I pre-order any game that takes my fancy, and pay whatever that entails for the privilege. My favourite games, Gears of War for example, I always buy the Collector's Edition anyway, and these days that costs around £200. Indeed, the Collectors Edition that I bought most recently was Doom: The Dark Ages, and that cost £200. However, I also have the Collector's Editions of Death Stranding 2: Death on the Beach and Ghost of Yotei on pre-order for the PlayStation, and they both cost £220. And I also have the Collector's Edition of Elden Ring: Nightregin on pre-order, and that cost around £200 (from memory, I think).
My point is, if I want a game enough, I'll pay for the best version of it, and I tend to pre-order too. I did want the Collector's Edition of Expedition 33, but unfortunately missed out on it, and so am playing it on Game Pass instead, which is unusual for me.
What I would say, though, is that my backlog of games is now so extensive, that I know I will quite possibly not get round to some of them that I bought at full-price. So, in the past year or so, I have tried to limit myself much more than I used to, and now only buy those games I truly want to play pretty much immediately. Ultimately, I don't see this changing too much with games increasing in price, but I hope that the (very small!) sensible part of me realises that I cannot hope to play everything, and that I cut back just a little bit on what I buy, though I highly doubt it... 🤪
Glad the game has done well, though I am yet to play it. It is on my very extensive list though!
Out of curiosity, if people were to rank the following 3 games in order from best to worst, in which order would they put them:
Atomfall Avowed South of Midnight
I'm currently playing Expedition 33, and will follow that with Doom: Dark Ages. What I play after that is likely to be one of the above 3, so I'm curious to know which one people think is best...
I'm very much looking forward to the showcase, however, it surprises me that nothing has leaked as yet, which makes me wonder whether anything of real significance will be shown.
I am expecting to see Gears of War: Reloaded , though I am not expecting to be blown away by it as it is little more than a performance upgrade for those of us on the Xbox. Still, Microsoft will want to shout about it because the only reason it exists is so that it can be sold on the PlayStation.
We might get to see some more of E-Day , maybe even some gameplay, though again, I won't be getting too excited over it as I don't expect it to release until at least Fall 2026, maybe (probably!) even later.
I think we will see some Fable gameplay, and possibly even a release window. Contraband may put in an appearance, but I have the feeling that that game may have entered development Hell.
All in all, the E3 period is my favourite time of the year, and the Xbox showcase is the highlight. So though my expectations are in check, I do still really look forward to it.
Will be interesting to see just how many games feature the PlayStation logo too...
I've only played Hellblade 2 from that list, but fully intend to play a couple of the others. Just need to find the time to do so. Doom is next on my list, though I have to finish Expedition 33 first...
Blades of Fire and Tainted Grail may well tickle my fancy! However. my backlog is so huge right now, that if I do get to play either if them, it will be a long way down the line (unless they review so well that I feel the need to play them immediately)...
I really enjoyed each of the games that I have played. Those being:
Code Vein Lies of P Mortal Shell Remnant 2 Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Mortal Shell, Code Vein and Lies of P are the stand out games from that list. They were truly excellent.
I also started but did not finish Another Crab's Treasure and Dead Cells. They were good, just not good enough to keep me from moving on to something else before I had finished them.
I also own Lords Of The Fallen, but have yet to start it (which is a terrible habit of mine!)...
My memory is a little hazy these days, @FraserG, but aren't - backwards compatibility, FPS Boost, Quick Resume, Smart Delivery, and Xbox Game Pass also available on the Xbox One...?
It's an okay list. Looking forward to the performance boost for Gears of War, I guess, but other than that, I am interested in Outer Worlds and maybe Ninja Gaiden 4. Plus I might even be interested in Frost Punk and Wuchang, but with so many games on my backlog, they will be quite some way down my list of to be played games.
As for Silksong, it might come out this year because the Switch 2 will be here too, but there is still a chance it won't put an appearance in this year either...
I received my Collector's Edition of Doom: The Dark Ages yesterday, which includes a Premium Edition of the game, so that is what I selected, although I won't be playing it on the Game Pass, and I won't be starting it until I have finished Expedition 33, which I am hoping to start today or tomorrow, once I have finished playing Days Gone: Remastered. So many good games out in the past few weeks.
The CE box for Doom: The Dark Ages is really nice, featuring a clear cellophane front that allows view of the Slayers statuette within. It is a really nice CE, very happy with it. It looks amazing sat next to both the Limited Edition Doom controllers that I bought too.
Huge Doom fan, if that isn't obvious. I first played the first Doom when I got it as shareware with a magazine that I bought around the time of its original release. Of course, back then, there were no guides to help us along, and so I don't think I finished it, though I have since done so...
I too enjoyed the first season of TLoU, @themightyant, though I won't start watching the second one until all episodes are out (which I think it in 2 weeks).
I think the producers made three mistakes with that series though; Ramsey is the wrong actress for the role. I thought she did a reasonable job in the first season, but that was mostly because she looked the age (or thereabouts) of the character she was playing. However, it was obvious to anyone that Ramsey was never going to look the right age for the second season. Plus, Ramsey is one of those actors who really only has one dimension of delivery. I just don't think she has the acting chops to show character development as occurred from game one to game two.
Secondly, Dever (who is playing Abby) seems wrong to me because it's as if they seem to have gone with looks over muscular size, which is just wrong for the portrayal of the character concerned. And I've said this from the moment both actresses were announced. I've yet to see how she performs the role, so I may yet be proven wrong in terms of her demonstrating the sheer anger, venom and physical presence that Abby has.
Then thirdly, where there was (from memory) a 5 year time jump between the first and second games, they could have used seasons 2 and 3 to tell completely original stories, which would have served both to give us more seasons, give Joel a little longer to be around, and possibly allow Ramsey to age a little (though I think she is one of those people that will have an eternally youthful appearance)...
I loved the first season, and cannot wait for the second. I'm glad it did so well that it justifies a third season. I know they were talking about 5 or 6 seasons in total, so it's good to see that they are moving ahead with their plans.
The Fallout and Last of Us shows are real highs for television in general, let alone ones born of games. It's a far cry from a time when we had such poor film and television versions of our favourite games.
Still miffed that they cancelled Halo though. The first season was pretty good, and the second one better still...
I've literally just received my Collector's Edition, and I have to say I love the box it has come in as you can clearly see the statuette within. So many CE's you either have a picture of the contents, or indeed, you just get the name of the game and that's pretty much it, so very pleased with this design.
Comes complete with the Premium version of the game too, so looking forward to playing it once I have finished Expedition 33 (which I haven't yet started!)... 😊
Thank you, @Jenkinss. Oblivion is on my list of games to be played, but it is towards the bottom and will likely keep being pushed back as other games come out, so whether I get round to it I'm not sure.
How does Oblivion play? I see on Push Square there is an article that says it plays worse the longer you play it. Is that a PlayStation thing or something happening in the Xbox version too...?
It's a PS5 game, @Kaloudz. It originally came out on the PS3, where I first played it, and was then ported to the PC a couple of years back. It's now been remastered...
Gears Tactics is a fantastic game. I beat it on Insane last year and felt it to be a great achievement because that game is not easy! I loved the XCOM style of gameplay, and really hope they make a bigger and better sequel as I am interested to see what comes next for Gabe, Reyna, Sid and Mikayla...
I have not played Oblivion, @Kaloudz, and I have a feeling that I won't. I've been playing Days Gone: Remastered since it came out last week, but as soon as I have finished that game, I will be moving on to Expedition 33, and after that, I'll be playing Doom: The Dark Ages.
Plus I still want to play Assassin's Creed: Shadows (I own the Collector's Edition on the PlayStation because I couldn't get it for the Xbox, so I might have to buy it again as I prefer not to play on the PlayStation where I can avoid it).
Even though I am retired, I still cannot find enough time to get through everything!
Unfortunately, @Ricky-Spanish, I have so many games that I want to play, I just cannot see me getting round to Oblivion because I have a feeling it will look new, but play old, and I like my games to feel modern. I've not played it before, but I just have this sense it may not be for me despite having loved Skyrim...
Shocker! I love 'em all...! I went with GoW2, but I had to give it some real thought.
I never touch PvP multiplayer, so I cannot speak to that, but I love Horde. Indeed, I met my two best mates playing Horde in GoW2, and am Godfather to one of their children now (well, have been for the past 8 years!).
Horde was improved upon in GoW3, and I spent thousands of hours (literally!) playing that mode with a group of 4 other mates, and we beat every map on Insane, and also managed a couple of top 100 scores too.
Horde has become better with each passing game, although I thought it was little weaker in Judgement.
I play Gears 5 Horde now every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and we do an Insane run as either a duo or a trio, and I have now managed to rack up around 2000+ on the Horde mode alone, and am currently number 88 in the world as a Mechanic.
Personally, I have enjoyed every GoW campaign (including Judgement) and I play through them all every year. I have soloed them all on Insane or Inconceivable, and love the challenge they bring. No other game does it better, and Insane or higher is where the campaigns are at their best.
Having really enjoyed 4 and 5, I am might miffed that they are not concluding that story before moving on to E-Day, but I guess they felt they needed to start with E-Day for the PlayStation crowd who I think will be enjoying that game day one with the rest of us...
Mild interest in The Alters, but I probably won't get round to it because I have so many other games I want to play. Expedition 33 next, and then Doom: The Dark Ages after that...
Cannot wait to get my hands on this. I have the Collector's Edition (the one with the statuette) on pre-order, but I'm not sure when I will be able to access the game.
Funny how this review says, 'The story is actually pretty great!' and yet Push Square says 'Throwaway story'.
You're absolutely right, @Romans12. We will get the polar opposite: whilst they get all future (and some past) Xbox made games, we will get none of Sony's at all. At this point, these articles are really doing nothing but rubbing it in...
Absolutely they do, @johnedwin, but 70% of a lot of sales on the PlayStation, is always going to be better than 100% of very few sales on the Xbox, or the amount of money bought in by subscriptions. That's why Microsoft are going to be pursuing putting their games on the Sony platform ever more aggressively...
I agree with most that you have written, @fatpunkslim, which is an unusual event in itself. However, Microsoft have not been specific regarding when they will announce what platforms a game will appear on, only that they will do so before release. Thus, I think it fair to say that a game that is being shown, but has no release date, may not include what platforms it will release on at that time. That said, June is rapidly approaching, and if they give a release date for E-Day, I imagine they will also say which platforms it will release on.
If they do, and they are honest in what they say about announcing platforms, then it will be a great day, as not only will we find out when E-Day is releasing, but I will have a humble apology from your good self... 😉😂🤣
Thing is, @Millionski, if, as everyone seems so insistent on, Microsoft bring out a console that is basically an entry point PC, then surely they will have to allow everyone to switch to PC Game Pass, which is cheaper than console GP. It's either that, or have everyone switch over to PC GP and increase the price across the board to cover the reduced revenue that they would be bringing in by having people switch to PC GP. Hopefully that makes sense!
My point is, you don't have to pay for online access on a PC, which is why it is cheaper there. So, if everyone that buys the next Xbox is moved over to the PC GP, then everyone will be paying in less, which then means that Microsoft will be getting less, and so they will either have to raise the price considerably (and risk losing a lot of PC customers in the process), or they will keep the price the same, bring in less money, and the service will suffer as a consequence. And that's before you factor in people choosing to buy their games on Steam because they are cheaper there, which again will cost Microsoft billions in lost revenue.
And again, that doesn't take into account the cost of the next Xbox in its own right. It seems to me nigh on impossible to keep the price down, and then there are fraught issues in making the next Xbox a PC because Microsoft would lose so much money by doing so, and all of that will undoubtedly hit Game Pass.
This is why either the next Xbox will not be a PC, or it will be a PC and there could well be considerable issues ahead that will directly impact the Xbox gamer in the future, with either Microsoft withdrawing from the console marker, or disbanding GP, or both.
Ultimately, I think Microsoft see that selling their games on the PlayStation is making so much money, that it is sensible to have that as their number one priority. I cannot see Microsoft using that money to subsidise GP if it is not making them money, because what would be the point of that? If GP is not making money, or enough money, to be of use, then why support it at all...?
Of zero interest to me, but choice and diversification is always good just so long as Microsoft don't go using it as a device where parity is required...
I don't think Game Pass is their primary mission anymore, @Cakefish. I think that they are making far more money by selling their games on the PlayStation, and by all accounts, Game Pass subscriptions, on consoles at least, have stagnated or are falling. Game Pass on PC did see a considerable rise, but whether that is enough to offset what is happening on the console front, I'm not sure.
One thing is fairly certain, I think, is that if Microsoft can continue to knock it out of the park with content like they have recently, then maybe they can increase subscriber numbers in the future. However, that all depends not on the quantity of games they release, because that has been falling, but on the quality of games, which in the past 6 months has been on the increase. Keep that up, and they will not only keep their current subscribers subscribed, but they will attract still more subscribers to the service. I think they have to do more to make it properly viable, and I think it will increase in price in the next 3 months, but they may well be on the right path in terms of the games they are putting on the Service...
I agree with everything you say, @Millionski. When I started with my PC in 2013, it was tough going, truth be told. I know nothing about PCs and optimising games, and I spent many, many, many hours just trying to get a game to work, and then trying to use emulators to get a controller to work, and then being confused when it said press F to open a door, and being unable to work out what that corresponded to on a controller. And the amount of times that the first time a game started that it opened in a resolution that was so huge that I couldn't see how to get into the settings to change the resolution. Oh, man, they were frustrating times, and I lost many a gaming session to the inability to get a game to run, including, funny enough Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, where my mate and I just could not join each others game!
However, yes, it has got much, much better in recent times, and indeed, most games (or at least most games I am interested in) now come with controller support straight out the gate, although my favourite game of all time (Baldur's Gate 3) did not initially come with controller support, and didn't until it's full release (if I recall correctly), which goes to show that sometimes, even today, not all of even the biggest games support a controller.
All that said, and I am truly uncertain what I will do when the next Xbox comes out. I will definitely need to fully understand what it is offering me before I decide, whereas in the past I have, without hesitation, pre-ordered every past iteration of the console, including the mid-generation refreshes, and including the OG Xbox. For the next generation though, I am very hesitant...
Of course I am glad it exists, @Kaloudz. It is indeed better than nothing, although the base UE version of the game plays perfectly well, and for me, it's questionable whether I will actually notice the difference. I'm sure it will look nice, and will indeed be the best version of the game, but it's the gameplay that matters, and I don't think they have touched that at all from what I am reading.
As for carrots, they are too sugary for your average beaver, and would likely be akin to junk food! In my picture, I am actually eating a fish. Just another example of where you have things wrong... 😂
Ultimately, I expect every single game from this generation to make the transition over to the PlayStation. Games will be at best timed-exclusives, with an intervening period of between 3 and 6 months before crossing over, and there may even be the occasional 12 month one. However, just as Microsoft did when they first started porting games to the PC, the period of exclusivity will get shorter and shorter until such time as every single game is released day and date on the PlayStation, by which time games being ported will have become a non-story. However, whereas the process of games going day and date on the PC happened over several years (and with select titles), I think the process will be severely truncated, and we will see every game being day and date on the PlayStation within the next 2 years, maybe even within the next 12 months.
Regardless, it's going to happen. People keep saying that Microsoft are a trillion dollar company, forgetting how they got there. They got there by chasing the smart money. Right now, in terms of gaming, that means putting their games on the PlayStation. That is where the money is being made right now. Not the Xbox, and not Game Pass. So anyone who honestly believes that Microsoft haven't noticed where they are making their money, and won't look to maximise their revenue, is deluding themselves.
It's going to happen whether we want it to or not. And exactly what that means for Xbox as a console, and Game Pass is yet to be discovered, but again, Microsoft only got to where they are today by making smart moves, and if the smart move is to no longer make Xbox consoles, or support Game Pass, then that is what they will do, and there is absolutely nothing we can do about it but wait and see what happens...
I think when the next expansion for Starfield comes out, it will also go to the PlayStation as a Complete Edition at the same time. Mind you, I thought that regarding the last DLC expansion, and I was wrong then, though, in fairness to myself, I didn't know that a second expansion was planned when I made that prediction...
And, for me, that is where the issue of whether I get the next Xbox lies, @FraserG. I understand that people predominantly, or even only, play Game Pass games on the Xbox, but I haven't played one on there for well over a year (although I do intend to do so later this month when I play Expedition 33). If you are a moderate to heavy Game Pass consumer, then having an Xbox makes sense. If you are not, like myself, it is making less and less sense to own one now. Will there be a need to own both consoles next generation if you do not use Game Pass? Probably not.
I think keeping my Series X is the most sensible option, and then subscribing to Game Pass as and when there is something I want to play, but not buy...
You're right, @Cakefish. I was actually thinking about the 2TB model being $730, which is where I was going with my comment. I just cannot see the next Xbox costing less than that...
I don't think it will be the Halo MCC in its entirety, @FraserG. I think Microsoft will do what they are doing with GoW, and will release it one game at a time as there is much more money to be made that way. Easier to charge £40 for a single game than over £100 for the entire collection. That is even more likely to be the case if the rumours of Halo 1 being remastered are true...
I don't know, @Kaloudz, it depends if you consider playing through only the campaign once a year as playing the heck out of it!?! I don't touch the multiplayer at all.
And I like all of them, including Judgement, Gears 4 and 5...
There is a real difference between the 360 GoW1 game and UE, @Kaloudz. UE is a remaster that could not have been delivered through a patch. The performance boost being given to UE could have been delivered through a patch, but I believe that Microsoft felt that offering UE with a performance boost to the PlayStation crowd would have been less well received than doing it the way that they are.
However, on a point we can agree on, yes, we disagree, and we are clearly not going to agree (despite you being wrong!)...
Comments 2,484
Re: Talking Point: What Game Franchises Would You Pay $80 For On Xbox?
I pre-order any game that takes my fancy, and pay whatever that entails for the privilege. My favourite games, Gears of War for example, I always buy the Collector's Edition anyway, and these days that costs around £200. Indeed, the Collectors Edition that I bought most recently was Doom: The Dark Ages, and that cost £200. However, I also have the Collector's Editions of Death Stranding 2: Death on the Beach and Ghost of Yotei on pre-order for the PlayStation, and they both cost £220. And I also have the Collector's Edition of Elden Ring: Nightregin on pre-order, and that cost around £200 (from memory, I think).
My point is, if I want a game enough, I'll pay for the best version of it, and I tend to pre-order too. I did want the Collector's Edition of Expedition 33, but unfortunately missed out on it, and so am playing it on Game Pass instead, which is unusual for me.
What I would say, though, is that my backlog of games is now so extensive, that I know I will quite possibly not get round to some of them that I bought at full-price. So, in the past year or so, I have tried to limit myself much more than I used to, and now only buy those games I truly want to play pretty much immediately. Ultimately, I don't see this changing too much with games increasing in price, but I hope that the (very small!) sensible part of me realises that I cannot hope to play everything, and that I cut back just a little bit on what I buy, though I highly doubt it... 🤪
Re: Atomfall Was 'Immediately Profitable' Despite Launching On Xbox Game Pass
Thank you, @RiverGenie @OldGamer999 @Trauma_Team_Medic and @johnK.
Thus far, your opinions put the order as
1. Avowed
=2. South of midnight
=2. Atomfall
I need a few more votes in order for it to be more definitive, but so far it's looking like Avowed after Doom: The Dark Ages.
I am very grateful for your input, guys...
Re: Atomfall Was 'Immediately Profitable' Despite Launching On Xbox Game Pass
Glad the game has done well, though I am yet to play it. It is on my very extensive list though!
Out of curiosity, if people were to rank the following 3 games in order from best to worst, in which order would they put them:
Atomfall
Avowed
South of Midnight
I'm currently playing Expedition 33, and will follow that with Doom: Dark Ages. What I play after that is likely to be one of the above 3, so I'm curious to know which one people think is best...
Re: Talking Point: Do You Have High Expectations For The Xbox Games Showcase 2025?
I'm very much looking forward to the showcase, however, it surprises me that nothing has leaked as yet, which makes me wonder whether anything of real significance will be shown.
I am expecting to see Gears of War: Reloaded , though I am not expecting to be blown away by it as it is little more than a performance upgrade for those of us on the Xbox. Still, Microsoft will want to shout about it because the only reason it exists is so that it can be sold on the PlayStation.
We might get to see some more of E-Day , maybe even some gameplay, though again, I won't be getting too excited over it as I don't expect it to release until at least Fall 2026, maybe (probably!) even later.
I think we will see some Fable gameplay, and possibly even a release window. Contraband may put in an appearance, but I have the feeling that that game may have entered development Hell.
All in all, the E3 period is my favourite time of the year, and the Xbox showcase is the highlight. So though my expectations are in check, I do still really look forward to it.
Will be interesting to see just how many games feature the PlayStation logo too...
Re: Xbox Fan Shares & Compares Recent Aggregate Review Scores For First-Party Releases
I've only played Hellblade 2 from that list, but fully intend to play a couple of the others. Just need to find the time to do so. Doom is next on my list, though I have to finish Expedition 33 first...
Re: These 30+ Games Are Coming To Xbox Next Week (May 19-23)
Excellent. Thank you, @Nightcrawler71...
Re: These 30+ Games Are Coming To Xbox Next Week (May 19-23)
How are you finding The Precinct, @Nightcrawler71? I'm very interested in that game myself...
Re: These 30+ Games Are Coming To Xbox Next Week (May 19-23)
Blades of Fire and Tainted Grail may well tickle my fancy! However. my backlog is so huge right now, that if I do get to play either if them, it will be a long way down the line (unless they review so well that I feel the need to play them immediately)...
Re: The Best Xbox Soulslike Games NOT Made By FromSoftware
I really enjoyed each of the games that I have played. Those being:
Code Vein
Lies of P
Mortal Shell
Remnant 2
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Mortal Shell, Code Vein and Lies of P are the stand out games from that list. They were truly excellent.
I also started but did not finish Another Crab's Treasure and Dead Cells. They were good, just not good enough to keep me from moving on to something else before I had finished them.
I also own Lords Of The Fallen, but have yet to start it (which is a terrible habit of mine!)...
Re: Talking Point: Do You Feel You've Had Value For Money With Your Xbox Series X|S?
My memory is a little hazy these days, @FraserG, but aren't - backwards compatibility, FPS Boost, Quick Resume, Smart Delivery, and Xbox Game Pass also available on the Xbox One...?
Re: 12 Xbox Game Pass Titles To Get Excited For In The Second Half Of 2025
It's an okay list. Looking forward to the performance boost for Gears of War, I guess, but other than that, I am interested in Outer Worlds and maybe Ninja Gaiden 4. Plus I might even be interested in Frost Punk and Wuchang, but with so many games on my backlog, they will be quite some way down my list of to be played games.
As for Silksong, it might come out this year because the Switch 2 will be here too, but there is still a chance it won't put an appearance in this year either...
Re: Fallout Gets Renewed For Season 3, Season 2 Date And Teasers Revealed
It's not often we disagree, @themightyant, but I'm sorry to report that you are wrong in this instance... 😂
Re: Three Games Are Available This Week With Xbox Game Pass (May 13-16)
I received my Collector's Edition of Doom: The Dark Ages yesterday, which includes a Premium Edition of the game, so that is what I selected, although I won't be playing it on the Game Pass, and I won't be starting it until I have finished Expedition 33, which I am hoping to start today or tomorrow, once I have finished playing Days Gone: Remastered. So many good games out in the past few weeks.
The CE box for Doom: The Dark Ages is really nice, featuring a clear cellophane front that allows view of the Slayers statuette within. It is a really nice CE, very happy with it. It looks amazing sat next to both the Limited Edition Doom controllers that I bought too.
Huge Doom fan, if that isn't obvious. I first played the first Doom when I got it as shareware with a magazine that I bought around the time of its original release. Of course, back then, there were no guides to help us along, and so I don't think I finished it, though I have since done so...
Re: Fallout Gets Renewed For Season 3, Season 2 Date And Teasers Revealed
I too enjoyed the first season of TLoU, @themightyant, though I won't start watching the second one until all episodes are out (which I think it in 2 weeks).
I think the producers made three mistakes with that series though; Ramsey is the wrong actress for the role. I thought she did a reasonable job in the first season, but that was mostly because she looked the age (or thereabouts) of the character she was playing. However, it was obvious to anyone that Ramsey was never going to look the right age for the second season. Plus, Ramsey is one of those actors who really only has one dimension of delivery. I just don't think she has the acting chops to show character development as occurred from game one to game two.
Secondly, Dever (who is playing Abby) seems wrong to me because it's as if they seem to have gone with looks over muscular size, which is just wrong for the portrayal of the character concerned. And I've said this from the moment both actresses were announced. I've yet to see how she performs the role, so I may yet be proven wrong in terms of her demonstrating the sheer anger, venom and physical presence that Abby has.
Then thirdly, where there was (from memory) a 5 year time jump between the first and second games, they could have used seasons 2 and 3 to tell completely original stories, which would have served both to give us more seasons, give Joel a little longer to be around, and possibly allow Ramsey to age a little (though I think she is one of those people that will have an eternally youthful appearance)...
Re: Fallout Gets Renewed For Season 3, Season 2 Date And Teasers Revealed
I loved the first season, and cannot wait for the second. I'm glad it did so well that it justifies a third season. I know they were talking about 5 or 6 seasons in total, so it's good to see that they are moving ahead with their plans.
The Fallout and Last of Us shows are real highs for television in general, let alone ones born of games. It's a far cry from a time when we had such poor film and television versions of our favourite games.
Still miffed that they cancelled Halo though. The first season was pretty good, and the second one better still...
Re: Four Games Are Confirmed For Xbox Game Pass In June 2025 So Far
Thank you for the detailed response, @Jenkinss. Oblivion is definitely on my list, but, man, I have a huge list... 🤪
Re: DOOM: The Dark Ages Comparison Shows Difference Between Xbox Series X And Series S
I've literally just received my Collector's Edition, and I have to say I love the box it has come in as you can clearly see the statuette within. So many CE's you either have a picture of the contents, or indeed, you just get the name of the game and that's pretty much it, so very pleased with this design.
Comes complete with the Premium version of the game too, so looking forward to playing it once I have finished Expedition 33 (which I haven't yet started!)... 😊
Re: Four Games Are Confirmed For Xbox Game Pass In June 2025 So Far
Thank you, @Jenkinss. Oblivion is on my list of games to be played, but it is towards the bottom and will likely keep being pushed back as other games come out, so whether I get round to it I'm not sure.
How does Oblivion play? I see on Push Square there is an article that says it plays worse the longer you play it. Is that a PlayStation thing or something happening in the Xbox version too...?
Re: Xbox's Hellblade 2 Studio Shares Blurred-Out Tease Of New Game
Hellblade 2 port to the PS5..?
Re: Four Games Are Confirmed For Xbox Game Pass In June 2025 So Far
It's a PS5 game, @Kaloudz. It originally came out on the PS3, where I first played it, and was then ported to the PC a couple of years back. It's now been remastered...
Re: Poll: Which Is Your Favourite Gears Of War Game On Xbox?
Gears Tactics is a fantastic game. I beat it on Insane last year and felt it to be a great achievement because that game is not easy! I loved the XCOM style of gameplay, and really hope they make a bigger and better sequel as I am interested to see what comes next for Gabe, Reyna, Sid and Mikayla...
Re: Four Games Are Confirmed For Xbox Game Pass In June 2025 So Far
I have not played Oblivion, @Kaloudz, and I have a feeling that I won't. I've been playing Days Gone: Remastered since it came out last week, but as soon as I have finished that game, I will be moving on to Expedition 33, and after that, I'll be playing Doom: The Dark Ages.
Plus I still want to play Assassin's Creed: Shadows (I own the Collector's Edition on the PlayStation because I couldn't get it for the Xbox, so I might have to buy it again as I prefer not to play on the PlayStation where I can avoid it).
Even though I am retired, I still cannot find enough time to get through everything!
Unfortunately, @Ricky-Spanish, I have so many games that I want to play, I just cannot see me getting round to Oblivion because I have a feeling it will look new, but play old, and I like my games to feel modern. I've not played it before, but I just have this sense it may not be for me despite having loved Skyrim...
Re: Poll: Which Is Your Favourite Gears Of War Game On Xbox?
Shocker! I love 'em all...! I went with GoW2, but I had to give it some real thought.
I never touch PvP multiplayer, so I cannot speak to that, but I love Horde. Indeed, I met my two best mates playing Horde in GoW2, and am Godfather to one of their children now (well, have been for the past 8 years!).
Horde was improved upon in GoW3, and I spent thousands of hours (literally!) playing that mode with a group of 4 other mates, and we beat every map on Insane, and also managed a couple of top 100 scores too.
Horde has become better with each passing game, although I thought it was little weaker in Judgement.
I play Gears 5 Horde now every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and we do an Insane run as either a duo or a trio, and I have now managed to rack up around 2000+ on the Horde mode alone, and am currently number 88 in the world as a Mechanic.
Personally, I have enjoyed every GoW campaign (including Judgement) and I play through them all every year. I have soloed them all on Insane or Inconceivable, and love the challenge they bring. No other game does it better, and Insane or higher is where the campaigns are at their best.
Having really enjoyed 4 and 5, I am might miffed that they are not concluding that story before moving on to E-Day, but I guess they felt they needed to start with E-Day for the PlayStation crowd who I think will be enjoying that game day one with the rest of us...
Re: Four Games Are Confirmed For Xbox Game Pass In June 2025 So Far
How did you get on with Oblivion, @Kaloudz...?
Re: Four Games Are Confirmed For Xbox Game Pass In June 2025 So Far
Mild interest in The Alters, but I probably won't get round to it because I have so many other games I want to play. Expedition 33 next, and then Doom: The Dark Ages after that...
Re: DOOM: The Dark Ages Release Date, Release Times & Early Access Details On Xbox
I have the Collector's Edition (the one with the statuette) pre-ordered, @Kezelpaso, will that have early access? Thanks...
Re: Review: DOOM: The Dark Ages (Xbox) - Puts The Finishing Touches On A Masterful Trilogy
Totally get that, @Tasuki, really it was a rhetorical question, but, hey, never mind...
Re: Lots Of Xbox Games Have Suddenly Been Delisted In Some Countries
I own 6 of the games on this list, @FraserG. If they have been delisted, does that now mean I will be unable to download them? Thanks...
Re: Review: DOOM: The Dark Ages (Xbox) - Puts The Finishing Touches On A Masterful Trilogy
Me too, @themightyant! Love me a bit of Jason Statham action...
Re: Review: DOOM: The Dark Ages (Xbox) - Puts The Finishing Touches On A Masterful Trilogy
I totally agree, @PJOReilly. I mean, grenades and paper planes are both great for the same reasons... 😂
Re: Review: DOOM: The Dark Ages (Xbox) - Puts The Finishing Touches On A Masterful Trilogy
Cannot wait to get my hands on this. I have the Collector's Edition (the one with the statuette) on pre-order, but I'm not sure when I will be able to access the game.
Funny how this review says, 'The story is actually pretty great!' and yet Push Square says 'Throwaway story'.
So which is it...? 🤔
Re: Talking Point: Which Xbox Game Will Move To PS5 Next?
You're absolutely right, @Romans12. We will get the polar opposite: whilst they get all future (and some past) Xbox made games, we will get none of Sony's at all. At this point, these articles are really doing nothing but rubbing it in...
Re: Talking Point: Which Xbox Game Will Move To PS5 Next?
Absolutely they do, @johnedwin, but 70% of a lot of sales on the PlayStation, is always going to be better than 100% of very few sales on the Xbox, or the amount of money bought in by subscriptions. That's why Microsoft are going to be pursuing putting their games on the Sony platform ever more aggressively...
Re: GTA 6 Tech Is Seriously Impressive, But It's Looking Like A 30FPS Game On Console
That's you and me both, @Cakefish. I've never played a GTA game, and I'm not sure I'll bother with this one either...
Re: Here's A Look At The Updated Xbox Game Studios Roadmap From May 2025
It's an awful presentation, and I say that every time. We know what has already come out. All we need is an idea of what's to come.
I am curious though, why are Towerborne, Starfield, and Forza Motorsport (and others) shown twice?
Re: GTA 6 Tech Is Seriously Impressive, But It's Looking Like A 30FPS Game On Console
And people will buy it (and enjoy it) regardless. This is when FPS elitists will bite the bullet and play the game anyway because... well, GTA...
Re: Reaction: Gears Of War: Reloaded Makes Perfect Sense For Microsoft, But Not For Xbox Fans
I agree with most that you have written, @fatpunkslim, which is an unusual event in itself. However, Microsoft have not been specific regarding when they will announce what platforms a game will appear on, only that they will do so before release. Thus, I think it fair to say that a game that is being shown, but has no release date, may not include what platforms it will release on at that time. That said, June is rapidly approaching, and if they give a release date for E-Day, I imagine they will also say which platforms it will release on.
If they do, and they are honest in what they say about announcing platforms, then it will be a great day, as not only will we find out when E-Day is releasing, but I will have a humble apology from your good self... 😉😂🤣
Re: Talking Point: Which Xbox Game Will Move To PS5 Next?
Thing is, @Millionski, if, as everyone seems so insistent on, Microsoft bring out a console that is basically an entry point PC, then surely they will have to allow everyone to switch to PC Game Pass, which is cheaper than console GP. It's either that, or have everyone switch over to PC GP and increase the price across the board to cover the reduced revenue that they would be bringing in by having people switch to PC GP. Hopefully that makes sense!
My point is, you don't have to pay for online access on a PC, which is why it is cheaper there. So, if everyone that buys the next Xbox is moved over to the PC GP, then everyone will be paying in less, which then means that Microsoft will be getting less, and so they will either have to raise the price considerably (and risk losing a lot of PC customers in the process), or they will keep the price the same, bring in less money, and the service will suffer as a consequence. And that's before you factor in people choosing to buy their games on Steam because they are cheaper there, which again will cost Microsoft billions in lost revenue.
And again, that doesn't take into account the cost of the next Xbox in its own right. It seems to me nigh on impossible to keep the price down, and then there are fraught issues in making the next Xbox a PC because Microsoft would lose so much money by doing so, and all of that will undoubtedly hit Game Pass.
This is why either the next Xbox will not be a PC, or it will be a PC and there could well be considerable issues ahead that will directly impact the Xbox gamer in the future, with either Microsoft withdrawing from the console marker, or disbanding GP, or both.
Ultimately, I think Microsoft see that selling their games on the PlayStation is making so much money, that it is sensible to have that as their number one priority. I cannot see Microsoft using that money to subsidise GP if it is not making them money, because what would be the point of that? If GP is not making money, or enough money, to be of use, then why support it at all...?
Re: Xbox Is Seemingly Making Preparations For Its 2025 Handheld Device
Of zero interest to me, but choice and diversification is always good just so long as Microsoft don't go using it as a device where parity is required...
Re: Xbox Announces Gears Of War: Reloaded, Releasing Summer 2025
Maybe a goldfish, @Kaloudz! However, it is most likely to be a Carp.
I mean, if it was a carrot, that's one big carrot (or one small beaver!)... 😂
Re: Here Are All The Changes & Enhancements Coming To Gears Of War: Reloaded On Xbox
I don't think Game Pass is their primary mission anymore, @Cakefish. I think that they are making far more money by selling their games on the PlayStation, and by all accounts, Game Pass subscriptions, on consoles at least, have stagnated or are falling. Game Pass on PC did see a considerable rise, but whether that is enough to offset what is happening on the console front, I'm not sure.
One thing is fairly certain, I think, is that if Microsoft can continue to knock it out of the park with content like they have recently, then maybe they can increase subscriber numbers in the future. However, that all depends not on the quantity of games they release, because that has been falling, but on the quality of games, which in the past 6 months has been on the increase. Keep that up, and they will not only keep their current subscribers subscribed, but they will attract still more subscribers to the service. I think they have to do more to make it properly viable, and I think it will increase in price in the next 3 months, but they may well be on the right path in terms of the games they are putting on the Service...
Re: Talking Point: Which Xbox Game Will Move To PS5 Next?
I agree with everything you say, @Millionski. When I started with my PC in 2013, it was tough going, truth be told. I know nothing about PCs and optimising games, and I spent many, many, many hours just trying to get a game to work, and then trying to use emulators to get a controller to work, and then being confused when it said press F to open a door, and being unable to work out what that corresponded to on a controller. And the amount of times that the first time a game started that it opened in a resolution that was so huge that I couldn't see how to get into the settings to change the resolution. Oh, man, they were frustrating times, and I lost many a gaming session to the inability to get a game to run, including, funny enough Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, where my mate and I just could not join each others game!
However, yes, it has got much, much better in recent times, and indeed, most games (or at least most games I am interested in) now come with controller support straight out the gate, although my favourite game of all time (Baldur's Gate 3) did not initially come with controller support, and didn't until it's full release (if I recall correctly), which goes to show that sometimes, even today, not all of even the biggest games support a controller.
All that said, and I am truly uncertain what I will do when the next Xbox comes out. I will definitely need to fully understand what it is offering me before I decide, whereas in the past I have, without hesitation, pre-ordered every past iteration of the console, including the mid-generation refreshes, and including the OG Xbox. For the next generation though, I am very hesitant...
Re: Xbox Announces Gears Of War: Reloaded, Releasing Summer 2025
Of course I am glad it exists, @Kaloudz. It is indeed better than nothing, although the base UE version of the game plays perfectly well, and for me, it's questionable whether I will actually notice the difference. I'm sure it will look nice, and will indeed be the best version of the game, but it's the gameplay that matters, and I don't think they have touched that at all from what I am reading.
As for carrots, they are too sugary for your average beaver, and would likely be akin to junk food! In my picture, I am actually eating a fish. Just another example of where you have things wrong... 😂
Re: Talking Point: Which Xbox Game Will Move To PS5 Next?
Ultimately, I expect every single game from this generation to make the transition over to the PlayStation. Games will be at best timed-exclusives, with an intervening period of between 3 and 6 months before crossing over, and there may even be the occasional 12 month one. However, just as Microsoft did when they first started porting games to the PC, the period of exclusivity will get shorter and shorter until such time as every single game is released day and date on the PlayStation, by which time games being ported will have become a non-story. However, whereas the process of games going day and date on the PC happened over several years (and with select titles), I think the process will be severely truncated, and we will see every game being day and date on the PlayStation within the next 2 years, maybe even within the next 12 months.
Regardless, it's going to happen. People keep saying that Microsoft are a trillion dollar company, forgetting how they got there. They got there by chasing the smart money. Right now, in terms of gaming, that means putting their games on the PlayStation. That is where the money is being made right now. Not the Xbox, and not Game Pass. So anyone who honestly believes that Microsoft haven't noticed where they are making their money, and won't look to maximise their revenue, is deluding themselves.
It's going to happen whether we want it to or not. And exactly what that means for Xbox as a console, and Game Pass is yet to be discovered, but again, Microsoft only got to where they are today by making smart moves, and if the smart move is to no longer make Xbox consoles, or support Game Pass, then that is what they will do, and there is absolutely nothing we can do about it but wait and see what happens...
Re: Talking Point: Which Xbox Game Will Move To PS5 Next?
I think when the next expansion for Starfield comes out, it will also go to the PlayStation as a Complete Edition at the same time. Mind you, I thought that regarding the last DLC expansion, and I was wrong then, though, in fairness to myself, I didn't know that a second expansion was planned when I made that prediction...
Re: Opinion: If Xbox Is 'Just' A Game Pass Machine, That's Still Enough For Me
And, for me, that is where the issue of whether I get the next Xbox lies, @FraserG. I understand that people predominantly, or even only, play Game Pass games on the Xbox, but I haven't played one on there for well over a year (although I do intend to do so later this month when I play Expedition 33). If you are a moderate to heavy Game Pass consumer, then having an Xbox makes sense. If you are not, like myself, it is making less and less sense to own one now. Will there be a need to own both consoles next generation if you do not use Game Pass? Probably not.
I think keeping my Series X is the most sensible option, and then subscribing to Game Pass as and when there is something I want to play, but not buy...
Re: Here Are All The Changes & Enhancements Coming To Gears Of War: Reloaded On Xbox
You're right, @Cakefish. I was actually thinking about the 2TB model being $730, which is where I was going with my comment. I just cannot see the next Xbox costing less than that...
Re: Talking Point: Which Xbox Game Will Move To PS5 Next?
I don't think it will be the Halo MCC in its entirety, @FraserG. I think Microsoft will do what they are doing with GoW, and will release it one game at a time as there is much more money to be made that way. Easier to charge £40 for a single game than over £100 for the entire collection. That is even more likely to be the case if the rumours of Halo 1 being remastered are true...
Re: Xbox Announces Gears Of War: Reloaded, Releasing Summer 2025
I don't know, @Kaloudz, it depends if you consider playing through only the campaign once a year as playing the heck out of it!?! I don't touch the multiplayer at all.
And I like all of them, including Judgement, Gears 4 and 5...
Re: Xbox Announces Gears Of War: Reloaded, Releasing Summer 2025
There is a real difference between the 360 GoW1 game and UE, @Kaloudz. UE is a remaster that could not have been delivered through a patch. The performance boost being given to UE could have been delivered through a patch, but I believe that Microsoft felt that offering UE with a performance boost to the PlayStation crowd would have been less well received than doing it the way that they are.
However, on a point we can agree on, yes, we disagree, and we are clearly not going to agree (despite you being wrong!)...