Automaton's Shehzaan Abdulla looks at the logic (or lack thereof) behind Nintendo's decision to region-lock their hardware, most notably the "new 3DS range". The rationale he comes up with isn't encouraging, suggesting that there is no convincing pro-consumer reason to opt for region-locking.
Companies, particularly public companies like Microsoft, need to grow.
i mean its pretty simple, they spent close to 30 billion in acquiring activision, they thought they'd make it bk no problem, and that didnt happen.
its just shit that because of MS's miscalculation alot of people lost their jobs.
They are going to use AI for a large portion of the game development process. Upper management need bonuses and the shareholders need more money. So, people will lose their jobs.
They shouldn't have bought any studios. Some is okay...but they went on a shopping spree...stupid
The better question is why did Microsoft buy publishers for a service they were subsidizing they knew couldn't support.
And why are so many websites trying to make people feel sorry for Microsoft instead of truly criticizing the fact they are closing studios and killing jobs that would have been fine if Microsoft themselves hadn't gotten involved.
Quit feeling sorry for Microsoft and start feeling sorry for the industry and the all the gamers who are actually losing out.
THIS IS MICROSOFTS FAULT.
The first thing that happens after any major acquisition or merger is a consolidation of the whole new portfolio, which includes cutting any excess, bloat or portfolios that don't fit the larger MO of the big boy. So far, it's been par for the course with Microsoft and that's why gamers have been so against this acquisition. Tango Gameworks is the beginning. You think Microsoft wants to pay to keep small timers like Ninja Theory in business?
There is absolutely zero evidence to suggest that Microsoft will improve any of these studios, but plenty to suggest that they will get rid of what they don't need and hold onto the IP. The real agenda of the acquisition was always to acquire The Elder Scrolls, Diablo, Fallout, Call of Duty, Candy Crush etc. that will create millions in passive revenue stream for Microsoft regardless of where the games release. Microsoft simply wants their cut.
Because of Games Pass Microsoft has no interest in investing in new IP which is risky and requires creative talent they can neither nurture nor manage. Game Pass has also not grown in the way Microsoft expected it to, even post acquisitions. Therefore the logical thing to do, without serious money makers to release, is to cut as much cost as possible.
NE: "Kirby's been on more than a handful of adventures, and we've gathered a list of 10 of the best Kirby games here."
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night has received a bunch of new DLC, including two new gameplay modes, for free.
While Region Locking is an issue that needs to go away, at the same time I don't think that the number of people who actually do import games to save money/gain access to games that don't hit their region is large enough for this to be a dramatic barrier for people looking to buy the latest games.
It does need to go away, though, and for that, there needs to be a convincing movement on our part.
If Japan, for instance, starts getting a huge amount of RPG's for the N3DS or something, and Nintendo realizes that the demand for these games makes paying to get alternate-language ports impractically expensive, then I think they'll likely drop region locking again just to save costs while allowing players to get these games.
In short, if we want Nintendo to drop region locking, we've got to come up with a way of showing them that the minority that wants these other-country-only games, is starting to grow to a point that they can't ignore.
Any ideas, people?