Kevin 👑

@Victor_Lucas So, basically PS Plus.

I’ve been thinking about Game Pass and what XBOX could/should do next. Game Pass should be treated like a stand alone video streaming service. The back catalog is extremely valuable. Day One for massive new games isn’t really making a lot sense for growth because I think people just don’t have time to play all of those massive new games in one month and the expense to land those games on the service is prohibitive and interferes with sales. What could subscribers play on Game Pass? Smaller budgeted and inventive 6 to 8-hour single player or couch co-op games that are very high quality. Think something like Insomniac’s Miles Morales as a top end example, or Velan’s Star Fox and of course something like T2: Judgment Day No Fate would be a perfect fit. Not those specific games (of course!) but something like those titles. These games should be exclusive to Game Pass. These should probably be games based on known IP (dormant game brands, movies, comics, etc). Maybe they get retail releases 12-months after they hit the service, like Blu Rays of HBO shows. Physical, collectible releases naturally. People should be able to finish these must play Game Pass exclusive games in a weekend and talk about them afterward. That word of mouth is important. These games should be as well made and magnetic for the Game Pass service as hit exclusive shows are for Apple TV, HBO, Netflix, Disney+… etc. TV seasons aren’t 20+ hours anymore. Especially on streamers. Game Pass exclusives shouldn’t be 20+ hours either. The Game Pass back catalog of classic games and AAA hits from 6-months or more prior could be filled with huge 20+ hour games. Game Pass will still be a tremendous value for existing subs and be much more intriguing for potential players on a time budget. These would be people that have a desire to play modern takes on characters, games and worlds they know and love. I think new customers sign up for that. I think existing subs stay. I think lapsed subs return. But it all depends on the quality of the exclusive experiences. The lay offs across the industry have created the opportunity to invest into new studios with an overhauled rethink here. Time is the greatest threat to people playing games. Game Pass could be an interesting solution for a lot of industry challenges.

@kiwitalkz You can tell that the game doesn't hit as hard without his genius. But also, knowing they threw him under the bus too and smeared his name? Nah, hard pass

I wonder if DOOM: TDA didnt do that well commercially because of not just Gamepass but the Mick Gordon fallout as well. I know a lot of people first hand that refused to support DOOM: TDA because of that unfortunately. People underestimate how popular Mick is (and rightly so, the guy is ridiculously talented and on a personal note he is one of the nicest people I've ever met.) Microsoft and Bethesda had an ample amount of time to repair that relationship but did nothing. Granted, even if DOOM TDA did way better commercially, I still think Microsoft would've gutted Id Software because they are inept and have laid off successful studios before SIDENOTE: The Revelations soundtrack is 🔥 Finishing Move did a great job on the DLC and Mick's influence can be felt throughout.

The very same people who vociferously cheer-led Microsoft's mindless M&A spree and religiously supported GamePass while it was clearly failing are now going to explain to you how and why it all went wrong. And remember: These guys wanted more! Zero accountability. Embarrassing.

@kiwitalkz Bring on the GOAT @Mick_Gordon

These layoffs at ID Software hit me hard. DOOM is my 5th favorite franchise and ID Software is my 3rd favorite game studio. I've been preoccupied with Rockstar and Naughty Dog dev interviews as of late but once the dust settles I will reach out to devs at ID Software who got laid off to see if they wish to come on the podcast to tell their stories (without breaking NDAs), they deserve to be honored. Watch this space.

I've seen comments like "the MS layoffs weren't so bad". re: id software. Reports are that 50% (95ish of 200) of the studio was laid off. Here are some quotes on other details: “Tools, programming (except a couple), Quake Champions team, testing team. All gone.” “Yeah seems like all they left was leadership and art/design. I think Xbox forgot quakecon is next month.” It really does sound as if id is now a support team for Bethesda/others. Rip idTech, which was amazing. Maybe Machine Games will carry it on or maybe it will be dropped for future games? But the read is that id is essentially dead. At least for the time being. Yes, the studio wasn't closed and half still have their jobs. That's great. re: the studios set free by MS to be sold or mgmt returned. One view is this is great. For MS they get decent PR for being "good guys". But the truth is that in at least one case (and maybe others), retaining the IP in such a case was written into the original contract when MS purchased them. Second, these studios now are out of the MS lifeboat, on their own, and will have short time to find new deals or funding and they will make it or not. Never mind they sold to MS originally to avoid this grind and be 'safe'. Yes they have a second chance but more layoffs may simply be deferred and outside the current umbrella of today's layoff round, so MS doesn't really get the bad PR of simply shutting studios down. This means continual worry by the employees and stress for mgmt. re: Arkane. Same as the above but timing and process is different due to French labor laws, etc. The layoffs are still happening. A substantial portion of Obsidian was let go today (near 1/3). Worries that they now don't have the staff to complete current projects. Deep layoffs at Zenimax Online. Even Bethesda or Activision studios were hit (with a minor round and numbers that are small enough that it reads more like "everyone has to take a hit, even the star studios"). More details will emerge, but it's a lot of people. So it's bad. Real bad. Good luck to all affected.

@shinobi602 Not on Game Pass

Undead Labs: "We're transitioning out of Xbox" and State of Decay 3 is still coming The studio has been sold to a [currently] unnamed buyer, and the game will not be obligated to any "Xbox-controlling terms, such as having to be on Game Pass", according to The Game File.

Xbox is laying off around 1,600 employees today (8%), with additional layoffs continuing through FY27 totaling 15% of Xbox, as it announces "most significant restructure" in its history and parts ways with several studios: ▪️Double Fine and Compulsion Games are going independent ▪️Ninja Theory and Undead Labs have been sold off ▪️Arkane is reviewing "potential strategic options" ➡️ news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/07/…

@Victor_Lucas Based on only knowing it will be disc less?

Based on the info you have now do you think you’ll buy a PlayStation 6?

The dinner:

@Twenty7ths @mason_gason @TheCartelDel I am not arguing that it is a good thing. Just that it's the same thing across the board

@KC_32 @mason_gason @TheCartelDel They just had this happen with terminator. They didn’t have the rights and had a fault in their EULA and had to remove it from listings and from those who owned it. How many more examples do you need? tomshardware.com/video-games/pl…

I own Cyberpunk 2077 on Steam. I can delete Steam at any time, copy the entire Cyberpunk game folder to another PC or drive, launch the executable directly, and it will play. I truly own it. PlayStation digital games cannot make the same promise.

@Ra2byou @TheCartelDel Sure, I tried to download one on Steam and couldn't 🤣

@KC_32 @TheCartelDel Now try downloading a delisted game

@jarcrejected @charleybm04 @mason_gason @TheCartelDel I can agree on that

@KC_32 @charleybm04 @mason_gason @TheCartelDel On Steam it might not be the case for all games there, but on GOG you have total freedom over them.

@Twenty7ths @mason_gason @TheCartelDel I have the PT demo on my HDD even after it was delisted. So...?

@KC_32 @mason_gason @TheCartelDel Even then to further prove my point I bought a copy of forza horizon 4 before it was delisted everywhere so I can preserve it for this VERY reason.

@SebTH1 @sudosteve_ @mason_gason @TheCartelDel playstation.com/en-ca/support/…

@KC_32 @sudosteve_ @mason_gason @TheCartelDel Yes, -after logging back in- You still need sony to validate the copy, it wont just auto run on an offline system

@Twenty7ths @mason_gason @TheCartelDel Dude it's the same thing on Steam

@sudosteve_ @mason_gason @TheCartelDel You can put the game file on a HDD and move it to a new PS5

@KC_32 @mason_gason @TheCartelDel You literally just said you have to log in

@not_1ndigo @TheCartelDel Right, so READ: playstation.com/en-ca/support/…

@KC_32 @TheCartelDel Reading is fundamental

@Twenty7ths @mason_gason @TheCartelDel playstation.com/en-ca/support/…

@KC_32 @mason_gason @TheCartelDel No you can’t it’s tied to the servers and license as part as their new DRM initiatives. That’s why everyone’s mad. You don’t own the game you PARTIALLY own the RIGHT to have the LICENSE not the GAME

@MudstarAwesome @mason_gason @TheCartelDel playstation.com/en-ca/support/…

@KC_32 @mason_gason @TheCartelDel Incorrect.

@charleybm04 @mason_gason @TheCartelDel playstation.com/en-ca/support/…

@KC_32 @mason_gason @TheCartelDel No you can’t , PlayStation requires license verification by connecting to the internet and logging into your account