Has Xbox Abandoned First-Party Games? – The Games Inbox

The correspondence section on Tuesday delves into the link between Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Ubisoft , as one observer ponders over Sony Interactive Entertainment's upcoming Summer Showcase event.

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Taking over

It is astonishing to consider that Microsoft At present, they function essentially as a third-party publisher with minimal additional roles. While they produce their own consoles, these aren't selling well, and there doesn't seem to be much indication this will change based on their suggested future plans. portable machines .

The really weird thing is that’s not a negative, as we learn that, predictably, Indiana Jones and the Massive Loop has sold a lot more on PlayStation 5 And PC more so than any other platform. However, I'm curious to observe how well sales perform for Forza Horizon 5, considering it was released much earlier and has had ample opportunity to accumulate significant sales numbers.

While it isn't possible to draw direct comparisons since everything gets intertwined with Game Pass, and Microsoft doesn't release clear sales numbers, I doubt that PlayStation enthusiasts would object to this arrangement. This likely means that starting with their next title—and potentially each subsequent Xbox game—will be available for PlayStation 5 players too. Given titles like Doom coming up shortly, Microsoft stands out as one of the leading suppliers of high-quality games for the PS5 this year, surpassing even what Sony offers themselves.

Teebo

Call for help

To be frank, I wasn’t aware that Sony had set a release date for "Ghost of Yotei," which sort of underscores the argument made in the latest article. Reader’s Feature There's no use in me echoing the sentiment 'I don't get it,' as with everybody else, but just so we're clear, I don't comprehend it.

If Sony doesn’t host a decent summer showcase this year, I might interpret it as a cry for help from their executives. Perhaps they ought to allow PlayStation to be acquired by Xbox. It seems Microsoft is eager to assert dominance and boasts numerous upcoming titles, whereas Sony appears to lean in the opposite direction.

At the very least, let Microsoft handle their software division, as many of the top PlayStation 5 titles recently were originally Xbox exclusives. It’s peculiar, wouldn’t you say?

Cubby

Splinter group

I'm delighted to learn that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is thriving; I wasn't aware it held the top spot on Metacritic. It came as a surprise that the developers behind this were former Ubisoft employees. One can only wonder if Ubisoft regrets letting these individuals go so they could create exactly what they envisioned without restrictions.

Clair Obscur appears to be the antithesis of what one might expect from an Ubisoft title: it stands out for being both original and groundbreaking, with aesthetics and themes distinctly reminiscent of France. While Ubisoft focuses largely on catering to American firearm enthusiasts, it turns out that the projects their development teams truly want to work on are far more intriguing.

I'm not singling out Ubisoft; this probably applies to most other publishing companies too. Likely, it affects many creators elsewhere as well.

Sanky

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Console required

Concerning the Golf Story offer, I had set up an account beforehand, fully prepared for the purchasing process. However, when I attempted to buy the game, it prompted me to activate my Switch console for the transaction. Thus, it turned out impossible to make the purchase without actually possessing a Switch console at that moment.

The message I got from the E-shop site said: 'To proceed, kindly open the Nintendo eShop on the console connected to your Nintendo Account.'

It’s disappointing that it didn’t allow me to buy a digital code, as this was possible with the Mario games I had checked out earlier. For now, I’ll add it to my wishlist and await a more appealing deal. It probably won’t drop to two pounds unless perhaps during Black Friday, but I’m not keen on waiting around all year. Here’s hoping Everybody’s Golf comes soon.

Charlie H

Summer holidays

That 'rationale' for the release of the Switch 2 in June It sounds like nonsense to me. Perhaps I'm being too careful, but when I purchase a brand-new £400 console, taking it on vacation to the beach isn’t exactly what comes to mind.

My initial inclination is to stay at home and immerse myself in playing it for countless hours, but this doesn't seem very practical during the scorching summer weather, regardless of whether I'm on vacation or not. It’s well known that major game releases typically don’t happen in summertime, nor do new console launches, and for clear and evident reasons.

I'd attribute about 80% of this situation to GTA 6. Sure, Nintendo might have been short on fresh game releases and likely aimed to launch the console as soon as possible. However, scheduling it for June doesn’t seem logical unless they intended to avoid clashing with Rockstar’s release schedule.

Chuck Rock

Just ask

The trick to securing my preorder of the Switch 2 was visiting Currys a week after they began accepting reservations. When I went in, I requested to make a reservation. The catch was having to pay the full amount right away, though this means no additional payments will be due come June.

Today, out of nowhere, I felt like playing a long-forgotten game. For nearly an hour, I couldn't recall what it was called until finally remembering: Shadow Hearts. Among the first two titles in the series along with Vagrant Story, they provided me with countless enjoyable hours. Each boasted distinctive combat systems, which makes me wish for their remastering—but realistically speaking, this seems improbable considering how the studio behind Shadow Hearts has ceased operations and Vagrant Story didn’t achieve commercial triumphs.

Finally, I’ve seen a lot of talk about golf games recently, but what’s the best mini/adventure golf game? I remember thoroughly enjoying Rugrats mini golf back on the N64 but haven’t played any in years. Any recommendations (with a decent single-player campaign ideally) are welcome.

Carry on doing a great job!

Solabound

GC: Is that from Rugrats In Paris: The Movie? Anyway, you might want to consider giving it a shot. Cursed To Golf or What The Golf?

Strange timing

I'd be willing to go to great lengths for additional Advance Wars titles on the Switch 2. While I'm not keen on using mouse controls for these games, if demonstrating this feature is what it takes to get the developers to create them, then I fully support it.

I concur that the absence of Kid Icarus: Uprisings appearance on the Switch 2 seems rather bizarre as well. Honestly, I can’t fathom who might find interest in Kirby: Air Riders. It’s equally puzzling howNintendo managed to justify releasing it in the same year as a new Mario Kart installment.

That kind of move should be reserved for the midpoint of the generation since there isn’t a new Mario Kart game. It's quite perplexing.

Jimbo

Prequel preference

Therefore, considering my good fortune – and I use this term lightly – of having ordered the Nintendo Switch Mario Kart World bundle via Amazon UK about three weeks back, it’s now surprisingly unavailable from virtually all retailers. Thinking it over, I decided, why not amplify the excitement?

It’s well known that Nintendo has its own rendition of Final Fantasy with Xenoblade Chronicles being the standout title. This series is highly regarded and has expanded into a trilogy, remaining central to Nintendo’s exclusive offerings. Today, I venture into town aiming for the Nintendo section at what remains perhaps the sole surviving second-hand shop in the UK.

I'm contemplating how to use my £32 store voucher and thought about purchasing The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom. But with the imminent release of its prequel, Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Imprisonment, I've decided instead to go with the highly anticipated 2025 edition, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition.

The second rationale behind my decision not to play "Tears of the Kingdom" initially stems from its release price at £64.99, which comes with enhancements similar to those found in the original installment. This edition is what I intend to purchase eventually, along with "Breath of the Wild." Additionally, having been a novice player, I have long harboured interest in trying out "Xenoblade."

Once my Nintendo Switch 2 is in my possession, my desire will shift towards an exhilarating and extended gaming session. Additionally, I would love to have Eternal Darkness available via the GameCube emulator. This game has been something I've eagerly awaited; it promises a trip into a realm of bizarre madness.

Shahzaib Sadiq

GC: You could have purchased Tears Of The Kingdom for Switch 1 and then paid £7.99 to upgrade it on Switch 2. We presume the CeX price was significantly lower than £64.99.

Inbox also-rans

GC, could you explain why online gaming on consoles requires payment, whereas Steam remains free?

Henry

GC: It isn’t really about Steam specifically, as online gaming is generally free across both PC and mobile platforms. However, consoles operate as closed ecosystems, with the respective hardware makers typically overseeing the majority of the servers and services. Generating revenue from these aspects plays a crucial role in their overall business strategy.

I'm surprised we've never seen a Resident Evil kart racing game. I'd prefer that over all those boring multiplayer games they continue to produce.

Madson

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