Xbox Series X’s New Non-Halo Selling Points From Microsoft Are Pretty Bleak

Microsoft is in a bit of a pickle, to say the least, now that they have to sell an Xbox Series X (and likely, Series S) this fall without the main thing that was supposed to sell it, Halo Infinite.

[TranceHop]

Since Halo Infinite is delayed I'm looking forward to playing Gears Tactics, The Medium, CrossfireX, Scorn, and Cyberpunk 2077 on Series X this holiday.

[darthv72]

That's the thing... Halo would be nice but knowing there are many other games available to play on day one, Im still getting it. Im really into new hardware and seeing what (if any) improvements it does to my existing games (some I have yet to play). It's going to be the same with the PS5. Im really looking forward to popping in some of my existing games and see what sort of gains there will be.

I used to do that with new CPU and graphics cards back in the day. Start up Quake 3 and run the time demo or 3dmark and see how much of an improvement there was with a Radeon 9800pro vs my old Voodoo5. New hardware has me more stoked than the games... funny.

[thesoftware730]

@Darth

My plans Exactly, I will be getting both new systems and enjoying what they both offer.

[MIDGETonSTILTS17]

You sound like a paid plant.

[CorndogBurglar]

@MIDGETonSTILTS17

Paid by who? He's talking about both systems in a good way. And even talks about doing it with graphics cards on his PC.

Are they all paying him? Or are you just one of those people that can't stand when someone says something good about Microsoft, even though he early just likes video games in general?

[thesoftware730]

@ Neutralgamer

Are you serious? Neither system will have superior graphics because of 4k and 60fps? Where in the world did you come up with that ridiculous notion.

So all 3rd party games will be the same on both systems? I would really like to actually bet you money that that will not be the case.

[bouzebbal]

"New hardware has me more stoked than the games... funny."

Guess you got used to this for the past few years.. 😂

[cooperdnizzle]

New hardware has you more stoked than games?? Hmmmmm. I get that kinda but it would be useless if there were not any games for it. New hardware gets people excited for the new games they can play. You? Nope just want the new hardware and don’t care about what the new console whole purposes is... playing new games. Good news for you though, you can go back and play gears and halo 5 again.

[darthv72]

@cooper... yup. There is something about new hardware that makes a person feel young again. The games... not so much because its all evolutionary. Like the first time seeing Toy Story (for example) was new and fresh and revolutionary, because it really hadnt been done like that before. Now all the CG movies are all just refined and improved. Nothing that really jumps out as WOW and NEW.

With hardware, the potential to be WOWED is there. New power brings new possibilites, but it takes time. The games at launch started out as concepts on previous hardware. It isnt until a few years in that the ties of the past are fully cut and you are left with only that which could be created on the new hardware. The WOW factor has a chance to be born again, especially if it is a re-imagining of something that is beloved and made new again. God of War 3 on PS4 (which was a port of the PS3) vs God of War 4 on PS4. Same protagonist, same existing series but given new life, new story, new way to play and brought back that WOW factor. That didnt happen from the start... it took a few years to get there.

Over the course of the gen I was getting burned out on the same formula of open and semi open world games. The influx of indie games kept it interesting because some of those little houses have some good talent in them. And because many of the current big hitters are so similar... yeah you get a little turned off. So now we are on the cusp of new generation and with that comes new potential. So sue me for being jazzed over the hardware more than the games. In about 2-3 years time I may get uber excited for the games again.

[rainslacker]

I've noticed a trend.

It's subtle, but a pattern is starting to emerge.

MS screws up, Xbox fans lower their standards one more notch.

Here's a serious question.

If what MS had to offer in the launch window was coming from any random third party publisher...say EA, Ubi, Activision, Square, you pick one....would you guys show so much enthusiasm for the games?

See, these publishers make a lot of these kinds of games. But here's what I see when they come around.

I'll use Namco as an example.

Namco....new tales game. Everyone's excited. At the end you see the mobile platform logo's pop up, and suddenly it's, "oh, it's mobile, meh", then move on. Now, are those games bad? No, probably not. But people don't care anymore. They think of them as lesser games, whether they are or not is besides the point. But, from MS own 1st party, what I see is a lot of these levels of games coming for their biggest launch line up in history....as someone recently reminded me they were claiming.

So, if we can go every day and not a single one of these mid-tier or indie level games gets any attention, why is it that MS gets so much attention for theirs? Sony pushes out these kinds of games all the time, and they don't get this much attention. Even Nintendo which has plenty of them relative to their own AAA first party output don't get that much attention for these games....yet, with MS, they become cornerstones for long lists of games that people on this site don't ever show any interest in unless they're attached to some console maker.

Given this, do you really believe the average gaming public cares enough to know what these games are, or are sitting there being impressed by MS showing these games?

MS had Halo for it's first party big entry into the next gen. Yes, the Medium is looking good as a launch title. Yes, Cyberpunk does have those marketing rights. But, are people going to be impressed with that big long list of games from MS 1st party, or the idea that they'll be coming one day some time in the indeterminate future?

[MIDGETonSTILTS17]

@corndogburglar

Paid by M$ obviously. They are the ones trying to frame the next gen as more about the hardware upgrade than cutting edge first party games.

Sure, they admitted that the PS5 will be a notable hardware upgrade, too... but they would be delusional to claim otherwise.

Everyone is expecting M$ to undercut Sony on price, that way they can focus on how their GPU is stronger, and housed in the cheaper console (ie the stronger and cheaper hardware upgrade).

This is exactly what Darth’s comment is trying to frame the purchase decision as.

If Darth really wanted to compare the PS5 to the XsX, and do an accurate value comparison, they wouldn’t neglect to compare how the XsX isn’t going to have a SINGLE game take full advantage of the XsX for TWO FULL YEARS. And, we all know that simply isn’t the case for the PS5.

I want Xbox to succeed, but they’ve been nosediving every since Fable started to suck.

[Babadook7]

You will be able to play Cyberpunk 2077 on Series X and PS5 at launch but the true next gen version likely comes next year.

[Sayai jin]

Babafook, agreed.

[phoenixwing]

i'm curious if the pc will get an upgraded version of cyberpunk or if it will be next gen out the gate for it since it doesn't need to land on upgraded consoles

[Babadook7]

@phoenixwing

I wonder about that too. Could be that PC gets the full next gen version at the games launch or maybe it gets an update later together with next gen consoles.

[thesoftware730]

Exactly!

and the 3rd party games could end up being the superior versions due to the Series X power.

but hey..this is just another doom and gloom MS article on N4G so i'm not surprised lol.

[Minute Man 721]

The coming gen XsX for exclusives and multiplats, PS5 for exclusives

[neutralgamer1992]

thesoftware730

Please stop both consoles will be native 4k at 60FPS capable so neither will get any game which will look superior. And this isn't doom and gloom these are facts and even investors are saying ps5 will outsell XSX 2-1 and that was with Ms launching halo

Blame Ms and it's marketing who over promised and especially Phil who has been doing a lot of empty talking with much substance

[Sayai jin]

Minuteman, it is rumored that Sony is continuing to buy third party exclusive content, timed exclusives, etc. Both MS and Sony do this practice, but Sony has ramped it up to further their marketing of the the best place to play.

[jwillj2k4]

There’s a reason why you’ve not seen one game running on the XsX hardware, and it ain’t because of the limited availability of parts or Covid.

[L7CHAPEL]

absolutely.

but it does give Paul tassi another opportunity to shill his crappy novels.

[MIDGETonSTILTS17]

I’m looking forward to playing them on my One X.

[neutralgamer1992]

TranceHop

Cyberpunk will be playable on ps5 too and rest of those games against one spiderman game is enough for Sony to dominate

What's really frustrating is the fact Ms took this whole generation off to prepare for next generation and now they are just as unprepared as before. But anyone who bring up any of these concerns is labeled a hater. Fact of the matter is for us as gamers it would be better if Ms and Sony were neck and neck and had to compete for our money and attention but it seems Sony is competing with itself. How can you give 343 5 years and hundreds of millions and this is what they had to show for it

This is Ms 4th console and they are still behind Sony and Nintendo

They are always trying to over think but when it comes to gaming only thing that matters above all are games and a lot of them. They can have the best services and best hardware but without must have games those other features aren't enough to sell hardware

As someone who bought the OG Xbox Ms are still stuck in identity crises

[NeoGamer232]

People are really trying to sell that the XB is in a very bad state. But, I think MS made a really bold (and the right) decision no matter how it came to be.

The reality is that the most anticipated game (CyberPunk) will not even ship with a nextgen version for the new console launch on Day One.

Fanboys will buy a nextgen console no matter what. Gamers look at the game lineup and assess it for what it really is. I ask myself, "Would I pay the probable $500 price tag for either nextgen console for the games lineup they have?", and the answer is currently probably not.

I am looking forward to nextgen consoles. But, I decided after the two showcases that neither company deserved my day one money.

[crazyCoconuts]

a) XB is in a very bad state, especially when juxtaposed against a very strong Sony
b) i totally agree with your assessment that day 1 is looking a little anemic for both. I believe as others do that Sony has some more to share w/ us regarding that though, we'll see

[CorndogBurglar]

For sure. It definiteky hurts that they delayed Halo. I just find it funny though. Most of the time delays are considered good decisions because it means the product will be released in a better, more finished/polished state.

But when MS does it, suddenly its a horrible thing thag means MS is crumbling.

[olafu]

How is correcting an obviously poor decision to announce a release date of a game they hadn’t even shown to the public aside from a trailer a bold decision?

We mismanaged our biggest project *high fives* everyone! We’re so bold!

[NeoGamer232]

@crazyCocunuts
How is XB in a bad state? The only people complaining about XB are PS only fanboys it seems to me.

They delayed Halo, they did not cancel it. This year they have delivered Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Bleeding Edge, Minecraft Dungeons, and Gears Tactics for PC. They are still going to deliver Battletoads, Wasteland 3, and Gears Tactics for console and Flight Simulator for PC.

How is Microsoft's position any worse then Sony's? Both XSX and PS5 are similar hardware. Microsoft in their first party showcase had Forza Motorsports, Halo Infinite, Ever Wild, State of Decay 3, Avowed, Psychonauts 2, and Fable as major first party games. And they already announced Hellblade 2 as well. PS announced Spider-man Miles Morales, GT7, R&C, Returnal, Sackboy Adventure, Destruction All-Stars, Astro's Playroom, Demon Souls, and Horizon Forbidden West in their first party showcase. There is a difference of ONE game in those lists. And frankly, MS nor Sony had a great showcase. Both were filled with games with no ship dates. Hype high, actual deliver next to zero for both companies.

The only reason that Sony is in a better state is they have a large completely devoted fanbase. There is no fact other then past performance driving the excitement around PS5. If Sony were to delay Spider-man do you think that would change whether or not the PS5 sells? Nope.

[Hakuoro]

"The only reason that Sony is in a better state is they have a large completely devoted fanbase."

Yes, it couldn't be clear and unchanging messaging about their games and products and the fact they release GOTY quality games instead of online focused games that are little more than micro-transaction marketplaces.

You pretend to present your opinions as unbiased, but it's clear you're just running defense for Microsoft and downplaying Sony.

[danny818]

Im really excited for CrossFireX

[crazyCoconuts]

Gears Tactics the mobile game?

[DiRtY]

Wasteland 3 needs to be mentioned.

I am quite hyped for Medium actually.

[neomahi]

And that's why Xbox will never again succeed. Oh, and you can play Gears Tactics um..... Now.

[sprinterboy]

Wow/s

[TheEroica]

Argh! Down vote, down vote!! How dare you suggest that there is fun to be had on Xbox! *tearing up*

[Sayai jin]

Although, the delay wad the right move, not having Halo as a launch title hurts the launch. There are other games...yes this is true. It's simple though, those game would have still been available if Halo would have launched in time.

[darthv72]

yes... and those games now have a better chance of standing out without the weight of Halo overshadowing them.

Games are a lot like movies. Release too many in the same time frame and you risk failing to gain any market. At least with things spread out, you have breathing room.

[Sayai jin]

All good points.

[rainslacker]

"and those games now have a better chance of standing out without the weight of Halo overshadowing them."

Is that why so many 3rd party games did so well on Xbox this gen? Oh...wait. Sony released big games, and those third party still sold without being overshadowed.

Really...for a supposed PC fan, you're starting to show your Xbox fan boy side again.

[niiopi]

The only place to play is PS5, the PS4 has already proved that and the PS5 will just carry the torch. Also it seems like a lot people are looking at this scenario the same way the PS3/Xbox 360 scenario played out. Multiplayer games looked better on the 360 because they were usually made for the system but then ported over to the PS3 even though the PS3 was more powerful. Its sounding like a lot of multiplayer games are being made for the PS5 and will probably get ported to XBX and will end up having an inferior product because it wont utilize the "power" of it. So PS5 will end up winning in all aspects again.

[L7CHAPEL]

"usually made for (this) system and then ported to the other one" where the hell do you get this shit from ?!

[THC CELL]

None of them games compare to the hype of halo none

[ChiefofLoliPolice]

A new console just to play a bunch of third party games at slightly higher resolution then current gen? Cmon dude...well then again to each his own.

[porkChop]

There are certainly good games coming to the Series X this holiday. But not having a first party launch title is still a big problem. Spiderman: MM may be a standalone expansion rather than a full sequel, but that's still a first party launch title. This delay is great for Halo, but bad for Xbox.

[Dragonscale]

Typical downplaying lol. This news is a disaster for xbone no matter how you xbots try to spin it.

[Bathyj]

Are any of those games besides cyberpunk confirmed for launch?

[Ausbo]

A lot of people here don’t like you playing games on your Xbox

[no_more_heroes]

I get it to be my multiplat game hub and media center, plus the odd Xbox IP. Playstation (and Nintendo) for me are more specifically for their exclusives and any exclusive JRPG that intrigues me.

For example, I only just got introduced to the Trails series and Ys series this gen (Let's Plays) and am anxiously waiting for Cold Steel 4 and Ys 9.

[gamer7804]

That’s precisely how I’ve been doing it since the series x, want to play them where they’ll look the best on the big screen on my couch.

[ssj27]

Xbox x has one or two games that look Slightly better and you gotnto zoom in to see the difference RDR2. Ps4 pro has more the most games looking better or running smoother like COD so your points don't equal facts or reality. Everything else roon surprisingly equally good.

[gamer7804]

@ssj27. What you said is just not factually true at all... I won’t even start with the grammar.

[Om4ever]

@ssj27 you must have a very bad screen for not seeing a Clear improvement on the X compared to the pro.... It's like Day and night

[jznrpg]

I’ve been playing Ys since Book 1&2 but there was a Nintendo one I played later before it . I’m super hyped for Ys 9 . I also love the Trails series and hope they remaster some older ones soon for the west . I used to buy all consoles but don’t feel like I’m missing out with Xbox since mid 360 days but that’s just me .

[Sirk7x]

Have you played Trails in the Sky?? If you like the Cold Steel series, this is very, very important. Trails in the Sky 1-3 (first games in the series; they are all connected) are literally the best games I have ever played in my life. They are all on Steam/Vita.
Like, no joke, if you can't afford the first one, I will buy it for you on Steam so more people can experience the amazing story. To anyone reading this, if you like jrpgs, go buy it now.

[Magic_Spatula]

I do something similar. Buy Playstation and Nintendo for their exclusives. Games that I want to play on Xbox are already on PC and I have a capable gaming PC already.

[waverider]

It will be even worst when sony reveal another huge exlclusive for the launch of the console, but Sony didnt even need to do nothing, because Microsoft is crashing by herself... Noboby with half a brain would launch a console without a flagship title, after a gen where they didnt deliver and got the catchphrase Microsoft got NO games. So they will start another gen without a single new exclusive with the console. Amazing Job Phil Spence. You really must «Feel» very good.

[Minute Man 721]

Huge exclusive?? If it aint GoW or a secret Uncharted game, No.

[waverider]

You really dont understand what spiderman means.... but you will....

[SullysCigar]

So nothing outside of those two games could be considered huge, in your opinion? Noted...

[Minute Man 721]

@Waverider

I know what "$pidey" is about, and it aint that system seller you think it is.

[S2Killinit]

So other than those 2 nothing is huge to you. Got it.

[isa_scout]

If Spiderman isn't a system seller then why has it outsold every other console exclusive this generation? I love Uncharted but it didn't do half as well as Spiderman.

[Games1st]

"Not the system seller" Spider-man is the number one selling first party game Sold Over 13 Million* Units Worldwide. Xbox doesn't have anything on the same level at launch.

* https://www.marvel.com/arti...

[RememberThe357]

This guy thinks 100 million people bought God of War and Uncharted 😂

[TheTony316]

Sure, the game that sold over 20 million copies by now is not a system seller...

[Minute Man 721]

@ Remember

Come on bro, you are better than them

[mandingo]

You must feel good about yourself huh?

[SullysCigar]

Bad day?

[mandingo]

For him yea I guess

[RememberThe357]

Wow way to turn it on him! Check mate bitches!!!!!1!1

[RamRod88]

If there were any other exclusive launch games for the ps5, we would know about by now.

[waverider]

Not really. Thats one of the big rumors right now.

[SullysCigar]

^ this comment will age badly.

[crazyCoconuts]

I think minimally they'll have some upgraded versions of their hits (TLOU2 PLEASE)

[RamRod88]

I'm more than happy to be wrong. There were also rumors of the August State of Play announcing new exclusive(s) but that never happened. If Sony announces a ps5 version of TLOU2 or GoT, I can see those possibly being at launch. As far as new exclusives? Nah. What is the rumored game? Maybe a new psvr game, but no heavy hitters.

[ChiefofLoliPolice]

Wrong. What kind of company would reveal every single game in one presentation. Use your head over there dude.

[RamRod88]

Use my head lol. That's ironic. I'm well aware Sony has games they haven't announced yet for next year and after, but anything for this launch, we already know about it. How often do companies announces launch games this late into the year? If Sony announces any new games this year, they won't be launch titles. Sorry to crush your dreams.

[rainslacker]

Considering how wrong you've been about so many things these past couple months, you may not want to speak in such absolutes.

[RamRod88]

The only thing I was wrong about was Xbox live gold going free which was more of me being hopeful than anything. Go ahead and tell me what else I've been wrong about. It doesn't take a geniuses to know there won't be any more exclusive launch title announcements for either console at this point. Nobody has brought up one source to back up their launch title exclusive claim. Please, I'm waiting.

[morganfell]

I think the PS5, like the Series X is going to be expensive. A minimum of 599 for the disc version. We might even see 699. In order to soften that blow Sony is likely sitting on a major unannounced launch exclusive, either first party and or third-party and will show this during the presentation when the price is made public in order to soften the blow for individuals that might be hesitant over such a cost. This will likely be accompanied by news of other exclusives such as the rumored silent hill soft reboot as well as the possible timed Final Fantasy 16 exclusive

[Minute Man 721]

$699 will be too much

[waverider]

Dude, Cerny talked about price and how price was important to reach more players and because of that the Storage was only 825, the fact why Sony Went with a much cheaper apu and with less CU then Xbox, but clocking at higher speed. It all about price. The APU of the Series X is bigger and much more expensive because it got 52 CU. Its so big that even being at 7nm its the same size of the X that is 16 nm!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HUGE.

[crazyCoconuts]

$699 - no way. Sony doesn't need to capture some niche high end market when they've won the mainstream one. They've got to stay in the $500 or less range. At least that's my guess

[darthv72]

MS may make the SX $599 but I don't think Sony will follow suit. They stated they would not go that high again. It could be $549 though with the discless coming in at $499 (or less). I know that $50 difference is a bit questionable but it could be $100 less in fact. It all depends on where Sony is comfortable with going into the 9th gen (and they are pretty comfortable right now).

MS will be more expensive though and their only recourse is the likes of the Series S which would be their cheaper entry into the 9th gen. I have a feeling it will come in at $399. The price of the outgoing One X (before the closeout price of $299).

[mandingo]

Xbox will undercut Sony

[Minute Man 721]

The PS4 was about 80 million + sold when Spiderman was released.

Spiderman isn't "new gameplay", it sells, just not the console seller you guys believe every PS exclusives are/is

[Atticus_finch]

I agree, I think Sony's name and reputation is the system seller.
And SMMM will sell millions with it.

[rainslacker]

So, the fact that Sony sold approximately double the number of consoles in the remainder of the calendar year after Spider-Mans release compared to other years had nothing to do with the spider-man release?

Actual numbers from Sony. No need to guess or speculate. Data is readily available if you wish to make some other cause for this.

I'm sure it wasn't the only factor, as there was also a price drop, and Sony had a rather impressive line up coming besides Spider-Man, but to say that a game that sells 13 million copies in a year or so isn't a system seller is just trying to hard.

[TheTony316]

So what are system sellers to you? Halo? Crackdown? Forza? Gears?

[pinkcrocodile75]

Coming from a couch potato, your comments are not surprising.

I want an XsX and a PS5. I'm also less autistic over console preference as I used to be. When you grow up, you may see it that way too.

[ChristopherJack]

"Sony DIDNT even need to do NOTHING"

You used a double negative, reversing your statement.
You essentially said that "Sony needs to do something".

In the future, consider:
"Sony DIDNT need to do ANYTHING" or,
"Sony needs to do NOTHING".

You don't need correct spelling or grammar for your sentence to make sense, but a double negative can change the meaning of your statement depending on your intention.

[mandingo]

Ok grammarnazi

[ChristopherJack]

Just being helpful. I've seen quite a few awkward exchanges arise from using double negatives.

They're almost always used accidentally though(reversing the definition of their statement) I personally use it intentionally(& accurately) from time to time.

The difference between that & say, the "let's eat grandma" fiasco, is that people don't speak with punctuation so irl, the context will always make the intention obvious, where as people can & still use double negatives when speaking & that just leads to confusion, inaccuracy or exploitation.

[CaptainObvious878]

@Chris

What's your opinion on the phrase "I could care less" vs "I couldn't care less"?

[ChristopherJack]

@CaptainObvious878
Sometimes I point out "I could care less" essentially means that they actually care.
Sometimes I sarcastically play along as if I didn't know their intention then point out why what they said was incorrect.
Frankly, I'm more peeved by linguistic experts that accept the erroneous statements as intended, like many dictionaries & thesauruses have a definition for "Literally" that means "figuratively".
Silly society, embracing & encouraging stupidity.

[Minute Man 721]

A game like GTA is a system seller, Uncharted, GoW, etc etc. Spiderman was always multiplat + becoming a PS exclusive the diehard Sony Only fans bought it along with the regular gamers helping those numbers greatly.

If the game was multiplat made by the same company and got great reviews the Sony Only probably wouldn't even buy this game.....only exclusives matter 😒

It sold well but it's not the system seller "every" ps exclusives is to the Sony Only.

[OneLove]

This site is hilarious. They love posting every negative xbox article but where is this https://comicbook.com/gamin...

[Ron_Danger]

This “hilarious” website is run off of user submissions. Why don’t you try submitting the article instead of complaining about something you don’t understand.

[mandingo]

Crowded with Sony fanboys

[Ron_Danger]

@mandingo

And? Are you confused as to why there’s more Sony fans? Might it have something to do with total consoles sold?

Some of you guys try to play this victim card like there’s some outlandish in proportional number of sony fanboys on this site. It really just lines up with sales. We’re all really sorry bullets fired or subscriptions payed at a heavily discounted price doesn’t transfer to more n4g users.

[morganfell]

"Crowded with Sony fanboys"

https://n4g.com/news/236529...

Hypocrite much?

[mandingo]

There’s a difference between fanboys and fans.

[mandingo]

That’s not fanboying that’s just the overwhelming majority

[morganfell]

"There’s a difference between fanboys and fans."

You are oblivious as to how you are perceived on this board. The dishonesty of blatant denial only serves to worsen matters. Wear it with pride. I do. I have stated countless times here that I am a fanboy.

[L7CHAPEL]

so is the majority of this website.

[Battlestar23]

So you don't like any negative news about Xbox posted here but want a article which contains info from Dusk Golem a 'insider' who now has admitted to posting the info to distract away from the negative news on the Xbox like Halo Infinite being delayed.

[RememberThe357]

It's 2020, who doesn't want to be lied to?

[djplonker]

Because halo looked the way it did...... Far far far worse than tlou2 so even if it is under powered sony first party studios will still shine.

Xbox fans are hilarious talking about power when you could buy a pc and not miss out on any microsoft games, know what else you can do?

Plug in a controller and play it on your big tv just like a console ;)

[mandingo]

Dude clearly we want to play on console not pc. I don’t like pc and everyone else who has an Xbox probly doesn’t like pc gaming.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

You're obsessed with console wars. What are you 5?

[RazzerRedux]

lol....trying to deflect to unsubstantiated speculation elsewhere isn't helping your cause. And if you think this site doesn't include negative PS articles then you are being willfully ignorant.

[mandingo]

If you’re alluding to TLOU2 negative articles, they weren’t negative they were simply a fact of the matter. Game’s story was hot garbage. Many will agree. You won’t see disagreement in the comments tho on N4G. Wonder why??

[RazzerRedux]

"If you’re alluding to TLOU2 negative articles"

I'm not. I'm referring to negative articles in general. Did you miss all the articles trashing Sony over cross play and censorship over and over?

"they weren’t negative they were simply a fact of the matter. Game’s story was hot garbage."

Bullshit. How the hell is an opinion on the game's story "fact of the matter". That is asinine.

"Many will agree. You won’t see disagreement in the comments tho on N4G. Wonder why??"

More bullshit and willful ignorance. There has been numerous discussions and disagreement on n4g about TLOU 2. Seanpitt, Foxtrot, and others have been all over the articles expressing their disdain for TLOU 2. You don't know what you are talking about.

[mandingo]

5.6 user score on metacritic is pretty telling. But you’ll make an excuse that those are all bots.

[RazzerRedux]

"5.6 user score on metacritic is pretty telling. "

Tells me what I already know. Folks like you fell in love with user scores when it was convenient. Before TLOU2, user scores were scoffed at and tossed aside for being incredibly unreliable. Now fanboys like you dress up user scores as if they are the only thing that has ever mattered. Add hypocrisy to the list of bullshit in your posts.

"But you’ll make an excuse that those are all bots."

lol....the internet never needed bots to review bomb anything. But now fanboys like you think review bombing is fair not just in its practice but makes for ratings that are reliable somehow. Incredible that such an idiotic concept is regurgitated by you and others so frequently, but what is even funnier is that you are engaging in comments on TLOU2 that you say "you won't see" on n4g. So you've ultimately called out your own posts for its bullshit. Well done.

[r2oB]

@ Mandingo

TLoU 2 has been out about two months and has almost 140000 user reviews (most of which were out literally an hour after the game launched and we're a bunch of zero scores which is suspect). Halo 5 has been out for almost 5 years and has a little over 3000 users reviews. If the number of user reviews TLoU 2 has and when they were posted doesn't indicate something suspicious to you then I don't know what to think about your deductive skills. Consider that TLou2, in two months, probably has more user reviews than every Xbox One exclusive combined. If you think 140000 user reviews are legit (or anywhere near it), then you must also believe that more people have purchased and played TLoU2 than every Xbox One exclusive combined.

Now I'm not saying people don't like TLoU2 or some of the negative reviews aren't legit, but clearly the overall score has been severely compromised and can't be used as any indication of anything.

On topic, Halo initially being Microsofts killer launch app being delayed is a big deal. The fact that you don't need the Series X to play most of the games releasing on it already reduced it's selling points, this delay reduced it even more.

[crazyCoconuts]

if / when Sony delays Spiderman from the launch window you'd see lots of negative Sony articles too

[S2Killinit]

Didnt that dude admit he was trying to distract from the negative reaction to xbox sx reveal or something?

[Sunny_D]

Yes he did.

https://www.reddit.com/r/PS...

[dietis_h]

you don’t like the heat?

stay out of the kitchen.

[rainslacker]

Or, better yet, ask MS to do better so they have some better ammo for the console war. It's pretty amusing how the past couple months we've had a couple days after these big MS missteps where they all seem to disappear until someone comes around and tells them what their next spin topic will be for them to repeat constantly until the next one. It's become pretty predictable.

[Elda]

Because the PS5 is still a pretty powerful console in its own right. The exclusives are going to look & play beautifully. When you compare 10.28 tflps to 12tflps it only has a little over 1 tflps of power & that's really nothing.

[Sunny_D]

Also it’s about the devs themselves. Sony has world class devs that can push hardware in ways other devs can’t.

[Sunny_D]

Lmao. That was already proven untrue. The dude who spread that rumor was mad that Xbox was getting negative news lately so he needed to spread fud to balance it out. Try harder buddy.

https://www.reddit.com/r/PS...

[OB1Biker]

This is where you need to use a brain to spot the difference between reality and fiction, tangible facts and vaporous rumours. It isnt always easy.

[S2Killinit]

Mediocrity should not be a suprise at this point.

[lonewolf10]

Forbes, lol

[Bnet343]

It really is. I was looking forward to Halo Infinite and possibly get my hands on some sort of Halo themed XSX console but since this delay, I think I am skipping on it till' then. The main selling points is upgraded games from the Xbox One and PS4 generations but when you have a gaming PC, these upgrades honestly don't mean a damn thing. Looking forward to Halo Infinite. The delay was a necessary move. I think Cyberpunk 2077 will be my main game this year and let's see what the new COD looks like.

[RememberThe357]

See I'm not really about the upgrading thing. I tend to move on from games after I'm done with them. I want new games that couldn't have been done before. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see Ghost or TLOU2 upgraded for PS5, but I'm more intrigued by the future than the replaying games I've already enjoyed and moved on from.

[BillyG0AT]

Nobody gonna mention having a Game Pass subscription? If they bundle that in with the Series X for 6 months or so. That's massively appealing to the general consumer.

[SullysCigar]

I mean, I already have it on my S and my PC, so...

They basically gave it away and you could buy it up for years to come, so I'm not seeing this as a major draw for their new console.

Surely all of us that were interested for next to no money at all are already signed up.

[RazzerRedux]

Now that would be a sign of absolute desperation.

[BillyG0AT]

I would've thought it's a logical business move tbh.

[RazzerRedux]

"I would've thought it's a logical business move tbh."

I see nothing logical about having to give away the only product Microsoft has that is appealing to customers. Basically, a half a year of massive losses for Microsoft. That's just not going to happen.

[rainslacker]

May not settle well with 3rd party publishers putting games out in the launch window...which is typically the first six months after launch. They want to see their games sell, and the biggest reason they support early launches in the first place....typically with cross gen....is because they know that early adopters are more prone to buying software, and there is less competition to sell against.

Giving people a couple hundred games they can play without having to buy any games diminishes that, but they're still paying MS all that money for licensing fees.

While a different scenario, consider the WiiU. It had some pretty decent support early on, but no one brought a lot of those earlier games because they weren't exactly new games for the consumer(EA and Ubisoft mostly). The rest of the generation, 3rd party pretty much ignored the WiiU, and cancelled projects soon after the initial launch sales caused them to lose money.

[Minute Man 721]

Halo fans will be disappointed, me not so much.
Bought Halo 5 CE back in '16 for $50 (Amazon sale)
haven't played it yet

They have other games available launch day
Last 2 gens didn't have must own launch games, if people count Perfect Dark Zero, Resistance 1 or Shadowfall as a launch killer app..... don't know what to tell them

[RememberThe357]

Maybe you could stop talking then?

[Atticus_finch]

History only repeats itself when you let it, like in MS case. Sony seems to be going for the jugular. They are not playing it safe and haven't even showed half of their cards yet. That's not even including all the GOTYs from a year ago that will be enhanced. Ps5 is already positioned way higher than any other PS console release. And we haven't seen much yet.

[LoveSpuds]

Personally, I really liked Resistance and absolutely loved Motorstorm on PS3........I don't know what to tell you!

Also, whilst I would agree Shadowfall wasn't incredible, it was still very good and you had better believe my workmates and I played the absolute shit out of that game online and loved it.

[jznrpg]

This may be Xbox’s last round of consoles so I may buy one when it’s cheap later in the gen if there’s more than a handful of games I want to play. I said the same thing for last gen but they didn’t make it past a handful of games I wanted . Just Ori and maybe that Remedy game but that was it so I didn’t get one .

[anast]

They have game pass...

[TheColbertinator]

We're all excited for *checks notes* ...The Medium?

[Atticus_finch]

Tetris at 8k/120fps

[rainslacker]

As of now, that and Everwild are about the only things MS are publishing I'm really interested in. MSFS of course. But, I'm certainly not going to buy a console to play any of those. Outside of MSFS, those are games I play because I have a system, not games I buy a system for.

[LoveSpuds]

Yeah, Everwild is their one title I am honestly interested in, but I am not buying a console for one title and a bunch of hollow promises of more games to follow.

[danny818]

There gonna be a lot of games at launch. Some people are not just waiting for halo but want to play next get games on their new tv like me. Y’all are really trying to hard

[gamer9]

The One X has been a great console, i'll grab the Series X first for multiplats, unless Sony has a fantastic multiplayer shooter in the pipe that i don't know about. SP campaigns are a little predictable these days

[SullysCigar]

Factions is in the works and rumoured to be PS5 launch title, so fingers crossed!

[Atticus_finch]

Predictable? What Sp games are you playing lol.

[akbennyewu]

Xbox fan here (as many of you know).

Reality is setting in, their new console sucks and will isolate the purchasers of it to be bound to a system of good horsepower that may never be fully taken advantage of.

I wonder why they have not pulled out of the hardware business and fully pushed their streaming / subscription service model into the PC space via Steam, and to Nintendo and/or Sony (albeit assuming they can arrive at a revenue sharing situation that may alter developer revenues to the point of blowing up the whole model).

I am anxious to see if we see an available supply of consoles at launch. That will be a good indicator of how dead on arrival the system is going to be. First impressions mean so much in 2020.

[gamer9]

I don't follow, why do you think the Series X is going to be dead at launch? A system of good horse-power with sequel exclusives - isn't this exactly what the One X is? And the One X is doing well?

Isn't Sony doing the same thing? How many 3rd person adventure games with average shooting and stealth elements can one person play? If SONY were smart they would bring an amazing multiplayer shooter to market - Now you're gonna steal away some xbox marketshare. Do what xbox does, but make it fresh.

Honestly, the first company to come out with a must-have somewhat new idea multiplayer game - they have my money.

[akbennyewu]

I believe the system is dead on arrival as many, many xbox fans bought into the promise of having the best system to play multiplats in the current generation, under the promise that the recently acquired internal studios were given time to create AAA quality internal experiences, and these experiences just are not showing up in time with their new console. None of them, not a one.
The launch of the system boils down only to putting out a competing product against Sony, and is completely independent of their plan for game production.
Instead we are given AA experiences and incomplete AAA experiences (Sea of Thieves, State of Decay 2 both of which are awesome now, but they were not at launch).
The process is breaking down games into slow trickles of content in order to keep you subscribed to their service, and has nothing to do with the hardware they are putting out into the market.

I see it as a steambox type device that is 100% compatible with Xbox Gamepass, but just like with the wonderful steambox, you do not need to buy the creator's (Vavle's) hardware to enjoy it.

[Atticus_finch]

You may be right that it is dead on arrival but I wouldn't underestimate the PR push MS can pay for. There will be a lot influencers getting big checks from MS this Holiday.

[rainslacker]

I don't think the hardware sucks. It's a pretty good console, as was the X1X. It's over-engineered, and trying to hard to go the power route, but it can do what MS says it will do.

MS itself seems incapable of taking advantage of that power though. Or at least they haven't shown that they have anything that is actually utilizing it.

The problem with Xbox is, and honestly always has been, MS itself. Every gen they seem to change course, and they are never consistent. Couple that with their obligatory self-congratulatory method of marketing, and you get a console and games mired in their own incompetence.

[Donnie81]

It’s not like the competition is killing it with first party games at launch. They cut dlc from a ps4 game and are charging you full price. Just hype power because come November the series x will curb stop the ps5 in every game then hype the value of gamepass and the ecosystem as a whole. Money goes farther on Xbox and that’s not debatable. But a series x get gamepass and u don’t need anything else

[Ron_Danger]

“Cut dlc”

You guys jump on every assumption you can find in your echo chamber and just hope by repeating it it comes true.

😂😂

[Donnie81]

So are you saying it’s not possible the project began life as a massive expansion - stand alone dlc for the last game? It’s obviously not up to par with Spider-Man content wise. It’s ok if they decided halfway through the project to add resources to expand the scope of the project. Plenty of games start life as dlc for a previous title. Saints row 4 and dead island riptide did just that. If it’s good who cares just call a spade a spade

[HarryMasonHerpderp]

"Cut DLC from a ps4 game" What are you on about? You even played Spiderman on PS4? It's one of the most complete AAA games released and you should be commending it instead of throwing out BS like that. In a world where AAA games are giving us less and less and asking for more money, you try and shit on one of the few games that actually give you a complete package 😂 wtf

[Sunny_D]

You’re trying so hard to spread fake info, It’s hilarious. Maybe it’s no coincidence that you have the same name as the idiot in chief as well? Eh Donnie?

[Atticus_finch]

Please keep repeating that lie. Spider-Man MM is going to prove you wrong. 😂👍
I could get Gamepass but then I would want good games.

[rainslacker]

Are you ever tired of being wrong all the time?

[Donnie81]

I’m almost never wrong. I’ve spelt plenty of good info on this sight well ahead of time but people don’t like it because it don’t fit their agenda. Now sometimes I do poke the bees nest to get a kick out of people but I’m not wrong saying neither system is gonna launch with great 1st party support

[LoveSpuds]

Haha you sound like another Donnie the world can't seem to get rid of.

[FanboysKiller]

Another day another salty article from Forbes.

[Elda]

A sad state of affairs for some but the world keeps turning.

[neomahi]

Microsoft has had six years to get their act together. There are no excuses. What have they been doing this whole time that they can't have a solid set of first-party and third-party games for this launch. It's really that simple. I honestly have no clue how people still back Microsoft and call them a professional company. Sony and Nintendo are putting in all of this effort to stand tall and separate themselves from the pack. They communicate with their developers, they build relationships, they spend quality time on their products and their presentations, they work to innovate....... And Microsoft just coasts along, and people are okay with mediocrity? I guess we really do exist in a generation of everyone gets coddled and a trophy. Back in the day, this was unacceptable and consumers made it known, they stuck their nose up at the Sega 32X and Sega Saturn and then embraced the Dreamcast because SEGA figured it out, but it was too late and SEGA was gone. Microsoft time and time over fails to make a positive impression and people take their hand and pat it and say: "It's alright, you'll get it next time, good try!"

Why do you think Sony and PlayStation are where they're at today? People consumers pressed them, they showed them what they expected and had a standard. There was none of this half-assed effort and we'll just try again later, no, Sony had to digg in, get dirty, be aggressive, and produce or they were gone, are we that threatened by Japanese businesses that are becoming more and more American? PlayStation shipped their company to California in the U.S. that's as American as Harley Davidson, Dodge, Baseball, and apple pie.

I'm saying it RIGHT FRIGGIN NOW! MICROSOFT IS SUFFERING BECAUSE THE CONSUMERS ARENT PUSHING THEM, THEYRE CODDLING THEM, THEYRE LETTING THEN GET AWAY WITH MEDIOCRITY AND SAYING ITS OKAY, WE'LL JUST SEE WHAT THEY COME UP WITH NEXT. It's pathetic.

[FanboysKiller]

It's the pandemic, 343 have mentioned it already.

[neomahi]

I'm not buying it, 343 have had years versus just a few months.... You're really gonna buy that?

[Chevalier]

5 years of work and the last 6 months are the issue? Out of 60 months of work? Really?!

[gamer9]

I fully agree. Xbox had a terrible gen for exclusives. But even with how bad it was, Playstation did not beat them *In Multiplayer*. (Crushed them in singleplayer). So isn't that shame on Sony for not putting a small amount of their prowess to make a good MP shooter?

All Xbox had to do this gen was get Pubg first, turned out to be a year in advance while the hype was still there, and then I got to play some Halo MP and Gears Horde for free on gamepass. On the Sony side i played... zero multiplayer shooters.

Will Playstation ever have a good multiplayer shooter exclusive?

[Sunny_D]

There’s already news of more multiplayer games coming out from Sony. They want to continue increasing their PS+ subs after all.

[gamer9]

Sunny name a good multiplayer shooter that’s exclusive to PlayStation

[Minute Man 721]

They have 3rd party games, it's the lacking 1st party that's the problem

[Atticus_finch]

That has always been the problem...

[MetroidFREAK21]

Yeah, that lack of Halo will hurt sales no doubt. I'm now undecided if I wanna upgrade right away or wait for Halo.

[Junghova]

Lol

[Petebloodyonion]

How come all these articles fail to mention the most important thing for both consoles?
The price factor!
There are huge rumors that MS wants to undercut Sony and Phil Spencer mentioned that they would be very agile on the price.
Now Yes Halo is a key piece for the Xbox brand but I'm sure that having a 100$ cheaper console or one bundle with a 6 months Gamepass could be quite a popular steal.

[JayRyu]

Yes, that makes sense for the average consumer. MS - More games (Game Pass) with a more affordable next gen console. Sony - possibly more expensive next gen console with Spiderman.

It will be interesting to see which wins out this holiday.

But price is big factor. The wii and the Switch sold like crazy because they were affordable.

[zero_jp]

Personally I’d delay the console if as Microsoft says they aren’t in competition with Sony or Nintendo so that it launches with Halo Infinite when it’s “ready”.

Also let me remind everyone of the years and years of development that Crackdown 3 was in.

Even with the extra time it turned out to be a turd anyway. So at this point unless they plan to give 343i multiple years to fix the game that they had 5 to make I don’t see how on earth this will end well.

I hope I’m wrong but this is Microsoft we are talking about here. They botched the Xbox One announcement and an entire generation thereafter, and seem to be headed down the same path again.

[Bismarn]

You forgot the Series X's main selling point, even before Halo Infinite was delayed: it won't have Bugsnax

[niiopi]

Next showcase by SONY will kill, they know not to show their hand too soon.

All reports will say: "Microsoft found dead in the water"

[SpineSaw]

Let's be honest here...even with the Halo\Craig game things were not great at Xbox. Sony just has more cards to play and it's to the point that gamers know that the Sony First Party will deliver its not even a question but at Xbox gamers are hoping they will deliver and though they may be trying they have yet to deliver anything of note. And to be clear "of note" meaning a system seller and we have a track record dating back years as proof while Sony and Nintsndo has no such troubles in fact Sony has delivered 2 system sellers in the last 60 days not to mention giving awAy the game that is setting the world on fire right now that you can't play on Xbox or Xbox Game Pass. So even if Xbox had the more powerful console and sold it for less than the Sony consoles the PS5 is still the better purchase and it's not even a debate.

[RGB]

5 selling points in a funny order and is really only 3, and not compelling selling points either.

1 - 50+ new games in the launch window, all on PC day 1 or before & most on Xbox One day 1 or before too.
2 & 4 - Game Pass PR.
3 & 5 - 40 old games fully upgraded for Xbox Series X, rest just standard BC.

Having no REAL exclusives or a single killer app is going to haunt Series X for the 1st year.

[Auron]

Give me a ****** break! This doom and gloom for the needs to stop its BS!!!

[YourMommySpoils]

Considering they always had garbage exclusives since the first xbox, it don't matter. Just release it as a media player and that's it.

[Rskicker]

Microsoft still could have an ace card left if they price the XSX well under the PS5 hopefully we find out soon.

[Good-Smurf]

Comments at the top of the page are the reason why MS is in position it's in right now.
Sugarcoated comments borderline on paid advertising.

[MadLad]

It's a powerful console with a really strong backwards compatibility suite, and a band of strong developers under its belt, and is home to one of the best gaming subscriptions to be had.

Doesn't sound all that bleak to me.

[MadLad]

2 likes, 5 dislikes, (as of this moment) just for making an observation that didn't paint MS as Hitler.

#n4g

[Artemidorus]

I'm just going to leave the figure 599 and you guys can work it out.

[ApinaMiesMansesta]

I'll have to stop visiting this site, only news are about MS troubles and Sony "victories".
So clear fanboyism by the crew and people here. The crew is unable to provide any "Hottest games and rumours" as advertised.
PC player out.

[SPEAKxTHExTRUTH]

I’m getting it day one so it doesn’t matter to me that Halo isn’t there. I’m more concerned that there are no Series X exclusives at launch. I don’t think either console has a must have launch exclusive.

[DragoonUS]

Playstation's marketing team, are paid by MS.

[Sirk7x]

There are reasons for some to get an Xbox over PS5. Obviously, Sony is going to have very strong exclusives. I do, however, much prefer the UI, controller, and online functions of the Xbox. Most of my friends and family also play on Xbox, so it's more of a social experience. Menus on MS are typically easier to navigate, and I have far less problems with party chat/forming, and online connectivity. BC on any new console is a plus for anyone with a large digital library like myself. I use my PS4 whenever a good single player game comes out, but for any type of online gaming with people I know, that's all Xbox. Once PS5 has a great exclusive library, and the games drop in price a bit, I will definitely pick one up. I got a PS4 slim way into its life, but it was on sale, and by then, great first party exclusives were all $20. Felt like a steal. We all know Sony will outsell, and will have stronger exclusives, but yes, there are good reasons to own an Xbox. Game Pass, better online experience, preference of UI, controllers, BC, social aspects, etc.
Please, let's just enjoy our hobbies in harmony xD
Great time to be a gamer on any platform.
And yes, as a big Halo fan, I am very bummed, and really hope the end product will be of good quality.

[HarryMasonHerpderp]

Personally I'm in the Playstation camp and was looking for a reason to buy an xbox, the reasons I've found are gamepass, backwards compatibility (got a ton of OG xbox games) and I'm interested in the medium (big horror fan). Other than that I'm sticking with Playstation for now. Like you with PS5 I might wait for xbox to come down in price at some point. I really really want PS5 to play PS2 games as I've got a big collection of ps2 games as well. I thought Halo was a huge shame, I was expecting to be blown away and tempted to get back into xbox but I just don't think 343 have what it takes, I think it needs to go to a new studio.

[Sirk7x]

I think 343 needs some better direction, and to hire some serious muscle. Halo 4 was a fantastic game when it came out. Great graphics, polish and production value, good gameplay, solid MP. The cracks started to show in 5. The MP is still fun, but the story's direction wasn't the only problem with the campaign. Reusing bosses multiple times showed development issues that were glaringly obvious, even when I was playing it. And then the Infinite reveal. Smacks of poor leadership.

[pinkcrocodile75]

CDPR release their game when it's ready, as long as MS do the same we'll be golden

[Harryvok]

There’s zero Series X exclusives I’m interested in unfortunately, didn’t care for Halo either. Guess I’ll get it in a couple years when Fable and Avowed come out and just get a PS5 at launch.

[PETE1985]

To be honest I don't agree with this. I AM an Xbox player and so I'm sure this response will be marked down to me being a fan boy but regardless, here are my reasons for disagreeing.
As I see it, the only exclusive that will have console selling power on PS5 at launch is Miles Morales. And whilst I have no doubt it will be fantastic, it is not a "full game". Other than that, everything else that will be worth playing is multiplat and COULD end up looking better on the series x (slightly higher res or framerate) due to the series x being more powerful (likely the same difference we seen between a lot of games on PS4 Vs one x).
Add Gamepass to that, which will likely have at least 30 day free trial out the box, and you have a huge amount of games at your disposal on day 1. Some of these games are great and some will also be series x enhanced.
I know that PS5 will have fantastic exclusives and offer many reasons to purchase down the line, but in my opinion, not at launch.
I keep pretty up to date with games news but if I have missed something in regards to launch lineup on PS5 I am happy to be corrected.

[MadLad]

I'm getting a PS5 near launch, but only because of two things - the PS5 will play all my PS4 games and, 2, I got my Pro for dirt cheap, and I'll shed hundreds off the buy-in on the PS5 if I sell the Pro.

I'm mainly a PC guy, so I get pretty much everything MS puts out, as is, with Gamepass. Normally I would wait for consoles to go down in price, and have a bunch of exclusives I'd be interested in.

[PCpower]

Microsoft giving the option for you poor console plebs to still play their games since you guys are too poor to afford to build a powerful pc. Sony plebs are too poor to have options. Consoles are their only hope.