Xbox Struggles + Handheld Rumors, “Overwatch-style” Marvel Game, + More! - GameLinked March 26, 2024

RILEYISMYNAME · March 27

NEWS SOURCES:

XBOX’S FATE IS IN YOUR HANDS

Publishers worried about supporting Xbox

https://insider-gaming.com/publishers-worried-about-supporting-xbox-moving-forward-report-claims/ According to head of GamesIndustry.biz Chris Dring who “heard it from a very prominent company and one not-so-prominent” https://youtu.be/1t1otAXv2rk?t=541

Xbox sales in Europe are “flatlining” https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/publishers-are-reportedly-questioning-support-for-xbox-amid-flatlining-sales/

Apparently they mentioned in a previous podcast that “we’d heard retailers in Europe are considering or had already been cutting back their Xbox stock on their shelves—hardware, games, that kind of thing” https://lmg.gg/VxYy6 (VGC)

Dring said ““The phrase one major company who released a big game last year said [was], ‘I don’t know why we bothered supporting it’.” https://lmg.gg/J4jUW (VGC)

Xbox may be bringing more games to PS5 “from what I understand the majority of them will be coming across at some point, assuming it progresses as Xbox believes it probably will—I think Xbox is in real trouble as a hardware manufacturer” https://lmg.gg/oGazb (VGC)

Xbox is apparently going to open up to other stores, become more like a PC

https://www.polygon.com/24108670/xbox-epic-game https://lmg.gg/oGazb s-store-phil-spencer-interview

“Worse, he explained, the console market isn’t growing, with more gamers moving to PC and handheld options.” https://lmg.gg/3lUri

Spencer also hinted at an Xbox’s handheld future in interview with Polygon https://www.polygon.com/24108660/xbox-handheld-console-phil-spencer-interview

Spencer confirms “Xbox hardware team, led by Roanne Sones, is considering “different hardware form factors and things that [they] could go do”” https://lmg.gg/QVLMJ (Polygon)

Xbox dev kit certified in Korea

https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/console-gaming/new-xbox-dev-kit-certified-for-testing-in-south-korea-console-refresh-could-come-this-year

many people hoping it’s a handheld; Windows Central’s Jez Corden says on Xbox Two podcast “I know they’ve got handheld prototypes right now” https://youtu.be/By7ne7lHKLY?t=3845

But he doesn’t know if that’s what the new dev kit is for https://youtu.be/By7ne7lHKLY?t=4228

Argues earlier that the Steam Deck is essentially a console experience, it would be “insane” for Xbox and PlayStation to not enter the space https://youtu.be/By7ne7lHKLY?t=4020

Spencer echoes this sentiment: “And I will say that when I’m playing on those devices, it almost feels more like a console than a PC” https://lmg.gg/XLgXf (Polygon)

Not necessarily an exclusive thing, “I want everything that we’re doing in the hardware space to be great. But if somebody chooses to go play today [somewhere else], I don’t want them to feel like a lesser Xbox [player].”” https://lmg.gg/Glrgb (Polygon)

Hints at handheld with “inflection points” in the industry. “Look at the real inflection points in our industry, like look at the Wii. It was hardware innovation that was linked with great software innovation.”” https://lmg.gg/0Trct (Polygon)

MARVELOUS CASH GRAB

Overwatch-style 6v6 shooter with Marvel characters upcoming

https://thestreamr.com/2024/03/25/overwatch-style-marvel-game-exclusive/

Game apparently from NetEase, who signed a deal with Marvel 5 years ago https://www.marvel.com/articles/games/marvel-and-netease-collaborate-to-launch-new-projects

Marvel FPS shooter rumored for years from NetEase https://mmoculture.com/2019/10/marvel-new-aaa-first-person-shooter-based-on-marvel-universe-in-development/

While this game is allegedly developed by NetEase, it is supposed to be THIRD-PERSON, not FIRST https://lmg.gg/W4XRP (TheStreamr)

Avengers/Suicide Squad leaker Miller corroborated game’s existence and TheStreamr’s reporting (at least for platforms) (EDITOR: scroll up) https://twitter.com/mmmmmmmmiller/status/1772603929919959510

“NetEase does have a strong history of mobile titles, and consoles seem like an easy port.” https://lmg.gg/SSzW1 (TheStreamr)

Also believed by Paul Tassi of Forbes https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2024/03/26/report-a-marvel-6v6-overwatch-style-shooter-is-coming/?sh=3ea6983253bb

Allegedly launching with 19 characters https://lmg.gg/EHqBU (TheStreamr)

Magneto voiced by Obi-Wan from Clone Wars, has “environmental destruction” powers https://lmg.gg/sRpfi (Forbes)

Lot of details up in the air, but we may find out tomorrow, according to Marvel Games tweet https://twitter.com/MarvelGames/status/1772639657525723212

QUICK BITS

THEY’VE FORGOTTEN THE REALMS

Larian Studios not making DLC for Baldur’s Gate 3, not making BG4

https://www.ign.com/articles/larian-started-work-on-baldurs-gate-3-dlc-then-canceled-it-the-studio-was-elated

“Asked how the studio responded, Vincke said the team was "elated."” (EDITOR: CTRL+F IGN source)

Did not confirm if next game is Divinity: Original Sin 3 but “He did, however, say it will be "different than what you think it is" but that it's "still familiar."” (EDITOR: CTRL+F IGN source)

CEO Swen Vincke clarifies WotC not to blame for Larian “taking a different direction” https://twitter.com/LarAtLarian/status/1771467986701819943

First BG3 will be getting new evil endings; not just evil, but “really evil” https://www.thegamer.com/baldurs-gate-3-is-getting-new-evil-endings/

JOEL GIVETH

Helldivers 2 GM Joel appears in-game to give unreleased APC before disappearing

https://www.gamesradar.com/hes-not-all-bad-helldivers-2s-dandd-style-game-master-joel-joins-a-players-game-drops-an-unreleased-vehicle-and-then-vanishes-into-the-night/

https://twitter.com/Helldiversmedia/status/1771900000202870872

CEO sends tweet about HMG stratagem before saying “There’s no such thing as HMG” https://www.pcgamer.com/helldivers-2-hmg-heavy-machine-gun-arrowhead-johan-pilestedt/

(EDITOR: Scroll up) https://twitter.com/Pilestedt/status/1772359679265427747

THIS IS MY FAVORITE NEWS IN THE CITADEL

Brief Mass Effect 5 news

https://www.gamesradar.com/mass-effect-5-is-in-good-hands-as-its-director-confirms-the-long-awaited-rpg-sequel-is-being-led-by-four-bioware-veterans/

https://insider-gaming.com/mass-effect-5-veterans/