Tag: nintendo

Top 10 Favorite Games of 2023

AdamLeave a comment

Well, better late than never I suppose! This list took me a long time to put together because I had to to actually play through all the games I wanted to that came out last year in order to make this list. And I also wanted to take my time with each one of these games so I can properly enjoy them without the need to rush through them in order to get the list out at a certain time. I currently don’t work for any big new sites that requires me to have a end-of-the-year list out by the end of the year so why not just take my time and make my list when I’m good and ready! In this case, I am ready now to share my picks of my top 10 favorite games of 2023.

There has been much controversial surrounding the gaming industry as of late, particularly with the amount of layoffs that are happening, developers and designers being overworked and crunched to death, and a good majority of video game making staff could be replaced with A.I.. All of those are MAJOR problems that I have brought up in the past and will continue to do so as long as it remains a problem. However, in this case, I would like to take a break from all of that and celebrate the best of what gaming had to offer in 2023.

2023 was an AWESOME year for games, the most exciting year for new games in quite some time. It was a year that had just about of everything for every kind of gamer out there. I did my best to play as many games as I could and particularly played through the games that actually peaked my interest. After all, if I’m gonna be spending 70 dollars on a game, it better be something that I know I’m going to play the HELL out of and enjoy. Thankfully, there were at least ten games that did just that for me!

A full disclaimer, there are certain highly acclaimed games that I did NOT get around to either because I didn’t have the budget for at the time they came out or they just didn’t interest me in general. These include games like Alan Wake 2, Baldur’s Gate 3, Starfield, and Hogwarts Legacy. I didn’t play those games because I couldn’t make time for them and they didn’t interest me enough for me to buy them. I might get around to those in the future whenever they come out at a good discount but they will not be on my list.

And before we get to the main top 10, I do have a couple of honorable mentions:

  • Mortal Kombat X

Even though I’m FAR from the best at fighting games, I always enjoy playing them. As far as this game is concerned, it gave me all that I crave for a fighting game. The combat and fighting is fun, the new mechanics work well, and there’s plenty of variety in terms of maps and the incredible roster of characters. The only downsides are the needless microtransactions and costing a few extra pennies in order to play as certain characters such as Peacemaker. It doesn’t revolutionized the Mortal Kombat series or fighting games in any way but if you find a reasonable price, you will have a good time with this one.

  • Spongebob Squarepants: The Cosmic Shake

After reviving the best SpongeBob game to date with Battle for Bikini Bottom, THQ Nordic followed that up with a highly original game of their own with The Cosmic Shake. This put an interesting multiverse spin of the underwater world of SpongeBob SquarePants, fighting your way through each wish world as SpongeBob, along with Patrick as a balloon, in order to save their friends and bikini bottom. It’s heartfelt and colorful, the combat and platforming is incredibly enjoyable, there’s plenty of well-earned fan service throughout, and this might be the most I’ve laughed at a children’s game in a long time. Perhaps if you got to play as the other characters aside from just SpongeBob, this would have made it on the list. Even so, in an era where Nickelodeon has been making plenty of questionable decisions with our favorite yellow sponge, it’s nice to see THQ Nordic show true respect to the character, perhaps the best that the sponge has been treated since the passing of Stephen Hillenberg. I hope he is still resting in peace.

  • MLB The Show 23

This was actually the game I put the most hours in throughout 2023. That is because whenever I feel lazy and want to play a game without thinking to much, I either play through my team on season mode or find someone online to play an exhibition match with. It’s just something I like to past time with until I get bored. There’s not much to say here other than it’s basically what the MLB The Show games have been since forever. If you love baseball and/or sports games, you likely loved this one too. If not, then I don’t know why you even bothered.

But yeah, those were the honorable mentions. Now onto to the main top 10!

10.) Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2

Are my nostalgic googles completely on for this one? Yes, and I have no shame in it whatsoever. Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 is able to fully live up to its name and proudly does justice to the numerous franchises from our childhood that is being celebrated here. It’s able to improved upon the shortcomings of it’s predecessor along with providing enough new and unique elements of it’s own to make this a genuinely great platforming fighter. The single-player experience is fun with a good amount of challenges, the fighting system is giving much more depth than before, the new slime mechanic evaluates the combat to a whole new level, the roster of characters could not be more impressive, and even the campaign, while very minimum, makes for an enjoyable nostalgic trip down memory lane. Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 is able to deliver exactly what it says on the package and it could not be any better for it.

9.) The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog

Sonic the Hedgehog had quite a handful of games that came out in 2023. However, between Sonic Superstars, Sonic Dream Team, and the New Horizon DLC for Sonic Frontiers, I found The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog to be the most satisfying. This game came out on April 1st last year on the PC, strictly as a April Fools Day prank. Little would I know that this would be one of my favorite games of 2023 and one of my favorite Sonic games in a while. To put it simply, it’s Sonic and his friends in a murder mystery party. I would tell you more but that would spoil all the fun to be had with this game. Just know that this is a very well done visual novel and point-and-click adventure made with a lot of love from the SEGA Social team, who clearly loves Sonic as much as the fans do. If that sounds like your jam, then please go download this game right now on your PC if you haven’t already. It’s 100% free!

8.) Super Mario RPG

The remake of the original Super Mario RPG does exactly what a video game remake is suppose to do. It’s able to take everything that worked about the original game, expand upon it’s concepts and gameplay, and updated in a way that it feels like a fresh and unique experience, almost as if you are playing it for the very first time. Thanks to keeping the great gameplay, fun story, breezy pace, and charming characters that the original had, it is able to show it’s age incredibly well, translating near perfectly to the Nintendo Switch. Some might argue it could have used a bit more new content along with it, but for newcomers, Super Mario RPG should be able to delight them the way it was able to delight fans of the original back in 1996.

7.) Final Fantasy XVI

It’s incredible how after over 16 mainline installments and a slew of remakes and spinoffs, the Final Fantasy franchise is still able to feel as fresh and different as it is. Final Fantasy 16 is able to take this long-running series to the next step, a step forward in terms of the franchise’s overall narrative and technical achievements. The combat is simplistic but it’s still fun to slash and dice your way through enemies, the graphics are at a whole new level of impressive, the RPG elements is still top-tier for it’s genre, the soundtrack is one of the best of 2023, and the story delivers some of the best emotional moments and characterization in this entire franchise. Even if the side quests left a bit to be desired, the overall main campaign could not be any stronger. Final Fantasy 16 is proof that this franchise still has yet to lose any steam and still continue to find ways of delivering quality games.

6.) Pikmin 4

I have never played a Pikmin game before this one. As a matter of fact, the only reason I bought this game at all was so I had a new game to play while I went on vacation last year. That turned out to be a very smart decision because Pikmin 4 was an absolute blast of a game that makes me want to check out the other ones. It’s just hard to NOT get sucked into this colorful world of charming creatures that will always follow your command to get the objective done. I like using my army of animal minions to counter any enemy that gets in my way, discovering any hidden treasure, and finding my way to cross certain paths. I loved all these Pikmin so much that it was hard for me to choose which one was my absolute favorite. Even if I’ve not played the other games, I can only imagine that is the charm and formula that fans have come to love about the series. Some might consider the game too easy but for a newcomer like me, Pikmin 4 was able to win me over big time, providing yet another great entry to a stack of quality games for the Switch in 2023.

5.) Star Wars: Jedi Survivor

After delivering the 2019 galactic surprise hit that was Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order, Respawn was able to make lightning strike twice with their latest follow-up, Jedi Survivor. This was able to build upon it’s already impressive predecessor in just about every way it possibly could. It furthered the characters, it expanded upon the gameplay and the Star Wars universe, it moved at a faster frame rate, it took a step forward in terms of graphics and technical achievements, and it contained some of the best set pieces in any Star Wars video game to date! While it wasn’t as tight narratively as the first one and the worlds were a bit too big for some, Jedi Survivor was able to deliver more in terms of it’s gameplay, graphics, and presentation, perhaps more so than any Star Wars game up to this point. This was one of the first games I got for my PlayStation 5 and I was not disappointed in the slightest. If the third game is able to deliver just as well as the first two Jedi games from Respawn, then this series will stand strongly as one of the best Star Wars media out there, along with one of the best Star Wars crew out there with Cal, Merrin, Greez, Cere, and the LOVABLE BD-1.

4.) Super Mario Bros Wonder

Just when you think that the Mario series has run it’s course after so many different Mario games release over the past several decades, Nintendo proves yet again with Super Mario Bros. Wonder that they in fact have plenty of more tricks up there sleeves. This is yet another superb and quality Mario game, making for perhaps the plumber’s finest 2D outing since Super Mario World. It’s able to expand on it’s level design, worlds, and power ups further than any prior 2D Mario game while acting as one that can stand perfectly on it’s own two feet. The levels are fast paced and fun, all characters are a delight to play as, the music is amazing, the graphics are beautiful, the new voice cast does a find job, and the Wonder Flower power-up stands out as one of the best and most unique power-ups in any Mario game. I don’t know why it took Nintendo this long to put out a new and fresh 2D Mario game or just a new Mario game in general but it was absolutely worth the wait. Even I can’t live to see the Super Mario Odyssey 2 that I so desperately want, I can at least say I had Super Mario Bros. Wonder which will make me die not only happy but trippy!

3.) Resident Evil 4

Yes, this is another remake. No, I do not care whatsoever because it still manages to be excellent. Resident Evil 4 is able to provide an upgrade that is more than worthy of the original’s reputation, which is quite an accomplishment considering the original RE4 is considered by many to be the best out of the franchise. Capcom is able to delivery another quality RE remake and makes RE4 the best one out of the bunch so far. It’s more action-driven gameplay is able to translate very well to next gen consoles, the updated combat that allows Leon to move and fire his weapon at the same time as well as block is a genius move, Ashley is giving a lot more to do this time around and doesn’t just feel like a distraction, and it’s able to provide all the improvements and additions needed to make this remake feel like a brand new experience. Like most Resident Evil games, you do have to “get” the level design and structure in order to enjoy the full experience. If you are able to do that, then Resident Evil 4 will satisfy you in ways you wouldn’t even expect. There’s been plenty of video game remakes out there and Resident Evil 4 is easily up there as one of the very best.

2.) The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Just when you thought that Nintendo couldn’t do any better this year than with Super Mario RPG, Super Mario Bros Wonder, and Pikmin 4, they were able to reach that new level of peak with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Following up with the masterpiece that was The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, this will able to match those incredibly high expectations and in many respects, surpassed it. It’s never been more satisfying to control as Link in this incredibly massive open world, exploring more caverns and sky islands than ever before. The fluidity of both Link’s movement and combat, along with new powerups, makes playing through all these islands an absolutely worthwhile experience. Even in the parts where you may get lost and the pace slows down, there is always something to do in both the side stories and the main campaign, with it’s incredibly strong narrative being able to stick with you the whole way through. It’s debatable as to whether or not it surpasses Breath of the Wild entirely but Tears of the Kingdom is still an excellent follow-up, showcasing the power and quality of games that the Nintendo Switch has provided over the past several years.

1.) Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

I was looking for every reason to NOT put this at #1. However, when it comes to the game that I played through the most, thought about the most, and had the most fun and excitement with, I can’t think of any other game from 2023 that fit those criterias for me than Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. This is as good as as a Spider-Man game to get and just how good a superhero game can get in general. This is Insomniac Games reaching a new level of peak, being able to achieve the kind of greatness they always tend to reach but also find new and satisfying ways to do so. The story is incredibly engaging and worth following the whole way through, the gameplay is as polished, perfect, and RIDICIOUSLY fun as ever, the combat and web swinging has never been more satisfying to use, the graphics have never been more of a treat to the eyes, the soundtrack is a new definition of peak, and the voice work is some of the best performed in any video game. Whether it’s the very best superhero game of all time is still up for debate (I still have Batman: Arkham City as my #1) but no doubt, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 was able to hit all the right buttons for me and gave me everything that I crave for as a massive Spider-Man fan. It’s games like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 that remind me why Spider-Man has always been my favorite superhero and one of my favorite fictional characters in general. I can’t wait for the next game, Marvel’s Wolverine, and whatever else that Insomniac has cooking for the future.

Top 12 Video Game Shows

AdamLeave a comment

With the recent releases of video game shows such as Fallout and Knuckles, now is a good time to talk about what I consider to be the best video game shows ever made. Despite all the constant negative reputation surrounding films that acts as adaption of well-known gaming franchises, I think most would agree that there has been an enormous quality leap for those in recent years. Perhaps it has to do with more cast and crew involved with these projects nowadays that actually have a knowledge and respect towards the property it’s based on but, it’s definitely nice and refreshing to see better video game adaptions come out as of late, especially after several years of folks claiming that video game just can’t work in movie or show form whatsoever.

Now that some more video game shows is now out available for streaming, I’m gonna talk about 12 video game shows that I believe are legit good and are worthy of their source material. A friendly reminder that I am only referring to shows that are STRICTLY adaption of video games and not just ones that have video game elements to them. And if you are wondering about video game based movies, I already did a list of my top 15 favorite last year that I will leak a link for at the end of this piece. Right now, let’s talk about video games shows that actually got it right!

12.) Sonic Boom

Sonic the Hedgehog has had quite a bit of shows to come out throughout his history. There are those 90s kids that grew up with Sonic Satam and Sonic Underground, there’s the 2000s kids that had Sonic X, and we also now have the 2020s kids that have Sonic Prime and recently Knuckles as their generational Sonic shows. However, it might just be the 2010s kids that have been the luckiest as Sonic Boom is the one cartoon that got the most right about the Blue Blur and his friends.

Even though the games which the shows was based upon ranged from underwhelming to just plain awful, the show contains some of the best and wittiest writing the franchise has ever seen. Putting the spotlight on Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Eggman, and a new character named Sticks, it was able to be the best kind of Saturday morning cartoon, using the smart humor, beautiful animation and non-stop action to show the best of are colorful cast of characters. Oh, and there’s even a sequence where Knuckles talks about the importance of gender equality, bringing out the feminist side of him! If that right there is not enough to impress you, then what is wrong with you?!

11.) The Cuphead Show

While the Cuphead games contained the Walt Disney-like animation that work for a show, I believe very little actually assumed that it would have enough substance to carry an entire show. However, this adaption helmed by Netflix was able to surprise die-hard fans and even newcomers alike.

Granted, it resembles very little of the actual story or gameplay of the games. Instead, it operates as a throwback to that traditional hand drawn animation which it’s own style is clearly based upon. It’s all about Cuphead and Mugman going on adventures together and getting themselves into trouble alogn the way. That allows for all the traditional boss fights from the games to appear along with a handful of new characters thrown into the mix. While it acts more as trying to capture the medium than the story and gameplay of the games, The Cuphead Show is still able to keep that cheerful and uplifting feel of the games.

10.) The Witcher

This might technically be cheating as The Witcher started off as a book series before being adapted into a role-playing game. However, there is no doubt that the Netflix series itself has had a big impact on the franchise and games it’s based upon so it’s worth a mention.

This is a show that is basically a tale of two halves. You got the first half which had Henry Cavil front and center leading an adaption that was able to adapt it’s medieval-like setting as best as it could with it’s tone and feel, progressively getting better as it goes along. However, after Cavill’s departure and having Liam Hemsworth to take over the world, the show hasn’t felt the same since then. Whether that’s down to the casting replacement or forgetting what made itself work, the series has not hit the same since then. Had it keep that constant momentum, this could be ranked much higher on the list. However, when The Witcher is good, it’s quite damn good and remains as engaging as it can be.

9.) Gangs of London

Far from the most famous video game out there, this British crime drama is actually an adaption of a PlayStation Portable exclusive that came out in 2006, the third installment in the Getaway series. Even if you take that out of the way, it works well as it’s own interesting crime drama.

Gangs of London follows the trouble that has emerges among the streets of the capital city of England, following the assassination of an influential mob boss. The search to uncover the mystery of this murder might be pretty bloody and violent along the way but plenty of focus is presenting shady deals, tense atmosphere, and street-level politics. If crime dramas are your jam, this will definitely suit your cravings.

8.) Carmen Sandiego

Here’s a video game adaption that has perhaps slipped under the radar to many folks out there. After all, I don’t think anyone would expect that a show adaption based off of educational series of video games could make much for it’s own show. However, this Netflix exclusives series was able to work quite well as that.

Featuring a very recognizable cast with the likes of Gina Rodriguez, Finn Wolfhard, and Dawnn Lewis, Carmen Sandiego is able to provided a nice Indiana Jones-like spin, where it’s about the protagonist searching for certain McGuffins along with learning a valuable lesson or two along the way. This might be a very kid friendly show but there is definitely something in here that adults can get into as well. There’s not many folks out there that are aware of this show’s and even games’ existence. But now that you know, check out Carmen Sandiego whenever you can and I believe you won’t regret it.

7.) Twisted Metal

With an adaption of a series of games that is as crazy and wild as it comes, you would expect a show to be able to live up to that feel with not much difficulty. And you would be right entirely!

Twisted Metal is a video game show that was able to breath new life to it’s 1995 gaming counterpart. Aided by an engaging lead with Anthony Mackie, it’s able to successfully translate the dark humor and explosive action that had become a staple of the franchise while giving itself it’s own unique personality and feel to the whole thing. If you are burned out by cheesy, over-the-top action movies, this might not be for you. For everyone else, this will you give your cheesy, over-the-top action movie fix. And it’s all the better for it!

6.) Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

Yes, Cyberpunk 2077, the game which this was based on, was quite polarizing at it’s 2020 launch due to it’s infamous glitches and technical problems, only recently becoming a respected title after the majority of those problems got fixed. That doesn’t change the fact that Cyberpunk: Edgerunners was able to be a big success right out of the gate in 2022.

Whatever missed potential the original game may have had is greatly fixed here. Fully utilizing a techno megacity that is run by crime and corruption, what is able to carry the series the most is it’s unique visual style, standout action sequences, and a frenzied narrative that is easy to get hook by. Regardless how you feel about the game to this day, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is able to work for fans that stuck along with the game since launch and those that love a good sci-fi anime.

5.) Pokémon

When compared to other video game adaptions out there, this can be seen as The Simpsons or SpongeBob SquarePants of video games shows. A long running animated series, expanding upon multiple generations of fans but still has sustained enough popularity and success to warrant going on for as long as it has had.

Released just one year after it’s very first gaming installment, this animated video game adaption was able to expand upon the characters, world, and lore of Pokémon in ways that the games could never do. The colorful creatures of any kind get their time to shine, there’s more humor and comedy throw in, the battles are more of a visual treat for the eyes, and the world has never been better expanded upon than it has been here in regards to Pokémon. Despite the humongous success of the video games, I’m willing to bet Pokémon wouldn’t be nearly as popular as it was today if it weren’t for this show.

4.) Castlevania

After a handful of decades since the franchise first actual game, the animated adaption came around and was able to be the best possible version of itself. Even with it’s animation style clearly being inspired by anime, it is different just enough from traditional Japanese animes that it doesn’t quite qualify as that. None of that changes the fact that Castlevania works very well as it’s own animated series.

As it’s best, the show’s biggest strength is the ability to balance horror, mystery, and action without losing it’s cohesion. Complimented by stellar fight scenes and well-done character development throughout, it at times feels like watching cutscenes from one of the games in the BEST way possible. By being able to capture the game’s most important elements and fitting it all to a compelling narrative, Castlevania works wonders as it’s own show. It may not be quite an anime, but I bet even the folks in Japan were very happy with this series.

3.) Fallout

The recent smash hit of a video game show that just began streaming on Amazon has been one of the most delightful surprises of 2024 thus far in terms of entertainment. Fallout was able to work greatly as an adaption that honored the source material is was based on (despite some potential retcons here and there) while expanding the overall world to new audience members all around the world.

Aided by an INCREDIBLY likable and talented cast with Ella Purnell’s Lucy, Walton Goggin’s Cooper Howard, and Aaron Clifton Moten’s Maximus, this series puts the focus on a handful of scrappy survivors fighting their way through a nuclear apocalypse in different parts of a retro-futuristic America. Even with it’s rather serious stakes throughout, the show never forgets to be lighthearted and fun when the moments require it. With a perfectly balanced tone, engaging protagonists, and top notch production values, Fallout earns itself a spot as a new gold standard for video game adaptions and shows.

2.) The Last of Us

Despite it being based on a video game series, it was a no brainer that The Last of Us could perfectly work as a it’s own show. After all, the games themselves aren’t so much driven by the gameplay but by the deep narrative and resonate themes that has made fans attached to the franchise. And it’s those reasons and more why this HBO Max series is able to work as well as it did.

While it does stay as close to the source material as possible, enough changes are made that are justified and contribute greatly to what the series has always stood for. Joel and Ellie are arguably a more likable pairing here than they were in their own respective games, portrayed wonderfully by Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, as the series allows for their relationship to be more fleshed out along with the other characters of old and new we meet as the show goes on. If there was somehow any doubt that The Last of Us could NOT work as it’s own show, this adaption could not have prove those doubters more wrong if it tried.

1.) Arcane

I will say straight up front. I have never played a single League of Legends game nor do I recall watching a single gameplay video of any game from that franchise. None of that changes the fact that Arcane is not only the best adapted video game show of all time, it’s legit one of the best animated series that I have ever seen. That is no exaggeration in the slightest! It’s is simply THAT good!

If it’s not the wonderfully realized worldbuilding and animation that is enough to draw you in, it’s the tremendous voice cast and compelling characters that is able to back that up perfectly. Presenting the best sister conflict in recent memory, Arcane follows Vi and Jinx, once sisters, that find themselves at odds with one another with tragedy and conflict erupts in their city. There is not a single beat that misses here and completely works no matter if you played the games or you are completely blind to any LoL lore. Even if I’ve never played a game, I can just tell by how much love and care when into making this show that it does its source material great justice. If there is only one show on this list that you are able to watch, please make it Arcane! It’s simply PHENOMENAL!

And here’s my list of the top 15 video game movies!

Is Microsoft About To Become The Next Sega?

Adam1 Comment

This week, it has been reported that Microsoft is considering bringing most of their exclusive IPs and upcoming games to PlayStation. These games include Starfield, Hi-Fi Rush, Sea of Thieves, the Gears of War franchise, and Indiana Jones & The Great Circle. This was all reported by Giant Bomb’s Jeff Grubb, an insider within the gaming industry. While this is all not 100% guaranteed, it is certainly being considered by Microsoft.

To see this many prior exclusive games and franchises from Microsoft consoles such as Xbox Series X and PC potentially going to their main competition of Sony and their PlayStation 5 is quite mind boggling to here. While it’s far from the first time that a previously exclusive game off Microsoft consoles would make it’s way to Sony consoles (Just look at, Rise of the Tomb Raider!), to have a big portion of Microsoft biggest IPs and franchises working it’s way to their main competitor is certainly a sign that things could be changing drastically for Microsoft and for gaming. So much so, that it’s starting to make folks wonder whether Microsoft’s days in console wars are being numbered and shall soon fall into the footsteps with the likes of Sega, abandoning console making and going full-third party with their games.

In case one doesn’t know, Sega at one point in time did in fact develop consoles of their own. This included the likes of the Sega Genesis, Sega Saturn, Sega CD, Sega Dreamcast, and many others. However, in the 2000s, due to not selling enough consoles and facing potential bankruptcy, Sega had no choice but to stop developing consoles and sell software onto the consoles of their previous rivals. With the Dreamcast failing to compete with the original PlayStation, Xbox, and the GameCube, the days of Sega consoles were no more and would eventually see the likes of Sonic the Hedgehog and his friends on every other console known to man for the foreseeable future. While this is likely won’t be as sudden as the way Sega dropped out of the console war, one has to wonder whether Microsoft is destined for a similar fate. The main difference being that this has been in the making for quite a while, a making that is the textbook example of death by a thousand paper cuts.

I plan to make a separate piece about this in the future but Microsoft has had a hard time keeping up with Sony and even Nintendo for quite some time now. This largely goes back to their reveal of their eighth generation console, the Xbox One, back in May 2013. The Xbox One was promised to be more than just an evolution in gaming but evolution of entertainment medium in general. Microsoft marketed their console as an “all-in-one entertainment system”, which was the reason it was called Xbox One. Unfortunately for Microsoft, the concept of the console itself involved a lot of controversy.

From the overreliance of television features to the required online connections to the lack of backwards capabilities to the potential erasure of physical media to barely any focus on their upcoming exclusives/IPs, it was about the worst possible reveal for a new console imaginable. Things got even worse when E3 came around and Sony promised the PlayStation 4 would be the exact opposite of everything that Microsoft was trying to force onto gamers. It would put the major focus on gaming, online services weren’t required, backwards capabilities would still be a thing, physical media still had a major presence, and there would be plenty of exclusives/IPs made strictly for that system.As if all of that weren’t bad enough, a little salt in the wound was added when previous Microsoft CEO Don Mattrick responded to the criticisms of required internet by telling those who didn’t have internet to just get an Xbox 360.

Despite having all the momentum in the world heading into the eight generation with coming high off of the Xbox 360, Microsoft fumbled the ball big time when it came to trying to sell the Xbox One. Sony was basically handed the eighth generation console war on a silver platter and made for the best use of it. They were able to steamroll the Xbox One and made way for the PlayStation 4 being one of the most successful gaming systems of all time. Microsoft found themselves passed by Sony during the mid to late 2010s and eventually Nintendo once the Switch became a thing. The mistakes that Microsoft made for the Xbox One before and after it’s release was simply baffling. So much so that one could argue that they are still paying for it to this day.

Even if the way Microsoft handled the build up to their next console, Xbox Series S/X, wasn’t nearly as bad as the way that they handled the Xbox One, some of their biggest fatal flaws from that console would eventually carry over. From still too much focus on other entertainment assets such as televisions and music to not enough intriguing exclusives or IPs to doing jack s*it with the exclusives and IPs from companies that they actually bought to it’s confusing as hell console titles, unable to tell the difference between which is which, the Xbox Series S/X was not the answer they were looking for, following their humiliating defeat in the eight generation. To this day, I still am confused on what the Xbox Series is even to suppose to be. And when I’m confused about something that should be so simple, then that must mean the majority of the human population would feel the same way.

Because of all of the mistakes I’ve mentioned and more, one can’t wonder if what’s happening with Microsoft right now could be something that has been nearly a decade in the making. The aftermath of a disastrous console reveal, the constant focus on everything except the actual games themselves, the lack of self awareness with the consumers they are suppose to cater to. It’s now all beginning to crashing down hard on Microsoft. Over ten plus years of bad company decisions and focusing on the wrong things had led to this moment. The moment where Microsoft waves the white flag to Sony and Nintendo and will now find themselves joining alongside SEGA and others where they will only deliver software to consumers and no longer hardware.

Regardless of what the future holds for Microsoft and the Xbox, things are not looking too bright right now for them. According to Microsoft CEO Phil Spencer, the company will share details about what their future awaits them sometime next week. It’s only then will we know exactly where Microsoft head is truly at and if it’s heading in the direction we all think it’s going. And if it is, then I would be lying if I said I didn’t see it coming. And Microsoft has no else to blame but themselves for letting it happen.

Another link with more detail from Jeff Grubb himself: