0:00:00.120,0:00:01.204 Welcome to Prankers. 0:00:01.204,0:00:05.486 Today I'm gonna prank my dad into funding [br]a God of War Game-as-a-Service. 0:00:11.732,0:00:14.244 KYLE: This week, we were [br]graced and inconvenienced 0:00:14.244,0:00:17.831 by a brand-new Xbox Developer Direct. 0:00:17.831,0:00:19.681 Last year I thought it was funny 0:00:19.681,0:00:23.240 that they used the exact same [br]opening song 2 years in a row. 0:00:23.240,0:00:24.925 [bright music] 0:00:24.925,0:00:29.288 Now, this year it would be silly [br]to assume they'd try anything new. 0:00:29.288,0:00:30.748 It's copy and paste at this point. 0:00:30.748,0:00:37.163 [same bright music] 0:00:37.163,0:00:44.550 Why that's weird is that Xbox's whole business [br]has changed dramatically since January of 2023 0:00:44.550,0:00:45.891 and so has its marketing. 0:00:45.891,0:00:50.647 But for some reason, [br]the Developer Direct remains unchanged. 0:00:50.647,0:00:54.222 Someone at Microsoft likes these [br]exactly the way they are. 0:00:54.222,0:00:54.918 But you know what? 0:00:54.918,0:00:58.774 That makes the small ways in which they [br]are different stand out even more. 0:00:58.774,0:00:59.590 Here are: 0:01:02.889,0:01:03.564 Firstly: 0:01:05.865,0:01:09.013 For some reason, [br]there was a brand-new warning 0:01:09.013,0:01:11.147 at the beginning of [br]this year's presentation. 0:01:16.218,0:01:18.153 I'm not sure that would [br]stand out to anyone, right? 0:01:18.153,0:01:22.770 That doesn't seem unusual.[br]But Xbox has never done that before. 0:01:22.770,0:01:24.887 Even looking at their [br]most recent game showcase, 0:01:24.887,0:01:27.118 all they had was this [br]Mature Content warning. 0:01:27.118,0:01:30.516 But the Developer Direct warning [br]doesn't stop there. 0:01:30.516,0:01:33.604 Turns out, [br]it's not really a warning. It says: 0:01:37.180,0:01:40.234 Oh, got it![br]So this is just commercial time. 0:01:40.234,0:01:45.057 Back when Xbox deleted Day 1 benefits [br]from the regular Game Pass tier, 0:01:45.057,0:01:48.774 I was making light of the fact they [br]couldn't say their favorite phrase anymore, 0:01:49.357,0:01:50.695 "Day 1 with Game Pass." 0:01:50.695,0:01:54.017 Look, Game Pass Ultimate [br]is the one that has Day 1 games. 0:01:54.017,0:01:56.468 Core and Standard do not. 0:01:56.468,0:02:00.547 How silly of you to think [br]Standard Game Pass would have Day 1. 0:02:00.547,0:02:04.144 But they just keep saying it.[br]Nothing's actually changed. 0:02:04.144,0:02:08.150 You gotta read between the lines.[br]PC and Ultimate is implied here. 0:02:08.150,0:02:08.444 [HONK] 0:02:08.444,0:02:10.317 You know what, you'll figure it out [br]when you get to the website. 0:02:10.317,0:02:12.384 The good news warning continues: 0:02:23.059,0:02:26.481 It sits in the same portion [br]of a presentation 0:02:26.481,0:02:29.990 where you would typically have [br]some sort of disclaimer. 0:02:29.990,0:02:33.405 However, at this point, [br]it is purely commercial speech. 0:02:33.405,0:02:37.822 And this, to me, IS Xbox right now. 0:02:37.822,0:02:41.785 This is the current mission statement [br]of the Xbox brand. 0:02:41.785,0:02:42.906 Finally: 0:02:44.225,0:02:47.488 appears[br]and then a silly little animation for it. 0:02:47.488,0:02:51.372 And that's really what they give you.[br]They give you a little show. 0:02:51.372,0:02:55.928 Less than ever, this feels like [br]developers directly talking to you 0:02:55.928,0:02:59.632 and more like they're just [br]putting on a little play for us 0:02:59.632,0:03:03.608 that was written by their PR managers[br]who are grinding their teeth backstage. 0:03:03.608,0:03:04.839 Consider this moment here. 0:03:04.839,0:03:07.515 MARTY STRATTON: --at our [br]most ambitious game yet. 0:03:07.515,0:03:10.217 This is Doom: The Dark Ages. 0:03:10.217,0:03:12.180 HUGO MARTIN: That was so stupid[br]I mouthed the words. 0:03:12.180,0:03:15.026 [everyone laughs] 0:03:15.026,0:03:19.229 KYLE: I think that's a fun, [br]honest, humorous moment. 0:03:19.229,0:03:22.999 However, it is only funny, [br]it can only exist, 0:03:22.999,0:03:27.359 because everything up to that point [br]WAS rehearsed, WAS scripted. 0:03:27.359,0:03:30.091 It's funny because of how weird [br]everything else feels. 0:03:30.091,0:03:31.379 This could be filled with developers 0:03:31.379,0:03:34.268 genuinely talking off-the-cuff about [br]what they've been working on, 0:03:34.268,0:03:37.641 but for the most part, it's fluffy, [br]meaningless mission statements. 0:03:37.641,0:03:41.285 JASMIN ROY: At Compulsion Games, [br]we love to craft around central themes. 0:03:42.616,0:03:46.555 Another big difference between [br]Developer Directs in previous years is: 0:03:48.207,0:03:56.161 The very indignity of seeing PS5 advertised [br]in an Xbox showcase. 0:03:56.161,0:03:58.698 Now, one might think, [br]"Obviously in previous years 0:03:58.698,0:04:02.566 they were all Xbox exclusives.[br]There was no opportunity to put PS5 in here." 0:04:02.566,0:04:05.983 But no, look at Visions of Mana[br]and Minecraft Legends here, 0:04:05.983,0:04:08.957 free from the blight [br]of PlayStation references. 0:04:08.957,0:04:12.151 By the way, they only did [br]these funny doodles Year 1. 0:04:13.267,0:04:14.658 They stopped that immediately. 0:04:14.658,0:04:17.705 But yeah, even as recently [br]as last year's Xbox Showcase, 0:04:17.705,0:04:19.663 they didn't mention the PS5. 0:04:19.663,0:04:21.860 But why would you?[br]You don't do that kind of thing. 0:04:21.860,0:04:23.706 Nintendo doesn't do that.[br]Sony doesn't do that. 0:04:23.706,0:04:27.419 You don't talk about-- You don't [br]advertise other people's consoles. 0:04:27.419,0:04:28.421 That's ridiculous. 0:04:28.421,0:04:31.015 [drawl] Well, lookee here. 0:04:31.015,0:04:33.979 While this may not seem like [br]a big deal at first glance, 0:04:33.979,0:04:37.793 it is the indubitable flag [br]representing the pivot. 0:04:37.793,0:04:42.433 "From this day forth," says Xbox,[br]"We do not fear the PS5. 0:04:42.433,0:04:44.299 'Cause remember,[br]all this stuff is on Game Pass. 0:04:44.299,0:04:47.869 You could buy once, you could play it all on your Xbox and Xbox PC app. 0:04:47.869,0:04:53.937 So really, if you buy this on PS5,[br]you're only hurtin' yourself. 0:04:53.937,0:04:56.994 Really, it's kinda stupid [br]if you don't give us $20 a month. 0:04:57.757,0:04:59.927 Kinda just wasting your income. 0:04:59.927,0:05:01.677 Kinda think you're bad at economics." 0:05:01.677,0:05:04.130 Last big change,[br]for the first time in one of these: 0:05:06.929,0:05:09.553 Remember, [br]the beauty of a Developer Direct 0:05:09.553,0:05:13.652 is that there are no [br]manipulative, hotshot trailers, 0:05:13.652,0:05:16.147 no fancy editing.[br]Give me sloppy editing. 0:05:16.147,0:05:17.402 HAZEL'S MOM: As long as you [br]didn't forget the-- 0:05:17.402,0:05:19.105 HAZEL: --flashlights and batteries. 0:05:19.105,0:05:21.003 HAZEL'S MOM: Oh, shoot,[br]we've got 5 minutes. 0:05:21.003,0:05:23.642 KYLE: Yeah, that hits the spot.[br]And you know what else? 0:05:23.642,0:05:25.489 I like it when developers are talking, 0:05:25.489,0:05:27.942 not reading off of some [br]teleprompter somewhere. 0:05:28.052,0:05:31.943 STRATTON: A lot has changed since then[br]but our team is as passionate as ever. 0:05:31.943,0:05:35.439 KYLE: That's what I'm talkin' about.[br]Trailers are for other shows. 0:05:35.439,0:05:38.822 Developer Directs, [br]50 minutes of authenticity. 0:05:38.822,0:05:42.388 But really, the most exciting portion [br]of this Developer Direct 0:05:42.388,0:05:46.219 was not just the revelation [br]that a pretty nice Ninja Gaiden 4 0:05:46.219,0:05:49.773 is in development [br]from Team Ninja and Platinum Games, 0:05:49.773,0:05:56.362 but also that Ninja Gaiden 2 Black exists[br]and it looks better than this new game. And: 0:06:01.393,0:06:05.100 Kind of confusing sentence.[br]I see now why they're typing out PS5. 0:06:05.100,0:06:08.990 But what I mean to say is,[br]after all this, I do wonder if 0:06:08.990,0:06:15.748 the tried and true Nintendo Direct method [br]of trailer, explanation, information 0:06:15.748,0:06:18.292 is still the best way [br]to do this kind of thing. 0:06:18.663,0:06:21.164 Look at how they introduced Expedition 33. 0:06:23.864,0:06:31.739 [somber piano plays] 0:06:31.739,0:06:38.259 [French singing] 0:06:38.259,0:06:39.670 GUILLAUME BROCHE: Bonjour, everyone. 0:06:39.670,0:06:42.695 KYLE: Yeah, they were in no rush[br]to show you that video game. 0:06:42.695,0:06:44.677 "First things first, [br]look at these tall ceilings." 0:06:44.677,0:06:46.810 To be clear, though, [br]I do think Expedition 33 0:06:46.810,0:06:49.282 brought the best presentation [br]of the entire direct, 0:06:49.282,0:06:53.921 demonstrating clearly how it's both [br]similar and different to your expectations, 0:06:53.921,0:06:58.061 unafraid to expose its pointlessly [br]complicated passive effect system, 0:06:58.061,0:07:01.388 and a true enthusiasm [br]to introduce the world map. 0:07:01.388,0:07:04.170 Okay, almost true enthusiasm. 0:07:04.696,0:07:08.612 Try to tell me when this developer [br]reiterates that there's a world map, 0:07:08.612,0:07:10.366 that it comes off as unscripted. 0:07:10.366,0:07:13.549 TOM GUILLERMAN: --a completely 3D [br]and navigatable world map. 0:07:13.549,0:07:15.057 Yes, we've got a world map. 0:07:15.057,0:07:19.337 KYLE: To me, it's just incredibly off-putting [br]how seemingly afraid they are 0:07:19.337,0:07:25.156 to just let developers speak freely [br]in a potentially sub-optimal manner. 0:07:25.536,0:07:29.604 "What if it's not entertaining enough?[br]We could lose viewers." 0:07:30.795,0:07:35.151 But, in fairness, [br]they never promised a documentary. 0:07:35.151,0:07:37.007 In fact, I wonder if that WAS a warning. 0:07:39.974,0:07:42.920 MENACING VOICE: Enjoy the show. 0:07:42.920,0:07:45.685 KYLE: Despite that, [br]despite the abundance of artifice, 0:07:45.685,0:07:53.463 I do think Developer Directs are one of the [br]most interesting ways to present a showcase. 0:07:53.843,0:07:56.836 That they really-- They spend a lot of [br]time on the games themselves. 0:07:56.836,0:07:59.627 50 minutes for 4 games [br]is actually pretty crazy. 0:07:59.627,0:08:03.001 And I really, really like that someone [br]at Xbox recognizes 0:08:03.001,0:08:07.460 that some of these mid-budget games [br]are truly interesting 0:08:07.460,0:08:09.539 and deserve the full spotlight. 0:08:09.539,0:08:12.857 I don't think it was a better [br]presentation than last year's 0:08:12.857,0:08:14.991 but I'm going to give it a better grade 0:08:14.991,0:08:19.164 because my expectations are just [br]generally sinking across the board. 0:08:19.164,0:08:20.183 Therefore: 0:08:21.330,0:08:23.699 And that's Delayed Input.[br]I'll be back next week. 0:08:23.699,0:08:24.697 Thanks for watching. 0:08:35.141,0:08:37.698 Alright, so one of the things that [br]actually stands out to me the most 0:08:37.698,0:08:39.398 from the entire presentation 0:08:41.603,0:08:45.122 is how soft and silly the new Doom looks. 0:08:45.832,0:08:49.324 That's right, I'm officially putting [br]Doom: The Dark Ages 0:08:49.324,0:08:50.675 on Dum-Dum Watch. 0:08:51.620,0:08:57.142 Doom is dangerously close [br]to transitioning from 0:08:57.142,0:09:02.190 this absolutely unassailable, [br]cool guy franchise to 0:09:02.804,0:09:07.198 an absolute dorkfest,[br]at least how it's presented. 0:09:07.198,0:09:11.377 Doom somehow became this some sort of [br]Do What the Circle Tells You To Do game. 0:09:11.377,0:09:15.413 Hit an enemy until a purple circle appears[br]and then walk over and kill it. 0:09:15.413,0:09:18.641 It's made clear, just looking at it,[br]that the Doom team 0:09:18.641,0:09:25.809 is trying to take this franchise in a more[br]broad, wide market direction. 0:09:25.809,0:09:27.259 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. 0:09:30.089,0:09:32.162 In Doom Eternal it was jump and shoot. 0:09:33.052,0:09:36.275 And in Doom: The Dark Ages[br]you're gonna stand and fight. 0:09:36.275,0:09:38.932 KYLE: And remember, [br]that's the pre-approved PR. 0:09:38.932,0:09:41.166 They're proud of that.[br]And what's-- It's-- 0:09:41.166,0:09:44.595 What's so funny about it, to me, [br]is that "stand and fight" 0:09:44.595,0:09:47.899 is the least interesting option [br]of those 3 things. 0:09:47.899,0:09:50.441 And it's not like we weren't [br]fighting before. 0:09:50.441,0:09:54.650 And the accompanying clip [br]that demonstrates this is indeed boring. 0:09:54.650,0:09:56.713 Looks like the player's just [br]pressing the buttons 0:09:56.713,0:09:59.950 that game is explicitly [br]asking them to press. 0:09:59.950,0:10:01.588 I'm not even sure you have to aim. 0:10:01.588,0:10:05.730 Look at this example of one of their [br]big, new, expansive levels. 0:10:05.730,0:10:09.184 It's so weird to me. It's so weird that [br]the demons are just organized. 0:10:09.184,0:10:12.145 They're just lined up [br]waiting for you to come kill them. 0:10:12.145,0:10:14.275 Look at these 5 shield guys. 0:10:14.275,0:10:17.383 I guess that should be [br]an intimidating obstacle. 0:10:17.383,0:10:20.584 Ideally, you'd look at 5 shield guys [br]and you think, 0:10:20.584,0:10:23.368 "Oh, okay. [br]How am I gonna flank them? 0:10:23.368,0:10:25.909 I gotta figure out what angle [br]to hit this from." 0:10:25.909,0:10:29.980 When, no, we all know you're gonna hit 'em [br]with the shield and they all die in one hit. 0:10:29.980,0:10:31.814 I don't care how much you [br]jack up the speed. 0:10:31.814,0:10:34.031 It's gonna look stupid at any difficulty. 0:10:34.031,0:10:39.035 And again, stupid is not necessarily bad.[br]I've been known to enjoy some stupid games. 0:10:39.675,0:10:41.862 But Doom presents itself as cool. 0:10:41.862,0:10:44.313 Let me ask you something:[br]Do you buy this? 0:10:44.313,0:10:46.984 Do you believe those buildings [br]have occupants in them? 0:10:47.465,0:10:50.756 Do you feel huge?[br]You feel like you're a big robot? 0:10:50.756,0:10:54.052 'Cause to me, it looks airy.[br]It looks weightless. 0:10:54.052,0:10:58.222 Epic on paper, cartoonish in practice. 0:10:58.222,0:11:00.212 "Oh good, another purple circle." 0:11:00.212,0:11:03.875 And look, I know I'm just basing this off [br]of the presentation I watched today, 0:11:03.875,0:11:06.382 which was made for a mass market. 0:11:06.382,0:11:12.291 I'm not saying for certain the game will be [br]dumb and silly and Disney XD-level drama. 0:11:12.291,0:11:13.630 But 0:11:13.630,0:11:15.946 it is officially on Dum-Dum Watch. 0:11:17.683,0:11:20.091 STRATTON: And if that wasn't enough,[br]we also have for you 0:11:20.091,0:11:24.468 your very own fire-breathing, [br]gatling gun-toting cybernetic dragon.