9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Welcome to Prankers. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Today I'm gonna prank my dad into funding [br]a God of War Game-as-a-Service. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 KYLE: This week, we were [br]graced and inconvenienced 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 by a brand-new Xbox Developer Direct. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Last year I thought it was funny 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 that they used the exact same [br]opening song 2 years in a row. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 [bright music] 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Now, this year it would be silly [br]to assume they'd try anything new. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 It's copy and paste at this point. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 [same bright music] 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Why that's weird is that Xbox's whole business [br]has changed dramatically since January of 2023 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and so has its marketing. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But for some reason, [br]the Developer Direct remains unchanged. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Someone at Microsoft likes these [br]exactly the way they are. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But you know what? 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 That makes the small ways in which they [br]are different stand out even more. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Here are: 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Firstly: 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 For some reason, [br]there was a brand-new warning 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 at the beginning of [br]this year's presentation. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I'm not sure that would [br]stand out to anyone, right? 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 That doesn't seem unusual.[br]But Xbox has never done that before. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Even looking at their [br]most recent game showcase, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 all they had was this [br]Mature Content warning. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But the Developer Direct warning [br]doesn't stop there. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Turns out, [br]it's not really a warning. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 It says: 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Oh, got it![br]So this is just commercial time. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Back when Xbox deleted day-one benefits [br]from the regular Game Pass tier, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I was making light of the fact they [br]couldn't say their favorite phrase anymore, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 "Day 1 with Game Pass." 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Look, Game Pass Ultimate [br]is the one that has Day 1 games. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Core and Standard do not. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 How silly of you to think [br]Standard Game Pass would have Day 1. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But they just keep saying it.[br]Nothing's actually changed. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 You gotta read between the lines.[br]PC and Ultimate is implied here. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 [HONK][br]You know what, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 you'll figure it out [br]when you get to the website. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 The good news warning continues: 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 It sits in the same portion [br]of a presentation 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 where you would typically have [br]some sort of disclaimer. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 However, at this point, [br]it is purely commercial speech. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And this, to me, IS Xbox right now. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 This is the current mission statement [br]of the Xbox brand. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Finally: 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 appears[br]and then a silly little animation for it. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And that's really what they give you.[br]They give you a little show. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Less than ever, this feels like [br]developers directly talking to you 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and more like they're just [br]putting on a little play for us 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 that was written by their PR managers[br]who are grinding their teeth backstage. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Consider this moment here. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 MARTY STRATTON: --at our [br]most ambitious game yet. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 This is Doom: The Dark Ages. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 HUGO MARTIN: That was so stupid[br]I mouthed the words. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 [everyone laughs] 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 KYLE: I think that's a fun, [br]honest, humorous moment. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 However, it is only funny, [br]it can only exist, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 'cause everything up to that point [br]WAS rehearsed, WAS scripted. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 It's funny because of how weird [br]everything else feels. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 This could be filled with developers 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 genuinely talking off-the-cuff about [br]what they've been working on, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 but for the most part, it's fluffy, [br]meaningless mission statements. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 JASMIN ROY: At Compulsion Games, [br]we love to craft around central themes. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Another big difference between [br]Developer Directs in previous years is: 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 The very indignity of seeing PS5 advertised [br]in an Xbox showcase. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Now, one might think, [br]"Obviously in previous years 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 they were all Xbox exclusives.[br]There was no opportunity to put PS5 in here." 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But no, look at Visions of Mana[br]and Minecraft Legends here, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 free from the blight [br]of PlayStation references. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 By the way, they only did [br]these funny doodles Year 1. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 They stopped that immediately. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But yeah, even as recently [br]as last year's Xbox Showcase, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 they didn't mention the PS5. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But why would you?[br]You don't do that kind of thing. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Nintendo doesn't do that.[br]Sony doesn't do that. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 You don't talk about-- You don't [br]advertise other people's consoles. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 That's ridiculous. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 [drawl] Well, lookee here. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 While this may not seem like [br]a big deal at first glance, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 it is the indubitable flag [br]representing the pivot. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 "From this day forth," says Xbox,[br]"We do not fear the PS5. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 'Cause remember: 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So really, if you buy this on PS5,[br]you're only hurting yourself. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Really, it's kinda stupid [br]if you don't give us $20 a month. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Kinda just wasting your income. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Kinda think you're bad at economics." 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Last big change,[br]for the first time in one of these: 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Remember, [br]the beauty of a Developer Direct 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 is that there are no [br]manipulative, hotshot trailers, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 no fancy editing.[br]Give me sloppy editing. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 HAZEL'S MOM: As long as you [br]didn't forget the-- 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 HAZEL: --flashlights and batteries. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 HAZEL'S MOM: Oh shoot, [br]we've got 5 minutes. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 KYLE: Yeah, that hits the spot.[br]And you know what else? 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I like it when developers are talking, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 not reading off of some [br]teleprompter somewhere. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 STRATTON: A lot has changed since then[br]but our team is as passionate as ever. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 KYLE: That's what I'm talkin' about.[br]Trailers are for other shows. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Developer Directs, [br]50 minutes of authenticity. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But really, the most exciting portion [br]of this Developer Direct 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 was not just the revelation [br]that a pretty nice Ninja Gaiden 4 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 is in development [br]from Team Ninja and Platinum Games, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 but also that Ninja Gaiden 2 Black exists[br]and it looks better than this new game. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And you can: 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Kind of confusing sentence.[br]I see now why they're typing out PS5. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But what I mean to say is,[br]after all this, I do wonder if 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 the tried and true Nintendo Direct method [br]of trailer, explanation, information 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 is still the best way [br]to do this kind of thing. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Look at how they introduced Expedition 33. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 [somber piano plays] 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 [French singing] 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 GUILLAUME BROCHE: Bonjour, everyone. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 KYLE: Yeah, they were in no rush[br]to show you that video game. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 First things first, [br]look at these tall ceilings. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 To be clear, though, [br]I do think Expedition 33 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 brought the best presentation [br]of the entire direct, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 demonstrating clearly how it's both [br]similar and different to your expectations, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 unafraid to expose its pointlessly [br]complicated passive effect system, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and a true enthusiasm [br]to introduce the world map. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Okay, almost true enthusiasm. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Try to tell me when this developer [br]reiterates that there's a world map, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 that it comes off as unscripted. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 TOM GUILLERMAN: --a completely 3D [br]and navigatable world map. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Yes, we've got a world map. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 KYLE: To me, it's just incredibly off-putting [br]how seemingly afraid they are 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 to just let developers speak freely [br]in a potentially sub-optimal manner. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 "What if it's not entertaining enough?[br]We could lose viewers." 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But, in fairness, [br]they never promised a documentary. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 In fact, I wonder if that WAS a warning. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 MENACING VOICE: Enjoy the show. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 KYLE: Despite that, [br]despite the abundant artifice, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I do think Developer Directs are one of the [br]most interesting ways to present a showcase. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 That they really-- They spend a lot of [br]time on the games themselves. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 50 minutes for 4 games [br]is actually pretty crazy. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And I really, really like that someone [br]at Xbox recognizes 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 that some of these mid-budget games [br]are truly interesting 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and deserve the full spotlight. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I don't think it was a better [br]presentation than last year's 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 but I'm going to give it a better grade 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 because my expectations are just [br]generally sinking across the board. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Therefore: 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And that's Delayed Input.[br]I'll be back next week. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Thanks for watching. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Alright, so one of the things that [br]actually stands out to me the most 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 from the entire presentation 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 is how soft and silly the new Doom looks. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 That's right, I'm officially putting [br]Doom: The Dark Ages 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 on Dum-Dum Watch. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Doom is dangerously close [br]to transitioning from 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 this absolutely unassailable, [br]cool guy franchise to 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 an absolute dorkfest,[br]at least how it's presented. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Doom somehow became some sort of [br]Do What the Circle Tells You To Do game. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Hit an enemy until a purple circle appears[br]and then walk over and kill it. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 It's made clear, just looking at it,[br]that the Doom team 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 is trying to take this franchise in a more[br]wide market direction. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And they'll even tell you that. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 STRATTON: