The Xbox One is full of surprises but the last week or so has been full of them, where new games have become available for download with very little warning…..so is this the start of a new Xbox strategy?
Xbox gamers have become accustomed to weekly digital releases on Xbox 360, first with the midweek Wednesday release and then more latterly the odd Friday download as well. Whichever it as though, there was plenty of notice as to when (and indeed which) game would drop. Whilst the arcade titles were never on the expensive side, it helped Xbox 360 gamers plan their purchases, sort their finances and if need be, purchase some points in preparation.
But all that seems to have gone out the window on Xbox One.
The Microsoft points system has been ditched in favour of a straight out currency purchase and ‘games are games are games’ nowadays, but Microsoft seem to have forgotten all about the gamers out there who need to save for their next game purchase. The latest titles that have been released on Xbox One; Contrast, Another World, Sixty Second Shooter Prime, Outlast and Zombie Driver Ultimate Edition have received very little coverage, just popping up on the Xbox One Games Store with no notice. Yes, we all knew they were coming, but a trailer at E3 showing ‘Summer 2014’ as a release date doesn’t give us much time to save, prepare or indeed react.
It’s a good thing that the next generation console is managing to bolster its games library so quickly but would it really be such a bad thing if we could be given a set release date for each title a week or two before it drops, or perhaps go back to the tried and trusted Xbox 360 way of things and hit us with a new game on a set day each week?
The cynical ones among us would point to the fact that Microsoft quickly need a ton of new games on Xbox One just so they can then give them away on the recently announced Xbox One Games With Gold promotional scheme, but the latest details showing a whole new game, that of Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition, being given for free to all Xbox Live Gold members in July seems to say otherwise.
So what do you think? Should Xbox One owners have a bit of prior notice to the games that are going to be appearing on their console? Or are you happy just to get the games as and when?
Maybe we should just get used to surprises!
People shouldn’t have to wait so that your broke ‘journalist’ self, if that is what you really are, can save up.
You’re both right in saying that no one HAS to have the latest game, but we’ve heard from a fair few who were disappointed there was no prior knowledge with regards to the latest releases, meaning they couldn’t plan ahead for the games.
In the end, I guess it comes down to the type of person you are. Some have to have everything as soon as it hits, whilst others are more than happy to wait a little while.
I guess I don’t really see the problem. It would be nice I guess for it to be specifically announced but I don’t see it as being essential. The game can be released and then you could still save up for it later. You don’t have to get it on launch day.
I like the new way of (supposedly) releasing games whenever they are ready. I’m not sure the logic behind the “some folks need to save up” argument holds any water. Just because a game is released doesn’t mean a person has to buy it right that moment. And these particular games aren’t competitive multiplayer affairs in which a person might feel disadvantaged by picking up the game a few months late. Prior notice would be nice; I just wouldn’t want them to hold back for the sake of providing advanced warning. That’s like holding back a console feature because some people with lower internet speeds or no Kinect wouldn’t be able to take advantage of it. It’s nonsense. Put it out there, and let the folks who can enjoy it do so. You’re, very literally, not doing anybody a service by refusing to provide a service.