If you say so…
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Flight sim is AAA, not AA
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Apparently a full $60 release that uses Azure Satellite data is considered a smaller AA game 
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Avowed, Flight Sim and may add State 3 are not AA
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inxile is currently working on a AAA RPG that is getting the most funding of any non Halo project at Xbox. There is already a team working it.
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Please, Flight Simulator is the biggest game in the world. Other AAA titles can’t even fully simulate New York.
dat disrespect
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Well, it’s hard to be bigger than Flight Sim in the world when Flight Sim is the world itself lol
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well, you can simulate the whole galaxy like Elite 
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I’d be ok with it. I think Outriders looks fantastic.
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Yeah, that list is pretty crazy.
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No disrespect to Flight Simulator 2020 as it looks amazing and in that regard, it’s AAA but for me personally, I don’t consider it AAA.
As for Avowed, I know it’s supposed to be an AAA title but what’s supposed to be and could actually end up being could very well be two different things. Would much rather go into this game now as a AA title until I see more that screams to me AAA. In other words, they need to show me, not tell me.
InXile is supposed to be working on an AAA RPG and I can’t wait to see what it is but until then, i will count it as an AA title because until proven otherwise, that’s what it is.
As for State of Decay 3, if the game itself looks like that CGI trailer and im playing that, I will then consider that to be AAA. Until that day, I will say AA because that’s what all four of these developers have always been and quite simply, they need to prove otherwise. Saying this or saying that means nothing to me.
Except for Flight Sim which is of no interest to me, I have Avowed/SOD 3 on my list but I need to see more and quite honestly, when it comes to Undead Labs and State of Decay, I was disappointed with SOD 2 and quit it after 15 hours. SOD 3 MUST look like that CGI trailer because if not, im going to be pissed.
I hate the overdone Xbox bashing as much as the next guy but sometimes, it’s warranted and if SOD 3 does NOT look like that CGI trailer, then that will be one of those times.
And $60 doesn’t not mean AAA. Darksiders III, Vampyr and a shit ton of other AA titles launched at $60. Doesn’t change the fact that these were and still are AA titles.
My dude just because you dont think a game is AAA doesnt mean that it isnt. Flight sim and Avowed are objectively AAA in terms of budget, scope, and the team behind it.
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Yeah… I’m sick of seeing some of the same goalpost moving and derivative arguments from Era leaking over here, and the totally bullshit argument about what is and isn’t AAA is a tired and utterly meaningless one. A studio is capable of both, and neither are a barometer for any measurement of quality. Additionally, I think it’s cute that some people are being dismissive of Obsidian or InXile’s ability to produce large budget AND quality titles considering the fact that many of them are OG industry movers and titles like KOTOR 2 and New Vegas surpassed their respective predecessors.
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Yea there’s definitely a few posters that come in looking for disagreement.
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How long people thinking before we hear about these investments
I’m not looking to argue or fight with anyone but at the same time, why would I agree with something someone else says if I don’t actually agree? That makes no sense.
I’m looking forward to the vast majority of next gen titles from Microsoft’s first party studios but at the same time, I have to see more of Avowed and in time I will and especially have to see gameplay of State of Decay 3. Maybe others have confidence in Undead Labs. I simply don’t. I loved the original 2013 game but they disappointed me greatly with SOD 2 and showing a CGI trailer like they did is possibly not the best idea because now, my expectation is that SOD 3 needs to look and play like that trailer.
I want all the games im interested in to be AAA titles and amazing games because that’s great for me personally so why wouldn’t I want that? But at the same time, me wanting to see more especially when it comes to Undead Labs and State of Decay 3 isn’t a bad thing whatsoever.
AAA refers to budget, and MS is providing the means for the studios they acquired to make the games they want and not have to sacrifice b/c of financial concerns
Obsidian is a good example, I would say they have 2 main AAA teams. The largest one working on Avowed and the 2nd working on OW DLC and then??? The difference now is they have the budget to make the game they want.
InXile looks to be staffing up for 2 teams, 1 that is finishing up Wasteland 2/DLC? and the other a AAA RPG
Rare already has 2 main teams, Sea of Thieves & Everwild
Playground has a Forza Horizon team and Fable team
Both the Coalition & 343i are big enough to have 2 teams, but currently don’t, there have been some rumors that the Coalition might have a 2nd team, if not they should.
Mojang likely has multiple teams but is solely focused on Minecraft
Ninja Theory has one main team and then a couple of smaller teams
Initiative, Turn 10, Compulsion, Undead Labs & Double Fine seem to have one main team
Worlds Edge has one team devoted to AOE, I know a lot of people add them when talking about MS studios, but I wouldn’t say they are Xbox focused per se
That leaves Xbox Publishing which is IMO more for filling Game Pass content and discovering new studios than acting as a 1st party tent pole game developer.
So 18 teams, 19 if you count Worlds Edge, enough possibly to supply game pass with one big release every 3 months once all these studios get up and running. Plus you have other games coming from publishing or smaller teams from these studios like Grounded, Battle Toads, GoW tactics, Bleeding Edge etc., to flow into Game Pass.
I definitely think they need more teams, but they do have a significant number of big AAA teams already.
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Its tough to say when they make a studio purchase they usually keep well hidden til there ready to make announcement e3 2018 was prime example of that minus Playground games acquisition news hours before e3 2018. If I had to guess when we will hear any news on studio aquistion would be September or October if they acquire anyone.
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After seeing all the Flight Simulator reviews, Asobo’s gotta be top on the list in terms of studios to acquire for Microsoft.
We don’t want a repeat of the whole Bioware fiasco, where another publisher purchases a studio closely associated with Microsoft/Xbox.
Still breakks my heart that EA ended up buying Bioware. Especially seeing how Bioware has been recently. 
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