NPD has released the sales results for the top 10 selling games for March and a surprise debut has claimed the top spot. One of the writers for Middle of Nowhere Gaming takes a look at three trends that emerge from the data.
Windows Central writes: "CEO of Microsoft Gaming, Phil Spencer, had previously been vocally opposed to the idea of a native Xbox headset, stating in 2019 that 'nobody's asking for VR' on Xbox. However, Microsoft's marketing strategy for the Xbox Series X|S generation has shifted with the rise of Xbox Cloud Gaming and the 'This is an Xbox' marketing."
Ah, a contributing factor to Meta dropping PSVR2 support for Beat sabre! Microsoft’s always stuck with the modus operandi of “if you want an original idea steal someone else’s” and try to destroy markets they cannot win in. They are doing to to console gaming and now trying VR!
It's like a rich kid who pays the smart kid to do his homework for him.
*Yea, such a shame about Beat Saber dropping Playstation support btw. :\
The XBox way. Hardware, even game development companies.... let them do the hard work of building things, throw them some money, then slap an XBox logo on it!
This is probably nothing more than a branding attempt to show Xbox really is on all platforms. The Quest already has the Xbox Cloud app that supposedly works great. Would be cool if Microsoft actually entered the VR space in a larger capacity but if they was doing that, I imagine they'd have showcased it at their summer showcase.
Yeah, it's basically the same idea as the ROG Ally Xbox. Just a regular device that gives you access to the Xbox library and carries the brand, but nothing really special or groundbreaking beyond that. It’s not some custom Xbox hardware, just a repackage of existing tech with a logo and some software perks.
Now, when it comes to VR, Microsoft actually made a pretty serious attempt with something called Windows Mixed Reality. It wasn’t just a headset, they were aiming for an open ecosystem. They had APIs for developers, support baked into Windows, and even tools to convert regular desktop content into VR environments. On paper, it was a solid play. But it never caught on, third part support was half-baked and basically only Samsung headsets were worth anything. After about five years of trying to push it, they gave up and shelved the whole thing.
The bigger issue here is that VR just isn't ready for the mainstream. People love to hype it up, but at the end of the day, it’s a hard sell unless it’s cheap enough to feel like an impulse buy and even when you can do that, you need to support it with software. Making it a extremelly expensive segment for any company, just look at Meta, bleeding literal billions every years trying to get this stuff off the ground, and they are the market leaders.
The Nintendo Switch 2 has proved to be a success the world over, however, one nation which is particularly keen on the Nintendo’s latest platform is naturally Japan. Recent sales data has shown that…
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yeah nothing is gonna dethrone nintendo in japan, especially if there's a handheld involved.
Wow… Nintendo is champ in Japan, but the speed of sale is remarkable.
Proves that console gaming isn’t dead yet not by a long shot.
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I guess the resistance against always online and digital only consoles is BS. The people have voted with their wallets.
What are you talking about? Switch 2 is neither always online nor digital only.
Nintendo can literally block your Switch 2 console from accessing their online services at any time. When that happens, it becomes a brick. You won't even be able to play those games that use game key cards that are not installed on the console. Some users who have been blocked tried factory resetting their system, and when they tried to boot it up with a new account, they are stuck.
Speaking of game key cards, the majority of third party publishers have opted to use those instead of loading their full game on those cartridges. Imagine having a library of game key card games and going on a long trip but not being able to play a particular game because you need to connect to Nintendo servers to download the game first. It is not like the old days where you just plug in and play.
Game key cards make sense for large games like GTA, Red Dead, or COD, but I don't see why publishers who have games with sizes less than 32 GB need to use that option.
If you try to mod your system it could get banned from online play like every single system since the ps3 and xbox
Keiichiro Toyama—the creator and original director of the 1999 Silent Hill—shared his personal thoughts on the recently announced remake by Konami, reflecting on what the project means to him after more than two decades:
“I felt something similar when the game was adapted into a movie. It deeply moved me to see the names of the characters and locations I had created come to life visually, even though I wasn’t directly involved. That wouldn’t have been possible without the continued support of the fans and the dedication of the developers who’ve kept the series alive.
I’m really looking forward to seeing how the remake evolves this time. With the advanced technology we now have, I’m sure I’ll be surprised by how the game is reimagined. Since the original was built for the first PlayStation, there will naturally be challenges—like the camera and controls—but I’m eager to see bold and creative solutions to those elements.”
Haha Not only is bold and creatively not what the industry wants, it’s not what most people want.
They want to get scammed and pay twice for a thing they already own.
I’m sure many would want bold and creative done well, but that’s easier said than done. I like variety so give me a little bit of everything, done well of course.
Was the SH2 remake even bold? Or was it more or less just a 1 to 1 over the shoulder remake?
it was not. it greatly expanded the areas and puzzles to the point where it felt like an entirely new game. the enemies and boss fights were given a MASSIVE upgrade. the abstract daddy fight in particular was incredible. and the team added two new endings.
My one thought was, how did a game that got middling/bad reviews and no hype from the gaming press get the top spot and beat out both Zelda and Horizon? I think this clearly demonstrates that there is a large disconnect from those people who cover games and obsess over them versus those people who buy them and enjoy them. Games like Call of Duty, MLB The Show, and NBA 2k are consistently top sellers (NBA 2K nearly year round) and yet despite their tremendous popularity, none of these games will ever be mentioned in a Game of the Year conversation. Come to think of it, no sports/racing game ever gets considered for Game of the Year. It's a shame that the gaming press isn't that well rounded.
4 out of 10 were exclusive or console exclusive.
Damn good month for exclusives.