[ad_1]
Connect with top gaming leaders in Los Angeles at GamesBeat Summit 2023 this May 22-23. Register here.
It’s been a weird week, watching Microsoft. I’m no less tired of the Activision-Blizzard acquisition, but I was a bit animated by the news this week that the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority are blocking the acquisition. This came only a few days after Microsoft revealed its Xbox division isn’t doing great in terms of profit. Microsoft have said they’ll appeal the decision, natch. But I’m not sure I’m on their side in this one given it’s a more complex situation than it might seem.
Sony today released its latest financial earnings report, which shows that the company is selling PlayStation 5 consoles by the truckload. Now that it seems to have sorted out the supply chain issues, it sold 6.3 million units last quarter and 38 million overall. Still, it’s not all great news: Game software units sales dropped slightly compared with last year, and PlayStation Plus subscribers haven’t gone up. According to Bloomberg, the company is concerned with the downturn, and their outlook for the next fiscal year isn’t as optimistic as one might think.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is also launching this week, one of the major AAA releases of 2023. Let’s just say the PC performance has been raked over the coals by fans — and not without reason. I have a decent work PC, less than a year old, and I couldn’t run Jedi: Survivor on it if my life depended upon it. I’d be lucky if the framerate ran in the double digits. But on my much older home gaming PC (which, admittedly, I built myself with better components) it runs almost perfectly. Here’s hoping we get a patch pre-May the 4th that makes it run easier.
In more personal news, I’m trying to balance several games besides Cal’s latest Jedi Tomb Raider outing. The Last Case of Benedict Fox has been surprisingly fun so far, in part thanks to its beautiful art design. I’m also playing some more of Dead Island 2, slightly less lovely but a little bit more whimsical. I’m also trying to finish the Horizon Forbidden West Burning Shores DLC. As long as I can get all of that done before May 12, I should be golden.
Event
GamesBeat Summit 2023
Join the GamesBeat community in Los Angeles this May 22-23. You’ll hear from the brightest minds within the gaming industry to share their updates on the latest developments.
Register Here
What to play this week
What’s new:
- Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
- The Last Case of Benedict Fox
- Omega Strikers
- Strayed Lights
- Cassette Beasts
- Afterimage
- Shadows of Doubt
- Roots of Pacha
- Bramble: The Mountain King
- Honkai: Star Rail
- The Swordsmen X: Survival
New on subscription services:
- BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle Special Edition (Xbox Game Pass)
- Poker Club (GeForce Now)
- Resident Evil 2 (GeForce Now)
- Resident Evil 3 (GeForce Now)
- Resident Evil 7 Biohazard (GeForce Now)
- Grand Mountain Adventure+ (Apple Arcade)
GamesBeat’s creed when covering the game industry is “where passion meets business.” What does this mean? We want to tell you how the news matters to you — not just as a decision-maker at a game studio, but also as a fan of games. Whether you read our articles, listen to our podcasts, or watch our videos, GamesBeat will help you learn about the industry and enjoy engaging with it. Discover our Briefings.