Game Services thread, v2: Microsoft hikes Game Pass prices...yet again

[Dizzy]

LOL, wow, and you're too busy trying to neg like a fanboy to watch the very video you posted. I guess watching a Youtube video is too abstruse for a console peasant, too.

You do access them through the Game Pass app. If you haven't yet downloaded the EA Desktop app when you click to download/install/play an EA game, it launches a prompt, and you 1-click to download & install that EA Desktop app. You then click "Play"-- again inside Game Pass-- to launch the EA game you installed from within the Game Pass app. It then launches a prompt asking you to sign into your EA account. If you don't have one, you can create one from that prompt. That prompt then asks you to 1-click to confirm the linking of the EA account to the Microsoft/Xbox account.

You don't actually have to launch the EA Desktop app, at all.

You have to install another app and create a separate account to access the fucking games lmao.

You are complete trash.

 

[Madmick]

You are complete trash.

No, what's trash is every competing game service like the PSNow. What's trash is EA Play's PS4 library. You don't have to sign in, I guess. Thing is...you only get 45 games. EA Play for PC has 137 games. And they come at no added cost to Game Pass PC & Ultimate subscribers.

Par for the course with EA (they do it to Steam subscribers, too). But you'll have to register a free account to get all that cheese. The horror!

 

[Dizzy]

No, what's trash is every competing game service like the PSNow. What's trash is EA Play's PS4 library. You don't have to sign in, I guess. Thing is...you only get 45 games. EA Play for PC has 137 games. And they come at no added cost to Game Pass PC & Ultimate subscribers.

Par for the course with EA (they do it to Steam subscribers, too). But you'll have to register a free account to get all that cheese. The horror!

I don’t have to do that on my Xbox. I boot it up, click on any game and it installs to my hard drive. Incredibly simple and user friendly with no other user accounts created or software downloaded.

It’s implemented crappy on PC, again, it’s ok to admit it.

Nice mini-meltdown though lol.

 

[Madmick]

When you say Xbox do you mean gamepass? Cause it does support gamepass. I use it to launch all my games including the gamepass ones which is what I've been using most lately.

That's what I meant. It didn't mention it on their website. It wasn't until I got around to downloading it last night and setting it up I realized there were so many more stores that integrate with it.

I can't get the goddamn Epic store to integrate, though. It kept feeding me this Capcha even though I knew my verification information was correct, and I wasn't using a third party sign-in. Tried a slew of troubleshoots. Nothing worked. Also, Epic uses the most obnoxious Capchas in the history of Capchas. There was a six-pane window each with four die in the image (some alphanumerically numbered, some looking like normal dice). You had to pick the pane where the die added up to 14. You are expected to do this ten fucking times for a fresh attempt to see if you resolved the issue, and can authenticate.

I wanted to stab someone. Gave it a half hour. If they can't sort that out there's no chance I won't stick to the GOG Galaxy.

 

[Law Talkin’ Guy]

Also, Epic uses the most obnoxious Capchas in the history of Capchas. There was a six-pane window each with four die in the image (some alphanumerically numbered, some looking like normal dice). You had to pick the one where the die added up to 14. You are expected to do this ten fucking times for a fresh attempt to see if you resolved the issue, and can authenticate.

LOL, oh man that sucks. I can imagine some poor bloke trying to do that drunk and struggling to count them all up.

 

[Madmick]

LOL, oh man that sucks. I can imagine some poor bloke trying to do that drunk and struggling to count them all up.

I was so angry I just quit without inspecting the software more closely. I took some time to look it over. When I made the OP for this thread, I tried to keep emulator front ends like Launchbox out for the sake of simplicity. I didn't intend this to be a DIY software thread. So it creates a bit of a dilemma, because it appears that's what Playnite is, but it also seems to automate nearly everything so that you don't have to spend any time beyond linking accounts.

 

[method115]

That's what I meant. It didn't mention it on their website. It wasn't until I got around to downloading it last night and setting it up I realized there were so many more stores that integrate with it.

I can't get the goddamn Epic store to integrate, though. It kept feeding me this Capcha even though I knew my verification information was correct, and I wasn't using a third party sign-in. Tried a slew of troubleshoots. Nothing worked. Also, Epic uses the most obnoxious Capchas in the history of Capchas. There was a six-pane window each with four die in the image (some alphanumerically numbered, some looking like normal dice). You had to pick the one where the die added up to 14. You are expected to do this ten fucking times for a fresh attempt to see if you resolved the issue, and can authenticate.

I wanted to stab someone. Gave it a half hour. If they can't sort that out there's no chance I won't stick to the GOG Galaxy.

Yea I think it's literally just one guy doing all of this so I'm not surprised the website isn't up to date. I didn't have any issues like you're having with my epic account. They have a discord channel. Might want to throw your question into that channel and see what they say. I will say the epic link is kind of bugged because it doesn't seem to know that your game is already installed like it does with all the other games. So you have to click the game twice to get it to run and notify the program that its installed.

 

[empsim]

Linking the accounts is really zero effort. You click "Get EA Play" in the GamePass app and just click OK a couple of times, done...

Also the EA app really doesn't seem that bad at first sight. Better than the GamePass or Windows Store...

 

[IamStryker]

https://blog.playstation.com/2021/0...te-10-free-games-to-download-this-spring/amp/

Also Horizon zero dawn will be free later in April. Enjoy.

 

[Madmick]

Microsoft announced 22 titles incoming to Game Pass from the ID@Xbox independent developer program :
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/...sts-22-id-xbox-games-coming-to-xbox-game-pass

• Art of the Rally - Funselektor Labs Inc. (cloud and console)
• Astria Ascending - Plug in Digital, Artisan Studios (cloud and console)
• Backbone - Raw Fury, EggNut (cloud and console)
• Boyfriend Dungeon - Kitfox Games (console and PC)
• Craftopia - Pocketpair (console and PC)
• Dead Static Drive - Team Fanclub (console and PC)
• Edge of Eternity - Dear Villagers, Midgar Studio (cloud and console)
• Hello Neighbor 2 - tinyBuild Games, Dynamic Pixels, Gearbox Software (cloud and console)
• Library of Ruina - Project Moon (cloud and console)
• Little Witch in the Woods - SKT, Sunny Side Up (cloud and console)
• Moonglow Bay - Coatsink Software, Bunnyhug (cloud and console)
• Narita Boy - Team17, Studio Koba (cloud and console)
• Nobody Saves the World - Drinkbox Studios (cloud and console)
• Omno - Studio Inkyfox (cloud and console)
• Recompile - Dear Villagers, Phigames (cloud, console and PC)
• Sable - Raw Fury, Shedworks (console and PC)
• She Dreams Elsewhere - Studio Zevere (console and PC)
• S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 - GSC Game World (cloud and console)
• The Ascent - Curve Digital, Neon Giant (cloud, console and PC)
• Undungeon - tinyBuild Games, Laughing Machines (cloud, console and PC)
• Way to the Woods - One Pixel Dog (cloud and console)
• The Wild at Heart - Humble Bundle, Moonlight Kids (console)

 

[Law Talkin’ Guy]

STALKER 2 is considered indie? Was the first game considered indie at the time of its release?

 

[Madmick]

STALKER 2 is considered indie? Was the first game considered indie at the time of its release?

Because it's self-published.

 

[rikwebb]

Games announced so far:

• Banjo-Kazooie
• Banjo-Tooie
• Double Dragon Neon
• Fable II
• Fallout: New Vegas
• Gears of War 2
• Gears of War 3
• Gears of War: Judgment
• Jetpac Refuelled (touch controls enabled)
• Kameo
• Perfect Dark
• Perfect Dark Zero
• The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
• The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
• Viva Piñata (touch controls enabled)
• Viva Piñata: TIP (touch controls enabled)

 

[GtehMVP]

Ill have to see for myself. A lot of games that were recommended to me in this sub were straight up doodoo. I wont be surprised if this one is either.

Star Souls can be pretty good at times, but It runs like shit, even on my 1080ti at 1080p. I was so hungry for a Souks-like that I was able to look past the stuttering. I had really low expectations for it too.

The story ks good, and the combat has potential to be built on, but it feels more like a tech demo. It's really lacking Jedi abilities. Once you start to feel remotely like a powerful Jedi, the game ends. NG+ is terrible as well.

It's even worse on a base PS4, though I never tried it on the Pro. What system would you play it on?

 

[Deadwing88]

 

[Madmick]

Apple Arcade launches its biggest expansion yet, growing its award-winning catalog to more than 180 games

CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today announced it is introducing two entirely new game categories and adding more than 30 incredible titles to Apple Arcade, its popular gaming subscription service for players of all ages. Apple Arcade offers breakthrough, unique benefits players love: no ads, no in-app purchases, support for Apple’s high user privacy standards, and one all-inclusive subscription offer with access for up to six family members. In addition to new exclusive Arcade Originals, including “NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition,” “Star Trek: Legends,” and “The Oregon Trail,” the service is introducing two new game categories, Timeless Classics and App Store Greats. Arcade Originals are playable across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. Timeless Classics and App Store Greats are available on iPhone and iPad.

Timeless Classics includes universally loved, quintessential genres with titles like “Good Sudoku by Zach Gage,” “Chess - Play & Learn,” and “Backgammon,” while App Store Greats brings some of the best award-winning games from the App Store to Apple Arcade, including “Threes!,” “Mini Metro,” and “Fruit Ninja Classic,” all ad-free and fully unlocked. These two new categories join Arcade Originals to bring the service’s catalog to over 180 outstanding games for the entire family to enjoy at a great value, with no ads or additional in-app purchases. Apple Arcade is included as part of Apple One or for a low monthly subscription of $4.99 with a one-month free trial.

“In its inaugural year, Apple Arcade won over media critics and fans for its creativity, diverse portfolio, and commitment to players’ privacy, providing a safe gaming service to enjoy with family and friends,” said Matt Fischer, Apple’s vice president of the App Store. “Today we’re launching our biggest expansion since the service debuted, now offering more than 180 great games that include new Arcade Originals, Timeless Classics, and App Store Greats. Whether it’s brand new games made exclusively for Arcade like ‘NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition,’ ‘Star Trek: Legends,’ and ‘The Oregon Trail,’ all-time App Store favorites like ‘Monument Valley’ and ‘Threes!,’ or traditional games like ‘Chess’ and ‘Solitaire,’ we have an incredible variety of gameplay experiences for everyone.”

You can see highlighted games in the blog post by following the link. It includes games by the Final Fantasy creators and Platinum Games. Maybe the most impressive addition is NBA 2K21. So far the Arcade has been more casual mobile stuff. This steps into the big leagues.

*Edit*
And here is where the Arcade is finally delivering on all that promise. This could be industry-changing.
NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition Is NBA 2K21 Without Obnoxious Microtransactions

 

[jojoRed]

Star Souls can be pretty good at times, but It runs like shit, even on my 1080ti at 1080p. I was so hungry for a Souks-like that I was able to look past the stuttering. I had really low expectations for it too.

The story ks good, and the combat has potential to be built on, but it feels more like a tech demo. It's really lacking Jedi abilities. Once you start to feel remotely like a powerful Jedi, the game ends. NG+ is terrible as well.

It's even worse on a base PS4, though I never tried it on the Pro. What system would you play it on?

Prob PC and I have a 3090 so if it runs like doodoo, its a delete for me. I havent got patience for games anymore lol. I dont play as often even with the lockdown.

 

[GtehMVP]

Prob PC and I have a 3090 so if it runs like doodoo, its a delete for me. I havent got patience for games anymore lol. I dont play as often even with the lockdown.

I'm curious if you can power through, but I think it's more about how it loads/unloads assets. Even with my SSD it was stuttering. I can normally run anything maxed at 1440p

Hopefully it's smoother for you, as it's worth playing. They have a lot they can build off of. I highly suggest playing at the 2nd hardest level at least, if not the highest, though I find the latter is too cheap when it comes to defending blasters.

Let me know how it goes!

 

[Madmick]

Fallen Order was fantastic.

 

[Gregolian]

I need to DL Fallen Order to play through it.

MLB The Show 21 will be free on GamePass for Xbox folks.