Microsoft buys Bethesda's parent company ZeniMax. No doubt this is all about bringing a lot of big franchises to Games Pass in the run up to the latest console war. But seems to me to have some possible knock on effects.
Sorry @snowdog I see you posted this already in the Connect thread... why isn't the forum search function working properly!!!
I think this deserves a thread to itself so if you want to create one, I'll delete this! or I can spin off the Microsoft comments into a new thread, this is pretty big news!
On one hand, I'm super excited since I think MS will do some great stuff in this space. I'm also excited to see Oculus and Microsoft teaming up (again).
On the other hand, Between all the Facebook Connect news, and this Microsoft/ZeniMax news, it feels like VR just got hit with the Reset Button. We're back to 2016 all over again?
Yeah it's difficult to gauge this one. I think whenever the latest console war happens, everything else takes a bit of a back seat and we're reminded of just how big console gaming is compared to the new kid on the block.
The difference this time around is that MS's Game Pass and the developers they bring to it will be available to PC users as well as xbox, and in turn Sony is taking big steps towards cross platform support with PS Now.
I think they're both thinking that accounts are the all-important thing with people being able to sign-up regardless of what hardware they have. I'm sure the future of streaming is playing a big part in these decisions too.
The good thing is that both of these companies are pro VR and MR so I'm going to say I'm on the optimistic side of things.
I wonder how Valve are viewing this trend, with the 2 big players moving towards a cross-platform accounts grab, and buying up developers in the process.
As John Carmack is happy and there could be implications for titles coming to VR, I'm leaving it... and waving my hands right back... but in a come hither way 😉
On that note Sony's PS Now, I think, will bring PSVR titles to PC and MS's move could encourage this. I'm sure VR users aren't going to be immune from the drive to harvest accounts.
Edit: and I'm trying to work out if Fallout 5 VR is more likely with MS as owners of the IP. It could be their Half-Life Alyx.
Come on now MS, take the VR engine from Skyrim, Fallout 4 or Doom and patch it right into the Forza franchise for W10 WMR headsets.......you know you want to. Lol