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Xbox Studios Boss Admits Lagging Behind Sony In Terms Of Big Tentpole Games

kyoji

Member
He discussed MS efforts to compete with Sony???

What happened to:

This was always bs, only die hard warriors really believed that PR fluff, its just harder to hide behind it now that stadia officially kinda flopped i guess? Even if stadia was more successful theres really no denying sony/nintendo footprint in gaming if truly being honest.
 

Stuart360

Member
He discussed MS efforts to compete with Sony???

What happened to:

He was talking about Xcloud in that interview. Most of you do actually know that but continue to troll over it to this day.
 
"What are those games that have universal themes, that have a big world that people want to get lost in, that have really well-realized characters, and really high production values? That is absolutely what we want to go after."

All these make me think he's referring to the Machine Games project, Indiana Jones, specifically here in this context, with all those points in the quote, even if there are some other high profile projects like Starfield, and others, which fit one of two points.
 

SlimySnake

Flashless at the Golden Globes
Based on what? How do you know?
Whats Wrong With You GIF by RK3
Whatever You Say Ok GIF by Kathryn Dean

Shit is not out yet and if it´s just Skyrim in Space ...
Based on their previous games. Skyrim, Fallout 3, Oblivion, and Morrowind are all GOTY winners. Skyrim in space is a lock for GOTY. Skyrim went up against an Uncharted game, a Zelda game, and a Dark Souls game and won the most GOTY awards that year by a long shot.

Starfield will also have that next gen NEW IP feel working for it. I think BOTW2, GoW and Horizon will feel too familiar in comparison and end up fighting for the second spot amongst each other.
 
A bit of self reflection is good. It’s all there for people to see anyway. As a fan I’ve been far more disappointed in them than pleased in recent years and I didn’t like the growing “they can do no wrong” mentality certain Twitter and YouTube folk have pushed for their own benefit to gain a following that created a hive mind around the brand: it doesn’t do any good long term.

I like PlayStation and I can’t say I’m as passionate about them as Xbox. Admittedly there were times during last generation i was playing Spider-Man PS4 thoroughly enjoying it and a thought of “it’s embarrassing the difference in output of the two platforms. Why can’t Xbox be more like this” crossed my mind.

Granted, I’m in a minority of Xbox folk that don’t care much for more Halo and more Forza and don’t like first person much. I’d like to see that big new IP game like 360 had, a Mass Effect or a Gears was at the time , that made me want to play day one, I couldn’t wait to play.
 
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chonga

Member
That'd be because Big Phil doesn't care. He openly doesn't want those titles.

When I ask, for example, about a lack of epic, self-contained single-player games on Xbox, he knows straight away what I'm referencing: Sony's recent success with titles such as Spider-Man and The Last of Us 2, and he's not having any of it.

"Our strategy is not to just go be like someone else," he says. "I get a push sometimes of 'where's your version of this or that [game]?'. I've been in this industry for a long time, I have a ton of respect for creators on all platforms, and I know many, many of them. But it's good if we're doing something different than what other platforms are doing.
 

Kokoloko85

Member
I dont see them being able to produce games like Playstation or Nintendo all the time and tbh most studios cant, Rockstar, Rocksteady and a couple others are consistent but its hard.

Focus on what your good at, stay in your lane and stop switching between who your competitors are. One minute its Playstation, then its Google and Amazon, then its Playstation again. The Xbox fans seem happy so keep doing what you do
 

SlimySnake

Flashless at the Golden Globes
All these make me think he's referring to the Machine Games project, Indiana Jones, specifically here in this context, with all those points in the quote, even if there are some other high profile projects like Starfield, and others, which fit one of two points.
I think hes just describing Sony exclusives here. Most of them are open world nowadays but still focus on narrative with some of the best looking cutscenes in the business. Even Days Gone which wasnt well received, has incredible looking cutscenes with great acting and motion capture. You compare it to what Ubisoft produces and its not even close. Cutscenes look amateurish because of poor direction and motion capture. Editing looks like its from the PS2 era. Cinematography is a foregone conclusion.

Sony studios used to make a lot of those games with amateur quality cutscenes. Infamous 1, KZ2, Resistance 1 and 2 all had some really shoddy cutscene quality. Then uncharted 2 came out and all of a sudden, INfamous 2, Resistance 3, and KZ3 all upped their game with some very professional camera work, motion capture and facial animations. It's only gotten better since.
 
They dont need their own Uncharted or Horizon. What they have announced is good enough. They just need deliver like Sony studios so consistently did last gen.

- Starfield
- Hellblade 2
- Perfect Dark
- Fable
- Avowed

All of these games have the potential to be just as good as Uncharted and Horizon. They are on the right track. They just need to put all their resources towards making these studios bigger so they can release games faster.
RPGs are equally valuable to the gaming space as cinematic third person action. No one can say the witcher is less valuable than Horizion or Divinity isn't ass good as Spiderman. They don't need to recreate what sony is. Starfield will be a tentpole moment, so will halo...I want each company to do something different.
 

Swift_Star

Banned
Well recently they did put their money where their mouth is and went out and bought an entire publisher. They also created new internal teams and bought several other teams like Ninja Theory, Playground Games and Obsidian.

Two years ago, I'd agree with you, but they have made some moves since and now comes the waiting game. I was asking for these acquisitions and exclusives way back in 2015, and had they listened back then, they wouldve been far more competitive today. In two years, I think both Sony and MS will be seen as more or less equal.

Starfield alone might win some GOTYs at the very least which is very unusual for MS first party games. As far as I am concerned, Starfield is the favorite to win GOTYs and that will put MS first party studios right up there with sony.
There's no favorite to GOTY yet, and with GOW2, HFW and Zelda BoTW2 all probably coming next year, that's really hard and bold prediction you're making there.
 
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SlimySnake

Flashless at the Golden Globes
There's no favorite to GOTY yet, and with GOW2, HFW and Zelda BoTW2 all probably coming next year, that's really hard and bold prediction you're making there.
Well, I am bold.

That Starfield teaser gave me goosebumps. I can tell it will be new, different and exciting. Especially compared to all the cross gen games we will be getting next gen. We shall see. Bookmark this post if you want to serve me crow next year.
 

Stuart360

Member
There's no favorite to GOTY yet, and with GOW2, HFW and Zelda BoTW2 all probably coming next year, that's really hard and bold prediction you're making there.
I dont really care what a sponsored corporate 'Game Awards' show tells me is GOTY. If Starfield is another 100 hour Skyrim/Fallout in space, complete with numerous planets, moons, and space stations to explore, and wonderful alien species to interact with, well it will be my game of the century, never mind GOTY.
 
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Swift_Star

Banned
Well, I am bold.

That Starfield teaser gave me goosebumps. I can tell it will be new, different and exciting. Especially compared to all the cross gen games we will be getting next gen. We shall see. Bookmark this post if you want to serve me crow next year.
So it's YOUR favorite to win GOTY, not the industry's. 🤷🏻‍♂️
 
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Hobbygaming

has been asked to post in 'Grounded' mode.
This is true.
But give it time as they own a shit load of IP's and developers.

Things could change quicker than some would think with arguably a better 2021-23ish lineup coming to Xbox.
What do we have confirmed for Xbox for 2022 so far that's official? I might have to get a XSX as a secondary console
 
I mean it's cool they are acknowledging this on some front (even if the sentiment is generally overblown, i.e they've clearly kept pace if not outpaced Sony in terms of racing games and simulators between Forza, Forza Horizon and Flight Simulator, and 2D platformers with Ori and Cuphead tho tbf Sony have never done much there since PS1), but I'm in the camp where I want to see those games talk the talk, Booty.

Give me some new gameplay for Hellblade II, Avowed, something on Everwild that feels tangible, etc. Show me if you're working closely with devs on games like Bright Memory Infinite and Scorn to ensure they're the best they can be as showcase content for Xbox and GamePass. And when the time is right, do some big proper reveals for a couple new story-driven, third-person action-adventure epics that touch on that single-player itch (but also integrate something unique with multiplayer in a way Microsoft is best suited to do).

I don't need apologetics, just some straight-up proof. Forza, AoE 4, Psychonauts 2 etc. are quality but they're also obvious examples and known commodities. But...how about a fantastic showing for Halo Infinite single-player campaign? And some of that other stuff mentioned above? Do more stuff like that, and keep it consistent.

Do that and at some point in the future one of the last excuses against the brand will have no choice but to crumble.
 
Based on their previous games. Skyrim, Fallout 3, Oblivion, and Morrowind are all GOTY winners. Skyrim in space is a lock for GOTY. Skyrim went up against an Uncharted game, a Zelda game, and a Dark Souls game and won the most GOTY awards that year by a long shot.

Starfield will also have that next gen NEW IP feel working for it. I think BOTW2, GoW and Horizon will feel too familiar in comparison and end up fighting for the second spot amongst each other.
Skyrim will be 11 years old by the time Starfield launches. Please don't let companies rest on decade-old laurels. See:Bioware, Blizzard, & yes, Bethesda. Don't forget Todd Howard pitching Fallout 76. The game we're all supposed to pretend was "all Austin's fault, BGS had nothing to do with it", as I've seen people claim.
 
Starfield alone might win some GOTYs at the very least which is very unusual for MS first party games. As far as I am concerned, Starfield is the favorite to win GOTYs and that will put MS first party studios right up there with sony.
Hmm, that's still an open contest IMO. Not only Horizon: Forbidden West but also most likely Ragnarok to close out Sony's 2022, will be up for that as well. There's also BOTW 2 if it doesn't get delayed, and while more outlier if anything, Forespoken and FF XVI, as well. Oh, and never mind Elden Ring, that's also an easy one in the running too.

2022 GOTY will probably be one of the most competitive of the last decade in all honesty.
 
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They need to take that step up in quality but its a hard long process. They've set the foundations but it'll be a long while before we get consistent quality.

Also, show some balls. Imagine if sony didn't reboot god of war and carried on with the same formula. It wouldn't be what it is today. Learn from sony and Nintendo on how to grow existing ip.
 
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ZoukGalaxy

Member
No joke Sherlock.
Also the sky is blue and water is wet Matt.

Bethesda acquisition is clearly an attempt to fix this. We'll see.

I Can See Twd GIF by The Walking Dead
 
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There's even that contender next year. Yeah, next year won't be easy. There's no favorite.
Yeah, that's why it's been funny watching the last 2 years, as people have told me they were "stacked". Haven't seen a really big year since 2017 imo. 2018 was alright, but the last couple years have been very weak in terms of heavy hitters. 2022, hopefully, will be a big year for everyone.
Have to count on at least one of those games getting delayed though, don't we? As much as we don't want to admit it. I didn't think we'd see an Elden Ring delay only 3 months out, but there you go. I don't see GoW hitting next year tbh. That's only 4 years, and they're going to take their sweet ass time on it.
 

SlimySnake

Flashless at the Golden Globes
Skyrim will be 11 years old by the time Starfield launches. Please don't let companies rest on decade-old laurels. See:Bioware, Blizzard, & yes, Bethesda. Don't forget Todd Howard pitching Fallout 76. The game we're all supposed to pretend was "all Austin's fault, BGS had nothing to do with it", as I've seen people claim.
But thats exactly what that was. It was not made by the A team that alternates between Fallout and Skyrim. That team made Fallout 4 and moved on to Starfield pretty much right away. I am sure there was some crossover and they helped out with the quest design, but the main team and all the big leads has been making Starfield.

Yes, Skyrim came out in 2011 but that team has only released one game since. Fallout 5 which wasnt their best effort and yet still finished second in GOTY awards behind Witcher 3.

  • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - 280
  • Media Outlets: 186 | Readers' Choice: 94
  • Fallout 4 - 64
  • Media Outlets: 46 | Readers' Choice: 18
  • Bloodborne - 33
  • Media Outlets: 25 | Readers' Choice: 8
Bioware and Bethesda arent even remotely comparable. Bethesda has been the IT studios for a good two decades now. Hell, even Guerrilla Games had a bomb with Killzone Shadowfall before they turned things around. SSM had GoW Ascension. From Software had Dark Souls 2 just this past decade.
 

elliot5

Member
Kind of a charged article title for clicks. Just listen to the interview from Matt. It's not that deep and doesn't need to be strewn into some Microsoft vs Sony nonsense. It's just candid talk.
 

Hobbygaming

has been asked to post in 'Grounded' mode.
Official can be subject to delays.

STALKER 2(timed ?)
Starfield
Hellblade 2
Redfall
Scorn(timed ?)
WH 40k Darktide(timed ?)
Avowed

Can't think of anymore without googling.
Looking good as long as these review well though I'm not interested in Redfall and I highly doubt Avowed is 2022 but it's a good start
 

Topher

Gold Member
I would love for Xbox to start releasing high quality SP games on the regular. We'll have to see how this pans out

Obviously Microsoft sees a big market for those types of games. When they brought in Darryl Gallagher from CD then I knew that was what they wanted with The Initiative. Bethesda itself has always been more about single player experiences than multiplayer. Creating single player games on par with Sony is a worthwhile goal. It is to Matt Booty's credit that he just calls it like it is. Publicly affirming this is the direction they want to take is welcome news.

Morgan Freeman Applause GIF by The Academy Awards
Episode 1 Applause GIF by Friends
Clap Yes GIF
 

Hobbygaming

has been asked to post in 'Grounded' mode.
Obviously Microsoft sees a big market for those types of games. When they brought in Darryl Gallagher from CD then I knew that was what they wanted with The Initiative. Bethesda itself has always been more about single player experiences than multiplayer. Creating single player games on par with Sony is a worthwhile goal. It is to Matt Booty's credit that he just calls it like it is. Publicly affirming this is the direction they want to take is welcome news.

Morgan Freeman Applause GIF by The Academy Awards
Episode 1 Applause GIF by Friends
Clap Yes GIF
I agree. Hopefully there will be more full big production titles with less GAAS 💪
 
But thats exactly what that was. It was not made by the A team that alternates between Fallout and Skyrim. That team made Fallout 4 and moved on to Starfield pretty much right away. I am sure there was some crossover and they helped out with the quest design, but the main team and all the big leads has been making Starfield.

Yes, Skyrim came out in 2011 but that team has only released one game since. Fallout 5 which wasnt their best effort and yet still finished second in GOTY awards behind Witcher 3.

  • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - 280
  • Media Outlets: 186 | Readers' Choice: 94
  • Fallout 4 - 64
  • Media Outlets: 46 | Readers' Choice: 18
  • Bloodborne - 33
  • Media Outlets: 25 | Readers' Choice: 8
Bioware and Bethesda arent even remotely comparable. Bethesda has been the IT studios for a good two decades now. Hell, even Guerrilla Games had a bomb with Killzone Shadowfall before they turned things around. SSM had GoW Ascension. From Software had Dark Souls 2 just this past decade.
Not sure what your point is about Dark Souls 2, because it actually got great review scores, if you go look. Just because it's regarded as the worst in the series by many, that didn't make it a bad game compared to the rest of the industry the year it launched.

I know it's a Bethesda favorite commentary to act like BGS Maryland had very little to do with the game, but literally every major player from Maryland can be found in the credits for Fallout 76. It's just pure revisionist history to try and act like Todd & Co were mere sideline players on that game. Go watch the NoClip doc, and you'll see 90% BGS Maryland employees talking about the game. It's simply not factual to act as though it was mostly Austin's problems that were to blame. You could tell in pre- launch interviews that Todd Howard had NO IDEA how to design an MMOish type online game, and when it launched, it showed.

Also, consider what Pete Hines said in 2018. He said that the launch dates for BGS would be along the same lines as it had been for years. Starfield matches up, observe:
Fallout 3 2008
Skyrim 2011, 3 years dev cycle
Fallout 4 2015, 4 years dev cycle
Fallout 76 2018, 3 year dev cycle
Starfield 2022, 4 year dev cycle
TES VI 2025-26, 3-4 year dev cycle

See how the timeline goes, by Bethesda's own gameplan? Sorry, but "it's Austin's fault" is a myth that's been spread by Bethesda fans
 

Topher

Gold Member
The irony is that instead of buying a PS4/5 to play those games, they'll wait years for MS to MAYBE release their own.

The people who want to play those games more than likely already have a PS4/5 because that's where they know they can get them. Why would they wait years for what they can get now?

Come On What GIF by MOODMAN
 

Urban

Member
For me MS is like a all you can eat buffet. You have something for everyone but none of it is really "special".
Sony is like a very good restaurant where you get the "special" kind of food.

loved the MS 360 era (software wise not hardware lol) but unfortunately none of the games on the MS games are must haves for me. If i really want to play them i just get Gamepass for one month.
 
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