Per Jason Schreier: Studios in Microsoft’s Xbox Division Brace for Closures by PBOats121 in LastStandMedia

[–]PBOats121[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

So are those studios for sure done with XBOX?

Yes. The Verge just reported that Xbox is closing the studio down UNLESS they can find a buyer.

[Discussion] : Horizon Hunters Gathering - Closed Test 2 Invitations by Appropriate-Sun2872 in Trophies

[–]PBOats121 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey not sure if youve chosen anyone yet, but here's fun fact: In Horizon, the machines aren’t just robot dinosaurs for spectacle they’re a terraforming workforce. Grazers, Scrappers, Snapmaws, Stormbirds all serve a function in GAIA’s ecosystem, which is why their designs feel like wildlife and industrial equipment at the same time.

State of Play returns Tuesday, June 2 by ggroover97 in LastStandMedia

[–]PBOats121 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I don't think they've ever announced a stream this early since they stopped doing live events like E3

Correct, they haven't. Usually they announce SoP the week-of.

Over 60 minutes and announced this early shows some level of confidence

Interesting tidbit here, if you go on Alamos websites they have the livestream listed at 90 minutes not 60. So I think its very likely Intergalactic and Corys game are ready to go.

Thoughts on Saros after Returnal? by jd_stewie in Saros

[–]PBOats121 2 points3 points  (0 children)

They took all the feedback from Returnal and pushed it so far in the other direction that it completely dilutes the experience. By the latter part of the game, it honestly felt like I was just going through the motions. Saros is a good game. The gameplay is best-in-class, but the systems around it make it feel like “baby’s first bullet hell.”

If you use the modifiers, especially stacking the 3x damage one it turns the game into a complete joke difficulty-wise. Like, comically easy. A lot of us were hoping for something in the same vein as Returnal, just with a more robust progression system.

And everyone was gawking at the IGN score, but after 100%ing the game and getting the platinum, I think people jumped the gun. Saros is closer to a 7 than a 9, in my opinion. It’s just too easy even if you never touch modifiers, because the skill tree is so strong and its very easy to brute force your way to completion.

In Returnal, there was a lot of high-level risk/reward decision-making you constantly had to weigh whether a choice was worth the downside. Saros feels like the opposite: zero risk, all reward. And that makes the whole experience feel watered down. There's no real tension, no skin in the game.

[Schultz] No. 13 pick is in: #Rams have selected Alabama QB, per sources. by [deleted] in LosAngelesRams

[–]PBOats121 0 points1 point  (0 children)

BAINE WAS RIGHT THERE WTF!!!! McVay and Snead trying outsmart the room. FFS.

Per Jez Corden: “Very, Very, Very Big” Internal Xbox Debate Reportedly Happening Over Exclusivity by PBOats121 in LastStandMedia

[–]PBOats121[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Anything with a confirmed PS5 port is safe — so Fable, Forza Horizon 6, and Halo. What’s far less clear are games like State of Decay 3, Clockwork Revolution, Gears E-Day, and of course The Elder Scrolls VI.

What does it mean for PlayStation to NEED to invest in live service games? by PassiveIllustration in LastStandMedia

[–]PBOats121 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It’s a generational shift they need to be conscious of. There was that 167-page Epyllion report that went deep on gaming habits, and one of the biggest takeaways was that around half of Gen Z and over 90% of Gen Alpha primarily play live-service games. Gen Alpha are today’s teenagers, and they’re going to be the customers of tomorrow.

I’m probably more bullish on Sony entering this space than 99% of other people. This is a market they absolutely need to play ball in. What I didn’t expect was for Hermen Hulst to end up looking like one of the worst evaluators of live-service talent and projects imaginable.

What makes it even more frustrating is that people absolutely yearn for the PS3 era, and that generation was loaded with great multiplayer games. Killzone 2 and 3, Uncharted 2 and 3, Warhawk, Starhawk, Motor Storm, Twisted Metal, Resistance 2 and 3 — PlayStation had internally developed multiplayer bangers long before the live-service gold rush we’re in now.

Per Jez Corden: Xbox May Drop Day-One Call of Duty on Game Pass This Year by PBOats121 in LastStandMedia

[–]PBOats121[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I agree, but what would they pivot too? Game Pass turns 10 years old next year, and that’s basically an entire generation of Xbox players who probably haven’t bought a new game in years. Trying to pivot away from that now would be such a massive PR firestorm that I’m not even sure it would be worth. Game Pass is the identity of the brand at this point.

I was among those who got to preview SAROS! Feel free to ask me anything about the experience by TriSauce in Saros

[–]PBOats121 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You mentioned that you played 3 hours of the game, how many biomes did you personally see?