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Xbox was supposed to be a safe place for developers to take risks and explore creative games.
Xbox was supposed to be a safe and supportive home for a diverse range of developers and studios.
Prey is one of the best games made in many years, and I always hoped we’d get a sequel one day.
Xbox was supposed to bedifferent.
Forget the recent controversy surroundingMicrosoft’s decision to release select Xbox exclusives on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch.
Some of my favorite Xbox franchises left out to dry
Let’s survey the damage.
Prey is one of the best games made in many years, and I always hoped we’d get a sequel one day.
As for Redfall, development is officially ceasing.
Alpha Dog was responsible for bringing theDOOMfranchise to mobile platforms withMighty Doom, which is also closing its doors.
All of this in addition to the other1,900 jobs Microsoft cut across Activision Blizzard and Xbox earlier this year.
Forget new IPs — Xbox is only interested in focusing on its guaranteed successes.
For me, the most painful part of this terrible announcement is the loss of Tango Gameworks.
Now, I’ll likely never see this epic IP blossom.
After all, Redfall was a commercial and criticalfailure, and there’s no debating that.
One of my favorite video games of all time, a critical and commercial success, and the last game from Tango Gameworks.
Pedigree aside, Arkane Austin lost Microsoft money.
So, what’s the excuse for Tango Gameworks?
Risk-taking is being punished whether you succeed or fail, so why would studios ever take risks?
We’ll never know what Ghostwire: Tokyo could’ve been.
IsNinja Theoryat risk becauseSenua’s Saga: Hellblade IIhas niche appeal?
IsObsidian Entertainmentin danger ifAvoweddoesn’t become a runaway success when it releases later this year?
Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter if Xbox intends to close more studios or not.
Is there even room in Xbox for creative projects like Grounded or Pentiment any more?
Unless you directly contribute to Microsoft’s ever-growing bottom line, you’re not safe anymore.
Personally, I despise exclusivity in video games.
Through all of this, I maintained my faith in Xbox.
It’s a dour day for Xbox fans.
I recognized Xbox’s vision, and I looked forward to seeing it come to fruition.
Now, for the first time, I’m genuinely uncertain.
Players aside, how can Xbox’s developers be confident in their place at Microsoft anymore?
All eyes are on Xbox right now, and the image isn’t pretty.
Now we know that’s not the case and trust shattered isn’t so easily recovered.
Spoiler alert: they make better games.
Mediterranea Inferno is one of the most unforgettable games I’ve ever played.
