pale blue pixel
@palebluepixel.bsky.social
games are art, exhibit A: “I used to be an adventurer like you. Then I took an arrow in the knee." exhibit B: "You have died of dysentery."
Having recently completed Keeper, I’m surprised it didn’t at least get a nomination for Art Direction. Absolutely beautiful and insanely creative experience. Great job @doublefine.com !
November 18, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Having recently completed Keeper, I’m surprised it didn’t at least get a nomination for Art Direction. Absolutely beautiful and insanely creative experience. Great job @doublefine.com !
Not much drama here, as E33 will likely be the winner.
Best Indie Game seems the most interesting and seems like a tight race between Silk Song, Hades II, and E33. Love Blue Price but it will not get enough votes being English only.
Best Indie Game seems the most interesting and seems like a tight race between Silk Song, Hades II, and E33. Love Blue Price but it will not get enough votes being English only.
November 17, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Not much drama here, as E33 will likely be the winner.
Best Indie Game seems the most interesting and seems like a tight race between Silk Song, Hades II, and E33. Love Blue Price but it will not get enough votes being English only.
Best Indie Game seems the most interesting and seems like a tight race between Silk Song, Hades II, and E33. Love Blue Price but it will not get enough votes being English only.
This is a much stronger message than anything else they’ve said in the past 18 months: “it starts with console”. Maybe they’re learning that their core fans still care about this deeply.
November 17, 2025 at 4:41 PM
This is a much stronger message than anything else they’ve said in the past 18 months: “it starts with console”. Maybe they’re learning that their core fans still care about this deeply.
It’s the same from the perspective that it is a form of machine learning. But GenAI uses an entirely different (and relatively novel) model architecture, and more significantly, does not require meticulously labeled training data. The training data is self descriptive (next word dynamics of text).
November 15, 2025 at 9:35 PM
It’s the same from the perspective that it is a form of machine learning. But GenAI uses an entirely different (and relatively novel) model architecture, and more significantly, does not require meticulously labeled training data. The training data is self descriptive (next word dynamics of text).
SteamOS - yes, possibly. But there are challenges and limitations there too with no kernel anti-cheat, meaning some of the biggest draw games aren’t supported
Steam itself - not a differentiator, as the next Xbox will support it just like any PC would.
Steam itself - not a differentiator, as the next Xbox will support it just like any PC would.
November 14, 2025 at 4:10 PM
SteamOS - yes, possibly. But there are challenges and limitations there too with no kernel anti-cheat, meaning some of the biggest draw games aren’t supported
Steam itself - not a differentiator, as the next Xbox will support it just like any PC would.
Steam itself - not a differentiator, as the next Xbox will support it just like any PC would.
All great points. A big issue I see is messaging for the next Xbox. While game enthusiasts understand what they are aiming for the average consumer will be very confused if it is not properly marketed. And that’s not one of Microsoft’s strengths.
November 13, 2025 at 1:55 PM
All great points. A big issue I see is messaging for the next Xbox. While game enthusiasts understand what they are aiming for the average consumer will be very confused if it is not properly marketed. And that’s not one of Microsoft’s strengths.
I dunno, I think this makes Microsoft’s next offer a lot less unique. They are already going to struggle to justify their hardware’s existence and this will definitely not help.
November 12, 2025 at 10:18 PM
I dunno, I think this makes Microsoft’s next offer a lot less unique. They are already going to struggle to justify their hardware’s existence and this will definitely not help.
I think it’s much bigger than that. With Xbox being the world’s largest publisher and putting all games on Steam, and Sony porting all of their IP over with delayed releases, it basically plays everything except Nintendo content.
November 12, 2025 at 10:08 PM
I think it’s much bigger than that. With Xbox being the world’s largest publisher and putting all games on Steam, and Sony porting all of their IP over with delayed releases, it basically plays everything except Nintendo content.
My god Valve came for the jugular with perfect timing as Microsoft fumbles around with an incoherent and vulnerable strategy for their gaining hardware.
November 12, 2025 at 10:06 PM
My god Valve came for the jugular with perfect timing as Microsoft fumbles around with an incoherent and vulnerable strategy for their gaining hardware.
Everyone: the console wars are over, Sony won.
Valve: hold my beer
Valve: hold my beer
November 12, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Everyone: the console wars are over, Sony won.
Valve: hold my beer
Valve: hold my beer
I feel like if Xbox would get their act together, they could do this even better given their extensive backwards compatibility work and the fact that there are Series S versions of all current gen games, which would be easier to support on the handheld.
November 11, 2025 at 7:32 PM
I feel like if Xbox would get their act together, they could do this even better given their extensive backwards compatibility work and the fact that there are Series S versions of all current gen games, which would be easier to support on the handheld.
When this came out it made little business sense because you couldn’t do cloud streaming. Now that you can, it’s the perfect device for people who don’t have a PS5 to pair with PlayStation Plus and access Sony games for cheap.
November 11, 2025 at 4:25 PM
When this came out it made little business sense because you couldn’t do cloud streaming. Now that you can, it’s the perfect device for people who don’t have a PS5 to pair with PlayStation Plus and access Sony games for cheap.
Agreed. It seems Xbox can’t even go third party properly. You’d think needing to develop for Series S would make the ports easier.
November 11, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Agreed. It seems Xbox can’t even go third party properly. You’d think needing to develop for Series S would make the ports easier.
Yes, it just reflects the state of AAA game development today. It’s crazy to see how much development time is needed to account for extra pixels. I mean, it’s not like the games nor art were bad during the 360 era. I think I’d rather have slightly less pretty games with the old release cadence.
November 10, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Yes, it just reflects the state of AAA game development today. It’s crazy to see how much development time is needed to account for extra pixels. I mean, it’s not like the games nor art were bad during the 360 era. I think I’d rather have slightly less pretty games with the old release cadence.
So 17 years after Elder Scrolls 5. Crazy to think Elder Scrolls 3-5 released within a 10-year window and the next two game generations saw 0 entries in the franchise.
November 10, 2025 at 6:33 PM
So 17 years after Elder Scrolls 5. Crazy to think Elder Scrolls 3-5 released within a 10-year window and the next two game generations saw 0 entries in the franchise.
So, we got Elder Scrolls 4 and 5 released in one generation (Xbox 360/PS3) and Elder Scrolls 3-5 released within the same decade.
When Elder Scrolls 6 releases it will have been 16 or more years since the previous release = 7 more years than it took to release the last 3 games combined.
When Elder Scrolls 6 releases it will have been 16 or more years since the previous release = 7 more years than it took to release the last 3 games combined.
November 10, 2025 at 3:49 PM
So, we got Elder Scrolls 4 and 5 released in one generation (Xbox 360/PS3) and Elder Scrolls 3-5 released within the same decade.
When Elder Scrolls 6 releases it will have been 16 or more years since the previous release = 7 more years than it took to release the last 3 games combined.
When Elder Scrolls 6 releases it will have been 16 or more years since the previous release = 7 more years than it took to release the last 3 games combined.
Blue Prince because I’m usually questioning everything around me, lost, confused, and in need of food. “Does it never end?”
November 7, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Blue Prince because I’m usually questioning everything around me, lost, confused, and in need of food. “Does it never end?”
The gameplay loop is so addictive. The fact that you need to farm to get better at fighting and vice versa makes it hard to put down.
November 1, 2025 at 5:36 PM
The gameplay loop is so addictive. The fact that you need to farm to get better at fighting and vice versa makes it hard to put down.
It saddens me that these studios have been relegated to releasing updates for live service exclusively. There is so much IP (ahem, Banjo) that I’d like to see from revived/continued from Rare. I’d even be happy with some remakes.
October 31, 2025 at 3:29 AM
It saddens me that these studios have been relegated to releasing updates for live service exclusively. There is so much IP (ahem, Banjo) that I’d like to see from revived/continued from Rare. I’d even be happy with some remakes.
If they cared about any of that they wouldn't be doing this with their next gen approach. We saw them port nearly all aspects of Series X to the XBOX One generation (UI, cloud, etc.). And the reason to upgrade would be performance and new hardware capabilities.
October 30, 2025 at 10:11 PM
If they cared about any of that they wouldn't be doing this with their next gen approach. We saw them port nearly all aspects of Series X to the XBOX One generation (UI, cloud, etc.). And the reason to upgrade would be performance and new hardware capabilities.
Devs don’t have to code to specific devices for PC. You choose the settings based on your desired performance. Xbox Series are PC architecture, they just currently have OS restrictions that prevent 3rd party apps. I’m just saying Xbox could do this if they want to unify with next gen approach.
October 30, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Devs don’t have to code to specific devices for PC. You choose the settings based on your desired performance. Xbox Series are PC architecture, they just currently have OS restrictions that prevent 3rd party apps. I’m just saying Xbox could do this if they want to unify with next gen approach.
You realize that Xbox runs a Windows kernel right, and that Microsoft owns and operates the Xbox hardware? And that they can install whatever they want on the consoles? Ok, just checking.
October 30, 2025 at 8:23 PM
You realize that Xbox runs a Windows kernel right, and that Microsoft owns and operates the Xbox hardware? And that they can install whatever they want on the consoles? Ok, just checking.