1st rule of any service like Gamepass is it needs a steady stream of new items added to support the monthly cost. So doing this will, in the long run, tank Gamepass subs on the PC. Which while it’s not super profitable for MS has helped it and helped people to buy the games it has. But no, instead they’re dropping off indie etc access to GP.
Hell, GP is the whole reason why I’ll be buying Aphelion eventually, because I feel in love with it via trying it out on GP.
This is also going to make it harder for some indie devs to signal boost their games. Though with the big publisers etc loosing their minds and doubling down on trend chasing and “respecting shareholders” that may be less of an issue. As that bs will lead to slop and quite likely in EA and MS’ case, LLM slop.
Anyhow, this is all because MS is wasting 100’s of millions on LLM bullshit, so the suits are demanding cuts to serve that total utter waste of money. And damn the consequences despite the very clear evidence LLM’s are not true AI and of limited, specific use cases. But of course none of these schmucks will face consequences, because MBA’s only ever fail upwards.
Aye, and now the new CEO of Xbox Games is proclaiming “we’re not reducing investments in games” despite selling off and firing the very people who make good games:
Probably because they’re doing the same old tripe AAA bs of chasing trends and “remasters”, forgetting the iron rule of game publishing - people like diversity and have limited gaming time + money, so you must spread your risks and ideal make trends, not follow them, especially if you’re aiming for a niche lacking in players, like extraction shooters. And for the love of dog do not try and make a “WoW/etc Killer” it will only end in failure and massive losses.
The failure to do the above is why Sony screwed themselves, it’s why EA has struggled since the late 00’s and it’s why all the Apelegs clones have ended in failure, and why launching Marathon without a PVE mode, never mind a single player experience helped doom it. And it’s also why AssCreed and CoD keep seeing less returns, because outside of sports games, people get bored with the same formula etc being recycled.
Though THQNordic’s pratfall was due to greed, the end of zero interest financing and of course, the LLM Bubble sucking up a big chunk of investor funding. But fortunately they seem to have gotten back on track and weirdly may very well be poised to survive and thrive despite their prior idiocy. Because the people who run it may be investor bros, but they have more brains than your average MBA holding publisher CEO and board combined it seems. Didn’t stop them from trying LLM slop with the Sacred 2 remaster, but they learnt their lesson very quickly, unlike MS which wants MOAR LLM slop in it’s game dev.
Anyhow, looks like the future of gaming, as always, is in the hands of indies willing to take risks and make art first and foremost that’s meant to be enjoyed by those who like it.