After taking the super cheap €1 upgrade offer that converted XBox gold to Ultimate during the summer, a cheap no brainer; I've still not seen much to justify a full price continuation after it expires. I've done more with the free Games with Gold than anything from Game Pass. It has however lead on to some interesting knock on's. I've looked into more games on XBox than I'd have done normally, mainly games I'd usually only considered on PC. I've also gotten into using the XBox streamed to my PC for almost all my XBox use. The physically connected screen hasn't been used for gameplay in month's.
That said my PC gaming has taken a hit in regard to full price, triple A games. Epic's 1 year exclusivity deals have been the cause of that. Looking down my steam list there's more that's been delayed by epic than not. More recent years have seen me pull back form impulse, jump on the bandwagon purchases; So maybe in the long term Epics actions to get into Steams space will save me money. Wait a year till the games are at a cheaper price on Steam. Case in point; Mechwarrior 5, a mech game just out. A game I'd have jumped on but now with it's Epic only release and the time that gives me; Well I've already seen reviews of it being flawed. So no harm to leave it a year and catch it with all the bugs worked out, at a lower price.
What's the real point of my waffling? Justification for XBox Ultimate and games pass game access which is also now for PC. Or more controversially Xbox Ultimate good, Epic exclusivity bad.
I tried The Outer Worlds on XBox as it was 'free' with Ultimate(game pass). Two things bugged me and were't the games fault. Steaming it to PC was a very lagy affair and playing the game normally with a controller 'isn't my thing' for an FPS. The game may be free and I may want to play it but with a controller it's not a great experience for me. So I left it, thinking to myself I'll wait till it's out on Steam and pick it up cheaper next summer. That was my thinking until I read about the Windows 10 access to Ultimate game pass games. I knew it was in the works somewhere but I thought it was a long way off. Not so, it's available now! So that's what I did. From the 'Console Companion' app selected market, chose the game that's 'free'(accessible) 'The Outer Worlds' listed under Game Pass(or Windows 10), installed the game and started playing. Super easy!
It was a kind of odd moment in a 'the future is now' kind of way. I spent €1 to upgrade my 1 year XBox gold account to be Ultimate for full price game access. Now I can play it on more than just my console... Awesome. Maybe I'm overreacting.
The Console app uses your XBox login/profile and it in turn is linked to the Microsoft store, so when the game is installed on PC and I do in game activities which would have given an achievement on XBox, it still gives me an achi on XBox even as I play on PC. Really nice feature.
The stats of what I've unlocked as achievements so far surprise me(like most XBox stats); How can 'only' 40% of the playerbase not have gotten off the first planet! Maybe that stat is a side effect of gamers who tried and did not get into the game. Still....40%..... How could they not like it...
I've not played much of it so far, still lots of side and companion missions to potter on with. I love the gunplay and weaponry. Overall I'm treating it like I'd treat any Fallout or Elder scrolls game (cautious middle of the road) just a little differently. I'm more brazen about stealing items in plane sight(talk my way out) and less subtle about combat. I've favoured Parvati and Felix as companions, flamer and heavy machine gunner respectively. I'll use them as mid to close range with me to the rear with an upgraded modded light assault rifle. I'll snipe first then let the mayhem ensue which feels a lot like being Arnie in the Predator guerrilla camp take down each time. Sweet. I'm fine with the unlimited slot/item chest to store (all the)stuff I've looted(everything not nailed down). I really like that the consumable items, food, drink, medication can all be slotted in the inhaler for both health regen/stat boosts(or not), a different take on cooking and aid for sure.
Even with all the good things in the game I can already tell that I've no real need to return to it once I'm finished. Which in turn means I'll probably not be buying it next summer unless it's cheap. I can feel that it's a shorter game the way the story is and the maps on each location. Go to location on map, clear area, loot area, clear and loot buildings, do main area task/mission/quest, leave area. Repeat 5 or so times on each planet etc. And did I mention the area's are small relative to other games. It's short but fun worth savouring. The stories are good, compelling enough to make me want to make certain choices and 'have' things work out a certain way.
I can already tell that the game needs more side quests/missions like the way Fallout 4 had for it's settlements(even if they are optional). No harm if there were recurring missions to random locations for the upkeep of the Groundbreaker, your ship or factions your 'good' with. Maybe I'm putting the cart before the horse. I've a long (but not too long) journey ahead of my in this game.
All that said I hope that there isn't DLC for the game, I'd rather enjoy it for what it is, than have Frankenstein parts bolted on for the sake of it. An expansion or DLC would need to be big to make it worth it; Bigger than the main game. The Outer Worlds 2 would be a better choice.
So XBox Ultimate indeed 'good'; As is the game.
The first game to make me think hard and positively about using games as a service. If Stadia had worked 'properly' on it's promise it really would have killed everything else stone dead.
I'm 'old-school' in my view of my PC games. Console games in general as well. I want... need physical media or at the very least accessible software versions of them. So my preference for games today is Steam or GoG on PC. Steam is like that quote about banks "to big to fail"; GoG lets me have the install software to do with as I please, now, 10 years from now and is as good as having bought a cd/dvd. Like the matrix it's all about choice. Steam can have downloads as well but that's a lot of data to hoard....
Sooooo for the likes of games as a service I'm glad to see and play games I want with Ultimate. But as Epic is holding the noose tight on new PC releases at the moment I'm saving cash or buying other games. When I have access to XBox Ultimate and play a game I did want; It's not really giving me any incentive to buy it outright no matter the platform. I can't see any long term financially viable option for game developers without sales at 'full price'. Steam has no need to be scared of Epic, Epic needs to be looking over it shoulder at Microsoft.
One of the problems of games as a service; It's generalised. Pay X and you get access to Y amount of an assorted games library. It's not like a timed rental for a specific title. Subscription service may not have everything you want but as Redbox is leaving the game rental market it seems gamers want more variety regardless. It's also been noticeable how games across platforms that are featured as part of a game services, are also the ones being 'given away' free like under Games with gold or the PlayStation equivalent.
I've claimed more free games with Epic yet only really played 2. 2 of 58 freebies. 2 that were also on XBox game pass (Abzu and Ruiner). Even at that they've been short lived. Microsoft has a platform(s), services, titles, backwards compatibility, so for me it's been worth paying for Games with Gold. Ultimate was the real bonus this year. Then again that's the point of specials like that, a hook to reel you in. Even if I think it is the better option out there.
Food for thought; Thanks for reading and sticking with it.
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