Community MetaSteam | June 2023 - halfway through the year

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fantomena

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I have a PS5, but for now, Diablo 4, Zelda TotK and a bunch of other games needs my attention before I think about FF16. I even downloaded the demo and barely played it due to the lack of time so far. Think I played it for 5-6 min before I had to stop as I had other things to do.
 

ezodagrom

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Just cut the crap and admit you got a fat cheque from Sony. 🙄
We already know that they have an exclusivity period until the end of this year, but I don't doubt that CBUIII is too busy to have a PC version ready by then.
I'd rather have them acknowledge that a PC version will exist and say that it won't be ready by the time the exclusivity ends than not acknowledging a PC version at all (7 Rebirth).
 

C-Dub

Makoto Niijima Fan Club President
Dec 23, 2018
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We already know that they have an exclusivity period until the end of this year, but I don't doubt that CBUIII is too busy to have a PC version ready by then.
I'd rather have them acknowledge that a PC version will exist and say that it won't be ready by the time the exclusivity ends than not acknowledging a PC version at all (7 Rebirth).
So Sony gets 12 months of exclusivity for the price of 6.

Square Enix - master dealmakers.
 

moemoneyb1

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I was thinking of getting of FF16 but due to performance issues and a backlog of other games that I need to get through on PC I'm most likely just going to end up waiting for it to hit Steam.
 

ezodagrom

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So Sony gets 12 months of exclusivity for the price of 6.

Square Enix - master dealmakers.
Out of all Squeenix dev teams, I think CBUIII is the one more deserving of the benefit of doubt, they could have just kept quiet and never have mentioned that a PC version exists after all.

It's not like CBUIII is only working on FFXVI, they're also working on FFXIV and its next expansion, which will have a graphics upgrade.

I was thinking of getting of FF16 but due to performance issues and a backlog of other games that I need to get through on PC I'm most likely just going to end up waiting for it to hit Steam.
While they said before that they weren't planning on a day 1 patch originally, they've announced during this newest stream that there will be a day 1 patch after all, to fix crashes and improve performance (though who knows how much it'll improve performance, better wait for reviews/digital foundry and such):

 
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moemoneyb1

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Out of all Squeenix dev teams, I think CBUIII is the one more deserving of the benefit of doubt, they could have just kept quiet and never have mentioned that a PC version exists after all.

It's not like CBUIII is only working on FFXVI, they're also working on FFXIV and its next expansion, which will have a graphics upgrade.


While they said before that they weren't planning on a day 1 patch originally, they've announced during this newest stream that there will be a day 1 patch after all, to fix crashes and improve performance (though who knows how much it'll improve performance, better wait for reviews/digital foundry and such):

I think I saw a tweet saying that this initial patch will only fix some of the performance issues but not all. They said that they will work on a future patch to further improve performance and that they will add a toggle for motion blur.
 
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PC-tan

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I just noticed that some trailers now have the description indicating what kind of trailer it is.
So it's only for new stuff and every other old video is now grandfathered in? I'm guessing especially since Valve can't seem to get devs/pubs to go back and fix old stuff like game cover art?

Also it looks like they are now enforcing their new rule and it's one video followed by multiple screenshots now instead of multiple videos like in the past.
 

yuraya

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I finally started playing Mass Effect 3 for the first time XD
Its no Mass Effect 2...but still a very good game. Enjoy it.

Also I wonder what BioWare devs are thinking after that Starfield Direct. They probably aren't too far along in the development of the new Mass Effect but they had to of gone back to the drawing board after seeing a deep dive like that. If Starfield winds up being really good and sets new benchmark for the genre...BioWare can't just release another ME game. It will have to be super ambitous and bigger in scope than 1-3 and Andromeda. They will have to do something crazy and unique with that old blueprint.
 

Ascheroth

Chilling in the Megastructure
Nov 12, 2018
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Finished GRIME from the current Choice!
Had a great time, solid ~20 hours doing most optional stuff.
Really cool and weird setting and aesthetics, great and challenging bosses, good music, satisfying combat and platforming, lots of optional stuff to find. It's a great souls-like/platformer/metroidvania that felt challenging but always fair. (And they didn't copy the "you lose EXP when you die" mechanic).
The only real negatives I have is that it takes a while to get really going - you absolutely need some upgrades to make the combat flow properly (but once it does, it feels great) and there's an enhanced fast travel ability hidden behind an optional boss Giant of Eyes in the Childbed, which thankfully is accessible fairly early on and not that hidden if you explore, but it's absolutely vital as backtracking with the "normal" fast travel points is vastly inferior.
 

inky

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I finally started playing Mass Effect 3 for the first time XD
I hate it so much, I've done 2 LE playthroughs and I can never finish it. I think I'd rather play Andromeda again. (this is not me trying to disuade you or anything, I know most people don't feel this way).

It's just that to my eyes everything about it feels wrong. It's not about the ending either, I rationalized and accepted that since launch. I thought it was bad, but I was never upset about it either. Instead for me, the game started on the wrong foot before it even released thanks to the setup from the terrible Arrival DLC. But in general, every decision be it cosmetic, scope wise, DLC-wise, thematic and gameplay related just doesn't line up with what I expected from it and it still makes me irrationally upset, I found out during my latest replays.

I have to add that, yes, I've finished it before and there are absolutely top tier moments in ME3 (genophage storyline/quarian-geth conflict and more personal stories and character related) that pay off in amazing ways. But as a game, I just can't play it through.

One of the reasons I'm very excited about Starfield, other than liking BGS games in general, is that it seems to be improving or building on aspects that I loved about Mass Effect, or where Bioware didn't get to fulfill its promise. ME1 is one of my favourite games of all time. And I especially loved the quiet moments; landing on a desolate planet, the hum of the atmosphere coming through your helmet, the vast landscapes and incredible sky boxes, stuff that was lost in the follow up games. Bioware kept promising stuff like ship piloting though we never got it, and systems management on top of that.

I know in the end the games will feel very different, but those moments that create the illusion of exploration and discovery in space are things I love in games regardless of the franchise, and it will definitely make up for that absence in ME.
 
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Derrick01

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Oct 6, 2018
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Every time Square Enix speaks:

Honestly yoshi p has always kinda irked me since I've been listening to him in live letters on FFXIV since 2014. He can be one of the most honest and open devs out there and I'd like to see more people like that.

But he can also say some really dumb shit sometimes. Way back in the earlier days of a realm reborn/heavensward he would openly whine on live letters when fans were asking for things like more bag space or armory space because with their engine limitations (the same engine 16 is on btw) it was so hard to even add 1 new slot. My dude no one wants to hear about how hard it is, it's up to you as a dev (the lead dev no less) to figure out how to pull it off because at the time inventory was so limited it was becoming a genuine issue for a lot of people.

I finally started playing Mass Effect 3 for the first time XD
My condolences.
 

ZKenir

Setting the Seas Ablaze
May 10, 2019
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My favourite was ME2, although it's kind of a shame that Legion recruitment is so late in the game.
I kinda disliked ME1 at first due to the combat, only reason I went through it the first time is due to UE console commands which thankfully made it bearable.
That said Andromeda has the best combat imho.
 
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Mor

Mor

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and then Tim gets another 12 on top of that
Actually, if I had to guess FFXVI will follow a similar path (not quite identical) as FF7R which is...
PS5 for 6 months ->DLC + 6 months -> EGS 6 months -> Steam

Reminder that FF7R was just 6 months exclusive (on EGS) AND that might be the time for mainline FF titles.
 
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Amzin

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there's an enhanced fast travel ability hidden behind an optional boss Giant of Eyes in the Childbed, which thankfully is accessible fairly early on and not that hidden if you explore, but it's absolutely vital as backtracking with the "normal" fast travel points is vastly inferior.
That used to be right before the end of the game - and you are correct, the normal fast travel is GARBAGE. It's part of the reason I dropped the game, but it's had several significant patches so I might go back at some point. I honestly thought the level design was bad just in general but the combat was great.
 

Censored

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Oct 8, 2021
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Wasn't those Squenix-EGS exclusive deals related with Nomura games?
Kingdom Hearts, The World Ends With You NEO, Final Fantasy VII remake, Strangers of Paradise...
 

ezodagrom

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Actually, if I had to guess FFXVI will follow a similar path (not quite identical) as FF7R which is...
PS5 for 6 months ->DLC + 6 months -> EGS 6 months -> Steam

Reminder that FF7R was just 6 months exclusive (on EGS) AND that might be the time for mainline FF titles.
I don't think FF16 has such a plan set in stone, it was mentioned that there's currently no plans for FF16 DLC, though they also mentioned that the game's world is one the team would like to return to if the demand is there, be it as DLC or an expansion.
But other than that:

Wasn't those Squenix-EGS exclusive deals related with Nomura games?
Kingdom Hearts, The World Ends With You NEO, Final Fantasy VII remake, Strangers of Paradise...
This. So far only the Nomura games had exclusivity deals, as far as I know.
 

Derrick01

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Wasn't those Squenix-EGS exclusive deals related with Nomura games?
Kingdom Hearts, The World Ends With You NEO, Final Fantasy VII remake, Strangers of Paradise...
Yup it's only them so far which is funny because there's a very high chance he actually had nothing to do with these deals but it just seems to happen with his stuff.
 

STHX

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Sep 20, 2021
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Yup it's only them so far which is funny because there's a very high chance he actually had nothing to do with these deals but it just seems to happen with his stuff.
Considering the games that ended up as exclusive I think it was simply a case of mistakenly believing those games would be bigger than they were on pc (which is actually a common issue Epic had with many of their exclusives over the first years). The whole KH series on pc sounds like a big deal, FFVII remake sounds like a big deal, a sequel to TWEWY sounds like a big deal, an alternate soulslike/Niohlike take of FFI sounds like a big deal. Of course now we know the EGS is kinda a lost cause but on paper all of those sounded like surefire hits
No one expected the whole KH series to launch at a whopping 230 bucks
No one expected the FFVII remake to have all these weird time ghost shenanigans and release on pc after 2 Sony deals (and this one is still the most successfull, most likely)
No one expected Neo Twewy to be sent to die with zero (more like negative) marketing. Seriously was SE convinced the game would sell on wom alone?
No one expected CHAOS IS HERE, I CAN SMELL IT, CAN'T WAIT TO KILL CHAOS. I SURE DO LOVE KILLING CHAOS

The rest of SE releases during those 2 years all ended up on Steam too minus Crystal Chronicles, Theatrhytm and Chocobo GP (but these didn't release on pc at all), like the Pixel Remasters, all those mid budget games like Diofield Chronicles, or the Switch exclusives like Triangle Strategy and Live-a-Live
Would you bet on the Pixel Remasters to do good? They weren't even on consoles at first and maybe Epic thinks older SE games have no value (which is why they also skipped on Chrono Cross or Trials of Mana)
Games like Diofield Chronicles and Voice of Cards are unproven new IPs, and by that time it was obvious new IPs would bomb on the EGS
Previously Switch exclusives have the curse of being "inferior games made for kiddy hardware" (yes I read this dumb thing a lot of times. I'm convinced it's the main reason some game only release on Switch later) which again made the possibility of getting them risky for Epic
Hell even Forspoken skipped a possible EGS deal and that one had full Sony backing

And yeah, maybe they did take into consideration Nomura. They though "Nomura" was a powerful brand they could leverage for their store. In the end who knows how timmy thinks
 

Panda Pedinte

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So it's only for new stuff and every other old video is now grandfathered in? I'm guessing especially since Valve can't seem to get devs/pubs to go back and fix old stuff like game cover art?
So far I only found it in new stuff.
 
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spindoctor

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I don't think one needs to over-analyze why certain Square Enix games went exclusive to EGS while others didn't. The simple answer is that Square will take any exclusivity deal that is offered to them. Four years ago Timmy Tencent showed up at the Square Enix office with a bag full of money and asked what he could buy with it and Square gave him whatever big games they had at the time. Since then Timmy has realized this strategy doesn't really work out for him so he stopped offering the bags and that is why all those other games released on Steam . I would imagine Square must have tried to get a deal for all of those games as well and it didn't work out or they would have been exclusive too.
 

Shahem

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Jan 26, 2020
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I mentioned this a few months ago but I'll say it again; I am expecting the backlash/hate for Starfield to be orders of magnitude higher than it was for previous iterations. Partly because I have noticed a massive increase in negativity in the gaming community in the last 3-4 years. Maybe it was always the case or maybe I've been unlucky with the choice of games I've paid attention to when I was playing them, but man it has felt like everyone who talks about any game just hates it with all their being. It is actually exhausting and unproductive to go to the subreddit of a game nowadays because of how acrimonious and hostile the environment is. The second reason is that a significant percentage of the gaming population will not be able to play the game on their favourite platform and will lash out because of that. I mean people have always made fun and memes out of BGS bugs and glitches but it was always seemingly in good fun. This time around I expect that those kinds of flaws will be amplified exponentially by people with malicious and mean spirited intent. Extreme case of sour grapes if you will.

I've mentioned previously that I'm personally not thrilled with the direction that BGS games have taken since Morrowind. I believe they have reduced the complexity and depth of their design by eliminating classes for example or the ridiculously one dimensional dialogue 'choices' in Fallout 4. This is all personal preference of course, and I cannot deny that the changes they have made have been received extremely well from the community at large as is evidenced by their phenomenal and growing success ever since Oblivion came out. So, in the 8 odd years since Fallout 4 came out, I have realigned my expectations from BGS and I am now playing Starfield for the one of a kind game world they will create and not necessarily for the kind of reactive/deep roleplaying experience I would expect from Obsidian for example.

So, in short, I am quite excited to play it as well and have already pre-ordered it (you can get it for 16% off on GMG). I hope that they will make strides to improve their visuals, combat, script and general stability from past releases. I hope the game is as mod friendly as their previous games have been. And I absolutely know not to engage in online discussions for the game anywhere at all ;)



This is a bit glib but I would wager nobody who has bought a 4080/4090 actually regrets their purchase. Yea, It hurts a lot when you are clicking the 'buy' button and the weeks leading up to the decision are agonising as you try to convince yourself to spend that much money, but all of that goes away the moment you slot the GPU into the PCIe slot. It feels real good when you boot up a game, any game, and max out everything and then you see your framerate is still twice as high as your monitor's refresh rate. (This of course applies to games that are working as intended and not garbage like Last of Us for example, which PC gamers should not have supported, but that's another conversation). The point is that that yes, it costs a lot, but you are buying an incredible piece of technology which is so much better than what came before it.



Just want to step back from this particular issue and share some thoughts. I know a lot of gamers hate Nvidia right now because of the high prices of their GPUs. They revel in the news that GPU shipments are declining. I think people should take a broader perspective on what is happening with Nvidia right now and what the implications might be down the road. For those who might not know, Nvidia became a trillion dollar market cap company a couple of weeks ago. The growth in their valuation has been driven entirely by their ML/AI enterprise business. GeForce is a small part of their business and if it becomes smaller they might reduce their investment in PC gaming. This would be a pretty bad outcome for us. Nvidia has contributed a lot to the graphics side of gaming in the last couple of decades.

I don't know if people remember this but back in 2005, when Unreal Engine 3 made it's debut with the 360/PS3 gen of consoles, it had no native support for anti aliasing. For a few years we had to suffer through games like Gears of War or Bioshock without any AA. Game developers at the time didn't care because the console hardware at the time wasn't powerful enough to support it and they didn't want to put in the extra effort/investment into the PC port. Their entire focus was on the console versions of their games and the PC version was an afterthought because 'all PC gamers were pirates'. The dogma that 'PC gaming is dying' was closest to being true during those dark years while Valve was still building out Steam to 'save' PC gaming. Anyway, around 2007 Nvidia decided that enough was enough and they implemented a hack in Geforce drivers to force AA in UE3 games start with Batman Arkham Asylum I think. This is one example where Nvidia made an investment to make PC gaming better. They have and continue to develop features to that end. Off the top of my head I can think of how they have had a hand in better AA, AO, tessellation, physx, nvenc, gsync, RT and probably more stuff that escapes me right now. Sometimes they've tried stuff that didn't pan out like 3DVision. They brought QOL features like reflex, Ansel, Shadowplay (remember when fucking FRAPS was the standard?).

In the last year or so it feels like the AAA industry at least is slipping back to those old habits of not caring enough about PC versions of their games. A different set of challenges this time around but the result is the same for us. At a time like this I don't think we should be hoping that GeForce becomes a smaller and less relevant part of Nvidia's overall business.
Gears of War on PC has MSAA support in DX10 mode if memory serves.
 
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PC-tan

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I know that a lot of you don't read manga but why would Kodansha promote this guy?

Just look at the comment section. Next time choose a Mangaka that people actually like and whose fans don't have a bone to pick with him.


 
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thekeats1999

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I personally think it’s going to be 18 months before we see FFXVI on PC.

the current best guess is the next expansion for XIV is next summer and I can’t see S-E wanting to clash with that. As the financials constantly attest to, XIV shores up the company.
 
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yuraya

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I personally think it’s going to be 18 months before we see FFXVI on PC.
Its gonna be a choppy port + full price too :(

Sony and Square are trash for this shit but thankfully its just FF that they are doing this with. We don't have to worry about Armored Core VI or Dragon's Dogma 2 with this bs. I have a feeling Sony will get more aggressive in the future with the moneyhats because Xbox was kind of flexing with all the new RPGs in their showcase after acquiring so many WRPG devs.
 
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C-Dub

Makoto Niijima Fan Club President
Dec 23, 2018
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It really pisses me off how PlayStation leverages its market share to sign cheap exclusivity deals for this kinda thing.

I know it takes two to tango and the publishers are fuckers for signing these things, but if Xbox were to sign similar deals it'd cost Microsoft a lot more because the money that changes hands is usually seen as compensation for lost sales on the excluded platforms. Also, these deals are being used as a crutch to shore up Sony's piss-poor first party output on PS5, and the net result is they tighten their grip on a market they already overwhelmingly dominate.

And in the end the consumer loses because the first party output problem gets kicked into the long grass, players on Xbox/PC/Nintendo lose access to titles permanently or get the game ruined by spoilers before it's even released on their platform of choice, and the market becomes increasingly more distorted in favour of the dominant platform.
 
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