Bethesda is great, but Xbox Game Studios — you're not off the hook

Senua's Sacrifice Source: Ninja Theory

Equally Microsoft dives always deeper into subscription-oriented gaming with Xbox Game Pass, there'southward no question that the gaming giant has boatloads of content. With dozens of teams under Xbox Game Studios and soon Bethesda / ZeniMax, Xbox Game Pass content is set to neat by the truckload.

Ane of the biggest narratives that plague Xbox on social media, and potentially beyond into the mutual perception of Xbox, is that Microsoft doesn't match Sony on franchise quality. Halo hasn't had the aforementioned prestige information technology once enjoyed, and Minecraft is wholly multi-platform and scarcely associated with the Xbox or Microsoft make.

With Bethesda, id Software, Machine Games, Arkane, and other large-name ZeniMax Studios joining the roster, the question of quality could evaporate. But what most Microsoft's core studios, nether Xbox Game Studios atomic number 82 Matt Booty? Volition they get the budgets they demand to match Sony on quality? Or will we see more of the aforementioned "AA" rough-country launches that we've had with games like ReCore, Crackdown three, State of Decay two, and others?

A history of "AA" games

One of the things that really really bugs me well-nigh Microsoft's games marketing, is their over-use of big-budget CGI trailers that totally betray expectations. All the mode dorsum to the canceled Phantom Dust, Scalebound, and titles that did launch like ReCore and Crackdown 3, Microsoft presented these games with high-quality CGI pre-rendered trailers with tons of detail and cinematic flair. Microsoft's marketing budget simply doesn't seem to match many of these games' reality.

Throughout the past generation, Microsoft became known every bit a company that canceled previously-appear titles, mismanaged expectations, and ultimately under-delivered, with games frequently scoring in the 70s or below on review aggregation sites similar Metacritic. If indeed, they launched at all.

Information technology'due south quite possible Microsoft failed to give their partners and teams the resources they needed.

This isn't for lack of passion or skill on the developer'due south side. I believe it's quite possible Microsoft failed to give their partners and teams the resource they needed to see those games deliver at their full potential. Certainly, nosotros're seeing Sea of Thieves truly hit its stride a few years after launch, which you could debate was bare-bones (pun intended) in terms of content. Now? Body of water of Thieves is one of the biggest service games under Microsoft'due south purview, and by all accounts, is continuing to abound. Imagine if Microsoft had taken a bigger take chances and invested more in Rare to help it grow and deliver a bigger content slate for the game's launch.

Many take laid blame on stricter budgets in the Xbox 1 era, with likewise lilliputian of an emphasis on quality. Earlier Phil Spencer took the reins at Xbox, the entire division sat under Windows in the organizational chart. Now, Xbox is elevated to its ain position every bit part of Microsoft'southward broader efforts to court developers into Azure services, such as PlayFab and Game Stack. Xbox Game Pass has also seen Microsoft's gaming coffers swell on the consumer side as well, with hardware sales of the Xbox Series Southward and Xbox Series Ten unable to run across need.

"AA" isn't bad, just we desire more

State Of Decay 3 Ice Source: MicrosoftState of Decay 3 is another dreaded CGI trailer that may non line-upwards with the game's launch country.

There's certainly nada bad about any of the games Microsoft launched in a "lower upkeep" state. I played the hell out of Country of Decay two, which launched at a lower price indicate. I also enjoyed my time with Recore, which was also priced appropriately. Yet, I have higher expectations of a trillion-dollar company, especially given that many of the games they launched at cost were very obviously missing their full potential capabilities.

Thankfully, at that place'southward overwhelming evidence that Microsoft and Xbox Game Studios is investing heavily in their own teams.

I certainly don't speak for every Xbox fan, nor the legions of people who only buy a console for fun and don't really invest too much in the platform's direction. But for me, I don't want Microsoft to rely entirely on Bethesda to deliver its loftier-quality exclusives if indeed those games even are exclusive. There's certainly a (slim) possibility Microsoft could allow ZeniMax'due south studios to continue to launch games on PlayStation and other competing platforms.

Perhaps it's unfair to identify higher expectations on Xbox Game Studios simply considering Microsoft at large is such a vast, wealthy company. I also think information technology's unfair, though, to prove off sleek CGI trailers for games that are years out, like Country of Decay 3, and so deliver visuals and animation qualities that don't even approach the concepts in the pre-rendered cut.

Thankfully, there's overwhelming evidence that Microsoft and Xbox Game Studios is investing heavily in their own teams. Most of Microsoft's partner studios have seen their headcount smashing in recent months and years, with many positions open on Microsoft's Careers website. Merely will it be enough to match Sony? And honestly, does information technology fifty-fifty matter?

Can Microsoft meet Sony for consistent quality?

Horizon Pc Hero Source: Windows Fundamental / Russell Holly

Sony is bringing more of its games correct to Microsoft's home turf, on Windows x. Horizon Zero Dawn already dominated the Steam charts when it dropped terminal year, and at present Sony has revealed Days Gone and more PlayStation exclusives are headed to Windows. Sony's games tend to dominate headlines and Metacritic rankings and are oft the subject of envy from Xbox owners. The tide could plough if ZeniMax'southward games similar Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, and DOOM get exclusive, simply that possibility is all the same unknown.

The question remains over Matt Booty's teams under Xbox Game Studios. Can they run across Sony in terms of sheer quality? Does Microsoft allocate enough budget to meet Sony on quality? Does Microsoft even want to meet Sony on photorealism and depth? Do they even need to? Or is the entire argument based on console wars and FOMO from the social media song minority?

I feel like this meme well-nigh Xbox not being able to deliver critically-acclaimed games has become a barrier to some caste. Although, information technology's certainly not the case that Xbox Series S and Series X consoles are staying unsold on store shelves. The opposite is quite truthful, Microsoft cannot manufacture consoles fast enough to meet demand. But how much of that is due to the pandemic? And will it last?

Perfect Dark Dec 2022 Concept Art Source: Xbox Game Studios Perfect Nighttime concept art looks exciting, only will information technology be indicative of the terminal product?

At the end of the day, I can only speak for myself. Microsoft has fabricated a ton of nifty games I enjoyed. I have fond memories of playing Sea of Thieves with friends on Mixer, and I'1000 enjoying Grounded and Minecraft Dungeons immensely.

I desire to run into creative risks taken. And you know what? I think Microsoft volition.

I'm confident that Microsoft will nail its multiplayer-oriented games like Age of Empires Four, also. But there have been too many disappointments over the years, particularly in the single-actor arena. The backlash towards Halo Infinite'due south gameplay reveal, which showcased sub-par models and textures, says to me that at that place is a meaning corporeality of people who want to see Microsoft dig deeper on this stuff.

I want to see State of Decay 3 hit the photorealism hinted at in its CGI trailer. I want to see it dig deep and observe the depth and potential in the game's unique intersecting systems. I want to run across Perfect Nighttime and Hellblade II take risks, and create memorable, emotional moments that I'll cherish — which is something I fear Microsoft'south campaign-driven games haven't been able to practise consistently for a long fourth dimension. I want to encounter risks taken, both narratively, and in terms of investment. And you know what? I recall Microsoft will.

What practice you lot think about Xbox Game Studios games in recent years? Practise you lot think Microsoft is beingness ambitious enough? Hit the comments beneath, and let's talk.