A post-mortem of Xbox or: how $3 trillion cant buy you love Readers FeatureGameCentralPublished December 21, 2024 1:00am Is the Xbox dream over? (Microsoft/Metro)One reader believes Microsofts days as a console manufacturer are effectively over and has a theory for where he thinks they went wrong.Well, what a week its been for Xbox. Weve had claims, by a notoriously pro-Microsoft insider, that the era of Xbox exclusives is over, then the head Microsoft saying hes redefining what it means to be an Xbox fan (he probably meant that to sound like a good thing, but it doesnt), and then reports about the Xbox Series X being quietly withdrawn from sale in Europe. Oh, and US sales were down 29% last month, just before Christmas.Short of a meteorite dropping on Xbox HQ Im not sure it couldve got much worse than that. But then we had a story about how analysts think theres no longer room for three console formats and that its either PlayStation or Xbox thats going to get pushed out. I dont think you have to be a PlayStation zealot to think that maybe thats going to be Xbox losing out.Dont get me wrong, I dont think any of this is good news. Sony needs strong competition to stop them taking advantage, but I dont think Microsoft has offered that since the Xbox 360 era. And even then only for two or three years, until Sony caught up with them and suddenly all Microsoft cared about was Kinect.Given that Microsoft is worth $3 trillion, enough to buy Sony many times over, it is staggering how inept theyve been at challenging them. Even buying Activision Blizzard hasnt helped them, in fact that was the nail in the coffin.Yes, they are now the biggest games publisher in the West but the price of spending all that money is that they cannot afford to release any of the games only on Xbox, so they have effectively forced themselves to become third party.I dont know what they mean about their next gen plans, and Id be surprised if they did, but Xbox hardware is now nothing but a niche and I cant see anything that would ever change that. And thats for the simple reason that Microsoft never really seems to have understand the games industry properly.I dont doubt Phil Spencers passion for it but the simplest rule of gaming is that games sell consoles, but thats something hes never seemed to fully grasp. Or to put it even more simply, nothing matters but the games. Nothing, and yet thats always been Microsofts weak point. How big will Fable be? (Xbox Games Studios)A few years ago, Spencer famously said that even a 11/10 game wouldnt save Xbox, correctly pointing out that the PlayStation 4 generation was a bad one to lose because thats when everyone became locked into an ecosystem and theres no way something like Halo Infinite was going to coax them out.The problem with this is, like most things Spencer says, its only half right. Yes, losing the ecosystem war was a serious blow but it wasnt the end. Nintendo doesnt have much of an ecosystem but things like that dont matter to them because for them making great games isnt a problem.Spencer was absolutely wrong when he said an 11/10 game wouldnt change anything. I checked and what he actually said is: There is no world where Starfield is an 11 out of 10 and people start selling their PS5, thats not going to happen.Thats kind of a silly thing to say though because theres no world in which Starfield would ever get that kind of score or that that kind of game would appeal to a wide enough group of people to make a difference. Nor would Halo or Gears Of War or, Im willing to bet, Fable. Despite all the money theyve spent, Microsoft just doesnt have that sort of talent to hand.They had to basically shut down and restart the developers of Halo, the new team they set up for Gears Of War has made no impact, and Im highly dubious that the developers of Forza know how to make a comedy action role-player.If, however, Microsoft had made a brand new franchise, ideally a brand new concept, that was a great game and got great reviews, then that absolutely wouldve turned heads. But Id argue the only titles theyve ever had like that are the two Halos, over 20 years ago.Despite being the youngest of the three console makers, Xbox has always had their head stuck in the past, convincing itself that its franchises are on par with Sony and Nintendo in terms of quality and popularity when theyre really not or at least not in the last two decades.They spent $72 billion on Activision Blizzard but imagine if they had used just a fraction of that to experiment with new ideas and new IP, things that couldve actually made a difference. If theyd come up with next Pokmon or The Last Of Us. But they squandered all that money in a deal that killed their dreams of being a top console maker dead.Xbox as a brand will carry on, sure, but it wont mean the same thing as it used to. Microsoft has tried to paint this as a positive but its not. The only purpose of a games company is to make games and making your own console gives you an enormous advantage with that.More TrendingSo yeah, they can be Activision Blizzard with a new name, and a few extra studios, but everything that Xbox was meant to be when it started out is now impossible to achieve. All the money in the world and theyve been schooled by companies much smaller and less rich, but which understand gaming a lot better than they ever have.By reader 84Colbat But is it really? (Microsoft)The readers features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you wont need to send an email.GameCentralExclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Haushaus / AkitephileSave this picture! Dung HuynhHousesHiu Lim, VietnamArchitects: AkitephileAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:1200 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2004 PhotographsPhotographs:Dung Huynh Lead Architects: Thinh Luu - Ruby Nguyen More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Home is not only a place to stay, but it is also a place to relax, connect with family, and be a source of creative inspiration for work. The personality of the owner wants the house to have its own unique features but also create spaces where the family will gather after a tiring working week. When we sit together, many childhood memories come back, that's when everyone shares together like the way childhood is described in " The Catcher in the Rye" by J. D. Salinger.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!In Vietnamese culture, dining time is an ideal time for the whole family to stay together. However, with old construction technology as well as religious concepts, the kitchen and dining room are often arranged at the back of the house. This inadvertently creates a distance between family members. When cooking, housemakers are disconnected from other activities taking place in the house, which makes cooking boring and meals indirectly not so good.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Capturing this weakness in the traditional house layout, the project takes the kitchen and dining areas as the centerpiece. Not only in the center of the floor plan layout but also in the section. From the kitchen, you can connect directly to the bedrooms, living rooms, and entertainment rooms without going through any other buffer space. From the bedroom to move to other areas, you also must go through the kitchen area. This has breathed new life into the kitchen, thereby making family meals more delicious.Save this picture!Save this picture!Not only focusing on the layout of the floor plans, in terms of section, the kitchen is also prioritized with high elevation and the use of ceiling fans. This helps to deal with the heat released by cooking quite well. Cool space will make the mealtime happier. When the housewife is cooking the meal, also when the children gather in the atrium, a connection is formed in the small family.Save this picture!The unique combination of spaces for functional use creates a unique and different shape that completely meets the needs of the homeowner. It is quite interesting that the owner's name Hau, in German Haus means house. Haushaus was introduced, where the entire personality and aspirations of the owner are perfectly expressed through design. There, people are the house, looking at the house is knowing the the character of people.Save this picture!The design also did not forget to include some childhood memories of the owner, the land is located on higher ground around, the scene of " The Catcher in the Rye" by J. D. Salinger re-appears. The roof represents the kites flying over the windy and sunny grasslands as if to remind of the days when brothers and sisters lived together. Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officeAkitephileOfficePublished on December 21, 2024Cite: "Haushaus / Akitephile" 20 Dec 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1024986/haushaus-akitephile&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Jackie Brown on 4K Blu-ray $28 (was $43) Preorder at Walmart Preorder at Amazon Kill Bill Vol. 1 on 4K Blu-ray $28 (was $43) Preorder at Walmart Preorder at Amazon Kill Bill Vol. 2 on 4K Blu-ray $28 (was $43) Preorder at Walmart Preorder at Amazon Quentin Tarantino Filmography - All 4K Blu-ray & Blu-ray Releases Seven of Tarantino's 10 films will now be available on 4K Blu-ray All Tarantino Movies at Amazon At long last, Quentin Tarantino's two-part Kill Bill saga is getting a 4K Blu-ray release alongside his cult-classic crime caper Jackie Brown. All three of these memorable Tarantino films are scheduled to release January 21 and are available to preorder now at Walmart and Amazon. Along with 4K Blu-ray discs, you'll get standard Blu-ray and digital versions of the movies.At the moment, Walmart has the best price for each film, as you can preorder them for $28 each. Amazon's price for each is $43 at the moment, though it's not abnormal for Amazon to start Blu-ray preorders at retail price before dropping down to match Walmart. Both retailers have preorder guarantees, so you'll get the films for the lowest price offered from the time you order until your Tarantino films ship. Plus, you won't pay for the the movies until they ship.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Many open-world racing games emphasize street racing as one of the most popular and challenging activities, and The Crew 2 is no exception. With its extensive roster of over 500 vehicles, players will find that nearly half of them are suitable for street racing, including some of the most iconic GT models from legendary brands like Ford, Nissan, Acura, and Dodge.

The shadow drop is a term that sparks excitement in the soul of every gamer upon hearing it. It refers to when a developer drops a game immediately after announcing it, usually as part of the initial reveal trailer, as a way to catch fans off guard, getting them sucked into the gameplay as quickly as possible.

In many RPGs, there comes a time when the player has to buckle down and train to become powerful enough to defeat a boss or progress through a dungeon. No one likes it when the game comes to a halt, but sometimes there is no other choice but to repeat battles over and over again.

Hello! Bunnswot here again. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I am developing a game based on an alternate world of urban legends, cryptids and mythological beings. I'm looking for ideas for characters to add, so if you can, I'd like to hear which urban legends/cryptids have a country to add to the game! (Example: Bunny Man, Mothman, Goatman, etc)I would like to have a variety of mythological creatures from different countries in my game!! Since each country has very different my

In recent years I have been developing survival games with voxel-based build/destruction system. And now I'd like share my open-source game te

Buying or selling a home can be a daunting task, but finding the right real estate agent makes all the difference. If youre in Bellingham, WA, you dont have to look far for expert help. This bellingham real estate agents list showcases the top real estate agents in the area who have a proven track record of success. These professionals know the Bellingham market inside an

I didnt need another reason to love Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, but an unexpected feature has quickly cemented it as one of my favorite games of 2024. Early in your adventure, youll likely notice a number of fascist propaganda posters littering the cities and villages you visit. While you cant get rid of these eyesores at first, once you obtain a lighter, you can burn them! The game doesnt advertise this particular feature, but Im delighted that the developers added this extra bit of immersion in a game already brimming with detail.Youll unlock the lighter naturally during the course of your journey, as its required to complete some of the puzzles in the games various crypts and tombs. The tool allows you to light torches, fuses, fuel barrels, and apparently plenty of other stuff, too. If you havent grabbed the lighter yet, you can get it by visiting the vendor in the Gizeh marketplace.As if I needed any additional incentives to go around burning posters of Benito Mussolini in Vatican City, each poster you destroy gives you a small allocation of Adventure Points to spend on permanent upgrades. A word of caution, however: Just like in real life, burning propaganda posters will quickly draw the ire of any stooges in the immediate vicinity, so be ready to run or fight as soon as you complete your unsanctioned arson.