Home Gaming Microsoft "sorry about the disappointment"

Microsoft "sorry about the disappointment"

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Microsoft launched Xbox Gold free games this month, to a wave of confusion and frustration.  Subscribers were offered Defence Grid as the first free game for July, not the expected Halo 3 or Assassin’s Creed 2.  So Major Nelson took to Reddit to apologize.

Now, Halo 3, Assassin’s Creed 2 and Defence Grid were all good games back in the day, but they just aren’t impressing people in 2013 – especially seeing as Xbox users aren’t even getting H3 or AC2 in July!  The contrast with PS+ is striking, where the games on offer for July include XCOM, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, Demon’s Souls and Uncharted 3.  Yeah, just a bit of a difference.

Major Nelson stated on Reddit:

Sorry about the disappointment. Not sure how people started to assume that H3 and AC2 were coming in July. I thought it was pretty clear in the briefing, but I guess not that clear 🙁

He went on to say that he will be passing the contents of the Reddit thread on to the marketing department.  When asked if the complimentary games promotion will end in November, Major Nelson responded

Anything is possible. We’ll see how the program goes.

I hope that they figure out what they’re doing over at Microsoft with this.  Again, great potential that is wasted.  Imagine if they had released Mass Effect, or Lost Odyssey, or even one of the Forzas?  People might not get Halo or Assassin’s Creed, but I’m pretty sure they’d be excited to see the return of these awesome games.  Maybe next month will be better – by disappointing this month they set themselves up for a pleasant surprise next month… unless they mess that up, too.

Last Updated: July 2, 2013

69 Comments

  1. CaptainNemo42

    July 2, 2013 at 14:06

    ..

    Reply

  2. Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

    July 2, 2013 at 14:14

    I’m not sure that MS should even have to apologise for giving a free game people aren’t happy with.

    I can understand anger at draconian DRM, but really if you are given something free then you can’t really demand more free you know. Not saying you should be happy with anything that gets thrown your way but really, keep the anger for when you don’t get something you have paid for.

    Reply

    • RinceWind

      July 2, 2013 at 14:20

      I agree. But if you want to keep people from jumping ship you need to keep up with your competitors. I mean Xcom vs Defence Grid? Wtf?

      Reply

    • Argentil

      July 2, 2013 at 14:22

      Let me put it this way. MS advertised free games such as AC2 and Halo 3, people were given a much lower profile downloadable title instead.

      PSN used to give one PS3 game, one PSN title, one PS classic, and 2 mini’s (which are like mobile games) a month. I would class Defense Grid as a PSN title in this example, and not the PS3 title they were expecting.

      Reply

    • CaptainNemo42

      July 2, 2013 at 14:22

      I think people are upset because the games that were promised is not there.

      The thing is, MS just looks like a headless chicken at the moment. I don’t own an Xbox, or an Xbox Live account, so it really doesn’t matter to me. All I know is that I will be happily trolling along with my little yellow cross in the top left corner of my PSN ID. Until Microsoft actually figures out what the hell they are doing and start catching up.

      Reply

      • Jonah Cash

        July 2, 2013 at 14:27

        I have a Xbox and a Xbox Live account, and this will be the last year that I pay for it…. I have already pre ordered Fifa 14 for my PS3, PSN is just so much more worth the money…. It will be my first Fifa on something else than a Xbox 360 since 2005!!! That is every year since then and now it is time to jump ship…. PS4 here I come!!

        Reply

        • CaptainNemo42

          July 2, 2013 at 14:30

          Well, I friend of mine jumped ship about two weeks ago. He couldn’t stand me going on about all the awesome games I’m getting for a low free of R489 a year. The DRM and used game issue was the last push for him. Even after MS did their 180, he said it was too late.

          Reply

        • Jakster

          July 2, 2013 at 15:40

          FIFA is shit on PS3. Not because of the graphics but because of the damned controller that doesn’t give a full 360 degree control of the player. Then again if you are looking for free MP then your choice is justified.

          Reply

          • Jonah Cash

            July 3, 2013 at 06:48

            That is just it, I don’t mind paying for multiplayer, I always felt that Xbox Live Gold was so good because we paid for the service… But I will buy a PS4, not a Xbone. So it would be stupid to pay for Live if I plan on moving over so might as well start paying for PSN now…. But I heard that the 360 thing doesn’t really work, but I will give it a go… Hopefully the PS4 gets it right then 🙂

      • RinceWind

        July 2, 2013 at 14:33

        I am on the Xbox 360 platform and have been for 6 years. I love my Xbox, but looking at the current practises of MS I am thinking to myself ‘what are they DOING?’ so I think I will be heading over the horizon with SONY until MS remove head from arse.

        Reply

        • CaptainNemo42

          July 2, 2013 at 14:39

          Yeah, it’s sad when it comes to that. I actually really hope MS does pull their shit together, because in the end, me might be benefiting in the short term, but long term its not good if one of the other dominates in the industry.

          Sony might have changed their business model a bit, but its still Sony.

          Reply

    • Trevor Davies

      July 2, 2013 at 15:03

      First world problems.

      Reply

  3. RinceWind

    July 2, 2013 at 14:18

    But they gave us Fable 3… I mean… 🙁

    Reply

  4. Trebzz

    July 2, 2013 at 14:20

    Nothing is going right for them anymore

    Reply

  5. RinceWind

    July 2, 2013 at 14:21

    I am getting irritated with the steam of bad PR that MS are dishing out. Yes, we shouldn’t moan about free games, they are FREE after all. But one also needs to remember they are supposed to be fighting for our wallets. Right now SONY is so far ahead it’s a blip on the horizon while MS is still blowing up it’s inflatable boat.

    Reply

    • Jonah Cash

      July 2, 2013 at 14:24

      Yes but their inflatable boat has SO many holes in it at the moment!!

      And this is Sony’s inflatable boat: (No race really)

      Reply

      • RinceWind

        July 2, 2013 at 14:27

        Hhaa! Indeed. I just don’t get it.

        Reply

      • RinceWind

        July 2, 2013 at 14:31

        Recent MS inflatable boat deployment…

        Reply

    • Zoe

      July 2, 2013 at 17:19

      I’m so tired of all the bad PR, too! It’s truly nothing against MS – would be nice if they could get their act together!

      Reply

      • RinceWind

        July 2, 2013 at 18:05

        I’m really surprised more people haven’t been let go…

        Reply

  6. DrKiller

    July 2, 2013 at 14:28

    So we are getting XBLA games for free?

    Reply

    • RinceWind

      July 2, 2013 at 14:34

      Apparently. I got Fable 3 a few days ago for free, though not sure it was part of this new programme of theirs (you may want to have a look on XBL to see if it’;s still available). Also, where does one find these FREE games, do we need to search their names? I can’t seem to find the ‘free to be dom’ area on their Xboxlive site… (may just be me, probably is)

      Reply

      • Argentil

        July 2, 2013 at 14:35

        It is part of the campaign. As per usual, MS failed to properly publicise the fact, so everyone thought it was a mistake.

        Reply

        • RinceWind

          July 2, 2013 at 14:42

          I know! If Major Nelson is having to send reddit pieces to his marketing team what is broken? Who is doing all this? Is there some mole working against MS?

          Reply

          • Argentil

            July 2, 2013 at 14:48

            Phillll Spencerrrrr. Shh, don’t blow his cover.

      • DrKiller

        July 2, 2013 at 14:55

        Fable 3 is also not a really good giveaway.. I mean, why give us a game that was bundled with Xbox a few years ago? It would be better to have something like NFS Most Wanted (new one), Tomb Raider or a simliar new’ish game..

        Reply

        • RinceWind

          July 2, 2013 at 14:58

          I get why they can’t offer new games like Tomb Raider, they need to make back the money they spent, but really, what they are offering is more a half-arsed attempt to be able to say ‘we also offer free games’ than anything else.

          Reply

          • DrKiller

            July 2, 2013 at 15:00

            Exactly.. XBLA is just low..

            I mean on PS they gave out Sleeping Dogs the other day, that is pretty sweet!

          • RinceWind

            July 2, 2013 at 15:02

            You just made me sad 🙁

  7. Umar Kiiroi Senk?

    July 2, 2013 at 14:29

    Release Lost Odyssey for free and you gots GOOOOOOOOOOOOLD!!!!!!

    Reply

    • OVG

      July 2, 2013 at 15:17

      25gigs lol

      Reply

      • Umar Kiiroi Senk?

        July 2, 2013 at 15:21

        4 Discs in yo face! worth it though…at least you won’t have that horrible paper sleeve

        Reply

  8. OVG

    July 2, 2013 at 15:12

    Not to look a gift horse in the mouth but you can keep your free electronic gold games. Hell, i only let Fable 3 download in the background while playing online the last weekend to see if the shit works.

    24hours to download 5gigs and guess what??? THE SHIT DONT WORK. Just a big yellow exclamation mark.

    Anyway, I do not like getting shit for free as I would do as much as possible to support the people who made it. Just feels dirty.

    Reply

    • Argentil

      July 2, 2013 at 15:14

      Things like this happen on PSN also, and it’s a large reason why we aren’t ready for a digital future just yet.

      Reply

    • FoxOneZA - X-Therminator

      July 2, 2013 at 15:45

      You sure you are on 1mb? I did MK9(9gb) on PSN in under 24hrs on 1mb.

      Reply

  9. FoxOneZA - X-Therminator

    July 2, 2013 at 15:43

    As a 360 owner from day 1, I never bought a Live sub, and I never bought Fable. Halo 3 was pants and highly over-rated. Halo 4 on the other hand <3

    Reply

  10. BeatzByChrisBrown

    July 2, 2013 at 16:04

    Just to clear one thing up. None of these games are free, you pay for them as part of your monthly subscription. Proceed…

    Reply

  11. Hercules

    July 2, 2013 at 17:01

  12. Craig Lotter

    July 2, 2013 at 18:31

    Even worse. We’re not getting Tower Defence – Just started my games with gold download of… Joy Ride Turbo. sigh.

    Reply

  13. iPrimal

    July 3, 2013 at 04:23

    All about the games my ass.

    Reply

  14. Trevor

    July 3, 2013 at 09:18

    With all the things that Microsoft have been doing lately I was wondering if they had a plan. I found this diagram detailing all their future policies and announcements :

    Reply

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