Kinda Funny Gamescast: Grading Xbox's 2024

Release Date: November 25, 2024

In this episode of the Kinda Funny Gamescast, hosts Tim Gettys, Greg “GameOverGreggy” Miller, Blessing Adeoye, and Andy Cortez delve deep into Xbox's performance throughout 2024. Titled "Grading Xbox's 2024," the episode offers a comprehensive month-by-month analysis, exploring game releases, studio developments, and significant updates within the Xbox ecosystem. The discussion is enriched with personal insights, community feedback, and notable quotes from the hosts, providing a nuanced evaluation of Xbox's year.

Introduction

The episode kicks off with a nostalgic nod to previous hosts and discusses the absence of Gary, a beloved member of the studio. Tim Gettys sets the stage for a detailed review of Xbox's 2024, emphasizing community engagement through live chats on Twitch and YouTube.

Tim Gettys [00:46]: "Paris, it's my favorite day of the week. How are you feeling on this Monday?"

Overall Impressions

Before diving into the monthly breakdown, Tim and Paris Lily share their overarching thoughts on Xbox's year. Paris finds the year "confusing" due to shifting business strategies and unclear communication from Xbox, while Tim remains optimistic, viewing 2024 as a transitional year setting the stage for Xbox's future ambitions.

Paris Lily [05:17]: "Confusing again. That sums up this year for me with Xbox, it's confusing."

Tim Howard [06:37]: "I think we're moving towards where we want to be as gamers. It's a mid-year transition."

Monthly Breakdown

January

• Xbox Developer Direct (January 18th): Showcased major titles like Indiana Jones Avowed, Hellblade 2, and Visions of Mana. Despite the excitement, Avowed was postponed to 2025, leaving a gap in early-year releases.

  Paris Lily [09:32]: "I like that it's now a tradition. Good job on the January showcase."

• Layoffs (January 25th): Microsoft announced the layoff of 1,900 employees from Activision Blizzard and Xbox, a consequence of the Activision-Blizzard merger.

  Paris Lily [12:09]: "Layoffs are always a bummer. Hope most found new employment."

February

• Halo TV Series Season Two (February 8th): The season received mixed reviews. Paris attended the premiere but felt the creative direction diverged from the core Halo essence, leading to its cancellation.

  Paris Lily [13:14]: "It never captured what I wanted from Halo. A real bummer."

• Microsoft Flight Sim Free Dune Experience (February 13th): Added immersive content tied to the Dune universe.

  Paris Lily [14:39]: "I sat in the Ornithopter. That was a cool thing."

March

• Xbox Partner Preview (March 6th): Highlighted 14 upcoming games including Unknown 9: Frost, Punk 2, and Tales of Kenzera. Showcased the versatility of Xbox's partnering strategy.

• Diablo 4 Hits Game Pass (March 28th): Marked a significant addition of Blizzard titles to Game Pass, enhancing the platform's appeal.

  Mike Howard [11:40]: "Pal World released on Game Pass. Solid game to kick off the year."

April

• Fallout TV Series Release (April 11th): Received positive feedback for its faithful adaptation, with Paris attending the premiere and praising its alignment with the franchise.

  Paris Lily [17:11]: "The series was fantastic. Excited for season two!"

• Grounded: The Fully Yoked Edition (April 16th): Expanded to multiple platforms, showcasing Xbox's commitment to multi-platform presence.

• Fallout 4 Next Gen Update (April 25th): Enhanced the game for Xbox Series X and S amidst ongoing Fallout 76 expansions.

May

• Studio Closures (May 7th): Closure of Arcane Austin, Tango Gameworks, and Alpha Dogs, with one studio merging into the ESO team. Notably, Tango Gameworks' shutdown despite the success of Hi-Fi Rush was met with disappointment.

  Paris Lily [22:26]: "Tango Gameworks shutting down after Hi-Fi Rush was a real bummer."

• Hellblade 2 Release (May 21st): Released by Ninja Theory with mixed reviews. While praised for its technical prowess and audio-visual elements, some felt the gameplay didn't meet expectations.

  Mike Howard [24:42]: "I'm blown away by what Ninja Theory did with the tech and story."

Second Half of the Year

June

• Xbox Game Showcase & Black Ops 6 Direct (June 9th): A standout event featuring a plethora of game announcements and reaffirming Game Pass's value with titles like Gears of War, Doom, and Call of Duty Black Ops 6.

  Paris Lily [30:01]: "This is the best showcase they've ever done."

• Fallout 76: Skyline Valley Update (June 12th): Expanded the game map and introduced new story modes, keeping the community engaged.

July

• Valorant Console Beta (July 26th): Riot Games expanded Valorant to consoles, receiving enthusiasm from the community.

• Xbox 360 Storefront Shutdown (July 29th): Marked the end of an era for the Xbox 360 digital storefront.

August

• QuakeCon and Game Pass Additions (August 8th): Doom 1 and 2 joined Game Pass, while Doom Eternal moved to the Epic Games Store. Xbox at Gamescom also showcased new titles and expansions.

• World of Warcraft: The War Within Expansion (August 26th): Received a Metacritic score of 85, enriching the MMORPG landscape on Game Pass.

  Mike Howard [39:57]: "World of Warcraft's expansion was a significant addition."

September

• Age of Mythology Remastered (September 4th): Celebrated 22 years since its original release with enhanced graphics and gameplay, resonating with fans of the genre.

• Tower Born Early Access Release (September 10th): Though initially exclusive to Steam, plans to bring it to Xbox in 2025 were outlined, emphasizing developer agility.

• Game Pass Standard Introduction (September 10th): Introduced a new tier within Game Pass, though Paris expressed concerns over its perceived value compared to the Ultimate tier.

  Paris Lily [47:14]: "Standard feels overpriced compared to Ultimate."

• Halo Studios Rebranding (October 6th): 343 Industries rebranded to Halo Studios and shifted the game engine from Slipspace to Unreal, aiming for faster content delivery and fresh creative directions.

  Paris Lily [53:19]: "Halo Studios is now the name. It’s a fresh start."

• Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Release (October 28th): Received an impressive Metacritic score of 83, hailed as one of the best entries in the franchise with robust multiplayer and engaging campaigns.

  Mike Howard [56:24]: "Call of Duty Black Ops 6 was a banger. Loved every aspect."

Game Pass Highlights

Throughout 2024, Game Pass remained a central topic, with numerous titles joining the platform:

• Shoutouts Include:

  • Lies of P
  • Lords of the Fallen
  • Manor Lords
  • Sifu
  • Control Stalker 2
  • Metal Slug Tactics

• Notable Additions:

  • Classic titles like Crash Bandicoot Insane Trilogy and remasters such as Final Fantasy 1-6.
  • Indie gems like Path of the Goddess and Neon White.

Mike Howard [68:43]: "Shout out to the Minecraft team. They did an insane job over the years."

Community and Technical Updates

• Xbox Cloud Beta (November 20th): Introduced the ability to stream personal game libraries, expanding accessibility beyond Game Pass titles.

• Minecraft Movie Trailer (November 19th): Announced, generating excitement and anticipation among the gaming community.

• Microsoft Flight Sim 2024 (November 19th): Launched with initial technical issues, though teams are actively addressing them to enhance user experience.

Conclusion and Grading

Wrapping up the year, Tim and Paris reflect on Xbox's journey through 2024. They acknowledge the challenges, including studio closures and mixed game receptions, but also highlight significant achievements like a robust Game Pass library and successful showcases.

Paris Lily [65:05]: "Xbox is ending the year very well with a variety of games across multiple genres."

Tim Howard [71:02]: "On the Kind of Funny scale, 2024 for Xbox gets a 7.5. Good year with some light content early on and solid expansions later."

The hosts agree that while Xbox faced uncertainties, the foundation laid in 2024 positions it well for future growth. Emphasizing community support and continuous content delivery, they express optimism for 2025.

Notable Quotes

• Paris Lily [05:17]: "Confusing again. That sums up this year for me with Xbox, it's confusing."
• Tim Howard [06:37]: "I think we're moving towards where we want to be as gamers. It's a mid-year transition."
• Mike Howard [24:42]: "I'm blown away by what Ninja Theory did with the tech and story."
• Paris Lily [53:19]: "Halo Studios is now the name. It’s a fresh start."
• Mike Howard [71:02]: "On the Kind of Funny scale, 2024 for Xbox gets a 7.5."

Final Thoughts

The episode offers an insightful evaluation of Xbox's 2024, balancing critiques with commendations. By dissecting monthly milestones and overarching strategies, Kinda Funny provides listeners with a thorough understanding of Xbox's trajectory, ensuring both casual fans and dedicated gamers are well-informed.

For those who missed the episode, this summary encapsulates the essential discussions and insights, offering a clear perspective on Xbox's performance and future directions.