Tag: xbox

Black Ops 6 Direct Preview: The Truth Is Nigh

The reveal of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is imminent, and maybe it’s just me, but there’s a rare feeling of optimism throughout the Call of Duty community.  While the “COD cycle” – where fans jump from hating the present product to getting excited for the next one – exists, this feels different. Be it single-player-minded players who are looking to sink their teeth into the alt-history of the campaign, multiplayer fans who are looking for innovation following Modern Warfare III’s return to form, or Zombies players desperate for more traditional round-based maps – people are excited about Black …

After Latest Studio Closures, Xbox Has Killed All Trust

This week, I originally planned to preview the forthcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops reveal in June, maybe focus on Nintendo finally acknowledging the successor to the Nintendo Switch, or talk about some of the great releases this week, such as the Metroidvania puzzler Animal Well, but Xbox decided to steal the headlines and the attention of everyone for all the wrong reasons.  Before going forward, I need to address it, and I’m not going to sugarcoat things: Xbox has fucked it.  Royally. The closure of four development studios—including Tango Gameworks, the developer of Hi-Fi Rush—and the resulting town hall …

With E3 Gone, the Big Three Look On

The video game industry is a fast-moving beast.  Trends appear overnight and disappear just as quickly.  Development studios close at the click of an executive’s finger. The game of the moment becomes tomorrow’s afterthought.   One constant, however, is the period in early summer, when publishers, developers, and hardware manufacturers showcase plans for the rest of the year and beyond, although the format has changed from what was regarded as the standard for twenty-something years. The Entertainment Software Association held the inaugural Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3 – get it?) in May 1995 with the goal of making it the premier …

The Game Awards 2023 – Picks & Predictions

It’s awards season! And there’s no better way to kick it off than The Game Awards, a show that I consistently enjoy despite not always being the most entertaining. Geoff Keighley has stuck with his vision for TGA and evolved the show into a slickly produced showcase of the past year full of exciting announcements, random celebrity appearances and the celebration of some of the year’s best games. TGA isn’t perfect — it’s a bit like potpourri. Made up of different elements, it can be flashy and entertaining, but ultimately, you end up looking at it and thinking, is all …