navster15

@therealturk: I’m still curious as to how the Ratchet dimension hopping changes the gameplay experience though. Like, it’s a cool gee-whiz new tech feature, but the trailer just showed it married to pretty standard Ratchet gameplay. And I’m not saying that’s a bad thing! I’ve played and loved most Ratchet games, and this new one looks really good. But as a selling feature for a $500 console? I’m just not seeing it.

I mentioned this on another thread, but I have not seen a radically new genre emerge in the past 15 years that required anything beyond the capability of an Xbox 360 or PS3. Sure, there have been quality of life improvements in that time and devs have gotten more skilled in their use of tools, but I saw very little this last gen that justified the power of the current consoles, let alone these new beefy bois. I just think Microsoft is being more realistic about the generation change this time around and a lot of people just don’t want to hear it.

I’ve gotten extremely skeptical of top line AAA game development in recent years. From the reporting done on The Last of Us Part II’s development, to the nightmare that was Red Dead Redemption 2’s, or even the ongoing Ubisoft mess, I’m finding the top end production in the industry increasingly ethically dubious. Furthermore, these big, often open world titles increasingly feel exhausting for me to engage in. Like, I didn’t feel like anything in Horizon Zero Dawn was all that different than a Ubisoft open world, or that opening every single drawer in RDR2 added anything to the experience. But to craft these games require an army of people working crazy hours to make. And for what? To accurately render the brutality Ellie commits to show us that violence and revenge are bad?

I’m finding myself increasingly drawn to the mid-to-low end of game development as a consequence. I just played the demo for Cristales and that game has so much more interesting ideas than the last several prestige titles I played. If Gamepass supports those types of experiences going forward, then that’s a future I’m actually looking forward to. Add to that Microsoft first party devs finally feeling financial stability (see Tim Shafer’s comments to that effect), and it feels like a win-win all over.

Of course, I’m sure The Initiative is going to produce some Expensive Thing that will check off the prestige box, so it’s not like this will be completely missed. The demand for developer blood continues unabated it seems.

@thepanzini said:

Ok, so what? If the Series X doesn't work for you don't get it. Why is this particular point a cause for concern? Microsoft is literally giving you more choices to play their games. Why do people feel disappointed that they aren't making you purchase a new box to play their games?

For me, the Series X works. I like Microsoft first party games (Forza Horizon being my favorite series this gen) and I much prefer to play on my couch. And no, a PC hooked up to my TV is just not the same. Sleep mode on Windows 10 almost always requires you to restart your game, and I've never found a good way to navigate the Windows desktop with just a controller. The last thing I want to do is clutter my living room with a mouse and keyboard, so I can just get the Series X and Gamepass and I'm all set. If that's not the same for everyone else, cool. I'll be happy to cross play with folks on PC, PS5, or Switch.

@thepanzini: Cross-progression has been in Destiny 2 for years, and cross-play is in Bungie's 2021 roadmap. So no, you won't be abandoning your character or abandoning your friends. Try again.

I'm not sure how your argument about Microsoft games selling well on Steam is a knock against them? Like, they have 10 million people with Gamepass subs and then millions more paying full price for their games. How is that not a healthy and profitable business that also gives customers choices? Why are you advocating against this?

@thepanzini: That’s a strange interpretation of what I’m saying, and an odd moving of the goalposts. We were discussing whether people interested in annualized multiplatform games could find appeal in Microsoft’s approach. What does exclusives have to do with it?

And let’s be honest, no one knows what the release calendar will be in 2021. Games get delayed and both companies are not exactly being upfront about the progress of these games. And of course taste varies from person to person. It really has no practical bearing on the discussion at hand given what we currently know.

@thepanzini: $30/month for a new console isn’t tempting to people? Even if they don’t use Gamepass, financing a console like that has to have appeal in the current economic climate. And let’s say you’re a hardcore Destiny player looking to upgrade. Beyond Light is free day and date on Gamepass, so why not go Xbox next gen and also have access to Halo and Sea of Thieves while you’re at it. It sure could be a tempting offer if the alternative is a $500 upfront spend. It may not be for everyone, and that’s fine! The PS5 is going to be a great console, so go with that if Xbox doesn’t appeal to you. But like, why is it so bad to have this cheaper upfront option?

@thepanzini: Sure, Call of Duty or Madden are not on Gamepass (although that could always change, stranger things have happened). But if you’re an every year 2K player or Assassin’s Creed fan, perhaps a $30/month Series X that includes Gamepass might be more tempting than a $400-600 PS5. You’re gonna have to pay for your favorite series either way, so maybe you take the option that’s less money upfront, and hey, maybe you check out some games on the service that you’re paying for either way.

Sure, you’re giving up Sony exclusives that way (although upthread I mention PSNow as a possible mitigating factor), but not everyone is into those games. I think there’s going to be a healthy market for both companies’ approaches, and this gen is going to be highly competitive which only benefits the customers.

@colourful_hippie: I suppose it’s an assumption, but I think it’s a safe bet. PS4 games are up for streaming currently, including newish 1st party Sony games. It’s probably not going to be day and date, but I fully expect Spider-Man Miles Morales on PSNow streaming by the spring or summer.

@fourthline: I’m genuinely perplexed at everyone’s concern for the well being for multi-billion dollar Microsoft lately. Let’s say their strategy flops and by 2023 they’re out of business, so what? In that time I’ll have saved money and got to play some cool games. If I’m worried about my collection I can then snap up disc versions of said games on discount. So I ask again, who cares? Just enjoy the ride and stop playing Monday morning executive.

Truth be told, I think Sony is more “play where you want” than they let on. For one, if it’s anything like the last generation transition, most third party and indie games will come to both the PS4 and PS5. For another, if you have half decent internet, the few PS5 exclusives will eventually be playable through PSNow. So really you don’t necessarily need to upgrade for at least the first year whether you decide to go with PS5 or Series X. It’s just Sony’s marketing trying to sell you a new box.

And that’s not to say there isn’t value in going next gen now, just that it’s not a must upgrade situation that it’s being made out to be.