Wondering why Microsoft are apparently buying up exclusives like Respawn’s Titan? Well, according to one source, Microsoft are currently “six months behind” with regards to development of first party games for their next generation console.
“We’ve heard from other sources that Microsoft is not where they want to be at this point in the pre-launch development of Durango,” says Kotaku. “A reliable source tells us that Microsoft is as much as six months behind in producing content for the new console, despite an expected late-2013 launch.”
“Another tells us that Microsoft recently cancelled several internal next-gen projects because they were not coming together as hoped. These sources have told us that, comparatively, Sony is in better shape and further along with hardware and software development for PlayStation 4.”
This is a dramatic turn-around, and great news for Sony, even if it’s hard to place too much on the usual anonymous sources, especially when we’ve not heard much else to back this up.
The same report says that Microsoft are “aggressively trying to sign exclusive games for Durango”, which apparently comes from another source.
“Given the lack of internal development at Microsoft—their internal studios, while talented, are outnumbered by those of Sony and Nintendo—and given some of the apparent recent stumbles and slowdowns internally, signing an exclusive Respawn-EA game would suit the Durango quite well.”
Microsoft will reveal their new console in three weeks.
psychobudgie
EA and Microsoft in a partnership deal. It’s a perfect match.
Bilbo_bobbins
ha ha, I can see what you did there ;-)
gazzagb
I can’t see that happening to be honest, EA want to make as much money as possible, their financial books are already in a bad way. Siding with 1 company is a bad idea, especially as its so early on, they have no idea what console sales will be like.
Bilbo_bobbins
especially if they know they are behind on making decent games. That could mean less sales because people aren’t buying the console.
If this does happen I would be massively surprised too.
Bilbo_bobbins
If this is true, then its the same thing all over again. Microsoft will have a great console, but nothing to play on it. It happened last time and I wonder if people will be bothered about that again?
Personally I buy a console to play games on, not for a media device that gathers dust.
cam the man
Most people have other stuff that can do the media stuff like PC, tablet and smart TVs. Although I’ve used my PS3 to access ‘media’ I would say it’s used for gaming 99.9% of the time.
The Avenger
True but then I’m sure it’ll warm up sometime and get in its stride if Microsoft do enough about it. I bought a 360 2 years after release when there was Halo 3, Forza 2 and PGR4. I wouldn’t call any launch game list attractive unless one has the money to buy most of it.
Dar-Kaus
So in other words, at E3 were going to be seeing more than the usual working progress games on view, and a lot of vague ‘Coming early 2014’ after the trailers. rather than available on release.
BULLofDOOM
Oh dear.
Sony have had one hell of a hill to climb this generation and they not only climbed it but did a song and a dance once at the top. That hill was provided by Xbox and Xbox LIVE by offering developers ease of use and consumers a consistent feature – rich experience with Xbox LIVE. But Sony have matched and in many ways beat (imo) the Xbox the last couple of years and look set to run away with next gen as it all “seems” now.
If rumours are true then MS have created their own hill to climb, whether through arrogance or bad planning (or both) the next Xbox already seems lacking in the biggest department gamers look for in a console – games!
Fingers crossed these rumours are not true for the sake of competition. MS need only annonce Forza, PGR, Alan Wake and Gears sequels to get my money eventually. But if they have nothing new and tempting that cannot be found on PS4 at launch then i’ll hold off until mentioned sequels appear with a console price drop.
cam the man
If the rumours are right you could be waiting six months for some of those games. Plenty time for Sony to get ahead in the console sales war.
The Lone Steven
MS will have an uphill battle due to their console apparently using that “not DRM” DRM and the delayed exclusives. Whereas Sony, i suspect will be ready when the PS4 launches. I hope MS will ease off the buying of exclusive content next generation and focus on more exclusives for their consoles by their developers as the 360 currently suffers from a lack of new exclusives apart from DLC. I think MS may find themselves in the same position Sony was when the PS3 was launched. :O
jimmy-google
Non-first party exclusives are becoming rarer and rarer. Unless Microsoft shells out ridiculous amounts of money (and probably far more than they’ve ever had to before) to get them which is a risk with new IP then Microsoft will be thin on the ground.
When they had the lead they should have expanded their studios instead they’ve lost their most high profile in Bungie and other big exclusives like Mass Effect have gone too.
They will probably be okay for a while in the States (and possibly the UK) with Halo, Gears and Forza but every game has a shelf life. Europe requires a lot more variety. To be six months behind will give a big head start to the competition and puts back the second wave too. Sony can certainly get a lot of launch games out, the year that follows is often tougher but they have the studios to manage that.
hol
Seems Microsoft have fallen into the same trap sony did with the PS3, gotten complacent after the success of the 360, like Sony did with the PS2.
The Von Braun
hol nails my thoughts exactly.This ‘next-gen’ battle could be very interesting indeed as MS no longer have likes of Bizzare or Bungie to call apon, Rare i expect will be busy with Kinect 2 games and so forth, so i’m expecting MS initally at least to start buying up timed exclusives in terms of content for games/DLC, in order to be seen as offering something that’s ‘Only On Xbox’ for those who want to play the latest blockbusters on day 1 etc.
xdarkmagician
even if this is true I dont see it being that important. Console launches follows two trends, they either launch with a huge lineup and then stall with new content for 6 months or the launch with a few titles and then 6 months later theres an increase in games. So in that case when the new PS4 games are starting to dry up, the new Xbox games will be flooding in. If MS suffer in the first 6 months they’ll reclaim those loses in the last 6 months.
Besides we really dont have a good idea of how many people are going to upgrade to next gen day 1. The economy is still stagnant and we still dont know the price of either machine, or other important factors like DRM. And when you add in that fanboys will stay loyal to their flag, the Xbox will sell even if they only have 3rd party games. I’d imagine most people who cant decide if they want a PS4 or Xbox won’t mind waiting for 6 months to make a decision, if anything it gives them more time to save up some cash.
Also if Sony has tought us anything this gen its that a strong finish is better than a quick start.