Recent reports that Microsoft plans to port some of its Xbox exclusive games to competitors' consoles — PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch — have sparked a wave of discontent among fans. Following significant investments in the gaming industry, including acquisitions of companies such as Zenimax and Activision Blizzard King, it was expected that new titles like HI-FI Rush, Starfield, and Indiana Jones would become exclusives for Microsoft's devices. However, latest rumors suggest a change in direction.
Xbox fans have expressed their disappointment on Twitter, particularly after a post about Halo Infinite by Sarah Bond, President of Xbox. Comments under her post reflect deep dissatisfaction with Microsoft's current strategy:
"You can ignore them and ignore us... But we won’t go away."
"Give me one good reason to buy an Xbox Series X instead of a PS5."
"Then what’s the point of owning an Xbox?"
"Sad that you're ignoring all Xbox fans... I’ve been a fan since the 360 and think the Series X will be my last Xbox."
"You have betrayed us, Xbox fans."
Some fans blame Microsoft not for the potential release of their games on competing platforms but for the lack of clarity and transparency, while others see this move as an opportunity for more players to enjoy Xbox Game Studios games. Nonetheless, most agree that Xbox will remain attractive as long as the Game Pass subscription exists, allowing them to try new games on their release day.
The upcoming addition to the Call of Duty series, Black Ops Gulf War, scheduled for release in October 2024, is set to bring significant changes to the franchise, including a shift towards an open-world format. Gaming industry expert Tom Henderson has unveiled details about the upcoming game, citing reliable sources.
In the new installment of Call of Duty, players can expect a campaign set in an open world, reminiscent of some missions in Modern Warfare 3. Unlike previous entries in the series that reused locations and decorations from Modern Warfare 2, Black Ops Gulf War will feature biomes developed from scratch.
According to Henderson, the game will incorporate elements typical of the Far Cry series, offering players the opportunity to explore vast maps using various vehicles and to utilize a fast travel system. Despite these innovations, the game will also retain classic linear missions.
Raven Software is in charge of developing the narrative component of the game, while Treyarch Games has been tasked with working on the zombie mode, promising to diversify the gameplay and add new elements to the familiar Call of Duty formula.
Black Ops Gulf War is expected to provide players with a unique experience and a fresh perspective on the series through a combination of open-world exploration and traditional missions, expanding the boundaries of what's possible within the franchise and promising a noticeably refreshed gameplay experience.
Major European retailers have decided to reduce their orders for physical Xbox game discs, citing a decline in demand among consumers. According to GamesIndustry.biz, this move is attributed to a significant portion of the Xbox Series X|S audience shifting towards digital game versions and engaging extensively with content through the Xbox Game Pass service.
The information about stopping the purchase of Xbox discs came from a representative of a major publishing house, who pointed out a trend among European retailers to move away from physical copies in favor of digital distribution. "Physical copy sales have significantly dropped, as most gamers prefer digital versions of games, making the sale of discs unprofitable," the source mentioned to the publication.
This decision by retailers responds to changes in consumer preferences and the widespread adoption of the disc-less console version. According to GamesIndustry.biz, some retailers have already completely removed Xbox game discs from their inventory.
The news of the cutback on disc purchases follows reports that Microsoft has restructured the division responsible for releasing physical copies of games for Xbox Series X|S. Moreover, the company is reportedly developing a new version of the Xbox Series X console, which will completely lack a disc drive.
These shifts reflect the gaming industry's broader move towards digital content distribution, highlighting the increasing trend of moving away from physical media in favor of the convenience and accessibility of digital versions.
Multiple sources have indicated that Microsoft is on the verge of announcing a new cross-platform strategy for its gaming division this spring. Xbox President Sarah Bond, reporting directly to Phil Spencer, is expected to address Xbox Series X|S owners with an official statement.
Rumors about porting Xbox Game Studios titles, such as Hi-Fi RUSH and Sea of Thieves, to PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch sparked discussions among gamers and journalists. Now, sources claim that Microsoft plans to make all its games cross-platform, including hits like Starfield and Halo: The Master Chief Collection. Previously announced console exclusives, such as Senua's Saga: Hellblade II and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, may also lose their exclusive status.
Meanwhile, conflicting reports have emerged regarding Xbox Game Pass. Some sources suggest that Microsoft has decided against adding new Call of Duty series games to the service due to slow subscription growth and the need to recoup expenses from the Activision Blizzard acquisition.
The Xbox community is actively demanding explanations from Microsoft, with some fans expressing disappointment in the company's policies.
Analysts, however, view Microsoft's new strategy more positively. Market expert Daniel Ahmad believes it represents another opportunity for Xbox to expand its influence, similar to PlayStation's experiments with PC releases. Ahmad suggests that Microsoft will continue to focus on its consoles and subscription, but aims to make games accessible on all platforms. Initially, Microsoft games will launch on PC and Xbox, then on other consoles.
Microsoft has yet to comment on the situation, but the community is keenly reacting to every new piece of information, including Phil Spencer's gaming activity in Diablo IV amid heated discussions about the cross-platform availability of Halo and Starfield.
Artline has released a news podcast covering the most intriguing events in the world of technology and video games. The latest episode discusses the following topics:
ASUS has announced the new generation of ROG Ally after two years of intensive development, promising to bring innovations to the gaming accessories market.
Deus Ex fans were disappointed to learn that the development of the next installment of the cult series was canceled after two years of work.
Intel has sparked much speculation with its announcements about Bartlett Lake-S chips for the LGA1700 socket, foreshadowing significant changes in the future processor landscape.
Suicide Squad was criticized for its graphics quality, which does not compare with Arkham Knight, causing dissatisfaction among gamers.
The release of the spectacular trailer for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and the announcement of the sequel at Sony's State of Play event generated a lot of interest among the series' fans.
Samsung is preparing to introduce a new generation of GDDR7 VRAM memory at the ISSCC conference, promising a revolution in graphics system performance.
Morse Micro introduced a new Wi-Fi HaLow standard capable of providing connectivity up to 3 km away.
The Ukrainian game Speed Crew received high ratings after launching on PC and consoles, demonstrating the success of developers from Ukraine.
Palworld attracted more than 19 million players, becoming a real hit among adventure game enthusiasts.
A beta driver from Nvidia significantly improved performance in Cyberpunk 2077, though the company's new graphics cards received mixed reviews.
MSI promises to solve issues with the 4070 Ti Super model through a BIOS update, while AMD reported significant financial success.
Lauren Ramland astonished the world by running the game Doom using intestinal bacteria, demonstrating an unusual approach to the use of biotechnologies.
This episode of Artline's podcast offers a unique look at the latest news and trends in the world of technology and video games, highlighting the most significant events and innovations.
Just recently, on February 2, 2024, the highly anticipated game "Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League" by Rocksteady Studios, known for their Batman: Arkham series projects, was released. The game instantly attracted the attention of the gaming community on Steam, receiving high praise from early players.
"Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League" allows players to control famous anti-heroes on a campaign against Justice. Since its launch, the game has demonstrated impressive performance and graphics quality, thanks to the support of modern scaling and frame generation technologies.
Available on PC and Xbox Series X/S, the game offers players a dive into a Victorian fantasy world and unique adventures. Initial reviews on Steam already confirm the project's success, noting its high performance, captivating storyline, and well-developed characters.
"Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League" is expected to continue gaining popularity among players, with upcoming updates and expansions only likely to increase interest in the game.
The gaming world is buzzing with anticipation as Bethesda announces the upcoming integration of AMD's FSR 3 technology into the Starfield Steam Beta next week. This significant step in game optimization promises PC users higher frame rates and smoother performance. Full support for FSR 3 will be made available to all players within the month, ahead of the game's next major update, offering a complete range of scaling capabilities.
Starfield, a Bethesda game available on PC and Xbox Series X/S, has supported AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) from its launch and received support for NVIDIA's DLSS 3 through an update last year. Now, with the introduction of FSR 3, AMD offers a competitive response to DLSS 3, including frame generation to enhance game performance and smoothness.
Reviewers note that despite certain issues that still need to be addressed, Starfield stands as one of Bethesda's finest games in recent years, offering an engaging storyline, well-developed characters, and a vast amount of meaningful content. While the game may not offer seamless world exploration and significant innovations in the studio's typical gameplay formula, it provides players with a reactive and expansive sci-fi universe to immerse themselves in for hundreds, if not thousands, of hours.
The addition of AMD FSR 3 is expected to improve the gameplay experience in Starfield, adding new scaling and optimization capabilities to make it even more appealing to PC gamers. Steam Beta users will soon have access to this new feature, with all players receiving it before the next major game update is released.
Developers from Inflexion Games have shared details about the system requirements for their new game "Nightingale," ahead of its early access launch on February 22nd on Steam and the Epic Games Store. The game, immersing players in a Victorian gaslamp fantasy world, is notable for supporting frame rate acceleration technologies like NVIDIA's DLSS 3 and AMD's FSR 3, as well as optimization for Intel Arc graphics cards through a partnership with Intel and XeSS support.
The developers explained the high system requirements. The use of Unreal Engine 5 accounts for not only impressive visual quality but also a need for optimization. Lowering settings for Lumen global illumination and shadows is especially recommended to improve performance. It is also noted that the choice of high-fidelity assets and procedural generation of game worlds affects performance but ensures a unique gaming experience.
Frame generation technologies support: NVIDIA DLSS 3, AMD FSR 3, and optimization for Intel XeSS.
FPS with frame rate acceleration technology can increase: up to 70 FPS on minimum settings, up to 100 FPS on recommended, and up to 110 FPS on high and ultra settings.
The early access launch of "Nightingale" is highly anticipated, offering players a new take on the survival genre. The game's price has not yet been announced, but developers plan to leave early access and launch version 1.0 approximately a year after the initial release.
The State of Play event showcased a new two-minute trailer for Dragon's Dogma 2, set to launch on March 22 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The sequel to the popular 2012 fantasy RPG by Capcom is poised to immerse fans once again in an enthralling story and world with enhanced graphics and gameplay mechanics.
The game will feature support for ray tracing and NVIDIA DLSS 3 for the PC version, offering players even more realistic RT reflections and advanced lighting. A Russian language version and an expanded character editor, including the creation of anthropomorphic cats, have also been announced.
The trailer introduced a new Warrior class capable of using weapons and skills from other classes in combat, adding to the previously showcased Trickster class. Dragon's Dogma 2 promises to be a significant event in the RPG world, offering a deep narrative and innovative gameplay mechanics.
A new trailer for the anticipated game Judas, created by the legendary BioShock developer Ken Levine, was showcased at the latest State of Play presentation. Since its announcement at the end of 2022, Ghost Story Games, the studio behind its development, has maintained a low profile, sharing little information until now.
Judas is set in the space city of Mayflower, where life is under the strict surveillance of robots. Residents spy and kill each other for minor infractions, living in constant fear. The main heroine, signaling from a space station, decides to free the population, revealing that unknown forces are monitoring everyone's actions.
The trailer highlights the game's combat system, offering players both firearms and unique abilities emitted from the character's hands.
Targeted for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, Judas's release is scheduled by the end of March 2025, although an exact release date remains unannounced.
