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[RetroGamingUK]

Microsoft to Double Fine after all their previous studio closures…

 

[SJRB]

It's a super niche genre with bizarre characters and non-traditional gameplay and visuals that sells for 30 bucks.

O wow why doesn't this game sell hundreds of thousands of copies?

 

[calico]

Game Pass pricing. You aren't supposed to play these games elsewhere.

 

[Skifi28]

Game Pass pricing. You aren't supposed to play these games elsewhere.

What does "these games" mean in this context?

 

[Loboxxx]

It's ironic, but services like Gamepass have devalued these types of games to infinity. People don't feel like they should pay even €30 to play an AA narrative experience.

All in all, I think Double Fine has always lived on the edge, and their games don't sell very well. If I were them, I'd look to leave Microsoft before...

 

[vaibhavpisal]

It's ironic, but services like Gamepass have devalued these types of games to infinity. People don't feel like they should pay even €30 to play an AA narrative experience.

All in all, I think Double Fine has always lived on the edge, and their games don't sell very well. If I were them, I'd look to leave Microsoft before...

Gamepass is more expensive than buying this game.

 

[RetroGamingUK]

Gamepass is more expensive than buying this game.

He said "devalued", as in past tense.

It's going to take a while for the GP price hikes to recondition Xbox customers.

 

[Clear]

Gamepass is more expensive than buying this game.

Its a psychological effect.

Most people with a mild interest will simply conclude that it'll show up as part of a subscription shortly down the line, so the impetus to buy is way smaller.

Stuff like TGC's Flower or Journey just would not sell the same in today's market because of this.

 

[MMaRsu]

A game where you play as a Lighthouse.. yeah nobody was interested in this from day 1. They couldnt fivure that shit out themselves?

Cmon man. And I like DoubleFine

 

[DragonNCM]

My gut tells me you will hear about DF layoffs in the next month. And my gut is driven simply by the tweet Phil put out about the game yesterday. It was as benign and basic as you could get which isn't really fitting for a game as special as this.

it tells me they know they are gonna gut the studio or shut it down completely because otherwise the praise would be effusive and much more celebratory. And the game deserves that sort of praise but to do that when you KNOW you are about to close the doors in the next few weeks would come back to bite them in the ass PR wise.

All that said, it's just a gut feeling and I hope I'm wrong.

Goodbye DoubleFine....was nice to know you......

BONUS !!!
Phil Spencer congratulations.....

 

[Shockwave_Fox]

I'm gonna get it at some point.

The screenshots from the other thread were gorgeous.

Just will be on a sale.

 

[calico]

What does "these games" mean in this context?

Game Pass games where Microsoft is setting the sale price on PC. They seem to be priced to push people toward Game Pass.

In this case the sales are so low that it's probably more accurate to think of Keeper's presence on Steam as primarily an ad.

 

[Danjin44]

Not looking so good.


https://steamdb.info/app/3043580/charts/

I understand this steam player count is important in MP games since those game rely on other players to function but what does steam player count matter for SP games let alone niche SP game?

 

[calico]

I understand this steam player count is important in MP games since those game rely on other players to function but what does steam player count matter for SP games let alone niche SP game?

It reflects how well they are selling (or not).

 

[Danjin44]

It reflects how well they are selling (or not).

From I can understand this game is not very long and its pretty niche, the player counts on steam is not exactly accurate to actual quality of the game….also it might selling more on consoles rather on PC?

 

[winjer]

Maybe the engagement numbers on gamepass are better.
Phill seems to like those.

 

[Thief1987]

From I can understand this game is not very long and its pretty niche, the player counts on steam is not exactly accurate to actual quality of the game….also it might selling more on consoles rather on PC?

There is a big difference between being niche and have 100 players

 

[calico]

From I can understand this game is not very long and its pretty niche, the player counts on steam is not exactly accurate to actual quality of the game….also it might selling more on consoles rather on PC?

Maybe yes, it's also on Game Pass.

~200 concurrent is very low though, even with the caveats.

 

[Hypereides]

They made a game where you play as a fucking lighthouse

Is that suppose to be a bad thing? Look, I'm not particularly invested in this. But, developers who try something new, coming from pure imagination, should be celebrated and spotlit.

 

[SJRB]

Is that suppose to be a bad thing? Look, I'm not particularly invested in this. But, developers who try something new, coming from pure imagination, should be celebrated and spotlit.

The point is this game was never going to sell a ton of copies, and expecting it is folly.

 

[Revolutionary]

Double Fine is 100% next on the chopping block, but not because of this game. They're next because they're located in expensive San Fransisco. It's going to happen no matter what the reception to this game is/was.

 

[Mr Moose]

This is some take on a congratulations from Spencer to a Studio who just released a new game I don't mean to be rude but are you on some form of medication?

I'd be worried if it was Greenberg.

 

[Radical_3d]

I'd be worried if it was Greenberg.

 

[Mownoc]

Super niche game, not surprising. Only 78 on meta too so not a critical darling either. Rip doublefine

 

[Mr Moose]

RIP Double Fine.

 

[damidu]

From I can understand this game is not very long and its pretty niche, the player counts on steam is not exactly accurate to actual quality of the game….also it might selling more on consoles rather on PC?

it did worse than any other ms release, pentiment was probably more niche than this even that one managed 1k+
you can't spin 100players any other way than abysmal.

only way for this to have some sort of a clutch was to have been a meta 90+ critic's darling. but it stands at 78.

yeah, double not so fine, i bet they'll be the first to go if there are more closures
and i would not blame ms

i like tim schafer, but df has been a total disappointment.
dude's greatest works are still stuff he did in his 20s at lucasarts. decades of work at df and nothing ever came close.

 

[Bernkastel]

Why is Xbox the girl and Playstation a dude in that pfp. Isn't Xbox the dudebro console?

 

[damidu]

Why is Xbox the girl and Playstation a dude in that pfp. Isn't Xbox the dudebro console?

they are the cuckbro console now

 

[Sorcerer]

It's ironic, but services like Gamepass have devalued these types of games to infinity. People don't feel like they should pay even €30 to play an AA narrative experience.

All in all, I think Double Fine has always lived on the edge, and their games don't sell very well. If I were them, I'd look to leave Microsoft before...

It's possible Double Fine would not have survived without Microsoft money.
Perhaps Microsoft was idealistic about keeping smaller independent studios at one time and having quirky games in the catalog for variety and indie cred, but I think they are probably cleaning house to go full Triple AAA. Especially in light that they are on the road to 3rd Party. A small game that is easily ignored doesn't make sense to port. Still haven't heard a peep from Ninja Theory.

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

MS should understand this is a ultra-niche game and shouldn't expect crazy numbers. I wouldn't call it a failure. After all, it's a small budget title to feed Gamepass with something out of the ordinary. It serves its purpose, unlike real bombs like Hellblade 2.

 

[calico]

Why is Xbox the girl and Playstation a dude in that pfp. Isn't Xbox the dudebro console?

They don't want to be the Travis Swift of the relationship

 

[DenchDeckard]

Look what gaming has become.

I remember the days that people would be excited as fuck that there's a new double fine game and loving that they try such insane shit as playing as a lighthouse.

But, all gaming has become is what game is woke? Does it have enough mass appeal and what are the steam peak players.

Gaming went mainstream and turned shit.

The good news is. Separate yourself from absolutely anything related to the media of video games, or the mainstream money funded marketing shite and play what you want.

Sales numbers mean nothing.

I am loving battlefield 6. I found out it's destroyed the sales of previous entries.

I didn't even know or care when Im playing it. It wouldn't matter if it had a thousand peak players or 700 thousand it's just great.

I'm going to pick this up and play it as I love DF.

 

[jm89]

Look what gaming has become.

I remember the days that people would be excited as fuck that there's a new double fine game and loving that they try such insane shit as playing as a lighthouse.

But, all gaming has become is what game is woke? Does it have enough mass appeal and what are the steam peak players.

Gaming went mainstream and turned shit.

The good news is. Separate yourself from absolutely anything related to the media of video games, or the mainstream money funded marketing shite and play what you want.

Sales numbers mean nothing.

I am loving battlefield 6. I found out it's destroyed the sales of previous entries.

I didn't even know or care when Im playing it. It wouldn't matter if it had a thousand peak players or 700 thousand it's just great.

I'm going to pick this up and play it as I love DF.

Is that why your in threads showing your concern that some playstation exclusives selling less then their counter parts? Or why sony are not sharing sales data for certain games?

 

[The Cockatrice]

Look what gaming has become.

I remember the days that people would be excited as fuck that there's a new double fine game and loving that they try such insane shit as playing as a lighthouse.

But, all gaming has become is what game is woke? Does it have enough mass appeal and what are the steam peak players.

Gaming went mainstream and turned shit.

The good news is. Separate yourself from absolutely anything related to the media of video games, or the mainstream money funded marketing shite and play what you want.

Sales numbers mean nothing.

I am loving battlefield 6. I found out it's destroyed the sales of previous entries.

I didn't even know or care when Im playing it. It wouldn't matter if it had a thousand peak players or 700 thousand it's just great.

I'm going to pick this up and play it as I love DF.

Bro thinks hes a gaming activist as if he hasnt ignored all the other million masterfully crafted indies. This game was backed by a multi billion corporation. Its as mainstream as it gets.

 

[ChoosableOne]

My gut tells me you will hear about DF layoffs in the next month. And my gut is driven simply by the tweet Phil put out about the game yesterday. It was as benign and basic as you could get which isn't really fitting for a game as special as this.

it tells me they know they are gonna gut the studio or shut it down completely because otherwise the praise would be effusive and much more celebratory. And the game deserves that sort of praise but to do that when you KNOW you are about to close the doors in the next few weeks would come back to bite them in the ass PR wise.

All that said, it's just a gut feeling and I hope I'm wrong.

Phil Spencer, every time;

 

[Heisenberg007]

Man, this game is boring AF!

Very pretty to look at, but that's about it. Mind-numbingly boring!

 

[Edgelord79]

It is too expensive on Steam and not even a 10% launch discount gesture etc

It's a brand new game and you are asking for a discount already? Thats not how this works…

 

[MMaRsu]

It's a brand new game and you are asking for a discount already? Thats not how this works…

Sure it is, plenty of games launch with a slight discount on Steam.

 

[The Cockatrice]

It's a brand new game and you are asking for a discount already? Thats not how this works…

It is actually how it works. A lot of indies on steam, due to their low engagement offer 10-15% launch discount. Its been a thing for some time.

 

[Darkness_Arises]

Man, this game is boring AF!

Very pretty to look at, but that's about it. Mind-numbingly boring!

It is a walking simulator, the mind-numbing boring gameplay is a feature and not a bug. I could never get into this genre.

 

[Sorcerer]

It's a brand new game and you are asking for a discount already? Thats not how this works…

Actually its becoming quite common on Steam to offer a small discount on newly released games. I know City Connection does it every time. (Just off the top of my head).

 

[Edgelord79]

It is actually how it works. A lot of indies on steam, due to their low engagement offer 10-15% launch discount. Its been a thing for some time.

Lol ok so its an expectation? We are now at the point people can't even wait for a sale without an immediate discount expected?!

I've seen this with SOME indie games that release in beta. Then they go to full price on full release. Its not like they all do it.

 

[Majima Everywhere System]

Great timing. BF6, Pokémon, COD.

Just gonna pick me up an artsy game about a lighthouse in the middle of this.

 

[The Cockatrice]

Lol ok so its an expectation? We are now at the point people can't even wait for a sale without an immediate discount expected?!

I've seen this with SOME indie games that release in beta. Then they go to full price on full release. Its not like they all do it.

Dont be an idiot and read again what I said. It helps boosts sales for them you dumdum. Its more beneficial for the devs than the consumer.

 

[DenchDeckard]

Is that why your in threads showing your concern that some playstation exclusives selling less then their counter parts? Or why sony are not sharing sales data for certain games?

Sony literally makes popcorn titles like God of war and Spiderman 2. Like ms makes halo and gears of war.

But to be honest. I apologise for my post.

I'm watching the studio on apple TV and think I was in some art Vs mainstream thought in my head. I wrote that rant. Haha

 

[RetroGamingUK]

Sales numbers mean nothing.

Other than being the utter death knell for the studio responsible, no, I suppose they don't.

 

[Pedro Motta]

 

[Mr Moose]

Sales numbers mean nothing.

Uhh... They mean a lot.

 

[Forth]

I wish for PlayStation to save this studio and bring Keeper to PS5.

 

[Buggy Loop]

They made a game where you play as a fucking lighthouse

Good on the dev to think outside the box, propose his project, have Microsoft agree to it (shock) and deliver on his vision.

It's not like we don't have 99.9% of gams taking no risks? Games would be way more interesting if even 5% of them would go outside the you're an human in a video game, again.

Very Pixar'esque. Animating the inanimate objects.