Gamezine12, 07-01-2022: Xbox's Lucky Year, gm918232

This Year Will Be Great for Xbox 

Video Credit: Spawn Wave

In 2001, Microsoft introduced the first Xbox console, the first console made by an American company. Its greatest game was Halo: Combat Evolved, kickstarting a brand new generation of gamers thanks to the game and online servers. It got all expanded on Xbox 360, which managed to sell well at launch in most regions. And then the Xbox One came… which got better towards the end, especially with the introduction of the Xbox Game Pass. In 2020, Microsoft split it up with the Xbox Series S and X, to appeal to hardcore and casual gamers, in addition to the Xbox Game Pass growing large. It appears that 2022 may become Xbox’s biggest year.
Games that are coming to Xbox Game Pass will come on launch day, such as Xbox-exclusive Starfield. There are several games whose release dates are currently unknown, but it’s confirmed they will be part of the subscription when they do release. Also, there are rumours that the Xbox Live Gold may still get ditched eventually, when the subscription count of the Game Pass reaches a certain milestone. The multiplayer component of Halo Infinite is available separately for free, while you have to purchase the campaign (or play it through the Game Pass). Since the Games with Gold banner is declining due to the Game Pass getting the bigger games, unless you really want discounts and play online on paid titles, the Xbox Live Gold may not be a great choice anymore. Heck, Game Pass Ultimate is a greater deal, in addition to unlimited access to EA Play. Microsoft started charging for online play on consoles and may be the one to end it, leaving Sony and Nintendo (who similarly offer paid subscription for online gaming and other benefits) in quite a pickle. Oh, and you don’t have to own a Xbox console to use the Game Pass. It’s available on any open systems like PCs and web applications. What more could you ask?
When I was getting ready to join console gaming, I almost went for the Wii U, but chose Xbox One, which had a better controller. When I lost the console and was about to rejoin, I got the Xbox One S (I was close to getting PS4, but with Sony’s current attitude, I no longer want to get a PlayStation). The Xbox experience has gotten better, mostly thanks to the Game Pass. It’s thanks to the service that I tried out many great games (like Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams, Jump Force, NieR Automata and Soulcalibur VI, which I now own through the Countdown sale). If you get Xbox Series S, please, get the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, the greatest deal to play the best games from Microsoft, EA, Bethesda and other awesome third-party publishers.

The Steam Deck Will Definitely Launch in February

Video Credit: Valve

Since it’s now January, many of you are anxiously waiting for the Steam Deck to launch. For those who somehow don’t know what I’m talking about… the Steam Deck is the upcoming portable gaming PC that may or may not encourage others to make similarly sized PCs. We already know that not every game will be playable on the Deck since it’s using Linux (which can be mitigated by just installing Windows), but efforts are made both by Valve and the developers to fine-tune any game that isn’t already compatible (or doesn’t yet have a version on Linux). It was about to be released as early as December…
The ongoing global pandemic, which already caused manufacturing to slow down, meant the components needed to assemble the Steam Deck simply couldn’t make it in time for assembly and shipping them to the lucky people from America, Canada, Europe, and UK, so they had to delay by two months. With many developers trying out and posting footage of Deck Gameplay on Twitter, the wait is pretty unbearable. There are even people from regions like Japan asking Valve when the Deck will ship to them. The silver lining to this is that it gives Valve more time to fine tune more games for Proton, especially getting Anti-Cheat software to properly work. In fact, it’s gonna give me the time to collect funds to pre-order and pay the Deck.
As I said previously, which was even said by Valve’s Gabe Newell, this is the portable gaming machine I’ve always wanted. I love console gaming, but I also want to game even more than having to switch on the console every time. There are also some… interesting games that aren’t available on Xbox for one reason or another. If you’re telling me to get a PlayStation, I’ll say no, based on Sony’s current approach. Even if the Steam Deck won’t be a huge success, it’ll be a success for the people who can get it, like myself, to prove that 4K isn’t everything.

The Witcher III Gets Even More Players

Video Credit: Netflix

The Witcher III: Wild Hunt, the third instalment in the video game trilogy based on novels by Andrzej Sapkowski, tells the story of Geralt of Rivia, a witcher, and how his choices and actions affect the world and ultimately the ending. In spite of some technical issues, the game is a massive success, to the point where it received two expansion packs and it’s available on multiple platforms (including the Nintendo Switch). And then Netflix came along to do a live-action series based on the Witcher. The effect?
The Netflix adaptation is just as popular, if not more so, to the point where more people became interested in The Witcher III, at 71000 players by the second season. New, returning, doesn’t matter. It may be low compared to when the game was first released (over 92000 players!), but it’s a testament to Netflix being able to make a live-action series out of an IP so popular, subscribers became interested in the latest game. The third game is six years old, then again Grand Theft Auto V remains popular (mainly due to GTA Online) after it was released in 2013! The Witcher III will be remastered for PS5 and Xbox Series S/X, with help by Saber Interactive (who ported the game to the Nintendo Switch) and DLC based on the Netflix adaptation. Whether we see more video games based on The Witcher remains to be seen.
Although I haven’t watched the Netflix adaptation or played the game, you can call me astonished that a TV series, made by Netflix, caused an old game to spike in popularity. Which is the only thing I can say about this situation, as I’m currently not interested to read about the Witcher. Or watch the Netflix adaptation.

Replay Perspective: LEGO Marvel Superheroes

Villains all over the globe team up to hijack multiple Cosmic Items towards a nefarious end. The super (and non-super) heroes, with help from S.H.I.E.L.D., work together to thwart the villains and figure out what they’re trying to accomplish and what they want with those Cosmic Items. Stan Lee and Deadpool cameo at various points in the game.
After getting the LEGO Marvel Collection (a bundle that has the Deluxe editions of LEGO Marvel Superheroes, Avengers and Superheroes 2), I can admit the game is a bit outdated in terms of gameplay. Switching between characters on the grid is a little jarring, as you have to wait for a specific character variant to be highlighted automatically. But it was a great game for its time, especially because it managed to bring a lot of Marvel characters into it, especially those whose movie rights are held by other studios (as of now, Sony still owns the game and movie rights to Spider-Man). It’s still worth playing, but only if you weren’t spoiled by recent LEGO games.