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What is a possible Microsoft answer to Horizon Zero Dawn and Breath of the Wild?

LotusHD

Banned
it proved that:

- you can put a lady (that is not sexualized) on the front cover and it can still sell millions
- Open world story games can be good
- you can do 'ubisoft towers' but 'out-ubisoft' ubisoft
- the console games can still look really nice with good engine optimization and artwork
- you can release a game without season pass or other 'pay to win' loot box DLC nonsense.

- This is true.
- We already knew that though
- I don't know what that means tbh
- We knew this already as well
- And we knew this too
 
Look at their current release schedule and the Scalebound cancellation. I don't think Microsoft is interested in developing those kinds of experiences. They'll leave that to third parties. Seems like games-as-a-service is their M.O now.
 

Dabi

Member
I think before they answer to Horizon Zero Dawn or Zelda they need to take a long hard look and ask themselves what do they want to be and if what they're aiming for stands out from the rest of the industry.
 

RedSwirl

Junior Member
Look at their current release schedule and the Scalebound cancellation. I don't think Microsoft is interested in developing those kinds of experiences. They'll leave that to third parties. Seems like games-as-a-service is their M.O now.

The quote a couple pages ago confirmed it pretty much.

I think a lot of people in this thread and on GAF might need to accept that Microsoft isn't targeting them as hard as Sony is. Gravity Rush 2, Yakuza 0, Nier, and Nioh are fine games, but honestly they're all still probably pretty niche. Persona 5 somewhat less so, and Horizon a lot less so (though it's unclear if it's a mainstream hit yet). It's unclear how much all those games will matter next to another Forza or against Scorpio if we start looking outside forums like GAF.
 

Markoman

Member
The quote a couple pages ago confirmed it pretty much.

I think a lot of people in this thread and on GAF might need to accept that Microsoft isn't targeting them as hard as Sony is. Gravity Rush 2, Yakuza 0, Nier, and Nioh are fine games, but honestly they're all still probably pretty niche. Persona 5 somewhat less so, and Horizon a lot less so (though it's unclear if it's a mainstream hit yet). It's unclear how much all those games will matter next to another Forza or against Scorpio if we start looking outside forums like GAF.

Wat? You make it sound like Forza is a big system-seller and Scorpio has already sold 50m units.
As a former 360 owner I can tell you that of all things MS's lack of exclusive and original content since 2010 made me go back to Playstation. I don't think Don Mattrick and 2013 can be blamed for everything.
 
crackdown
in any case i don't think they need an answer, that's not how software works

if it did where is anyone elses answer to sea of thieves, the question in itself just sounds ridiculous
You're completely off base. That is, actually, how software traditionally works. You can't even count the number of Call of Duty clone, for example.

And why would they need an answer to Sea of Thieves? You only need to answer to successful games that you know your audience is desiring.
 
The quote a couple pages ago confirmed it pretty much.

I think a lot of people in this thread and on GAF might need to accept that Microsoft isn't targeting them as hard as Sony is. Gravity Rush 2, Yakuza 0, Nier, and Nioh are fine games, but honestly they're all still probably pretty niche. Persona 5 somewhat less so, and Horizon a lot less so (though it's unclear if it's a mainstream hit yet). It's unclear how much all those games will matter next to another Forza or against Scorpio if we start looking outside forums like GAF.

Yup, I feel that E3 is going to be a big wake up call for a lot of Gaffers. Expecting Scorpio to be this reboot of their first party efforts and that they'll unveil the thing alongside a bunch of new IP's and projects just isn't realistic. It's mid-gen refresh just like the PS4 Pro was, but I guess you could say that the announcement last year did a great job of elevating fan perception of the machine beyond that.
 
The quote a couple pages ago confirmed it pretty much.

I think a lot of people in this thread and on GAF might need to accept that Microsoft isn't targeting them as hard as Sony is. Gravity Rush 2, Yakuza 0, Nier, and Nioh are fine games, but honestly they're all still probably pretty niche. Persona 5 somewhat less so, and Horizon a lot less so (though it's unclear if it's a mainstream hit yet). It's unclear how much all those games will matter next to another Forza or against Scorpio if we start looking outside forums like GAF.

Horizon Zero Dawn is a Hell of lot more mainstream than any Forza game. 2.7 million sold in 2 weeks compared to Forza Horizon 3 selling 2.5 million over about 3 months. The impact of Scorpio remains to be seen. It seems to be more of thing among along hardcore Xbox fans than the general public. Microsoft themselves don't expect it to come close to supplanting the Xbox One S as their main SKU. I don't think Xbox necessarily needs an answer to any particular games, but it does need some different/new games to succeed outside of the usual trio.
 
I think before they answer to Horizon Zero Dawn or Zelda they need to take a long hard look and ask themselves what do they want to be and if what they're aiming for stands out from the rest of the industry.

This is honestly the best suggestion for them.
 

MoonFrog

Member
Yup, I feel that E3 is going to be a big wake up call for a lot of Gaffers. Expecting Scorpio to be this reboot of their first party efforts and that they'll unveil the thing alongside a bunch of new IP's and projects just isn't realistic. It's mid-gen refresh just like the PS4 Pro was, but I guess you could say that the announcement last year did a great job of elevating fan perception of the machine beyond that.
While I think this is how things are going to turn out, I don't really get how that's good for MS. Most people don't care that much about power, except as a way of confirming their purchase. As long as it is competent for where software is and seems like good tech, being the most powerful doesn't matter to all but a very niche consumer who is probably on PC.

I don't see how it is a weapon against PS install base. I don't see how it pushes it as the place to play games when there is that install base.

I think MS needs mindshare of core consumers and buzz. It needs adoption momentum, and I don't see how that comes from multiplatforms when more are playing on PS4.

I think pushing value with Xbox S is a much more promising thing, because price and features like movie playback are more convincing than power.

I don't really expect Scorpio to do much, just like Pro hasn't and I don't really get why people expect it to.

Even if Xbox came out with killer exclusives, it'd mostly drive the S. Don't really see how Scorpio plus exclusives, even Scorpio exclusives at a premium price point does much.
 

CEJames

Member
But Horizon isn't an answer to zelda. I mean Zelda is a superior game in every conceivable way (except for graphics obviously), not much of an answer, more like a consolation prize.

Scalebound would be the obvious choice on MS side, but unfortunately it got canceled. I do hope they more games like that in the pipeline, especially the coop part.

OP's title doesn't even mention whether Horizon was an answer to Zelda but what's Microsoft's answer to BOTH of the other two. Definitely didn't need to bring the Horizon/Zelda war into a thread attempting to unite both of them against Microsoft. More Fanboy shit.


But to counter your answer:

Consolation prize...if you say so. Horizon has better graphics, narrative, voice acting and combat. Not gonna bag on Zelda, but I don't think I'm missing much for my tastes.

There ya go.
 

Mergesort

Member
Xbone was DOA for me and MS proved that they are not able to save it. And no Scorpio won't save it! It will again be the most expensive current gen console on the market, with really bad first party support and only third party games.
 
The Legend of Scorpio: The Six Golden Teraflops

gtc7mPZ.gif
 

120v

Member
i don't think MS is chasing the dragon on single player AAA anymore barring a few exceptions. assuming they've a bunch of 1st party stuff to show off at E3 i expect to all be multiplayer, 'games as a service', ect
 

Crayon

Member
The thing about a game like that, besides taking four years to make from scratch, is that it's not guaranteed to be a big hit. You have to chip away sometimes. Guerrilla had to come up. They weren't at this level 15 years ago.
 

Cerium

Member
The thing about a game like that, besides taking four years to make from scratch, is that it's not guaranteed to be a big hit. You have to chip away sometimes. Guerrilla had to come up. They weren't at this level 15 years ago.

Bioware Montreal was not ready.
 
There is no need to because they already answered that.

Forza Horizon 3 is a better open world game than Horizon.

That's highly debatable and not even really comparable because of the completely different genres no overlap whatsoever except being open world. What isn't debatable is that Horizon Dawn is much more successful commercially and generated a much bigger buzz in the gaming community with the potential to be a massive franchise going forward.
 

RexNovis

Banned
I'm sure this is exactly what Crackdown and Sea of Thieves are intended to be albeit heavily focused on Multiplayer w/ GAAS elements just like every other MS 1st party title has been.
 
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