WEBVTT 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Welcome to Prankers. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Today I'm gonna prank my dad into funding a God of War Game-as-a-Service. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 KYLE: This week, we were graced and inconvenienced 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 by a brand-new Xbox Developer Direct. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Last year I thought it was funny 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 that they used the exact same opening song 2 years in a row. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 [bright music] 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Now, this year it would be silly to assume they'd try anything new. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 It's copy and paste at this point. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 [same bright music] 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Why that's weird is that Xbox's whole business has changed dramatically since January of 2023 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and so has its marketing. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 But for some reason, the Developer Direct remains unchanged. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Someone at Microsoft likes these exactly the way they are. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 But you know what? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 That makes the small ways in which they are different stand out even more. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Here are: 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Firstly: 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 For some reason, there was a brand-new warning 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 at the beginning of this year's presentation. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I'm not sure that would stand out to anyone, right? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 That doesn't seem unusual. But Xbox has never done that before. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Even looking at their most recent game showcase, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 all they had was this Mature Content warning. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 But the Developer Direct warning doesn't stop there. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Turns out, it's not really a warning. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 It says: 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Oh, got it! So this is just commercial time. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Back when Xbox deleted day-one benefits from the regular Game Pass tier, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I was making light of the fact they couldn't say their favorite phrase anymore, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 "Day 1 with Game Pass." 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Look, Game Pass Ultimate is the one that has Day 1 games. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Core and Standard do not. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 How silly of you to think Standard Game Pass would have Day 1. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 But they just keep saying it. Nothing's actually changed. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 You gotta read between the lines. PC and Ultimate is implied here. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 [HONK] You know what, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 you'll figure it out when you get to the website. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 The good news warning continues: 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 It sits in the same portion of a presentation 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 where you would typically have some sort of disclaimer. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 However, at this point, it is purely commercial speech. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And this, to me, IS Xbox right now. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 This is the current mission statement of the Xbox brand. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Finally: 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 appears and then a silly little animation for it. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And that's really what they give you. They give you a little show. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Less than ever, this feels like developers directly talking to you 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and more like they're just putting on a little play for us 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 that was written by their PR managers who are grinding their teeth backstage. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Consider this moment here. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 MARTY STRATTON: --at our most ambitious game yet. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 This is Doom: The Dark Ages. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 HUGO MARTIN: That was so stupid I mouthed the words. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 [everyone laughs] 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 KYLE: I think that's a fun, honest, humorous moment. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 However, it is only funny, it can only exist, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 'cause everything up to that point WAS rehearsed, WAS scripted. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 It's funny because of how weird everything else feels. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 This could be filled with developers 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 genuinely talking off-the-cuff about what they've been working on, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 but for the most part, it's fluffy, meaningless mission statements. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 JASMIN ROY: At Compulsion Games, we love to craft around central themes. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Another big difference between Developer Directs in previous years is: 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 The very indignity of seeing PS5 advertised in an Xbox showcase. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Now, one might think, "Obviously in previous years 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 they were all Xbox exclusives. There was no opportunity to put PS5 in here." 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 But no, look at Visions of Mana and Minecraft Legends here, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 free from the blight of PlayStation references. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 By the way, they only did these funny doodles Year 1. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 They stopped that immediately. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 But yeah, even as recently as last year's Xbox Showcase, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 they didn't mention the PS5. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 But why would you? You don't do that kind of thing. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Nintendo doesn't do that. Sony doesn't do that. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 You don't talk about-- You don't advertise other people's consoles. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 That's ridiculous. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 [drawl] Well, lookee here. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 While this may not seem like a big deal at first glance, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 it is the indubitable flag representing the pivot. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 "From this day forth," says Xbox, "We do not fear the PS5. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 'Cause remember: 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 So really, if you buy this on PS5, you're only hurting yourself. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Really, it's kinda stupid if you don't give us $20 a month. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Kinda just wasting your income. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Kinda think you're bad at economics." 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Last big change, for the first time in one of these: 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Remember, the beauty of a Developer Direct 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 is that there are no manipulative, hotshot trailers, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 no fancy editing. Give me sloppy editing. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 HAZEL'S MOM: As long as you didn't forget the-- 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 HAZEL: --flashlights and batteries. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 HAZEL'S MOM: Oh shoot, we've got 5 minutes. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 KYLE: Yeah, that hits the spot. And you know what else? 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I like it when developers are talking, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 not reading off of some teleprompter somewhere. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 STRATTON: A lot has changed since then but our team is as passionate as ever. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 KYLE: That's what I'm talkin' about. Trailers are for other shows. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Developer Directs, 50 minutes of authenticity. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 But really, the most exciting portion of this Developer Direct 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 was not just the revelation that a pretty nice Ninja Gaiden 4 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 is in development from Team Ninja and Platinum Games, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 but also that Ninja Gaiden 2 Black exists and it looks better than this new game. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And you can: 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Kind of confusing sentence. I see now why they're typing out PS5. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 But what I mean to say is, after all this, I do wonder if 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 the tried and true Nintendo Direct method of trailer, explanation, information 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 is still the best way to do this kind of thing. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Look at how they introduced Expedition 33. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 [somber piano plays] 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 [French singing] 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 GUILLAUME BROCHE: Bonjour, everyone. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 KYLE: Yeah, they were in no rush to show you that video game. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 First things first, look at these tall ceilings. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 To be clear, though, I do think Expedition 33 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 brought the best presentation of the entire direct, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 demonstrating clearly how it's both similar and different to your expectations, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 unafraid to expose its pointlessly complicated passive effect system, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and a true enthusiasm to introduce the world map. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Okay, almost true enthusiasm. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Try to tell me when this developer reiterates that there's a world map, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 that it comes off as unscripted. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 TOM GUILLERMAN: --a completely 3D and navigatable world map. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Yes, we've got a world map. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 KYLE: To me, it's just incredibly off-putting how seemingly afraid they are 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 to just let developers speak freely in a potentially sub-optimal manner. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 "What if it's not entertaining enough? We could lose viewers." 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 But, in fairness, they never promised a documentary. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 In fact, I wonder if that WAS a warning. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 MENACING VOICE: Enjoy the show. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 KYLE: Despite that, despite the abundant artifice, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I do think Developer Directs are one of the most interesting ways to present a showcase. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 That they really-- They spend a lot of time on the games themselves. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 50 minutes for 4 games is actually pretty crazy. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And I really, really like that someone at Xbox recognizes 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 that some of these mid-budget games are truly interesting 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and deserve the full spotlight. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I don't think it was a better presentation than last year's 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 but I'm going to give it a better grade 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 because my expectations are just generally sinking across the board. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Therefore: 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And that's Delayed Input. I'll be back next week. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Thanks for watching. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Alright, so one of the things that actually stands out to me the most 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 from the entire presentation 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 is how soft and silly the new Doom looks. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 That's right, I'm officially putting Doom: The Dark Ages 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 on Dum-Dum Watch. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Doom is dangerously close to transitioning from 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 this absolutely unassailable, cool guy franchise to 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 an absolute dorkfest, at least how it's presented. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Doom somehow became some sort of Do What the Circle Tells You To Do game. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Hit an enemy until a purple circle appears and then walk over and kill it. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 It's made clear, just looking at it, that the Doom team 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 is trying to take this franchise in a more wide market direction. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And they'll even tell you that. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 STRATTON: