190°

#95 Switch Sales on the Rise and Microsoft's Fight For Relevance

Poli Games Podcast gets a reboot! This week the gang tackles the hard
questions like, is the 2ds even worth making? What will the Scorpio have to
do to get you on board? Call of Duty gives us more details. Polygon and
reaching for an issue.

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thepolinetwork.com
PhoenixUp2587d ago

Fight for relevance? Do you not see how various games are still coming out on Xbox One? If anything is irrelevant it's Wii U and Ouya

Gaming_Cousin2587d ago

Just look at all the Xbox One exclusives coming out... I mean its crazy. Never have I seen so many exclusives in my life. There has never been a better time to buy a console in the history of gaming than today with all the Xbox One exclusives.

PhoenixUp2587d ago

You act as if exclusives are the only thing people play 😑

343_Guilty_Spark2586d ago

It's actually 99% of what people play. The crazy Sony fans here would tell you exclusives are the top sellers or most played games every month. They are lying though l.

_-EDMIX-_2586d ago (Edited 2586d ago )

Its not, but when buying a system or really anything, you won't be looking at what everyone also has, you'll be looking at what that company, product, service etc does differently.

I mean...when looking at cable or satellite or streaming packages, I don't think you'll just look at what all major ones have, you'll want to know what each one has exclusively to make your choice.

If I told you, you had to pick from Hulu, Amazon Prime and Netflix, you telling me you'd start listing what all 3 have?

No, you'll list what each one has that the other doesn't to better make up your mind.

Its what MS doesn't have that is making PS4 win.

I'm sure Battlefront, Fallout, Destiny, Witcher 3 etc are all great games, I own many of them too, but I'm not buying a PS4 SOLELY to play those games, of course I know I need one of the 3 to play all those games, but I also want to know what of those 3 is offering something different.

I mean...look at it from this stand point.

Would your rather have Witcher 3, Battlefield, Watchdogs, Fallout, GTA, Elder Scrolls, Destiny and the rest multi-platform
or
Witcher 3, Battlefield, Watchdogs, Fallout, GTA, Elder Scrolls, Destiny AND Uncharted, The Last Of Us 2, Days Gone, Horizon Zero Dawn, Bloodborne Yakuza series, Dragon Quest, etc.

If you own a PC, you have no reason to even factor a XONE, only the PS4 makes sense in that respect.

Even if I tell you, I put 200 hours in Fallout 4, 170 hours in Witcher 3, 300 hours in BF4 etc, that doesn't really mean get the option that GIVES ME LESSOR! How am I getting my money's worth with LESS GAMES?

I can still play all that while still having the option to play God Of War, Spider Man, Detroit, Sucker Punch new IP etc.

Why fight for less?

Why spend money to invest in something that isn't even getting exclusives at all?

@343- They don't need to be the top sellers bud.

But clearly with PS4 beating XONE, something that is on PS4 that isn't on XONE is causing that shift.

Yes, lots will buy consoles for GTA, Final Fantasy, Call Of Duty etc, but why go with the system that has zero exclusives?

People indeed do buy consoles in general for 3rd party games, but they side with a console for its EXCLUSIVE games. Its the THING that is making them say PS4 over XONE.

Like I said.

If you own a gaming PC and want a console, your choice is extremely easy.

Its everything plus exclusives and Japanese support

vs

No Japanese support, no exclusives.

PS4 is getting all and then some. You can like COD and GTA, I agree...they are great series.....

but why ONLY have the ability to have COD and GTA and not REAL exclusives and Japanese support?

You getting less isn't helping make COD or GTA better bud. Once I'm done with those games, I can play Uncharted, The Last Of Us, Bloodborne etc. It is the better deal for me.

So if I already own a PC, what reasons to I have to own a XONE? LOL! I don't even buy the MS games that are coming on PC now, even if I did, it would still further prove my point that XONE is becoming less and less relevant to gamers that own a PC.

I'd rather have a PC and PS4 and get all, vs a XONE and get some.

PhoenixUp2586d ago

@ Edmi

When you are buying a console all you'll care about is what games are available on that platform. Nuff said.

I'm not even comparing XO to PS4 here. I'm saying consumers can still find a wide array of available and upcoming things titles on Xbox One, so it's far from being an irrelevant console.

When you look at consoles like the Pippin, 3DO, & Jaguar you'll see how the scarce content on them made them completely irrelevant. Xbox One is in no way comparable to them.

I'm not talking about your preferences, I'm talking about the average consumer. I myself prefer the PS4, but if I had an XO by chance I can sure find a lot of quality titles on the platform to keep my interest.

ninsigma2586d ago

@343
Everyone knows multiplats sell more. The point about exclusives is that they are a big part in the decision a person makes when deciding which console to buy. If console A gets all the 3rd parties console B gets but console A has more games that are exclusive to it and higher rated, then console A would be the best choice because you're getting MORE games that are well received that aren't available anywhere else AS WELL as the huge 3rd parties.

uth112586d ago

No, but someone buying a second system isn't going to buy a system that plays mostly games they can already play on their primary system

JackBNimble2585d ago

Phoenix
If you can play pretty much all the same games on ps4 that are on xb1 plus all the exclusives from ps4 then what reason is there to buy an xb1?
MS give the consumer very little reason to buy an xb1, and don't mention Scorpio is a reason.

PhoenixUp2585d ago

@ uth

Yet someone will still buy a platform that still has plenty of today's hottest games on it.

@ Jack

Because there are plenty of games to play on Xbox One period. People aren't going to enjoy a platform that misses out on tons of games, just look at the irrelevant Wii U.

JackBNimble2585d ago

The point was made about your original comment, and if all you play is 3rd party games then fill your boots.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 2585d ago
OtakuDJK1NG-Rory2587d ago

while Wii U being irrelevant is true but it was relevant on N4G with all the hate it got.

tyasia02586d ago

Quit comparing XBone to WiiU. WiiU has lots of highly rated games. XBone just has mediocre service games with lots of micro-transactions and paywalls.

Gaming_Cousin2586d ago

I remember when Netflix App for Xbone was behind a paywall smh

_-EDMIX-_2586d ago

Agreed.

I mean, if anything, Nintendo's Wii and Wii U lost them so much relevance in the home console market, they left and made a portable.

I mean...they are LITERALLY NO LONGER MAKING HOME CONSOLES!

MS legit just needs to fix 1 thing, their first party. If they can buy or build like 3 teams and fully support new series every gen, I believe MS will be fine for the future, but they can't keep on simply just cancelling games and closing down studios while ALSO STILL having an issue with very little content.

I wish MS put as much effort into closing down a studio and cancelling games as they did opening them up and making new IP.

Nintendo have lost so much market share, they left console gaming and went portable. Something I predicted years ago might happen if they kept ignoring those hardcore console fans. They are not portable only. It is Nintendo that has not only lost relevance to the console market, they are no longer even in it.

Thatguy-3102586d ago

It'll be deal last for April npd. Xbox one will be irrelevant until Scorpio drops

Artemidorus2586d ago

Name the Xbox Only titles comming.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 2585d ago
2587d ago Replies(1)
esmittystud1012586d ago

When you don't play Halo or Gears of War......X1 is very shallow. I do have Forza Horizon 3 and I like it but I'm only averaging one game a year buy for X1. Last year I bought Quantum Break and the year before I bought Sunset Overdrive.

When Microsoft does give the players exclusives the players don't buy them.

I enjoyed Quantum Break and Sunset Overdrive but a lot of players will tell you they are no good which is fine. But what's that saying about Microsoft then.

What's next for Scorpio, Halo 7.5 and Gears of War 6.2? Let me guess, Forza 7 will be the most showed off game on Scorpio before release of the console? This just screams boring.

They need new exclusives plain and simple. There scariest part is the fact the players that only own X1 are not even complaining about lack of exclusives. I guess there looking forward to Halo 7.5 and Gears of War 6.2.

E3 is an easy win for Sony this year. It's not even going to be hard to do so.

Sony could take away half there exclusives at E3 and still win easily.

Sea of Thieves is going to make me run out and buy a Scorpio? It's going to take more than that.

Don't games matter to players anymore? That is why were still buying consoles, right?

XiNatsuDragnel2585d ago (Edited 2585d ago )

Microsoft is trying to be revelant but they can't their in third place this is just like 7th gen all over again but Xb1 is in third instead of Switch .

100°

Every PlayStation Studios game available now on Windows PC

Windows Central writes: "Many PlayStation Studios games that are ported to PC get dedicated PS5 DualSense support, which allows users to experience haptic feedback and adaptive trigger support without actually having to own a PS5.

According to Hermen Hulst, head of PlayStation Studios, it's still the company's intent to launch the bigger single-player games on PS5 first, before later bringing the games to PC. This might not be the case for multiplayer games however, which are considered okay to launch simultaneously on console and PC."

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windowscentral.com
ocelot072d ago

My guess is after god of war. Probably last of us 2 that's a almost 4 year old game now and by the time it's released on pc it will be more than 4 years old or close to 5.

Elda2d ago

Every old Playstation game that is now on PC.

shinoff21831d 15h ago

Right. I definitely see what a headlined from a website named windows central was trying to do though. It's cute little wordplay to help out the green box

Flewid6381d 14h ago

Are PlayStation games no longer good or worth playing once they are old?

Elda1d 13h ago

I'm guessing my comment went over your head.

XiNatsuDragnel1d 23h ago

Good at least they can sell hardware

220°

Former Activision studio Toys for Bob partners with Xbox to publish its first game as an indie

Former Activision studio Toys for Bob partners with Xbox to publish its first game as an indie. This is something of a homecoming, as Microsoft owns Activision.

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engadget.com
Obscure_Observer2d ago

Very very early in development. Still, fantastic news!

Let´s GO!!!

Lightning772d ago

I guess.

How come they didnt either let them go or sell Tango and others to another publisher? Not saying Ubisoft, EA would be any better. (Capcome would of treated them right )

At least it wouldn't be MS of all ppl destroying them.

MS really should let go Tango go like they did TFB here.

darthv722d ago (Edited 2d ago )

one was under Bethesda (Tango) the other under Activision (TFB). Clearly each one handled the separations of their subordinates differently.

Obscure_Observer2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

"How come they didnt either let them go or sell Tango and others to another publisher? Not saying Ubisoft, EA would be any better. (Capcome would of treated them right )"

Perhaps because Zenimax and ABK handles such matters differently based on their own internal policies as "independent" publishers.

Whoever, chances are it´s simply because MS didn´t wanted Tango or Austin to be acquired by competitors and develop new bangers for them, giving MS a bad rep in a possible future. Which could also be the reason why they ensured an exclusive partnership with TFB and its new game, before anyone else.

Sad and disgusting. But it is what it is.

Lightning772d ago (Edited 2d ago )

"Whoever, chances are it´s simply because MS didn´t wanted Tango or Austin to be acquired by competitors and develop new bangers for them, giving MS a bad rep in a possible future."

MS has a bad rep now because those studios are no more. I rather them sell the studio continue to make multiplatform releases, while MS continues to focus on whatever they're doing. If they didn't want Tango around they should separated from them or sell them to, like they did TFB.

It's inexcusable, they have options on how to handle studios they don't want anymore with killing jobs. Not just MS but the rest of the industry also.

Sad and disgusting sure how many will get shut down next year or this year even?

I don't trust MS decisions and motivations at this point. You have to admit they make one dumb move after another.

Obscure_Observer2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

"MS has a bad rep now because those studios are no more. I rather them sell the studio continue to make multiplatform releases, while MS continues to focus on whatever they're doing. If they didn't want Tango around they should separated from them or sell them to, like they did TFB."

Imo, MS separated from TFB because they didn´t had a game associated with Xbox yet, unlike Tango.

"I don't trust MS decisions and motivations at this point. You have to admit they make one dumb move after another."

Fair enough. It was indeed an epic dumb move from them to close Tango.

Still, all to be forgotten, like always have. This is not the first time a big publisher shuts down a beloved and/or successful studio out of nowhere and certainly won´t be the last. Do you remember Lionhead? Do you remember Evolution Studios? Yeah... both were beloved studios and yet, those companies kill those studios in q blink of an eye and got away with it.

anast2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

The studio boss made some money from this transaction. Once the game releases, the studio will get chopped up.

-Foxtrot2d ago

Manages to buy their freedom especially after all the shit Microsoft has been doing with its studios lately

...

Goes right back to them as partners.

Okaaaaaay...

darthv722d ago

Id venture a guess that TFB working directly with MS was a better outcome than working through Activision to get to MS.

VersusDMC2d ago

From the article...

"Toys for Bob spun out as an indie back in February after Microsoft instituted sweeping layoffs that impacted 86 employees, which was more than half of the staff"

I doubt those 86 employees enjoyed the Microsoft experience over Activisions.

Inverno2d ago

MS shuts down studios because of lack of resources and then helps these guys by giving em resources. Also MS is what forced them to buy their freedom in the first place? What kind of logic 😂

Chevalier2d ago

The best thing is that the company that is worth $3 trillion and owns the company instead of Xbox lacks resources. How the hell does a company worth $3 trillion making a measly $70 billion purchase they 'can't' support. Lol

romulus231d 20h ago

Stockholm syndrome, maybe?

BlindMango1d 15h ago

The reason they would need to "partner with Microsoft" is simply to make a game that's part of a franchise that Microsoft owns. Meaning they're probably going to make a new Spyro game - they're still an independent studio, but are making a game in a franchise that Microsoft owns. It's kind of like Remedy partnering with Rockstar to be able to make the Max Payne remakes.

shinoff21831d 15h ago

It was probably the deal to get released from Ms

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 1d 15h ago
Sciurus_vulgaris2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Xbox’s gaming division seems to still function as 3 semi-autonomous sub-divisions, Xbox Studios, Bethesda and ABK. The three main sub-divisions can seemingly shut down or build studios and set up partnerships independently. This would explain why Bethesda can recently shutdown studios, while ABK spins off one studio, while building a new one. Plus, Toys for Bob could be spun off by ABK, only to immediately re-partner with Microsoft.

Chevalier2d ago

That's absolutely 💯 BS. Any sane 'autonomous' company would NOT put their games on Gamepass day 1 like COD will lose probably billions.

Also they're all under Xbox game studios so any autonomy is an illusion.

PhillyDonJawn1d 21h ago

No, I'm sure MS can and does step in when they want something done specifically but I'm also sure they let them also work independently

shinoff21831d 15h ago

I highly highly doubt this. Ms controls all. The guys aren't gonna be allowed to just shut something down like that without approval. No way

Elda2d ago

Either a kiddie game or something uninteresting.

Obscure_Observer2d ago

Don´t worry. You won´t be playing it anyway since their next game will possible be a next gen Xbox console game.

Elda2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Don't worry about my comments.

PhillyDonJawn1d 21h ago

Right probably something like astrobot

romulus231d 20h ago

Nah he said "uninteresting", lots of people are interested in Astro Bot.

Elda1d 18h ago

Never Astro Bot. Astro Bot looks better than any exclusive released on XB this entire generation & believe there hasn't been much.

Asplundh1d 18h ago

Crash 4 was good, so I'm hopeful.

PhillyDonJawn1d 17h ago

Hey you said that about SOT and looks like many ppl on PS is playing it. You also found bugsnax interesting ffs your opinion hold no weight lol.

Elda1d 16h ago (Edited 1d 16h ago )

Bugsnax is BS, tried it & quickly deleted it. It's a game that fits right on Gamepass. PS5 owners that are probably playing the boring SOT you could count on one hand. LMAO!!...don't try to come for me.

PhillyDonJawn1d 14h ago

So you admit bugsnax interested you enough to try? 😂 someone gotta call you out on the foolishness.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1d 14h ago
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130°

What Happens to Your Steam Account When You Die?

The Outerhaven writes: While Steam has come out recently, stating that Steam accounts can't be transferred, we need to think about it since we all will eventually kick the bucket. But if Valve is denying transferring accounts, what can be done? Plenty, actually.

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theouterhaven.net
thorstein3d ago

It goes to my kids because I gave them the passwords.

To Steam: Missio has a song that conveys my feelings about you stealing my purchase after I die. It's called "Middle Fingers"

shinoff21832d ago

Pretty much. My son knows my info.

Abear212d ago

Yeah worrying about digital ownership when you’re on the other side of the grass seems a little strange, but also on brand for these millennial journalists to worry about.

qalpha2d ago

I'm sure Keith will be happy to hear he's a millennial journalist.

Goodguy013d ago

I suppose if I have kids, I'd just give em my account details by retirement age. If I die young then...idk lol.

CrimsonWing693d ago

Yea, I mean just give someone the password to your account. Is that difficult to do or something? Like, I’m legit asking because I don’t know.

anast2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

It's not difficult but It's against the policy. If they find out, they will lock the account permanently.

CrimsonWing692d ago

Ah ok, I had a feeling there was something like that. It seems kind of weird that you can’t just hand your account over to a family member or friend and let them take over the account.

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