| Ryuu96 said: What I would say, I'm not sure about this whole "Xbox tax" stuff, Lol. But I would say separately from that negativity generates clicks and now more than ever are websites desperate for clicks so I'm seeing more clickbait, more negativity for the sake of negativity, slating games before they're even released or we know much about them, etc. It feels like the worst aspects of YouTube are being taken. Xbox is the platform with the smallest fanbase so it's the easiest punching bag, I would say that it doesn't help (and this is because Xbox is the lowest fanbase) that it feels like Xbox has little representation outside of fanboy sites focused solely on Xbox, I feel like I can't point out a single multiplatform focused website with a strong Xbox team who actually know what they're talking about. Like IGN would probably be the one pointed at but honestly, from the stupid comment that Obsidian should cancel all their projects to work on Elder Scrolls VI, to an IGN employee saying that Halo Infinite eSports was failing because Optic and eUnited had left (eUnited had left because their entire company was struggling and shut down multiple divisions and Optic hadn't left, they had just won the damn tournament, Lmao). And IGN feeds the console warring too, like all the nonsense after Redfall, multiple websites acting like Xbox was doomed, IGN basically saying that if Starfield isn't a 10/10 then Xbox is doomed, has to be an 11/10. People really lost their minds after Redfall and very much fed into the console wars they rightfully hate. I just don't see any website for me as an Xbox fan and I'm not really interested in the websites focused solely on Xbox. I think this is partly because PlayStation is #1, PlayStation has been in the industry longer than Xbox, there are more PlayStation fans in the world and thus naturally there are more PlayStation fans in videogame journalism too, especially in Europe, and the Xbox fans that do exist on some websites are often clueless about somethings Xbox and fall into the traps when Xbox isn't doing so hot. It also doesn't help that Xbox isn't focused on the sorts of genres that journalists are most hot on, which is the narrative focused, third person action adventure titles, but I don't think Xbox gets enough credit for the sheer variety of games they produce in terms of genres, big and small, they cover almost every genre but a lot of them often feel ignored. Take Sea of Thieves, a massive success with a ton of support, but hardly ever recognised in terms of awards, Grounded another big success with amazing support but often ignored, Forza Horizon is absolutely massive but it's a racer so it's automatically ignored. Xbox has an average critic score of 82 since 2020 and released multiple high quality titles but they're often ignored because "they aren't AAA" but a game is a game. I also think there are some double standards around review scores, Sony titles often score in the 80s but a Sony 80 feels treated differently to a Xbox 80. If Sony gets a score in the 80s it's still treated like an amazing release, a GOTY contender, if Xbox gets a score in the 80s it's often treated as a failure and mocked. Ghost of Tsushima, Horizon, all scored in the 80s, Death Stranding in low 80s and that was a GOTY contender. Scores in the 80s are a great score, in the high 80s even better, but I feel like Xbox isn't allowed scores in the 80s, it must be 90+ or failure. |
better said than I ever could.
"It also doesn't help that Xbox isn't focused on the sorts of genres that journalists are most hot on, which is the narrative focused, third person action adventure titles, but I don't think Xbox gets enough credit for the sheer variety of games they produce in terms of genres, big and small, they cover almost every genre but a lot of them often feel ignored."
This is so true, narrative titles are so forgiving. As long as people connect with the story being told, throw in some great graphics and good soundtrack and you got yourself a 9+ titles. Not only that but as their replay value is very limited you can release such title very close to each other and they would not cannibalise each other sales that much.
MS have very few of such title and most of what they do focus on gameplay mechanics, to this ends, diversifying to more distinct gameplay between titles is not simply a choice but a requirement or else titles will cannibalise each other aswell as having to compete with third party.
I am eager to play Hellblade 2 as it is a rare story focused title from Xbox, I want them to succeed both with gamer an critics so that this experience is added to Xbox offering on a more regular basis.
