850°

Is Xbox Live Dead?

"Sony may have been in the console race for longer than Microsoft has, but one thing is evident: Microsoft know how to create a strong online offering. They’ve been at it for the last ten years, who else could be doing a better job? Well, up until around a two years ago that may well have been the case, but now they’re no longer top dog when it comes to offering consumers value for money. For me, the tables began to turn on the Washington based giant thanks to the arrival of Sony’s PlayStation Plus."

Read Full Story >>
thegamershub.net
NukaCola4172d ago

Well the fact is, LIVE won't die if people play Xbox. You aren't afforded the right to play online for free with MS so you have to pay to enjoy all the features you get on PSN and WiiU for free, at a price dictated by MS. Plus Xbox and COD are one this gen and the kids need their COD and they pay to play.

I do have to say, since you get everything LIVE has for free with PSN, minus a couple technical features like chatting, PS+ is a baller service for anyone who can afford the $50 a year to be in the club.

ShadyDevil4172d ago

One thing that really grinds me is that you used to need XBL Gold to run Netflix and Hulu+ and Amazon. Not sure if you still do, which means if you don't have gold but have a sub for either one of those services you would need AN ADDITIONAL service on Xbox 360 just to stream. Not the case with PSN and their Playstation platforms.

darthv724172d ago

but what is disheartening to me is that netflix has really gone downhill since not reestablishing their deal with Starz.

Al i seem to see is all tv shows now on the new releases. A few newer movies but my interest in the service is really dropping.

I used to use my 360 for netflix streaming but I now use my lg bluray player. So that could be one reason for me to drop gold. Although i do enjoy some multiplayer now and then but not enough to keep the live...alive.

I just reupped my sub for another year. We will see how much i use it this year before I make my decision.

GrandTheftZamboni4172d ago

I don't care about free online gaming and sh*tload of free games with PS+. All I need is cross-game chat and Facebook app. Waa.. Waa...

/s

GuyManDude4172d ago

@darth

Do what I do: get Netflix for one month, watch everything there is to watch, cancel for two, resin for one, cancel for two.

$32/year, still get to watch everything.

BattleAxe4172d ago

Optional PS+ with lots and lots of free games and themes > Mandatory LIVE with no free games and maybe the odd free theme.

Play Beyond!
Make Believe!
Playstation!

Blacktric4172d ago

You also need to be a Gold member to be able to use some ingame services. For instance, you can't redeem SHIFT codes for Borderlands 2 if you don't have a Gold account.

saoco4172d ago

@ Blacktric,

what!!! that's just stupid. no, that's too far.

pixelsword4172d ago

Far from dead...

...far from cheap also.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 4172d ago
Elwenil4172d ago

I'm as big of a Sony fan as anyone but taking a look at all the people on Xbox Live playing games, there is no way I could ever claim it was "dead". I may not agree with why people pay for Live, but I can't deny that there are a lot of people on it. With all those people, I don't see how anyone could say it's dead.

BattleTorn4172d ago (Edited 4172d ago )

Roughly about eqaul numbers play on XboxLive vs PSN, no?

At least the online-activity for more AAA games are equal, if not sometimes more (see:COD), on Xbox Live.

caseh4172d ago

@Elwenil

Agreed, all the times i've heard 'x is dead' or 'x is dying' yet you will find online communities for nearly any game that has ever had one still in effect.

MSG4 (MGO) is a good example of a game thats apparently dead, logged in the other day for a blast. 4 Years on and I still had no problems getting a game.

I don't even own an Xbox and i'm not naive enough to believe LIVE is dying, its quite a laughable statement really.

Staircase4172d ago (Edited 4172d ago )

@caseh

Considering the Metal Gear Online servers closed in June, I really doubt that.

CandyCaptain4172d ago

@caseh It's dead now, as they patched it out of the game. At least we got trophies out of that. <.<'

caseh4172d ago

@Staircase

I may have exagerated when I said the other day but people were saying it was dead within the first year.

4 years later and it still had an active community right up to the point where the servers closed.

JellyJelly4172d ago

@BattleTorn - Sony do not release numbers on their PSN activity. If you have a source for it please share. All they release is their total number of users, which include PSP, Vita and PC users, as well as multiple accounts.

From what I've read it seems much harder finding people to play with on PSN, sometimes even when it comes to exclusive games. That's something you rarely experience on Xbox Live.

MaxXAttaxX4172d ago (Edited 4172d ago )

Those are very high numbers on both consoles.
BOTH communities are large.

No one is saying that it's literally "dead".

andibandit4172d ago (Edited 4172d ago )

At the moment the Communities are fairly equal in COD on both systems, with the xbox having around 700k online users at peak hours and the PS3 having around 600k.
I expect the Xbox community to distance itself further since alot of people like me, spent their money on Halo 4 this month and are dying to try out BO2 when i get some money between my hands next month. That and the fact the PS3 Version is to say it mildly, temporarily Fu... Up.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 4172d ago
BattleTorn4172d ago

"minus a couple technical features like chatting,"

I nearly split my gut. LMAO.

""minus a couple technical features" ... "like chatting"

BAHAHAHA. Do you know how much I am in a Party-Chat? More than I game! (cause I enter one before I launch a game, or remain in one while changing games)

If I wanted to talk to a friend, who was in-game, on PSN - I'd have to call him!

calis4172d ago

wow...really. You'd have to call him? With, like, a real phone?

HammadTheBeast4172d ago

I can pay $50 for a Skype plan, or use it for free. What's your point?

Shepherd 2144172d ago

Last night me, playing Halo 4, and two other good friends playing Zone of the Enders HD and Madden 13 were all in a party chat talking about how badass Skyfall was and other things for hours. Me being in my mid 20s now and with the few friends anymore that I rarely get to see, Party Chat is pretty crucial for me. You can't do what I just described on PS3, we would all have to compromise on heading to Home or all 3 or 4 of us to be in the same game, which gets annoying at times. Sometimes I just feel like relaxing and not playing anything while I chat while everyone else bitches at black ops 2 and talks to me simultaneously.

Not saying PSN+ is inferior, but there are plenty here that mock Party chat and say it's not that great. To me and hundreds of thousands of others, it is. That's all I want to point out.

HSx94172d ago

Seriously, I use Party Chat so much it's like second nature. It's a pretty big feature if you ask me.

Elwenil4172d ago

@Shepherd214,

Honestly, that sounds like a nightmare to me. My background is mostly PC gaming and we use Teamspeak or Ventrilo which allows anyone to be doing anything while in chat but it always drove me nuts having someone not in the game or in a different game on comms. The idea that half my team can be in a chat with people talking about god knows what instead of coordinating in the game is something I want no part of and many clans I have seen have similar rules.

Army_of_Darkness4172d ago

Using a real phone is sooooo 90's:-) lol!

DarthJay4172d ago (Edited 4172d ago )

People claiming that a phone is the answer don't get the point. Party chat is amazing, and if it ever comes to PS4, I guarantee you will all wonder how you ever gamed without it and guaranteed be the first singing the praises.

kreate4172d ago (Edited 4172d ago )

@darthjay

That's Cuz some ppl actually do want it while the rest of the gamers would be happy Cuz its a single blow to shut the mouth or fingers of the Xbox fanboys claiming a cross game chatting feature is worth the money.

Ps3 has cross game chat. Its text activated while Xbox live is voice activated.

Wtf? Psn has cross game chat? I must be nuts huh?

EDIT: if its just "party chat" ps3 has it in the form of both text and voice up to 16 ppl.

MaxXAttaxX4172d ago

Seriously, you guys are trying too hard.

PS Vita offers Party-chat for free. Up next PS4.

It's time to stop claiming that party-chat is worth $60 every year.

MRMagoo1234172d ago (Edited 4172d ago )

The last thing i want when trying to strategise with a team is other ppl in chat talking about a tv show they watched last night or the game they are playing, trying to say that is a good idea is beyond a joke.

Also whats up with everyone saying the games are on loan i have 4 games from ps+ and i only got them during the free time they gave me to try it and the games still work months on ??

pixelsword4172d ago

Some people say using a phone is no bother.

Other people say getting up to change a disc is no bother.

Different Strokes for different folks.

Gaming_Guru4172d ago

The PlayStation 3 does have cross game game, but it's in a text message format up to 16 people with three chat room up at once, making that 48 people at once.

To be honest I don't really use cross game chat especially playing online because it defeats the purpose. I think it's an overly hyped feature, like backwards compatibility, the majority will most likely not use it. Microsoft even removed that feature for Netflix without any complaints.

MysticStrummer4172d ago

I honestly wouldn't use cross game chat. I ignore psn text messages and my phone when I game. For single player stuff I want to be immersed in the world as much as possible. For multiplayer I want to talk about the same game to people who are playing the same game. If I want to "chat" I get in a party chat outside a game, but otherwise my mic is used for strategy and the occasional trash talking when I'm doing well.

OT - Hell no XBL isn't dead. That's just stupid. Yet another classic N4G headline that's designed to get hits. I wish people would do what I do and refuse to play along with this crap. If it didn't work to get hits it would go away or at least become much less frequent.

Shepherd 2144172d ago

Elwenil

Okay? Maybe it's a nightmare for you but it's a blessing for me.

It's the games fault if they don't require you to exit party chat to talk to teammates. CS GO requires you exit party chat to play, so does Dark Souls and certain COD playlists. If people wanna stay in party chat and not talk to you in game then they aren't as serious about the match as you anyway and it never mattered to begin with.

You don't need to communicate while playing single player madden or FFA halo 4 anyway so why not join a party chat with someone dicking around in AC3 and talk about how michael bay is F-ing up TMNT?

cooperdnizzle4171d ago

Cool story man. The main thing is most people who are gamers are in fact gamers, they don't want to chat like a little girl on a phone , they want to play there game end of story. gaming is about gaming, get a phone..

BitbyDeath4171d ago

@Sherperd, i can see where your coming from, i personally wouldn't use it but can understand why others would.

The bigger question is if PSN get it free on PS4 (as Vita has it now) then don't you think MS should stop charging?

Also if Sony can offer it for free then don't you think MS should not be charging right now as well?

+ Show (14) more repliesLast reply 4171d ago
shutUpAndTakeMyMoney4172d ago (Edited 4172d ago )

I hope sony does big things with gaikai.

They are using their new moneys to support it.
http://www.egmnow.com/artic...

Next gen I will be a psn & still be a steam user. great times.

MS is the closest to being like apple out of the three companies. imo.

Hell they compete with apple also.

lol I wish steam tried to charge for multi-player. lol it would have one user per day, 80 petitions and would get hacked in the same day.

Xbox users are a weird bunch.

aquamala4172d ago

Cloud saves are not free on psn

nukeitall4172d ago

Everybody keeps telling me how PSN is sooo much better, yet it is so much harder to schedule a game with my friends. Especially friends I don't communicate with outside of the online gaming community.

How the heck does PSN people schedule a game?

On XBL, I jump in to the party and when a spot opens up or my friends finish a game, they let me know and I jump in. That makes online gaming with friends sooo much easier.

Can't do that on PSN, so I think most people on par feature wise while PSN gives better value really doesn't use XBL for online gaming *with* their friends.

Nitrowolf24172d ago

"On XBL, I jump in to the party and when a spot opens up or my friends finish a game, they let me know and I jump in. That makes online gaming with friends sooo much easier."

Is that like a feature??
IDK , don't own Xox but I typically just PM them or invite them to a group chat (works in-game).

insomnium24172d ago

LOL you said "jump in" twice.

MRMagoo1234172d ago

i find it very easy to get friends together on the ps3 , if you think its a challenge maybe you should stick to the xbox lol.

MysticStrummer4172d ago

On PSN your friends can let you know when a spot opens with a text, so what you described can in fact be done on PSN.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 4172d ago
ALLWRONG4172d ago

But you don't get all the same features on PSN.

JimmyDanger4172d ago

One thing people never seem to mention about LIVE is that (with the exception of older EA games because they insist on running their own servers) - any game for 360 I've bought - I can play online, regardless of age.

If I pick up any random old launch title - and I have a friend who has it too, and we want to play online together - no worries. A game of ChromeHounds anyone (a 3rd party game that came out 6 years ago)? Not a problem. A game of Motorstorm Pacific Rift (a 1st party game that came out 4 years ago) - out of luck, grab a black texta and cross that "online multiplayer" checkpoint off the back of the case.

That's another network maintenance/infrastructure thing that makes the $5 a month worth it to me. And as someone with widely varied taste in games, who is prone to nostalgia on occassion - it suits me.

Not to say PS+ isn't a great service - just putting it out there.

DragonKnight4172d ago

That's probably a case of P2P servers vs Dedicated servers. It's a known fact that Live games typically use P2P more than Dedicated and vice versa for PSN. I don't know, I'd rather have the less lag and better stability myself.

killerhog4172d ago

Hey you wanna play phantasy star universe? Oh... The servers were shut down. Guess ill play resistance: fall of man (a game that came out 6 years ago).

Also, last time I checked, Ms didn't have many genres the ps3 does. Compete with LBP? Nope. Compete with god of war? Nope. Compete with mod nation racers? Nope. So you must have a very small diverse taste in games. Or do you mean you have a widely varied taste in shooters? Cause that's was sells the most and releases the most on the 360.

Also, a lot of the old classic games from the past, can also be bought on the ps3. Yeah Xbox has some exclusive oldies, but so does the ps3.

So to end this, I'm not saying the 360/XBL is a bad service, but just putting it out there.

JimmyDanger4171d ago

@killerhog

I've got kart racers and platformers. Those genres aren't exclusive to Sony man.

I believe Sony has more first party shooters than MS anyway this gen.

NeverEnding19894172d ago (Edited 4172d ago )

I think PS+ is a great service and is forcing Microsoft to step their game up next gen.

That being said, online gaming isn't the same without party chat. I went almost a year without a PS3 (it broke, wasn't paying $150 to fix it). It was only after I returned to PSN that I realized how critical Live is to any multiplayer .

Let me give this example. I don't have facebook, I use Live as a social networking tool. I was playing through Fallout: NV a few months back for the 2nd time and spent nearly 2hrs one night playing and catching up with a friend from high school who now lives 9 hours away. I had laready played through the game and didn't need to pay attention to listen to every conversation. I could NEVER picture myself doing this over PSN, where it seems like SONY forces you to stay away from multiplayer.

PS+ is better in terms of value, but Xbox Live is far and away the better service.

ATi_Elite4172d ago (Edited 4172d ago )

Blah hah ha hha hah ha ha funniest thing I heard all year!!!!

Xbox Live is FREE MONEY for Microsoft! It will NEVER DIE!!!

.......and guess what? Next Gen You Sony Lovers will have to pay a Fee too just to play online!

Sony is losing money from it's other business ventures and watching MS make all that FREE Money from Xbox Live has got to have Sony Execs scratching their heads!

Even with the Fee Xbox Gamers were online more than PS3 owners! Xbox Live = FREE Money for MS!

SamPao4172d ago

If you think Sony's going to charge next gen you must be out of your mind.
The vita is out, it has crossgamechat, guess how much you have to pay... Zero.

MasterCornholio4172d ago

And for one subscription we have access to plus on 2 platforms.

The other day I downloaded Chronosphere and Uncharted on my Vita. Plus ever since I got plus I have a collection of over 10 PS3 games for free.

Xbox live might be better in some aspects but plus provides a lot more value with the extra content. Like Kaz said PlayStation plus was created with the gamers in mind.

Motorola RAZR i

Motorola RAZR i

killerhog4172d ago

Yeah, I wouldn't say there's more people playing online on the 360, as majority only play shooters on the 360. You have to include games of other genres that sell more and have a bigger community on the ps3. Examples would be grand turismo (racing), tekken (fighting), mmo's (ms xbox 360 doesn't have any), create play and share (Ms doesn't have any), you get the point?

Sony is also making free money of off Ps Home, but you blind individuals declare that "dead" then add in Ps+ etc..

shempo4172d ago

die or not fact is ps+ is way better than live for the last 2years get over it

4172d ago
Anon19744171d ago

Ridiculous title. Of course XBL isn't "dead". If anything, it's thriving and guess what? It can do that even if a competitor also offers a similar service. Imagine that. Two products co-existing without one killing off the other. Who knew?

+ Show (10) more repliesLast reply 4171d ago
ShadyDevil4172d ago

Although I do agree slightly, because PSN+ is a better service, it is a service though. You essentially REQUIRE XBOX LIVE to properly run your 360. However it does give back with their recently booming REWARDS program. Granted it doesnt give full $60, $40, $20 stuff for free like PSN+ does...or massive discounts but it still gives slight amounts back.

Although PSN+ is a superior service than XBL (Gold) I wouldnt say XBL is dead since the fanbase is still astronomical.

GillHarrison4172d ago

I love PSN+, but I still perfer Xbox Live only because of the party system.

WetN00dle694172d ago

And the a stable connection AND No Maintenance!
Just those two features alone make it XBL>SEN.

DragonKnight4172d ago

"And the a stable connection AND No Maintenance!
Just those two features alone make it XBL>SEN."

What? You can't be serious. I think you forgot the /s when you said "stable connection" and "no maintenance."

Yeah, that must be it.

NYC_Gamer4172d ago

How is it dead?millions of gamers are paid members.

ShadyDevil4172d ago (Edited 4172d ago )

It was a metaphorical title..read the article. It compares Xbox Live and Xbox Live Gold to PSN+ what they offer and such. PSN+ is a better service in the end as it straight up gives free games. for $60, you get your moneys worth ($60 a year) in the first month. Not to mention discounts, betas, first dibs on demos and certain releases and Day 1 Digital. Oh and cloud save storage (which is also offered on Xbox Live Gold)

NYC_Gamer4172d ago

100% agree,PSN+ is the better service value wise because of all the discounts and games they pass out to members...

Ben_Grimm4172d ago

PSN+ has Live beat when it comes to offering games. But everything else you mentioned like demos (which is standard), discounts and digital DL's are offered the same on Live.

SonyStyled4172d ago

i think PS+ is $50 a year, $17.99 for 3 months

FunAndGun4172d ago

It is Playstation Plus

PS+

-----

There is no Playstation Network Plus

There is no PSN+

Summons754172d ago

Psn+ dose not give free games. Stop paying for the subscription and see how "free" they truly are.

Not saying either is better I refuse to pay for both but ps+ is a bunch of false advertisement.

Supreme Entity4172d ago

"Psn+ dose not give free games. Stop paying for the subscription and see how "free" they truly are.

Not saying either is better I refuse to pay for both but ps+ is a bunch of false advertisement."

Yeah, stop paying for the Xbox Live Subscription and see how fast your multiplayer gets taken away for the game you rightfully PAID for. I've been with Xbox for 7 years, but I woke the **** up and got tired of paying for access to my multiplayer games that I paid full price for.

You don't understand that there are a lot of naive people out there, not just hardcore gamers that don't know any better, and purchase the Xbox thinking they get Netflix, Hulu, HBO Go, etc once they unpack the system and set it up. Then they get pissed off when they see they have to pay another fee to access all of that when they're already have a subscription to each service.

CraigandDayDay4172d ago

But that's just like how when you stop paying for Netflix, you don't get to keep watching videos on it.

LOL

Or maybe stop paying for your cable or satellite. I bet you can't watch your tv shows anymore. I bet ya. haha

SixZeroFour4172d ago

@supremeentity not fully disagreeing with you but multiplayer isnt taken away from you if you stop paying for gold subscription, ONLINE multiplayer is, you are still technically still able to play splitscreen and via lan party (i think, havent done that since halo 2)

Roccetarius4172d ago

You mean games that you don't get to keep if you unsub? Same thing happens on Live, you lose the features.

Gotta love these ''service wars''.

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 4172d ago
NastyLeftHook04172d ago

how to make a article on n4g? just ask a question and make the title controversial and or/stupid.

what is going to be the goty?
is far cry really good?
is ps3 dead?
is psn dead? is this or that dead?
why this sucks
why so and so in the gaming industry is stupid.
ect
ect

but then again you get your reviews all in one convenient place here on n4g amongst all of (imo) the bs around here.

Starfox8114172d ago

The title did its job of hooking you in though. Give the article a read before you judge. Well made points.

NastyLeftHook04172d ago

it may have hooked me but it did not catch me.

-1 for this site.

linkratos4172d ago

It probably only hooked in people who dislike Xbox. If the title was used for something Sony related in a similar way people would be losing their shit. I have seen this happen many times.

aviator1894172d ago

I understand the article and gave it a good read and there are some valid points, but another title should have been used, imo.

Maybe something like: "psn+ extends reach and appeal over former crowned opponent live." - something like that but shorter..

mcstorm4172d ago

I agree too. But xbox live is far from dead as it offers things psn dose not offer and the xbox was made around live not the other way round like psn.

Also i find live a better online experience than psn. Yes paying £40 a year for free rent of games is a good idea but for me this dont work as i buy games i want on day one.

We are all different and have different needs. For me live fits my needs better than psn so thats the one i pay for.

I do expect ms to change live alittle when the next xbox comes along but i also expect sony to change psn next gen to.

SonyStyled4172d ago

PS+ offers launch day free releases. ratchet and clank all 4 one for example...

Show all comments (187)
250°

Microsoft Seemingly Closes Bethesda France

As part of its plans to cut 1,900 jobs, Microsoft has reportedly shut down operations at Bethesda France, letting go roughly 15 people

Read Full Story >>
insider-gaming.com
Hereandthere12h ago

Microsoft should have left them stay 3rd party

GamerRN9h ago

If they are let go, they can be whatever they want. They ARE 3rd party now... 🤦

Barlos7h ago

Yeah, they're also jobless.

GamerRN10m ago

They can form a company if they want, they are just as jobless as if "Microsoft had left them as 3rd party".

peppeaccardo1h ago

"MIcrosoft leaves Bethesda do what they know how to do best" ... close! Oh the irony ....
(Citation from a week old article)

PassNextquestion11h ago(Edited 11h ago)

Bethesda France was made up of roughly 15 people... they couldn't of being doing much

Bethesda France mainly did publishing and marketing within the region

blacktiger9h ago

that's a shame for you to say that, i'm sure Elite loves hearing what you just said.

Profchaos11h ago(Edited 11h ago)

Bethesda France focused on publishing and marketing in the region. And 15 people lost their jobs as part of the closure.

I wonder if this is part of Microsoft's strategy to abandoned physical media or possibly gamepass advertising makes their roles redundant you don't need to market a game as hard when the majority of players get the game as part of a sub which already promoted upcoming games

Tacoboto11h ago

It's France too, there's a high likelihood only 1-2 people on the team even had an Xbox.

Profchaos10h ago

Possibly guven all the leaks we know the Xbox brand is really struggling in the region.

Yi-Long8h ago

Well, if your consoles and games are barely found in any stores any more, of course you're gonna struggle finding consumers ...

XiNatsuDragnel10h ago

Tbh Microsoft I think Bethesda being 3rd party same with Activision would probably more competitive than thus scenario imo

Profchaos8h ago(Edited 8h ago)

I think it would have been better for all parties really especially gamers

TheColbertinator9h ago

The recently purchased Activision French offices might take over all the licensing and marketing for Microsoft in France from now on.

Show all comments (17)
120°

Sony Could Increase Your Game's Difficulty If It Sees You Complain About It

Sony has recently published a new patent that wants to dynamically handle the games' difficulty and gameplay based on the player's emotions.

jznrpg13h ago

This is something I might use. Sometimes I play some good games but they don’t have difficulty option and are a little too easy.

Profchaos12h ago

Souls games will be like that players struggling make it harder

PassNextquestion11h ago(Edited 11h ago)

I think if used correctly it could work well

jambola7h ago

cool idea
cool idea for horror games especially
the way it's explained here sounds like it could never be forced hopefully, so that's ok with me

Show all comments (7)
280°

Xbox's Preservation Step Sets A Much-Needed Example, Especially For Nintendo

Hanzla from eXputer inquires: "If Xbox can care about preserving its games and legacy, what exactly is wrong with Nintendo, trying to kill game preservation single-handedly?"

purple10111d ago

Ahh yes the good old game preservation of saving all your games to a removable hhd on the Xbox 360, taking it round your mates house, setting up multiple tvs to
Be met with “save data corrupted, please re download”

Or how about removing 360 games
From the store
, download them now or else, and, better hope to god that save data doesn’t corrupt, or it’s lost for ever

Nice one ☝️

Zeref11d ago

It's better than what Nintendo and Playstation is doing. It might not be perfect but at least they are TRYING. Unlike the others.

DarXyde10d ago

Trying? Take off the blinders for a moment, mate.

1. A failure to preserve games is just that: a failure to preserve games. Don't try to sugarcoat it: NO ONE is doing it properly. Better than awful is nothing to write home about.

2. At the time of this comment, isn't it the case that you need an internet connection to play Xbox games even if you buy physical discs that are hardly in circulation anymore? I don't have a Series X and I can't verify, but I think that is correct. I'm fairly certain you can at least play PS5 games at version 1.0 (not much of a win really when many games require day one patches). I think Microsoft's all digital, licensing approach is by far more aggressive than anyone else's. They really try to push you to game pass where you lose your entire library by umm.... Skipping a month of payments.

I don't think anyone is doing it right whatsoever. Don't get me started on Nintendo, who goes after anyone looking to preserve their games better than they ever would with extreme litigation.

Don't be a simp for any of these companies. Get it together.

PhillyDonJawn10d ago (Edited 10d ago )

@DarX never speak on Xbox again. You lost all credibility with your internet connection comment. Smh you have 0 clue and misinformed yet speaking on something you don't no squat about.

Einhander197210d ago

What has Sony done exactly? You guys keep deflecting to Sony but I am not actually seeing any results, and ai am certain nothing that you can come up with even comes close to what Microsoft has done and what they have tried and failed to do, like tie all your disks to your account on xbone.

Microsoft removed their whole indie section when they moved to the xbone because they were going to only allow games on the service that came from a publisher, id@xbox started after xbone launched and it only exists because Sony embraced indie and Microsoft was forced to cancel their plans and reverse course.

And every single game that was part of games for windows live including disk games (I have gta 4 on disk that won't work) so hundreds of games that use that DRM no longer work unless the company themselves patched it out which of course very few did.

MrBaskerville10d ago

Not trying. Tried. they killed of the backcomp program years ago. They set something up again, but sounds like it's more of an attempt to save the current library on whatever they are planning next. With luck they save everything and more, but let's see. I could see them killing off parts of the OG xbox and 360 libraries. Can't imagine that they would allow us to play Forza 5-7 in the future.

With that said, I do like what they've done and really wish they could have done more.

shinoff218310d ago

Zeref

So killing off physical media is trying what exactly. Ms don't really give a fk if you think they do your kidding yourself.

Profchaos10d ago

They are not trying this team is established for forward compatability the team is. It interested in preserving Xbox or 360 games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 10d ago
isarai11d ago

Is that why Hellblade 2 is digital only?

Zeref11d ago

Just because it's digital only doesn't mean you can't preserve it. Just put it on an external and you have the exact same functionality of what a disc does.

MrNinosan11d ago

Guess you're trolling, but if you actually think that's how it works, I'd recommend buying some braincells.

mkis00710d ago (Edited 10d ago )

Volitile vs nonvolitile data. A disc will not corrupt either. A drive can be corrupted.

Einhander197211d ago

This is just a scammy PR move to distract from the fact they are going digital only and trying to push streaming and subscriptions only.

No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft.

Without discs there is no preservation, preservation can't be done by the rights holders it can only be done by the consumers, anything else is a lie.

11d ago Replies(3)
Einhander197211d ago

Anyone remember xblig which Microsoft removed their whole 360 indie section removing hundreds of games from people?

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Zeref11d ago

Do you know you can put your games on an external and preserve them that way? There are no benefits to discs. ZERO. Idk why some of you are still obsessed with them.

DarXyde10d ago

Because games like Persona 5 exist. It's STILL V1.00. On Playstation, that's a win because 1.00 is installed on the disc—no need to download anything.

If a game does not require any updates, it's all on the disc.

Extremely low bar in the modern era, of course. It's not much of a win by any stretch.

But for now, physical media does have a purpose, at least on Playstation.

Einhander197210d ago

That is factually not how game licensing works, try plugging your hard drive into someone else xbox, It's not going to work, and it won't work if the licensing servers ever go down.

Einhander197210d ago

Anyone remember games for windows live.

I have around a dozen games, some on Steam itself that will not work because Microsoft shut off the licensing servers.

BehindTheRows10d ago (Edited 10d ago )

I do. I STILL have games (Gears of War being the big one) I cannot access because Games for Windows LIVE is total garbage and no one has held Microsoft accountable.

Zeref10d ago (Edited 10d ago )

You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership.

Chevalier10d ago

"You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership."

Damn how many times do people got to explain your idiocy to you? You can take a copy of Persona 5 like someone used as an example and play that game on ANY console WITHOUT logging in which means I can lend the game to a friend without internet and they can play my game. Can you lend your hard drive to anyone without logging in for them to play? NOPE. That is a huge difference and if you think otherwise then sorry you're an idiot.

Tacoboto10d ago

"No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft."

Ubisoft is literally erasing games people bought from their libraries... My PS1-3 discs are useless on modern hardware. Nintendo's re-published and resold almost their entire Wii U library, and the eShop is completely dead with no BC mechanism in the Switch software. Microsoft publishes everything they make today day one on Steam and Xbox/Windows. Sony only brings to PC the titles they think you might want some years later and Nintendo won't even design a functional long-lasting joystick.

You're absolutely trolling and not serious if you think Microsoft today is the worst offender.

shinoff218310d ago

Yay steam

Not everyone fks with computers though. The disc is still the best way as a console player. Period.

Tacoboto10d ago

How do Sony and Nintendo feel about these discs from 2001-2013?

Don't be stupid, you know Xbox is the best at this today.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 10d ago
Hofstaderman11d ago

Nobody wants this. Sales or the lack of it in the case of XBOX is very telling. I wonder how the adorably all digital series X will fare. Adorably dismal perhaps?

crazyCoconuts10d ago

Only time will tell, but for from someone like me suspecting that Xbox is trying to gracefully exit the console market, that "forward compatibility" team is trying to get Xbox games playing on Windows PCs. I mean, it's nice that they're not planning on exiting with a "enjoy your games while the hardware still works" message, so that's nice. They still have a brand to protect via Microsoft so probably feel obligated to have a better exit strategy.

Xeofate10d ago (Edited 10d ago )

That is not their plan, their plan is to transfer users accounts to the cloud.

Phil Spencer himself said as much a few months back, plans could have changed but I think people are reading way too much into one statement where Phil said he would allow Epic on xbox because he wants to be able to sell xbox games directly on other platforms. Aka, instead of selling Sea of Thives through PSN he wants to have an xbox store to sell his games on PlayStation without giving PlayStation any money.

Again, it's extremely unlikely that Phil plans to put PC on xbox and licensing would prevent them from just giving out other publishers games purchased on xbox copies of thier games on PC, Microsoft does not own their games.

crazyCoconuts9d ago

The thing that doesn't align with the cloud strategy is the giving up on exclusives. You'd still need strong exclusives for cloud streaming - it's still a "platform" , just with a lower upfront hardware investment. I feel like they've learned what PS learned with PSNow long ago. We're not ready to stream games and it's only gonna lose them money to try at this point

FinalFantasyFanatic10d ago

I would love that, I'd buy up some of the Xbox games if they could run on PC, like the Rare Replay, Lost Odyssey and Dead or Alive Ultimate, probably a pipe dream though.

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