Next Xbox Will Have Good Launch Line-Up, Recent Studio Acquisitions Will Beef Up Content: Pachter

The industry analyst figures the new studios should help Microsoft build a solid launch lineup for their next console, if nothing else.

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Patcher I really hope you're right.

[Obscure_Observer]

Ninja Theory New IP. Playground´s Open World Action RPG. New RARE IP. Halo Infinite. The Initiative New IP.

Sounds pretty badass to me. O.o

[XiNatsuDragnel]

But Patcher has a bad rep, and my prev history I hated the man regardless of info. So I'm being wary when this dude says it.

[Bhai]

"Next Xbox Will Have Good Launch Line-Up, Recent Studio Acquisitions Will Beef Up Content"... Pachter

"Next PS Will Have Even Better Launch Line-Up, Current Studios Dominance Will Continue To Grow"... Me !

Hahaha ;) that pretty much sums it up, agreed?!

[Tankbusta40]

@bhai

"both will have mediocre launches like every console launch"-ME

[King_Lothric]

Sounds pretty wishful thinking to me.

[DarXyde]

Of course it does to you. That hardly needs to be said.

I do agree however that I expect a stronger launch lineup than the Xbox One. Microsoft likely understands the importance of early impressions by now, but I also think that means Microsoft may release a year or so after PS5. They're likely planning significant launch or launch window titles in addition to having more powerful hardware--a later launch would allow them to do that.

Not an awful strategy, but I do wonder how that'll play out for them.

[Muzikguy]

You think those will be launch games. HIGHLY unlikely.

[Tazzy]

Halo isn't a new ip it's been out for close to 2 decades.

[Aceman18]

One can only hope they make some good/great games for the next gen.

[strayanalog]

I would be pretty surprised if Microsoft didn't come out swinging on the next Xbox launch. I personally think they've learned a lot this generation with the DRM fiasco, backwards compatibility, investing in gaming (although I don't agree with how that was done), and their supposed new focus on the community. Gen 9 could very well be a great "battle" between the Big 3.

[DonkeyWalrus]

Honestly I don't think the Xbox One ever could have recovered from that disastrous reveal. The launch is probably one of the most important things affecting all future sales of a console. All the negativity surrounding Xbox at the time certainly drove many people who don't particularly care about brand loyalty to just get the PS4. When later buyers are looking to pick up a console, they'll most likely go with what most of their friends have, and statistically it would've been more likely for them to have PS4s. So they totally screwed themselves from the very beginning.

However, they certainly don't want anything like that to happen next time around. I believe they'll definitely put in a lot of effort to having a stellar launch for their next console. But whether or not they succeed obviously also depends on what their competition is doing. It will be interesting, at least in my opinion.

[FinalFantasyFanatic]

The Xone reveal caused so many of my friends who were xbox fans to jump ship and it's only gone downhill over the course of the gen.

[trooper_]

I agree.
Time will tell if they turn things around. Eyes are watching them at this point.

[SpaceRanger]

They’ll probably launch all of them at the same time, say they’re the only console with that level of first party exclusive content that gen, and then fall back into the cycle they’re in right now.

[showtimefolks]

Space

I agree with you one thing they need to learn is to not stack everything in a single year and instead spread it around

[mkis007]

Sony's strategy of releasing most first party from January-September should be a standard for every console maker. There are always plenty of games during the holidays by 3rd party.

[PhoenixUp]

The launch lineup isn’t all that important in the grand scheme of things, especially not compared to the frequency of new exclusive games it receives afterwards

[littletad]

This is true, but it wouldn't hurt. Offering a beefed up Halo Infinity or a new installment in any of their franchises would be a great start up to those who missed it this generation.

[Nebaku]

Yeah okay, you tell yourself that. Try imagining where the Switch would be right now without BOTW, for instance.

The launch lineup's success sets the precedent for whether or not developers who were on the fence support it or not.

[PhoenixUp]

@ Neb

3DS, PS4 & XO didn’t have great launch lineups and that didn’t mean much in the long term

Publishers and developers would support an Xbox console regardless of its launch lineup

[rainslacker]

The initial launch line up isn't that important. There are always early adopters regardless. The most important thing at launch is making sure that there is a positive vibe of great things to come. Having some decent looking games to drive initial interest never hurts.

[BrianOBlivion]

Thank you for your insight Captain Obvious, I wasn't really sure why they would be buying up game dev studios...
/s

[thatguyhayat]

Loool i dont know why but this reminded me of that south park episode of captain hindsight

[Venoxn4g]

there is one thing a good launch with many games..and another thing to have a steady flow of good games..I am not sure about second with Microsoft..

[showtimefolks]

That's where ms need to learn the most from Sony. It's not just about string launch or strong first year. But buying the studios is in my opinion a step in the right direction

[Tankbusta40]

I still don't trust Phil Spencer to pull it off. The Xbox division needs someone who wants to put games first. Phil would rather make elite controllers, controllers for the disabled etc.

[Goldby]

Hey man, the adaptive controller is a brilliant move to allow more people to game, but yes, they need to invest more in the games, more quality games, including Sp and them more spread out throughout the gen. And I hope to God they don't think to lock a brand new title exclusively to gamepass

[Tankbusta40]

The adaptive controller is something for less than 1% of current Xbox gamers(unless people without disabilities buy it to us it as more of a cheat device). Catering to a minority(same with the elite controller) is foolish. Everyone wants to play games so that should always be the focus of any video game company.

[Goldby]

@tank you just said priority is that everyone wants to play games.

How can someone plat the game if they physically can't use the normal controller? Again the adaptive controller and elite are two very different things. Elite is optional, adaptive is required for some players.

[chiefJohn117]

Riiiight because the same people that make the hardware make the software and have to choose one over the other 😒

[MrSec84]

Considering most of those Studios would have only just started working on games they probably won't be ready for a minimum of 2 or 3 years.

The Initiative didn't even have a prototyping team at E3, let alone the resources to go into full production on a new game.
Ninja Theory seems like they may have had about 80 people who could be in the early stages of making something new, so maybe by the time the next XBox is revealed they'll be able to show it and potentially release within the launch window of that system.

Playground Games are about the only studio I would have any faith could have something like a great new Fable game ready for launch, but maybe they will want to have a Forza Horizon game ready for next Xbox's launch in 2020. I doubt they'd want to be releasing Fable and Horizon on the same yearly schedule.

Undead Labs and the guys making We Happy Few are small Studios, even if they go on hiring sprees they wouldn't be starting full production on anything until they've prototyped and beefed up their resources, unless they're doing more of the same again.

Halo Infinite is likely a launch game given 343 hasn't released anything since 2015 and Gears is Microsoft's big Fall 2019 title for XBox One/X.

Microsoft are moving in the right direction, but they aren't where they need to be for most of these studios to be ready to release a big blockbuster game each by Fall 2019 or 2020, unless it's Forza 8 or Gears 5, maybe a small Rare game.
I'd expect 2021 or 2022 when we start to see the fruits of those studio acquisitions show results.

Maybe Ninja Theory could have a cool action title like Devil May Cry or Bayonetta and Playground holds off releasing Horizon 5 for a great new Fable launch for next XBox in 2020.
It's also be awesome if Rare had a third person none-Kinect Sport game, Banjo, Conker or Perfect Dark then.

Those games would make for an awesome launch lineup for next XBox IMO.

[King_Lothric]

At this stage this is just pure assumption and a mind trip.

[Gaming4Life1981]

I think xbox one had a good launch line up but yea this one should be better.

[DarkZane]

Usually, Xbox launch with a slightly better lineup (but barely). Then it all goes to hell very soon after and the amount of exclusives they release just drop severly. Meanwhile, Sony's launch lineup isn't stellar, but they keep releasing more and more exclusives as we advance into the generation and they eventually just bury Microsoft.

[capjacksparrow]

I'm looking forward to seeing what they do with their new studios. Their perspicacious attitude toward advancing their standing in the industry has me curious. My question is; will they allow their studios a bit more free reign (a la Playstation) or continue what they do with their current studios? As a creative mind, I know I'd like a bit more freedom, it helps the industry grow. If it's the former, I'll probably pick up the next gen Xbox, if not, then I'll pass. I'm looking forwarded to seeing what they do though!

[BadElf]

If launch day is -Halo Infinite
-Banjo Kazooie 3
-New IP
-What ever third parties have, especially Bethesda with Starfield

That would be an outstanding launch. Then Fable 4 in launch year? And whatever else they got cookin

[thexmanone]

These launch titles won`t matter, they will be playable on this gen also. As Its been said many times, everything moving forward will be BC.

[omegaheat]

Pachter, we don't need you to project the obvious.

[kevnb]

new studios yes, but they cant just poop out incredible games. It takes years to make them and they are only starting.

[nismo370]

Gamingbolt desperate for clicks

[Muzikguy]

Pachter again? Lol “recent studio acquisitions will beef up content”..... wow what a genius 🙄

[pinkystinkinc]

suX Box

[kassler]

Those studios have some pressure on them to deliver 90+ metacritic games.

[chiefJohn117]

No they don't, they have pressure to sell well lol.

[chiefJohn117]

Patcher always say the most idiotic things or the most obvious things. Tell us something we don't know for a change

[Tazzy]

I highly doubt he's right he's wrong 85% of the time Ninja Theory developed Hellbalde and the game hit 700,000 sales a few weeks ago they have the most powerful console for now but no numbers on sales maybe 4-5 million sold if that. You can have the worlds most powerful console and new developers but it you're not putting out major games that get rated great you're in trouble when is the last game Microsoft put out a game from first party that got rated great???? Sony and Nintendo have been putting out great games that are selling like hot cakes it shows Microsoft makes their money in software coming in third in the console war is possible and it can have them go third party they need new ips get the NFL Fever series back get the Goldeneye license etc etc revamp those games.