Xbox Developer_Direct January 25, 2023 Live Reaction

By LUDWIG VON KOOPA - Let's react about the games, not the (borrowed but effective) format.

From what I've been reading, not many people knew that Microsoft had an Xbox “Developer_Direct” (the underscore is canon and it bothers me) today, which is a brand new format of showcasing upcoming videogames. Unlike, say, their direct competitor that they directly copied this Direct format from, Microsoft actually announced this event two WEEKS in advance, as opposed to something like two days in advance. (And I appreciate that more than what their competitor does because this let me plan to have free, uninterrupted time at the timeslot it premiered. ...Even if I was hungry.)

They're excited for their 2023 and want everyone to know about it. Good for them. But will I be interested in what they have to say? Join me in my live reaction log of the five games they have to show. I have commentary and a screenshot for all five!

[3:00 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-Et8r1413Y
[3:00 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: XBOX DEVELOPER_DIRECT
[3:00 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: And I'm just now realising this has the same countdown sequence as those Pokémon Presents YouTube livestreams.
[3:01 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: Therefore, I conclude these countdown sequences are created by YouTube, not by the brand.
[3:02 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: The YouTube-developed countdown has now transitioned to an Xbox-developed one-minute countdown.
[3:04 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: The actual thing has a bunch of people.
[3:04 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: "5 Big Games"
[3:04 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: Starting with Mojang Studios.
[3:05 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: Dennis Ries, executive producer of Minecraft Legends, wants to talk about Person versus Person multiplayer.
[3:05 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: (is this out yet?)

Forget about if Minecraft Legends is out yet... how about that turtle getting out of the water? Cutie.

[3:05 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: Releases April 18, 2023, and for the Switch, too.
[3:07 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: Procedurally generated maps for varying experiences every time! It's Player versus Player versus Piglins.
[3:08 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: They are saying you can do EXPLORATION despite it being a PvP mode, and exploring is a viable activity.
[3:10 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: I keep feeling like this might be trying to be a Kirby Air Ride City Trial-esque thing (but with crafting).
[3:10 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: But with armies instead of individual pufballs.
[3:11 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: "Turn 10 Studios" for car porn.
[3:11 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: Chris Esaki, creative director, bringing us a new Forza Motorsport built for Xbox Series. (Not coming out for Switch)
[3:12 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: Talking about ray tracing and whatever. "Our paints are sourced from a spectrophotometer"

The full quote: “Our paints are sourced using a spectrophotometer to capture multiple data points of light behavior on a surface.”

[3:14 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: Gone from graphics to sound realism.
[3:15 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: You know, the only thing I've eaten all day is a glass of milk and a cup of Magic Spoon cereal. I'm getting dizzy from hunger.
[3:15 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: I'd rather eat than watch the car porn.
[3:15 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: "I love the detail our talented team of artists have built into Kyalami."
[3:16 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: I should look up what a spectrophotometer is.
[3:16 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: Wiktionary says it's an instrument used to measure the intensity of electromagnetic radiation at different wavelengths.
[3:17 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: That's a bit too complicated for me.
[3:17 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: Moving on to the third game.
[3:17 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: From Tango Gameworks.
[3:18 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: At least this is animated. And features music-oriented gameplay.
[3:18 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: Featuring a guy named Chai and his black cat.

And I'm excited to see if this is any good.

[3:19 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: He's a future rockstar.
[3:19 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: Shinji Mikami, studio head, and John Johannes, director of HI-FI RUSH. (That's the game name)
[3:19 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: It's not hard or spooky like Ghostwire Tokyo.
[3:20 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: Rhythm action game, and your moves and attacks add to the soundtrack.
[3:20 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: "Like an awesome music video."
[3:21 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: I like this concept.
[3:21 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: Chai seems to be aware of the game's soundtrack.
[3:21 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: Attacking on the beat helps your combo game.
[3:22 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: It's like a real-time 3D action Crypt of the Necrodancer.
[3:22 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: "It's not about mashing the button, the key here is feeling the beat." But the beat also won't limit what actions you can take. You aren't punished for missing the beat, but you are rewarded for staying on it.
[3:23 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: THE CAT IS NAMED 808 AND IS A ROBOT
[3:24 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: I like the concept, I like the comic-y style.
[3:24 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: I like the cat.
[3:24 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: I like the design philosophy.
[3:24 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: (Though it's anti-corporation)
[3:24 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: (...which might be justified)
[3:25 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: Boss fights feature licenced music.
[3:25 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: "For example... you can pet the cat, yes?"
[3:25 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: Yes.
[3:26 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: You can play the full game tonight.
[3:26 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: It launches on Xbox and PC (and Xbox Game Pass) tonight.
[3:27 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: ...so if you're reading this...
[3:27 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: Moving on to Zenimax Game Studios.
[3:28 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom, launching in June. (So I'm sure we'll hear more at E3 2023.) Featuring the Arcanist, a new playable class.
[3:30 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: Elder Scrolls players are apparently the "most welcoming on the planet."
[3:31 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: "PLAY PREVIOUS CHAPTERS AND OVER 20 DLCS FOR FREE"

If I haven't tried it yet, why should I start now?
(Well, you do need the base game anyway...)

[3:32 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: Now Arkane Austin... for Redfall, the fifth game. Right?
[3:33 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: Harvey Smith, studio director, is the narrator.
[3:33 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: Story-driven shooter featuring single-playing or co-oping and slay vampires haunting Redfall's streets.
[3:34 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: pew pew
[3:36 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: While Tango said they didn't want to make another game that'd be seen as scary, Arkane Austin clearly didn't have that philosophy. >.<
[3:38 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: eww?
[3:40 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: You can also reclaim individual neighbourhoods from freaky vampire bosses.
[3:41 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: "Ultraviolent Light" is an ability, which has always been a pun I like.

My concept of what UV Rays are.

[3:43 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: Arkane says Redfall is the game they'd like to play, blending in all sorts of aspects of games they enjoy.
[3:43 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: (Not necessarily a good idea for getting other people to also want to buy the game.)
[3:43 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: Releasing on May 2.
[3:44 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: Naturally, everything in the DEVELOPER_DIRECT will be available on Xbox Game Pass.
[3:44 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: Ending montage.
[3:45 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: "2023 is just getting started" "THANKS_FOR_WATCHING"
[3:45 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: 'kay I can go eat now.
[3:45 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: ...right?
[3:45 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: End the stream, please.
[3:46 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: 'kay, it ended.
[3:46 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: I want to hear impressions of Hi-Fi RUSH from people.
[3:47 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: Don't care 'bout the other stuff but that was good.
[3:47 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: So that was a good use of time, I think. Now...FOOD!!
[3:47 PM] Ludwig Von Koopa: end log


Ludwig liked this presentation format. Sure, it's...not original, but it's effective and it works, and that's what matters. He took his time publishing the reaction log after it happened because he spent a lot of time eating meals. (Including a salad.) If you don't have Xbox Game Pass, Hi-Fi RUSH is $30. Check out the details here. Ludwig wants someone to write a guest article about it. Smartly, the licensed music during boss fights has a streamer-friendly version that won't get you copyright claimed.


The last time KoopaTV gave coverage to an Xbox presentation, it was June 2022.
The next Xbox presentation reaction log came June 2023.