Xbox and the Xbox One Are Changing

Full Details:
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/mar/01/microsoft-to-unify-pc-and-xbox-one-platforms-ending-fixed-console-hardware

It's a move that I'm not really surprised by and it is basically the long way round to what Microsoft originally wanted to do with the Xbox One. For me it all hinges on how the upgrades and newer console models are handled going forward. If they're cost effective that will be great but part of me doubts that. So what are the incentives to stick with this over having a gaming PC where I can use Steam too?

Don't see how it can work with Xbox One, unlike a PC it has no user replaceable components that can be upgraded. If they're going to regularly release ever more powerful new versions of the XB1 console instead who's going to keep buying them?

I really don't see how this is a good thing. I just see it as MS wanting us to buy more consoles than we need too just to play the latest game.

The idea is that a game's performance and graphical fidelity will scale with the hardware you are using. With Microsoft bringing out newer models of console sooner and possibly upgrades for existing ones. 

So yeah expect a stop gap solution for the current Xbox One and the newer model of the console to be a bit more robust. 

They want to mimic the mobile/tablet market to a certain extent which is an interesting move. But like I said it all depends on the price. If they are expecting people to payout for a new console every 2-3 years then they are going to have a hard time selling it to people.

Looks like the next stage in this restructering is to sadly cancel Fable Legends and close down Lionhead Studios: http://www.kotaku.co.uk/2016/03/07/microsoft-to-close-lionhead-studios-fable-legends-cancelled

bye bye lionhead  

And Press Play, I liked Curse Of The Brotherhood. 

Hopefully staff from both are snapped up by other developers.

I think Lionhead clearly lost out when Molyneux left. It is sad, of course, a once giant of the industry, but when was there last big hit? Fable 2?

Wolvieware wrote:I think Lionhead clearly lost out when Molyneux left. It is sad, of course, a once giant of the industry, but when was there last big hit? Fable 2?

Fable III sold more than Fable II despite the poor critical reception it got. Their first real blip was Fable: The Journey.

Anyway for those who have access to the Fable Legends beta Microsoft are kindly keeping it up and running until April. I'll hopefully find some time this weekend to update it and give it another go before it disappears forever. I've also just ordered a copy of Fable Anniversary which I never got around to buying when it first came out. 

I'm interested to see if Microsoft are going to completely kill the franchise or if they will transfer it over to another dev team at some point. It is one of my favourite IPs and the setting has a uniquely British feel to it. It would be a shame for it to disappear completely.

Sony are hoping to nick some of those Lionhead devs:


http://www.playstationtrophies.org/news/news-18586-Sony-Invites-Lionhead-Studios-to-Attend-its-Recruitment-Event.html

Yeah I saw the thing about sony going for lionhead guys.. pretty cool really , itss a good idea and might help some of them not face the suckage of being unemployed

Today's development is that they want to open up Xbox Live for cross-platform play between the console and PCs. With naturally has lead people to saying they want to connect to PSN and PS4s *sigh*

Just a rumor but it seems Microsoft's plan for an upgradeable Xbox may have had an effect on Sony too.

www.kotaku.co.uk/2016/03/18/sources-say-sony-is-working-on-a-ps4-5

Seems unlikely to me but you never know.