230°

The Big Phil Spencer Gamescom Interview: Starfield, Baldur's Gate 3, Mid-Gen Upgrades, and More

Over the last year, Xbox has been under one massive spotlight: a giant acquisition and court case, questions about its upcoming AAA portfolio, Starfield on the horizon, Game Pass, and so much more. At gamescom 2023, we were finally able to get some answers from Xbox head Phil Spencer about almost everything.

Jin_Sakai282d ago (Edited 282d ago )

“Spencer Forza Motorsport is a GAAS with years of support“

More live service crap. They just never learn.

“Forza MS mp Framerate is Locked on PC to match Xbox Series S and X“

This will go over well.

MrBaskerville281d ago

Meaning locked to match Series S, just said in nicer words.

JEECE281d ago

But of course, if you release a multiplayer game that isn't a live service, gamers dogpile you for "lack of support" or "abandoning" the game. Look at how people are reacting to COD's announcement this year: they are mad because they think there should have just been a longer cycle of DLC and content updates for MW2, instead of a new release this year. They'll never admit it or use these terms, but the criticism they are making is that is being treated more like a traditional multiplayer game and less like a live service.

Plague-Doctor27281d ago

I mean FIFA, Madden, 2K all are live service games that last a year until the next release comes out and wipes all the money you already spent down the drain. A small group will complain but these franchises are breaking profit records every year. COD isn't any different

purple101281d ago (Edited 281d ago )

People are pissed about the cod situation because there were rumours Activision would have a 1 year break for developers to start-a-new. Thus mw2 would have 2 years support of dlc instead of normal 1 year.

This could have convinced some people to buy it (although it would have sold well anyway) then mw3 drops out of nowhere.

JEECE281d ago

@purple101

That's exactly what I mean. People wanted more content updates to MW2 for an extended period of time; in other words, they wanted MW2 to be operated as a live service.

This is the criticism people make of multiplayer games all the time. They want more content updates for a longer period of time, which is literally a live service. They just don't want to use the term live service.

Lightning77281d ago

I guess your favorite will never learn since they're going LS. Or is that different some how?

Jin_Sakai281d ago

Yes it’s different because Sony actually puts out plenty of great single player games regardless. Starfield might turn out to be an amazing SP game but we’ll see.

Sonic1881281d ago

It feels like Microsoft just don't get it 🤔

Extermin8or3_281d ago

Ofc it is, need games that keep people subscribed to games pass. Expect most of their titles to have GAAS features. That said if it's like gt7 which is technically GAAS then it'll barely be noticeable.

Jin_Sakai278d ago

“Phil Spencer Confirms 'Plan' For Four First-Party Xbox Games a Year“

So basically rush out four awful live service games a year.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 278d ago
isarai282d ago

Why TF would you lock the frame rate on a PC game?

solideagle281d ago

according to him it will give competitive edge to PC gamer. I am not very technical, so I don't know if higher frame rate gives edge in esports or not

Si-Fly281d ago

It absolutely does so you’re bang on. As a sim racer I totally get this decision, it’s the right one if they’re going to be pushing the esports side of things with this title, nice level playing field.

blacktiger281d ago

First Person Shooter thats a huge ass difference!!!!!!!!!

isarai280d ago (Edited 280d ago )

@Si-Fly

What about people playing casually or offline?

Jin_Sakai278d ago

“It absolutely does so you’re bang on. As a sim racer I totally get this decision, it’s the right one if they’re going to be pushing the esports side of things with this title, nice level playing field.“

No it doesn’t. A fighting game or FPS yes not so much a racing game as it’s not twitch based. And others shouldn’t suffer for Series S.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 278d ago
ocelot07281d ago

Reason 6 billion why I hate this clown. Cancer of the industry.

Si-Fly281d ago

N4G is unbearable these days, I need to break the habit of reading comments loll.

ocelot07281d ago

Why? Because I don't praise or kiss this guy's backside? Because I don't approve everything he does?

Othegamer5281d ago

you got 6 billion reasons you hate this guy you need a life. who cares that much about someone they dont know. get help

ocelot07281d ago (Edited 281d ago )

If you take the 6 billion comment seriously rather than take it as a bit of sarcasm I believe it's your self that needs the help.

Just so I don't hurt your feelings any further here is my none sarcastic statement.

I don't like Phill Spencer.

Now I hope that makes you somehwat feel better.

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210°

Trying to push players over from PC to console is a terrible idea, PlayStation

As PlayStation announces its new strategy to encourage PC users to choose PS5 it is a bitter-sweet moment for PC gamers.

Christopher19h ago

I mean, it's a business based on hardware market. Do we expect them to not even try? It's not like Nintendo doesn't do the same by not putting any games on PC and Microsoft until recently did the same. I don't care what they attempt, as long as they don't abuse the community or lie about their goals/requirements.

Will it work? Not likely. Should we care? No. Let them waste their time, it doesn't affect anything.

RaidenBlack18h ago

let them try ... at the end of the day, we get few extra PC games ... yay ... and also promotes game preservation via PC ... so double yay.

LordoftheCritics2h ago

If only Playstation games provided the ease of pc gaming features.

Primary being very few PS games support m/kb.

Fishy Fingers17h ago(Edited 17h ago)

I wish them the best of luck.

But PC players are often a patient bunch, many will even wait for Epic launcher exclusivity to end until a game comes to Steam.

If they didnt buy the console when its games were exclusive, why would they do it now theyre not?

MrNinosan3h ago

Way more do than you probably think.

ravens523h ago

All you need is that one game that'll make a few switch at a time. Like a game a PC player REALLY wants.

outsider162413m ago

I mean if there's 10 million pc gamers out there...getting atleast just 1 million from there is probably a good thing..right?

-Foxtrot17h ago

PC gamers are just too patient and loyal to their gaming set ups, something they've spent a lot of money on to perfect. They have backlogs of games which many never get round to finishing or get round to at all and will always have other multiplatform releases to keep them going.

Over the many years Sony has published so many awesome titles such as The Last of Us, Uncharted, Heavenly Sword, Infamous, Killzone, LittleBigPlanet, Dreams, Puppeteer, Resistance, Heavy Rain, Gran Turismo, Motor Storm, God of War, Horizon, Ratchet and Clank, Spiderman, Ghost of Tsushima, Bloodborne

If none of those games BEFORE all these PC ports convinced a hardcore PC gamer to get a PS5 console then why on Earth would porting them them to PC now make any difference? All PC gamers now know 100% is that they just have to be patient, which they are good at anyway to get a PS5 game 2 years later.

I get GaaS games or multiplayer focused titles but if people really want to play these games they'd have gotten a PS console years ago.

Crows9036m ago

Not sure they're aiming to convince the hardcore PC gamer.

Not sure why people are obsessing over his comment...it seems pretty simple to me.

He will do all he can to entice gamers to move to his ecosystem. As you say....exclusives existing hasn't moved many gamers over. But if they get to try them and love the games then they might change their mind about waiting 2 years.

We're in an echo chamber on this site...I've Personally seen people with Xbox and PC setups but no PlayStation. I've also seen people with small PC setups but no console. Not every pc gamer invests thousands and many may decide to put one in the living room.

They're not looking to convince all of players to buy a PlayStation...just a few...and really it is just a PR statement after all...they have to give a reason why single player won't release day 1....not to mention they also have to ensure current PlayStation gamers don't jump ship to PC. It goes both ways and they're ignoring the big L by putting any of their games off their platform.

Kakashi Hatake17m ago

PC gamers think tomorrow is promised. Sorry, don't have time for that.

helicoptergirl17h ago

Who cares? Then just stay on PC and play the waiting game. No big deal. Sony wins in the end anyway.

Number1TailzFan17h ago

I mean if there's any single player Sony games that I actually want that aren't on PC then I would buy said console to play them on. But the ones that I like that aren't on PC are few and far between anyway so no loss for me.

If I game, it's usually multiplayer titles, otherwise I like playing around with some other software.

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50°

ARK: Survival Ascended Premium Mods on Consoles Q&A - By 2030, Time Spent on UGC Will Be Way Bigger

ARK: Survival Ascended has introduced Premium Mods on consoles. Wccftech talked to Studio Wildcard and their partner Overwolf about the rising importance of user-generated content, especially for live service games.

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310°

PlayStation VR2 Official PC Adapter by Sony Is Being Certified

An official PlayStation VR2 adapter for PC made by Sony is being certified. It won't be long before the VR headset is officially compatible.

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wccftech.com
Profchaos3d ago

one step closer to unlocking the headsets full power.

I'm extremely underwhelmed with how Sony has treated it's psvr2 customers seriously Nintendo treated it's Wii U owners of which the sales were probably equal in the headsets 2bd year v the consoles far better.

This is the least they could do

ravens522d ago

I agree. I'm a day 1 consumer too. 😢 For my day 1 Vita. I do not like when Sony does that crap.

DarXyde2d ago

I still don't have PSVR2, but this was always my concern. I almost pulled the trigger for RE4, but I waited it out to see what changed. As it happens, not much.

I love my Vita. Great piece of hardware. It didn't shine the way we know it could have, but it'll still got amazing titles.

PC support is very much a step in the right direction. Even if some PC only titles can make use of the headset, it does increase PSVR adoption: it's a great piece of hardware and it's also the best in its price bracket, so I see a way forward for uptake. Who knows? Maybe that'll allow VR devs to feel more comfortable releasing on PS5.

2d ago Replies(2)
BlackOni2d ago

Agreed, but to your point, those dollars went a lot further back then than they do now. This should have been a consideration from the beginning.

Imagine buying a monitor or tv that could only work with one device. That's basically what this equates to, so they left a LOT of money on the table by not making it PC compatible from the getgo. But to Sony's credit, even they were unaware of how popular their games would be once released on PC.

poppatron2d ago

No credit to Sony on this one I’m afraid, first party and generally Sony support for psvr2 really hasn’t been great

BlackOni1d 21h ago

@poppatron yes, I wasn't implying the PSVR2 games became popular or well supported, only that Sony was considering the PC market an afterthought. I imagine more people will want to buy this when it works with PC. I know I will, as I play on both.

Babadook72d ago

I doubt there will be foveated rendering implemented on PC. PSVR2 is already a better experience than PCVR. PS5 Pro will unlock the full power.

Profchaos1d 23h ago (Edited 1d 23h ago )

Probably not but not all psvr2 games use fov many are just straight ports from quest systems which barely take advantage the headsets capabilities.

Still I'd rather have more options and games to play on this than a tiny LIbrary

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 1d 21h ago
Neonridr2d ago

so now Sony is going to sell me an adapter I have to buy so I can use the headset on my PC? Gee, how generous of you :P

While it's great that I will be able to use this headset instead of my Index or Q3 for PC only VR titles, it's still a sad realization that Sony is sorta waiving the white flag here. Here's hoping they at least make some of their PSVR2 exclusive content available on PC as well now.

ocelot072d ago

I don't see it as waving the white flag. PSVR the first one even though modders did get it working on pc it was a awful experience.

PSVR2 one of the best VR headsets available. Requires just one usb c cable. Even though I truly believe exclusives are what sell consoles. When it comes to VR it's very nich among gamers. I'm ecstatic that soon I can imo use the best VR headset on both ps5 and pc. No need for a pc vr headset. I have said it since PSVR2 was announced that I hope they make it pc compatible. With it being a very expensive headset and pc vr being more popular it just makes sense for Sony to do this.

2d ago
Neonridr2d ago

as opposed to a Quest 3 that requires no cables, or a single cable if you want to pair it with your PC right? ;)

While the tech is better in the PSVR2 for the most part (I own an Index, Q3 and PSVR2), I'm still let down by certain things. Headset rumble is a novelty. Eye tracking has only been used well on a couple of titles.

to each their own I guess, but to me this doesn't give me confidence that Sony is fully investing in their own hardware, more like they are stepping back to allow others to fill in the gaps.

ocelot072d ago

@Neonridr not owned a quest 3. Did own a quest 1 and 2 both where fairly good. Have used a quest 3 for a limited time and thought it was fine. But comfort wise not as nice as psvr2.

Tried using quest 2 via wireless streaming to my pc and it was so bad I much rather using a single cable and have a solid connection than streaming the game from pc to headset.

2d ago Replies(2)
ocelot072d ago

It's most likely just going to be a usb c to usb 3 adapter. Even for modern era a lot of new cases and motherboards don't have a usb c ports.

The budget but still fairly fairly high end pc I recently helped my friend build. He went with a b550 motherboard. Didn't have a usb c port or a on board socket to connect a pc case with a front panel usb c. Had to get a cheap pcie usb c.

1nsomniac2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

They developed the headset/attached usb c cable so that it wasn’t possible to run through any port other than a designated ps5 port. The adapter allows all the data to be passed correctly to a none designated ps5 port.

2d ago Replies(1)
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