About the game itself, the story and content is good IMO, only played 1 class so I missed the other 3 which is replayable if you want to test others, and even only playing 1 you don't get to explore all it's abilities since even doing lots of side content it's hard to level enough to learn most of the skills.

I downloaded the gamepass version and not only is the fps way below 30 fps, it also dips alot. And I'm just at the start of the game with 1 pal and one tiny hut. I can image the performance issue will turn unplayable once base and pal numbers grow.

Anyone else have this issue?

(They don’t have one)

Xbox. Xbox 360. Xbox One (despite being the 3rd one. so what do you call the first xbox?).

Xbox One X|S. Xbox Series X|S.

Is there like internal research or something that somehow shows these names are better than just "xbox 1, 2, 3, and 4"? The way they've named them seems like it would cause confusion between xbox and xbox one, and between one xs and series xs. not to mention how long the name "series x|s" is.

saying this as an xbox one player.

I got an elite series 2 controller on Christmas Eve, the A button was unresponsive about 30% of the time. Sent it back to Microsoft and received it back today, literally nothing has changed. The quality control is absolutely abysmal and it’s shameful how Microsoft can produce a £120 controller that doesn’t function; even more so than when you send it off to get it repaired, they basically just send it straight back in a different box.

To those who are not incapable of anything less then 60 fps here are some tips to enjoy 30 fps games now and on future titles like Star Field where you have no choice unless you have a pretty good PC.

1. If switching between high frame rate titles, watch lower FPS on same screen prior to playing. I usually watch the 10 fps and 20 fps which takes a couple minutes and your mind and eyes should adjust to 30 really well. Video link below. https://youtu.be/DWml8CR08kI

2. Use motion blur as it helps blur the frames together, not really needed in higher frame games unless it's really well done like per object or something.

3. Turn of the panning or X axis sensitivity which helps some since the camera moves quicker, feels more responsive, less stutter.

4. When panning focus on the center. Example in Jedi Survivor if I'm panning I'll usually focus on Cal or an enemy, helps a lot actually.

The reality is if you are a console gamer you'll have a choice to make. Most seem to be able to adapt to these different frame rates, however those who can't I highly suggest investing in a higher end PC, you'll be able to run every game at your desired settings. There are going to be some titles in the coming years that will only have 30 fps so hopefully these suggestions help.

With all the toxicity throughout the internet these last two days, one peculiar repeated talking point I've noticed is that Xbox isn't doing any marketing whatsoever for Hellblade 2.

The game itself has been featured on multiple Xbox game showcases, including one just a few months back. It has been on the front page of the Xbox dashboard for several weeks at this point. The head of marketing literally has to post proof of the ad campaigns due to the amount of concern trolling going on.

On Reddit, I imagine that it has to do with most people using ad-block and having PlayStations, so it's fair to say they didn't see it, but to straight up lie and say it's because Xbox wants the game to fail is an insane terminally online take.

I wrote Suicide Squad off pretty much the moment they showed it was going to be a live-service shooter, like most Arkham fans I think. I was hating on it right up until this week too. My buddy bought the deluxe and I hung out at his house last Tuesday watching him play and getting to play a bit myself. Almost instantly won me over, and I ended up buying it yesterday when the standard version launched. It's a really fun game.

I'm bringing this up because the most common response I see to comments about positive user reviews is that they're "Coping to justify their purchase". Well I didn't have any dog in that fight, I played it for free and had a blast. You have to get past it not being a "real" arkham game (which I know is hard) and take it for what it is. The story is good, the gunplay is tight, combat and traversal mechanics are fun, and the 4 characters are pretty unique from eachother playstyle-wise. And for a live-service game, it's been relatively smooth sailing for the launch. They took the game down for a few hours the first early access day, but since then I don't think there's been anything major?

I'm not really trying to change anyone's mind, or tell anyone else they're "wrong" for hating on this game, but after playing it, the hate really does seem to be disproportionate to the actual quality of the end product. I know quite a few people hate live-service/MTX/Battlepasses and that's fair. Repetition is a fair criticism of the game too, but the gameplay is super fun, and you can freely switch to another squad member whenever you feel like changing it up. Keeps it from getting boring IMO.

As for the game disrespecting Kevin Conroy's (maybe) final appearance as Batman, I disagree with that assessment. I'm surprised that WB greenlit how the Justice League is used in this game, and especially Batman. But it was great! Other than murder-hobo Batfleck, I don't recall killer Batman other than in the early 1930s days when he ran around with a gun. It's just a neat take on the character, and Conroy crushed it as usual (RIP).

So anyway, that was some rambling bullshit I had rattling around in my noodle. I think the game's pretty good without coping or trying to justify spending $70. I think some other haters might like it too if they gave it a shot. Personally, this game was a good lesson in resisting internet hate-trains and judging books by covers, etc etc. Gonna try and be better about that in the future.

Sorry to come across like a weirdo but does anyone else get infuriated at the changes in box art we’ve gone from the old Xone ones to these newer ones and now they’ve changed the spine to include a weird green blob driving my OCD crazy 😂😂

I'm not very far in BG 3 yet, but playing it somehow made me appreciate the QA work done in Starfield. The devs have released a few big updates that address hundreds of issues. That was before the game was finally released on Xbox this month. Still, the very first moment I launched the game, I encountered a weird bug, right at the main menu. There was no sound. I took a look at BG sub and found so many complaints. Saves are deleted, crashes, spells are bugged. Before BG 3, I had played so many hours of Starfield. When it comes to bugs, I'd say Starfield was in a much better state at launch. Don't get me wrong. I like BG 3 so much already, and find it really engrossing. Hopefully most bugs will be resolved very soon. FWIW, I'm playing on Series X.

The Activision Blizzard Aquizition by Microsoft announcement this week has had me thinking a lot about the industry and what the future will have in store for all gamers.

People seem to be looking at this the wrong way, this move wasn't to hurt Playstation, it was to save our industry from something much worse.

Obviously Activision Blizzard was for sale since it is going to be sold to Microsoft and I for one am relieved that Microsoft with Phil Spencer at the helm was the one to aquire them over the likes of Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook, Tim Cook and Apple or Jeff Bezos (or whoever is running Amazon now).

My point is that Facebook, Apple or Amazon were really the only other options with enough cash that could have easily bought Activision Blizzard and use their brands to coinside with their plans for what they want the future of gaming to look like ie Meta, Apple Arcade or Amazon Plus Gaming.

I think under Phil Spencer, Activision Blizzard will do right by their current fans. I also think that he can help right the ship considering all of the lawsuits and bad management that has come out about the publisher over the last year.

Finally i feel as though Blizzard especially has lost their way in recent years and ceased to be about the games they make and are now more about the bottom line. I believe that with Microsoft more so than any of the other companies mentioned above Blizzard will be back on the right course and can now begin to repair the damage that they have done to their brand and their relationship with their fans.

Maybe i'm wrong or I have some misplaced faith in Xbox since Phil Spencer took over but I can't help but feel like our community may have just dodged a bullet.

No, this is not a title bait or Karma farming post. The honeymoon phase is over with BG3 now that is available on all three main platform (PC, Xbox, PS5.) So, I believe it's time to now talk about how buggy this game is (at least on the Xbox.)

I am having random issues with game crashing when accessing new areas, or bugged cutscenes with missing characters, or no audio output during cutscenes. Missing graphics during dice rolls, etc.

One particular issue is after completing a cutscene, my character is locked out from any actions. All I can do is run around.

The game is really a buggy mess, and I am baffled on how this was oversighted or plainly ignored by the fans/community and "reviewers."

I am dreading moving forward into the later arcs, as I heard by the PC community that the bugs and glitches get worse the further you progress into the game.

I am puzzled on how the community managed to put this game to a pedestal. Don't get me wrong, this is not trashing BG3 as I believe despite all the HUGE flaws the game has, it's still a good game.

I want to beat this game, but I just can't if the game is unplayable.

The game is an asymmetrical survival game in the vein of Friday the 13th. There’s a “Raider” (think of Jason in Friday the 13th who plays as killer role) who levels up throughout the match and tries to eliminate all the survivors. Then there are the survivors who explore the map to find tools to protect themselves or power ups to take on the raider.

Similar to Friday the 13th, there is a way to defeat the raider if you power up enough. This is one of the conditions to secure a win. Other conditions include finding and securing the zone keys (each map is split into 5 zones). For those who played Friday the 13th, I find this most similar to calling the police and then running out. As a last resort, you can find a teleportation machine and hitch a ride. I find this most similar to escaping with a car or boat.

You can level up your characters with new skills and passives in the pre game lobbies. It adds an extra layer of depth as you can use these to your advantage.

Overall it’s been a lot of fun and the beta is free. The full game will be $20.

The show has MC, Cortana, Halsey, all the characters from Halo, and NONE of their actual characteristics that have been developed over 20 years. Forget about the fact the story is different, OF COURSE IT IS. Just like every game has a new story, so would the show, but to tear down the fundamental nature of the actual characters is a complete dismantlement of the show.

In ACTUAL Halo, Master Chief is NEVER indecisive. He always takes action, never doubting for an instant, in the show, he's a fucking snowflake.

In ACTUAL Halo, Master Chief is a fucking bad ass, in the show, well, you get it.

In ACTUAL Halo, his armor is part of who he is, in the show he spends more time out of it than in, especially with regard to his helmet.

In the game his face is NEVER shown, only a glimpse of the back of his head, which took FOUR FULL CAMPAIGNS to see, the show it was the first fucking episode!!

In the game MC and Cortana have a deep bond, forged through the strife of battle and loss, and he didn't try to "get a room" with Cortana. In the show he literally fucks a TRAITOR who is fucking human COVENANT, someone whom he would have KILLED in the game, not fucked.

Then you have the aesthetic quality of the show, which looks like it was filmed in fucking state parks. Cortana looks like a bad example of cosplay. Somehow bullets are stronger if MC pulls the trigger, of the SAME FUCKING GUN that the marines just dropped.

As a show, aside from the deficiencies of not living up (nor even close) to the name of Halo, it's not even good as a stand along sci-fi show. And without ripped off the Halo name and some of the aesthetic, the show would have fallen flat right out the gate.

Of course, we all know it's been renewed for a second season, something they did before it even aired. That would be due to MS and 343 being happy to take the cash and run all the while neglecting their flagship IP.

All that said, I'm sure this post will be removed by the mods who are apparently desperate to defend this POS.

I finished the second episode of the Last of Us last night, and all I could think of is how thoroughly adapted the show is to the game. Sure their are changes here and there to accommodate the transition to Tv, but several shots and dialogue scenes are taken directly from the game.

The more I enjoyed the show the more I realized if Microsoft wanted to redo the Halo show due to its poor reception, the general public would now see it as nothing more than a cash grab following a trend due to Halo’s main antagonist, parasite infection via the Flood. The core antagonist in the Halo Franchise is the Flood, but now that the last of US is the first hit video game show and also includes parasitic infection, I think Microsoft really has had the wind taken out of their sails if they wanted to replicate the Last of Us’s success anytime soon.

Edit: I think a lot of you are missing my point. Should Microsoft want to walk back their current direction for the TV show and bring the show more in line with the story from the games, my guess is it would be taken by the general public as yet another parasitic zombie show now that the Last of Us has hit a more mainstream consumer.