I know that Xbox needs more development teams in order to continue to grow the Game Pass numbers, but for me personally there are less than five non MS teams total now that I would really miss if they got snapped up as an exclusive by another platform. I feel fortunate that I don’t care about most of the IPs that seem to be in play in the near future.
The following listed below are development studios/publishers that I don’t want to see Amazon/Google/Nintendo/Tencent acquire as I have no interest in these four companies or their platforms.
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Capcom (publisher)
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Embracer Group (THQ Nordic/Deep Silver, publisher)
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Focus Home Interactive (publisher)
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Square Enix (publisher)
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Ubisoft (publisher)
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WB Interactive (publisher)
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Airship Syndicate Entertainment (developer)
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CD Projekt Red (developer)
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IO Interactive (developer)
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People Can Fly (developer)
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Remedy Entertainment (developer)
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Techland (developer)
That’s pretty much it. 6 publishers. 6 development studios. Could care less about all the rest simply because they either aren’t any good based on playing previous games from them (City Interactive comes to mind) or I rarely if ever have any interest in what they do.
IO Interactive is only on my list because they have the James Bond license and I want to see what they can do with it. If it’s like Hitman though, ugh, then I could care if they get gobbled up by one of those four companies mentioned in the opening paragraph. People Can Fly is only on the list because of Outriders which im high on and they have two other games in development (one published by Square Enix and the other Take Two Interactive if I remember correctly) that im interested in seeing because as of now, they seem to be developing games that are of interest to me.
Asobo/Dontnod in general have only developed one game each for me that I really enjoyed and thought was great which were A Plague Tale: Innocence and Vampyr respectively. I’m hoping for sequels but if they’re not doing that or planning to do that, then if they get acquired by one of those four, oh well.
If those 12 publishers/development studios can stay as is, awesome but if they were to get acquired, then im hoping that it’s Microsoft or Sony. Outside of wanting to see Microsoft acquire WB Interactive, CD Projekt Red and Techland, it’s doesn’t matter who acquires them as long as it’s Microsoft or Sony as all I care about is Xbox and PlayStation.
Focus Home owns just 1 Studio (Deck13), so don’t even think anyone would be wise to purchase a publisher which doesn’t have enough subsidiaries and IP. They’re a lot more like Devolver Digital, they do publish a lot of amazing games but barely own any studios or IP. It’s better to just make partnerships with them. One thing is we don’t need to worry cuz Xbox has a really good relationship with these indie publishers like Devolver Digital, Finji, Raw Fury, Focus Home, etc.
Alright. Indie game on Game Pass (for PC) that I should really try? (I’ve played Spiritfarer, Streets of Rage 4, Double Kick Heroes, Starbound, Lucky’s Tale, Astroneer, WarGroove… and I’m probably forgetting a ton of games)
I’m looking for a game that lasts me 10 hours maximum which isn’t too difficult.
Star Renegades!
Also, how was Double Kick?
I’m not allowed to talk about Double Kick Heroes. @Sikamikanico has forbidden it. 
(It’s fun, but a little too difficult for me. Not amazing though.)
Honestly, as a business best thing for google/amazon to do is keep games multiplatform, but make the streaming aspect exclusive to their service. I think having games on a non streaming platform is still a must since globally there isn’t an infrastructure in place where many have access to very fast internet to make streaming seamless.
It’s quite a gamechanger to be honest. I’ve been playing with Rocket League with a PS4 friend, and a bit of No Mans Sky with a PC friend. It really helps the activity on the game as well.
Call of the Sea, Celeste (probably too difficult if you’re not into precision platformers), Scourgebringer, Tetris Effect Connected, What Remains of Edith Finch, Ape Out, Broforce, Crosscode, Downwell, Gris, Hotline Miami, Katana Zero, Hollow Knight, Machinarium, Momodora: RutM, Night in the Woods, Oxenfree, Thumper.
Some of those games are actually long like Crosscode and Hollow Knight.
haha yeah, didn’t pay as much attention to the short game condition there, my bad. But yeah, hollow knight and crosscode can take some time. Other than that, most others mentioned are either shorter than 10 hours or are roguelikes/endless arcade games whose length depends on your runs but can be enjoyed in shorter durations too.
Loving Spiritfarer right now. Almost finished. Such a charming little game.
Tales of Arise update…
When? Man it’s been a goooooood while!
BOTW is still on my to do list in the near future. Only thing thing stopping me from buying a Switch were rumors of a newer possibly more powerful version coming down the pike soon. Either way I at least want to own one by the time Bayonetta 3 and No More Heroes 3 are released.
Last Zelda game I played was 2 waaaaay back on the NES so I missed out on the Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask etc.
I don’t think we got anything on the game last year! Really craving new information, it just looks so gorgeous and I want to play it already.
I think Scarlet Nexus and Arise share the same team. The focus is probably on Scarlet nexus till it’s shipped.
If you get a chance, the 3D Zelda’s are worth playing. All of them are unique in their own way, and despite what the Zelda community says, none are bad by any means. The 2D Zelda titles are also solid, I love A Link Between Worlds as much as A Link to the Past.
Seconded.
The Legend of Zelda is some of the absolute best that gaming has to offer. 3D & 2D. Well worth checking out.
A Link Between Worlds is one of the most outright fun games that I’ve ever played.