Nr. 3 of 3 even in the home market and FTC is like "Microsoft would kill competition"

Someone should really stop this 3rd place monopoly.

Xbox should definitely be keeping a very close eye on Mundfish, at the very least they are incredibly impressive on a technical level; based on the graphics I saw in their recent PC Ultra settings trailer from CES, I fully expect this game to make digital foundry's top 10 graphics list at the end of 2023, and they did it with a AA team size and budget, not AAA.

If this game is a success in reviews, sales, and gamepass downloads, Xbox should definitely be trying to lock them down with a 2nd party exclusivity deal on their next game, until this whole ABK mess is wrapped up and Xbox can acquire again.

Hell, these guys would be perfect for working on a Fallout spinoff, Atomic Heart is basically Fallout before the bombs dropped, both are action RPG-shooter hybrids set in alternate history timelines where the level of technology suddenly skyrocketed in the mid 1900's. Mundfish could maybe develop a Fallout spinoff set in Russia, which would be a unique perspective on the Fallout universe, and would help to sustain Fallout fans during the long wait for Fallout 5 (which is looking to be a 2030-2032 release most likely). Alongside a new Fallout spinoff from Obsidian, Fallout fans could potentially get 2 different Fallout spinoffs before Fallout 5.

Worth noting that DE includes the 1 expansion from the original AoE 2, and the 3 expansions from the 2013 HD release as part of the default, standard edition. So, if you're like me, and only ever played the base version of the original AoE 2, there will still be new AoE 2 content for you to try without needing to buy the deluxe edition of DE. The 4 expansions which are included with DE standard edition and Gamepass are:

The Conquerors
-4 new singleplayer campaigns focused on Atilla the Hun, Montezuma, El Cid, and a 4th made of random unrelated battles from across history.
-5 new civilizations: Aztecs, Mayans, Huns, Koreans, and Spanish.

The Forgotten
-6 new campaigns focused on Alaric I, Bari, Dracula, Pachacuti, Francesco I Sofrza, and Prithviraj
-5 new civilizations: Incans, Indians, Italians, Magyars, and Slavs

The African Kingdoms
-4 new campaigns focused on Francisco de Almeida, Sundjata, Tariq ibn Ziyad, and Yodit
-4 new civilizations: Berbers, Ethiopians, Malians, and Portuguese

Rise of the Rajas
-4 new campaigns focused on Bayinnuang, Gajah Mada, Le Loi, and Suryavarman I
-4 new civilizations: Burmese, Khmer, Malay, and Vietnamese

Microsoft to Axe Thousands of Jobs in Latest Cull by Tech Giant | Business News | Sky News

Microsoft (MSFT) Is Set to Cut Jobs in Engineering Divisions This Week - Bloomberg

This shit absolutely sucks.

Feel bad for the 11,000 about to be laid off.

Hope at least that Xbox can avoid this round of layoffs as they did the last.

Principal Publishing Producer | Amazon Games Praising Xbox

Friends, I have to take a moment to praise Microsoft and its talent at game development and publishing. They don't get the due they deserve. Take stock with me the 8 marquee titles that Microsoft developed or published in just the past 18 months

6 of the 8, the exceptions being Microsoft Flight Simulator (by Asobo Studio) and As Dusk Falls (by INTERIOR/NIGHT in their debut) were also developed by a Microsoft subsidiary

On quality: I believe Age of Empires IV and As Dusk Falls are underscored. Even so, average Metacritic over 8 games is 86; median 88. Also, the levels of variety and innovation are impressive

Microsoft Flight Simulator (91)

The best in flight ever. Innovations in AI that allowed map and airport population are mesmerizing. It brought tears to my eyes to fly over my house and have it look real

Psychonauts 2 (Double Fine Productions) (89)

One of the 3 best platformers of the last 5 years and a remarkable display of consistency for a sequel, hard to do in a series that is so madcap

Age of Empires IV (World's Edge) (81)

The amazing blending of cinematics with gameplay. The quality of writing that brings history to life. The sensitivity and care given to campaign design. How satisfying core RTS gameplay feels

Forza Horizon 5 + Hot Wheels DLC (Playground Games) (92)

My best game of 2021. Forza Horizon has entered a rare class of series where somehow each installment finds a way to delight and surprise, with high quality, despite known base components

The best sports or racing game ever

Halo Infinite (343 Industries) (87)

I am not the biggest "shooter" gamer, but I play a lot anyway. This I loved. It is one of the top 5 Halo games ever and the best in at least a decade

As Dusk Falls (77)

With one thunderclap, INTERIOR/NIGHT takes the industry's "choose your own adventure" format, that Telltale made famous, into the next generation. The depth of story. The elegant and powerful use of minimal animation and sound. The memorable characters.

Grounded (Obsidian Entertainment) (83)

A wonderful take on survival that refreshed my appetite for a genre. A great, simple game concept for all ages. Fun co-op

Pentiment (Obsidian Entertainment) (88)

This is masterpiece tier and in a category with titles like Cuphead for the most unique approaches to art I have seen in the past decade. I have to do a separate post just on this, and I will

To Microsoft and all your studios and partners, I am so moved and impressed. It was enough with any one title here, but you are just relentless

I should emphasize again that the last few titles were truly a gift and surprise. As Dusk Falls was a special game and countless moments from it still stick with me

And then the Thor hammer that missed some radars because it was end of year: Pentiment

Pentiment is going to make my top 50 games of all-time in my next iteration in six months - that's how good it is, having finally played it enough. Again, more on that soon!

Amazing Microsoft team and partners

Is anyone running an Xbox open/metacritic prediction league this year? If not, we need to start one soon, first release or the year is almost upon us.