Maybe, but this all based on assumption that Deathloop releases in around two weeks. I can bet that it doesn't, so I don't really see any problem here.

I still try to buy physical games whenever possible, especially in case of my most anticipated releases that I want to have in collection, but it's getting harder and harder and I don't have the same collector's passion as I did a few years back. I used to buy everything that's cheap (with big discounts) and that I have at least some interest in even I knew that some of these games I'll never play. Now, I only buy the games that I know for sure that I'm gonna play in the next couple months. I don't care that much if the game requires download or not, I just prefer the physical versions in general. I did buy Series S as my secondary Xbox console for better portability in case of travels, so this also kinda adds to not caring as much about physical media as much as I did before. Will probably be moving more and more into digital, with occasional double dips for some most wanted games.

I'm playing it right now and I somewhat can confirm that it's definitely a lower budget project that you shouldn't expect a lot from it. I really enjoy it but I'm biased because I love Atlus games and it was definitely my most anticipated game the moment it was announced. It's quite short from what I understand, it's battle system is a bit primitive compared to recent Atlus games. It's a good addition to library and definitely worth checking out if you are into JRPGs, but I would say that Persona 5 Royal or Shin Megami Tensei V are objectively more interesting Atlus releases.

Raiden IV is definitely coming at least. It was already announced sometime before.

It's not really about whether raytracing is overhyped or not. Or does local coop matter these days or not. It's simply about not delivering on your promises. Just releasing the game in an unfinished state was not the right thing to do from the start. When it comes to raytracing, I think 343 decided not to waste their time for it at launch and then maybe come back to it at a later date. But as it turned out, there is not much hype about it anymore, so there is no reason to waste resources on this feature. The same with local co-op. I don't believe them at all when they say that they have some technical difficulties with especially when we have proofs that it is possible for it to work based on the fans that got it working. There is no technical difficulties with local co-op, they just have some data that suggests that spending resources on it is not worth it. But anyway, this shouldn't have been promised and announced at all in this case. I totally understand Halo fans frustrations with the state the game is currently in, and I will probably say a bit controversial opinion on this, but it's time for Microsoft to have a balls and do either of these three things: publicly acknowledge that they failed, move on from Halo Infinite to the next entry built from scratch by either giving the last chance for 343 under Joseph Staten, not using the Slipspace engine or whatever it's called and move to UE or idTech, or to just try to give the right to make a new game to some other studio, because let's face it - 343 had enough chances already. Or do just something that seems completely unimaginable and put Halo franchise to rest entirely. Halo had it's prime time and will always be remembered as one key Xbox franchises, but unfortunately, the new generation of gamers just doesn't care enough about this franchise and 343 doesn't seem to know how to make it work with younger audiences anyway. Considering how Halo isn't as big these days as it was before, I really doubt that Xbox brand will somehow struggle if we won't see any new Halo games. Microsoft now has a lot of studios and I'm fairly confident that they are capable of making modern new IPs that can replace Halo in the future as flagship franchise.

And here is a proof to what I said above.

My brother told me that Infinite already has less total players than the new BF, which is a far worse game, so...yea. Not good.

@poll

Voted for exclusives but don't really care about any of these options that much. As for GamePass, with a limited time I have, if the game is good I don't have any problem to buy it at full price even at launch. I have GamePass Ultimate, but simply because it's not that much more expensive than Gold, and Gold is needed to play multiplayer anyway. I use GamePass usually in two cases: to play the digital only games that are there that I'm interested in, because I don't see much value in buying a game digitally. And to play the games that I have physically in case I need to on Series S console. Having said that, deals that put a certain game in GamePass day one do nothing for me at all, unfortunately. If the game is good and I'm interested in playing it - I'll play it anyway, GamePass or not. 

As for exclusives, personally don't really care that much as well. I don't need the game to be available just for me and the people who chose the same console as me to enjoy it. I think that 90%+ games that I play these days are available on all platforms anyway. But @shikamaru317 is right in the conclusion that exclusives give a nice marketing boost. The more people joining ecosystem, console sales grow, which means more money for devs, bigger audience, more games coming to Xbox, more developers interested in developing for the platform, etc. Yes, it's not a consumer friendly practice, but that's just how this business has been working for decades. So, based on this, exclusives edge this out for me.

Nah, Bonnie gotta go

Agreed.

Not at all, Bonnie is one person removing her would likely result in further departures or firings with whoever new steps in to lead the studio. It's clear the issue at 343 starts from the top and that ineptitude has infected the rest of the studio, so calling for the leaders head seems like a natural thing to want and is a start to fixing the studio. 

No idea who would replace her, and yeah, I acknowledge that many of the issues that plague 343 likely aren't her fault but when things go wrong, the leader bears the brunt of the blame and sure get rid of Frank as well. Bonnie and him have been involved with the failures of Halo for the past few games. 

Of course, like you pointed out earlier, I'm not actually expecting MS/Xbox to get rid of Bonnie (let alone Frank) because it's not like Infinite is the first Halo game to face significant issues under Bonnie or Frank and both are still here despite those failings. 

I'd question whether it would be best for Halo to just drop the MP and live service support and just go and become the flagship big budget game with more regular campaign releases which would streamline development and speed things up it's not like there would be much room in the first party list of MP/Live Service games when ABK joins Xbox they will have a premium FPS and Battle Royale with CoD and a top arena Shooter with Overwatch they could fully focus on instead.

If the issue is an inadequate number of staff, then that's something that Bonnie should be constantly fighting for, no? She's in charge of the business. And why does this contractor thing only seem to come up as it concerns 343? Nobody ever says anything about contractors when it comes to The Coalition, Turn 10, Playground, or whoever. 

Maybe 343 does need more staff, but sometimes it seems to me like we're making endless excuses for this studio (and the people who run it) that we don't for anybody else. The fact of the matter is, they've had more than enough time to become the caretakers of the Halo franchise we deserve. But time and time again, they manage to come up woefully short in one aspect or another. If Phil, Booty, and whoever else is responsible for overseeing Xbox studios don't take some serious steps to address whatever the fuck is happening up there at 343, then I'm honestly going to lose a lot of faith in Xbox as a whole. This is your most important franchise. Halo and Xbox have been one and the same since the first console launch. You can't keep letting it get dragged through the mud like this.

Metal Hellsinger is a nice add.