Microsoft Xbox news and discussion thread

[Suits]

I’m with you on this Scrustle.

There is undoubtedly massive value in it and I’m pleased others get the most out of what it has to offer.

The current library of games that I don’t already own and exclusives available don’t interest me enough to pay £10 a month for.

The only exception was FH4 - which I used the free month trial for. Great game.

I’m keen to see what new releases and exclusives MS will add to the service and whether that will be enough for me sign up.

[Chopper]

It’s one euro/pound/dollar for three months for the next three days, if you open a new account.

[FemalePheromones]

It’s one euro/pound/dollar for three months for the next three days, if you open a new account.

Or if you actually run your subscription down so it ends and don't renew. They word it as if it is only for accounts that haven't subscribed to Game Pass before but really it's for any account that doesn't currently have a subscription.

Rather than paying X amount each month I'll get whatever deal is on and run it down and then wait to renew until there is another deal on which there seems to be most of the time (£1 for 1 month, £2 for 1 month with a second month free and most recently £1 for 3 months. No one can argue with the library they offer for 33p per month).

I've had Game Pass since September and never paid full price.

*Hope Microsoft don't read this and change the way it works*

[Sinclair Gregstrum]

I've had Game Pass since September and never paid full price.

I’m currently working through a deal where I got 12 months for £43.99, so that’s £3.66 a month.

As you say, there are deals from Microsoft themselves or the likes of Amazon popping up all over the place all the time, so really you should never be paying the full £7.99 (although I’d happily pay that personally for what you get).

[Flabyo]

At some point I’ll be switching to the combined gold account with gamepass, I assume I can’t do that until my next gold renewal though which is in, erm, Feb 2020 I think.

[Scrustle]

More rumours to suggest that a Fable 4 is on the way. This one seems pretty solid, since it comes from Microsoft's own streaming platform, Mixer. Apparently the game showed up in auto-fill search results, presumably because they already have the game in their database.

https://screenrant.com/fable-4-mixer-e3 ... ouncement/

[countstex]

Surprised to see so many people not interested in GamePass. For me, it's an essential part of owning an XBOX. No the XBOX is my primary system, as I've stated many places, but even if it wasn't paying the relatively small fee for all the MS first party games is value enough, and then I've been able to try out some excellent games like Mutant Year Zero, Avon Colony, Surviving Mars, and then replay some remasters of games I've already paid for once such as the Batman games. I find it hard to imagine not seeing the value in it, without having some very specific tastes or having spent an amazing amount of money on getting games day one.
Maybe that's the thing. I fell off riding the tide of new releases a good 5 years ago, and now just pick up game others recommend or I catch wind of. Never been happier.

[dezm0nd]

Gamepass is definitely improving but the problem we have, generally, is that we want to play all the new hot games out week per week rather than scrolling through a bunch of "old stuff" in a similar fashion to netflix.

As a collective, we need to stop acting like a game isn't worth playing because it's been out for more than a month. We've been pulled into the rat race of new releases for a while now and it's time to buck that trend.

I suspect gamepass is about to become bigger at e3, though. The fact that not all of Microsoft games are available on the service is a bit strange. (for example, Rare Replay)

[KSubzero1000]

the problem we have, generally, is that we want to play all the new hot games out week per week rather than scrolling through a bunch of "old stuff" in a similar fashion to netflix.

As a collective, we need to stop acting like a game isn't worth playing because it's been out for more than a month. We've been pulled into the rat race of new releases for a while now and it's time to buck that trend.

Very well said. But good luck seeing any meaningful progress on that front since so much of the video game culture / industry / overarching conversation is so thoroughly drenched in recency bias. Even around here, although to a lesser degree than in most other places.

[Flabyo]

If you do have gamepass, you should give Outer Wilds a go. It’s a seriously clever bit of design work and might be my favourite game this year so far...

[countstex]

Gamepass is definitely improving but the problem we have, generally, is that we want to play all the new hot games out week per week rather than scrolling through a bunch of "old stuff" in a similar fashion to netflix.

As a collective, we need to stop acting like a game isn't worth playing because it's been out for more than a month. We've been pulled into the rat race of new releases for a while now and it's time to buck that trend.

It was a hard habit to break out of, and one probably brought on more by lack of funds then true effort on my part, but I can honestly say I am happier with my gaming time. Plus I can better enjoy the games as I'm not rushing them to get to the next thing before I've even started. Heck, I went back and 100%ed Tropico 3 last year, that's a near 10-year overlap.
Also helps I'm not having to complete things to talk about them on a podcast mind

Actually, thinking about it I think GamePass helps in that regard in that I am getting 'new' stuff all the time, but it's not costing me anything more than what I consider a basic subscription. I get that rush of the new without having to fork out 40, 60, 80 quid for the privilege. Not that I don't think devs/pubs deserve the money of course, and I'm always happy to punt some cash in the direction of the likes of Paradox, Double Fine or Kalypso, but for the mainpart, a monthly sub to be divided up amongst them is fine for me.

[Flabyo]

20 new things added to gamepass today including shenmue 1 and 2. And Hollow Knight.

Also Shadow Tactics, which is probably in my top ten games of all time,

[FemalePheromones]

Apparently Game Pass Ultimate is now live which includes Game Pass and Xbox Live as a single subscription and is on offer for $1. Can't grumble at that.

Source: https://mspoweruser.com/xbox-game-pass- ... or-only-1/

[Alex79uk]

I'm hoping this kicks Sony up the arse with regard to rolling PS Plus and Now in together as a package. Sony may well have won this generation as far as games are concerned, in my opinion, but Microsoft are leaving them for dust with customer experience. Sony look positively archaic at this point.

EDIT: And it's £10.99 a month. To get the same comparative service from Sony at the moment would cost you double that.

[FemalePheromones]

Not to mention it also includes Game Pass for PC.

[countstex]

That GamePass Ultimate is a slam dunk for me, given I already pay for GamePass and Gold, uping it a little to get GamePass for PC is a no brainer. Really loving Microsofts focus and direction right now.

[FemalePheromones]

It's not even upping it as Game Pass is £7.99 per month and Live is £6.99 per month so you're actually saving nearly £4 per month.

[Alex79uk]

Genuinely if I had two hundred quid in my pocket to spend on whatever I wanted right now, I'd be straight down to get an Xbox. Sony really have their work cut out going in to the next gen. They're going to have to work hard to keep me - and I assume many others - as a customer. I just love what they're doing with Games with Gold, Ultimate Gamepass, X-Cloud and backwards compatibility.

A huge amount of those games shown last night said they're on Gamepass DAY ONE!
Come on Sony, I'd genuinely be gutted to jump sides, but I bloody well will if you give me no reason to stay!

[FemalePheromones]

A huge amount of those games shown last night said they're on Gamepass DAY ONE!
Come on Sony, I'd genuinely be gutted to jump sides, but I bloody well will if you give me no reason to stay!

On top of that more AAA games seem to be coming to Game Pass pretty quick these days. Shadow of the Tomb Raider was only about 6 months after release, Just Cause 4 was only about 3 months and Metro Exodus is only about 4 months. I know that probably says quite a bit about the sales figures of those games but Game Pass just keeps getting better and better.

[countstex]

Moved over to Gamepass Tltimate last night, although I need to wait for a Windows Update before I can install the base program :/ Hopefully the rollout will be quick. (You need the June update for Windows 10)