Back in June at the E3 Expo, Microsoft took the stage to announce a new title, titled Codename: Kingdoms, to be developed in collaboration with Crytek.
Indie studio Speculative Agency - which is currently making "a narrative courtroom deck-builder about ordinary people who make the powerful pay for destroying our future", called All Will Rise (quote from Kickstarter) - has made the brave decision to return funding given by Xbox and Microsoft to join the No Games For Genocide boycott.
Oh good lord. Could Eurogamer wear their politics more overtly on their sleeve? While I disagree with Speculative Agency's decision the article by Eurogamer is painful. It's not a news article, its a propaganda opinion piece. Consider the language used:
*"Brave decision to return funding" -- A proper article would have said 'made the decision' or 'made the difficult decision'. Saying 'brave' editorializes in a way that isn't appropriate for news article.
*"All Will Rise narrative director Meghna Jayanth - renowned for her work on Inkle's 80 Days and, more recently, the genre-mash-up skateboarding dating game Thirsty Suitors" -- The writer is significantly exaggerating the relevance of this person. They are not renowned. I'm a former game journalist who is obsessed with game development and indie games and I vaguely remember those games as minor blips and nothing of real note. The narrative director is definitely not a well known name (something required to be 'renowned').
*The article provides no critical thought or counterpoint, nothing to to push back the idea that Microsoft is contributing to genocide. In fact the opposite, it accepts the statement as truth and then links to a video to educate their uninformed viewers about the evil of Microsoft. (Of course, Eurogamer has accepted significant funds from Microsoft)
Yep, I stopped reading relatively quickly when I learned what it was about. They, like many other sites, have gone from one of the greats to unfortunate political propaganda site in recent years.
What is an Xbox now?
Had a strong feeling they'd do this. Ok that's one step inthe right direction. Baby steps because the moment they do anything drastic they step on rakes.
Next give ppl reason to sub for 30$ a month to for GP. Second is the lower the price. They want to return to Xbox they need to be attractive again. Lower price won't sell them out as it's too late this gen but it's something.
@lighting: “Baby steps because the moment they do anything drastic they step on rakes.”
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The first thing that came to mind while reading that was Tom setting the last mouse traps in a corner with the whole room full of them 🤣
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@Christopher: “because without them it would just be two very different console markets doing whatever they want without someone to remind them to do their best constantly.”
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I partly agree with you where I disagree is that there will never be only 2 consoles there will always be a company/corporation willing to jump in and fill the 3rd spot, Microsoft is shaking for the next gen and Valve is already getting gritty to take that 3rd spot from them.
This is wishful thinking, how can they drop the price of game pass? When just few months they raised the price of subscription service?
I wish it would it have read Microsoft quietly retires Xbox, and just develop/publish games. The Xbox name doesn't mean anything anymore, the 360 era was the best they ever had.
Look, I'm no fan of where they've taken the brand, but it's still one of the strongest brands out there regardless of where it is currently. We're in a small market and none of the big 3 are hurting to a point where they need to close shop or anything. And we need Xbox out there, because without them it would just be two very different console markets doing whatever they want without someone to remind them to do their best constantly.
SONY has done its best since PS1 with no need of MS reminder, funny enough MS has done its worse even though there are two other consoles reminding otherwise .... u see the light ?
And only the first half of that, god that was such a great time to be an xbox gamer.
I had a blast with the OG Xbox. Many LAN parties in a friend's basement. Not to sound old but those were the days!
The PS fan media are always having a pop at MS but as a gamer I've had no issues playing my Xbox games, my PC games and cloud games. I've benefited from playing my games everywhere. For over three decades I've enjoyed many games. The media's failure, especially this site to have balanced view on anything Xbox is childish. The Xbox move to PC is an excellent idea. An open platform, endless possibilities and no fake paywalls. Don't forget that in the UK Sony has a class action against it for anti competitive practices. No one is reporting this. All those gamers ripped off and over charged. And don't forget Valve too. They are too powerful as well. Change is good.
You do realize the intent is to go after every major digital market place, PlayStation just happened to be first but the class action lawsuit statement names xbox marketplace, apple store, Nintendo online store etc. they're all guilty, so holding it as something ms has over ps is dumb
Valve the peoples store choice on PC also has the same class action against them here in the UK.
It's not valve fault competing store front are rubbish. Barely any pc gamers want to buy from the MS/Xbox app or epic games or Uplay as they are garbage compared to steam.
As for Sony they have no competition unless you consider Nintendo there competition. Both lawsuits are going to go no where. Sony ain't forcing anyone to buy a playstation or to even buy digital for that matter. People can go and buy a switch to or for some reason a Xbox series or a pc.
Same goes for valve. People are free to go and use other store fronts if they wish valve ain't keeping them hostage.
They will probably try it with Nintendo next.
This site uses being discontent with Xbox as a cultural requirement...now.
I fixed it for you.
Were you here during the PS3/Xbox 360 console wars? It was a hard time to be a Sony fan...
Lot of victim complex up in here. You can like whatever you like here. Ain't no one giving others crap unless they go full console war. There's a difference between liking a platform and joining the war.
Campaign was confusing af for the average consumer.
Next campaign: Everything is a console.
Always hated this campaign. It goes against everything I want from a gaming-console.
An Xbox should be an Xbox. A dedicated home-console, focused on a pure console-gaming experience. Which, for me, means ease of use, physical ownership, no online demands, etc.
I wish we would just go back to the basics in this industry.
Halfway during the 360 era, I'd argue, when they had a massive success with 360 console gaming, then saw what Nintendo was doing with Wii, and went after that audience with Kinect. That's when it all went very downhill, very fast.
Their XBO announcements killed them.
The Xbox maker will begin sending alpha versions of Project Helix to developers starting in 2027.
some of these look new
i hope kingdoms is the 360 uncharted.
Looks like an RPG to me. And some of those characters look badass
http://www.gamesector.net/w...
(laft image on link looks like Vin Deisel)
all the pictures say crytek 2007 thats prototype images
not sure