]
I felt a lot of relief when I found out that STALKER 2 is also coming out for PC. I know it'll be from a MS shop, but the locations felt so familiar and I hope/ suspect that the maps will largely be based on the original (but expanded and seamless).
Really hope they don't dumb down the 'ballistics simulator' aspect of it too much, but I suspect that I'll be disappointed on this front. The best verisimilitude of throwing (all kinds of different!) rounds downfield from a variety of different firearms that I've ever experienced.
Played the fan modded and updated version of 'Shadow of Chernobyl' last year and with the texture upgrades, the game holds up very well for being 13 yo.
posted by porpoise at 3:58 PM on July 26, 2020 [2 favorites]
Really hope they don't dumb down the 'ballistics simulator' aspect of it too much, but I suspect that I'll be disappointed on this front. The best verisimilitude of throwing (all kinds of different!) rounds downfield from a variety of different firearms that I've ever experienced.
Played the fan modded and updated version of 'Shadow of Chernobyl' last year and with the texture upgrades, the game holds up very well for being 13 yo.
posted by porpoise at 3:58 PM on July 26, 2020 [2 favorites]
It's the Steam Killer Machine. I would suggest that the PC emphasis is to push Steam out of the mainstream market if possible, and I would suspect that this has been brewing for at least half a decade.
I'm curious how the economics of that would work out. Xbox Game Pass is not just competing with Steam as a storefront but with the game developers and publishers who are selling their games on Steam. Is Microsoft going to make enough money from subscriptions to be able to pay publishers enough to offset the loss of direct sales?
Netflix is a good deal because I can watch a lot of movies in a month. But I might only play one game for a couple months.
posted by straight at 7:41 PM on July 26, 2020
I'm curious how the economics of that would work out. Xbox Game Pass is not just competing with Steam as a storefront but with the game developers and publishers who are selling their games on Steam. Is Microsoft going to make enough money from subscriptions to be able to pay publishers enough to offset the loss of direct sales?
Netflix is a good deal because I can watch a lot of movies in a month. But I might only play one game for a couple months.
posted by straight at 7:41 PM on July 26, 2020
It's the Steam Killer Machine.
Counterpoint.
I think, because they are microsoft, they're hedging on a few different possibilities all at the same time- one is forcing steam off of PC, one is sony pushing MS out of the console market while steam remains dominant on PC.
posted by fomhar at 9:02 PM on July 26, 2020
Counterpoint.
I think, because they are microsoft, they're hedging on a few different possibilities all at the same time- one is forcing steam off of PC, one is sony pushing MS out of the console market while steam remains dominant on PC.
posted by fomhar at 9:02 PM on July 26, 2020
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posted by Wordshore at 7:14 AM on July 25, 2020 [1 favorite]