Microsoft Needs to Take D4 More Seriously

Thanks to constant mistreatment from Microsoft, it seems that D4 may suffer a similar fate as Shenmue.

[ValKilmer]

I feel like Microsoft is treating this game like their ginger stepchild.

[Bansai]

Finished it recently, great game, shame we'll have to wait god knows how long for next episode.

I also agree with the title 100% - game didn't really got the media coverage and marketing it deserved

[nicksetzer1]

No question, this game deserved much better marketing. It was absolutely phenomenal IMO. Hopefully "ori" and "inside" get a bit more hype from MS.

[DarkAstronaut]

The opinion pieces this site writes are terrible. Microsoft is giving D4 away for free with GWG.

5 seconds of research wouldn't hurt, if people are going to play journalist.

[ValKilmer]

Taking time to actually read the articles you deem "terrible" would also help, considering the game given away for free is the central focus of the article.

[badz149]

@DarkAstronaut

*RENT

[FanboyKilla]

after the announcement of d4 games with gold, comes this. coincidence? lol i think not.

[Stiffler]

You can just see the fanboys pounding their war drums and loading up the anti-MS ammo

[fermcr]

Maybe the author of this article expected Microsoft to do for D4 the same marketing campaign Activision does for Call of Duty... millions and millions of dollars in adds.

D4 is a niche downloadable title... this phrase resumes it all.

Microsoft is "offering" the game with Gold to see if gamers like the game, and then maybe develop the next episode if they find it justifiable ($$$).

[Delsin_Rowe]

Oh well is time for D4 to change ships, PlayStation are waiting for them with a hot coco and more money their pocket meaning not their own money but sell way more on PlayStation.

[gangsta_red]

What more can MS do for a digital title? They had on their start up screen for the longest. It was featured in the Games category.

Do you really want MS to throw a million dollar ad campaign to a niche title such as this? What other niche title has received a huge marketing blitz?

D4 is a fantastic game but it is what it is, a hidden gem. Maybe with MS offering this for free more people will realize this and maybe actually purchase the second episode.

[Gamer777]

The game wasn't big budget and wasn't expected to sell a lot which is why it is digital only. The author of the article doesn't seem to understand this.

[Lawboy2]

Giving the gme way for free will get the game in more gamers hands...and being at hats it's a episodic title it will pull more ppl towards the next tile

For those who don't sell drugs...drug saling 101 get the product into Ppls hands...so give the first sample for free then there hooked

[Sharky231]

I don't understand the article. Ps plus does the same thing with great games. They offer them for free if the sales weren't great. This usually jumpstarts interest in Dlc or in this case future episodes. It really helps these indie games and studios stay afloat.

[Stiffler]

Well said red, I really agree with that final part. Offering D4 in GwG will definitely give the next episode a sales boost for sure.

More people need to try D4 out it's fantastic. I have zero regrets buying it one month ago even though it'll be a GwG come January.

Happy gaming and Merry Christmas :)

[annoyedgamer]

They could offer it for free...hint hint

[no_more_heroes]

They're doing exactly that in January.

[Stiffler]

Hint hint...That's what he implied ^_^

[SaveFerris]

Perhaps the game was just not the right fit for the console?

[WeAreLegion]

They're giving it away to every Gold subscriber. What more do you want?

[Hoffmann]

Are the most sold games on xbox consoles shooters or are they jrpgs or completely unusual games like D4?

The audience is just not there.

[Neo_Zeed]

That's the problem you face when you go exclusive to the console that is losing.

If Titanfall wasn't a massive success what more can you expect from a lesser hyped title?

[Lenrulesdaworld]

but it was a massive success or maybe you missed peter moore when he announced how much of a success it was.

[Neo_Zeed]

Failed to crack 4 million units worldwide despite being on last gen Xbox and PC as well. So 3 platforms and either the 1st or 2nd largest hype train of the year yet practically nobody is still playing it. Not the worst failure of the year but definitely a failure. Also it wouldn't have lost the sequel being exclusive to Microsoft if it hadn't failed. If it had been a success the franchise would remain locked to MS but the sales from MS alone failed to cut it.

[Lenrulesdaworld]

@ZEO So this number you pulled was from vgchartz the most unreliable data based online, not to mention isn't including digital sales which many xbox gamers purchased online as well. then according to a dev on gaf from respawn the game sold well beyond expectations. with xboxone as the leading platform, this was response to some one who thought the same way as you. the game sold over 4 million by the way

[DJustinUNCHAIND]

I'm going to play the Shit out of it in January.

[DanielGearSolid]

They're offering it free... thats the most exposure you can ask for

Thats also how PS+ got me into the Souls series

[AutoCad]

Thats how they are getting all these people into indie games,but let MS do it and they are treating the game like doodoo

[DigitalRaptor]

You don't hear indie developers complaining about the low sales of their games on Twitter.

Swery65 went on Twitter to confirm to fans that D4 was not selling to his expectations or wishes. MS basically did throw the game out to die. It was announced to be released so suddenly that there was no real hype or build up of information leading up to its release. http://www.neogaf.com/forum...

And you don't "get into" indie games. They aren't a genre. If you're a curious and seasoned gamer, you would have been playing indie games on PC before you even touched the mainstream AAA stuff.

[DaleCooper]

I loved that this game released unexpectedly. Unfortunately that means it didn't get proper trailers or an advertising campaign at all.

D4 was not backed properly and MS did mess up. They have an original game series that feels indie, and instead of promoting it, like Sony has been with their indies, they just shove it out the digital door. There's not even a release schedule for any more episodes (from what i hear it sold very poorly) and it really was just thrown to the wolves to die.

Love the game and it deserves better. Hopefully giving it away with Games for Gold will give it a second life and MS will let Swery release a finale at the least.

[iNFAMOUZ1]

what is a d4

[TheCagyDies]

Dark Dreams Don't Die
D4, a play on 4D, The Fourth Dimension.

[ghostface9]

They did about as much as you could for a 15 dollar digital title and now they giving it for free so people will get to jump into the series and will buy more episodes if they make them and like it

[GusBricker]

I highly recommend playing it with Kinect if you have it.

[Jerrymonics]

yeah microsoft needs it imideatly