And Xbox Game Pass, has just published a tweet revealing a game called Keeper right away? They are preparing us for a lighthouse and a bird to capture our hearts in five days and call it an enigma. However, to be honest, it does sound a bit captivating. The tweet shared a picture too, which might be a video or a pile of screenshots showing this mysterious lighthouse scene.
Though the tweet received a lot of chaotic replies. It seems when people saw “Xbox Game Pass” they started to let out all their frustrations about gaming these days. Amidst these frustrations, there is one user, Kelly (her handle is countessofsnark, which is quite an accurate description of her) who cannot contain her excitement; she says, “Ooo. I should bookmark it and give it a try.” This is nice and cheerful in light of the mostly complaining comments regarding the Game Pass price and Microsoft.
I mean there are people announcing they would cancel their subscriptions. One guy who calls himself beyond_| is really going overboard with his words telling “Microsoft should get nothing, they are evil scum” and persuading people to cancel their Game Pass accounts. Another user, MorcillaDel, bemoans the online gaming subscription in general, stating, “I have had enough of paying fees for subscriptions; if you want to play online multiplayer, you have to pay even if you bought the game; it is dreading.” So they are with me, the struggle is real.
What was I saying now? Oh, Keeper! This game will most likely come to Game Pass soon, and it is all about a lighthouse and a bird theme. That does not sound quite that normal? I mean, when was the last time you heard of a game about a lighthouse keeper and taking care of the local bird community? Probably not ever unless you are really into maritime sims or something.
Still, some people in the replies are questioning the timing. Gem controller 73 was like “I thought it was releasing next year” then “It’s coming out so soon?!?” So maybe this is a surprise drop situation? That would explain the whole “5 days to emotionally prepare” thing.
There is also a very interesting post dividing the comments into people who would actually give the game a chance and those who would just complain about Xbox. Torrent_Of_Pork writes “This looks interesting as the occasional artsy-fartsy I enjoy from time to time. I’ll see you at $20 if it gets good reviews from the people I trust.” So the guy is actually thinking of buying it separately rather than through Game Pass.
Then comes Sloth saying “Nah if I want to play this then I would rather support steam than xbox” which, I guess, is reasonable enough? But then again, why make such a hurdle for a game announcement?
Espirit_’s Portuguese comment is about Game Pass pricing, it goes something like “Damn look at the game they are launching me on the plan that costs 120 reais wtf” which, yes, international pricing saga is real.
It is rather surprising that the game is still a mystery. Like, we have an idea that a lighthouse and sea birds are part of the game, but what do you actually DO in this game? A management sim where you are the lighthouse keeper? A story-driven adventure where you befriend birds? An atmospheric walking simulator with nautical themes? The tweet doesn’t really make it clear, and neither does anyone in the replies.
“this company should make a new Banjo Kazooie game” is one comment totally not related to the topic that comes from Quan Cro along with a GIF. Sure, a new Banjo Kazooie is on everyone’s wish list, but what about Keeper?
Oh and then the whole discussion about the worth of Game Pass. Some gamers insist on buying games instead of paying for a subscription, while others fight for the subscription model. A user named adustyoldbox is having a debate with mister Darkside about the philosophical question of whether things could be “free” if you are paying for a subscription. Quite philosophical for Tuesday morning, if you ask me.
Now returning to Keeper – that it is getting such mixed reactions already before anyone of us has experienced it is somewhat captivating. It seems we are at a point where game announcements are merely platforms for expressing general frustrations about the industry. Which is… something.
However, lighthouse aesthetic does sound cool. Lighthouses are by nature dramatic settings – solitary, stormy, and mysterious. And seabirds? They are just sky drama queens. Combine them and there is a potential for some emotional storytelling. Or it could simply be a light-hearted game about removing bird poop from lighthouse windows. Who knows!
What appears to be the case is that in five days we will know if this game really lives up to the “steal your heart” promise or if it is just another Game Pass addition that becomes neglected. The state of the current replies suggests that it has difficultly dealt with this task of convincing people not to let their subscription fee frustrations overshadow them.
But then, amidst all the Microsoft complaints and the price discussions, I do wonder what this lighthouse game is like. What could possibly require five days of emotional hoisting? Are we talking full-on crying-in-the-rain type of dramatic moments? Or just a slight case of the feels when a virtual bird is so trusting that it eats from your hand?
The gaming community right now is so split between subscription supporters and physical media purists that sometimes the actual games get muffled in the noise. But Keeper seems to have enough intrigue to talk about it, even if just for a moment. We will know in 5 days whether that lighthouse is worth the emotional investment or has just been another flicker in the Game Pass catalog.
