This week it feels like 2024 in gaming has begun in earnest with Microsoft's Xbox Developer Direct 2024 where they showed off Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2, Avowed, Ara: History Untold, and the first look at the Machine Games Indiana Jones. Sean and Marc have their reactions primed and ready on the showcase itself, what they think of each game, if the surprise of Visions of Mana is a big deal or not, and much more.

Also, a Ubisoft executive got the company into some hot water when speaking on its newly rebranded Ubisoft + Premium streaming service after being misquoted by gaming websites for saying "Gamers need to get used to not owning their games." This led to a lot of discussion on the state of Gaming subscription services and if we should be afraid of them taking over gaming like they have for television shows, music, and film distribution. Should we be worried about this? Or is there data that shows it isn't a concern?

Plus, Sean has some impressions on the newly released Early Access and Xbox Game Pass title, Palworld, (also known as Pokemon with Guns), Hogwarts Legacy officially is the best-selling game of 2023, Stalker 2 Delayed, Foamstars on PS Plus for February, and much more!

You can also watch this episode in video form on the W2M Network Youtube Channel, please give us a like, comment on the episode, and give the channel a subscribe and follow as well: https://youtube.com/live/qU4IuVj4Nkg

Links:

Ubisoft executive says Gamers need to get used to not owning games for subscription services to thrive: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/ubisoft-subscription-boss-says-gamers-are-still-used-to-owning-games/

Radulich in Broadcasting's Review of Marvel's Echo on Disney +: https://youtube.com/live/6HaPqS0OD6Q

The latest episode of Otalku Cafe: https://youtube.com/live/wgPJz036u3c

Timestamps:

00:00:00: START

00:02:18: Housekeeping

------- BIG Topic ---------

00:04:10: Xbox Developer Direct Reactions

00:21:50: STALKER 2 Delayed Until September 2024

------- Games We Are Playing ------

00:23:00: World of Warcraft and the Retro Gen (Marc)

00:24:15: Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (Sean)

00:25:55: Palworld (Sean)

------- BIG Topic -------

00:31:00: Ubisoft exec believes Gaming subscriptions will thrive once players get used to not owning their games.

------- What's in the News -------

00:48:50: Hogwarts Legacy is officially the #1 Selling game of 2023 in the United States

00:54:50: Harmonix announces that Rock Band 4 Weekly DLC will end on January 25, 2024.

01:00:20: Foamstars to be one of the PS Plus Monthly Games for February 2024

01:06:20: Embracer Group lays off employees from Lost Boys Studio, Thunderful Group lays off 20% of its staff, and Dead By Deadlight developer also suffers layoffs

-------- The End -------

01:10:00: Games coming out this week: Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Tekken 8, Another Code: Collection and more!

--------- Entertainment Extra -------

01:13:40 Discussing The Doctor Who Specials and Christmas Special, the return of David Tennant, and the debut of Ncuti Gatwa

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