Gears of War
News, coverage and analysis tracking Gears of War across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Delad glädje är dubbel glädje
The author reflects on their journey from a solitary gamer to someone who highly values multiplayer experiences. Initially preferring single-player games due to limited controllers and competitive anxieties, their perspective shifted with the advent of the Xbox 360 and its co-op-focused titles. Now, shared gaming sessions, both local and online, are the source of many of their fondest gaming memories, reinforcing the idea that shared joy is indeed double joy.
Is Game Pass Still the Right Strategy for Xbox?
This article analyzes the current state and future strategy of Xbox Game Pass, questioning its sustainability and impact on game value. Despite initial excitement and acquisitions to bolster its library, internal sentiment appears negative, with reports of studios detesting the service and subscriber growth falling short of projections. While Game Pass remains a key, albeit paradoxical, component of Xbox's offerings, its future is uncertain amidst internal challenges and a need for renewed growth.
"LawBreakers tripped so Concord could faceplant": Gears of War designer Cliff Bleszinski looks back on his career so far and struggle with alcoholism
Former Gears of War designer Cliff Bleszinski discusses his struggles with alcoholism, which impacted his career and led to the failure of his studio Boss Key Productions and the game LawBreakers. Now sober for four months, Bleszinski is considering a return to game development, focusing on PvE experiences rather than PvP.
The Xbox Characters That Defined 25 Years of Gaming
This article examines the iconic characters that have defined Xbox's 25-year history, from Master Chief and Marcus Fenix to Minecraft Steve and Ori. These characters represent the evolution of Xbox from a console newcomer to a multi-platform gaming brand, highlighting shifts in game design, company acquisitions, and the importance of personality in brand identity.
Gears of War Designer Cliff Bleszinski Reveals Struggle With Alcoholism, Discusses the Failure of LawBreakers and Potential Return to Video Game Development
Video game developer Cliff Bleszinski has opened up about his struggles with alcoholism, detailing how it impacted his work on Gears of War and contributed to the failure of his studio, Boss Key Productions, and its hero shooter LawBreakers. He also discussed a potential return to game development.
"The Gears of War trilogy was largely developed hungover by me" - Cliff Bleszinski reckons with a difficult past while plotting a return to games and a brighter future
Game designer Cliff Bleszinski, known for his work on the Gears of War trilogy, has opened up about his past struggles with alcoholism and his journey toward recovery. Bleszinski, who previously founded Boss Key Productions, is now considering a return to game development, expressing interest in PvE experiences and potentially consulting on new projects.
Jazz Jackrabbit creator considers a return to game development
Veteran game developer Cliff Bleszinski, known for his work on Jazz Jackrabbit, Gears of War, and Unreal Tournament, has expressed interest in returning to game development. In a recent interview, Bleszinski discussed his sobriety and creative spark, stating he wants to create games that inspire fans. He also mentioned consulting on a horror title called Soul Walker and his preference for Player vs. Environment gameplay.
Cliff Bleszinski says ego played a role in LawBreakers' failure: 'People are loyal to the game, but…
Cliff Bleszinski, co-founder of Boss Key Studios, attributes the commercial failure of LawBreakers to his own ego and a desire to make it 'his' show, rather than leveraging experienced collaborators like Rod Fergusson. He also cited issues with the publishing deal with Nexon, where the publisher lacked sufficient incentive due to favorable terms for Boss Key, and other contributing factors such as art direction, platform strategy, and personal struggles.
Gears of War's creator is considering returning to game development, but whatever he makes won't be PvP like his last efforts: "Good look to anyone in that space."
Gears of War creator Cliff Bleszinski is considering a return to full-time game development after an eight-year hiatus. Following struggles with alcoholism and sobriety, Bleszinski rediscovered his passion for creating games, though he now prefers Player vs Environment experiences over Player vs Player titles. He has already consulted on a horror game called Soul Walker and is contemplating a larger comeback.
Games Inbox: Are you playing EA Sports FC more because of the World Cup?
Readers discuss their current engagement with EA Sports FC, with some playing less due to the lack of an official World Cup license and the team's performance. Other topics include potential Grand Theft Auto 6 boycotts, Xbox's mobile gaming strategy, the future of console design, and the impact of industry layoffs on studios like id Software.
Games Inbox: Is Halo: Combat Evolved worth pre-ordering on PS5?
A PlayStation-only gamer expresses excitement for Halo: Combat Evolved but is hesitant to pre-order due to Xbox's shifting multi-platform strategy. The reader questions the long-term viability of Halo on PlayStation and draws parallels to Gears of War. Other readers discuss analyst predictions for Grand Theft Auto 6 sales, the risks of digital game ownership, and the historical performance of consoles like the Master System and NES in the UK.
Roadmaps and Plans
The Coalition and NVIDIA are collaborating on the development of Gears of War: E-Day for PC. This partnership focuses on leveraging NVIDIA's technology to enhance the game's visual fidelity and performance on the PC platform.
Former PlayStation head tells Xbox to either be a good publisher or make a good platform with exclusives: "Nintendo…
Former PlayStation head Shawn Layden advises Xbox to commit to either being a competitive platform with exclusive content or a major multi-platform publisher. He argues that trying to be both is a flawed strategy, citing Nintendo and PlayStation's reliance on exclusives. Layden also points to Microsoft's frequent layoffs and the confusing decision to acquire major franchises only to release them on rival platforms.
The Sunday Papers
Criterion Games, known for racing titles like Burnout and Need For Speed, is now solely focused on developing for the Battlefield series, as confirmed by studio leadership. Meanwhile, an analysis of Xbox's recent restructuring highlights the company's significant layoffs and the challenges faced by the division, drawing parallels to past industry missteps.
PlayStation and Xbox are both dead, they just don’t realise it yet - Reader’s Feature
A reader argues that both PlayStation and Xbox are in terminal decline due to recent layoffs, a move away from physical media, and increasing prices. The author believes that in ten years, only PC and Nintendo consoles will remain dominant, with Xbox and PlayStation potentially becoming third-party publishers.
Matthew Ball was hired to help fix Xbox. Will gamers like what he prescribes?
Analyst Matthew Ball has been hired by Xbox as chief strategy officer to help revitalize the company's business. Ball, a proponent of the metaverse and user-generated content, is expected to influence Xbox's future direction, potentially drawing inspiration from platforms like Roblox and Epic Games' Unreal Engine. This comes as Xbox undergoes significant restructuring, including layoffs and studio closures.
Xbox needs to make a choice, says former PlayStation leader Shawn Layden: be a publisher or a platform, but you can't be both
Former PlayStation leader Shawn Layden argues that Xbox must choose between being a major game publisher or a platform holder, stating it cannot effectively be both. He highlights the need for exclusive content to support a platform, contrasting it with the multiplatform approach required for a top publisher, a dilemma exacerbated by recent Xbox layoffs and strategic shifts.
Rather than rip and tear id Software apart, Xbox should have put the FPS pioneers on Gears of War
Following significant layoffs at Xbox Game Studios, including a reported 50% staff reduction at id Software, the article argues that Xbox should leverage id Software's expertise for the Gears of War franchise. It suggests that id's talent for creating visceral first-person shooter experiences would be a better fit for Gears of War than continuing with their own struggling franchises like Quake Champions or Rage 2.
Xbox has lost five studios – so who is left to make new video games?
Xbox has undergone significant layoffs, impacting approximately 3,200 staff members and leading to five studios divesting from the company. Xbox leadership aims to refocus on core franchises and expand its daily audience to over a billion people through its services. The article details the remaining studios, their current projects, and their future prospects under this new strategy.
Games Inbox: Is the Xbox doomed to failure?
Readers express concerns about the future of Xbox, citing recent studio closures and a reliance on aging franchises like Halo and Gears of War. The discussion also touches on the shift towards digital-only games, the impact on game preservation, and the potential for companies like Sony to influence Kickstarter campaigns.
