The impact isn’t necessarily in the sale of any product but rather remaining in the public Zeitgeist.
Right now Xbox isn’t even a thing in people’s minds. I saw an ad for a Toyota truck and I won’t be buying one anytime soon but if I know someone looking for one I know it’s a possible option. If someone asked me if they should get a Audi truck, I’d be like “I don’t know. Do they even make trucks?”. These mass market ads go a long way in educating us about products.
As it stands, Xbox isn’t even making itself known.
Few would consider buying a product that is becoming invisible. What does it say about its long-term support and viability?
It’s looking for a car to buy and driving by dealerships and you see a dealership for a brand called “Pinnino” and your partner says “I haven’t heard of that brand” and you’re like “me too” and then both decide to pass because you’re totally unfamiliar with it.
(If pinnino is a swear in a language I swear I didn’t know)
I saw someone post on threads asking whether they should get a PlayStation or Switch and in the conversation the Xbox seemed irrelevant or not even an option. I don’t think this would be the case if Xbox had an equal amount of public appearances.
I also think about Xbox failing to realize that consoles are inherently a mass market casual device. Hardcore gamers will gravitate towards PCs and will be the ones seeing ads on streaming sites. They spent thousands on gaming and $200 for a new “gaming chair” is normal to them. It’s the person who sees an Xbox sign at a baseball field that would consider getting a console so they can play The Show on the couch.
A cinematic game like Hellblade 2 should have had extensive movie theater ad runs. And it’s not to sell copies of the game. It’s to boost the profile of the Xbox. “Only on Xbox” for a game that looks better than 99% of games out there, a statement ringing through a theater where 50% of the people watching the movie probably own PlayStations and have seen nothing like that, it’s a prestige thing. It’s Xbox “competing”.
So yeah it goes beyond individual sales. The purpose of this sort of marketing is to get into the minds of consumers and non-consumers.
I remember HTC came out with the first Android phones and I’ll be honest I don’t even know if they’re around anymore. They could be, but I just don’t know. But if I saw an ad for one during a hockey game then I’d be like yep, that’s an option the next time I get a phone.
I think we’re at the square if there was an Xbox ad during a sporting event people would ask “Xbox is still a thing?”.