250°

Baldur's Gate 3 'Isn't Going to be on Game Pass', Insists Larian Boss

In a new interview with IGN, Larian Studios boss Swen Vincke responded to questions about Baldur's Gate 3 being on Xbox Game Pass, explaining why the best RPG of 2023 won't be on Microsoft's subscription service anytime soon.

gold_drake133d ago

because it literally sold 10 mio copies before it even hit the xbox store.

darthv72133d ago

And it's sold pretty well since. It's the 2nd and 3rd top seller on the XB store.

-Mika-133d ago

Also to add to your comment, Baldur Gate 3 is the 13th most played game on Xbox at the moment and it continues to move up the chart day by day. I just wanted to add that info because I already know a certain group of people are going to run in here and say Xbox fans don't buy games.

Falloutxii133d ago

13th isn't exactly a great place... plus that can mean anything, for example, first place could have sold 100 copies and the rest follow through.

VenomUK133d ago

What the Larian Studios boss is saying is that Baldur's Gate III is worth paying for.

-Mika-133d ago

@fallout - 13th is a great place. The games ahead of it are NBA,Madden and the popular F2P titles. For a single player game that is not on gamepass to reach that high is great. It performing very well on Xbox and I know it hurts u because u can't use its stats as console bait.

dumahim133d ago

It's apparently the #1 played game on Xbox now.

https://twitter.com/Cromwel...

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 133d ago
darthv72133d ago

No... but that didnt stop GP users from thinking it would. Even as a GP user myself, I don't expect EVERY new game to come to the service. I like it when they do but i know to keep my expectations in check. something many younger gamers do not know how to do.

And the games that do come to it, I will still buy if i really enjoy them. I've bought like 6 games in the last couple of months due to GP so its actually costing me $$ instead of saving me.

shinoff2183133d ago

Same. Anybgame I've played off gp or ps plus, if I like it I'll track down a physical copy.

EvertonFC133d ago

That's why the younger gamer joins GP, they are not willing to pay £70

maniacmayhem133d ago

**but that didnt stop GP users from thinking it would**

I don't think any GP users young or old thought it would outside of possibly a very small few that maybe asked the question, "is it coming to GP?" And that is still definitely different than thinking it will come to GP.

As the article pointed out Larien made it clear from the very beginning that BG3 was not coming to GP. So this is why I have to ask, why even make an article about something that was clear from the beginning of not happening?

Jin_Sakai133d ago

“Baldur's Gate 3 'Isn't Going to be on Game Pass', Insists Larian Boss; "We made a big game, so I think there's a fair price to be paid for that."

Exactly how it should be. Props to Larian boss for telling the truth.

Tody_ZA133d ago (Edited 133d ago )

Refreshing to hear a proud developer stand their ground on a quality product and speak the truth. Can't wait to play it after Spider-Man 2.

Futureshark133d ago

I'lL wAIt FoR iT toBE oN gAMepASs..... oh nO!!

FullmetalRoyale133d ago

I bought it as soon as it showed up on the store. I've only purchased three games at $70, and this is the first one that I didn't regret after a few days. About twenty hours in, myself.

recoctimocassirnff132d ago

Glad you seem to be having fun with it. I couldn't put it down until I finished my first run, which prob took about 120 hours...

Then I immediately started another run on tactician.

FullmetalRoyale132d ago

Nice. Yeah I've gotten through the Goblin Camp, and there have already been so many choices that have been interesting. Enough where I am already thinking of additional playthroughs myself.

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290°

Microsoft’s Surface and Xbox hardware revenues take a big hit in Q3

Microsoft just posted the third quarter of its 2024 fiscal financial results. The software maker made $61.9 billion in revenue and a net income of $21.9 billion during Q3. Revenue is up 17 percent, and net income has increased by 20 percent.

Read Full Story >>
theverge.com
darthv721d 9h ago

Xbox content + services up 62% while hardware down 31%... seems about right with the way they tout you don't need the hardware to play. People can play on their phones or smart tv or other means. I don't hardly play on my consoles directly since getting devices like the logitech g-cloud and ps portal. Which is to also say I have been playing more digital than physical because of these devices.

solideagle20h ago

you should apply in MS PR team buddy, I think you will do a great job in my humble opinion :)

Sonic188117h ago

I thought darthv72 and Obscure_Observer already work for Microsoft 🤔

dveio17h ago

MS: "Xbox services and content without AB up 1%, with AB up 62%. Hardware down 31%. In total a loss of 350 mill."

darthv72: "Seems about right."

MS: "Excuse m ..."

darthv72: "I don't hardly play on my consoles directly."

MS:

Lightning7712h ago

What he said was facts. How he plays games is no concern of you. Don't get too mad about it.

Cacabunga19h ago

I can tell people like you are an absolute minority..

If service is up means their fans and fanboys accepted this model and subscribed to it. The near future you will see a big decline because the service is saturated.

darthv726h ago

to you it may seem like the minority... but your bubble is shrinking because more and more are following suit. convenience is a hell of a drug and its also why physical sales only amount to 30% of overall game sales. times are changing, you either get with them or you get left behind.

neutralgamer19921h ago

Darth

30% physical sales: yet Phil and xbox division are in a rush go give up on that 30%. they don't have any right to give up any piece of the pie since the control such a little of the pie to begin with

also, the market is clearly speaking that the model Xbox is pushing isn't working right now the keyword being right now. you are right about freedom to play anywhere so i hope they put their games on steam

shinoff218319h ago

But that's been ms for years. When things aren't going their way they try to change the way things are said. For instance console sales are down, they stop telling how many sold instead telling us how many hours spent in halo or headshots. So it makes sense console sales down just say people are playing on more devices then previous. What they won't say is how many xbox players jumped ship to ps5.

Cacabunga18h ago

Hardware sales are so bad that Sony and Nintendo are blowing the sales off the water with their hardware.

If Xbox are losers, others aren’t..
Xbox already tried everything with Xbox live then subscriptions went down so much that they had to find something else. Their fans subscribed then reached saturation rather quickly.

Hardware and exclusive games is where it’s at! Keep gamers excited, announce decent software and people will support you

itsmebryan13h ago

@shin
Well keep it simple Sony 's operating income is down 26% and Microsoft's is up 32%. No MS spin there, just facts. 😉
Cheers

S2Killinit6h ago

MS is after diminishing consoles as a medium. They want to destroy this market because they couldnt win. MS’s vision is to dissolve console gaming.

romulus2312h ago

Odd that a company that touts you dont need the hardware to play is already touting another console in the works.

darthv7212h ago

They are not reliant on the HW but still want to maintain a presence (no matter how small) is a good thing. It shows commitment to the craft. It reminds me of SNK and how they made games for their own hardware (Neo Geo) while also making them for others because they knew there was a market to do so. They knew they would sell more to others but also sell to their own niche fan base.

TheEroica6h ago(Edited 6h ago)

Perfectly reasonable post down voted by insecure corporation friendly folk.... But not gamers. Real gamer want accessibility and ease of acquisition for all.... Company shills are the only ones still telling us that hardware locking people from games is good for us.

Chevalier1h ago

@Darth

You should stop parroting metrics like an idiot without context.

"Xbox content and services revenue grew 62% in Q3 from a year earlier, “driven by 61 points of net impact” from the purchase of the third-party video game giant, Microsoft said."

61 of the 62% was from their merger so net increase is ONLY 1%

https://www.mesaonline.org/...

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 1h ago
purple10122h ago

Xbox hardware revenue tanks to lowest point of Xbox Series generation

Profchaos22h ago

I'm not surprised surface is struggling they aren't relevant anymore

DOMination-11h ago

In the last two years they've started exiting the consumer market altogether. All of the newest Surface products are business models only. They can't seem to work out what they want to do with it.

XBManiac21h ago

Too expensive hardware when others offer the same or more for less? Good work, Green Team.

SimpleDad21h ago(Edited 21h ago)

"Despite some early successes for Xbox games on rival platforms, Xbox hardware is down by a massive 31 percent this quarter."
"Without Activision Blizzard, Microsoft’s overall gaming revenue would have actually declined this quarter."
"Xbox content and services would have only been up a single percent without Activision Blizzard..."
"It looks like next quarter is going to be a similar story for gaming at Microsoft, too."

That is crazy... so A/B/K is carrying the whole Xbox gaming.
Oh and Microsoft will be fine. Windows, Office and Cloud are growing with each pc purchase.

purple10120h ago

Activision: "we gonna need a bigger rucksack/backpack please"

Microsoft: "why's that"

Activision: "to carry yo' weak ass'

Profchaos20h ago(Edited 20h ago)

Top brass have also wanted to start seeing returns on the 100 billion they have put into various Xbox related moves so seeing more multiplatform games is highly likely especially from abk

It's basically saying that PlayStation is the reason Xbox is afloat right now thinks to Ps5 versions of COD

Kornholic19h ago

So basically PS and PC gamers' money is keeping Xbox on life support.

MrDead12h ago

The only growth MS will get out of the console industry is if it supports it's rivals platforms. Xbox is a pointless machine now. I can see them on a big push for live next, and they won't give up on trying to buy Steam.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 12h ago
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80°

Razer Kishi Ultra Review - Remote Play and Mobile Gaming Goes XL

PSLS writes: I have traveled across the country using the Razer Kishi Ultra in airports and hotels for both PlayStation Remote Play and mobile gaming in general, and I am thoroughly impressed.

Read Full Story >>
playstationlifestyle.net
150°

Sony Patents To Prevent You From In-Game Harassment By Reading Your Emotions

A new patent recently published by Sony wants to gather biometric data of gamers to track whether one is being harassed using AI tools.

Profchaos1d 22h ago (Edited 1d 22h ago )

I hope this is one of those patents that never comes to fruition.

I already dislike the fact you can pay a significant amount for a online service buy associated games and content on said service and get banned from that service over potentially a misunderstanding the bans are already handed out for flimsy reasons

I'd rather see money invested in a ban that simply removes the offensive players ability to communicate with unknown players allow them to continue party chats with friends but not with Joe blow on cod.

exputers1d 18h ago

Agreed. Blizzard recently banned a college Overwatch 2 player who's dependent for saying "shit." Pretty harsh.

Profchaos1d 3h ago (Edited 1d 3h ago )

How rediculas really. You can't say a word that's allowed in most PG films and prime time TV but the game is based around killing the enemy team using guns, explosives etc.

It's just backwards.

just_looken1d 5h ago

What your talking about is called block list

In 2006 a spaceship dropped of the playstation 3/xbox 360 i say that that generation was the last great gen with game functions/tech that has yet to comeback

Anyhow the playstation 3 if you block listed a id they could not talk to you in chatroom with either text or voice. But that was pre mind fucked 2018 when people were more human than sheep.

But hey gta 6 is coming out billion dollar budget without a single player custom character creator and without singeplayer coop off/online something saints row 1-3 had on the xbox 360.

z2g1d 15h ago

Take my social security and bank account numbers too! Here’s a picture of my wife and our address.

phoenixwing1d 14h ago

Cmon where's the pictures of your children. Don't hold out on them.

H91d 14h ago

At this rate I feel Sony will eventually sell a room to play games in it where they can monitor your every breath

jambola1d 11h ago

I genuinely get a bit worried sometimes when a friend says something that could be offensive In a party
Because I have no trouble believing some bans would happen when in a private party for saying something wrong

SegaSaturn6691d 13h ago

I want them to censor erotic content by measuring my groin temperature so i dont get too distracted while playing black ops 2.

Popsicle1d 13h ago

Terrible idea. Not only do I not consent to providing my biometric data, the potential for mishandling biometric data is almost a certainty. Positive stress and negative stress can produce similar changes in biometrics. Interpreting the precise emotion a person is feeling is not only invasive but could be easily misconstrued. I hope this never comes to fruition.

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