Do you still like Xbox?

Do you still consider yourself an Xbox fan? The recent layoffs at Xbox have caused quite a stir among readers, with one giving their thoughts on Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave. Our Games Inbox section is a place for our readers to share their thoughts, opinions, and comments.

To join in on the discussions, simply send an email to [email address]. I must say, I was not surprised by the recent layoffs at Xbox but it's disheartening to see that Rare is now under Activision's control. It's concerning to think about the fate of the UK's oldest game developer.

Will they be reduced to merely creating skins for Call Of Duty? It's a terrible situation, especially since it seems like Ninja Theory and Arkane may also be facing closure. It's all just so horrible.

But then again, none of this should come as a surprise to those who have been keeping up with the news. And the fact that there are still over 1,000 layoffs to come makes me wonder if The Coalition, inXile, and any other unmentioned developers will also meet the same fate. Sony has been receiving a lot of criticism lately, and rightfully so, but I have to ask – is anyone still a fan of Xbox?

Not only have their games seemed irrelevant for years now, but their treatment of developers makes it impossible to support them. I can't imagine myself getting a next-gen Xbox, unless it has the ability to 3D print gold bars or something. It's a shame, really.

Moving on, I have to say that the recent rumors about Xbox were no surprise to me. And a few hours later, they proved to be 100% true – Xbox has laid off even more people. With all the developers being shut down or relocated, I find it hard to believe that any of this will lead to a positive outcome, even from Microsoft's perspective.

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I doubt that anyone will be rushing to buy the new Gears Of War game, and I'm not very optimistic about the reception of the new Fable. While The Elder Scrolls 6 is a guaranteed hit, I can't help but wonder if Xbox will make it an exclusive. If they do, it will likely flop.

And if they don't, it won't do much to help Xbox as everyone will just buy it on PlayStation 5. I really don't know what their plan is, and I'm starting to think they don't have one. It seems like the executives are just waiting for a golden handshake when everything falls apart, while hoping that a game will become a surprise success along the way.

If they do have a concrete plan, I'd love to hear it, but I won't hold my breath. On a different note, I don't like to bring up Nintendo when Xbox or Sony are doing something terrible, but the difference between the way these American companies handle things compared to Japan is quite striking. You don't even have to mention Nintendo – just look at Capcom's amazing year.

They've released great games, including original IP and a retro reboot, all of which have been both critical and sales successes. And amidst all of this, there have been no layoffs and no negative press that I'm aware of. In fact, many Japanese developers have been giving their staff pay raises to prevent them from leaving – the complete opposite of what Xbox has been doing.

And let's not forget, Capcom even had a hit movie. Things couldn't have gone better for them, and they didn't have to treat their employees poorly to achieve it. Will Microsoft learn a lesson from this?

I highly doubt it. Now, onto a more positive topic – Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave. After reading your review and seeing other positive feedback, I decided to give it a try and I've been thoroughly enjoying it over the past few days.

I had played one of the Game Boy Advance games before, but I never finished it, so I wasn't sure if this one would be for me. However, the sheer variety of gameplay and number of characters has impressed me. As you mentioned, the story could have been funnier given its silliness, but I've still been able to get into the vibe of the game and have a lot of fun.

My favorite character so far is Queen Theodore – her sassiness is just too entertaining. But even though I don't particularly like her entourage, it's still enjoyable to switch between their storylines. I also find the combat to be enjoyable, although it hasn't changed much since the Game Boy Advance days.

I'm surprised they haven't tried to experiment with something more open-ended, like the Mario + Rabbids games. I think that would be a natural progression for the series in the future. Moving on to Destiny 2, it's quite a turnaround to see the game suddenly not being dead.

I had thought that it was a lost cause and that Bungie was just waiting for Sony to drop the hammer on them. I'm glad that didn't happen, but it would be nice if they made some kind of announcement to give people hope for their future. I know that Sony doesn't like to speak publicly anymore, but this would be the perfect opportunity to publicly support Bungie and make some positive statements.

Instead, I almost missed the news and had a hard time believing it at first because it seemed too good to be true. Lastly, I recently finished playing Marvel's Wolverine and I have mixed opinions about it. It's definitely not a bad game, despite all the hate it's been receiving.

Perhaps this is the fate of every Sony game from now on, but I think it's unfair to Wolverine, which I feel is trying to do something different. I appreciate the effort put into fleshing out the story and characters, which is not something you typically see in a straight-up action game. It did feel a bit too long for the story they were telling, but I thought the ending was well done and it had a proper beginning, middle, and end.

Although, I have to admit that the part where Jean Grey looks into the camera and talks about this only being the beginning was a bit cringey. Overall, I liked the game. I think the combat was kept simple not just for casual gamers, but also to showcase how effortlessly Wolverine fights, especially against ordinary enemies.

Comparing it to a scrolling beat 'em-up is accurate, as it has that same rhythm, but it's not mindless because you can easily get overwhelmed and have no way to escape. It may not be the greatest game ever, but I don't regret buying it. I would give it a solid 7/10.

Are you still a fan of Xbox? That's the question being asked on the Wednesday letters page, as readers express their dismay over the recent round of layoffs at the company. One reader even gives their thoughts on a specific game, Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave.

Games Inbox is a space for readers to share their opinions, comments, and letters. To join in on the discussions, simply email us at the provided address. The news of Xbox laying off hundreds of employees and Rare being under Activision's control has left many feeling disappointed and concerned.

It's even more disheartening to think that other beloved developers like Ninja Theory and Arkane may also face a similar fate. It's not exactly a surprise, as those who have been following the company closely could see the writing on the wall. But the fact that there are still over 1,000 layoffs to come is a grim reality.

Amidst all the criticism Sony has been facing lately, it's hard not to wonder if anyone is still a fan of Xbox. Even without considering their treatment of developers, their games have been lacking in relevance for quite some time. But when you add in their actions towards their employees, it becomes nearly impossible to support them.

It's safe to say that many won't be rushing to buy the next generation Xbox, unless it has some miraculous features like printing gold bars. It's been a tough year for Xbox, and it's hard to see how any of their decisions will benefit them in the long run. The recent layoffs and reshuffling of developers paint a bleak picture, not just for the employees, but for the company as a whole.

As one reader points out, the upcoming Gears of War and Fable games may not fare well with fans, and even the highly anticipated Elder Scrolls 6 may not be enough to save them. And if they do make it an exclusive, it's unlikely to be successful, as many will simply purchase it on the PlayStation 5 instead. One reader makes an interesting observation about the stark contrast between American and Japanese companies, using Nintendo and Capcom as examples.

While American companies like Xbox seem to have no qualms about laying off employees and creating negative press, Japanese companies like Capcom have had a successful year without causing harm to their employees. It's a stark difference that puts Xbox in a bad light. Shifting gears to a more positive topic, one reader shares their enjoyment of Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, a game they initially had no interest in until reading positive reviews.

While the lack of humor in the game's story is a downside, the sheer variety of characters and gameplay options make up for it. The combat may not have changed much since the Game Boy Advance days, but it's still enjoyable and the reader wonders why the developers haven't experimented with more open-ended gameplay like the Mario + Rabbids games. Another reader chimes in with their thoughts on the recent news about Destiny 2 not being completely dead, despite previous reports.

They express their frustration with the lack of announcements and optimism from Sony, who could have used this opportunity to show their support for Bungie. And finally, one reader shares their mixed opinions about Marvel's Wolverine, appreciating the effort put into the story and characters but feeling that the combat is too simple. Overall, they give it a solid 7/10 and don't regret their purchase.