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[Daneel Elijah]

Hopefully Microsoft has hired new internal reviewers because their reviewers that gave Redfall double digit scores reviews over external reviewers.......kinda suck.

It was the same for Mass effect Andromeda, a few years ago. They had mock reviews, then Zelda happened. You can't control that. And for Redfall, it was probably Bethesda testers that did it, if Zenimax is still mostly separate from the rest of Xbox. Redfall biggest problem is that it was hyped a little too much. So the end product was made worse by not managing expectations.

Damage controlling what ? I don't care about MS and Starfield succeeding or not. I have zero interest in this game by the way.

However, it is difficult to not see the trend of everyone shitting on MS and Xbox right now.

It goes both ways. It is easy to consider this article as clickbait. It is. But what is said is not less true, or at least a lot closer to the truth than it should be. And people just using the clickbait nature of the article should no be considered as damage control, but it often is. As for shitting on Xbox. They did this first by lying to customers, and selling a product at full price that should not have been sold in this state. What is wrong with people being unhappy and making it known? I agree that we got too much bullshit threads recently, but when it comes from sites like IGN, there is a new occasion to talk again about it.

Thanks a lot, Redfall.
(No seriously OP why did you copypaste that 3 times?)

They don't dare to say Thanks Xbox instead. Not yet.

 

[Kacho]

Damage controlling what ? I don't care about MS and Starfield succeeding or not. I have zero interest in this game by the way.

However, it is difficult to not see the trend of everyone shitting on MS and Xbox right now. So doing this has to be a good business.

If you don't care about Xbox or Starfield succeeding, then why are you concerned with people being critical aka "shitting" on Xbox? The author of the article is a fan of Xbox and wants them to succeed. He's made a couple videos over the past week discussing the same thing. His article got people talking too, which is great.

 

[NeverYouMind]

Space Sci-Fi was never my scene and I just want Fable.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

look....They are pushing this narrative. don't blame anyone else

 

[solidus12]

btw, the article is written by GAF favorite Destin.

A man who lost everything is now out for blood

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

Because no one gives a crap about Forza and Gears anymore.

I still love Forza and a lot of people played the last one

I bought the premium edition just to play early (before it hit Gamepass) and looked at the leaderboards that night and there were over a million people had already played meaning they all bought the same premium edition

 

[Madflavor]

Don't know why this is controversial or eye rolling to some of you. After the Bethesda acquisition, the middling releases of recent Gears and Halo games, the disaster of Redfall, and people including Phil Spencer being openly honest about the Xbox sucking ass for the past 10 years, yeah a lot is riding on Starfield.

You don't change the narrative within a few years. This is years and years and years of Xbox making one mistake after another, and not delivering with great exclusive games. The word is getting out and the reputation is being built that Nintendo and Sony have the games. I'm seeing people within my circle who have been Xbox gamers their whole lives, asking me if they should get a PS5.

 

[Nothing1234]

Starfield Digital Foundry review will be one for the ages.

 

[Kagoshima_Luke]

No. They need more than one excellent game for redemption. They need a steady stream of top quality AAA games like Sony has been delivering in order to achieve redemption.

 

[Banjo64]

Honestly this Redfall narrative is going out of hand. Nobody expected Redfall to be a masterpiece.

Equally no one expected it to fall so comically short of acceptable, never mind good.

My take is this. Xbox can't win with Starfield. If it's a 10/10 (I think it will be) it will go down as a one off like Forza Horizon. If it is bad, it's going to be Armageddon in terms of Xbox brand perception. What Xbox need is sustained quality.

 

[OmegaSupreme]

100 percent correct.

 

[Rhazer Fusion]

If/when(?) Starfield flops, it won't be the end of XBOX, but I feel it will be a big blow to the brand's reputation. I think it will garner some attention, but I just don't see the very finicky XBOX contingent truly embracing Starfield especially in the long term and only treat it as the new flavor of the week imho. We'll see.

 

[feynoob]

Sales numbers mean alot to gamers. Some of you just don't realize how the business of video games work. And do we really know if "engagement" from a sub actually leads to positives for Xbox yet? But if the individual games don't make enough money, what higher up suit will greenlight the next game like it?

Sales means nothing to us gamers, because it's not our product. Plus you aren't playing the game for free on gamepass. You have to pay monthly fee to use that service. That is 180$ a year.

MS is not making the game free. You either have to buy it or sub to gamepass. Both options cost money.

FYI, you are paying long term money from gamepass, compared to actually buying the full game. Don't let that monthly price trick you, as those first party games are in the service for a long time. And since you don't own those games, your only option is to sub to gamepass again to replay them.

 

[jm89]

A man who lost everything is now out for blood

Lol. Is that when he was crying after the CMA blocked the abk deal? What a fanny.

 

[Knightime_X]

Honestly this Redfall narrative is going out of hand. Nobody expected Redfall to be a masterpiece.

Honestly I didn't expect redfall to even reach 8/10.
Game was somehow over hyped for no reason.

 

[ShaiKhulud1989]

I mean, it's not about Redfall or Starfield. IGN kinda being too dramatic about individual games. It's all about broken promises and famous Xbox Time ever since Phil took over. One X launched without a showcase game, we've barelo got 1 Rare game in the entire XO generation. The only three series that were kinda alive in the last 5-7 years are Forza, Halo and Gears. Talk about beaten up memes lol. IMO, even if Redfall, Starfield, Hellblade 2 and Fable were mid-to-good, but released in 12 months timespan, I guess Xbox owners were more than forgiving. Even a steady barrage of passable games is way better than totally nothing. And pardon me, games like AoE/MSFS is so PC-centric and kinda nerdy and aimed at a peripheal owners, you can't even count them as a significant console releases.

With the current dry landscape, especially if you own a moderate gaming PC, the Xbox is just a nice decoration. I turn on my XSX just to play some FH5 for a few hours a week. And only because the game is still glitchy af on my top-of-the-line PC rig.

 

[93xfan]

I mean, it's not about Redfall or Starfield. IGN kinda being too dramatic about individual games. It's all about broken promises and famous Xbox Time ever since Phil took over. One X launched without a showcase game, we've barelo got 1 Rare game in the entire XO generation. The only three series that were kinda alive in the last 5-7 years are Forza, Halo and Gears. Talk about beaten up memes lol. IMO, even if Redfall, Starfield, Hellblade 2 and Fable were mid-to-good, but released in 12 months timespan, I guess Xbox owners were more than forgiving. Even a steady barrage of passable games is way better than totally nothing. And pardon me, games like AoE/MSFS is so PC-centric and kinda nerdy and aimed at a peripheal owners, you can't even count them as a significant console releases.

With the current dry landscape, especially if you own a moderate gaming PC, the Xbox is just a nice decoration. I turn on my XSX just to play some FH5 for a few hours a week. And only because the game is still glitchy af on my top-of-the-line PC rig.

Gamepass, backwards compatibility and my love for Halo MCC have been keeping my love for Xbox afloat, but we do need some good wins this year.

 

[cireza]

then why are you concerned with people being critical aka "shitting" on Xbox?

How you concluded I was concerned is beyond me. You don't have to be concerned to factually see a trend.

 

[sono]

IGN really

Is that a bit dramatic. But get those views

 

[NeoGIF]

MS better have a damn good showcase coming up. And they're going to need more than Starfield and Forza to save them.

 

[abacab driver]

Such a phony premise this article is built on.
"Redfall was supposed to be THAT BIG AAA GAME Xbox has needed."..get the fuck out of here.

People were excited about it because it was another new IP from Austin, developed in tandem with Lyon's Deathloop.
Nobody ever viewed Deathloop or any previous Arkane game for that matter, as some huge AAA blockbuster..so there is no reason to (in hindsight) pretend like Redfall was supposed to be the next potential billion-dollar franchise (especially when we now know MS was hands off on it).

I mean Microsoft directly impacted Psychonauts 2's development and still, I've never seen anyone in media/podcast/forums/social media (besides supporters of Xbox) credit Microsoft for how brilliant it turned out...but Redfall? Sure, all Microsoft.

Whatever gets you clicks.

 

[Warablo]

The pressure is real, but people gotta realize it's just a game.

 

[The Pleasure]

That has less animation then an Aksys game.

 

[GHG]

A once third party game they would have gotten anyway.

It's hilarious really that this is what it's come to.

I bet Todd thought the pressure would be off due to the acquisition. No sir, it's just the whole of the Xbox brand now riding on your game.

 

[Calverz]

Xbox is eternal. As is Todd.

 

[sir_daddy_69]

Another day, another post bashing Xbox.
*Sigh*

 

[Little Mac]

I'm worried. Like Elder Scrolls and Fall Out games, Starfield will likely launch with a tremendous amount of jank and bugs. I think it will still be good but it will be criticized for not being ready. Honestly, I'm not really hyped for it and all the Xbox games I'm pumped for (like Fable and Perfect Dark) are far away … I currently have a Series S and was planning on upgrading to an X for Diablo 4 but now I don't know … The only game to really knock it out if the park so far this gen was Forza and even Halo infinite was kinda botched … Sony's show next week will decide a lot for me … and MS needs to crush their showcase so hard next month …

 

[jroc74]

I don't think you should be worried about sales.

Selling 10m is good for developers pocket, but that will mean limited players.

Having people play the game is more valuable for Xbox at this point than sales (gamepass plus regular sales should cover those lost sales).

They want people to engage with Xbox console more.

Ok, I think I get the point you're trying to make...but lets not dismiss 10 million players. Because 10 million sales = 10 million players.

Even if the game is great, you will still have those that won't like it. Look at the dummies that don't think Tears of the Kingdom is the best game ever made.

Thats how opinions work tho.

Too many times a websites GotY was a game I either never wanted to play or did and it just didnt click with me.

BotW is one I just didnt really like. Now, I didnt really like Horizon Zero Dawn either, but I really like Forbidden West. So whenever I finally play TotK I may like it. But...I still dont like BotW. Or like it as much as others.

 

[Mozzarella]

I mean i agree, its a very important game for Xbox in particular, but it doesnt need to win GOTY imo, it just needs to be really fucking good and i think Todd can handle the pressure.

 

[Walter Matthau]

As someone who doesn't really follow Xbox closely, I had no idea what Redfall was until it became the token for all things wrong with the brand. Starfield on the other hand feels like the biggest release Xbox has had since Halo Infinite so they really need to get it right.

 

[NickFire]

I don't think you should be worried about sales.

Selling 10m is good for developers pocket, but that will mean limited players.

Having people play the game is more valuable for Xbox at this point than sales (gamepass plus regular sales should cover those lost sales).

They want people to engage with Xbox console more.

By that logic, they should just remove all drm, license requirements, and heck - jailbreak the system.

I'll give you that new GP subscribers because of Starfield is a potential win, as long as they stay subbed for approximately 4 months and 3 weeks. But anything short of 70 in GP revenue that they would not have otherwise received, is a loss (in relation to a 70 sale).

 

[LoveCake]

I think it could well be, the thing is, what else is there other than Starfield as a first party title? Forza Motorsport only appeals to people who like racing games and this isn't a broad enough userbase.

I honestly don't know what MS/Xbox and their studios have been doing all this time, they have had more than enough time and have more than enough resources to make first party games.

 

[Flutta]

Which game ? Starffield even out yet flutta ...

We where talking about the Redfall drama not Starfield.

 

[Flutta]

Even if the game is great, you will still have those that won't like it. Look at the dummies that don't think Tears of the Kingdom is the best game ever made.

 

[feynoob]

By that logic, they should just remove all drm, license requirements, and heck - jailbreak the system.

I'll give you that new GP subscribers because of Starfield is a potential win, as long as they stay subbed for approximately 4 months and 3 weeks. But anything short of 70 in GP revenue that they would not have otherwise received, is a loss.

My brother, starfield is going to be on gamepass until MS shuts down that service.

Also gamepass isn't just 1 month done. Since you don't own those games, you will have to pay the monthly price every time that you use that service.

Anyone that doesn't buy the game will have to sub to gamepass to play that game. You only need 3m-5m users subbing to the service for an entire year to recoup all that cost. That is not counting the sales it will do too.

Just a reminder. If you don't buy the game and want to play the game, you have to sub to gamepass Everytime you want to play the game.

 

[Kacho]

He's not wrong. Starfield being associated with the Xbox brand brings a whole new level of scrutiny to the game. As a fan of BGS games in general, I'm excited because I'll know if it's good or not, but either way it's going to be a shitshow. Can't wait.

 

[gothmog]

I'm worried. Like Elder Scrolls and Fall Out games, Starfield will likely launch with a tremendous amount of jank and bugs. I think it will still be good but it will be criticized for not being ready. Honestly, I'm not really hyped for it and all the Xbox games I'm pumped for (like Fable and Perfect Dark) are far away … I currently have a Series S and was planning on upgrading to an X for Diablo 4 but now I don't know … The only game to really knock it out if the park so far this gen was Forza and even Halo infinite was kinda botched … Sony's show next week will decide a lot for me … and MS needs to crush their showcase so hard next month …

I'm not sure what a showcase is going to do at this point. The problem is execution and not potential titles. They tried to nail down a relatively easy to commit to 12 month roadmap and couldn't even execute on that correctly.

As far as Starfield I think people understand there will be jank. The question is will it be playable jank or FO76 level garbage that also has jank?

 

[NickFire]

My brother, starfield is going to be on gamepass until MS shuts down that service.

Also gamepass isn't just 1 month done. Since you don't own those games, you will have to pay the monthly price every time that you use that service.

Anyone that doesn't buy the game will have to sub to gamepass to play that game. You only need 3m-5m users subbing to the service for an entire year to recoup all that cost. That is not counting the sales it will do too.

Just a reminder. If you don't buy the game and want to play the game, you have to sub to gamepass Everytime you want to play the game.

I get what you are saying. But my point stands - they need 70 in gamepass revenue that they would not otherwise receive, or they will make less than from a 70 sale. Engagement by itself is meaningless. Revenue talks.

 

[Honey Bunny]

I don't see how it reflects on Xbox at all. They just bought the damn developer when it was mostly made.

 

[Duchess]

More than anything, I'm looking forward to the tech analysis of this game running on Series S

 

[Kacho]

I get what you are saying. But my point stands - they need 70 in gamepass revenue that they would not otherwise receive, or they will make less than from a 70 sale. Engagement by itself is meaningless. Revenue talks.

I think the idea in theory is that you sub to play Starfield for a week or two and then you move on to the other games in the catalog. It's logical but I don't think that's the reality for most people.

 

[RevGaming]

I believe Starfield has to be good period.

But if it flops I don't see it as the end of Xbox. Maybe it will end some people's career though but Xbox will remain.

As an irrelevant box? Sure.
Only fanboys will buy the console next gen and that won't be a good enough reason to make it.

Starfield needs to be a hit. Personally if it fails, I will never buy an xbox. Why would I invest in something that will eventually become a sega and I can play halo on ps6? I don't care about call of duty but they will probably ruin abk too.

 

[NickFire]

I think the idea in theory is that you sub to play Starfield for a week or two and then you move on to the other games in the catalog. It's logical but I don't think that's the reality for most people.

100%.

And honestly, I don't have any idea how often one game gets MS a long term subscriber. It might happen all the time for all I know. It feels really unlikely to me because playing games isn't quite the same as watching 2 hour movies, but I admit I have nothing but speculation on this topic.

 

[feynoob]

I get what you are saying. But my point stands - they need 70 in gamepass revenue that they would not otherwise receive, or they will make less than from a 70 sale. Engagement by itself is meaningless. Revenue talks.

But the game will still bring that much money long term.
MS is looking at the long term money that it will print.
3-5m first year, then 500k-1m every year is a good investment for them.

60m-120m a year for a long term isn't a bad deal for them.

 

[NickFire]

But the game will still bring that much money long term.

You do not know that. It's a talking point and nothing more without data. You might be right, but without some data to support the claim it sounds like PR.

 

[Represent.]

Good. Keep the pressure on. Sick of media being soft as babyshit, call out incompetence. Call out shit gameplay. Call out shit graphics. Call out dated game design. Call out bad combat with no hit reactions.

And call out bad studio management. Need more articles like this. Their inability to deliver is just embarrassing now.

I can't imagine a 2 trillion dollar company not being able to deliver good games. It's simply not their focus. They focus too much on "services" and "value". Well, that approach is clearly failing.

Switch it up. Or get the hell out of the industry. Absolutely incompetent when it comes to making quality AAA games.

 

[Topher]

He's not wrong. Starfield being associated with the Xbox brand brings a whole new level of scrutiny to the game. As a fan of BGS games in general, I'm excited because I'll know if it's good or not, but either way it's going to be a shitshow. Can't wait.

Every first party game gets additional scrutiny because it directly represents the brand. Starfield is no different. What is really driving the additional scrutiny is Microsoft's failure to consistently provide quality. This should not be the case. I'm a big fan of BGS as well and I'm expecting Starfield to be great. Microsoft just has to deliver.

 

[Giallo Corsa]

For me it's gonna go like this :
Since it's a Bethesda game, it's going to launch with the usual bugs, glitches and performance issues as always, again, it's Bethesda we're talking about here, there's just no escaping that.
Now, couple that with the fact that we've been hearing from the same sources that the game is not in a good state/ready for prime time (just like Redfall , and we all know how that turned out to be) and things look even more gloomy.

Here's the thing though : this will get good review scores due to the fact that - even if it's utter shite - the PR would be catastrophic for MS if it receives mediocre scores so "reviewers gonna review ®" , I'm literally talking about bribes and the usual shilling here, again, there's just no wiggle room anymore after the 2year MS shit show - especially after Redfall.
They can't delay the game but at the same time they can't afford to receive bad scores even if it launches in the usual unfinished state like most games nowadays, the pressure is immense, something which wouldn't be the case if MS actually released AAA bangers these past 2+ years something which obviously didn't happen unfortunately.

The "fans", like always, are going to eat it all up and present the same excuses like they always do throwing the blame at...anything and anyone, if you think that Redfall raised a shitstorm on the internet...boy oh boy, I can't even begin to imagine what will happen come release day.

Starfield WILL be a good game, a great game even, it's just that...that will happen 2 years down the line after all the patching and community fixing and modding, just (absolutely) not on release day, again, it's a Bethesda game, it is what it is.

I pray that Forza 7 also gets released this year just to cover the proverbial L in case Starfield proves to be another of "those" bad releases.

Just my personal thoughts obviously

 

[DavJay]

I'm an Xbox fan and I have more than enough to play especially with GP. Do I get more enjoy from a game just because it isn't on PlayStation? No and why should I. This narrative is stupid.

 

[JackSparr0w]

Here's the thing though : this will get good review scores due to the fact that - even if it's utter shite - the PR would be catastrophic for MS if it receives mediocre scores so "reviewers gonna review ®" , I'm literally talking about bribes and the usual shilling here, again, there's just no wiggle room anymore after the 2year MS shit show - especially after Redfall.
They can't delay the game but at the same time they can't afford to receive bad scores even if it launches in the usual unfinished state like most games nowadays, the pressure is immense, something which wouldn't be the case if MS actually released AAA bangers these past 2+ years something which obviously didn't happen unfortunately.

According to your logic bribing is already rife necause there is no way these Sony and Nintendo games that nobody plays after a couple of weeks are worthy of their scores and I've played quite a few of them.