-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
GamingBolt: What The Hell Is Going On With Xbox Game Studios?
- Thread starter IbizaPocholo
- Start date
- Opinion Trailer Game Dev
- Status
Zeroing
Banned
i dunno if it was the narrator voice or how they written the dialogue but my brain froze. They didn’t seem critical of anything, just a video telling the “epic” tale of how MS went from rags to riches! Basically a Disney tale! Princess brought things and lived happily!
I’m kinda exaggerating but…
I’m kinda exaggerating but…
DeepEnigma
Gold Member
Thirty7ven
Banned
That has been the media narrative for a hot minute now, that somehow MS is this humble small beginnings tale that has assumed the role of Rocky the eternal underdog fighting all odds against mighty Drago, as if they aren’t the empire casting a shadow as big as the sky and are now assembling the fucking Death Star(/s).
Anyway, they just bought a ton of studios, give it time geez.
Ozzy Onya A2Z
Member
Do gaming journalists not understand how Microsoft works? MS literally iterate until they make it. It's a pretty age old modus operandi of theirs. Xbox really isn't very different to windows or office or server/software or browsers with respect to grinding out revisions and reforms for improvements over time until a solid or market leading position is achieved. They've been breaking that mould a little with Surface, Xbox/Gamepass and Azure with great success but the old formula is still heavily applied long term. Acquisitions have always been part of big business, some go horrible and others go brilliantly.
The cadence of iterations through Xbox kills it over Sony or Nintendo in terms of online services, platform updates and general maintenance of their ecosystem and services.
The cadence of iterations through Xbox kills it over Sony or Nintendo in terms of online services, platform updates and general maintenance of their ecosystem and services.
Last edited:
Zeroing
Banned
Aka money!
EverydayBeast
ChatGPT 0.1
Microsoft is just trying to get their big 3 (gears, Forza, halo) right everything else is icing on the cake and unfortunately they haven’t hit any like a Sony or Nintendo.
DarkMage619
$MSFT
Did we watch the same video? There was tons of criticism from what happened with Halo Infinite to what is going on with Everwild and Undead Labs. It was balanced, talking about the good and bad of XGS. I don't know about rags to riches but in console gaming MS is clearly the underdog. It shows money alone doesn't equal success; they have to have a compelling product and they have that with the X Series systems right now.
They have come a long way from the original Xbox and there is way more positive than negative currently. I appreciate them continuing to support their earlier gaming efforts with their backwards compatibility system. I wish all platform holders did that.
Lupin25
Member
You probably never bothered to watch the video if that’s your impression lol.
tpieman2029
Member
Microsoft studios have some major issues. Halo multi live service being the head among them but their constant delays and under delivering being another.
However there is considerable talent and names there that I won't bet against. If you don't think Brian Fargo, Tim Schaffer, Godd Howard and others arnt gonna continue to produce then idk what to tell you.
They're gonna have highs and lows. Consistency isn't there yet. But the talent is. Even if half of it just left the initiative.
However there is considerable talent and names there that I won't bet against. If you don't think Brian Fargo, Tim Schaffer, Godd Howard and others arnt gonna continue to produce then idk what to tell you.
They're gonna have highs and lows. Consistency isn't there yet. But the talent is. Even if half of it just left the initiative.
Zeroing
Banned
We did! If you think that was being critical then oh boy… must show you real journalism!
The problem with gaming media and we gamers is, that we think Xbox is somehow not part of MS as one corporation. Let’s be honest here, with all that influence and money they could had push gaming even further and destroyed the competition but they MS doesn’t even know what made the Xbox 360 special! That is the sad truth!
Yes they are currently doing some positive things but if you keep trying everything, one day we will get something right. The big 3 do not exist in a vacuum and they do influence each other.
Same way as sony woke up from their PS3 nap, Nintendo double down on mobile gaming after the Wii U failure… MS is just to slow!
Ghost of Caelid
Banned
Until their next game is bad no real questions about whats going on with them.
R3claimer117
Member
Lol 
I wonder how many of the usual suspects will see this can come in ready to shit pile not knowing it’s a positive video and article.
I wonder how many of the usual suspects will see this can come in ready to shit pile not knowing it’s a positive video and article.
Hollowpoint5557
A Fucking Idiot
Publisher of the year last year with a record high meta so nice try with the hit piece but try harder next time LOL.
ABnormal
Member
Well, it's quite the opposite. They repeatedly failed to create a proper identity and quality software (outside very few exceptions) since XOne era, and they simply admitted their incapability. So they decoded that, if they are not able to create a culture and structure to build quality games, they can simply buy the ones created by others, since they have the moneyyyyzzzz
ShaikhCroft
Member
What the hell is wrong with your stupid gaming site called "gaaymingbolt"?
PixelatedBeast
Member
They basically just bought there 3rd party publishers that sold more games on playstation....its not that deep.
adamsapple
Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
Xbox in 2022 is a far cry from Xbox in ~2013. The coming years and when their acquisitions start putting out the many projects currently underway will only make it better for gamers.
I'm sorry it wasn't the hit piece you were expecting going by the topic title
I'm sorry it wasn't the hit piece you were expecting going by the topic title
SenjutsuSage
Banned
I rather enjoy this silliness where everybody is concern trolling the #1 publisher of the prior year as each of their studios go through the same early, mid, late project issues that all studios go through. Did Xbox Game Studios not absolutely kill it last year? Do they not get time to actually build their games and find their way in a project like all studios do?
If you keep behaving like there is a massive reason to be worried, maybe it becomes a reality? I think that's what some hope for, but I think they'll be disappointed on that front.
If you keep behaving like there is a massive reason to be worried, maybe it becomes a reality? I think that's what some hope for, but I think they'll be disappointed on that front.
TheGodfather07
Member
adamsapple
Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
They absolutely did. Along with being the highest rated publisher, 4 of the highest scoring game of the year games of 2021 were published by Xbox Games Studios.
But to call a spade a spade, they do have an issue with backloading the 2nd half of a year with their big hitters. All 4 of the games in my last line released in the 2nd half of the year. It seems like they're gonna follow a similar trend this year as they don't have a single big first party game coming out in the coming month(s). Redfall is MIA and I don't expect it to meet its Summer release date in the slightest.
Let's be honest, most of the concerned folks are generally bad faith actors in the first place.
Last edited:
onnextflix5
Member
Even with all the new studios, still cant seem to get wide appeal, they are too American cultured, thats why us and uk is where they make all their money, sooner or later they need to figure out how they can get world wide appeal.
Represent.
Represent(ative) of bad opinions
Going on 2 years into the gen and its still literally only been Halo and Forza as the big AAA games.
Their other studios seem to be in shambles management wise, which leads to development hell.
None of their new studios have proven anything yet.
They need to get going and prove they can deliver constant, high quality games. Enough BS.
Their other studios seem to be in shambles management wise, which leads to development hell.
None of their new studios have proven anything yet.
They need to get going and prove they can deliver constant, high quality games. Enough BS.
tusharngf
Member
I still remember 2013 xbox launch and how the media destroyed everything about Xbox brand. Phil learned from this mistake and someone manage to get everything back together. As long as PHIL is there xbox is not going down. Microsoft made a huge mistake by hiring Don mattrick guy and listening to bill gates. Bill was the one who said we should do something like wii console.
They got a powerful system now and has lots of quality studios in the hand. Nothing can go wrong from here as long as they give AAA title every 2 or 3 month.
They got a powerful system now and has lots of quality studios in the hand. Nothing can go wrong from here as long as they give AAA title every 2 or 3 month.
Zeroing
Banned
I’ll be honest I expectea console war here… there’s hope for humanity
I’m also sorry there’s not been made any new gamepass threads… must be hard for you!
Joking.
Contrary to you and your little click group, I watch things, either positive or negative of any brand! Just because I choose to be critical doesn’t mean I swore my allegiance to Sony/Nintendo! Not my fault all that is talked here lately is Microsoft’s acquisitions…Xbox in 2022 is a far cry from Xbox in ~2013. The coming years and when their acquisitions start putting out the many projects currently underway will only make it better for gamers.
I'm sorry it wasn't the hit piece you were expecting going by the topic title
I’m also sorry there’s not been made any new gamepass threads… must be hard for you!
Joking.
Gamer_By_Proxy
Member
I mean, they ain't lying. Xbox should surely go up from here though.
Zeroing
Banned
Big daddy Phil isn’t going anywhere! We all need him and he need us!!!
adamsapple
Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
I think it's a safe assumption the Xbox brand would have been dead or in obscurity right now if it wasn't for him. Not only did he help to bring it back, he's also managed to get the CEO of Microsoft (Satya Nadella) investing in the gaming/entertainment divisions more heavily than ever before.
He's probably someone as relevant to Xbox as Kaz Hirai is historically to PlayStation.
Last edited:
Ozzy Onya A2Z
Member
Wrong. Sea of Thieves would like a word, as would Age of Empires, Minecraft and Flight Simulator. Just because you don't like those games doesn't mean they are not consistent and popular.
You're also omitting success stories out of Gamepass like The Ascent, Psychonauts 2, Tunic, Sable, Shredders, Grounded etc. Gears 5 was only 2.5 years ago too, sames goes for Ori 2 borderline 2 years ago now.
Posts like this that Xbox has only Forza and Halo are irrelevant and ignorant these days.
How about the roadmap for 2022/23? Starfield, Avowed, Perfect Dark, Redfall, Contraband, Hellblade 2. Unknown release dates surround Everwild, State of Decay 3 and Fable.
We haven't even really pushed into ActiBliz studios that much here either with COD, DOOM, Wolf, Overwatch, WoW, Diablo, Star/War craft, Tony Hawk, Guitar/DJ Hero, Sierra games and if you want to get picky Sekiro is under ActiBliz IPs too.
D
Deleted member 471617
Unconfirmed Member
Completely agree on all aspects but on the bright side, Microsoft has made Xbox the best it's been since Xbox 360 in my opinion. The second half of 2022 will in my opinion have Deathloop in September, Age of Empires IV (console) and Forza Motorsport in October and of course, Starfield on 11/11/22. I do think Redfall gets delayed to early 2023 (Feb/March) but that's perfectly fine by me as I don't want to see the first half of 2023 being empty like 2021 and 2022. 2023 could have Redfall, Avowed, Contraband and Hellblade 2 spread out throughout the year. We'll know what a the second half of 2022 and the first half of 2023 look like once June gets here and Microsoft has their Xbox Games Showcase.
DavidGzz
Gold Member
These games would be good and relevant if they were on Playstation. That's how the mind of a fanboy works. MS has been doing just fine and it will only get better from here.
sol_bad
Member
Do Activision own the studios that made the recent Spyro and Crash games? I don't want the IP's dug into the ground but I hope MS let them make more games. Or make some original IP platformers. Or a new Banjo game.
Something tells me MS will fuck up and not capitalise on these possibilities.
Something tells me MS will fuck up and not capitalise on these possibilities.
If you’re going to talk about what their studios have proven, then you’d have to include Deathloop and Psychonauts 2 with multiple GOTY awards between them.
There’s absolutely no indication that most of their studios have any issues. We’ve only heard issues with a handful of studios out of the multitude they own.
Looking forward to their June showcase so we can have better calibration as to where we stand
FingerBang
Member
How does that make you feel?
sol_bad
Member
No.
No you do not include those games. Microsoft had absolutely nothing to do with those games.
Lmao this is bullcrap. The conversation was on the performance/output of Xbox Game studios. Arkane and Double Fine are Xbox Game studios.
Not to mention it’s pure bullshit to claim MS had nothing to do with Psychonauts 2 development when the Studio head has said multiple times that funding from MS made them flesh out the game further.
You tried, though.
Last edited:
StealthGoblin
Banned
I’ve always got the impression that Microsoft’s internal studios (that they’ve had for a while) have largely been mismanaged. Turn 10 seem to be the only internal team to my knowledge who’ve just got on and released hits continuously without drama or huge changes in direction.
The Initiative sounded interesting on paper at the start. Huge budget, poaching top talent from other studios and a new mantra from Xbox about letting studios manage themselves and just be creative. It’s a shame that it seems a bit more authoritarian over there than we might have expected.
343 is such an interesting case - every project they’ve released has had issues and they’ve had a blank cheque to get things right. Halo Infinite launching the way it did after a year long delay is mind-boggling.
Their newly acquired studios have had to duck and dive a bit to survive (Ninja Theory, Double Fine, Obsidian etc) so I’m hoping their management keeps control over their projects because they are good teams.
The Initiative sounded interesting on paper at the start. Huge budget, poaching top talent from other studios and a new mantra from Xbox about letting studios manage themselves and just be creative. It’s a shame that it seems a bit more authoritarian over there than we might have expected.
343 is such an interesting case - every project they’ve released has had issues and they’ve had a blank cheque to get things right. Halo Infinite launching the way it did after a year long delay is mind-boggling.
Their newly acquired studios have had to duck and dive a bit to survive (Ninja Theory, Double Fine, Obsidian etc) so I’m hoping their management keeps control over their projects because they are good teams.
Last edited:
sol_bad
Member
MEH.
Looking into it, it looks like they were able to re-implement boss battles and make the game optimized for Series X. Sorry, MS weren't involved in any decision making or approval processes. I personally wouldn't include Psychonauts 2.
Death Loop was delayed due to MS giving more time for polish.
MS provided funding and allowed them delay the game for further polish and added content.
But all that is immaterial, and what you would or wouldn’t include is irrelevant. They are an XGS studio and their work is counted as part of XGS output post acquisition.
The Wikipedia entry for XGS lists Psychonauts 2. Facts > Opinions.
StealthGoblin
Banned
I think that’s more of a technicality more than anything else though. It’s clutching at straws a bit. Good game, but very little of it is down to Xbox.
- Status