Microsoft is Finally Offering Strong Single-Player Value

E3 2018 saw Microsoft making its strongest pitch to date: that it offers value to those who prefer to play their games alone.

[2pacalypsenow]

Huh? We happy few has been out for a while, Hellblade is out on multiple platforms and Halo is Halo... How do they get "MS cares about single player" from this?

[himdeel]

Studios are great, when they release games that's even better. There is at least a promise of more value, nothing more, for now.

[dirkdady]

They bought 5 studios that will begin working on games that will undoubtably release on the next gen Xbox.. so current Xbox one owners are excited about....?

We will all judge the next gen games when they release and will decide to buy the next Xbox or PlayStation based on the offerings. I think what people fail to realize is Microsoft is calling it quits on current Xbox one and investing into the future.

Feel bad for current Xbox owners as Microsoft is doing his on the backs of the poor current Xbox owners that will blindly also buy the next gen console

[dcbronco]

Dirk you're making assumptions about when games will be released to be critical of Microsoft by using the assumption that it is for next generation. But what makes your failure complete is your need to bash Microsoft made you forget a few things. One is that Microsoft stated years ago that all Xboxes would be compatible going forward from Xbox One. Any new Xbox will still run Windows and we've known since the 360 they can update the kernel to fit future os changes. You also apparently didn't really watch the conference because there was an announcement about a streaming service that works on phones, pcs and....Xboxes. This is why fanboys shouldn't type. You're also assuming none of these developers has already been working on new games. Btw, have you finished the Final Fantasy VII remake that was announced 3 years ago. What about Shenmue? Wasn't Spider-Man announced three years ago?

[JaguarEvolved]

I'd love to see the strong single player offering Microsoft has and is bringing to gamers. Some fanatics can be very silly. Microsoft acquiring studios doesn't mean much without actual games. Microsoft had studios previously which didn't materialise anything of substance. Where are the games

[dirkdady]

dc yes I'm speculating reading between the lines and I think your doing some speculating as well. I'm not a fanboy but I do genuinely feel bad for current Xbox owners as Microsoft is using that money to buy these studios and release games on the next gen Xbox so these guys who are forking over money now are getting taken advantage of.

High quality games take many years even 5 plus years to make so these games from these studios will most likely be on next gen console

[jagermaster619]

@dirkdady
Hahaha you don't feel bad for Xbox gamers you just love to talk sh#t. Get over yourself!

[jeffcoleII]

@dirkdady

I feel as though you are overestimating the importance of first party games. Yes, they are important, but they aren’t always the reason people choose a platform. I bought an Xbox to keep my 360 library relevant and a PS4 to game with majority of my friends.

[SuperSonic91]

No amount of acquired developers big or small, can help the Xbox brand from dying a slow painfull death unless the Xbox leadership changes from inside.
These acquisitions is no different from the series of 180s the Xbox brand has taken to due to unfavorable consumer reception since 2013!

The very important thing Xbox os lacking is "genuine love for the game" because they are after the money more than the industry.

They need execs who will do it for the game not the money.

[Bastrad]

Lol @ JaguarEvolved calling other people fanatics. He's the biggest fanatic on this site.

EDIT:Although SuperSonic91 certainly has issues as well. It's disturbing how some people worship corporations and pieces of metal and plastic. Some people just have emptier lives than others I guess.

[No Way]

Dirk, They don't need the money from X1 users; they have plenty of money. Also, it's a good sign for the future of xbox, no matter how anyone wants to spin it. Will it work out? Maybe not. But, right now - it's a good sign that they are investing in studios. That's what everyone complains about.. exclusive games. Why are people so mad/cynical/dismissive/etc. that they are investing? That's what everyone wanted!

@Jeff; A lot of people can't, or don't want to, admit to that. They both have their strengths. Xbox has a better UI, online and infrastructure. Sony has better, and more, games and great studios. I bought my xbox to play the majority (3rd party) of games with friends and the PS4 for their games.Can't we all just get along and enjoy games and gaming? :D ... sadly, no.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

Not current titles. Future titles from those newly bought studios.

[BehindTheRows]

That needs to happen first.

[alb1899]

Nier and Hellblade are in, the others multiplataform too and coming more single player console exclusives with the 5 new studios......how many exclusives mp are coming to ps4?

[lodossrage]

@2pacalypsenow

Not just Hellblade, but We Happy Few has been on the Playstation store for god only knows how long now.

[-Foxtrot]

Premature hype. People don't learn.

[blackblades]

Gotta see it to believe it.

[Prem8tuaProcrastin8a]

See what? When Phil Spencer said on numerous occasions that they were and will investing in 1st party, ppl on n4g said "I'll believe it when I see it", now they have made good on those promises and spent a shit ton and doubled their 1st party studio portfolio, doing something that is unprecedented by a platform holder, you STILL say the same, tired old rubbish? It goes to show ppl on n4g will bash ms whatever they do.

[DarkVoyager]

“How do they get "MS cares about single player" from this?“

Maybe because most of the studios the acquired make single player games?

[rainslacker]

2 make SP games, one makes MP games, the last makes a SP game with a strong MP component. The new created studio we don't know about yet.

The only 2 SP focused ones, one is not interested in making AAA titles(Ninja Theory), and wants to keep it in the high end mid tier range. The other is a higher than average indie dev who's only game came with mixed reviews. Had an interesting concept, but failed in some execution.

[Prem8tuaProcrastin8a]

You do realise that these studios will have had other projects ongoing even b4 their acquisitions? NT for example has more than one team. Many of these studios are known for SP games. As NT said, ms has given them the true creative freedom and resources to realise their visions. People asked ms to expand their studio portfolio, they did just that yet n4g still complains. This site is no longer about the love of gaming, it's about bashing any console (or game) that isn't your chosen platforms. The creation/acquisition of 5 new studios in one move is unprecedented, and just because they announced it now, doesn't mean they just happened. Ms doubled their 1st party studios with this move. How is it a bad thing?

[AngelicIceDiamond]

MS acquired 4 studios and built one all in one year. If they keep this up I wanna see how many they can get next year, if that's what MS going for. I think that's the most impressive part about all this. Everyone always said they need to do something with all their money.

[IamTylerDurden1]

There is more future potential now. But at this moment they do not offer strong singleplayer value.

[S2Killinit]

ummm isn't this article jumping the gun a bit? How do they know the future?

[Muzikguy]

😂

That’s all I got. Single player value sounds funny when talking about MS

[ccgr]

We Happy Few has been in Early Access for a while

[rainslacker]

I don't think they're offering it yet. They're promising it for the future, and acquiring a couple SP focused studios doesn't make it a strong value, just means they'll have more than they have now.

[J-DARKnes]

My thoughts exactly

[Zeref]

Because they acquired studios that make Single Player games?

[Bhai]

"Microsoft is Finally Offering Strong Single-Player Value"...

Where??? did I miss something during these days? Is there a strong SP title that moved xb1s/x consoles and gained marketshare for MS?

[No Way]

Because of the studios; one is known for making good single player titles.

[CaptainOmega]

No.. they aren’t. It’s one thing to aquire 5 new studios, it’s another for those studios to deliver on good games.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

Ok that's the goal for every publisher who makes single player games.

[UCForce]

It’s more about earning trust. Now i’m glad that MS bought these studios for their next future. But MS really need to get rid of their micromanage and focus what developers want. I’m still neutral about MS bought Ninja Theory. Because before MS buy NT, Hellblade is very disturbing game and it’s about mental health problems. Ninja Theory didn’t hold back on that game. MS have their sensitive side. If Ninja Theory create another dark,gritty and brutal game, MS would not like that and they don’t like people get offended. In my previous statements, MS had the problem with Quantic Dream about kidnapping scene and they did tried to censor it but QD refuses that and switch to Sony for better results.

[RadicalCannibal]

I bet youre fun at parties

[DarkVoyager]

“No.. they aren’t. It’s one thing to aquire 5 new studios, it’s another for those studios to deliver on good games.“

Hellblade was one of the best single player games I’ve ever played. It was also made on a very limited budget. Now they have far more resources to make their next game.

[CaptainOmega]

Every studio aquired except for Playground will be releasing their new games next gen. It's way too early to tell if these new studios will provide Xbox with single player games of value.

[UCForce]

And Hellblade was dark,brutal and disturbing. Hellblade didn’t hold back. If Ninja Theory create another game that is so dark,brutal and gritty, MS wouldn’t like that. So MS really let these developers do whatever they want with their vision. MS really need to get rid of their micro management.

[alb1899]

How many mp exclusives are coming for ps4?

[CaptainOmega]

LMAO. That's not the point

[alb1899]

Yea, that's not the point jajaja

[SpaceRanger]

Single player? If the games they showed were their push for SP, then PS4 and PC must clearly be doing even better since almost all were multiplats.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

The article is talking about future single player titles from those new acquired studios like I said up top. Obvious not the multiplat games., MS doesn't make those.

Use your brain.

[Thatguy-310]

How could they talk about the future if they don't even know what the studios will end up making

[pinkcrocodile75]

@Thatguy-310 You know you actualy said that outloud don't you?

[AngelicIceDiamond]

@Guy It would be strange if Ninja Theory made MP games. Compulsion games Happy few is single player only one could guess their future game will be SP also. Plus Phil said hes dedicated to SP experiences. @Space comment still made no sense when he said multiplats. Like why did he mention multiplats?

[trooper_]

....WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING FUTURE WISE!

You guys really are something. Those studios need to prove their worth before crowning Microsoft as a single player supporter.

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Probably not atm

[Pancit_Canton]

Before acquisition single player, after acquisition multi-player.

Rare is the perfect example.

[Team_Litt]

They've made ONE multiplayer game after making Banjo, Kameo, Perfect Dark Zero and 2 Viva Piñatas all of which are single player games and now suddenly they are a multiplayer studio after acquisition??
And they are making Battletoads too!

Get out of here with your tainted ass BS logic.

[Venoxn4g]

firstly..do we even know if Rare is making Battletoads? I know its Rare's IP ..but it could be similar situation like it was with newest Killer Instinct, which was developed by Double Helix (I think?) ..not that I am not excited by Battletoads..

[Team_Litt]

Go watch the teaser, Rare appears on the bottom left so we know they are involved.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

That's funny because Rare was ones of those studios to do as they please after Phil came on bored and ditched kinect. Rare themselves said they wanted to do pirate type of game.

[UCForce]

But how is turn out ? Sea of Thieves wasn’t critical success.

[UnorthodoxAndCynical]

This is astoundingly lame. The new studios are yet to release their first game, and you are jumping to conclusions

[LawlessSXE]

Compulsion Games has released one game, Undead Labs two, Playground three games. Ninja Theory four. They're proven teams who have made much enjoyed, if not always strongly reviewed, titles. Only one is untested.
Do you really think that being under the Microsoft umbrella is really going to make them turn away from what they've done in the past? If so, then you're blind to the fact that MS has shown a concerted effort to cultivate studios into doing what they best over the last few years.

[UnorthodoxAndCynical]

You never know what's going to happen. Neither of our claims arr concrete. So let's just wait instead?

And imo, MS still doesnt offer SP value AS OF NOW, as compared to ps4. Let them get a few IPs, then we will be talking. I myself want MS to excel, and my Xbox one to be worth something.

[RosweeSon]

Yeah I mean look at Rare. Used to make the best games in the business even rivalling Nintendo on their own systems and now, well nothing since sea of thieves, making a new battletoads but hang on that’s not even being developed by rare so are they making anything, maybe they’ve been sent back to work on Kinect games. Maybe they in the middle of being cultivated. MS has done them no favours since buying them.

[maybelovehate]

The Ninja Theory add was certainly good for those who care about SP games. The video Ninja Theory released should also put any worries to rest about MS ruining the studio.

[pinkcrocodile75]

Agreed

[Goldby]

As true as that is because they are keeping creative freedom. At the end of the day there's a budget that has to be greenlit. If anyone is able to work under a budget it would be NT.

[maybelovehate]

Very true. Can't wait to see what they are able to do with a bigger team. Like he said in the video, they will be able to go from a 20 person studio to a 100 person studio right away, which was their long term goal. They will also not have to worry about Marketing and stuff that just gets in the way of making a game.

[MunchMiller00]

lol Ok.

[King_Lothric]

"Microsoft is Finally Offering Strong Single-Player Value"

There is no "finally", there is a "maybe" in the future. Very misleading article that make it sound like right now MS is offering single player value.

[RosweeSon]

Agreed it makes it sound like they dropped all the games over night and now it has a plethora of games to play on all pushing x to its limits or even at all, let’s face it 360 OG Xbox games ain’t gonna make it struggle and literally 90% of the games were 2019 so how are they now offering strong single player content when the games haven’t even released yet not to mention crackdown is highly likely to be very average at best after all this, hype?... delays. 2019 could be interesting but as it’s stands it’s the same as it has been last 3/4 years pretty average great it you wanna play old games and you’ve sold your 360. Otherwise not much point in my opinion all available elsewhere

[phoenixwing]

The author of the article will be eating a large heap of crow if the next game by ninja theory is a multiplayer game. Microsoft never said they would focus on single player and i think that is the problem.

[Christopher]

Not yet they aren't. They're on the path towards that, but they are not "finally" offering it. They need to put out the games first.

[Razzer]

Agree. They are finally heading in the right direction with actions rather than words, but there is still more to do.....like more games. All the fluff and hub-bub of E3 doesn't mean jackshit without producing quality games at the end of the day.

[candystop]

All we Can Do now is wait and see. I will say I'm excited about this new Halo and what these studios are going to make happen for this and next generation.

[RadicalCannibal]

Don’t care. I’m in gaming for multiplayer experiences. Not single player story driven throw away when your done. That’s why I still support Xbox, just. It’s been hard but this showing has restored my faith somewhat. Multiplayer, all the way and they are best set to deal with the inevitable GaaS model that all will have to adopt. There’s no denying it but this will be absolutely everywhere 5 years from now, either adopt it or fall by the wayside

[maybelovehate]

I do value multiplayer games more, but I feel you need both. The thing that excites me most is that these games these new studios are making will be on game pass. The hardest part with Single Player games is the cost. Just hard to justify a game you will spend a week on as having the same price as a game you will spend months or even years on. But with Game Pass you can play these games when they launch and enjoy them for as long as you like without paying premium prices. I feel it is a big win for consumers.

[Goldby]

You can also play Sp games for longer than a week.

Ng+ is requested alot for that single purpose.

[maybelovehate]

@goldby: that is true, you can. I pretty much play Diablo 3 as a single player experience and have well over 1000 hours in that game. But it is very rare for me. Games like Alan Wake, God of War, Last of Us I usually spend a week on and then move on. And I feel that is fine, they were created to be stories you experience. They weren't created to have strong gameplay loops. I feel Game Pass makes these types of game much more appealing since you can experience them and move on without feeling like you have a big investment in them.

[UCForce]

Hate Single Player that much ? There is a lot of people who still enjoy Single Player.

[maybelovehate]

.....oops. Replied to wrong comment. Disregard.

[i3eyond the Circle]

There's no winning with n4g. People will still find a way to negatively spin breathing oxygen if Microsoft made it.

Offering single player value is only misleading if you read that far into it to grasp ay straws.

They bought new studios and understand the importance of first party exclusive value. So they are offering single player value alongside the multiplayer value they offer with Gears, Halo, Forza franchises.

If you were mislead you're gullible or just needed something to talk about since no ones talking about your e3.

[Goldby]

The author is reading too much into it and hoping for the best. As of right now all they have are the studios but no games from them. That will take time, so as of right now, xbox still doesn't have value for Sp heavy gamers but that may change in the future

[ziggurcat]

They probably will once those newly acquired studios get going, but they’re not right now.

[RosweeSon]

...from 2019

[-Gespenst-]

GAMES, not "value". Stop using these disgusting corporate words.

[arkard]

No, they are not, they bought some studios, no word what they will do yet though

[RosweeSon]

And if we’re to look at Rare it’s not promising. They were admittedly alresdy on a bit of a decline but damn they gone terrible these days sea of thieves looks alright enough to get me to purchase the console tho. No, banjo 3 or blast corps 2 sure. These guys used to make the best games in the business then Microsoft bought them got a perfect dark and more recently killer instinct then punished them by demanding they make Kinect games when no one wanted Kinect games, except Microsoft.

[Vasto]

This is just a sample of whats to come.

The true king has returned.

[Razzer]

you've got a picture of Phil Spencer on your bedside table......don't you?

[RainbowBrite]

I wish, but no! not yet at least. Show me the games!

[KwietStorm_BLM]

They haven't actually done anything yet.

[ARESWARLORD]

I personally think Microsoft killed it this time kudos to them

[RadicalCannibal]

Sorry I read your gamertag as ARSEWARLORD, lol, my bad. But, yes, I agree

[xenz]

Eh not really. They are on the right track, but we'll still have to wait a couple of years at least before we begin to see a steady flow of quality titles.

[salmonade]

Who are we kidding? They're going to make more average filler for GamePass.

[PhantomS42]

They are offering strong single player value...most of which you can play on PC or PS4 because they largely ignored their exclusives again.

[Jrios355]

With the accuositions of these 4 studios, and opening up a new one, Microsoft might have a chance of offering single player content, if they put these studios to good use.

[FallenAngel1984]

We haven’t seen anything like that from E3

[PhoenixUp]

What’s Hellblade doing in the thumbnail? It was made and released before Microsoft made the purchase and is most likely the reason Ninja Theory got purchased. Same goes for We Happy Few

Halo seems like another way to pad out the thumbnail

[GrimDragon]

Single player should never ever even be thought about as something to consider removing or not supporting....ever!

[343_Guilty_Spark]

My back catalog on Xbox and PS4 is huge ...I can wait on these guy and play in 2021. Btw why is Asdassins Creed Orifins so damn big? I saw the full mad and was like damnnnn!!

[Razzer]

^^^ drunk post

[Elda]

Not yet we know Playground & Undead has been making games for them already,Compulsion is hit or miss,the new studio The Initiative is credit for buying a new studio,we have to see what they do.Ninja Theory is a notch on their belt but we'll see what they'll do for MS,I hope they don't get ruined like Rare.

[MorpheusX]

"Microsoft is Finally Offering Strong Single-Player Value"

really? Like?.........(crickets)....

It's 1 E3, .......and I'd say it was...okay, not bad, not great.....okay, it's " small " step, in right direction. after 4+ years(E3's) of mediocrity.

They " officially" aquired several studio's, mine I remind everyone the "studio's" they aquired have already been working with Microsoft.

Microsoft announced several new [Forza isn't new] games, none releasing this year though, and sequels to franchises like Halo, GOW, Forza Horizon. uh okay, that's to be expected but bravo ,
, like what I saw from GOW & Forza Horizon.

But "Strong Single Player Value" after Microsofts E3 2018?

Again, Like? name me 1 "new" single player AAA exclusive shown @E3 2018 by Microsoft that would validate or lend credence.

I see hope, I see something for the game consumer, the fanboys(girls) to have hope in.

But, let's not get carried away here. Not yet, Microsoft has not arrived yet, not even close.

But the media,....smh.

Even still, there's no "Strong" support of AAA exclusives, until..........there are some AAA exclusives out.

We'll see, ..it was a start, but better late than never...............I guess.(pessimism)

[sampsonon]

in 6 years lol

[shammgod]

Netflix

[CrimsonWing69]

Yea too bad there’s only a couple years left until next gen...

[Charmamba]

"All the games are for next gen"

Is there going to be a next 'gen' or will it be another upgrade like the One X.

I can see the OG One being phased out over the next 12months, then the One S phased out when the next xbox comes. I dare imagine those withe one X will be fine for awhile longer.

[Tankbusta40]

It's nice Microsoft is acquiring talent, it's been what people have been telling them to do for years. What they do with those studios remains to be seen. The one move I wish Xbox would make would be to axe Phil Spencer and Mike Ybarra.

[paintedgamer1984]

Halo, Gears, and Forza

Halo

Xbox dudes were claiming it would be amazing if Halo launched this year but it would most likely be next year... Try 2020 if youre lucky.

Gears

They showed 3 of them which only 1 (Gears of War 5) looked promising and even it only showed a cgi that wasnt super appealing and showed no gameplay. So again 2020 if youre lucky.

Forza

Forza is always amazing but at this point ms is looking like a 1 trick pony.

Honorable mentions...

Ori and The Blind Forest, Cuphead (dlc), and Battletoads... none of which are 1st partys...

The other some odd 44 games were literally all coming to the ps4. Thanks MS for showing what ps4 fans also have to look forward to 3rd party wise.

Also, announcing 3rd partys as 1st partys was a positive nod in the right direction to a glaring problem in ms land, but it really was the illusion of showing games... like others have said MS NEEDS GAMES NOW! Simply saying we have 5 studios and hear our fans doesnt mean jack when maybe next e3 we might see a Metroid Prime 4 styled banner glimpse of a games that could be 3-6 years from... yesterday. Not to mention @ least 2/5 those devs release dog shit games. Just saying

[NeoGamer232]

I like that MS is making the investment. But anyone that thinks this is a turn around for the next year is very misguided. The rewards of these acquisitions are 3-5 yrs away.

[TheOttomatic91]

Except that Ninja Theory is the only studio the bought that does SP non GaaS games and most likely their new studio ‘The Initiative’ will be more GaaS.

[Kostche]

any future titles will not be played from me for the simple fact they will restricted to win10 and the windows store, both which i do not use or support, feel bad for developers of hellblade, they finally got lot love from steam and gog gamers and they go do this.. smh, they could could have been decent little developer like witcher guys and go it alone, instead they sold out for money and to be restricted to a stupid platform..

[Tobse]

Gonna take at least 3 years before we see anything from those studios, soooo....

[bigmalky]

Just believe it when you have it in front of you.

Microsoft's E3 slogan should be, 'promises, promises'.

[2ndhandcorn]

Will really only buy Gears ,Halo and Forza on release anyway .

[Tross]

I must have seen a different conference. I didn't get "strong single-player value" from MS's E3 presentation unless you count multiplats which I'll just play on my PS4, and those are third party developed. Oh, and MS bought some studios but that means nothing given how much they've used the studios they already have.

[Xavi4K]

And people were like Xbox is gonna die this gen...lol

Funny thing is even with this and aquiring more studios to get more Sp games people still mad at microsofot lol

[inxine]

eh? which singleplayer games are we talking about here?

[Razzer]

PG is continuing to make Forza Horizon along with another franchise, rumored to be a new Fable. Undead Labs will continue to make State of Decay. No idea what plans the Initiative, Ninja Theory, or Compulsion have for the future. NJ and Compulsion have strong SP backgrounds. Initiative has Darrell Gallagher of Tomb Raider. This is a strong lineup of single player devs, imo.

[inxine]

so, u just named two games. amazing line up of singleplayer games. tomb raider doesnt count. third party game.

[Razzer]

I didn’t say the lineup was amazing. And I was not counting Tomb Raider as a MS game. Only that Gallagher has SP background. So yes, at this point we are really just talking about two actual games that we know of.

[thehitman1398]

So in the pic used to promote this horrible click bait headline, two of the games are multi plat. And the other is just the run-of-the-mill halo.....

(Dr. Evil) " Right "................

[GoodnessGreatness]

All they did was buy some studios and these studios will end up making failed games.

[corroios]

They wish and they want, but right now they arent giving nothing

[ShadowWolf712]

Did we watch the same conference?

[AgeInTheCage]

They bought 5 studios, 3 of which were only making games for xbox. Not one new game was announced. Phil spencer is playing the smoke in mirrors game he loves playing with his xboxone fanbase. smoke in mirrors is the ONLY xboxone x exclusive they have.

[_FantasmA_]

They haven't even done anything, so chill. Just because they bought studios doesn't mean anything. The next Ninja Theory game is probably years away and it might not even be a single player game. Why do M$ fanboys always get excited for things words and promises.

[Flewid638]

Good move on Microsoft's end as I've loved every game Ninja Theory has ever made......

But they're going to need like, 15 more acquisitions like this in order for me to buy my first Xbox.
I sure as hell aint buying one for just one developer. lol

My only fear is that this won't go well since the Xbox demographic doesn't really care for SP games.

[FanMan]

This seems to be a pretty premature claim. How about we see what these devs put out as first party studios before we crown them.