WEBVTT 00:00:00.120 --> 00:00:01.204 Welcome to Prankers. 00:00:01.204 --> 00:00:05.486 Today I'm gonna prank my dad into funding a God of War Game-as-a-Service. 00:00:11.732 --> 00:00:14.244 KYLE: This week, we were graced and inconvenienced 00:00:14.244 --> 00:00:17.831 by a brand-new Xbox Developer Direct. 00:00:17.831 --> 00:00:19.681 Last year I thought it was funny 00:00:19.681 --> 00:00:23.240 that they used the exact same opening song 2 years in a row. 00:00:23.240 --> 00:00:24.925 [bright music] 00:00:24.925 --> 00:00:29.288 Now, this year it would be silly to assume they'd try anything new. 00:00:29.288 --> 00:00:30.748 It's copy and paste at this point. 00:00:30.748 --> 00:00:37.163 [same bright music] 00:00:37.163 --> 00:00:44.550 Why that's weird is that Xbox's whole business has changed dramatically since January of 2023 00:00:44.550 --> 00:00:45.891 and so has its marketing. 00:00:45.891 --> 00:00:50.647 But for some reason, the Developer Direct remains unchanged. 00:00:50.647 --> 00:00:54.222 Someone at Microsoft likes these exactly the way they are. 00:00:54.222 --> 00:00:54.918 But you know what? 00:00:54.918 --> 00:00:58.774 That makes the small ways in which they are different stand out even more. 00:00:58.774 --> 00:00:59.590 Here are: 00:01:02.889 --> 00:01:03.564 Firstly: 00:01:05.865 --> 00:01:09.013 For some reason, there was a brand-new warning 00:01:09.013 --> 00:01:11.147 at the beginning of this year's presentation. 00:01:16.218 --> 00:01:18.153 I'm not sure that would stand out to anyone, right? 00:01:18.153 --> 00:01:22.770 That doesn't seem unusual. But Xbox has never done that before. 00:01:22.770 --> 00:01:24.887 Even looking at their most recent game showcase, 00:01:24.887 --> 00:01:27.118 all they had was this Mature Content warning. 00:01:27.118 --> 00:01:30.516 But the Developer Direct warning doesn't stop there. 00:01:30.516 --> 00:01:33.604 Turns out, it's not really a warning. It says: 00:01:37.180 --> 00:01:40.234 Oh, got it! So this is just commercial time. 00:01:40.234 --> 00:01:45.057 Back when Xbox deleted Day 1 benefits from the regular Game Pass tier, 00:01:45.057 --> 00:01:48.774 I was making light of the fact they couldn't say their favorite phrase anymore, 00:01:49.357 --> 00:01:50.695 "Day 1 with Game Pass." 00:01:50.695 --> 00:01:54.017 Look, Game Pass Ultimate is the one that has Day 1 games. 00:01:54.017 --> 00:01:56.468 Core and Standard do not. 00:01:56.468 --> 00:02:00.547 How silly of you to think Standard Game Pass would have Day 1. 00:02:00.547 --> 00:02:04.144 But they just keep saying it. Nothing's actually changed. 00:02:04.144 --> 00:02:08.150 You gotta read between the lines. PC and Ultimate is implied here. 00:02:08.150 --> 00:02:08.444 [HONK] 00:02:08.444 --> 00:02:10.317 You know what, you'll figure it out when you get to the website. 00:02:10.317 --> 00:02:12.384 The good news warning continues: 00:02:23.059 --> 00:02:26.481 It sits in the same portion of a presentation 00:02:26.481 --> 00:02:29.990 where you would typically have some sort of disclaimer. 00:02:29.990 --> 00:02:33.405 However, at this point, it is purely commercial speech. 00:02:33.405 --> 00:02:37.822 And this, to me, IS Xbox right now. 00:02:37.822 --> 00:02:41.785 This is the current mission statement of the Xbox brand. 00:02:41.785 --> 00:02:42.906 Finally: 00:02:44.225 --> 00:02:47.488 appears and then a silly little animation for it. 00:02:47.488 --> 00:02:51.372 And that's really what they give you. They give you a little show. 00:02:51.372 --> 00:02:55.928 Less than ever, this feels like developers directly talking to you 00:02:55.928 --> 00:02:59.632 and more like they're just putting on a little play for us 00:02:59.632 --> 00:03:03.608 that was written by their PR managers who are grinding their teeth backstage. 00:03:03.608 --> 00:03:04.839 Consider this moment here. 00:03:04.839 --> 00:03:07.515 MARTY STRATTON: --at our most ambitious game yet. 00:03:07.515 --> 00:03:10.217 This is Doom: The Dark Ages. 00:03:10.217 --> 00:03:12.180 HUGO MARTIN: That was so stupid I mouthed the words. 00:03:12.180 --> 00:03:15.026 [everyone laughs] 00:03:15.026 --> 00:03:19.229 KYLE: I think that's a fun, honest, humorous moment. 00:03:19.229 --> 00:03:22.999 However, it is only funny, it can only exist, 00:03:22.999 --> 00:03:27.359 because everything up to that point WAS rehearsed, WAS scripted. 00:03:27.359 --> 00:03:30.091 It's funny because of how weird everything else feels. 00:03:30.091 --> 00:03:31.379 This could be filled with developers 00:03:31.379 --> 00:03:34.268 genuinely talking off-the-cuff about what they've been working on, 00:03:34.268 --> 00:03:37.641 but for the most part, it's fluffy, meaningless mission statements. 00:03:37.641 --> 00:03:41.285 JASMIN ROY: At Compulsion Games, we love to craft around central themes. 00:03:42.616 --> 00:03:46.555 Another big difference between Developer Directs in previous years is: 00:03:48.207 --> 00:03:56.161 The very indignity of seeing PS5 advertised in an Xbox showcase. 00:03:56.161 --> 00:03:58.698 Now, one might think, "Obviously in previous years 00:03:58.698 --> 00:04:02.566 they were all Xbox exclusives. There was no opportunity to put PS5 in here." 00:04:02.566 --> 00:04:05.983 But no, look at Visions of Mana and Minecraft Legends here, 00:04:05.983 --> 00:04:08.957 free from the blight of PlayStation references. 00:04:08.957 --> 00:04:12.151 By the way, they only did these funny doodles Year 1. 00:04:13.267 --> 00:04:14.658 They stopped that immediately. 00:04:14.658 --> 00:04:17.705 But yeah, even as recently as last year's Xbox Showcase, 00:04:17.705 --> 00:04:19.663 they didn't mention the PS5. 00:04:19.663 --> 00:04:21.860 But why would you? You don't do that kind of thing. 00:04:21.860 --> 00:04:23.706 Nintendo doesn't do that. Sony doesn't do that. 00:04:23.706 --> 00:04:27.419 You don't talk about-- You don't advertise other people's consoles. 00:04:27.419 --> 00:04:28.421 That's ridiculous. 00:04:28.421 --> 00:04:31.015 [drawl] Well, lookee here. 00:04:31.015 --> 00:04:33.979 While this may not seem like a big deal at first glance, 00:04:33.979 --> 00:04:37.793 it is the indubitable flag representing the pivot. 00:04:37.793 --> 00:04:42.433 "From this day forth," says Xbox, "We do not fear the PS5. 00:04:42.433 --> 00:04:44.299 'Cause remember, all this stuff is on Game Pass. 00:04:44.299 --> 00:04:47.869 You could buy once, you could play it all on your Xbox and Xbox PC app. 00:04:47.869 --> 00:04:53.937 So really, if you buy this on PS5, you're only hurtin' yourself. 00:04:53.937 --> 00:04:56.994 Really, it's kinda stupid if you don't give us $20 a month. 00:04:57.757 --> 00:04:59.927 Kinda just wasting your income. 00:04:59.927 --> 00:05:01.677 Kinda think you're bad at economics." 00:05:01.677 --> 00:05:04.130 Last big change, for the first time in one of these: 00:05:06.929 --> 00:05:09.553 Remember, the beauty of a Developer Direct 00:05:09.553 --> 00:05:13.652 is that there are no manipulative, hotshot trailers, 00:05:13.652 --> 00:05:16.147 no fancy editing. Give me sloppy editing. 00:05:16.147 --> 00:05:17.402 HAZEL'S MOM: As long as you didn't forget the-- 00:05:17.402 --> 00:05:19.105 HAZEL: --flashlights and batteries. 00:05:19.105 --> 00:05:21.003 HAZEL'S MOM: Oh, shoot, we've got 5 minutes. 00:05:21.003 --> 00:05:23.642 KYLE: Yeah, that hits the spot. And you know what else? 00:05:23.642 --> 00:05:25.489 I like it when developers are talking, 00:05:25.489 --> 00:05:27.942 not reading off of some teleprompter somewhere. 00:05:28.052 --> 00:05:31.943 STRATTON: A lot has changed since then but our team is as passionate as ever. 00:05:31.943 --> 00:05:35.439 KYLE: That's what I'm talkin' about. Trailers are for other shows. 00:05:35.439 --> 00:05:38.822 Developer Directs, 50 minutes of authenticity. 00:05:38.822 --> 00:05:42.388 But really, the most exciting portion of this Developer Direct 00:05:42.388 --> 00:05:46.219 was not just the revelation that a pretty nice Ninja Gaiden 4 00:05:46.219 --> 00:05:49.773 is in development from Team Ninja and Platinum Games, 00:05:49.773 --> 00:05:56.362 but also that Ninja Gaiden 2 Black exists and it looks better than this new game. And: 00:06:01.393 --> 00:06:05.100 Kind of confusing sentence. I see now why they're typing out PS5. 00:06:05.100 --> 00:06:08.990 But what I mean to say is, after all this, I do wonder if 00:06:08.990 --> 00:06:15.748 the tried and true Nintendo Direct method of trailer, explanation, information 00:06:15.748 --> 00:06:18.292 is still the best way to do this kind of thing. 00:06:18.663 --> 00:06:21.164 Look at how they introduced Expedition 33. 00:06:23.864 --> 00:06:31.739 [somber piano plays] 00:06:31.739 --> 00:06:38.259 [French singing] 00:06:38.259 --> 00:06:39.670 GUILLAUME BROCHE: Bonjour, everyone. 00:06:39.670 --> 00:06:42.695 KYLE: Yeah, they were in no rush to show you that video game. 00:06:42.695 --> 00:06:44.677 "First things first, look at these tall ceilings." 00:06:44.677 --> 00:06:46.810 To be clear, though, I do think Expedition 33 00:06:46.810 --> 00:06:49.282 brought the best presentation of the entire direct, 00:06:49.282 --> 00:06:53.921 demonstrating clearly how it's both similar and different to your expectations, 00:06:53.921 --> 00:06:58.061 unafraid to expose its pointlessly complicated passive effect system, 00:06:58.061 --> 00:07:01.388 and a true enthusiasm to introduce the world map. 00:07:01.388 --> 00:07:04.170 Okay, almost true enthusiasm. 00:07:04.696 --> 00:07:08.612 Try to tell me when this developer reiterates that there's a world map, 00:07:08.612 --> 00:07:10.366 that it comes off as unscripted. 00:07:10.366 --> 00:07:13.549 TOM GUILLERMAN: --a completely 3D and navigatable world map. 00:07:13.549 --> 00:07:15.057 Yes, we've got a world map. 00:07:15.057 --> 00:07:19.337 KYLE: To me, it's just incredibly off-putting how seemingly afraid they are 00:07:19.337 --> 00:07:25.156 to just let developers speak freely in a potentially sub-optimal manner. 00:07:25.536 --> 00:07:29.604 "What if it's not entertaining enough? We could lose viewers." 00:07:30.795 --> 00:07:35.151 But, in fairness, they never promised a documentary. 00:07:35.151 --> 00:07:37.007 In fact, I wonder if that WAS a warning. 00:07:39.974 --> 00:07:42.920 MENACING VOICE: Enjoy the show. 00:07:42.920 --> 00:07:45.685 KYLE: Despite that, despite the abundance of artifice, 00:07:45.685 --> 00:07:53.463 I do think Developer Directs are one of the most interesting ways to present a showcase. 00:07:53.843 --> 00:07:56.836 That they really-- They spend a lot of time on the games themselves. 00:07:56.836 --> 00:07:59.627 50 minutes for 4 games is actually pretty crazy. 00:07:59.627 --> 00:08:03.001 And I really, really like that someone at Xbox recognizes 00:08:03.001 --> 00:08:07.460 that some of these mid-budget games are truly interesting 00:08:07.460 --> 00:08:09.539 and deserve the full spotlight. 00:08:09.539 --> 00:08:12.857 I don't think it was a better presentation than last year's 00:08:12.857 --> 00:08:14.991 but I'm going to give it a better grade 00:08:14.991 --> 00:08:19.164 because my expectations are just generally sinking across the board. 00:08:19.164 --> 00:08:20.183 Therefore: 00:08:21.330 --> 00:08:23.699 And that's Delayed Input. I'll be back next week. 00:08:23.699 --> 00:08:24.697 Thanks for watching. 00:08:35.141 --> 00:08:37.698 Alright, so one of the things that actually stands out to me the most 00:08:37.698 --> 00:08:39.398 from the entire presentation 00:08:41.603 --> 00:08:45.122 is how soft and silly the new Doom looks. 00:08:45.832 --> 00:08:49.324 That's right, I'm officially putting Doom: The Dark Ages 00:08:49.324 --> 00:08:50.675 on Dum-Dum Watch. 00:08:51.620 --> 00:08:57.142 Doom is dangerously close to transitioning from 00:08:57.142 --> 00:09:02.190 this absolutely unassailable, cool guy franchise to 00:09:02.804 --> 00:09:07.198 an absolute dorkfest, at least how it's presented. 00:09:07.198 --> 00:09:11.377 Doom somehow became this some sort of Do What the Circle Tells You To Do game. 00:09:11.377 --> 00:09:15.413 Hit an enemy until a purple circle appears and then walk over and kill it. 00:09:15.413 --> 00:09:18.641 It's made clear, just looking at it, that the Doom team 00:09:18.641 --> 00:09:25.809 is trying to take this franchise in a more broad, wide market direction. 00:09:25.809 --> 00:09:27.259 And they'll even tell you that. 00:09:27.259 --> 00:09:29.639 STRATTON: So in 2016, we asked you to run and gun. 00:09:30.089 --> 00:09:32.162 In Doom Eternal it was jump and shoot. 00:09:33.052 --> 00:09:36.275 And in Doom: The Dark Ages you're gonna stand and fight. 00:09:36.275 --> 00:09:38.932 KYLE: And remember, that's the pre-approved PR. 00:09:38.932 --> 00:09:41.166 They're proud of that. And what's-- It's-- 00:09:41.166 --> 00:09:44.595 What's so funny about it, to me, is that "stand and fight" 00:09:44.595 --> 00:09:47.899 is the least interesting option of those 3 things. 00:09:47.899 --> 00:09:50.441 And it's not like we weren't fighting before. 00:09:50.441 --> 00:09:54.650 And the accompanying clip that demonstrates this is indeed boring. 00:09:54.650 --> 00:09:56.713 Looks like the player's just pressing the buttons 00:09:56.713 --> 00:09:59.950 that game is explicitly asking them to press. 00:09:59.950 --> 00:10:01.588 I'm not even sure you have to aim. 00:10:01.588 --> 00:10:05.730 Look at this example of one of their big, new, expansive levels. 00:10:05.730 --> 00:10:09.184 It's so weird to me. It's so weird that the demons are just organized. 00:10:09.184 --> 00:10:12.145 They're just lined up waiting for you to come kill them. 00:10:12.145 --> 00:10:14.275 Look at these 5 shield guys. 00:10:14.275 --> 00:10:17.383 I guess that should be an intimidating obstacle. 00:10:17.383 --> 00:10:20.584 Ideally, you'd look at 5 shield guys and you think, 00:10:20.584 --> 00:10:23.368 "Oh, okay. How am I gonna flank them? 00:10:23.368 --> 00:10:25.909 I gotta figure out what angle to hit this from." 00:10:25.909 --> 00:10:29.980 When, no, we all know you're gonna hit 'em with the shield and they all die in one hit. 00:10:29.980 --> 00:10:31.814 I don't care how much you jack up the speed. 00:10:31.814 --> 00:10:34.031 It's gonna look stupid at any difficulty. 00:10:34.031 --> 00:10:39.035 And again, stupid is not necessarily bad. I've been known to enjoy some stupid games. 00:10:39.675 --> 00:10:41.862 But Doom presents itself as cool. 00:10:41.862 --> 00:10:44.313 Let me ask you something: Do you buy this? 00:10:44.313 --> 00:10:46.984 Do you believe those buildings have occupants in them? 00:10:47.465 --> 00:10:50.756 Do you feel huge? You feel like you're a big robot? 00:10:50.756 --> 00:10:54.052 'Cause to me, it looks airy. It looks weightless. 00:10:54.052 --> 00:10:58.222 Epic on paper, cartoonish in practice. 00:10:58.222 --> 00:11:00.212 "Oh good, another purple circle." 00:11:00.212 --> 00:11:03.875 And look, I know I'm just basing this off of the presentation I watched today, 00:11:03.875 --> 00:11:06.382 which was made for a mass market. 00:11:06.382 --> 00:11:12.291 I'm not saying for certain the game will be dumb and silly and Disney XD-level drama. 00:11:12.291 --> 00:11:13.630 But 00:11:13.630 --> 00:11:15.946 it is officially on Dum-Dum Watch. 00:11:17.683 --> 00:11:20.091 STRATTON: And if that wasn't enough, we also have for you 00:11:20.091 --> 00:11:24.468 your very own fire-breathing, gatling gun-toting cybernetic dragon.