Xbox and Bethesda Showcase 2022 | Showcase and Extended Stream links in 1st post

[layten]

Microsoft not a well managed company is the hottest of hot takes.

[Captain Kelsten]

1 minute ago, layten said:

Microsoft not a well managed company is the hottest of hot takes.

 

[Majora]

I feel like people have been saying 2023 will be the year we really start seeing the fruits of Microsoft's acquisitions for ages now, and that certainly seems to be the case. Redfall, Forza and Starfield in the first half of 2023 alone is a pretty strong line-up.

 

It's not like Sony are immune to showing things way too far in advance either. God of War may just about sneak into 2022 when it was basically presented as a launch window title before PS5's launch and we've been given trailers for the next Spiderman and Wolverine games when they appear to be years out.

 

2022 is a rough year for first party titles for Xbox, no doubt about that. It does feel like it should get markedly better from next year though.

[SMD]

 

7 minutes ago, RubberJohnny said:

I think the twelve months thing shows Microsofts strategy has been a bit underhanded in retrospect - show all these CG trailers to imply loads is coming when you launch your new console, hiding the fact that you have fuck-all games in the first, most important couple of years, and then once people have bought in under false pretenses pull the rug away, "everything is 2023 or 2024 baybee".

 

Sony and Nintendo can do 3-4 big releases a year consistently at a high level of quality because whatever you think of them they're very well managed companies. Microsoft is er... not that.

 

Microsoft just rapidly expanded their studios/franchises and most of the initial slate of next gen titles were compromised by covid. Sony do 3-4 big releases a year and have slashed their smaller studios/offering so if you don't want to buy Gran Theft Turismo there aren't a lot of options around from Sony.

[Captain Kelsten]

On the one hand, I'm very glad some of these seemingly smaller titles, which many would otherwise dismiss or not even know about, are given some air time due to the showcase and due to Gamepass.

 

On the other hand, I don't want to play any of them.

 

 

[Haribokart]

Every year for like a decade MS and Phil tout the usual "this year is finally THE BIG ONE with all the huge exclusives" BS and it turns out to be nothing.

 

Every. Single. Year.

[Stanley]

Does anyone know when Deathloop is being released on Xbox? Considering it’s their biggest title in 2022 I thought they’d at least mention it. 

[SMD]

Just now, Stanley said:

Does anyone know when Deathloop is being released on Xbox? Considering it’s their biggest title in 2022 I thought they’d at least mention it. 

 

If it's anything like the Tomb Raider exclusivity they're probably waiting for it to finish to even start marketing it? It launched in September so in theory they could go for a November release to give it a couple of months marketing before Christmas.

[Stanley]

Just now, SMD said:

 

If it's anything like the Tomb Raider exclusivity they're probably waiting for it to finish to even start marketing it? It launched in September so in theory they could go for a November release to give it a couple of months marketing before Christmas.

Ack, I just know I’ll end up buying it on PS5. 

[SMD]

Just now, Stanley said:

Ack, I just know I’ll end up buying it on PS5. 

 

The recent sales tempted me but honestly even without Gamepass I just prefer playing on my Xbox this gen.

[Kevvy Metal]

I think the whole actual point of that showcase was less a demonstration of all the games Xbox Studios have in production and aren't yet ready to be shown and more look at all this stuff on Gamepass. 

[RubberJohnny]

10 minutes ago, SMD said:

Sony do 3-4 big releases a year and have slashed their smaller studios/offering so if you don't want to buy Gran Theft Turismo there aren't a lot of options around from Sony.

 

I dunno, I think that makes sense in the same way first parties don't need a slate of little indie XBLA games like they did in 2005, that segment of the market is incredibly healthy with loads of offerings and if something looks promising you can just buy exclusivity on it. The AA segment has also expanded to be very healthy and probably outnumbers the AAA games, so you don't need a little first party slate trying to bootstrap it as a thing like you did in 2013.

[Boothjan]

Didn't get chance to watch it last night, so I've just caught up with it.

 

I think I'm in a minority here, but I actually thought that was a good show?  Plenty to look forward to, all of it on Game Pass, and I thought Starfield looked great.

 

Guess I'm just easily pleased!

[SaintAnselm]

It had a decent amount of variety as well, it was very colourful for a MS that’s for sure.

[deerokus]

22 minutes ago, Kevvy Metal said:

I think the whole actual point of that showcae was less a demonstration of all the games Xbox Studios have in production and aren't yet ready to be shown and more look at all this stuff on Gamepass. 

That's it. Think it's still hard to get the head around the way Xbox is just a way of accessing gamepass for their business now.

 

It's kind of like it Netflix or Disney did a trailer reel of stuff coming to their services in the next year. Wouldn't show things they are working on for further out.

 

It's pity in a way though as you want to see something more dramatic now and again.

[bear]

As a standalone show it would have been fine but it did suffer because of the fact MS have announced so much of what they are making years in advance. If this truly represents the start of them moving away from CG announcements for games that are years away and instead going towards a more Nintendo-ish approach of not saying much until theres an actual game there to show off then I'm fully on board with that. 

 

The Riot stuff is potentially huge but doesn't seem to have gotten a lot of attention . I've never been a massive online multiplayer person as I've only ever had so-so internet access but they are obviously massive games. Is Valorant going to be released on the Microsoft store or will you need to sign into your Microsoft account through whatever launcher Valorant uses? Either way it means that by this time next year your Gamepass/MS account is going to get you benefits in a lot of the biggest games in the world. Streaming Fortnite, unlocks in Riot games, presumably a bunch of unlocks in Warzone 2, Overwatch etc. 

[Kevvy Metal]

I thought it was a good approach. 

I'm kinda getting massively fed up of all these platform-holders or publishers having these showcases with a CGI trailer - usually made by an outside studio like axis - when the game is totally in pre-production and is years out. Like all that's happened so far is one developer has gone New Folder > Rename > "New Fable Game" and that's it and it's years and years out. 

[RubberJohnny]

I'm all for only showing gameplay for titles a year in advance, but switching to it after several years of CG trailers for titles apparently stretching years ahead is probably the worst way of doing it, because not only is there a list of titles as long as your arm that don't show up, but next years show is also going to be without surprises because everything has already been announced.

 

I also see something a bit cynical in the timing, I mean the complaint about CG trailers was there in 2020, it's clear they didn't dare do this in 2021 though because it would reveal that without the Bethesda acquisition that year they had fucking nothing coming.

[deerokus]

They did do it in 2021

[Flanders]

I think part of the problem with all the first party games that were announced too early is that the slate looked decent if you assumed that was a first wave of Xbox Series games coming out 2021-23, but it becomes quite a bit less inspiring if that’s actually the main roadmap through to the end of 2024. 
 

It’s putting a lot on the likes of Hellblade and Avowed to be flagship hype titles when those should really be the garnish to heavier hitters from bigger teams.

[Isaac]

1 hour ago, RubberJohnny said:

Nintendo can do 3-4 big releases a year

 

 

That's a load of tosh. Unless you count remakes/rereleases as 'big releases'.

[SMD]

Are we gonna pretend now that Nintendo aren't the most prolific first party publisher?

[RubberJohnny]

1 hour ago, Isaac said:

 

That's a load of tosh. Unless you count remakes/rereleases as 'big releases'.

 

2022 has Pokemon: Arceus, Kirby: The Forgotten Land, Bayonetta 3, Splatoon 3, and Pokemon: Scarlet, and that's with BotW 2 getting delayed to 2023.

 

EDIT: And Xenoblade 3.

 

None are remakes or rereleases.

[LaveDisco]

I think the Hot Take of a badly managed MS games division is spot on I'm afraid.

 

Last gen, 

MS ran Bungie into the ground and they left, and gave their crown jewels to 343, who at best have diminishing returns. And MS never stopped them releasing that trailer. They ran Rare into the ground with kinect, and then stuck them on a GaaS. They took Lionhead, and ran it into the ground, so that everyone left, then after successfuly ousting youknowwho they switched them to make a GaaS and then shut 'em down.

 

They bought FASA in '99 and shut them in 2007, they bought Anvil in 2000 and shut them in 2006, bought Ensemble in 2001 and closed them in 2008, bought Twisted pixel in 2011 and they split in 2015, Bought Press Play in 2012 and closed them in 2016, 

 

Nintendo and Sony, for all their, many, many flaws, give off a far better sense of fostering their talent. 

 

[footle]

15 minutes ago, LaveDisco said:

I think the Hot Take of a badly managed MS games division is spot on I'm afraid.

 

Last gen, 

MS ran Bungie into the ground and they left, and gave their crown jewels to 343, who at best have diminishing returns. And MS never stopped them releasing that trailer. They ran Rare into the ground with kinect, and then stuck them on a GaaS. They took Lionhead, and ran it into the ground, so that everyone left, then after successfuly ousting youknowwho they switched them to make a GaaS and then shut 'em down.

 

They bought FASA in '99 and shut them in 2007, they bought Anvil in 2000 and shut them in 2006, bought Ensemble in 2001 and closed them in 2008, bought Twisted pixel in 2011 and they split in 2015, Bought Press Play in 2012 and closed them in 2016, 

 

Nintendo and Sony, for all their, many, many flaws, give off a far better sense of fostering their talent. 

 

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=sony+studio+closures

[Radish]

17 minutes ago, RubberJohnny said:

 

2022 has Pokemon: Arceus, Kirby: The Forgotten Land, Bayonetta 3, Splatoon 3, and Pokemon: Scarlet, and that's with BotW 2 getting delayed to 2023.

 

None are remakes or rereleases.

 

I mean, Nintendo don't develop the Pokemon games, Bayonetta 3 has been in development hell for years and Kirby seemed like a decent family game. The other game you mentioned was also pushed out of the year due to development hell. Hardly a ringing endorsement for managing their games division well. 

 

2 minutes ago, footle said:

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=sony+studio+closures

 

If you have a point you should probably try making it. 

[Isaac]

24 minutes ago, RubberJohnny said:

 

2022 has Pokemon: Arceus, Kirby: The Forgotten Land, Bayonetta 3, Splatoon 3, and Pokemon: Scarlet, and that's with BotW 2 getting delayed to 2023.

 

None are remakes or rereleases.

 

Bayonetta 3 in 2022 is cute, let's see how that works out.

 

Nintendo don't make the Pokemon games.

[RubberJohnny]

9 minutes ago, Radish said:

I mean, Nintendo don't develop the Pokemon games, Bayonetta 3 has been in development hell for years and Kirby seemed like a decent family game. The other game you mentioned was also pushed out of the year due to development hell. Hardly a ringing endorsement for managing their games division well. 

 

I mean we can include second-party partnerships though, or we're forced to say MS Flight Sim doesn't count because it's by Asobo, or Forza Horizon pre-5 doesn't count because Playground independent, or Spiderman didn't count for Playstation in 2018.

 

Knowing you have a gap in a year and arranging partnerships to fill a release hole years in advance falls under the "good management" thing. Microsoft having to buy Bethesda in 2021 because they had no new games in 2022 is er...

[Isaac]

3 minutes ago, RubberJohnny said:

Microsoft having to buy Bethesda in 2021 because they had no new games in 2022 is er...

 

Making the largest acquisition in video game history 'because you had no games in 2022'.

 

A take brought to you by the guy who said that Microsoft 'is not a well managed company'.

 

I think business analysis isn't your forte mate.

[Kevvy Metal]

1 hour ago, RubberJohnny said:

I'm all for only showing gameplay for titles a year in advance, but switching to it after several years of CG trailers for titles apparently stretching years ahead is probably the worst way of doing it, because not only is there a list of titles as long as your arm that don't show up, but next years show is also going to be without surprises because everything has already been announced.

 

I also see something a bit cynical in the timing, I mean the complaint about CG trailers was there in 2020, it's clear they didn't dare do this in 2021 though because it would reveal that without the Bethesda acquisition that year they had fucking nothing coming.

 

Showing game play for stuff that's too early results in a debacle like Sonic Frontiers - which as someone involved in the development of both Crackdown 2 & 3 - looks absolutely right for a game that's months and months away. Especially open-world games can look very messy with lots of gameplay sand-box experiements all over the place, and it can all come together as an actually game quick quickly and late in the day.