According to Kotaku, Xbox President Sarah Bond revealed in a Fortune interview that Microsoft’s next-generation hardware will focus on letting players take their entire library across all screens while maintaining backward compatibility. Capcom told investors that Resident Evil Requiem won’t suffer the same PC performance issues that plagued Monster Hunter Wilds, specifically citing differences in gameplay and system architecture. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 players continue debating skill-based matchmaking after Treyarch called it “minimally considered” in Quick Play mode. Cities: Skylines II developer Colossal Order is splitting from publisher Paradox Interactive after the sequel’s troubled launch, with future development moving to Paradox’s internal Iceflake Studios. Stalker 2 gets major AI improvements in patch 1.7 ahead of its November 20 PlayStation 5 release.
Xbox’s Cloudy Future
Sarah Bond’s comments about the next Xbox hardware are fascinating but vague. She’s talking about taking your library everywhere, but what does that actually mean? Is Microsoft building a handheld? Doubling down on cloud streaming? Or just making Xbox Play Anywhere more prominent?
Here’s the thing: Microsoft has been talking about this “play anywhere” vision for years. Remember when they said the Xbox Series X would be the last traditional console? Now we’re hearing similar promises about the next hardware generation. The real question isn’t whether you can play your games everywhere – it’s whether the experience will actually be good everywhere. Cloud gaming still has latency issues, and PC ports have been… inconsistent lately.
Basically, this feels like Microsoft hedging its bets. If console sales continue struggling, they can pivot to being a multiplatform publisher and service provider. But can they really deliver a seamless experience across console, PC, and cloud without compromising somewhere? I’m skeptical.
Capcom’s PC Promises
Capcom’s investor reassurance about Resident Evil Requiem is telling. They specifically called out differences from Monster Hunter Wilds, which had a disastrous PC launch. But here’s the problem: we’ve heard this song before. Companies always promise smooth launches right up until the day one patches start rolling out.
The fact they felt the need to address this with investors suggests they’re worried. Monster Hunter Wilds’ PC performance damaged player trust, and Capcom knows it. Now they’re in damage control mode before the game even launches. Will Requiem actually run well across “a wide range of PC specifications”? Recent history says maybe not.
The SBMM Ghost Hunt
Call of Duty’s skill-based matchmaking debate is the gaming equivalent of chasing ghosts. Treyarch says Quick Play uses “open matchmaking” where skill is “minimally considered.” But what does “minimally” even mean? 10% consideration? 30%? It’s deliberately vague.
Players are convinced the matchmaking feels different from the beta, and they’re probably right. The beta was free, meaning casual players could jump in without commitment. Now that people have paid $70, the skill floor is naturally higher. But the SBMM truther community will analyze every match for patterns regardless. It’s become a self-fulfilling prophecy where any challenging opponent must be the algorithm’s fault.
Gaming Industry Shakeups
The Colossal Order/Paradox split after Cities: Skylines II’s terrible launch isn’t surprising. The game still has mixed reviews on Steam and the console version keeps getting delayed. Now Paradox is moving development internally to Iceflake Studios, which raises questions about the franchise’s future direction.
Meanwhile, Stalker 2’s big 1.7 update shows developers are still committed to post-launch support. The improved A-Life system could actually make the game feel more dynamic and less scripted. And the PS5 version arriving November 20 gives the game a second chance at commercial success.
Oh, and someone built a superyacht with 15 gaming PCs because of course they did. Because when you’re spending hundreds of millions on a boat, what’s another $50,000 for gaming rigs? It’s the ultimate flex in a industry full of them.
