REACTION - Xbox need to keep things close to the chest if they want their showcase to generate meaningful excitement
Don’t be a self owning leakachu.
By Jonathan Garrett
27/05/24
We have waxed lyrical about Microsoft’s inability to cultivate a sensible approach to marketing their titles. The business update and Bethesda closures did little to mitigate concerns that they aren’t exactly firing on all cylinders from a PR standpoint. Nevertheless, despite what feels like relentlessly bad decision making this year, their June showcase is upon us.
The mis-steps of the past are still relevant; key titles were announced too early, and their first party release calendar is far too sporadic with inexplicable peaks. We’re still a long way from seeing a steady stream of Game Pass content all year round that evenly improves subscription growth. I also believe that certain media folk are leveraging privileged access far too liberally, and have zero respect for the devs who should be allowed to announce their projects on their own terms.
There are already so many rumours out there, which on the one hand is exciting, but also deflating as it sucks the energy out their unveiling before it has even begun. So all eyes are on Xbox to see how they present their upcoming slate. Hopefully they manage to control any further leaks, because if they want to siphon meaningful engagement off the back of this showcase, they need to get their content and messaging under control.
TARPS?
At the bottom of some of our articles, you’ll see a series of absurd looking images (with equally stupid, in joke laden names). These are the TARP badges, which represent our ‘Totally Accurate Rating Platform’. They allow us to identify specific things, recognise positive or negative aspects of a games design, and generally indulge our consistent silliness with some visual tomfoolery.
