500°

Microsoft Hints At a Very Different Future For Xbox Gaming. Plus: What Are EA and Activision Up To?

If people in the gaming industry really wanted to hide stuff, they're going to have to do better. The one and only Superannuation keeps digging stuff up that just has to be shared with Kotaku readers. Today, we're looking to the future... a very weird future that has Microsoft, EA and Activision making games you probably weren't expecting.

DiRtY4839d ago

This is pure speculation on Kotakus part and not good journalism.

Fishy Fingers4838d ago

If people only published confirmed news N4G would be a quiet place. At least it isn't another f***ing 'opinion piece'.

scotchmouth4838d ago

Or a top 9 of top 7 lists

Redgehammer4838d ago

I think your mistake was in thinking Katakus reporters are capable of good journalism.

trenso14838d ago

after that completely bogus rumor they started on versus 13 being cancelled that blew way out proportion. I can't trust anything that comes out of this site.

GraveLord4838d ago

Speculation? No. More like an educated guess based on research and what we've seen from Microsoft in the past few years.

They are moving away from the core, and focusing on the casual. It's funny because this is the opposite of what Sony is doing right now.

DiRtY4838d ago

Educated guess based on 2 job ads?

I mean, they predict the strategy of a whole company on 2 job ads and you call it an educated guess. Well, we might have different definitions of the word "educated" then.

They just hired The producer, desginer and AI developer of BioShock Infinite - do you think these guys will start to make a farmville clone?

http://www.joystiq.com/2012...

The lead designer of Crysis 2 joined MS Vancouver - Do you think he is working on Dance Central 4 then?

Oh and the opposite of what Sony is doing...

MS holiday lineup: Halo 4, Forza Horizon, Fable Journey, Dance Central 3

Sony holiday lineup: PSABR, Wonderbook, LBP Karting. Yeah, that is freaking hardcore.

AngelicIceDiamond4838d ago (Edited 4838d ago )

"They are moving away from core, and focusing on the casual."

So out of this article that's how you see it? Of course you would coming from you and other SFB's.

I don't know whats completely going here either, but it sounds like MS is making some preparations for next gen and if this is accurate MS is getting busy with a wide variety of games for Xbox and the Windows 8 platforms, F2P, Rares possible new name change plus recruiting. Lion Head possibly working on multiple projects.

This in no way tells the future of MS going completely casual that you suggested, but yet expanding on different platforms. This could possibly be one out of many MS preparations for next gen.

StreetsofRage4838d ago (Edited 4838d ago )

Ouch! Dirty just pwned Grave!!!

ceballos77mx4838d ago

@ Dirty.
halo 4 and forza are the only "core" titles MS has and you're sayng theyre not focusing on the "casual" please.

moegooner884838d ago (Edited 4838d ago )

@Dirty comparing a single season's holiday line up and using it to prove a point is just as ridiculous as making a guess based on 2 job ads (interested in sharing the other Microsoft published harcdore titles that were released this year, then be my guest), Microsoft is definitely still involved in the hardcore market, just not as much as they used to during the first couple of years this gen, whether you want to believe it or not, atm Sony is the one catering the most to the hardcore gamers.

ziggurcat4838d ago

@ DiRtY:

sorry, but you can't just take the games being released during the holiday season, then claim that MS is not moving away from the "hardcore" (or that MS is more "hardcore") just because halo, and forza happen to be on that list (the other two games are clearly casual).

looking at the past year, sony's clearly been focusing on "hardcore" more than MS.

starchild4838d ago

What? At the moment there is absolutely nothing I want to play on my PS3. I'm playing all the amazing multiplats (like Dishonored) on my PC. At least the 360 has Halo 4 this year. There hasn't been anything interesting to me on the PS3 in a while.

You console fanboys always overstate things. Both Microsoft and Sony have diverted significant resources towards the casual market.

ArmrdChaos4838d ago (Edited 4838d ago )

"Both Microsoft and Sony have diverted significant resources towards the casual market." ....no no no no that's not possible.

One MUST ALWAYS be better than the other...the Ego has spoken. /s

I swear there are more case subjects around here than actual gamers.

Army_of_Darkness4838d ago (Edited 4838d ago )

Too funny.
saying that Sony and MS are focusing they're attentions towards the casual market more and got no games for the hardcore, yet you mention a multiplat game that your currently playing that is also available on both consoles?!?!?
Sony seemed to be leaning towards the casual market more this year, but next year it's very clear that they are very focused on the hardcore gamers-> The last of us, beyond 2 souls, God of war:A and until dawn to name some at the top of my head..

BTW, you do realize that the PC has TONS and TONS more casual games than the ps3 and 360 combined right? ;-)

Zhipp4838d ago

Grave, are you supposed to be Chunky's antithesis or something? You're a Sony fanboy, and he's an MS fanboy. You have a Simpsons avatar--he has one too. Hell, you both even have only 1 bubble left!

Kurt Russell4837d ago

^ 1 bubble is the new black I tell ye! ^

+ Show (8) more repliesLast reply 4837d ago
Qrphe4838d ago

>Kotaku
>journalism

pick one

doogiebear4838d ago (Edited 4838d ago )

Oh great, the 3 greadiest, franchise-ruining, casual-audience-catering-to game companies are catering to casuals even more -_-. Thank God for Sony (and maybe Nintendo (if they really do intend on focusing on core gamers this time around)).

Those 3 companies set some decent trends for current gen, but did more harm than good, mostly

Jazz41084838d ago

Nah Sonys on there way out. They are hurting in almost every area and been in the red five years straight and closing studios left and right while ms keeps opening more and now have over twenty studios. I think we will see alot of original ips from ms next gen but there retail offerings will again be to what sells and not that many ips sell and thats why ms has so many new games on arcade.

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Gazondaily4838d ago (Edited 4838d ago )

Indeed.

If MS really do relinquish all ties with casual gamers, we gamers will lose out massively as there really won't be any competition.

Time will tell I guess. I can, however, see MS jumping into the whole Home Entertainment industry quite decisively at the expense of core gaming. The Xbox and Xbox 360 have served as an excellent gateway for doing what MS has long struggled to do otherwise; and that is penetrate homes and the home entertainment market.

We are seeing signs of it now and whilst currently, the game lineup is great with the mix of third party and key first party titles, core gamers won't be content with the status quo in the future.

Not a good sign I'm afraid, if these rumours are to be believed. But like you say DivineAssault, time will tell.

Pillsbury14838d ago

Micr0$0ft never cared about catering to gamers, it was all about taking control of the living room. M$ already has a monopoly on pc side it wants to also control families entertainment, they will focus more on casuals. They don't give a flying fudgesicle about us gamers.

Gazondaily4837d ago (Edited 4837d ago )

@Pilsbury1

And you think Sony's motivations in the industry are more righteous? Do you think they packed in a Blu-Ray player into the PS3 for the sake of it? Wasn't Sony touting its hardware as a media centre when it introduced it to everyone? All these additional features like Netflix, Lovefilm etc, these are just there for s**ts and giggles?

Don't be under any illusions; all these companies operate primarily to make a profit, including Sony. Sony and MS only care for gamers in so far as their money is concerned.

It is, however, interesting to note that key figures working for MS seemed to show a greater personal attachment to the industry than Sony's counterparts; the passion the likes of J Allard had when it came to gaming was evident from his many interviews and presentations. Unfortunately, he seems to have disappeared off the radar. Now, I don;t really see any spokesman for either MS or Sony that resonate with gamers' opinions.

However, this whole "MS never cared about gamers" is a juvenile argument in that MS, Sony and Nintendo operate to make a profit. That is business and anyone who thinks otherwise is deluded in my opinion.

fossilfern4837d ago

@Pillsbury1

The first Xbox was a great machine and MS did try hard to get the "core" gamers, mainly PC gamers. They had a good run for a few years and even the first 2 years ,or so, of the 360 was pretty good but I agree that now the machine is a total joke.

pompombrum4838d ago (Edited 4838d ago )

Okay so the makers of one of the best fps games in history has been further demoted to making mobile based games. Not only that, the makers of one of the most highly regarded pvp orientated mmos could potentially be demoted to making a scrabble game.. whatever next?

Knight_Crawler4838d ago

@aiBeeze - Do you know how much AAA games cost to make? Well over 30 million dollars...sure some games sell well but people fail to realise that the game developers does not make $60 from each game sold.

Next gen will be 3 times more expensive to develope AAAA games and yes I said 4 A's becuase thats what developes are starting to call next gen games, also since its all going to be new hardware developement time will increase and game companies have to pay thier employees more money.

With all that said I can see why its safer and profitable to make mobile ot tablets games...look at Rovio and Notch those guys are swimming in money right now.

pompombrum4838d ago

I'm well aware of the costs and it is going to be a problem but taking the gaming equivalent of "cult" developers and having them work on stuff aimed at an audience who have no idea who Rare and Mythic are just seems wrong.

Gaming needs to come full circle though tbh. Back when I was a teenager, there used to be so many quirky games coming out on the ps1 that just wouldn't ever see the light of day today.

DARK WITNESS4838d ago

if next gen is going to be soooo expensive to develope for and require sooo much work, then why bother having a next gen?

if the publishers and devs can't afford to make AAA games on the new tech then they may as well tell sony and MS to scrap next gen altogether.

AtomicGerbil4838d ago

I don't believe there will be an increase in cost.

Visually there will be an improvement, but nothing that is not already being done on PC. So I can't see why there would be a cost increase, besides I'm sure visual quality has to be lowered from what is designed to fit consoles.

Programming will be easier according to what the industry is telling us, so that should cut work rates. More RAM will mean less work involved optimizing code or cutting mechanics.

Publishers are whinging about costs now, do you really think they are going to spend more in the future?

unkn0wn4838d ago

@Knight_Crawler

There will be no increase in cost of development. It WILL BE CHEAPER INSTEAD. Look up the various articles on developers commenting about next-gen development. The software AND hardware architecture will make it easier for everyone, and way less costly. I forget what exactly the developer was referencing, but he mentioned a specific task that required multiple people to attack from different angles to have the desired effect. Aside from the new hardware being rumored to be closer to that of a computer than ever, the dev kits will allow set up so the base is established much more easily and things are added on.

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forestfrog4838d ago (Edited 4838d ago )

I've already waved goodbye to Xbox brand, halo 4 and all, I embrace my vita now.

andibandit4838d ago ShowReplies(1)
WetN00dle694838d ago

Got rid of my VITA since there was nothing worth playing.

torchic4838d ago

that's interesting, considering you never really owned one.

WetN00dle694838d ago

Yeah cause you were there to confirm whether or not i had one right.

boybato4838d ago

so whats you're PSN so we could confirm that you did own one. And please don't tell me you don't have any trophy since Vita has no games.haha

darx4838d ago

Really boybato? Maybe your dad can beat up his dad.

WetN00dle694838d ago

http://us.playstation.com/p...

UNFORTUNATELY, i had no games for the Vita lol BUT here is proof that at one point or the other i supported Sony and its Console. AND i will sometime soon purchase another PS3. AND maybe even another PS Vita once all the bad *** games hit the stores.

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Redgehammer4838d ago

I could never replace my console, with any handheld device. However, as long as your playing games, it does not truly matter to me upon which device you choose to do so. I will be playing Halo 4; actually, I can't wait to tour Requiem. Enjoy whatever you game on, or find something else upon which to game.

forestfrog4838d ago

what if you had a partner and kids under 5 AND worked fulltime nightshift So had almost no time to fire up the console anymore, would you get a handheld replacement then hmmm?

Redgehammer4838d ago

Since I have already lived a similar life to that, i can say I still did not, nor would I, get a handheld. The last handheld I owned was in the 80s, and that was a football game.

KMCROC544838d ago

Will wait for a press release from MS , before some halfass reporting.

Show all comments (76)
50°

Kotick claims lawsuit objecting to MS-Activision deal was "tied to Embracer's desire to boost sales"

Former CEO describes lawsuit filed by Swedish pension fund as a "collateral attack" on Activision Blizzard.

Read Full Story >>
gamesindustry.biz
OpenGL1d 6h ago

Yeah, the Microsoft deal has DEFINITELY worked out for everyone.

galgor1d 3h ago

Can this mother fucker just get lost already

PRIMORDUS1d 2h ago

He belongs in here ⚰️, hopefully sooner than later.

MrDead10h ago(Edited 10h ago)

Kotick Made $155 million from MS in the buyout, the little b*tch needs to stop whining. Thanks to this Microslop deal and massive industry consolidation thousands upon thousands of devs and other workers lost their livelihoods. This greedy piggie pervert needs shut up and f-off.

160°

Forza Horizon 5 PS5 port tops 5 million sales, securing $300m in additional sales for Xbox

Forza Horizon 5 has reportedly sold more than 5 million copies on PS5.

Read Full Story >>
eurogamer.net
ocelot075d ago

I happily contributed during the Christmas sale.

Eonjay4d ago

All are winners here. Especially Microsoft who actually has a audience now that will buy their games. While I do miss the competition from Microsoft as a consumer, it is nice getting those games without having to buy another console and get another subscription. I just wish they released proper physical games.

ocelot074d ago

Yup fully 100% agree with you. On one hand I'm sad the way Xbox as a platform as gone. On another hand as you said one console is all you need really now for majority of games.

Wish they did release this physically as well as age of empires, flight sim, age of mythology.

Lightning774d ago

Xbox guys still buy games. Gotta kill this narrative.

fr0sty4d ago

It's a hard narrative to kill when MS confirms it by having to reach out to other platforms in order to get sales.

Lightning773d ago

@Frosty as usual you make no sense. With your logic then PS needs PC since those games are on there and HD2, deathstranding on Xbox. They're reaching out for sales because console is no longer enough.

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Agent755d ago

More reason for Microsoft to ditch Xbox and release on PS and PC. Imagine if Nintendo stopped faffing on with consoles, their games would reach eye popping sales, but they love control and that's losing them millions or billions a year. Mario Kart 8 and World on PS5 and PC, what sales would they hit?

Sgt_Slaughter5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

This comment makes absolutely zero sense. Nintendo is never leaving the console industry as a manufacturer; they have the second highest selling system of all-time, and some of the highest attachment rate of any developer ever. The PS5 won't even touch Switch 1 sales, so why would Nintendo even entertain the idea of this? MK8D sold 70 MILLION UNITS on the Switch. That is the "eye popping sales" you're going on about, if anything Sony wants that for their games that they never get.

Agent754d ago

What you're saying is, if Nintendo ditched consoles, it wouldn't make a bigger killing from releasing all of its games on PlayStation and PC, maybe even Xbox if Microsoft grows a backbone? Mario Kart 8 and Breath of the Wild as examples, what sales would Nintendo hit on PlayStation 5, PC and Xbox Series X? Nintendo could still bang on with controllers, joycons and cams etc. to bulk up its profits. Nintendo has been holding back its fans for years now when it comes to tech. Last time it was up there was with the GameCube and that generation, it was the second most powerful console, Xbox being top in terms of tech, followed by PlayStation 2 then Dreamcast. Average tech holds back AAA games, the Switch 2 is apparently up there with PlayStation 4 tech. I agree that the Switch has pulled off some amazing games, although some games were Wii U ports. I understand that Nintendo will never leave the console industry, but it most definitely has missed the boat when it comes to maximising game profits. Nintendo has only been on top (not handhelds) with the NES, Super NES, Wii and Switch, but the Switch is a handheld console, Nintendo skipped that generation and didn't release a home console and that's also the case with the Switch 2. The Switch isn't anything new to a certain extent, as SEGA's Nomad and Sony's PSP could be connected to a TV. Some gamers can't accept that Nintendo pulled out of the home console market with the release of the Switch, comparing to sales of home consoles is a pointless exercise. I don't care about PC gaming, but I hope Microsoft ditches consoles for PC and PlayStation. Most gamers are fed up with all these consoles and game sales at an all-time low, gaming does need a single format. One tech, we all choose which brand we want to buy and that's it. It has never done the likes of VHS, DVD and Blu-ray any harm and someone mentioned on here a number of years ago, owning a Sony DVD player, you could only watch Sony produced movies and play Sony produced music CDs.

5d ago Replies(6)
DivineHand1255d ago

I agree. Nintendo is leaving billions on the table. If they left console gaming behind and let us say released a mainline Pokémon game on android and IOS, in addition to console and PC, I cannot imagine the amount of profit they would enjoy.

Modern phones are good enough to play most Nintendo switch games so if they made a mobile controller that can interface with android and IOS phones, they could port games like Mario Kart 8 to mobile phones and other consoles. I am sure they would be enjoying sales from both their own unique controllers and the game sales itself.

The only thing they stand to lose is the 30% cut from all software sales being released on their system. Perhaps they believe they can earn more from that vs sales of their own IPs on other platforms.

Agent754d ago

Mario Kart 8 apparently hit just under 70 million sales on Wii U and Switch, although that figure includes the game packaged with the console, so I'm not sure on single game sales (disc, card and download). No Nintendo console out there, I think Mario Kart 8 would've hit bigger sales when you add Android and IOS, which is a good point. Nintendo's games don't exactly need ground breaking tech, but if that was there with a single format, Nintendo could then keep up. Don't get me wrong, I love the Switch and Switch 2, but PS4 tech games going into 2026 and onwards, again, it's a limited console from Nintendo.

BehindTheRows5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

Nintendo games already reach eye popping sales. In fact, neither PlayStation nor Nintendo really HAVE to put their games on other systems. Even Sony's PC releases don't sell anything big (outsold of outliers like Helldivers II).

That said, I agree about Microsoft with Xbox. Outside of being a gateway to Game Pass, they should drop the platform and cut their losses. Stick it out as a 3rd Party pub and make bank that way.

5d ago
Neonridr4d ago

so what.. just have PlayStation in the console space? Great news for innovation and pushing each other to be better.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4d ago
neutralgamer19925d ago (Edited 5d ago )

Yeah it makes way too much business sense for these games not to be on PS and PC. If it's 300 million Sony got 90 million from simply allowing the sale of the game. MS need to get the development house in order so these games can come out at the same time that's when you make real big money

5d ago
Eonjay5d ago

This is correct. There is a lost sale aspect by not being available day and date on PlayStation. Halo is day and date so everything else should be too. This may not be possible all the times but they are not served at all by taking the Forza 6 route. No one is buying and Xbox or getting GamePass to play the next Forza. When the realize this they will just enforce day and date for all games.

4d ago
Eonjay4d ago

Halo is coming out after FH6...

VenomUK4d ago

@Wommens @Potdy Keep creating those alt accounts!
The truth is Forza, Gears and Halo and Starfield and the WHOLE SLATE will be going to PlayStation.
Microsoft has sold more copies of Forza on PS5 then it did on Xbox Series S/X.
The RAM price rise could lead to the 'Xbox PC' being delayed - if that happens Microsoft might not release it at all.

Stop running defence for a trillion-dollar company that doesn't know you exist.

maximusprime_5d ago

The way I see it, most racing gamers prefer playing on Playstation. It has been so since PS1.

As I said before, that Forza Horizon 5 would do well on PS5. So I was right

Sgt_Slaughter5d ago

Racing games have primarily been an arcade + PC endeavor in-terms of popularity. GT and Forza pale in comparison to the decades of arcade/PC simulator racing games that defined the genre. iRacing, Assetto Corsa, Rfactor, NR2003, Automobilista, GTR 2/GT Legends, GPL, GP4, Daytona USA, Richard Burns Rally, SEGA Rally, Virtua Racing, etc..

Console games have only just started on the path to comparing to them, but even then, the physics on PC are unmatched.

BehindTheRows5d ago

Again you don't know what you're talking about. Daytona/SEGA Rally, as examples, never sold ANYWHERE NEAR what GT has and has never been as popular either (particularly in EU). Put out a new Daytona and GT8 and watch the latter absolutely dog walk it in sales. On top of that, most of those games are very different from one another. They can co-exist. If you want to go there, the highest selling "racing" series is Mario Kart. Hint: console. It hasn't been an Arcade + PC > console for a very long time.

badz1494d ago

all those games combined didn't sell as much as Gran Turismo

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80°

RAM Price Increases Could See Next-Generation Console Releases Delayed

Insider Gaming has learned that the ongoing price increases in RAM due to the rise in AI could delay the next generation of console releases.

Read Full Story >>
insider-gaming.com
17d ago
slate9117d ago

What is even the incentive of upgrading to the next-gen after this console generation we've had? Graphics are plateauing, prices at an all time high, studios skipping entire generations or simply releasing just one game for it...
Its a mess

Jin_Sakai17d ago

Been gaming all my life. This is the worst generation ever.

jznrpg17d ago

How do you gauge each generation? There has been a lot of really good games this gen. I only care about the games. First party hasn’t been the best but the generation isn’t over yet

DarXyde17d ago (Edited 17d ago )

jznrpg,

Thing is, every generation before this one has had something that defined console identity. Very little beyond bigger/more detailed games and performance modes are really there.

I feel the last generation that cared very much was gen 7; Capcom's darkest era, but I have to give them props for being really experimental at the time. We saw plenty of new games that still tried to do something new. Outside of Metaphor and Clair Obscur, this gen has been pretty forgettable if you ask me. I'm sure a lot of it is the corporatization of the industry and the creative talent has to keep making sequels and spiritual successors because the cost of development is out of control. But even then, plenty of these experiences are experiences we've had already. And the thing is. Switch 2 and PSVR2 could really be doing incredible things, but it's just not there. Xbox I just don't see the value or point anymore but that's just me.

anast17d ago

Why has is been the worst? I've been gaming all my life and this gen. has been one of the best.

Vits17d ago

Not to mention that just like this generation, the next one will also be shared between the current and next gen console at least for a couple of years. So the few titles that it will had, just like this one, will run on the console you already have.

franwex16d ago

We will be getting games on PS4, PS5, and PS6, haha.

Extermin8or3_16d ago

I think people have to remember the pandemic at start of this gen and how it effected game development. This next gen we will see the PS4 etc support dropped and truly see the full utilisation of SSD's improvements to ray and path tracing and the impact of AI upscaling etc will be where the biggest improvements will come from.

isarai_lee16d ago

My sentiments exactly, next gen has got to prove it's worth before i buy into it this time. This has been the weakest generation in my 30yrs of gaming. From the drawn out cross gen garbage, to so many games getting stuck in development hell or canceled, to the ABSURD levels of trend chasing to the point of self destruction, this gen just wasn't worth it

thorstein16d ago

I'm pretty sure I've already read a story that said Playstation is only halfway through this console's generation and that PS6 is a way off.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 16d ago
darthv7217d ago

Im good with next gen being pushed back to 27/28. It feels like this gen has only just begun.

Melankolis17d ago

Covid-19 held back everything at least 2 years worth. Although many people disliked, i think only UE5 can generally distinguish this gen from the previous one.

DarXyde16d ago

UE5 is definitely impressive, but I would also give the nod to the current version of Decima, at least the way it looks for Death Stranding 2.

CornholioX16d ago

That's normal how you think. Time goes faster when you're older and i bought my PS5 since day 1 release and now it's 5 years old. I don't mind a year delay to release PS6 in holiday 2028.

DoubleYourDose16d ago

Tomorrow isn't promised to any of us.

Eonjay16d ago

I was under the impression that next gen wasn't coming till 2027.z u9gsq

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victorMaje17d ago

Regardless of RAM price increases, I strongly believe there’s still a lot of potential left for the current gen. I’d be fine with at least 3 more years.

jznrpg17d ago

Whenever it comes out is fine with me. I still have backlog for the next year at least

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