0:00:00.540,0:00:01.484 Welcome to Prankers. 0:00:01.484,0:00:05.606 Today I'm gonna prank my dad into funding [br]a God of War Game-as-a-Service. 0:00:11.122,0:00:14.344 KYLE: This week, we were [br]graced and inconvenienced 0:00:14.344,0:00:17.901 by a brand-new Xbox Developer Direct. 0:00:17.901,0:00:19.804 Last year I thought it was funny 0:00:19.804,0:00:23.470 that they used the exact same [br]opening song 2 years in a row. 0:00:23.470,0:00:25.355 [bright music] 0:00:25.355,0:00:29.238 Now, this year it would be silly [br]to assume they'd try anything new. 0:00:29.238,0:00:30.858 It's copy and paste at this point. 0:00:30.858,0:00:37.763 [same bright music] 0:00:37.763,0:00:44.650 Why that's weird is that Xbox's whole business [br]has changed dramatically since January of 2023 0:00:44.650,0:00:46.061 and so has its marketing. 0:00:46.061,0:00:50.627 But for some reason, [br]the Developer Direct remains unchanged. 0:00:50.627,0:00:54.292 Someone at Microsoft likes these [br]exactly the way they are. 0:00:54.292,0:00:55.078 But you know what? 0:00:55.078,0:00:58.694 That makes the small ways in which they [br]are different stand out even more. 0:00:58.694,0:00:59.670 Here are: 0:01:03.009,0:01:03.594 Firstly: 0:01:05.865,0:01:08.953 For some reason, [br]there was a brand-new warning 0:01:08.953,0:01:11.367 at the beginning of [br]this year's presentation. 0:01:16.418,0:01:18.313 I'm not sure that would [br]stand out to anyone, right? 0:01:18.313,0:01:22.830 That doesn't seem unusual.[br]But Xbox has never done that before. 0:01:22.830,0:01:24.757 Even looking at their [br]most recent game showcase, 0:01:24.757,0:01:27.398 all they had was this [br]Mature Content warning. 0:01:27.398,0:01:30.386 But the Developer Direct warning [br]doesn't stop there. 0:01:30.386,0:01:33.442 Turns out, [br]it's not really a warning. 0:01:33.442,0:01:33.876 It says: 0:01:37.090,0:01:40.304 Oh, got it![br]So this is just commercial time. 0:01:40.304,0:01:45.297 Back when Xbox deleted day-one benefits [br]from the regular Game Pass tier, 0:01:45.297,0:01:48.727 I was making light of the fact they [br]couldn't say their favorite phrase anymore, 0:01:48.727,0:01:50.825 "Day 1 with Game Pass." 0:01:50.825,0:01:54.197 Look, Game Pass Ultimate [br]is the one that has Day 1 games. 0:01:54.197,0:01:56.518 Core and Standard do not. 0:01:56.518,0:02:00.617 How silly of you to think [br]Standard Game Pass would have Day 1. 0:02:00.617,0:02:04.207 But they just keep saying it.[br]Nothing's actually changed. 0:02:04.207,0:02:07.940 You gotta read between the lines.[br]PC and Ultimate is implied here. 0:02:07.940,0:02:09.049 [HONK][br]You know what, 0:02:09.049,0:02:10.328 you'll figure it out [br]when you get to the website. 0:02:10.328,0:02:12.364 The good news warning continues: 0:02:23.359,0:02:26.491 It sits in the same portion [br]of a presentation 0:02:26.491,0:02:29.780 where you would typically have [br]some sort of disclaimer. 0:02:29.780,0:02:33.505 However, at this point, [br]it is purely commercial speech. 0:02:33.505,0:02:37.702 And this, to me, IS Xbox right now. 0:02:37.702,0:02:41.835 This is the current mission statement [br]of the Xbox brand. 0:02:41.835,0:02:43.230 Finally: 0:02:44.815,0:02:45.568 appears[br]and then a silly little animation for it. 0:02:45.568,0:02:51.312 And that's really what they give you.[br]They give you a little show. 0:02:51.312,0:02:55.968 Less than ever, this feels like [br]developers directly talking to you 0:02:55.968,0:02:59.762 and more like they're just [br]putting on a little play for us 0:02:59.762,0:03:03.818 that was written by their PR managers[br]who are grinding their teeth backstage. 0:03:03.818,0:03:05.029 Consider this moment here. 0:03:05.029,0:03:07.475 MARTY STRATTON: --at our [br]most ambitious game yet. 0:03:07.475,0:03:10.657 This is Doom: The Dark Ages. 0:03:10.657,0:03:12.360 HUGO MARTIN: That was so stupid[br]I mouthed the words. 0:03:12.360,0:03:15.424 [everyone laughs] 0:03:15.424,0:03:19.589 KYLE: I think that's a fun, [br]honest, humorous moment. 0:03:19.589,0:03:23.189 However, it is only funny, [br]it can only exist, 0:03:23.189,0:03:27.279 'cause everything up to that point [br]WAS rehearsed, WAS scripted. 0:03:27.279,0:03:30.251 It's funny because of how weird [br]everything else feels. 0:03:30.251,0:03:31.429 This could be filled with developers 0:03:31.429,0:03:34.368 genuinely talking off-the-cuff about [br]what they've been working on, 0:03:34.368,0:03:37.431 but for the most part, it's fluffy, [br]meaningless mission statements. 0:03:37.431,0:03:41.346 JASMIN ROY: At Compulsion Games, [br]we love to craft around central themes. 0:03:41.346,0:03:46.640 Another big difference between [br]Developer Directs in previous years is: 0:03:48.367,0:03:56.251 The very indignity of seeing PS5 advertised [br]in an Xbox showcase. 0:03:56.251,0:03:59.948 Now, one might think, [br]"Obviously in previous years 0:03:59.948,0:04:02.796 they were all Xbox exclusives.[br]There was no opportunity to put PS5 in here." 0:04:02.796,0:04:05.893 But no, look at Visions of Mana[br]and Minecraft Legends here, 0:04:05.893,0:04:08.707 free from the blight [br]of PlayStation references. 0:04:08.707,0:04:12.097 By the way, they only did [br]these funny doodles Year 1. 0:04:12.097,0:04:14.608 They stopped that immediately. 0:04:14.608,0:04:17.715 But yeah, even as recently [br]as last year's Xbox Showcase, 0:04:17.715,0:04:19.693 they didn't mention the PS5. 0:04:19.693,0:04:21.580 But why would you?[br]You don't do that kind of thing. 0:04:21.580,0:04:23.976 Nintendo doesn't do that.[br]Sony doesn't do that. 0:04:23.976,0:04:27.239 You don't talk about-- You don't [br]advertise other people's consoles. 0:04:27.239,0:04:28.751 That's ridiculous. 0:04:28.751,0:04:31.115 [drawl] Well, lookee here. 0:04:31.115,0:04:33.769 While this may not seem like [br]a big deal at first glance, 0:04:33.769,0:04:37.643 it is the indubitable flag [br]representing the pivot. 0:04:37.643,0:04:42.803 "From this day forth," says Xbox,[br]"We do not fear the PS5. 0:04:42.803,0:04:43.496 'Cause remember: 0:04:44.389,0:04:54.167 So really, if you buy this on PS5,[br]you're only hurting yourself. 0:04:54.167,0:04:57.187 Really, it's kinda stupid [br]if you don't give us $20 a month. 0:04:57.187,0:04:59.777 Kinda just wasting your income. 0:04:59.777,0:05:01.697 Kinda think you're bad at economics." 0:05:01.697,0:05:04.018 Last big change,[br]for the first time in one of these: 0:05:06.899,0:05:09.443 Remember, [br]the beauty of a Developer Direct 0:05:09.443,0:05:13.852 is that there are no [br]manipulative, hotshot trailers, 0:05:13.852,0:05:16.357 no fancy editing.[br]Give me sloppy editing. 0:05:16.357,0:05:17.392 HAZEL'S MOM: As long as you [br]didn't forget the-- 0:05:17.392,0:05:19.195 HAZEL: --flashlights and batteries. 0:05:19.195,0:05:21.133 HAZEL'S MOM: Oh shoot, [br]we've got 5 minutes. 0:05:21.133,0:05:23.202 KYLE: Yeah, that hits the spot.[br]And you know what else? 0:05:23.202,0:05:25.599 I like it when developers are talking, 0:05:25.599,0:05:27.962 not reading off of some [br]teleprompter somewhere. 0:05:27.962,0:05:32.063 STRATTON: A lot has changed since then[br]but our team is as passionate as ever. 0:05:32.063,0:05:35.669 KYLE: That's what I'm talkin' about.[br]Trailers are for other shows. 0:05:35.669,0:05:39.032 Developer Directs, [br]50 minutes of authenticity. 0:05:39.032,0:05:42.648 But really, the most exciting portion [br]of this Developer Direct 0:05:42.648,0:05:46.339 was not just the revelation [br]that a pretty nice Ninja Gaiden 4 0:05:46.339,0:05:49.753 is in development [br]from Team Ninja and Platinum Games, 0:05:49.753,0:05:55.212 but also that Ninja Gaiden 2 Black exists[br]and it looks better than this new game. 0:05:55.212,0:05:56.807 And you can: 0:06:01.533,0:06:05.100 Kind of confusing sentence.[br]I see now why they're typing out PS5. 0:06:05.100,0:06:08.930 But what I mean to say is,[br]after all this, I do wonder if 0:06:08.930,0:06:15.318 the tried and true Nintendo Direct method [br]of trailer, explanation, information 0:06:15.318,0:06:18.073 is still the best way [br]to do this kind of thing. 0:06:18.073,0:06:21.204 Look at how they introduced Expedition 33. 0:06:21.204,0:06:32.249 [somber piano plays] 0:06:32.249,0:06:38.729 [French singing] 0:06:38.729,0:06:39.856 GUILLAUME BROCHE: Bonjour, everyone. 0:06:39.856,0:06:42.485 KYLE: Yeah, they were in no rush[br]to show you that video game. 0:06:42.485,0:06:44.847 First things first, [br]look at these tall ceilings. 0:06:44.847,0:06:46.810 To be clear, though, [br]I do think Expedition 33 0:06:46.810,0:06:49.422 brought the best presentation [br]of the entire direct, 0:06:49.422,0:06:54.021 demonstrating clearly how it's both [br]similar and different to your expectations, 0:06:54.021,0:06:58.031 unafraid to expose its pointlessly [br]complicated passive effect system, 0:06:58.031,0:07:01.428 and a true enthusiasm [br]to introduce the world map. 0:07:01.428,0:07:04.026 Okay, almost true enthusiasm. 0:07:04.026,0:07:08.442 Try to tell me when this developer [br]reiterates that there's a world map, 0:07:08.442,0:07:10.546 that it comes off as unscripted. 0:07:10.546,0:07:13.769 TOM GUILLERMAN: --a completely 3D [br]and navigatable world map. 0:07:13.769,0:07:15.187 Yes, we've got a world map. 0:07:15.187,0:07:19.437 KYLE: To me, it's just incredibly off-putting [br]how seemingly afraid they are 0:07:19.437,0:07:25.156 to just let developers speak freely [br]in a potentially sub-optimal manner. 0:07:25.156,0:07:29.455 "What if it's not entertaining enough?[br]We could lose viewers." 0:07:29.455,0:07:33.121 But, in fairness, [br]they never promised a documentary. 0:07:33.121,0:07:37.104 In fact, I wonder if that WAS a warning. 0:07:37.104,0:07:43.190 MENACING VOICE: Enjoy the show. 0:07:43.190,0:07:45.795 KYLE: Despite that, [br]despite the abundant artifice, 0:07:45.795,0:07:53.323 I do think Developer Directs are one of the [br]most interesting ways to present a showcase. 0:07:53.323,0:07:57.016 That they really-- They spend a lot of [br]time on the games themselves. 0:07:57.016,0:07:59.637 50 minutes for 4 games [br]is actually pretty crazy. 0:07:59.637,0:08:03.111 And I really, really like that someone [br]at Xbox recognizes 0:08:03.111,0:08:07.460 that some of these mid-budget games [br]are truly interesting 0:08:07.460,0:08:09.649 and deserve the full spotlight. 0:08:09.649,0:08:12.487 I don't think it was a better [br]presentation than last year's 0:08:12.487,0:08:15.141 but I'm going to give it a better grade 0:08:15.141,0:08:19.164 because my expectations are just [br]generally sinking across the board. 0:08:19.164,0:08:20.183 Therefore: 0:08:21.270,0:08:23.799 And that's Delayed Input.[br]I'll be back next week. 0:08:23.799,0:08:24.867 Thanks for watching. 0:08:34.911,0:08:37.918 Alright, so one of the things that [br]actually stands out to me the most 0:08:37.918,0:08:39.203 from the entire presentation 0:08:39.203,0:08:45.122 is how soft and silly the new Doom looks. 0:08:45.122,0:08:49.614 That's right, I'm officially putting [br]Doom: The Dark Ages 0:08:49.614,0:08:50.675 on Dum-Dum Watch. 0:08:51.750,0:08:56.752 Doom is dangerously close [br]to transitioning from 0:08:56.752,0:09:02.354 this absolutely unassailable, [br]cool guy franchise to 0:09:02.354,0:09:07.223 an absolute dorkfest,[br]at least how it's presented. 0:09:07.223,0:09:11.337 Doom somehow became some sort of [br]Do What the Circle Tells You To Do game. 0:09:11.337,0:09:15.353 Hit an enemy until a purple circle appears[br]and then walk over and kill it. 0:09:15.353,0:09:18.711 It's made clear, just looking at it,[br]that the Doom team 0:09:18.711,0:09:25.789 is trying to take this franchise in a more[br]wide market direction. 0:09:25.789,0:09:27.259 And they'll even tell you that. 0:09:27.259,0:09:29.639 STRATTON: So in 2016, [br]we asked you to run and gun. 0:09:29.639,0:09:32.052 In Doom Eternal it was jump and shoot. 0:09:32.052,0:09:36.470 And in Doom: The Dark Ages[br]you're gonna stand and fight. 0:09:36.470,0:09:38.772 KYLE: And remember, [br]that's the pre-approved PR. 0:09:38.772,0:09:40.876 They're proud of that.[br]And what's-- 0:09:40.876,0:09:44.175 What's so funny about it, to me, [br]is that "stand and fight" 0:09:44.175,0:09:47.389 is the least interesting option [br]of those 3 things. 0:09:47.389,0:09:50.301 And it's not like we weren't [br]fighting before. 0:09:50.301,0:09:54.710 And the accompanying clip [br]that demonstrates this is indeed boring. 0:09:54.710,0:09:56.823 Looks like the player's just [br]pressing the buttons 0:09:56.823,0:09:59.920 that game is explicitly [br]asking them to press. 0:09:59.920,0:10:01.698 I'm not even sure you have to aim. 0:10:01.698,0:10:05.290 Look at this example of one of their [br]big, new, expansive levels. 0:10:05.290,0:10:09.194 It's so weird to me. It's so weird that [br]the demons are just organized. 0:10:09.194,0:10:12.075 They're just lined up [br]waiting for you to come kill them. 0:10:12.075,0:10:13.845 Look at these 5 shield guys. 0:10:13.845,0:10:17.343 I guess that should be [br]an intimidating obstacle. 0:10:17.343,0:10:20.584 Ideally, you'd look at 5 shield guys [br]and you think, 0:10:20.584,0:10:23.508 "Oh, okay. [br]How am I gonna flank them? 0:10:23.508,0:10:26.159 I gotta figure out what angle [br]to hit this from." 0:10:26.159,0:10:30.060 When, no, we all know you're gonna hit 'em [br]with the shield and they all die in one hit. 0:10:30.060,0:10:31.954 I don't care how much you [br]jack up the speed. 0:10:31.954,0:10:34.101 It's gonna look stupid at any difficulty. 0:10:34.101,0:10:38.935 And again, stupid is not necessarily bad.[br]I've been known to enjoy some stupid games. 0:10:38.935,0:10:42.082 But Doom presents itself as cool. 0:10:42.082,0:10:44.403 Let me ask you something:[br]Do you buy this? 0:10:44.403,0:10:46.865 Do you believe those buildings [br]have occupants in them? 0:10:46.865,0:10:50.656 Do you feel huge?[br]You feel like you're a big robot? 0:10:50.656,0:10:54.078 'Cause to me, it looks airy.[br]It looks weightless. 0:10:54.078,0:10:59.832 Epic on paper, cartoonish in practice.[br]"Oh good, another purple circle." 0:10:59.832,0:11:04.015 And look, I know I'm just basing this off [br]of the presentation I watched today, 0:11:04.015,0:11:05.842 which was made for a mass market. 0:11:05.842,0:11:12.331 I'm not saying for certain the game will be [br]dumb and silly and Disney XD-level drama. 0:11:12.331,0:11:13.340 But 0:11:13.340,0:11:15.946 it is officially on Dum-Dum Watch. 0:11:18.066,0:11:20.311 STRATTON: And if that wasn't enough,[br]we also have for you 0:11:20.311,0:11:24.378 your very own fire-breathing, [br]gatling gun-toting cybernetic dragon.