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Is it acceptable that MS is releasing the Xbox Series S/X without a big AAA first party exclusive? Does it set a bad precedent for the industry? Poll!

Is it unacceptable to release a console without a big AAA first party exclusive? Wrong precedent?


  • Total voters
    636

TeKtheSanE

Member
Being as good as Dark Souls and Bloodborne isn't enough?
Well, my point is that it basically is as good, but I see so many people holding it up like it is a console seller so I was just wondering if something is better about it. It just doesn't seem like this game would be the reason for most people are buying PS5, but if it is your go-to game more power to you!
 

web3x

Member
I'm not sure that it sets such a bad precedent. As many have pointed out the BC for current users in the Xbox ecosystem and $300 machine for new users (such as myself) with GPU is enough to invest.

Am I saying Microsoft didn't screw the pooch? No, I think they obviously dropped the ball, but I do think they did just enough with their big upgrade or value proposition
 

Journey

Banned
Did we forget Halo Infinite was launching with it? but gamers cried about its looks, no not how well it played, but the looks were an issue, therefore delayed. You can't have it both ways. You can just wait until Halo Infinite releases to then buy an Xbox Series X, no one is forcing anyone to buy it at launch.
 

Senua

Member
unacceptable.gif
Whatever happened to Boogie2988? Miss that dude.
 

Clear

CliffyB's Cock Holster
Poor showing, and demonstrates either a severe failure in planning/project management or some other sort of development issue has led to delays. Whichever, its not ideal.

Is it unforgivable? Absolutely not, games take a long time to make, especially showpiece titles so there's always a risk of something causing delay. However that the big third-parties have managed to get product ready on time, doesn't reflect well on them as platform-holder and first-party developers.
 

iHaunter

Member
Everyone buying an XSX should have some serious lack of confidence in First Party titles. Even if they bought Bethesda, there are contracts for their games to be multi-platform. How long until they'll be a reason to own an XSX? 3 years? 4 years? 5 years?
 

Grinchy

Banned
Don't like the poll options but it's a very bad sign to not launch with any software to show the strengths of your new hardware. There's a reason this is a first.

MS has just done an awful job at timing things out. They couldn't even get a Halo game built in 5 years...
 
Everyone buying an XSX should have some serious lack of confidence in First Party titles. Even if they bought Bethesda, there are contracts for their games to be multi-platform. How long until they'll be a reason to own an XSX? 3 years? 4 years? 5 years?

Only contracts are for Ghostwire and Deathloop, why should that bother anyone.
 

Fox Mulder

Member
Hardcore fans and scalpers will snatch these off shelves anyways. They’ve still got a powerful console for the multiplatform games that’ll be out.

MS has like 50 studios now. The games will have to come at some point.
 

wolffy71

Banned
Exclusives are only one part, you have 3rd party and back compat games as well. And the devs never really make console pushing vames until later anyway.
 

SafeOrAlone

Banned
I'd like an impressive new launch title, but they are doing so much right that I'm diving in anyway. It feels like an extremely welcoming launch. The water is warm with Game Pass, backwards compatibility at max performance, and the guarantee of games coming down the line.

Sony has the premium exclusive content, but honestly, are they doing anything else right?
 
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EDMIX

Member
You wrote all that 😐

At launch I will be playing cyberpunk 2077.

This.

I was going to get way more games, but when I thought about how little free time I have this fall, I just decided to stick with Cyberpunk 2077 and Demon Souls remake.

I have nothing against Spiderman and shit who knows, maybe I get it in December, same with Assassins Creed, its simply that several huge rpgs won't just complete themselves in a few days or something lol
2 RPGs like Cyberpunk 2077 and Demon Souls is enough.
 

supernova8

Banned
It's bad in the sense that there are a lot of games (that used to be Xbox exclusive) that are just missing altogether and I want a reason to buy an Xbox other than "woah it's so cheap" or "oh look I can play old games on it" but it doesn't really affect PS5 which is what I'll likely buy.

Xbox One had a pretty poor first party showing as well but it didn't lead to Sony skimping on exclusives. As long as it doesn't cause other players to rest on their laurels I don't really mind because I won't be buying an Xbox unless there are compelling exclusives I want to play.
 

NullZ3r0

Banned
That "DLC" will most likely outsell every Xbox Series X game to come out from MS. So yeah its a big deal
We'll see. But that wasn't a commentary on the quality of the games. It's that they aren't traditional new games you get at launch. If MS released a Gears 1 remaster for launch I wouldn't consider that a new game.
 
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Yoboman

Member
This.

I was going to get way more games, but when I thought about how little free time I have this fall, I just decided to stick with Cyberpunk 2077 and Demon Souls remake.

I have nothing against Spiderman and shit who knows, maybe I get it in December, same with Assassins Creed, its simply that several huge rpgs won't just complete themselves in a few days or something lol
2 RPGs like Cyberpunk 2077 and Demon Souls is enough.
Im thinking of holding off Cyberpunk until next gen patches arrive next year. Really disappointed they aren't there for launch

I dont understand that decision from CD Projekt, they could have been THE killer app
 

EDMIX

Member
Im thinking of holding off Cyberpunk until next gen patches arrive next year. Really disappointed they aren't there for launch

I dont understand that decision from CD Projekt, they could have been THE killer app

I kind of get it. Their goal is to sell as many units of their game as they can. They already know the bulk of those sales will come from PS4, PC and then XONE owners, so to them it might not matter when that patch comes as the install base of PS5, Series X/S etc is simply too small for them to waste the energy of continue to delay the game cause a patch.

Consider if you do a poll, most of us are buying Cyberpunk 2077 day 1, CDPR already knows that. Their goal is not to sell hardware for MS or Sony, its to sell software for them. So they'll move huge units on the past gen systems.

When the patch comes......they'll move huge units on the next gen systems, people like you would buy later so they know it won't compromise sales. If anything, they want it coming later, when they have MORE systems to sell to on PS5 and Series X. If anything I'll start a new game when the patch comes if I already beat it or something as I tend not to play most RPGs twice, this is a great excuse to lol

In terms of a killer app, I don't see anyone beating Call Of Duty, Madden, Fifa connection. Thats generally what the majority upgrades for.

NullZ3r0 NullZ3r0 you could call the game what ever you want, all people know is a new Spiderman game is coming to PS4 and PS5......at a discounted price.....WITH MILES MORALES. Thats it. Its going to move gangbusters, with a IP like that, most buying it are not like you and I who are hardcore consumers who even get all that terminology. Shit, even those that do get it, why on earth would they NOT BUY IT cause you called it DLC? Shit TLC, FREE VLC, BBQ BLT, call that shit what ever you want to...

Day 1.

Imagine a game you are looking to buy this fall. If the company told you the game is DLC, even though you don't need the original game to play it, it comes with its own disk, stand alone etc.....why would you then decide to NOT buy the game cause they called it something? Most simply don't care about such labels to the point you are suggesting. Not with an IP as huge as Spiderman. It would be like doubting the success of a Fortnite or Minecraft stand alone thing or something lol
 
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Vawn

Banned
Well, my point is that it basically is as good, but I see so many people holding it up like it is a console seller so I was just wondering if something is better about it. It just doesn't seem like this game would be the reason for most people are buying PS5, but if it is your go-to game more power to you!

It's probably my favorite Souls game, but if they re-did Dark Souls 1 at the level they are doing Demon's, I'd be pretty excited for that too.
 

MarkMe2525

Member
I'm buying it to play the 364 games I have now plus the promise that I'll get worthwhile content out of the 23 studios Microsoft has. By the time I get through with that and cyberpunk it won't be too long before the game starts dropping. (Hopefully)
 
Acceptable or not it's what's happening, hell even if Halo would have been ready at launch the line up would still be very shallow, they have virtually no other 1st party AAA games announced for the entirety of 2021 that I'm aware of.
 
Their first-party efforts have been abysmal for the better part of a decade now. So even if they had Halo Infinite at launch they were showing up with another console that would have (still) had a noticeable shortage of games.

To be honest, I think the bigger problem that next-gen is facing is that a lot of the third-party next-gen launch games aren't looking too hot. They're nowhere as impressive or groundbreaking as a lot of people thought they'd be. There was a tremendous amount of hype behind ray tracing, SSD's, and the shift from netbook CPU's/Jaguar into CPU's that are actually capable. So far, we just haven't seen anything remarkable from third-parties. I think that's clouding the hype a little in the sense that on top of the Series X/S having no games, third-parties are dropping by the ball by not having anything noteworthy at launch. While Cyberpunk looks excellent, it's a current-gen/soon to be last-gen game that happens to run on the SX/SS. So that next-gen "Wow!" factor doesn't seem to be present on the SX/SS.
 

Hawk269

Member
Doesn't matter when Sony's biggest game is a remaster and an expansion thats available on Ps4.

So I really don't get the "concern". Especially from the same people who just bash everything Xbox related.
This. OP is going on and on bitching about this stuff but the PS5 has a 11 year old remake and a expansion to a game that came out 2 years ago. Suffice it to say that both consoles don't have great launch titles, but neither have a "NEW" AAA launch title. As good as Demon's Souls looks, it is a remake of a 11 year old game no way would I categorize it as a AAA game....but for me, it is the ONLY game I am buying for my PS5 at launch.
 

Yoboman

Member
The reality is that developing a AAA quality game for launch day is basically impossible these days. Development schedules are too long, and hardware specs arrive too late.

Majority of third party stuff is cross gen. First party will also be cross gen (Halo before delay, BOTW) or smaller in scale like Miles Morales, or easier to develop like a remake (Demons Souls).
 
The same applies to Sony, though.

Miles Morales is a cross gen title, Demon's Souls is a remake. Both titles aren't tapping into the biggest upgrade of this gen: faster storage.
What's left is that Destruction Allstars game, which looks fun (and might even be the title I have most interest in), but doesn't scream AAA either. And Sackboy... well... yeah.

Both consoles lack a game like Killzone Shadow Fall. I've yet to have that "wow"-moment I had when I saw Killzone back then.
cyberpunk comes out 9 days after launch.
Cyberpunk comes out on PS5 launch day.

We both are right.
 

EDMIX

Member
easier to develop like a remake (Demons Souls).

I'd never go that far.

You are still talking about a game on a new engine, new assets and made from the ground up. I don't really get why some have this idea that remaking something is "easier" as it sounds like you are mistaking it for being a remaster, like a copy and paste with some extra features. All the work done in a ground up remake is literally all the work you would do for a brand new title outside of Story or something.
 

diffusionx

Gold Member
My honest opinion is that i could not in good conscience recommend the Xbox to anyone right now, the launch is horrible and it just seems like a lot of mindless consooming driving the hype. I think MS did a terrible job with this and they should be embarrassed. Im really disappointed because I actually was quite happy with what they did with the One X and PC the past few years.
 
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HonkingTonk

Neo Member
I'm relatively neutral on this. On one hand it doesn't bode well that there won't be many games to truly show the strengths of the Series X/S. But on the other hand you could use the console's enhanced BC to clear your backlog of now last-gen games to tide you over until the true next-gen games come out. Also let's be honest. Since the beginning of the 6th or 7th console generation, launch titles are usually games of the previous generation with added sprinkles on top.
 

diffusionx

Gold Member
This. OP is going on and on bitching about this stuff but the PS5 has a 11 year old remake and a expansion to a game that came out 2 years ago. Suffice it to say that both consoles don't have great launch titles, but neither have a "NEW" AAA launch title. As good as Demon's Souls looks, it is a remake of a 11 year old game no way would I categorize it as a AAA game....but for me, it is the ONLY game I am buying for my PS5 at launch.

Demons Souls looks phenomenal and the game was pretty niche on PS3. If MS had a remake of a 360 game that looked as good as this one it would be amazing, but instead we are getting write ups on almost 60fps Sekiro and HDR on 360 games. Great.
 

JimiNutz

Banned
I think it's poor management.

The boosted BC is going to save the launch for me as I have a few MS exclusives from the latter half of the XB1s life cycle that I need to catch up on.

I think it's kind of shitty that I'll only be playing old games or third party games on the system during the launch though. Once or two AAA exclusives at launch would have been nice. Halo not being ready is a huge bummer.
 

Dolomite

Member
What kind of poll is that😂
Everyone will be playing cyberpunk.

Some will be playing cyberpunk and miles morales on the ps5. some folks will be playing cyberpunk and MM on the ps4🤷🏾‍♂️
 
The reality is that developing a AAA quality game for launch day is basically impossible these days. Development schedules are too long, and hardware specs arrive too late.

Majority of third party stuff is cross gen. First party will also be cross gen (Halo before delay, BOTW) or smaller in scale like Miles Morales, or easier to develop like a remake (Demons Souls).

Disagree.

One company did its homework (as it should) and has AAA exclusives ready for launch, both for the casual and hardcore. Demon Souls Remake is the best looking next-gen game out there. Miles Morales is not far behind. Sackboy's Big Adventure is your casual family friendly co-op platformer, and then you have Destruction All-Stars for the teens that want online action. All of those games took 2+ years or so in the oven to make. Again, one company planned well, the other did not due to their poor management and incompetence - starting at the very top. It's as simple as that. Various eggs on various baskets.

A lot of damage control going on from children throwing all sorts of adjectives to Sony games in order to validate their choice and make themselves feel better about said choice. Resmasters, dlc, small games etc are all damage control salt shakers to hide the big fat elephant in the room - there is nothing coming out for the Series S/X that set it apart from the competition other than the brand logo on the plastic box (and that's just sad). As Bog Bog several posts above correctly points out - this console feels like a graphics card release. Just imagine for a second if they had those Sony games exclusive to Xbox for their launch, and the shoes were flipped. If you think the tune wouldn't be a 180 reversal you're joking to yourself. Unfortunately for some, FUD and narratives are not games. If it were, it probably would sell very well on a particular platform.

Microsoft's marketing has been quite successful in changing expectations in the brains of certain gamers.... so much so that you have people marketing BC for a full year as if it's a proper substitute for new games. Now I can't fault Microsoft for hustling but it's kinda sad some do fall for the cheap salesman play. If you told a kid on a playground in the late 90s that the best and only reason to own a PS2 over the competition was the fact that you could play PS1 games on it they would have laughed and bullied you on the spot - for being a god damn moron. And the PS5 is doing it too - bigger library to boot as well - so really, the only thing left is undying loyalty. Going by the poll voting, hopefully the voting is not representative of the future we're headed in...... It's however unsettling that a company with such following can get by doing the bare minimum. The conditioning to expect less is finding space in people's brains - marketing can be a helluva drug. The thread did not disappoint in that regard in getting those opinions out .....see what the mood for some is.
 
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I would prefer they have some launch titles that really showcase the next gen hardware. Is it a huge problem? Nope.

The PC world does not have generations nor launch titles. You upgrade your hardware and play the games you like historically, now and into your gaming future. The games have settings that cater for your wishes at any time e.g. look good or run well or use recommended settings etc. Consoles are aligning closer to that same model whether you like it or not. Frankly I'm super impressed this coming generation with what Xbox has put together so far -

1. I've moved back into PC gaming alongside my console gaming and move freely between them. A solid number of my xbox buddies have done the same. Honestly I wish the other developers and store fronts would support Xbox Live so my gamertag and friends is completely seamless. Fuck separate systems and the entire industry would do well to support each other in this respect e.g. open logins and achievements/trophies as well as crossplay.

2. The backwards compatibility with enhancements automatically. 100s of game to replay and enjoy right out of the gate. Developers giving updates to next gen iterations.

3. Gamepass continues from current gen into next gen, I just keep the games I want to play or buy without having to outright purchase low and mid tier games I wouldn't have played prior.

4. Keeping my hardware, it's great my family and I keep on using our hardware e.g. controllers, headsets, batteries etc. Our hardware happily moves from Xbox to PC and back again, keeping my gaming feeling the same and I enjoy the controller over mouse and keyboard TBH.

5. Family sharing, going from current gen hardware and next gen hardware we have our family logins across 4 family members and 2 current gen with 2 next gen systems. Our games and licenses just keep on sharing and we can play on any device without having to purchase again or upgrade etc.

6. Support for the latest TV features e.g. 120Hz or 4K HDR, dolby etc.

7. What I'm guessing is going to be the best third party support out of all the consoles from day one and up until the mid-gen refresh of hardware consoles e.g. resolution, frame rate and ease of development to get titles enhanced or married to their PC sister products.

8. Their communication and open strategy makes me understand all their motivations, products, services and costs quite well. I don't feel like they're a slimy corporation out for a dollar and just say whatever to sell something.

9. ID@Xbox and Gamepass continue to deliver more games to me at lower cost while also increasing sales and exposure for smaller studios on a scale never seen on consoles before, solid moves on PC for this too but Valve/Steam has similar projects for a long time now.

There is nothing in the above that makes me feel like they're setting a bad precedent for future console releases. They missed some launch titles, big deal. At least they aren't releasing another fucked title that doesn't work like MCC.
 
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