Eventually, Microsoft's Games with Gold looks to even the playing field with PlayStation Plus. That's great, because right now there's really no comparison. Sony is hitting PS Plus subscribers with a fire hose of free releases, while Microsoft slowly slides gamers four-year-old digital copies of games they likely no longer care about. Right now you get Civilization Revolution for the Xbox 360--that's literally all Games with Gold is doing as of March 10. Microsoft promised it would be improving Games with Gold and adding Xbox One releases in 2014, but we're now three months into the year and nothing has happened.
So, what's the deal? Microsoft's Phil Spencer recently explained that improvements are on the way, saying that "One of our issues with Games with Gold--not 'issues,' but differences between the other system we get compared to, is the fact that with Games with Gold, you get to keep that game, regardless of whether you continue to subscribe," he explained. "And the business around Games with Gold, for us, is just fundamentally different from some of the other programs that are out there, which does put a different financial picture on a--you're gonna go buy a game that's brand new, the cost of putting that in, just to be kind of blunt about it."
Running that through a PR filter comes up with something like this: "With PS Plus, you're renting games. We let you keep them even when your Gold subscription runs out, and that means Microsoft needs to make different deals with publishers."
But, to be honest, that's actually more troubling than reassuring. Spencer claims that the differences between the two systems are what's causing this difference between the services, but… I really don't think anyone would rather have older games they don't want over newer games they do, even if they get to keep them after their subscription ends.
For last-gen consoles, PlayStation Plus users are playing BioShock Infinite and Tomb Raider for free on the PlayStation 3. Those are two of the best games from 2013; Sony's just like, "Hey, here you go, bro." Xbox 360? Well, this year has seen such hits as Toy Soldiers: Cold War and Dead Island (the first one). Sleeping Dogs is the newest game to be given out in 2014, but that's still ancient by comparison. I figure I'm not alone in thinking most gamers would rather rent a new game they want than be given an old one they don't.
Spencer did explain that things would be getting better, saying that he's been sitting with the team on a monthly basis to help pick franchises. "I think you'll see at least something that feels, at least, more true to what I think Games with Gold should look like with the constraints that are there," he explained. But even that doesn't really make sense.
Where are the Xbox One games? Microsoft is obviously struggling to find publishers who want to hand over their games for free, but that doesn't excuse the lack of first-party releases. What about Powerstar Golf? Or Crimson Dragon? I played through Crimson Dragon, and that game feels like it was built from the ground up to be a free-to-play game. Same with Powerstar Golf--both are jam-packed full of exploitative microtransactions, and Microsoft would probably make money by giving them away.
I'm looking forward to seeing what Games with Gold evolves into because I, like everyone else in the world, love me some free games. But I'm still confused as to what could possibly be making it take so long. With PS4 sales quickly outpacing the Xbox One's, I'd think that Microsoft should start firing the big guns if it wants to compete--even if the "big guns" are just free copies of Crimson Dragon.
So, what's the deal? Microsoft's Phil Spencer recently explained that improvements are on the way, saying that "One of our issues with Games with Gold--not 'issues,' but differences between the other system we get compared to, is the fact that with Games with Gold, you get to keep that game, regardless of whether you continue to subscribe," he explained. "And the business around Games with Gold, for us, is just fundamentally different from some of the other programs that are out there, which does put a different financial picture on a--you're gonna go buy a game that's brand new, the cost of putting that in, just to be kind of blunt about it."
Running that through a PR filter comes up with something like this: "With PS Plus, you're renting games. We let you keep them even when your Gold subscription runs out, and that means Microsoft needs to make different deals with publishers."
But, to be honest, that's actually more troubling than reassuring. Spencer claims that the differences between the two systems are what's causing this difference between the services, but… I really don't think anyone would rather have older games they don't want over newer games they do, even if they get to keep them after their subscription ends.
For last-gen consoles, PlayStation Plus users are playing BioShock Infinite and Tomb Raider for free on the PlayStation 3. Those are two of the best games from 2013; Sony's just like, "Hey, here you go, bro." Xbox 360? Well, this year has seen such hits as Toy Soldiers: Cold War and Dead Island (the first one). Sleeping Dogs is the newest game to be given out in 2014, but that's still ancient by comparison. I figure I'm not alone in thinking most gamers would rather rent a new game they want than be given an old one they don't.
Spencer did explain that things would be getting better, saying that he's been sitting with the team on a monthly basis to help pick franchises. "I think you'll see at least something that feels, at least, more true to what I think Games with Gold should look like with the constraints that are there," he explained. But even that doesn't really make sense.
Where are the Xbox One games? Microsoft is obviously struggling to find publishers who want to hand over their games for free, but that doesn't excuse the lack of first-party releases. What about Powerstar Golf? Or Crimson Dragon? I played through Crimson Dragon, and that game feels like it was built from the ground up to be a free-to-play game. Same with Powerstar Golf--both are jam-packed full of exploitative microtransactions, and Microsoft would probably make money by giving them away.
I'm looking forward to seeing what Games with Gold evolves into because I, like everyone else in the world, love me some free games. But I'm still confused as to what could possibly be making it take so long. With PS4 sales quickly outpacing the Xbox One's, I'd think that Microsoft should start firing the big guns if it wants to compete--even if the "big guns" are just free copies of Crimson Dragon.
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