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Xbox’s Phil Spencer: “High quality and diverse first party is what Xbox deserves”

Reviews for Sony’s God of War came out yesterday and, to little surprise, the game was met with critical acclaim and currently sits at a 95 on Metacritic based on over eighty reviews. It’s been hailed as one of this generation’s greatest games, and it left Xbox fans wondering… where’s theirs?

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Heelix2617d ago (Edited 2617d ago )

"Our hardware took time, our service/platform/BC took time and continuing to grow our 1P will take time. A high quality and diverse 1P (yes, with SP) built the right way is our goal and what our customers deserve. We can have similar results to what we've seen in hw and platform."

I'm curious to see what's in store though.
Maybe more info @E3
I want Xbox to continue to do well and improve.

AspiringProGenji2617d ago

Here the issue with MS:

“our service/platform/BC took time and continuing to grow our 1P will take time.”

Service/4K/BC first, 1st party games last. They got their priorities twisted. Without 1st party content there’s nothing to show off the capabilities of your platform’s features.

Phils once said “you don’t need studios to make good games.” I’m glad that has caught up with him. Next is his downplaying of SP games...

-Foxtrot2617d ago (Edited 2617d ago )

Phil says a lot of things lets be honest and never really delivers. I'm basing it purely off experience now and because I'm someone who learns from past experiences. You can do the same old "bu bu but you really hate Phil Spencer" crap but seriously what do you expect at this rate, he's doing nothing for Microsoft to help them. That's not worthy of praise regardless of the company.

How many times are we honestly going to go through this cheap talk, it's been like 4 years now and he's said on two separate times about how first party games are coming but "they take time" and "we don't want to announce things too early". In the end it's just BS talk to sting people along, then in a few years he'll say the same thing. Rinse and repeat.

These kind of articles always come up mostly when Nintendo or Sony are releasing a big game which has done well in reviews. It comes across like "Shit...first party single player games have done it again, all eyes are on us, lets say something quick"

I mean lets be honest every time he does say something it's what people want to hear...then you pause for a second and think "hang on a cotton picking minute, if you actually believe this then why haven't you done it?"

RpgSama2617d ago

“our service/platform/BC took time and continuing to grow our 1P will take time"

They've been in the home videogame console business since November 15, 2001, but I guess they need more time to grow their 1P /S

Eldyraen2617d ago

You realize they’re listed that way based on what is “done” or at least well received (online service) first and then what is next on the roster?

I agree the games should be first, but Xbox arguably has the better online service still, Game Pass and Play Anywhere are both incredible, etc. Full BC going forward for both One games and older 360/OG One games will be fantastic on next gen systems as well.

Now they basically have the one thing they need most to really work on: the games. Which sadly they should have worked on much sooner as well. So they better nail that between now and next gen as X proves they can nail the hardware but they need to support it and their services with the games that we deserve.

Im also hoping e3 proves their point on going back to first party focus somewhat, even if most probably won’t be ready for a while. Or good second/third but exclusive even (as Fable reboot is rumored to be by Horizon’s second team—they’re not owned by MS but very close ties).

stokedAF2617d ago

You really don’t need studios to make good games. They have worked very well as a publisher in the past. The beginning of the 360 had amazing 3rd party exclusives. The problem is that they don’t have first or 3rd party exclusives anymore lol.

2617d ago
blitz06232617d ago (Edited 2617d ago )

1st Party games were never a priority with MS. Phil is just spouting this nonsense to appease people. Their one and only priority is to transition Xbox to a software service platform that is found in every home. They're trying to be the Netflix of video games

Aceman182617d ago

I'm tired of Phil's double talk, and until they can actually back up the BS he spews I ain't buying what he says and I definitely not jumping back in on that console.

M$ is put up or shut up time this E3 if you want my $$$$$ again.

neutralgamer19922617d ago

aspiring

phil is the king of PR people right before E3 him and major nelson will talk a big game

what we do know at this year's E3 sony will have:

spiderman
days gone
the last of us 2 demo
death stranding gameplay
kingdom hearts 3
possibily a new title similar to dark souls/blood borne
sucker punche's new IP(which has been in development for over 4 years)
yakuza kiwame 2

we could get a trailer for shenmue 3
we could get a blockbuster announcement of another PS classic remake by bluepoint

for ms to have a decent chance at a E3 where their brand could gain some momentum they have to bring their A++++++ game otherwise sony is going for the mortal kombat style finisher

Bobafret2617d ago

They listened way too much to the internet chatter about the power differences between Xbox One and Ps4, and bet largely on that. This is why they are in this calamity. If you are constantly reacting to your opponent then you have already lost.

darthv722617d ago

@genji, you make it seem like MS has to do the same thing the others do but in fact they do not. Therefore you don't know if their priorities are twisted. You say that based on comparing them to the others and, while I get that reasoning, you must also consider they are doing things how they want to do them.

It may not jive with how we want them, and it will come back to bite them in the ass, but it is their decisions to make.

TheCommentator2617d ago

"Next is his downplaying of SP games..."

Next is try reading his tweet, where Phil specifically highlighted the need for single player experiences:

https://twitter.com/XboxP3/...

rainslacker2617d ago

@darth

Except Phil is legitimizing the fact that people's complaints are valid, and they don't have any real response except to say that it takes time. This isn't some kind of assumption, it's an admittance by Spencer that they don't have what they know people seem to want. That they dicked around when they had something to offer, and spent years promoting things that weren't important.

If he believes that the Xbox player base "deserves" these kinds of things, then he should deliver them, not deliver things that they aren't actually asking for. BC, Play Anywhere, X1X, GaaS. None of these things were things people were asking for in droves. They were, and always have, asked for games. Even when MS had them, they still wanted more. It's only in the last couple years that people have become content with MS output.

Phil's been saying for years that he wanted more of these things for Xbox. 3 years later, and he's still only promising, and still only delivering on things that his predecessors started. Is it really that hard to just give a taste of what they're working on if they are really working on something. Pride of not announcing too early isn't a good enough excuse anymore....and the notion that people wanted them to wait until closer to release wasn't even something their fan base was really asking for either.

MS is great at delivering on things no one really asks for. But all spencer seems capable of doing is talking about the things that people actually do want.

OC_MurphysLaw2617d ago

Xbox has to deliver some kind of solid road-map for 1st party / exclusive games at E3. They need both games announced for this 2nd half of year and for 2019 that are beyond just the expected sequels to Gears, Forza and Halo. I think many of the bets MS laid over the past years didn't pan out or just flat out got canned and that really took a toll on their current road-map. MS was forced to really double down on services and hardware because they knew there was a big hole in their software road-map coming with the delays & cancellations they made. That is poor management, and yes Phil needs to own it but also do something about it and show its more than lip service now. E3 really feels like a make or break moment for MS with this generation. And I mean that not in a "they can still win this gen" (they can't / won't win it...its Sony's) but in a way of "they can finish strong this gen" if gamer's can see a brighter future for games to what has been there the past year and a half or so for first party/exclusive games.

blackblades2617d ago

Phils once said “you don’t need studios to make good games.” Wow! he really said that

UltraNova2617d ago

Gotta love the timing on these "comments"...

LordJamar2616d ago

100% positive thats out pf context.

bouzebbal2616d ago

We just got the PR moment of the weekend..
Tomorrow everything back to normal.

GrubsterBeater2616d ago

It seems almost as though XBox fans defending MS at every turn, while pretending to be content with MS' s game offering just to not deal with "I told you so's" from Sony fans has bit them in the ass. MS keeps seeing XBox fans praising all these draconian policies, PR, "single player games aren't important", etc., and not Spencer is like "cool, this is what they want, and they are happy with what we are giving them, so let's keep up with GaaS, Forzas, etc.

While I'm not saying it's the reason this is all happening, it does lead one to wonder if all the blind loyalty, pretending to be happy with the lack of games, etc, is a factor in why they are continuing down this off route for gaming.

IamTylerDurden12616d ago (Edited 2616d ago )

And Phil's downplaying and criticism of sp games is coming back to bite him. Since his comments games like Horizon, BotW, Super Mario Odyssey, SotC, and now God of War have done exceptionally well. Yakuza 6 hits this month, Detroit in May, and everyone is hyped over Spider-man. Phil miscalculated when he dismissed sp games. Just look how Sony's sp game God of War is a bout to dismantle Xbox's GaaS game Sea of Thieves.

+ Show (16) more repliesLast reply 2616d ago
RpgSama2617d ago (Edited 2617d ago )

He always says the right things, is the follow through with what he says that's the issue, MS has been in the home console business since 2001, how much more time do they need?

Rachel_Alucard2617d ago

Theyve had plenty of time they just minimize risks like crazy. Anything that doesn't pull Halo or Gears numbers never gets a sequel or gets forgotten. They drop good IPs like flies and never invest in well received games, only if they sell well. Crimson skies, voodoo vince, mechassault, and many, many others are stuck in the forgotten realm of IPs MS ditched once the 360 released. They've turned almost every IP they have ownership over into a service game rather then a one off single player experience with no bull like Shadow of the Colossus or God of War because thats not profitable for them. They've failed to see the repricussions of their actions and now nobody wants to be associated with them. Consumer and developer alike.

Omnislashver362617d ago (Edited 2617d ago )

Eh, Xbox can't build a studio or nurture an IP. Lionshead, Mistwalker, and Platinum all had new or continuing IPs that got cancelled. Let's be honest, if Scalebound didn't look like the MC was comprised of Mountain Dew, Doritos, Vaping, and Dubstep it could have been the next Drakengard for instance. That was something worth investing in big-time, if MS would have just changed a few parameters- EVEN if it went to X2 it could have been an awesome game.

2616d ago
fiveby92616d ago

I am surely a Playstation fan and owner. I also own an X1. My first Xbox ever. I also hope MS improves though. I don't think it serves the gaming world well if they were to exit. Not that I think they are planning an exit. I think the opposite. Although perhaps another company would fill that void if they did. But looking at MS it sometimes feels like they are so risk averse that they make creative decisions based on financial metrics alone. Phil's comment on SP games being risky and less profitable was enlightening. Why can't MS and other's do both? SP games with great stories provide a 'soul' for the product. They create emotional attachments to a product and thus brand loyalty. MP games are less apt to provide that connection. Perhaps MP GaaS offerings make more money but they don't drive brand loyalty as much. MS can and should do better. I'd only change Phil's comments to 'High quality and a diverse first party is what Xbox FANS deserve'. It's the fans who deserve it. They're making strides but XBox still feels a bit soulless.

Rachel_Alucard2616d ago (Edited 2616d ago )

@gamerzero

And that happens when Japanese developers don't make games for it. They failed in the Japanese market from the get go so 3 things occurred.

1. Japanese developers don't make games for it since Japanese people aren't buying it
2. Western players who like japanese games don't buy it since all those games they want are on Playstation and switch
3. The only audience left playing on the Xbox are western players who either do not like Japanese games or are indifferent or biased. Anyone who's positive towards those games would've just bought a PlayStation anyway.

Failing that market set off a chain of events that affects more then just sales in the region.

Omnislashver362615d ago (Edited 2615d ago )

@gamerzero

It's stuff that nobody wanted in the game. And MH isn't selling on Xbox because PS owners have no incentive to buy one! It requires more than a single game, and a trio like Scalebound, Mistwalker, and Fable is a good start to get some of the RPG fanatics from PlayStation...

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 2615d ago
crazyCoconuts2617d ago

I'm with @Foxtrot. Timing of these articles is so transparent. PR at it's finest...

lelo2play2617d ago

Phil Spencer is all talk... but very little to show for.

SuperSonic912617d ago

Like Sol Badguy said " All Show But No Go.

Kryptix2617d ago

Everything takes time, but it takes more when you mismanage and fail to optimize.

"We can have similar results to what we've seen in hw and platform"

He's blatantly saying that they can, but they haven't even started doing it yet which is a shame for those who waited for the Xbox One X and have to wait for more, or may I say more E3s, the true long running joke.

Bruh2617d ago

You won't see sh*t, if anything maybe for next-generation, but for Xbox, this cycle is done and they're only gonna try and wrap up their franchises for existing story lines and push for next-gen soon.

spwittbold2617d ago

To say Phil has done nothing for Xbox is shortsighted. Sure, he hasn't quite delivered in the manner most of us want, in terms of 1P - and I too am getting tired of all the promises. However, from where Xbox was, he has thus far: 1) Moved focus away from Xbox being a "media center," with Kinect and the TV integration garbage 2) Driven the Play Anywhere - PC or Xbox if you have them, which is great for me and I'm sure alot of others 3) The BC is pretty god damn sweet - this is the one thing Sony is annoying AF on....Microsoft is updating last gen games - for free - to look famazing which is an A+ instead of "remastering," and then "reselling" them to us when we a

generic-user-name2617d ago

I feel like anyone would have done a better job than Mattrick, Phil is all talk. If backwards compatibility putting xbox exclusives on PC is all he has done, then he hasn't done much.

CP_Company2617d ago

BC is matrick baby and not spencers. So i don't understand why someone trying to mislead public and give a credit to a wrong man.

RandoCommenter2616d ago

Microsoft’s in desperation mode that is the ONLY reason they’re being consumer friendly. Don’t forget that. While Sony is on top & they’re still cranking out AAA single player games left & right. I have both XBone & PS4. XBone literally just sits in my trunk/coffee table until I have a hankering to play Dead Space from last gen or Quantum Break. Microsoft continues to deliver way too rarely. It’s very disappointing.

shuvam092616d ago (Edited 2616d ago )

I don't understand his statement...
The hardware was stellar from the very beginning (from OG XBox to XB1X, barring XB1), so were their services/platform/BC...
What time taking process is he talking about???
If I know right, their priorities have gone backward since inception...
OG XBox and the 360 had some amazing exclusives...
They faltered from the beginning with XB1...
And with the push for Cloud and GaaS, it's hard to believe him going back to the roots...
They are going the MS way rather than going the XBox way...
With Nadella at the helm, he would rather use XBox to push the Windows ecosystem rather than reviving the XBox brand...

Don't get me wrong...
I want to see a healthy competition between all the hardware manufactures...
It's just that I don't see the signs from MS yet, nor am I expecting it to change in a positive way...

YOUDIEMOFO2616d ago

Games presented at E3 are going to be years off. I'm sorry, but MS just might be done....

I'm pretty pissed at my X purchase as of right now. Especially since sea of thieves is sick joke!! I was really looking to something big with that game....

TheKingKratos2616d ago (Edited 2616d ago )

Phill, shut the f up please
You are all talk and nothing else

IGiveHugs2NakedWomen2616d ago (Edited 2616d ago )

Phil needs to stop talking about high quality games and start making them. Unfortunately, I don't think the suits are going to allow Microsoft's remaining studios to have creative freedom like Sony does with their developers. I just think they have the ability to do so much better only if the suits would allow Spencer to run Xbox gaming without interference.

butchertroll2616d ago

We believe in Phil, right?

Let's see what Phil said....
2013
Microsoft investing $1 billion into games on Xbox One
https://www.engadget.com/20...
"Microsoft Studios boss Phil Spencer told OXM Rare is returning to one of its older franchises (Killer Instinct, anyone?) and Black Tusk Studios is hard at work on Microsoft's next big franchise. Lift London is working on smaller cloud-based games, while Microsoft Studios Osaka has a project under way - something Don Mattrick says will illustrate how Microsoft is "committed" to Japan. Finally, Press Play and Twisted Pixel are in Microsoft's bullpen, working on "weird, unique" games for Xbox Live."

2014
Xbox boss would rather invest in first-party exclusives than Street Fighter V
https://arstechnica.com/gam...

2015
At E3, Phil Spencer wants to focus on first-party and exclusive Xbox games
https://www.polygon.com/201...

"I really focussed on our first-party investment, and you see it showing up in 2015 and 2016."
https://www.eurogamer.net/a...

2016
"I’m sure Last Guardian, when it ships this year, will be great, but I just look at the lineup and the quantity and the quality that our team’s been shipping and I feel really good about that."
http://www.playstationlifes...

2017
Phil Spencer: "Microsoft is committed to growing first-party Xbox content and studios"
https://www.windowscentral....

Let's play a game : Phil says.....a lot of things.

+ Show (9) more repliesLast reply 2615d ago
Nyxus2617d ago (Edited 2617d ago )

Sounds good, but the way he talks about it makes it sound as if it's still a ways off...

RpgSama2617d ago

They're always about the future when talking about games, Phil Spencer makes it sound as if this wasn't the third Microsoft console generation, but their first foray into consoles, they have been in this business since November 15, 2001, how much more time do they need?

S2Killinit2617d ago

Thats all i hear from MS, verbage, no game news comes out, just vague or broad statements and adjectives (“huge, big” etc.) but no game news. Why not talk about a game youre working on right now?

Eldyraen2617d ago

Unfortunately. Fable rumor is likely 1-2 off even if it’s real. If the Horizon second team is true since they’re still hiring key positions there. So hopefully they can get a couple out before next gen but probably not many new ones yet.

NeoGamer2322617d ago

Yes, it is probably at least 2019.

Sony has been developing the new GoW since 2014. That is after the story and idea. So, probably started in 2013.

Phil spent the first two years to 2016 cleaning up crap. So assuming 4 years in devt is what it takes for a 95+ metacritic SP game. We are looking at 2019 at the earliest and more likely 2020.

KickSpinFilter2617d ago

But that's probably the end of this generation in 2020 or at least for Sony. 2013 is when they both launched, I'm sorry but by this time there should be an overflow of well scored exclusive games. That's just not the case with MS. Ya at the start of a console life you expect it to be a little barren as developers are ramping up with final console specs. (excluding Switch).

kneon2616d ago

That's 4 years only if you already have a studio capable of that level of quality, getting a studio to that level can take a decade or more. Most never get there.

Bruh2617d ago

People at this point really don't understand that Microsoft gives NO SH*TS about this generation anymore? For this company the most important part is the bottom line and as they know they lost, for them its about trying to just earn some good user base love ( B.C, other software related features) and pushing into next gen

LordJamar2616d ago

So what if it is? Just get angry like the rest call him a lier and get a sony box

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 2616d ago
AizenSosuke2617d ago

Sounds good but please deliver and please follow your word if not that's a bunch of BS.

fiveby92617d ago

We shall see what MS promises and what they deliver. I’d be happy to see them bolster their offering with some new / strong first party produced games but that takes years to cultivate. GaaS can’t be your only strategy. A platform holder needs a diverse robust games lineup. At this point it’s Sony who has done the best overall job. MS needs to step up or they’ll risk slowly fading away. I think their customers have been more than patient.

AspiringProGenji2617d ago (Edited 2617d ago )

That’s the problem witb Xbox: talk talk talk, then always asking for more time when things don’t end up well. What happened to the 1 billion investment in games? The cloud?

SuperSaiyanGod412617d ago

I think time is not the issue, it's more being confident in your new IP and not throwing in the towel after it's first outing because of bad sales, u build on it and make it even better in the next outing and the fanbase starts to grow with each outing.

Rude-ro2617d ago

That is kind of Microsoft’s delima..
Not a bash, but every ip they bought a studio for, and now they do not work there. Not all obviously, but all their risk ips from yore.
They rely on what they will spend money on per marketing. So if it failed in sales, they no longer see the desire to spend money on both the game and the marketing.
They need to become a gaming company and stop focusing on what they can market.

KickSpinFilter2617d ago

First good example of cloud computing is the ocean in Sea of Thief's (no matter what you think of the game)

AspiringProGenji2617d ago

And there’s barely anything to do in that ocean. Gues that tech isn’t anything game changing then

badz1492616d ago

in 2013 they said...

https://www.vg247.com/2013/...

and 3 years later...

http://www.techtimes.com/ar...

now, even 50mil is looking very distant for them before next gen starts, hopefully, in 2020

Bhai2616d ago

Oh the cloudy dreams... the delusions hahaha ... that shows how disconnected and distant the whole xb team is from gaming reality :O

TheNextGeneration2617d ago

He’s right in the sense that they have delivered on other fronts and they’re beating Sony in some of those areas but Sony has run away with the games race and its time Microsoft turn talk into action, show us the games!!

xX-oldboy-Xx2617d ago

But they assured their fanbase that they had invested heavily into xbox exclusive 1st and 2nd party. When will the yearly rhetoric without results be enough for xbox owners, xbox owners are a resilient, loyal and faithful bunch.

The_Jackel2617d ago

dont forget to add dumb as fuck too.... for obvious reasons in your comment

AlphaCentyros2617d ago

I used to be a 360 fan though. Really glad I realised MS lost their passion for high quality games a long time ago. Switching to PS was the best decision I ever made.

LordJamar2616d ago

Not every one is a angry fanboy intent on selling there console cause "no games"

Pastemaniak2617d ago

Yeah, how ironic that "Sony has run away with the games race" in a games business. In this moment, Xbox has the same personality than a Nvidia Shield. It's more obvious every day that they're just hardware manufacturers.

Seafort2616d ago

Microsoft aren't hardware manufacturers at all though. They have always been a software development studio but not with games but corporate programs like Office or Windows Server and still are to this day. That's where they make most of their money.

The Xbox division is just a small part of what Microsoft is. They don't seem to have any passion for making games for their console or want to invest in it in case it fails. They've always had one foot out the door so they can run at the first chance of failure.

It's coming to the stage where MS needs to put up or get out of the games industry as they are not investing in their console and the customer will lose out in the long run with their dithering and lack of commitment.

It's been 17 years since they first got involved in the console industry and what do they have to show for it? Hardly any first party studios and no real top tier games apart from Forza. Gears and Halo is going down the drain and wasn't even theirs in the first place. They just bought the IP from 2nd/3rd party studios.

Coming back to the PC was a mistake as well. We didn't ask them to return and produce a lacklustre games platform with Windows Store as it's an Xbox and app store really. Just retrofitted to include PC games.

Microsoft needs to decide where they want to invest and do it. Stop with the half hearted commitments and shut down parts of the company that isn't working out. If that is Xbox then so be it then at least their customers know where they priorities lie.

KickSpinFilter2617d ago

I think MS might be in for a unpleasant surprise next gen. If Sony comes out with PS4 BC at the start of the PS5 in 2020, at $449.99 or less, with TLOU2 compatible to both PS4 & PS5 on one disk at launch MS might see them self in second place again. But if Sony comes in all cocky at $500, no BC and no Major exclusives at launch might look really different landscape. MS is pretty much were Sony was 2 years left of this gen, what cha gonna do? Hold all major games back till launch of XB2 or win some kudos by launching an Epic IP's near the end of XB1 to pay forward to the new gen.

DarkZane2617d ago

Yeah, that won't matter. The 360 launched a year earlier and $100 cheaper and it didn't matter. If the 360, which was Microsoft at their best, couldn't beat the PS3, which was Sony at their worst, it's pretty obvious Microsoft is never gonna win no matter what they do.

Even if everything you just said happens, the PS5 will still win by a huge margin. Microsoft simply doesn't have the resources to compete here. Their console only has appeal in the US and limited appeal in UK, while Sony and Nintendo have worldwide appeal. Microsoft are literally fighting a war that they can't win even if they have every advantages.

Chevalier2617d ago

Forget 2nd place. With Nintendo around its more like 3rd place. Customers don't care about generations. Nintendo is set to destroy Xbox NOW.

LordJamar2616d ago

Highly doubt ps5 will be 500$

Chevalier2617d ago

Gee its not that big a deal. Its ONLY a GAME console. Why would anyone want GAMES for their GAME console......

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 2616d ago
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60°

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 devs praise games like Space Marine 2 for "lowering the barrier"

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 developers discuss the huge success of Space Marine 2 and its effect on the series as a whole.

Read Full Story >>
videogamer.com
Jingsing53m ago

How about an official level editor for Boltgun?

220°

Phil Spencer Teases 2026 As A "Really Special Year" For Xbox

2026 will mark the 25th anniversary of Xbox, and Phil Spencer has teased it as a "really special year" for the games division.

Read Full Story >>
twistedvoxel.com
TheEroica16h ago(Edited 16h ago)

You got downvotes by pathetic gamers for feeling hopeful about good games coming out next year. Imagine how small your brain must be to downvote someone excited for future gaming joy? It is pretty neat to see people's world view blow up in front of them as they realize Microsoft has put themselves in a driver's seat that Sony hasn't been able to touch all generation.... What's even more pathetic is the same people downvoting you are the same people wishlisting Microsoft games on their ps5s 😂

P_Bomb13h ago

“Imagine how small your brain must be to downvote someone excited for future gaming joy?”

My dude your post history shits on EVERYTHING. You never have a good thing to say about anything lol! 🤣

PanicMechanic4h ago(Edited 4h ago)

“Getting ready for those GaaS reveals! Sony is a shadow of themselves this gen.”

You literally said this a couple of days ago. Start applying the clown make up, you hypocritical jester

derek13h ago

Yep we'll see, they have alot releasing next year.

RaidenBlack10h ago

NGL, next year might be one of the best years in gaming ... starting off with RE9 and GTA VI ...
and then all the good games that's been cooking
Pragmata, Sands of Time, Saros, Gears E-Day, 007 First Light, Blood of Dawnwalker,
Mortal Shell II, Onimusha, Marvel1943: Rise of Hydra
current-gen only Infinity Ward's CoD, Duskbloods
+ My guess: Wolverine, Exodus, Mudang, Crimson Desert, Clockwork etc ...
~ seems like it might get too stacked

1Victor8h ago

@rokos:”Hopefully “
I downvoted you not for been hopeful but because I have seen the same “NEXT YEAR WILL BE SPECIAL “ comment for the last 10+ and hasn’t seen anything special from Microsoft.
I hope next year will be the one that everyone been waiting for since the last 3 years of the Xbox 360, it have to be after over $80 billions spent on acquisitions.

Lightning778h ago

So the new excuse is they don't count because it's from the ABK now huh. I guess all those 3rd party games count even less because they don't own them. According to your always crappy logic.

OtterX19h ago

Always with the "next year..."! 😂

neutralgamer199218h ago

I don't know they have delivered this year and even last year. And they have a lot more content in the pipeline right now than anyone else. We can't just keep hating on MS

Indiana Jones
South of midnight
Avowed
Flight simulator
Hell Blade 2
Minecraft update
Gears of war reloaded
Indian Jones:expansion
Gears E day
Clockwork revolution
Fable
Doom the dark ages
The outer worlds 2
Grounded 2
Call of duty

OtterX18h ago

How many of those titles were just buyouts of companies that were going about making their games anyways? *Throws cash - "Oh look what we made!"

dveio18h ago(Edited 18h ago)

This list, that's been posted again, and again, and again in every single topic like this, contains almost nothing, literally almost nothing from Microsoft's own creational thoughtprocess.

It's a bunch of former 3rd party IPs.

Now even slowly returning to Playstation in some cases like Indiana, Hellblade, probably Starfield soon too, after they were made exclusively to Xbox on purpose.

Due to Microsoft's lack for own IP material except Halo & Forza. Which, the lack of, was the sole reason for all of it to happen in the first place anyway. Please don't pretend it wasn't.

And just look at all the games that come from Obsidian alone.

You really think Obsidian wasn't already working on Avowed and South of Midnight even without Microsoft buying Zenimax?

Microsoft delivered nothing but cheques.

OtterX18h ago(Edited 18h ago)

@dveio THIS. Lol, this dude thinks Call of Duty wouldn't exist without Microsoft! smh 😂

neutralgamer199217h ago(Edited 17h ago)

Common narrative I see often — that Microsoft shouldn’t get credit for the games its studios release because they “just bought them.” But this viewpoint ignores key context and sets a double standard that other platform holders aren’t held to

No one is saying these games wouldn't exist at all without Microsoft. But let’s not pretend that having a trillion-dollar company backing a studio doesn’t make a massive difference. Obsidian never had AAA funding before the Xbox acquisition. Pillars of Eternity was crowdfunded, and their resources were always stretched thin. Now they’re working on Avowed, with proper support behind it.

Ninja Theory’s Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice was made by around 20 people, using borrowed equipment and doing mocap in a boardroom. It was a passion project held together by tape and willpower. Today, Hellblade II exists because they were given resources, time, and freedom — something many developers don’t get unless they’re owned by a company that believes in their vision.

ZeniMax (Bethesda’s parent company) was in real financial trouble before the Microsoft acquisition. Reports and insider accounts have pointed out how much they needed a cash infusion. And while some people want to write off Xbox’s ownership of Bethesda titles, they forget the alternative could have meant layoffs or even closures.

The same goes for Activision Blizzard. Would you really prefer the company to stay under Bobby Kotick, after all the documented workplace misconduct and toxic leadership issues? Say what you want about Microsoft, but their acquisition brought accountability and change to a company that desperately needed it.

At the same time, Xbox gets hated on for doing what every major company does. Sony bought Housemarque, Bluepoint, Insomniac — but no one says Spider-Man 2 “doesn’t count” because of that. Why does Xbox get treated differently for acquiring struggling or undervalued developers and giving them a chance to thrive?

And the idea that Xbox locks games away is outdated. They're pushing cross-platform releases, cloud gaming, Game Pass, and backward compatibility more than any other platform holder. They're not forcing all studios into live service. If anything, their upcoming lineup is less GAAS-heavy and more focused on narrative and creativity — Avowed, South of Midnight, Clockwork Revolution, Fable, Perfect Dark, Towerborne, and others show real variety.

Whether people like it or not, Xbox is now the biggest publisher in the industry and owns the most gaming IPs. But what matters more is how they treat their studios. Most of these teams were previously stuck making AA games with limited scope — now they’re getting the tools and support to aim higher.

So when people say “Microsoft didn’t make those games,” they’re missing the point. It’s not about who started the studio — it’s about who enabled them to do their best work. You don’t have to love Xbox to admit they’ve helped a lot of developers and are taking a player-first approach.

Instead of writing off everything they do, maybe try recognizing the good they’re doing for both devs and gamers. At the end of the day, we should want more studios to succeed — no matter who owns them

BeHunted16h ago

I'm surprised Clockwork Revolution (BioShock meets Dishonored) isn't getting more media attention. The game looks interesting and reminds me of the old RPG games.

anast16h ago

The only good game on that list is Flight sim. The rest are either average or will be average. It's not a good look for MS.

TheEroica16h ago

My god.... Look how many comments are upset about microsoft's successes... 😂 This may be my new favorite thread. Not one gamer saying thanks for all the goodness coming their way, just bitter anger and downvoting the very games they themselves will purchase throughout 2026.... Sony really worked you guys over this generation.... Condolences.

DivineHand12515h ago

@neutralgamer1992 You said what needed to be said.

I have heard for years from older gamers that fanboys are the biggest issue with any fanbase. They will defend or gloss over negative news as long as the correct logo is on the box and they bash the competing platform no matter how much good they are trying to bring.

Right now their advocacy for PlayStation is elevating that platform so high that Sony no longer believes they need to do anything to satisfy their loyal fanbase like they did in the PS4 days.

I just hope most of them will eventually start advocating for themselves and encourage others to do the same. No one should blindly support one platform because these companies do not care about anything other than profit.

neutralgamer199214h ago

Hunted

And first proper game done by the studio with proper AAA budget and saying it will be released when ready

Anast

I believe we went through this before that you are objectively wrong. Meta critic, user reviews, game sales. In Playstation top 10 best selling games were 5 from Microsoft studios

Otter

No this dude is saying so many other studios wouldn't be thriving without MS money and people would be getting abused physically and mentally with Bobby kotick and his side kicks

Also maybe look up how the original founder of Bethesda and zenimax was kicked out of his own company by his best friend lawyer. So that was always a shady place and had been struggling financially before MS paid a premium of almost 7 billion

Eroica

I use to be a die hard Playstation fan and now I only have a Pc. I see how these fans are so toxic. They just can't handle any positive news regarding Xbox. When the best selling games on playstation are Xbox titles. Look at Forza horizon being best seller and that's years old game by MS. I guess ms don't deserve credit for that success too since they are the only company in gaming making acquisitions

Forget the fact Sony paid 3.6 billion for bungie and MS 6.9 for zenimax. Which investment has turned out better

Destiny and marathon with a lot of controversy

While zenimax output is nothing short of amazing compared to what bungie has released

crazyCoconuts14h ago

Yeah it's tricky. "Xbox" has morphed to mean different things to different people.
Console, now Windows, GamePass, and the cross platform games. There's a mix of attitudes towards all those things individually, and maybe an overarching attitude towards MS. But can't argue that the game companies MS recently bought continue to flourish, and GamePass PC has been a great value over the last year.

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 14h ago
Lightning7715h ago(Edited 15h ago)

They've had good output so far. So waiting for those games shouldn't be a problem.

Who cares if they're buy outs of companies or whatever excuse you want to make. They're games that are being distributed to other console. Play the games and enjoy it instead of fanboying or complaining.

ocelot0717h ago

They going to be a he best and biggest publisher on Xbox, Playstation and PC next year. They not really said anything about Switch 2 though spite claiming to be big supporters.

quenomamen17h ago

If you call making one last Xbox before going full Sega, as Great. Then yea.

TheEroica15h ago

Doesn't feel like you're paying attention to what's happening.

RhinoGamer8816h ago

It will be, his net work will hit 50 million and he plans to buy a new mansion in Cape Cod. Thanks everyone! #failup

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