The Ascent Dev: Microsoft Is Very Approachable; Xbox Series X Is Easy to Develop for, Leap Is Huge

The developers of The Ascent spoke of Microsoft's approachability. They also discussed their experience with the powerful and easy to develop for Xbox Series X console.

[ccgr]

Can't wait to try the Xbox Series X (who names these things?)

[purple101]

Series x impies straight away that there will be more in the series. Prehaps both higher and lower this time arround.

[sushimama]

It does not imply that at all.

Big leap? Wow so big. Easy to develop their top-down game for? Made it so easy for us. Microsoft? Very approachable. Phil Spencer? Wears pants and says nice things. Greenburg? Can eat a bigmac in one bite. Next gen tech? Outstanding.

Don't think I can bring myself to read this cringe.

[Atom666]

@sushi

Series (noun)
Definition: a number of things or events of the same class coming one after another in spatial or temporal succession

Sure implies it to those who speak English. They've come out and said the name is just "Xbox" and this one is the Series X version. You figure it out.

[sushimama]

@echo

That was from Sony talking to investors in a Corporate Strategy meeting. You know, infomation coming directly from the source itself... Sony.

It wasn't from some no-name Dev getting forced to say something nice about their Overlord Microsoft. It's easy to stop myself getting excited for that.

@ Atom666, does that mean that the next console after that will be Xbox series Y ???
The name sucks man. They could have chosen a better one IMO.

[umair_s51]

This site has a big PlayStation fanbase. There is bias against Xbox.

[SyntheticForm]

@sushi

Take a break.

Your tone is way too aggressive about something so trivial.

[Atom666]

@sushi

Maybe Series Y.

I suspect Series S for lower model. Series C for a streaming only version? Series D for a digital version? It allows for multiple products in the console line for the future.

After this "gen" I would look at something like BMW as their guide for the kind of naming conventions I suspect they'll go with.

It's a different naming method for consoles, but quite normal for many other products (phones, tablets, cars, etc). I'm staring at my wife's Apple Watch Series 3 right now.

[rainslacker]

If that's MS intent, it usually makes sense to announce what the series part of it all means. Otherwise, they're wasting valuable marketing time that they could be setting up that whole concept now. If they wait too long, it just makes any other offerings seem like they're not part of the master plan.

[Atom666]

@rain

Maybe in some circumstances, but in this market they had to lead with the "most powerful" product. Any discussion of weaker-spec'd machines would take focus away from the power narrative they've been pushing for 3+ years.

They might be able to start talking about other versions soon, but for my money, I'd be telling them to keep this solely focused on X for now.

[AuraAbjure]

I agree with you Purple101 about the name's implication.

[Pickledpepper]

@echo
I think you may have touched a nerve lol.

[SyntheticForm]

I really want to see more of Hellblade 2. I really enjoyed the game and got 100% completion on PS4 and Xbox.

Hopefully they show some gameplay soon - don't care what build it is - I'm ready to see.

[Vasto]

Game looks awesome. Good to hear from the devs talking about Series X.

[neomahi]

Approachable? That's because Microsoft's desperate for whatever they can get. Does this sway me to get an XboneseX? Nope. Still getting a PS5 at launch.

[Ausbo]

I don’t think anyone is implying this is a system seller. That’s halo infinite

[mariopasta]

Yeah, I'm not sure Halo is a system seller anymore.

[galmi]

you guys really have issues

[SpeedDemon]

Good for you, im getting the X.

[NeoGamer232]

At this point neither Sony or Microsoft has swayed me.

I am leaning XSX only because of The Ascent. But, that is precarious at best.

Unlike your "I am already going Sony even though I know nothing of what they are offering" approach, I am waiting to see what the real games that are going to be offered are. I have the luxury that I will end up buying both probably. It is just the when that is up for questioning.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

Go back 7 years. I guess Sony was desperate for whatever they can get since they courted all those indies and AA's right? Its desperation with MS Fantastic logic....

[SyntheticForm]

It's like nobody remembers that launch. Sony didn't just 'have' indies back then, they had an intense interest in cultivating relationships with indie developers and getting their platform out to them. They even had some sort of heart logo dedicated to indies and their devs. So indies were and still are, big for them.

Flower, a PS3 port - that game was even touted - and they were subsequently (and rightfully) taken to the ridicule grinder. Sound Shapes, Resogun (good game) Contrast, Blacklight Retribution, Ho-mother f'n-hokum, and it goes on and on.

The thirst for Microsoft to step up their first party game is real, but using indies to malign the other brand is a double-edged sword argument if there ever was one. Also, technology is getting better and indie games are generally getting better.

[Imortus_san]

They sure are desperate being number 1 company in the world while Sony competes with panpers.

[masterfox]

*sees its game* , yeah that's a huuuugeee leap -_-

The custscenes in realtime look effing great not sure why in hell they went Isometric, damn huge opportunity lost there, guess didn't want to create an instant hit.

[ElementX]

Maybe they wanted to create an isometric game, it's their decision, you can take it or leave it. How does the player perspective decide what is an "instant hit"?

[Sol4ris]

You can see we are close to a next gen console release, just by reading the comments section.
It's all here:
-Blind fanboys (check)
- Hypocrisy of the highest order (check)
- Complete lack of objective comprehension (check)
- Inexplicable hatred towards a piece of plastic or product (check)

Yep this is the year folks, next gen is coming. D

[SyntheticForm]

That's all gen long around here.

Welcome.

[Edgelordsupreme]

It's hitting a fever pitch, the absolute hysteria around the UE5 demo was a pretty good indicator of that.

[JesusBuiltmyHotrod]

Not sure this is worth an article..

[zarbor]

If you have to speak about it, then its clearly a problem. You never hear developers having to mention approach ability on other platforms. Why? Not even an issue.

[Edgelordsupreme]

Thats not true, the early days of the PS4 there was a lot of talk about how easy it was to work with Sony. The PS3 launch was an unmitigated disaster, and Sony put in a tonne of work to let people know that the PS4 wouldn't be the same thing and it showed.

[AuraAbjure]

That's great I'm glad it's easier to develop for. And it's impressive such a high quality game is being made by less than a dozen people.

[SLiSH83]

That controller tho on ps5 🙄

The deep dive wasn’t for consumers 🙄

The exclusives tho 🙄

All your big hitters are coming on PS4 well your 2 that have been hyped for the last 3 E3’s.

I don’t see how sucker punch will have a game ready for ps5 in the next 3 years. It’s been 7 years in between releases for them on PS4

Gran turismo skipped an entire gen, if you wanna count Sport I guess I’ll give you half credit.

All their games are all 3rd person over the shoulder cut and paste games.

Is that Horizon Zero Dawn.....Days Gone......GOW...... switch the character and back ground and they all could work and no one would know

[Hakuoro]

What about Dream or Death Stranding or Concrete Genie or Gravity Rush or Everybody Golf or Astro Bot Rescue Mission or Bloodborne or Until Dawn or Ratchet and Clank or Spider-Man or Detroit or Nioh?

There are tons more games they have published this gen as well as a whole VR library. But keep pretending that Sony only makes three games or whatever it is you mistakenly believe.

[SLiSH83]

Death stranding is on PC, can’t use that one 🤓

Oh wait go ahead I forgot the “exclusive but it’s on PC too” only counts for Sony fans.

When Microsoft publishes a game on Microsoft Xbox and or Microsoft Windows it’s deemed bad.

Microsoft has 180 their position from Xbox one launch to where they are Pro consumer/ pro choice and they still get dumped on.

And you can thank Microsoft for the ps5 streaming tech you will me enjoying soon.

[Edgelordsupreme]

With the exception of Days Gone, The Order, Knack and Killzone all of Sonys first party software has been stellar. I don't think anyone is wrong for having high hopes for Sony to continue that trend. That being said I also hope MS and Xbox improve and make an attempt to improve their first party output, its all entertainment I dont really care what the source of it is, I just want to be entertained.

[CaptainHenry916]

So what do you call all of Microsoft first party exclusives? Oh wait do they even have a lot of exclusives? The best exclusive on the Xbox is Ori but you can play that on Nintendo Switch.

[SLiSH83]

I call them games 🙄

I don’t care where it’s published on, if it’s a game that interest me, I’ll play it.

I’m just annoyed at the constant goal post moving Sony fans do.