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[IbizaPocholo]

Xbox is working with developer Mainframe on cloud MMO with scaling complexity

Mainframe is working on an Xbox game that can scale in terms of complexity depending on where you are playing.

venturebeat.com

Finnish studio Mainframe is working on a cloud-native massively multiplayer online adventure for Xbox Game Studios. That’s according to reporter Jez Corden on The Xbox Two podcast, and it’s something that I’ve separately confirmed through independent sources. Mainframe’s game goes by the working title Pax Dei, and it’s something that people on the Xbox team are excited about for multiple reasons.

Cloud-native here means that players can access the same game through any device. The studio is also exploring potential gameplay mechanics that can only work in a game that exists primarily on a remote server.

One key concept, however, is that mechanics scale in terms of complexity. While anyone can do anything in Pax Dei on any device, certain tasks will make more sense depending on where you are playing. So if you’re on your phone at work, you can open up the game and quickly do some crafting or resource farming. Then, when you get home to your PC or console, you can take on some of the more complex missions like raids.

But key Xbox figures are also excited about Pax Dei because of its value in highlighting hurdles with cloud-based development. The hope among those at Microsoft is that Pax Dei can create an opportunity to set up best practices for this kind of game. And then other studios can run that same playbook in the future.

In particular, Xbox is hoping to use those lessons with Hideo Kojima’s potential upcoming Xbox game. Kojima and Microsoft are still finalizing a deal, but the Xbox team is lining up resources to aid the renowned Japanese designer. In June, Microsoft hired Kim Swift to oversee cloud games and to work with Kojima on his project.

 

[MarkMe2525]

No one has cracked this nut yet. It's about time someone has another shot at it. The possibilities of such a platform are interesting.

 

[reksveks]

This is another part of next gen, proper usage of cloud computing but we haven't seen it that well apart from elements of MSFS. I also want to see MS leverage some of their connections to OpenAI within other things like gaming.

 

[Thebonehead]

Imagine GTA V, Skyrim or Fallout where every single house you see is accessible.

That's the immersion i want and something cloud computing could be used for.

ML generated rooms etc. Do all the heavy lifting on the remote side and just stream the map data across to the client,. which it then builds with its built in assets.

 

[IbizaPocholo]

 

[Varteras]

They partnered with Dreamhaven. Which is basically Blizzard reborn. Among others.

 

[BadBurger]

"Cloud-native"

Sounds like a marketing term some Azure salesrep would have used back in 2012 while trying to convince us to migrate an environment to it. It's just a cloud app, that's all. Like 90% of the applications people use these days.

 

[DaGwaphics]

Will be interesting to see what they come up with regardless of what platforms it is on.

 

[IbizaPocholo]

Here, myths are real, ghosts exist, and magic is unquestioned…

Pax Dei - Social Sandbox MMO.
Welcome to a vast open-world playground, where you choose the role you want to play.
Immerse yourself along with thousands of other players as you explore the land, build your home,
forge your reputation, and craft your own stories. What world will you make?

We're hard at work developing Pax Dei, and we can't wait to share it with you! Stay up-to-date
on our progress and upcoming playtests:

 

[hlm666]

Is this a straight up traditional server/client style pc mmo now?

 

[Lasha]

Is this a straight up traditional server/client style pc mmo now?

Nothing on the steam page indicates otherwise. Kinda sad that the devs couldn't make this work.