Xbox is Shifting Focus From Online Games

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Today’s Insights

• Rainbow Six Siege X Getting a Major Evolution

• Xbox is Shifting Focusing to Single Player Games

• Groundbreaking Game is Getting a Much Deserved Sequel

• A Slimy Hero Steps Up to The Plate

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THIS WEEK IN GAMING

This isn’t a simple update to Rainbow Six Siege X, but it’s not a sequel either, it’s something new altogether.

Not just an update, but not quite a sequel either. Ubisoft is shaking things up with Rainbow Six Siege X, calling it a "major evolution" rather than a full sequel. Game director Joshua Mills made it clear: Siege X isn’t Rainbow Six Siege 2, but it’s far more than just another patch. Neither is it a simple update, it’s something much bigger. Tom Clancey’s Rainbow Six games have been around for nearly three decades, and they appear to be slowing down.

More details are coming in March, but you can watch a teaser now. Following the Rainbow Six Siege Invitational, Ubisoft dropped a teaser on YouTube. It doesn’t give away much, but it does confirm that a full reveal is coming on March 13 at the Siege X Showcase. While the teaser mostly showed off enhanced visuals, the upcoming showcase should give us a clearer picture of what’s changing. Ubisoft promises major graphical and audio upgrades, deeper tactical gameplay, and entirely new ways to play.

Until Siege X is launched, regular Rainbow Six Siege continues flawlessly. For the 10-year anniversary, Ubisoft is rolling out Operation Prep Phase, which introduces a new Operator, Rauora. Hailing from New Zealand, she joins the Attackers with amazing ranged and close combat options. She starts out with the 417 designated marksman rifle, the M249 LMG, and the brand-new Reaper MK2 SMG. Round that out with smoke grenades and breach charges—she brings chaos.

It’s a tough time for other games in Ubisoft’s catalog. Ubisoft may be struggling over the past few years after releasing some high-profile duds, such as Star Wars Outlaws, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. Oversaturated markets, glitchy game problems, and small marketing budgets are just a few of the things that cause those games to stall out. Luckily the Rainbow Six franchise is as strong as ever, and still getting some love. 

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DEVELOPER INSIGHTS

Xbox taking emphasis off live service games and looking more to smaller, offline games instead.

More single-player games, and fewer massive live service titles. Phil Spencer, Xbox CEO is putting laser focus on single-player games, both big and small. It seems that both Xbox and PlayStation are plateauing in the live service space. Phil understands that not every game needs to be a massive live service. Many gamers are looking for titles that have a beginning, middle, and end, and Phil has been paying attention. 

Xbox CEO gives studios more freedom. In an interview with XboxEra after last month’s Developer Direct, Spencer shared his excitement that all the upcoming showcased games were single-player. He went on to say that forcing every game into a service-based model isn’t the right approach. “Not every story fits that mold,” he said. He emphasized the importance of letting studios create the games they want, highlighting teams like Double Fine and Compulsion, which thrive as smaller, creative-driven studios.

After the failure of Redfall, Xbox shifted focus. One of Xbox’s biggest live service flops was Redfall, which struggled so much that after just one year, a final update was launched and then they added an offline mode. Right after that, Arkane Austin, the game’s developer, was shut down in a round of layoffs.

It’s not just Xbox struggling in the live service sector. PlayStation hasn’t been faring much better. Concord, which was an FPS that took 8 years to develop, and was expected to give the Star Wars franchise a run for its money, was yanked offline two weeks after launch. Its developer, Firewalk, was shut down soon after. In response, Sony reportedly canceled at least two other live service projects, signaling a major shift in focus. With these setbacks, it’s clear that single-player games still hold strong appeal. Xbox, at least for now, seems committed to supporting them.

TECH SPOTLIGHT

After 20 years, Okami might finally see the sequel we’ve been desperately looking for!

Big news for Okami fans—an official sequel is on the way, and there's plenty to be excited about! While details are still unfolding, some key updates have been revealed that hint at just how ambitious this project is shaping up to be. 

With current technology, the sequel is guaranteed to be as good or better than the original. First off, the game is being developed in Capcom’s powerful RE Engine. For a masterpiece that knocked your socks off with spectacular visuals and smooth gameplay, that’s a big deal. With Hideki Kamiya spearheading the project, you can guarantee this game will be as amazing, if not more so than the original. Okami was his passion project, and it shows, so we are confident he’ll do the same for the sequel. 

This project has been simmering for years. It seems that Kamiya and Capcom have been waiting for the right time to start working on a sequel. Despite Okami’s initial slow start in sales, its popularity has rocketed over the years with each new re-release. The biggest challenge was assembling the perfect team. Now, with Hideki Kamiya and Machine Head Works in place, the stars have finally aligned.

You get to pick up where the original left off. If that wasn’t good enough, here’s some more frosting for this cake—this is a direct sequel. Fans of the original will be able to pick right up where the story in the first game left off. This isn’t a money-grabbing, cheap spin-off or a reimagining. That means Amaterasu is back, and there’s plenty more to explore in the world of Okami.

The waiting is the hardest part. Unfortunately, we’ll have to find a large dose of patience. The game is still in the early stages, and while the team is working hard, they’re not going to rush this project. It may take a while before more details emerge, but one thing’s for sure; Okami’s legacy is in the right hands.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Fashion forward slimes take center stage and prove heroes don’t have to be bulky knights.

Every slime has its day. Anyone familiar with Dragon Warrior or Dragon Quest games will instantly recognize the iconic slime. They range from the first mobs your young, starting hero faces, to slick metal slimes that are nearly impossible to hit, but give gobs of experience. While Slime Heroes isn’t an exact replica of that cute, smiley, slime, it’s great to see the lowly slimes getting their time in the spotlight. 

Those cute, squishy faces have gained plenty of popularity. Over the years, slimes have gained massive popularity, especially with the introduction of King Slimes, Liquid Metal Slimes, and other iterations. They were usually seen as reluctant enemies you had to defeat to gain early experience and miniscule amounts of gold, but they were easy to defeat, especially with woefully weak starter weapons. Now, these squishy globs are the heroes of this unique game; Slime Heroes.

Now command a heroic slime hero! Coming soon, Slime Heroes blends charming, colorful fun with exciting "Souls-lite" combat. Dodge attacks from your enemies and then slip in and take advantage of their exposed side. A mysterious corruption is spreading across the land and turning peaceful beings into ferocious monsters. Master melee weapons, upgrade your slime’s stats, and perfect that all-important dodge roll. It’s a beginner-friendly take on tough action RPGs but with a bright, approachable twist.

Pick the perfect style while saving the world. Controlling a simple slime throughout the entire game might get a little static, but there are so many customizations to keep it fresh. You can pick your slime’s face, and color, and collect a slew of stylish hats. Not only will you be the fierce, fashionable hero, but the hats offer buffs to stat points. For those who don’t want to go it alone, team up with a friend in local or online co-op. With a shared loot system, you can create the ultimate duo, combining abilities to take down even the toughest bosses.

Slime Heroes is an adventure full of heart, humor, and heroic gooeyness—you won’t want to miss it!

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