July 12th 2024.
Is it possible for Xbox to finally win over Europe? On the letters page this Friday, there is a discussion about the amazing work done by Skyrim and Fallout modders. One reader even expresses their wish for the release of Switch 2 this year. If you want to join in on these conversations, feel free to email us.
There are rumors circulating about Microsoft giving up on Xbox hardware in Europe. It's a bit shocking, yet not entirely surprising. It's become clear that Xbox has not been able to capture the hearts and minds of Europeans, or even the Japanese, for the past two decades. It may just be too late for them to make a comeback. Xbox has always been known for its hardcore shooter games, and it seems like they have never been able to break out of that niche.
If I were in their shoes, I would also consider giving up on making consoles. It seems like this is what they are slowly doing, hoping that no one will notice. Xbox may never be a hit worldwide, but they do have a chance to dominate in the realm of cloud gaming. The only thing holding them back is the potential to move too quickly and sour people on the idea before modern broadband is able to support it. Only time will tell.
I am curious to know about their plans for the next generation. It's hard to imagine them releasing a new console after everything that has happened in the past year. So when they say they have new hardware in the works, what exactly does that mean? Will they change their minds again, or do they have something unexpected planned? My guess would be a line of branded PCs, including a handheld device. Although, I'm not sure how that counts as a "technological leap."
It's been said that the downfall of GAME is due to the fact that the company that owns them doesn't want them to have their own special tills. It's truly sad. I always thought that tills were pretty much the same nowadays, just with different touchscreen displays. I could be wrong, but I don't understand why they wouldn't work that way.
Regardless, GAME is already fading away. There isn't even one near me, and I definitely won't be going to a Sports Direct just to visit a shabby little kiosk and pay extra for a game. While digital games may be one of the reasons for GAME's decline, I still believe there is a place for physical games. Unfortunately, it's just as easy to buy them from Amazon, and there are no second-hand sales or rewards program at GAME, so there is no incentive to choose them. It's a shame.
Someone asked if they can put their Xbox game discs into an Amazon Fire stick. The answer is no. So why would they not need to have their console nearby? Forgive me for being old-fashioned, but some of us still prefer physical copies. It may seem absurd, just like some people still like to pay with cash. As an Xbox Series X owner, I couldn't care less about Microsoft's plans for Xbox. As long as they continue to support the Series X and release games for it, that's all that matters to me. I plan on keeping my Series X for a long time, even into the next generation, as I believe they will continue to support it. Although, I wouldn't mind getting an Xbox handheld if they were to release one.
Every year, I have enjoyed the summer demos on Xbox, where I am able to try out dozens of unreleased games for a limited time. It was originally created after E3 was cancelled and usually takes place in late June or early July. However, I haven't seen any sign of it this year. Does anyone know if it has been moved or cancelled?
One reader offers some advice to another reader who was having issues with their Plusnet router. They suggest upgrading to the Hub 2 router, as it has resolved their own issues with gaming and streaming. The standard router that is usually given out by Plusnet is slow, so it's worth asking for an upgrade.
It's been reported that Nintendo is working on a horror game, and one reader expresses their concern about it potentially being developed by Bloober Team. They hope that is not the case, as it would kill their interest in the game. However, it is still good news that Nintendo is branching out into the horror genre, as it is not something they are known for. With Microsoft and Sony dropping the ball, it seems like Nintendo is the only one with a clear vision for the future.
Do you ever wonder if Xbox will ever gain popularity in Europe? According to the Friday letters page, some readers are impressed by the work of modders for games like Skyrim and Fallout. In fact, one reader even expressed their wish for the release of Switch 2 this year. If you want to join in on the discussions, you can email us at the provided email address.
The recent rumor about Microsoft giving up on Xbox hardware in Europe has left me both shocked and unsurprised. It seems clear that they have not been able to capture the hearts and minds of European and Japanese gamers in the past 20 years. It may be too late for them to make a significant impact in these markets. Xbox has always been known for its hardcore shooter games and has struggled to break out of this niche.
If I were in their shoes, I would also consider giving up on making consoles. It seems like that's what they are slowly doing, hoping that no one will notice. While they may not be able to make Xbox consoles a hit globally, they do have a chance to dominate the market with cloud gaming. However, there is a concern that they may push it too quickly, before modern broadband can fully support it, which could turn people off from the idea. We will just have to wait and see how it all unfolds.
I'm curious to know what Microsoft's plans are for the next generation. It's hard to imagine them releasing a new console after everything that has happened in the past year. So when they say they have new hardware in the works, what does that mean? Will they change their minds again, or do they have something unexpected up their sleeves? Perhaps a line of branded PCs, including a handheld device? That would be my guess, although I'm not sure how that would qualify as a "technological leap".
It's sad to hear about the potential downfall of GAME, with reports that the company that owns them doesn't want them to have their own unique tills. I always thought that tills were pretty much the same nowadays, with different touchscreens that could display anything. It's a shame that GAME is slowly disappearing, with many stores closing down. I don't have one near me anymore, and I definitely wouldn't want to buy games from a shabby little kiosk in a Sports Direct store at a higher price.
While digital games may be one of the reasons for GAME's decline, I still believe that there is a place for physical games. However, with the option to easily purchase physical games from Amazon and no second-hand sales or rewards scheme at GAME, there really isn't much incentive to choose them over other retailers. It's a shame, but it's also understandable.
As an Xbox Series X owner, I can't imagine not having my console with me. Sure, I could buy digital games for other devices, like an Amazon Fire stick, but what about my physical game discs? Some of us still prefer to own physical copies, just like how some people still prefer to pay with cash. As long as Microsoft continues to support the Xbox Series X and has new games for it, I don't really care about their plans for the future of Xbox. And I would love to see them release a handheld device as well.
In previous years, I have enjoyed the summer demos on Xbox where we can try out unreleased games for a limited time. This was originally created after E3 was cancelled and usually took place in late June or early July. However, I haven't seen any sign of it this year. I wonder if it has been moved or cancelled? Has anyone else heard anything about it?
To the reader who had problems with their Plusnet router, have you tried upgrading to the Hub 2 router? I had similar issues with the standard router but have had no problems since upgrading. Plus, the gaming and streaming experience has been excellent. It's worth asking for the Hub 2, which they usually give out for free.
I never thought I would hope that a particular developer is not involved in a game, but that's how I feel about this rumored Nintendo horror game. I really hope it's not Bloober Team, as that would instantly kill my interest. However, given the quotes about them working on Nintendo exclusives, it seems likely. Nevertheless, it's still great news that Nintendo is interested in making a horror game, which is not something we see often from them. With the success of the Switch and the potential for the Switch 2, it seems like Nintendo may be the only major player in the gaming industry who is catering to a more mature audience.
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