Microsoft

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“Astro Bot” Is Still The PS5’S Best Exclusive.

Posted by Karl Weller on February 14, 2024
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Exclusives are an integral part of attracting consumers to a platform, or indeed retaining a fickle fanbase. Products that by their very definition are sought after commodities that enhance a brand. Any revered games console is defined by the quality of its exclusives. Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony are all well aware of the marketability of games that are restricted to their respective domains. Sony are often mocked for their pervasive reliance on third-person shooters. But they’re profitable. Microsoft is often criticised for its dependency on “Forza” and “Halo”. But they sell. And Nintendo has been entrenched in the shenanigans and concussive volatility of an enraged “Italian” plumber for over 30 years. And he is iconic. Now almost all of these instances are examples of games that have received financial and critical notoriety. Because despite the emphatic derision of the opposing console fanatics, most of these games success can be at the least partially attributed to the quality of the content. Something I believe has been noticeably absent from this generation.

Sony, or more precisely, us “Pony’s” as we are affectionately called, often pride ourselves on the quality and consistency of exclusives. “Uncharted”. “The Last Of Us”. “Bloodborne”. Any manner of third person perspectives, and all successful products, predicated on entertaining. Despite new features, perennially utilised by developer’s, such as enhanced graphics and frame rates expected from a next gen console, for me “Astro bot”, a glorified tech demo for the PS5, is still this generations best first party exclusive. It’s certainly one of the few exclusives that has really utilised the PS5’s haptics with any proficiency, without it feeling like a gimmick. It celebrates the electric history of Sony PlayStation, via the exploits of the adorable mascot of “Astrobot”, who has yet to feature in a bad game. The gameplay is simple, yet effective. With enough nostalgic references integrated into the environment’s and even level design, without it feeling saturated by sentiment. “AstroBot” on the surface could be considered a cynical, corporate brand, disguised as a game, if it wasn’t so charming and pure. What’s most impressive is that “AstroBot” is completely free!

It’s worth noting that game’s like “Horizon: Forbidden West” and “Returnal” aren’t bad games, just underwhelming. “God Of War: Ragnarok” was always going to be certified as “God-like”, even if it just repeated the same gameplay of the original. And “Spider-Man 2” was also similarly impervious to criticism, provided it maintains the same consistent combat and swinging mechanics. The fact that it had an expanded environment was a bonus. But if we are approaching the latter stages of the PS5’s life cycle, as reports would have you believe, then I have to admit that this generation has been one of Sony’s most underwhelming.

Is This The End Of PlayStation Vs Xbox?

Posted by Karl Weller on February 7, 2024
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Rumours, the internet’s most reliable source for information, have begun circulating that Xbox might be considering releasing some of their exclusive titles on Playstation. A move that would completely negate the need to own an Xbox. With Bethesda’s Starfield touted to be the first possible refugee from Microsoft. Though fans have also begun speculating that Microsoft may well be positioning themselves out of the hardware industry altogether, focusing instead on making Gamepass an inclusive service, available even on Sony products. Now this may seem like an exaggeration, perpetuated by the sallascious media and the Sony Pony’s, trotting on to X to relish in the misery of their contemporaries with their own inciting fabrications. Or perhaps Microsoft’s ambitions far exceed their means and that executives have just had enough of expending so many resources in attempts to make lasting strides in the industry? It’s difficult for a company as prestigious as Microsoft to still be so far behind its competitors. So as a committed loyalist to the equestrian cause, I should be rejoicing in the stagnation of the Xbox brand. Well, not really.

Listen, I’ve often criticised Microsoft for the procurement of successful publishers for billions, passing it off as some integrated flex, rather than creating something innovative themselves. Gamepass, or more specifically the live service in general, is one of the most anti consumer proposals ever conceived. Deceiving consumers into believing that perpetual rentals are “good value”. To be clear I don’t ascribe to the ludicrous belief that you must affiliate with one corporate brand, whilst vehemently admonishing the antics of another corporate brand. I just chose the console that featured the games that most appealed to me. That’s it. But let’s work under the assumption that these reports are true. That the valiant Pony’s have vanquished the oppressive Xbots and their insipid reign of mediocrity. And that future of Xbox lies not on exclusivity, but inclusivity. Microsoft publishing games on Sony hardware is probably the smartest, most financially lucrative move they could make. No more costly hardware to manufacture at least. Becoming a third party publisher could allow Microsoft to absorb and purchase other publishers, without the threat of legal sanctions that purport to their attempts at monopolising the games market. PlayStation gamers should see this news as anything other than a victory.

Firstly, Sony having a direct competitor to spar with, creates a necessary rivalry to motivate one another to outperform the other. Whether that’s price or content. Can you imagine what a company like Sony could potentially charge to consumers to play games on their consoles? Where do you turn to if there is no alternative? And second of all, imagine if Xbox focus solely on the consolidation of Gamepass. Restricting their acquisitions behind their paywall. Slowly accumulating more and to their exclusive proprietary brand? Perhaps all Microsoft really need to do is wait out the competition?

Sony. Microsoft. Please Stop!

Posted by Karl Weller on February 10, 2022
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Okay you two, stop. Just stop. We get it – you’re both incredibly insecure, endowed with too much money, but equipped with a braille like penis. The point has been well and truly made! Let’s get on with producing quality content for your respective machines, rather than showboating for the cheerleaders that just want to relish in this reductive pissing contest, that is just going to end with all assenting juveniles requiring new shoes. This continued pursuit for asset consolidation is only going to further propagate division between the already fractured contingents.

I realise that you are both competitive and proud conglomerates. With institutionalised rivalry that prevents either one of you from backing down. But, for the solidarity of the gaming firmament and my sanity, stop. Watching you two flaunting your respective influences and indulging in your conceited affluence, by acquiring publishers like some entitled aristocrat, compensating for their flaccid endowment is obstinate. Presumably this shopping spree has been instigated to ensure the consolidation of specific assets and prevent the competition from utilising said assets. Unless your competitors want to incur some recompense for the privilege. Not because your intended scheme of appropriating a few thousand acres of protected woodland, as a means for hunting peasants is still regarded as a morally reprehensible act.

Perhaps instead of buying these publishers for the express desire of demonstrating your power, or illustrate your generosity as a billion dollar conglomerate that could help feed and house the homeless, by potentially allowing other platforms to use your titles, for a small incentive, that you perhaps stop buying them. Let these creative minds flourish, uninhibited by the whims of stifling corporate provocation. We don’t need publisher’s redistributed like a quarrelling couple going through an expensive, time consuming divorce. Dividing their once shared resources in an attempt to negotiate some desperate trade deal. Like an estranged father being allocated visitation rights with their children at the weekend.

Whether Sony decides to play nice with Microsoft, by allowing Bungie games to continue distribution on their system. Or if Microsoft extend Sony the same courtesy with their recent acquisitions, one question still remains: how does buying these previously ubiquitous devs, now owned and distributed by major corporation’s, benefit the consumer? Oh, that’s right. They don’t.

The Future Of Gaming…Is Limited?

Posted by Karl Weller on January 20, 2022
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At my age, sustained domesticity and work commitments, I have to be discerning with my gaming predilection’s. Gone are the day’s of concerted reticence and imposed isolation afforded by adolescents. To indulge in the exploration of some expansive, doom threatened Fantasy world, as an arbiter for moral virtue. With the unyielding resolve to vanquish every living creature that crosses my path, to further propagate my own power. Before inevitably collapsing into a cholesterol induced coma on a detritus of discarded crisp packets. Now I’m lucky if I can engage in a modest bowel movement, without being interrupted by the precipitous needs of my 5 year old that just so happens to need the toilet at the precise moment that I do. As such any reserved chance to game is restricted by the complete lack of time available to me. Being discerning becomes a recreational hazard. Investing your meagre time into a game that just isn’t for you, can be a demoralising thing. But in an age of disposable entertainment, where content is conveniently accessible – but also easily forgotten, finding the right game for yourself should be simple?

Streaming has revolutionised the way in which we engage with entertainment. With Netflix being the genesis that has spawned so many imitators to adopt similar formats. And in the interest of convenience, have completely diluted the experience of watching movies, television and now thanks to the likes of Gamepass and – to a lesser extent PlayStation Now – gaming.

Though I appreciate the convenience, affordability and variety offered by a subscription services. To have an accessible variety of games that satisfy almost any urge, whenever said itch needs scratching is very enticing. But I believe that you can have too much variety. It might well be considered the spice of life, but too much of that spice is going to leave your rectum as irritated as Joss Whedon’s publicist. Sure, you have all of this variety at your immediate disposal, but none of it is special anymore. Just another image in a virtual catalogue. You don’t own these games, merely rent them. The provisional nature of such services means that at any time, your favourite game could be subject to removal. This revolving door policy doesn’t sound particularly liberating to me.

There is of course a certain ambiguity to the concept of game ownership and what that actually implies. You could argue the traditional means of purchasing games, is more of an extended lease than acquisition. But I’d take a physical, tangible item that I can use whenever, rather than an ethereal product that can vanish simply because a contract has expired. I had access to PlayStation Now for a year, and only utilised its service once to play the last of Us 2. Everything I wanted to play was either something I purchased new or already owned.

I realise that this entire article is just me exposing myself as the out of touch, Victor Meldrew that I am. I also understand the irony of that analogy, as most of you probably don’t understand that reference. But services like Gamepass and whatever PlayStation’s belated equivalent ends up being, its not an environment I’m comfortable navigating. With Microsoft again flexing it’s rather sizeable financial muscles, as they continue to monopolise the industry, with the acquisition of Activision only further consolidating their ambition for proprietary dominance. Baiting Sony into acquiring another studio, for the explicit purpose of exclusivity. Thereby fortifying the war of attrition between two companies vying for market share. Once again fostering division between their respective fandoms and their competing corporate preferences. It just leaves you jaded.

The last thing I want to see is cartels using their substantial properties like collateral. With developers becoming commodities for larger, commerce driven conglomerates. And publisher’s like Square, Konami and Capcom used as bargaining chips, in the world’s most lucrative game of poker, solely to promote content to gamers. This isn’t an enviroment that nurtures expression, but gatekeeping. The future of gaming it seems, is limitation.

But what do you think? Are you happy with the direction of the game industry? Let me know in the comments below. Cheers.

Why I Probably Won’t Be Playing The Elder Scrolls VI.

Posted by Karl Weller on March 18, 2021
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Since Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda, the industry has been scrutinising precisely how Xbox will integrate the studio into its diverse habitat. As a predominantly PlayStation user, I’ve personally been concerned about exclusivity. Specifically will the “Elder Scrolls VI” be a purely Xbox dedicated property? Though there’s been no official confirmation, rather a broad road-map, there’s sufficient evidence that indicates a return to Tamriel might not be a viable destination for Sony.

During Microsoft’s celebratory welcome of Bethesda to the Xbox firmament, Phil “The Power!” Spencer made an oblique promise regarding their matrimonial alliance, stating that all Bethesda games, not immediately contracted to other utilities, would be available where ever Gamepass existed. So even though upcoming Bethesda shooter “Deathloop’s” timed exclusivity with PlayStation will be honoured, there’s a strong implication that Elder Scrolls 6, as well as many of Bethesda’s other prodigious assets won’t be.

Despite all the pontificating, the continued bluster concerning the advocacy for a more autonomous domain to be expended, it’s apparent that Microsoft is as supportive of exclusives as Sony are. When you are spending $7.5 billion to acquire a studio that retains the “Elder Scrolls” and “Fallout” in their extensive portfolio, it makes sense to curtail its exposure beyond the Xbox brand. It’s the same reason people own a PlayStation. I mean if you’re buying a PlayStation and aren’t playing an over the shoulder, third-person shooter, then what are you playing?!

You have to commend them. They have the substantial resources, as well as the gall to just simply “buy” a major game developer. Something that Sony just isn’t capable of emulating. This is also a compliment to Sony, that Microsoft had to spend billions of dollars to stay competitive with them. It also creates much needed competition in a stagnating market, because the last thing consumers need is a 1 company industry that can dictate and regulate gaming to suite their selfish, corporate needs.

Am I a little bitter about this acquisition? Sure. I adored Skyrim, in all of its mired purity. And the knowledge that a decade long wait for a follow-up to Skyrim is potentially in doubt, just seems so cruel. This isn’t a deliberate attempt to abstain from a “rival” console because of some vengeful conquest. Nor is about brand loyalty, or some resentment towards the “Elder Scrolls” because of its absence from PlayStation, but one of finance and logistics. I already own a PS5, an expensive hobby tempered by domestic responsibilities, that negates much of my fleeting income. So with neither the money nor the space for another console, certainly not for the privilege of 1 game, if the Elder Scrolls is destined for a permanent PlayStation sabbatical, then sadly for me I’ll have to fight mud-crabs elsewhere.

What do you guys think? Have you ever bought a console purely for 1 exclusive? Let me know in the comments below. Cheers.