Gaming Xbox Series X|S

Which of these do you prefer

  • Microsoft Game Pass

  • Xbox Game Pass

Results are only viewable after voting.
Redlambs said:
I'm guessing a large number of which are glowing praise!

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go a sink a lot on SoT. It's been a while and I want to be back to my mediocre best by the time MI and the new season drops :D
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Nice, it’s a good game, enjoy! I’m crap at it though :)
 
Volumiza said:
Nice, it’s a good game, enjoy! I’m crap at it though :)
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Played with my youngest for the first time in, got to be at very least 18months, the other night and we managed to do a fort and sink a chasing galley. Open crew it seemed though, but still it was nice to not get dumpstered for once! :lol: He wants the gold curse now, which means the original Tall Tales done 5 times each...pain!

It's a tough game to fully learn as there's just so much going on, but as soon as you realise that you just have so much time to do stuff even when under attack (especially on Sloop) it gets way easier. It's sublime for those chill sessions when you just want to sail and fish, or do whatever too. I think people are put off by the perceived difficulty, but if you learn to watch for other ships it becomes so much easier to avoid PvP too if that's the vibe.

That gear fear though :lol:
 
redcucumber said:
Being able to access game pass from a pc is great.
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When Gamepass actually had a steady stream of good games to play it was great being able to interchange between Pc and Xbox depending on what was easier for me at the time. It’s a shame there are no games now, and that Starfield will probably be a shambles on Pc at launch.
 
People need to grow up and wank over ESRB Ratings instead like @b82REZ
 
Redlambs said:
Played with my youngest for the first time in, got to be at very least 18months, the other night and we managed to do a fort and sink a chasing galley. Open crew it seemed though, but still it was nice to not get dumpstered for once! :lol: He wants the gold curse now, which means the original Tall Tales done 5 times each...pain!

It's a tough game to fully learn as there's just so much going on, but as soon as you realise that you just have so much time to do stuff even when under attack (especially on Sloop) it gets way easier. It's sublime for those chill sessions when you just want to sail and fish, or do whatever too. I think people are put off by the perceived difficulty, but if you learn to watch for other ships it becomes so much easier to avoid PvP too if that's the vibe.

That gear fear though :lol:
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I think it's a truly brilliant game for emergent experiences. I'll never forget when my friend and I were doing the achievement for X amount of chests on the ship and we were sailing to port to cash in and he felt like threading the needle between two rocks.

That said some of the quests recently have been a bit naff. It would be great if they could do something that had the excitement of the co-op quest that introduced the meg again. When you get to a certain level of skill where the kraken isn't really that scary anymore the threat dies down and it gets a little less exciting and a little more grindy. Of course then the game throws a kraken and skeleton galleon at you whilst you're fighting off another crew (actually happened).
 
DavelinaJolie said:
I think it's a truly brilliant game for emergent experiences. I'll never forget when my friend and I were doing the achievement for X amount of chests on the ship and we were sailing to port to cash in and he felt like threading the needle between two rocks.

That said some of the quests recently have been a bit naff. It would be great if they could do something that had the excitement of the co-op quest that introduced the meg again. When you get to a certain level of skill where the kraken isn't really that scary anymore the threat dies down and it gets a little less exciting and a little more grindy. Of course then the game throws a kraken and skeleton galleon at you whilst you're fighting off another crew (actually happened).
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That seems to happen more these days. When we were fighting the galley, a meg and a skele sloop spawned. Though it's great fun when a skele ship spawns and fights the kraken and particularly the ghost ships with you, that's a lovely touch :lol:

Also, they've now scaled the enemies/events to the size of player and I like the hour glass thing. But yeah, it does wear a little thin if you are into the PvE mainly, though as I said I've been away for long enough for it to be fun again. But the PvP is where the game can shine when you are bored. Feck hitreg though!


Alock1 said:
People need to grow up and wank over ESRB Ratings instead like @b82REZ
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Anyone arguing about video games on the internet (or anything for that matter) who then tells someone else to grow up is a bit special to say that least :lol:
 
Massive Spanner said:
When Gamepass actually had a steady stream of good games to play it was great being able to interchange between Pc and Xbox depending on what was easier for me at the time. It’s a shame there are no games now, and that Starfield will probably be a shambles on Pc at launch.
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There's enough on there to keep me busy, I'm not a hardcore gamer. PC has got FM, Age of Empires, Gears, Chivalry 2, Dead Space, Doom, Dishonoured, all the Halos. Usually use my Xbox or PS so being able to play when I'm away or whatever is just a very wicked bonus.
 
redcucumber said:
There's enough on there to keep me busy, I'm not a hardcore gamer. PC has got FM, Age of Empires, Gears, Chivalry 2, Dead Space, Doom, Dishonoured, all the Halos. Usually use my Xbox or PS so being able to play when I'm away or whatever is just a very wicked bonus.
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Yeah if you don't play many games, especially missing some of the previous generation classics, then it's still very much a good deal.


For the rest of us it's just pretty stale. I've always found it okay at best, but you can't argue with some of the games launching on it straight away and also getting people playing games they would never touch normally and introducing new genres to them.
 
Redlambs said:
Played with my youngest for the first time in, got to be at very least 18months, the other night and we managed to do a fort and sink a chasing galley. Open crew it seemed though, but still it was nice to not get dumpstered for once! :lol: He wants the gold curse now, which means the original Tall Tales done 5 times each...pain!

It's a tough game to fully learn as there's just so much going on, but as soon as you realise that you just have so much time to do stuff even when under attack (especially on Sloop) it gets way easier. It's sublime for those chill sessions when you just want to sail and fish, or do whatever too. I think people are put off by the perceived difficulty, but if you learn to watch for other ships it becomes so much easier to avoid PvP too if that's the vibe.

That gear fear though :lol:
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Gear fear like no other :lol:

I only played it for the first time recently and was dead surprised at how enjoyable it was. Sadly my son ain’t that interested, he was playing it a few years back and now plays League of legends with his mates so I’m usually panicking out at sea on my own. I must be the worlds sh*ttest pirate:)

It’s a great arena for an online game. Some of the incidental scenarios you end up in are fantastic and creates some real magical moments.
 
That leak about the change of Gamepass structure/removal of gold is a bit naff. Console not having multiplayer by default is annoying, don't see why I should pay for ultimate for PC access I don't use.

Wank.
 
DavelinaJolie said:
That leak about the change of Gamepass structure/removal of gold is a bit naff. Console not having multiplayer by default is annoying, don't see why I should pay for ultimate for PC access I don't use.

Wank.
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Surely one of the barriers would be the amount of gold subscriptions still in existence? i.e. the green cards with the code on the back.

I imagine it would take quite a while to get through that stock.
 
Vidyoyo said:
Surely one of the barriers would be the amount of gold subscriptions still in existence? i.e. the green cards with the code on the back.

I imagine it would take quite a while to get through that stock.
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Well at the moment they are doing conversions if you have ultimate so it doesn't seem like it would be too much faff on their end to just have them convert to the lowest tier at 1:1 or other tiers at lower rates.
 
DavelinaJolie said:
That leak about the change of Gamepass structure/removal of gold is a bit naff. Console not having multiplayer by default is annoying, don't see why I should pay for ultimate for PC access I don't use.

Wank.
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? It's basically still Live Gold but with a name change. It's not going to cost you anymore than it is now.
 
BristolRuss said:
? It's basically still Live Gold but with a name change. It's not going to cost you anymore than it is now.
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The information available proposes four tiers of access.

In order to get console Game Pass access and multiplayer you have to pay for Ultimate. From the details in the leak the Console level of Game Pass doesn't include multiplayer.

Obviously if this isn't final and that changes, great. But, as I said, paying for ultimate and consequently PC access I have no need for, in order to get GP and MP access, is not particularly friendly to their console user base.
 
DavelinaJolie said:
The information available proposes four tiers of access.

In order to get console Game Pass access and multiplayer you have to pay for Ultimate. From the details in the leak the Console level of Game Pass doesn't include multiplayer.

Obviously if this isn't final and that changes, great. But, as I said, paying for ultimate and consequently PC access I have no need for, in order to get GP and MP access, is not particularly friendly to their console user base.
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Sure, but that is how it currently is (and what the competition does also). Nothing is changing in that regard. It would have been nice for them to get rid of paying for MP in 2023 but it is what it is. At least what you get for the XBL Gold tier should be better than before now.
 
DavelinaJolie said:
The information available proposes four tiers of access.

In order to get console Game Pass access and multiplayer you have to pay for Ultimate. From the details in the leak the Console level of Game Pass doesn't include multiplayer.

Obviously if this isn't final and that changes, great. But, as I said, paying for ultimate and consequently PC access I have no need for, in order to get GP and MP access, is not particularly friendly to their console user base.
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You do now. The only difference from Gold to Core, apart from the name, is that rather than 2 free games each month, you get access to 25+ games from the GamePass library. Standard GamePass never had online gaming.

My big take away from it is that they are not removing paying for online gaming anytime soon. As someone who migrated from PC, paying for internet access, when I'm already paying my IP, irks me.
 
Fully Fledged said:
You do now. The only difference from Gold to Core, apart from the name, is that rather than 2 free games each month, you get access to 25+ games from the GamePass library. Standard GamePass never had online gaming.

My big take away from it is that they are not removing paying for online gaming anytime soon. As someone who migrated from PC, paying for internet access, when I'm already paying my IP, irks me.
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Yep. I know they already do, but to change the tiering, but still require consule users to pay for a tier that includes a service they do not use is poor choice.

There's a level above Core, Console, which is basically just the unfettered console Gamepass access, but no MP. Then it's 6 dollars extra to get to Ultimate.

AHH well. Won't matter when we all fecking burn, I guess.
 
DavelinaJolie said:
Yep. I know they already do, but to change the tiering, but still require consule users to pay for a tier that includes a service they do not use is poor choice.

There's a level above Core, Console, which is basically just the unfettered console Gamepass access, but no MP. Then it's 6 dollars extra to get to Ultimate.

AHH well. Won't matter when we all fecking burn, I guess.
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I suppose they are not going to give you all the extra GamePass games for £1/month. I was hoping that they would do away with paid internet gaming but it doesn't look like that's going to happen.
 
Fully Fledged said:
I suppose they are not going to give you all the extra GamePass games for £1/month. I was hoping that they would do away with paid internet gaming but it doesn't look like that's going to happen.
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No, but another tier (I know, complicates the messaging somewhat) would make sense. I'd be happier paying £14.99 for what I need rather than £16.99 to have things I don't.

I'm speaking as someone who has very much benefitted from Gamepass, and finds plenty of things I want to play on it. I just don't need or want the PC stuff.
 
Fully Fledged said:
I suppose they are not going to give you all the extra GamePass games for £1/month. I was hoping that they would do away with paid internet gaming but it doesn't look like that's going to happen.
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MS introduced paid online gaming, why would they scrap it now it's become the norm on consoles?
 
Fully Fledged said:
I suppose they are not going to give you all the extra GamePass games for £1/month. I was hoping that they would do away with paid internet gaming but it doesn't look like that's going to happen.
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They're not going to give up on all that money.

BristolRuss said:
Sure, but that is how it currently is (and what the competition does also). Nothing is changing in that regard. It would have been nice for them to get rid of paying for MP in 2023 but it is what it is. At least what you get for the XBL Gold tier should be better than before now.
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The competition has multiplayer included on all tiers, with each tier up getting more features on top of that and not removing any. With the Core/Console/Ultimate divide, the Console tier doesn't have a feature that the Core tier has. Now while that was the case when it was called Live Gold, at least you could "pretend" they're different subscription services. Ultimately (heh) Microsoft wants people on Ultimate over the Console tier so they're not going to have a feature on the Console tier that the competition and their Core tier has, which sucks despite the Live Gold getting an upgrade into the Core rebrand (though you won't "own" the games from now).

 
Real talk though, I'm fairly happy with the idea of stacking 12 months of gold for £30 while having access to a good selection of core games and just picking up what I actually want to play from the store.
 
Vidyoyo said:
More like Game Pass Bore. Heh.

Also didn't they just take off Among Us? They do make some strange decisions sometimes.
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I'd imagine Among Us is pretty successful to be honest. I know I have a blast when I play it with my mates.
 
redcucumber said:
The 'Live' equivalent on the PS2 was absolutely arse whereas on the Xbox it was seamless, so I remember not caring at the time.
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Cool.

But they normalised the idea of console gamers paying for online gaming. The notion they'd suddenly decide to reverse that decision that will have banked them billions is naive.
 
b82REZ said:
Cool.

But they normalised the idea of console gamers paying for online gaming. The notion they'd suddenly decide to reverse that decision that will have banked them billions is naive.
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Very cool. Did anyone say they were expecting that to happen? Fully Fledged said he was hoping it would, which is reasonable.
 
b82REZ said:
Cool.

But they normalised the idea of console gamers paying for online gaming. The notion they'd suddenly decide to reverse that decision that will have banked them billions is naive.
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That's contentious as both PS3 and Wii/U had free services for online gaming and, combined, those services were more popular than Xbox. It's not like paying was normal for anybody except Xbox owners at that point in time.

I'd say it was only when Sony joined the part with PS4 that it was wholly normalised. I was a PS3 owner back then so it seemed like a big change when upgrading.
 
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The PC option is great value when looking at it listed like that. Basically 7$ cheaper per month (and the same price as Core) for the same as Ultimate as far as I can tell.
 
Vidyoyo said:
That's contentious as both PS3 and Wii/U had free services for online gaming and, combined, those services were more popular than Xbox. It's not like paying was normal for anybody except Xbox owners at that point in time.

I'd say it was only when Sony joined the part with PS4 that it was wholly normalised. I was a PS3 owner back then so it seemed like a big change when upgrading.
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Other companies jumped on the bandwagon when they saw people were willing to pay for online gaming.

MS normalised the idea and the others blindly followed.
 
Balljy said:
The PC option is great value when looking at it listed like that. Basically 7$ cheaper per month (and the same price as Core) for the same as Ultimate as far as I can tell.
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It is, pretty much anyway. There are a few less games on PC but there are some that don't make it to the console. I only pay £10.99 for Ultimate though. Probably see that change soon though.
 
b82REZ said:
Other companies jumped on the bandwagon when they saw people were willing to pay for online gaming.

MS normalised the idea and the others blindly followed.
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Admitting MS are trend setters and lead the way in gaming. Love to see it.
 
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