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Microsoft Studios (& Partners) Current and Future Landscape
- Thread starter Banjo-Kazooie
- Start date
Appex always felt like they were testing the waters. Makes sense for the Motorsport series. Maybe a little less so for Horizon.
We probably would never have got the in-game XMB. Pressing the Playstation button would probably still just result in a prompt to ask if you want to quit the game.
GeordieMark
Member
Do you even care? You don't seem to have ever been particularly fond of MS. I'm guessing that's why the other fella asked why you'd bothered contributing here.
Forza is already F2P on PC.
Crayon
Member
PSN would be free.
Free but shite. I'll gladly take the £30~ hit a year for a good service that also showers me with more free games than I can play in a lifetime.
shinobi602
Member
At this point I genuinely do not know. Being transparent here. I heard about Scalebound's cancellation last week, and since then I've talked to a few people. One's a first party developer and mentioned they haven't heard anything internally about 'new' first party stuff, when they usually have in the past, and slowly realizing that, perhaps that's because there barely is any.
Again, there's E3 coming, so there's bound to be at least one surprise. Always is. As of right now (January), I haven't heard anything. I will closer to E3.
tiredheadcrab
Member
And probably still getting those atrocious download speeds or more maintenance outages. PSN on PS4 is much better than the PS3 era.
Bits N Pieces
Member
Come on, let's not turn this thread into a Live v PSN one.
Now back to Scalebound......
Now back to Scalebound......
is there any possible way they might keep their cards close to their chest after their whole conference got leaked last year ? it just sounds unbelievable that they have nothing coming while the competition is churning out game after game even getting third party exclusives
Thats subjective. And not to get into a list wars with anybody here but...of all the ips released by Microsoft and sony how many of them are new and nonremasters. Im pretty sure we'd be on our 3rd killzone this gen if horizon didn't exist... its comparing apples to oranges to me.
Thanks for not dragging people around and stuff. Honest this one is.
Oculus Rift partnership could give them some console exclusives. I can't wait for the feel good moment when Palmer Lucky announces it on stage.
maverick40
Junior Member
Interesting, but if I remember correctly Sony will have marketing rights for pretty much all the big 3rd party titles launching this year?
So what can Microsoft do this year to boost sales and promote the new console?
FinaruDensetsu
Member
Shinobi is very clearly telling you that he just doesn't know at this point and he's yet to hear anything. Obviously MS at E3 will have a couple of surprises.
At the same time, it's not confidential what studios MS owns and which third party studios they are contracting with right now. So you can kinda deduce on your own what's really available by looking at:
1) Studios that don't have anything announced atm; and
2) Studios that have a large enough size where a team could branch off and make something that was being kept under wraps.
Remember, for a company as big and public as Microsoft, there's literally no way for them to have founded or bought some secret studio without it being public.
But there isn't a Live v PSN discussion going on...
The broader point is that Microsoft and Sony have done a good job keeping each other honest, any complacency or over-stepping of bounds being seized upon immediately.
I hope they fund some smaller games like recore.
Halo and Gears are great (well minus the robots in both games -.-), but they need titles that arent focused on pure multiplayer. (or arent shooter/racing games)
I loved recore, and that the "dlc" isnt canceled gives me a bit hope.
Hope this tweets about they only wanting games as a service stuff, isnt true.
Right now, I think they lack "soul" and have the feeling they just want to make stuff with multiplayer and microtransactions.
Halo and Gears are great (well minus the robots in both games -.-), but they need titles that arent focused on pure multiplayer. (or arent shooter/racing games)
I loved recore, and that the "dlc" isnt canceled gives me a bit hope.
Hope this tweets about they only wanting games as a service stuff, isnt true.
Right now, I think they lack "soul" and have the feeling they just want to make stuff with multiplayer and microtransactions.
Was thinking about this aswell and i wonder if they would delay scorpio until early next year to get crackdown (Assuming it doesn't make 2017, seems like the perfect game to demonstrate the extra power) as a launch title?
Fortinbras
Member
I want to throw up just thinking about it.
Kssio_Aug
Member
I'm no shinobi, but based in his words and by what I've been observing, everything points out that they may have (almost) nothing special in the sleeve. I think that if there were surprising stuff in development there would be some hints here and there, but apparently there isn't.
I'm sure at E3 they're gonna show some new games, but I'm not sure if anything surprising and / or more than a couple new titles (that may even not end up that well).
Would love to be wrong, but I'm not really seeing much movement regarding MS gaming development. I don't think they would care that much with some leaks (if they can ever hide it that well).
It's january though... so maybe it's just not the right time to expect anything.
MS will have marekting rights to Elder Scrolls if they release it this year.
DriftingSpirit
Member
Sony is announcing and releasing so much stuff because they have the best third party relations and they have a myriad of first party studios.
I think the difference there makes it better to just compare MS to MS. It isn't as if MS has the same circumstances as Sony and just aren't releasing a similar volume of games.
shinobi602
Member
Could they? Sure, but like I've said, unless they have entire first party studios secretly hidden away somewhere, I personally can not deduce who might be working on a surprise. 343 is working on Halo, that's their bread and butter. The Coalition is on Gears, Turn 10 is on Forza, Rare is on Sea of Thieves and other prototypes (that aren't anywhere near ready to be shown), Lionhead's gone...
This first party source noted to me that this time last year they had clear knowledge about what's coming in pipeline but right now it's radio silent, which to them says not much is on the horizon, software wise.
Phil's been adamant (now) that throwing money towards third party exclusives "doesn't grow" their brand, and they likely won't go that route.
Big new IPs need significant resources and capital and I can't see where that'd come from.
Ricky Ricardo
Member
Surely you jest?
Samurai G0SU
Member
disenfranchise .. hmmmmm
halo f2p - mp can gather income through req system i suppose
forza f2p - i haven't played enough of this game to see how that can happen. idk how the
halo f2p - mp can gather income through req system i suppose
forza f2p - i haven't played enough of this game to see how that can happen. idk how the
Forza would be pretty easy given how the series has gone. Car passes, tokens, slot machines, new area expansions, etc.
Actually now that I see it, all of their franchises are set up for this model. Only thing really holding them back are the large campaigns
Samurai G0SU
Member
Ah, see someone who has experience with the game. Well then, lets see which one goes first!
I've had this worry as a fan for a long time now. I know it seems like they're trying to turn everything into a service, but what does that mean concretely? Have they seen that much success with that? I know Halo and its REQ packs and post-launch support are seen as a success, and Minecraft seemingly continues to print money, but is that a viable future for the brand as a whole and as it exists now? Can it really support their ecosystem? I don't see where the additional live game support is coming from either. They might be "writing off" this gen and waiting for their next big round of investments to start again... but that seems super risky.
Fredrik
Member
Not if you like free online, then it's not even working. I used to pay for both Live and PSN but since I started playing multiplats on PC it wasn't worth the money for the few and frequently delayed console exclusives imo.
Banjo-Kazooie
Member
Not that this fits into a MS Studio topic, but I would assume the new Assassins Creed that will launch this year would be a prime candidate. Maybe the new Wolfenstein too
343 is a huge studio. Are there any chances they might also be working on multiple halo titles? Perhaps a spinoff/Halo 3 Anniversary or is it all hands on deck for Halo 6?
RichiRamjag
Member
Thanks for your prediction over how the service would have been in an alternate universe of yours where Xbl didn't exist.
Smh. Do you guys read the things you type in these silly fanboy arguments?
Hoping for a 3 anniversary myself. I'd be set.
You have to look at t from a mainstream perspective not a message board perspective. Most people right now are playing NBA 2k, battlefield, gta etc. this people buy virtual coins, battle packs etc. halo req packs make money. It's been a year plus and the game is still hovering around the top 20. People are still playing forza. Car packs bring in money. That's what they have deemed as viable. YOu hook people into your online ecosystem and offer them services. Whether it be games, ea access, live groove Netflix etc
From a business perspective I can understand it. You put out something like dead rising or tomb raider. It'll get initial sales but then that stops and you have to hope it broke even etc.
HeisenbergWW62
Banned
I still think Halo 3 Anniversary is revealed at E3 and released this fall
shinobi602
Member
Certainly possible but then again, that's still the problem. It's just more Halo and doesn't help growth.
They always seem to get studios from somewhere to work for them though. But honestly I don't know who that could be especially since they don't have Remedy, Insomniac etc any more.
Maybe they'll just focus on smaller games like Recore and Ori and focus on the big blockbusters in Halo/Gears/Forza? That'd be depressing if so (nothing against those games but I need some big AAA aswell)
Is it viable for the future and the brand? Yes it is. Thought you may not like the answer. Xbox service + Windows Store + a couple of exclusives = Future of Xbox.
Otherwise known as how Steam came to be. They are trying to be Steam in the console space and move it to the PC and have Xbox overarching both. Make a highly powered device that core gamers want to play games on. Knowing that 3rd party sells the most units, making the box is imperative to this part of their plan. Build out the platform features, and make it easy to use. Have Xbox Play Anywhere, which is really no different than what Steam has but instead of different PCs, it's console and Windows 10 PCs. Have the Store. Have some mainstay games. Have a platform for indie developers. Have an Early Access program. It's all there.
We'll see what happens though.
That's how I see it. You'll get stuff like Ashen, cup head recore Tacoma that will try and fill the void but there gonna put the most money into the service games
Oof, what brought that on?
I can't see past Halo 6 and maybe a Killer Instinct sequel for all they've got in 2018. Unless they have been hiding studios all this time. Maybe a token CGI trailer for long away titles to fill the gaps but nothing concrete because they don't have anything.
I think when we see their new games, they'll be set up to build on for many years with no follow ups.
The insider on here who leaked Rare working on a pirates game said battletoads was in development aswell but he didn't know who was making it, could be a 2018 game... if that's not cancelled too lol
It's only January and look at this list for PS4
Then February
March
Those are all Big PS4 exclusives for the most part.....That's insane for the first 3 months of the year.
Microsofts list comprises of
I included every XBO/PC combo exclusive.......2!!!!! Just 2!!!!!
Till fall or E3 when they announce dates for the likes of Forza and stuff. It's insane how hugely flopped it is. Xbox One launched with an amazing lineup imo compared to the PS4, they also had an amazing following year! but fumbled due to the controversies. Since then....there list has been getting smaller, and smaller and smaller.
Yeah, first party is all set and I cant even think which big third party developers could be working with them in a first party exclusive game atm.
I cant see many surprises coming, only if they are from smaller studios. Nobody could see stuff like ReCore happening so projects like that are the only ones I see coming as surprises...
I dunno, they can't get a feature rich Halo out day one even after all these years. Seems like all hands on deck for them and still come up short. I don't think their development has been reasonably smooth sailing yet so doubt they've been making a big second game. H3A maybe.
Your use of the word big is cute
Banjo-Kazooie
Member
I get what you're saying but can we try and not muddy up this topic with games and information from other companies that aren't MS first party and partners. Like, Rise & Shine doesn't even have anything to do with MS. That's Adult Swim publishing it. The fact that it's console exclusive (for the moment) really doesn't matter in this topic, let alone the Sony games
Nothing against you personally I just don't want this thread going down a slippery slope
Kssio_Aug
Member
I once believed in what you're saying, but again, what are their recent efforts to accomplish such a thing? (other than Scorpio annoucement)
Cause if they want to progressively unify Xbox and Windows 10 they're not doing much for it lately. Windows 10 store is still quite messy, prices are not atractive, UWP doesn't allow nearly the same freedom Steam, Origin, GoG, or any other PC platform may offer to edit the game files / configurations.
If they want to make Xbox a "steam machine"-like product they're gonna need to create stronger appeal for it. They are not gathering PC players attention with their releases in the digital store, they're scaring people away from Xbox closing so many studios, canceling so many projects and not showing new IP's.
Maybe they're gonna soon announce something big, something that means a complete change in the way they're trying to achieve things, like a new project or something. But the way things have lately been directed is only deviating people from their projects.
Man...
They would not have this problem if they unshackled their most talented developers and let them form new teams, new IPs, and new ideas. Instead, all of their best talent is locked behind fading franchises, while all of their external development efforts either fail miserably or get canceled.
As a fan, it's incredibly frustrating.
GeordieMark
Member
I used to work at MS and this seemed the direction things have been going in for a while. I think you are on the money. Xbox has been more than just a console for a while. What I am curious about is where Xbox live fits into this as a paid service. I can't see that flying in the PC space. Interesting times ahead!
Humdinger
Member
So, the Xbox will increasingly become a console focused on online multiplayer gaming, because that's where MS makes the money (and that's where the "games as services" model works). So, fewer and fewer singleplayer games. You're right, all of them have flopped for them. The move away from them has been evident for years (e.g., I think of how Fable 4 was morphed into a free-for-play game under their management, eventually killing it).
It makes sense, financially, that they'd be avoiding SP experiences and focusing on multiplayer mayhem and "games as services." MS knows where the money is, and I can't blame them for going after it.
As a SP-gamer, though, that's very discouraging. I remember that some of my best SP gaming experiences were on the original Xbox and early 360.
Ah well.
Appreciate your input, Shinobi. You're one of the people whose opinion I know I can trust on this site.