| Snoopy said: I can't help but feel that Microsoft makes some great moves, like backwards compatability, resolving a lot of resolution gate issues (eventhough I never found it a big deal) and releasing great games. However, everytime they make great decisions, they take two steps back. With the money they invested into tomb raider they could've made phantom dust or a new ip. I will be piss if I don't hear anymore new titles at gamescon. Not because Microsoft doesn't have a solid lineup of games, but because I know that the money they forked over for tomb raider, they could've done something better like maybe bring back Battle Toads or invested more into phantom dust. My two cents. |
It really sucks that The Coalition (Black Tusk Studios) dropped/delayed this teased game so as to work on Gears 4:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zidvu6UnDaM
I feel that SquareEnix thought that the XB1 would be the front runner for this generation and made a timed exclusive deal with Microsoft before this new generation even began. We constantly hear that Microsoft funded Tomb Raider and helped with the development, which only further validates my hypothesis.
To me, Rise of the Tomb Raider on the XB1 feels like Bioshock or Mass Effect on the XB360. Now that we are nearly 2 years out, approximate development time for a game, it is safe to assume that 3rd party games like Titanfall, Sunset Overdrive, and Tomb Raider wont be releasing as an Xbox exclusive/timed exclusive for the rest of the generation. These assumptions are based off of the mass appeal to buy the PS4 over the XB1. EA announcing that Titanfall 2 will be multiplatform only further confirms my assumptions.
Microsoft has been ambitious by going after new IPs like Recore, Scalebound, and Quantum Break; however, we have to keep in mind that Microsoft no longer has the advantage when it comes to multiplatform games. Microsoft therefore has to capture their audience through new IPs and release them throughout the entire year, which leads into my next point.
The most alarming issue is that Microsoft seems to be constantly doing battle with themselves or other huge multiplatform games. In 2014, Microsoft had Halo MCC and Forza Horizon 2 take sales away from Sunset Overdrive. Now they have Rise of the Tomb Raider going up against Halo 5 and Forza 6, (not to mention Fallout 4, COD, and Battlefront). They should try to create new IPs and release them during a time when everyone is hungry for a new game. Last generation, Microsoft alternated between Gears and Halo. I am now worried that they will no longer be able to alternate every year between these two games, since these next generation games seem to be taking a longer time to develop. They will have to develop another top tier game so they can ensure that Halo or Gears doesn't release as a holiday buggy mess.
I don't think this is a matter of money going into Tomb Raider instead of Phantom Dust or another new IP, but rather Microsoft's inability to capture new development teams to create these top tiered AAA games that gamers so desperately want. The fact that Darkside studios was working on their first game (Phantom Dust) by themselves, only underscores the pool of game developers that are left for Microsoft to choose from.
Honestly, I think Microsoft should completely drop Gears after the release of Gears 4. Gears of War: Judgement is an example of a franchise that has lost its way or its fundamental roots. To me, that screams a game developers inability to find new or interesting gameplay for that given franchise. Therefore, I feel that Microsoft NEEDS to drop Gears and allow The Coalition to develop the games that they are were passionate about, just like the teaser that was posted at the beginning of my post. (Full Circle).
