Zenless Zone Zero, the new action-RPG from the developers of Genshin Impact, will have a technical test period for PlayStation 5 players. The latest game from HoYoverse has been drawing attention for having a similar aesthetic to Genshin Impact but an utterly distinct setting. Zenless Zone Zero is scheduled for release in 2024, so HoYoverse is working at full throttle on beta tests to ensure a smooth launch.
Xbox Boss Wants Epic, Other Stores on Console, Dropping Exclusivity Partly for Gen Z Appeal
26.03.2024 - 21:21 / wccftech.com / Phil Spencer / Nathan Birch / Nintendo
In recent months, there’s been a lot of debate and concern about the future of the Xbox brand, with Microsoft seemingly tip-toeing away from exclusives and the traditional console business. In a recent “business update,” Xbox boss Phil Spencer and other execs sought to calm fears, saying major exclusives like Starfield are staying put (for now) and Microsoft is working on powerful new hardware, but fans have been skeptical in the face of “flatlining” demand for Xbox consoles.
Well, Spencer sat down for an interview with Polygon at GDC, and it seems he has a new pitch – in Spencer’s estimation the console business has gone stagnant, and some of the things he’s proposing, like stepping back from exclusives, are needed to get back to a place of growth. The lack of growth becomes a particular problem when the cost of AAA game development seems to be growing exponentially, from around $100 per game last generation, to up to $300 million per game this gen.
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“I’ll say the thing that has me most concerned for the industry is the lack of growth. And when you have an industry that is projected to be smaller next year in terms of players and dollars, and you get a lot of publicly traded companies that are in the industry that have to show their investors growth — because why else does somebody own a share of someone’s stock if it’s not going to grow? — the side of the business that then gets scrutinized is the cost side. Because if you’re not going to grow the revenue side, then the cost side becomes challenged.”
Spencer always likes to talk in broad industry terms – Everything he does is for the good of everyone! – but Nintendo has had great success with the Switch this generation. The PS5 is on par with the very successful PS4. The only console badly stagnating is Spencer’s own Xbox Series X/S. Sony is struggling to keep costs down, but ultimately, nobody’s going to potentially benefit more from upending the console business than Microsoft.
That said, Spencer does make a good point that ballooning costs do limit the chances publishers are willing to make, and that bringing games to more platforms may be a way to mitigate that. Of course, carefully keeping costs tamped down, as Nintendo has for decades, is also a possible solution. Spencer also points to a move away from exclusives as an inevitability, because those TikTok-loving Gen Z kids just don’t understand closed platforms…
“This notion that Xbox can only be this one device that plugs into a television isn’t something we see in the Gen Z research. Because nothing else is like that for them. Some of them will have an iPhone, some will have an Android, but
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wccftech.com
05.04.2024 / 22:19
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gamesindustry.biz
04.04.2024 / 17:59
Does a stuttering console space offer an opportunity for others? | Opinion
Everyone’s favourite candid games exec, Phil Spencer, was in the news last week discussing the concerning ‘lack of growth’ in video games.
gamerant.com
02.04.2024 / 13:55
Honkai: Star Rail Vastly Outperforms Genshin Impact in March Revenue
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gamerant.com
02.04.2024 / 00:37
Pokemon X and Y Fan Designs Human Forms for Gen 6 Pokemon
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tech.hindustantimes.com
30.03.2024 / 04:25
Garena Free Fire MAX Redeem Codes for March 30: Get exclusive items for free
In the realm of Indian gaming, Garena Free Fire Max stands out as a refined version of the beloved Free Fire battle royale game. Offering dynamic visuals and immersive gameplay, it has captured the attention of gamers across the country. Adding to its allure are the daily redemption codes, which have garnered praise from gaming enthusiasts nationwide.
gamerant.com
30.03.2024 / 00:57
Xbox Insiders Have Yet Another New Console Update to Test
Xbox released another major update for members of the Xbox Insiders program, with a number of fixes for Game Clubs, the Home screen, and more features. The new update comes just one day removed from the March 28 Xbox Insiders update, which fixed a bug involving dynamic backgrounds on Xbox.
gamerant.com
28.03.2024 / 15:29
Epic Games Store Officially Reveals 2 Free Games for April 4
Every Thursday at 10 am CT, the Epic Games Store rotates its free game selection and confirms what will be coming the next week. This means Epic Games Store users can no longer claim Call of the Wild: The Angler or Invincible Presents: Atom Eve, but they can claim Islets until April 4. At that time, Islets will rotate out of EGS and the service will add The Outer Worlds and Thief, two big pick-ups for the service.
gamerant.com
28.03.2024 / 14:25
Stranger Things Actor Wants To See A Lord Of The Rings Style Ending For The Netflix Series
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gamerant.com
27.03.2024 / 22:41
Pokemon Black and White Fan Designs Human Forms for Gen 5 Pokemon
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thesixthaxis.com
27.03.2024 / 18:47
Phil Spencer now wants rival storefronts on Xbox
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gamesindustry.biz
27.03.2024 / 16:45
Phil Spencer wants to see other digital storefronts on Xbox
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