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Defining Duke, Episode 78 | Is Xbox Mismanaging Their Studios? (Patreon)

Published:
2022-06-30 16:00:09
Imported:
2022-09

Downloads

Content

There's trouble on the homefront. We have collectively report after report roll in describing the struggles of Xbox's first party studios. Whether it be 343 and their mismanagement of Halo, Bethesda and their troubled Fallout 76 development, half of The Initiative leaving, or toxic conditions seeping into Undead Labs; there are now many examples in the ether for us to dissect. All of them combined bring us to one painful question that must be asked: Is Xbox's hands off approach backfiring on them as their teams spiral themselves into the ground? With this week's news, there's no better time to tackle such a tough topic. In lighter news, Mega Man Battle Network is back, Starfield has a pretty exciting leak, and the fork-spoon wars may be set off again thanks to disgruntled pie consumers. With our most write ins to date, it's time to tackle our juiciest episode yet.


Timestamps:
0:00:00 - Intro

0:03:27 - Roundhouse studios is co-developing Redfall

0:04:13 - A Plague Tale: Requiem launches October 18

0:05:44 - Persona 5 Royal will have a physical release

0:06:39 - Steam Deck production is doubling

0:08:03 - Azure Striker Gunvolt 1, 2, and 3 are coming to Xbox this year

0:11:16 - Fork or spoon for pie?

0:15:34 - Xbox fans are defending sitting down to pee

0:21:17 - What did we think of Obi-Wan?

0:25:17 - What we’ve been playing.

0:37:27 - When pooping, are we fully clothed?

0:44:18 - Crocs or onion sandwiches for the rest of our lives?

0:46:22 - Is Xbox getting better day one titles for Game Pass?

0:53:00 - What happened to Mass Effect multiplayer?

0:59:25 - Reports suggest Xbox may have internal issues regarding crunch and management

1:19:21 - Xbox may soon own Proletariat

1:26:45 - Leaks have revealed more about Starfield

1:41:59 - 343 is exploring microtransactions for Master Chief Collection

2:20:16 - Nintendo Direct Mini announcements

2:46:22 - More cast members have been revealed for the upcoming Fallout show

2:49:34 - Overwatch 2 will replace the original game

2:57:06 - From Software’s next game is in late development

3:00:03 - Game Pass pick of the week

3:09:51 - Should Team Ninja have returned to Ninja Gaiden?

3:13:44 - Has an achievement/trophy list ever stopped us from playing a game?

3:20:16 - What are our summer gaming memories?

3:26:20 - Should Xbox explore more TMNT games?

3:30:32 - Are we excited for Mario+Rabbids Sparks of Hope?

Files

Comments

Pisqueak

Almost 4 hours? Lets fucking go 🤘🏻

Brandon

This topic again from you guys? You guys need to do better. You guys are way too credulous about reports that amount to workplace drama. Company loses talent because talent is forced to work on a project they don't want to work on isn't news. Talent doesn't like the way star employee treats their ideas isn't news. Some Undead Labs employees thinks Xbox execs are too hands off and is allowing problems to fester - so what? Is Undead Labs leadership sexually assaulting or killing people? No, so who cares? Almost all of the "problems" at Xbox studios are problems at every company. This isn't news; and news isn't news just because it's in the News. If they release bad games, then let's start to ask whats up. But most of these studios haven't released a game yet. Please be better about this. Your constant "the sky is falling at Xbox" is tiresome.

Tonys_Always_Write
>>86764453

I was hesitant to speak up about this but I agree. There's absolutely no problem in reporting new reports, but with salacious headlines like this on your video it paints a negative picture before even going. You guys have posed this question multiple times, talk in circles about it, and then come to no firm conclusion, because at this time with the information we have it is difficult to make a sweeping judgement. Do some Xbox studios have issues? Absolutely. Is it company wide? Undetermined. I love this podcast, and you guys are great to follow and listen to, but I have to agree with Brandon there is often a "sky is falling" feeling to the content, be it here on the main show or DDU, and it is exhausting. I hope you can take this comment for what it is, constructive criticism. I want to see you guys make the best product you can, but hyper focusing on many of the same issues week to week is not the way. Thanks for all you do!

Lord Cognito
>>86764453

I think this is fair criticism that we can look into. Feedback is appreciated. - Cog

Brandon
>>86764453

Thanks! I don't mean to sound mean. I love the work that all of Last Stand does and think it's good criticize companies that we like.

Edwin Garcia
>>86764453

I think this a little unfair for the Dukes to be honest. On the Playstation side Colin brings stuff like this all the time, including political stuff.

Anonymous
>>86764453

From a cursory glance at the time stamps, it looks like it’s only 20 minutes of the episode. Agree that it isn’t a great episode title though.

Stephen Forgione

The MCC micro-transaction proposal is completely additive and doesn’t change the experience at all. It isn’t in the top 50 on Xbox’s most played games (meanwhile infinite is in the top 20) and is outpaced on Steam by, guess what, Halo Infinite. A 40 minute conversation because of a (tone-deaf at best) blog post isn’t necessary. Especially from guys who aren’t even playing the game. Halo Infinite could use more maps, yes, but has a ton of game modes, lots of customization, and is fun now and will be fun several years down the road with even more content in a free-to-play experience. I’d hate to be working at 343 right now. They made the best feeling halo since Halo 3 with a great campaign and solid multiplayer, and people are still pushing to have halo made by iD software or even machinegames who put out shooters that don’t play like halo whatsoever. Definitely could’ve been a trimmed topic.

Matt Wiles
>>86764453

I dunno, Phil Spencer is doing a pretty poor job imo. PS5 has had far more and better games in the first 12 months. Halo alone was a disaster in some ways. Forza is a driving game, nothing major. Everything else is delayed or has gone missing. E.G, a Fable trailer was shown last year, and this year? Nothing. So what was the point in showing it? Perfect Dark too. It’s a disaster in many ways. It’s a compelling discussion point. So, I do think you’re wrong on this.

Matt Wiles

You guys know us English have all the table manners, right? Well, it’s fork AND spoon! Officially. You never ever use spoon and knife 😂

bix hutch

I think some studios need the eye of Sauron and others don't. Xbox is learning which studios can operate without being micromanaged and which ones need it. Xbox has 23 studios and about 8 of them have multiple teams. People are cherry picking the 2 or 3 studios with issues and inflating it to the other 20 plus teams. Obsidian, Turn 10, Playground, The Coalition, Double Fine, Ninja Theory, Arkane, ID. Plenty of Xbox studios have been rolling along just fine. We haven't seen what many of the studios are working on so it's not fair to say anything about those studios yet. 343 and the Halo franchise as whole has had notorious development issues since Combat Evolved. Xbox should probably take 343 off of Halo. They are highly talented and make amazing games but the Halo franchise was too much to take on. Halo needs amazing campaign, Multiplayer, Gameplay and has heavy lore and 343 has not been able to nail them all at once even though Infinite's issues revolve around content.

Shane Geis

Even spending a hour bashing Halo some valid I’m sorry it’s a complete myth and ridiculous that Halo Infinite was not a great launch…….from Nov 15 until around end of January almost no one complained and the game was a 88 meta and highly praised

Drew Sleezer

My biggest concern with the proletariat acquisition is that that studio was made up of industry vets that left huge development teams. Without a huge retention bonus, I would imagine those devs are gonna bounce quickly.

Anonymous
>>86778982

It’s pretty embarrassing how many people got worked up over the MCC micro-transactions. Complete non-story

Anonymous
>>86795051

I agree somewhat with this sentiment. People forget that the game was very well received by fans and critics at launch. If 343 were able to follow up that successful launch with a steady clip of quality content, the game would have a very good reputation now. Unfortunately, the poor live service output has soured people's opinions and now everyone thinks the game was always in a terrible place.

Omar Rosa

Can’t wait for lockmort to use the material from this episode.

Shane Geis
>>86795051

Doesn’t help when a “Xbox show” spends 50 minutes making its audience think this game was always in a bad place people forget how great this game was last holidays and the decision to release it was the smartest decision they ever made they literally lost one NPD to Sony since this game launched with literally NO OTHER 1st party games

Shane Geis

Imagine the narrative if Halo delayed again last year and “just a car game” for the holidays and you think Starfield delay outrage was bad imagine Halo being delayed 2 years and out of the Halo window you guys obsessed with team delay but think that is 100 wrong the black eye would of been insane and how quickly we forget how phenomenal this game was and took over the gaming industry for 6 weeks over the most important shopping time ever

Anonymous

You need to stop with the piss and shit chat.

Logan

I’m only 45 minutes into the episode, but this talk of sleeping in socks has unleashed every visceral reaction my body can muster.

Flaunty

Not really sure how kicking 343 off Halo would solve Halo Infinites problems. It was really awkward when Ryan McCaffrey asked Phil Spencer this question and he said something to the effect of not wanting to put pressure on the team. Kicking them off it would send a message to every studio that they're not going to be given time to support their game long term and would contribute even further to a toxic workplace culture.