Games Inbox: Has Xbox given up on making consoles?

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Next gen plans
Just seen the rumour about Microsoft giving up on Xbox hardware in Europe and I’m both shocked and not shocked. At this point it’s obvious that they’re not going to win over hearts in minds in Europe or Japan or anywhere else that hasn’t cared about Xbox for the last 20+ years. It’s just too late. People are in their ecosystems and Xbox has never broken out of its hardcore ShooterXbox niche.

If I was them, I would give up making consoles and I think this is what they’re doing… just slowly, in the hope no one will notice. They’ll never make Xbox consoles a hit worldwide, but they do now have a chance to dominate when it comes to cloud gaming. The biggest thing stopping them is that they’ll push it too quickly, before modern broadband can really take advantage, and sour people on the idea. But I guess we’ll have to see.

I’m curious to know what their next gen plans are though. It’s so hard to imagine them coming out with a new box to go under your TV, given everything that’s happen in the last year or so. So what do they mean when they say they have new hardware? Is this another idea they’re going to U-turn on or are they planning something unexpected? Maybe a line of branded PCs, including a handheld? That would be my guess, although I don’t understand how that counts as what they called a technological leap.
Austin

Buying digital physically
So the death of GAME is because the company that owns them doesn’t want them to have their own special tills? How desperately sad. I would’ve thought tills were all the same now anyway, just with different touchscreen displays that can be anything. I guess not, but I don’t understand why that wouldn’t be how they work.

It doesn’t matter, of course, as GAME already don’t really exist. I haven’t got one anywhere near me and I’m certainly not going into a Sports Direct to visit some shabby little kiosk to buy an overly expensive game.

While digital is obviously one reason why GAME is dying I do feel there’s still a place for buying physical games and there always will be. Unfortunately, it’s perfectly easy to do that from Amazon and since there’s no second-hand sales or rewards scheme at GAME you gain absolutely nothing from going with them. It’s a shame.
Iceman

You do need an Xbox
Can I put my Xbox game discs into an Amazon Fire stick? Nope, so why would I not need to have my console at hand? Forgive me for being archaic but some of us still keep physical copies. Absurd, I know, just like some of us like to pay with cash. And as an Xbox Series X owner I could not care less what plans Microsoft have for Xbox.

As long as they support Xbox Series X and have games for it then clearly it’s essential to me. Thats all I’m fussed about. I will also keep Xbox Series X long into the next gen as well, as support for it won’t drop just because they launch a new console. I will get an Xbox handheld, though that would be amazing.
Icelticghost

Summer is cancelled
So in previous years I’ve enjoyed the summer demos on Xbox, where dozens of unreleased games get a demo that usually disappears after a week.

It was originally created after E3 was cancelled and took place in late June or early July.

However, there’s no sign of it this year.

Does anyone know if it’s been moved or cancelled?
Jean-Paul Satire

GC: We’ve not heard anything about it this year.

Free upgrade
To bobawallet, who wrote in yesterday about having problems with his Plusnet router. Do you have a Plusnet Hub 2 router or the standard one? I too am with Plusnet and had all sorts of issues with my standard router, but since upgrading to the Hub 2 router I haven’t had any problems.

Gaming and streaming are excellent. The standard router is what they usually give out and it’s very slow, so I would ask them to send you the Hub 2. No doubt there are other routers out there, but you should be able to get the Hub 2 for free.
David Clixby

Branching out
I don’t think I’ve ever actively hoped a developer isn’t involved in a game before, but that’s where I am with this Nintendo horror game. I really hope it’s not Bloober Team, as that would kill my interest on the spot, but given those quotes about them working on Nintendo exclusives it seems almost certain it is. Shame.

It’s still good news though, because at least Nintendo is wanting to make a horror game, which is unusual. The Switch is probably going to end up the best-selling console of all-time and there’s a good chance the Switch 2 will do well too, so with Microsoft and Sony dropping the ball Nintendo is left as the only adult in the room.

They’re never usually interested in horror games or shooters or online games, etc. but I’d like to see them start to explore these genres and put their own stamp on them, just to make sure they keep going and are at a high standard.

They did a great job with Splatoon, so I’m sure they could come up with similarly original takes. Or maybe they could create some kind of adult label, as I think someone suggested before, for more traditional console games that don’t have so much of the usual Nintendo tone – but do have the usual quality.

Who am I to tell Nintendo what to do, though? Maybe they can be the ones to turn Bloober Team into a good developer. It’s not like Retro Studios was Rockstar Game before they bought them.
Scabie

Switch up
Not sure Nintendo have it all figured out, Q4 should be an ideal time for Nintendo to release their next console and tap into the holiday season, but I’m worried fans will be left waiting for a while yet, with a release date of spring/summer 2025 more likely.

The next Switch really needs to take it up a notch and the next Metroid game is built for a next gen console. Can’t wait to see what other first party titles are waiting round the corner. Nintendo please don’t keep us waiting too long!
Sid G.

Fan rivalry
I’m always amazed by the amount of effort that Bethesda fans put into making mods and patch up the games. I think it speaks to the fact that the ideas behind the games are so great people want to see them match the reality a bit closer. I’ve used lots of texture packs and upgrades, and bug fixes, for Skyrim in my time and there’s a lot of good story content there too, if you search around for it.

I’m not so big into Fallout but the amount of work that’s gone into Fallout: London and this Van Buren recreation is amazing. Hats off to the people that did, who as far as I understand aren’t even getting paid, it’s purely just for fun.

Bethesda is apparently okay with all this but what happens when Fallout: London ends up being better than Fallout 4? Bethesda has always seemed jealous about Fallout: New Vegas being the most popular one, and the only one they didn’t make, so what are they going to think when a bunch of essentially amateurs does better than them – or even just comes somewhere close.

It’s weird that Bethesda consistently make 75% of an amazing game just don’t seem to be able to stick the landing ever. In fact, they’re getting worse at it, if Starfield is anything to go by. It almost seems like they should be the ones designing the games, but they should leave it up to someone else to make them. Maybe that way they could get them released more quickly too.
Ansel

Inbox also-rans
Having a webcam that works like a Game Boy Camera seems like a gimmick you’d get tired of in minutes. I can’t pretend I didn’t get a little nostalgic about it anyway though!
Turtle

Picked this Haul up, at the very last second. Think it’s a pretty good selection What do you think GC?
Shahzaib Sadiq

GC: SOMA is an underappreciated gem.

The small print
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