I see that you like to keep your sanity too, same here. I’ve not visited that cesspool in a long time. I believe a screenshot was posted here where I saw the user.
X is no different though. I tend to ignore them but timeline can be so screwy, so I often see them.
Yeah, it’s not great. And I hate how when you check a tweet you don’t immediately see relevant comments below it, you see other tweets often with unrelated videos. So freaking annoying. It used to be fine.
Originally published at: Xbox doesn't care about your console wars - XboxEra
It’s never a dull time in the land of Xbox, is it? We’ve barely returned from our holiday vacations and settled into the new year before a new rumor began swirling, which has caused a lot of disarray in some corners of the Xbox community.
The rumor, from trusted “insider” NateTheHate, suggests an acclaimed Xbox exclusive will be making its way to competing platforms in 2024. Many signs point to the game in question being the beloved critical darling Hi-Fi Rush, but again, its just rumors for now. Windows Central’s Jez Corden chimed in on the rumor as well and suggested that Microsoft may be looking to bring even more games to other consoles. Shortly after these rumors appeared, multiple sources indicated that at one point Xbox may have looked to put Sea of Thieves on Playstation 5 and Switch, but none could verify if this was still happening.
This has caused a lot of fervor in the core Xbox community, leading to spiraling discussions of Xbox going entirely third party and leaving the console space for good. Now, while this slippery slope fallacy may be on the extreme edges of irrational thinking, there is some discussion about what this all may “mean” and how it impacts the core Xbox fan.
This article and video is intended to be a counter opinion to a recent piece made by our very own Sikamikanico. We encourage you to read or watch that piece down below.
Again, assuming rumors are true of Xbox at least exploring bringing some of their previously exclusive games to other consoles, we have to remind ourselves what Xbox’s number one vision is, to bring more games to as many players as possible. This makes a great marketing line and has worked in Xbox’s favor to paint them as the lesser of all evil, but it is also really how Xbox seems to think.
It has been an open secret for a long time that Xbox would love a world where their industry leading service, Game Pass, existed on all devices possible, and yes that includes Playstation and Nintendo. For many reasons that world does not exist today and may have difficulty happening in the future.
They have also been open to bringing their games and subscription service to other non console devices, especially in this new wave of handheld PCs. Xbox CEO Phil Spencer has said in the past that he sees these devices as “Xbox’s” even though they are obviously third party devices. Spencer has also frequently commented on the need to move beyond the console wars for their long term success, even admitting how badly they lost it during the Xbox One era during that fateful Kinda Funny Interview. To further accentuate my point, Spencer thinks of anyone who plays an Xbox game as a member of the Xbox community, even if they do so on Switch or Playstation.
So, what does this all really mean? Well, from my perspective at least, the writing has been on the wall for a long time, even if many, including myself, struggled to see it. Xbox really, really wants to put their games everywhere. Not just on PC, or Cloud, or the occasional Switch port. Every device that can play a game is Xbox’s end game here.
Does this mean we all wake up tomorrow and Xbox has become a third party publisher? And by that, what we really mean is to put all of their games on Playstation and if possible, the Switch or “Switch 2”? Well, no. There still is value in having exclusive games for Xbox consoles to at least try and persuade new customers to buy their console, and they still compete directly with Nintendo and Playstation, moreso the latter company really as Xbox and Nintendo seem to have a good relationship.
Community Response
Now there have been some more emotionally charged responses to these rumors that go beyond what is being presented. Everyone is entitled to feel the way they want to, but no matter how upset some may feel, thinking that Microsoft is suddenly going to stop making consoles, or that your experience is somehow worse because others can play the same games is… Asinine. No, Xbox hardware isn’t going anywhere for at least the next couple of generations, and other platforms getting to play some of the games Xbox players have enjoyed isn’t going to make your experience any worse.
In the hypothetical scenario of Microsoft having a decreased focus on console exclusives is the potential of further decreasing the popularity of the Xbox console itself, which could in turn lead to some third party companies seeing Xbox as a less viable option. While this generation has had much better third-party support than the last, this is indeed a valid area of concern for those who don’t want the smaller titles to skip the platform. It’ll be up to Microsoft to make sure that this doesn’t happen.
Forward Thinking
Xbox clearly doesn’t view the industry in the same way their competitors do. They already lost the console wars, they admitted it, so there is little value to them to try and compete this way. Xbox has made many moves that seemed incomprehensible or downright stupid before. They were the first console manufacturer to venture into PC and many insisted this was the beginning of the end for Xbox. When they put their first party games on a subscription service, many believed this was a sign that Xbox was heading for their demise.
The truth is, Xbox has always been a leader in innovation and first movers to do things a new way. Many people thought their strategy of looking beyond the console was laughable when they first started, but now in 2024 they seem to be ahead of the curve, so much so that their direct competitor in Playstation seems to be following suit. You would have been laughed out of the room last generation if you would have suggested that Playstation would eventually port their games to PC, acquire a mobile developer, or look to grow their Cloud gaming initiative.
Should they take the risk?
There has been a lot discussion online about what Xbox’s ambitions may mean for an Xbox console brand that already seems to be losing steam only 3 years and change into the generation. While it is simply unknowable how the potential “loss” of some exclusive games impacts the console brand in the long term, I’d argue its a risk Xbox should be willing to explore
While Xbox doesn’t give out console sales, we do know from various analysts and sales trackers that the Xbox Series X/S have been slowly losing steam since launch. Estimates put the console behind the Xbox One, and it is clear the wider gaming audience outside of the competitive but trailing North American and UK markets do not see the Xbox console as a viable competitor to the Playstation and Switch console. Xbox in many ways is to blame for the collapse of their worldwide console success. They’ve truly never been able to make the console appealing globally outside of a few strong markets, and the Xbox One generation set them so far back that they have been unsuccessful in recapturing the market share they enjoyed during the 360 days. Xbox’s solution to this issue? Bring games to where the players are. That started with PC, expanded to Cloud and Mobile, and will in the future mean more of their games on rival consoles.
Conclusion
Will this strategy work? That’s unclear. Microsoft Wants their hands in all the pies, like most mega conglomerates do. Their ambitions stretch beyond what may have previously been thought possible and it might end up failing. For now though, we need to see how things pan out. The industry is rapidly shifting, and Xbox are amongst the leaders of the changing Tide. If you’re a fan of video games though, there’s a lot to look forward to, especially on Xbox, and it’s important to remember that when thinking about all of this. Gaming should be fun, Xbox will be the ones to figure out how their business works.
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Console wars are a waste of time. They care about console sales and infrastructure. They haven’t reached the desired level of player base.
Who cares honestly. Try to play great games wherever that may be. Anything beyond that is a waste of energy/time.
Hopefully in the future there are more of these handheld consoles so we can finally get rid of exclusives.
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My thoughts on the rumored games (HFR & SoT) are that it makes sense for both of them.
SoT is an ongoing MP game and needs a healthy number of players to keep going, a move to PS5 & Switch would do wonders for it and keep it going for a while longer. The potential for selling Nintendo/PS cosmetics based on their famous IPs is also a great way to boost the coffers.
HFR has huge potential as a brand beyond gaming in my opinion. It’s ripe for a TV show or movie especially, and seeing its profile getting raised by releasing on platforms with greater public mindshare, would be a step in getting that potential realised.
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As I have been able to think more on Sea of Thieves and Hi-Fi Rush going possibly multiplatform I think it is a good idea if it is true.
The reason I say that is because it should in theory make it easier for Microsoft to buy other companies like a CD Projekt, like an IO Interactive , like Crystal Dynamics Edios, you name it.
The reason being Microsoft showed they are willing to support the other game consoles and so for future acquisitions like Sega they are willing to allow those games on the other systems and won’t be making them exclusive.
The more I look at this the more nonsensical it becomes. If MS are so dead set on putting these games everywhere, why did they bother to renegotiate to get Indiana Jones to be Xbox and PC exclusive? Makes no sense as they want their games everywhere right? It was going to be multiplatform, just keep it that way.
Why didn’t we get wind of any of this in any court documents? Out of all the info that was coming out one would think this would have been big news , no?
Why bother putting these games on competing console s when they can just continue making Activision’s stuff multiplatform. COD will make more than enough money for them, whereas something like Hi Fi Rush would barely move the needle. You’re telling me the same people who didn’t support games like Gravity Rush ( and apparently Ratchet and Clank didn’t do amazing numbers either) are going to go out in droves to buy Hi Fi Rush? Maybe on Switch but PS5? I doubt it! I doubt it very much!
How would putting games like Hi Fi Rush on rival platforms help them anymore in future acquisitions more than simply keeping COD multiplatform like they promised?
You’re telling me PC , Mobile and even putting gamepass on TV’s are somehow not enough, but putting it on rival consoles that likely won’t increase sales in any meaningful way will?
But hey the next State of Play would definitely be interesting, with Phil coming out following a sizzle reel showing off first party Xbox games and talking about how “when everyone plays we all win”. Then Sony shows off their next money hatted AAA third party exclusive right after.
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The only credible insider on resetera is Jason S
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Again, you’re taking one or two games and immediately jumping to a “worst-case scenario”. You started by saying “the more I look at this” because you’re overthinking it. Nothing has actually happened, we don’t know what is going to go on and why.
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I was talking more about the Rumor itself rather than them actually going through with it.
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Why feed the malicious rumor?
He would be the first to jump in and write an article if this were true. But since it will only be HFR and/or Penitment on Switch it wouldn’t be something new, it would be a case like Ori.
Agreed. PlayStation right now is struggling to sell software and Switch mainly does well with first party software.
I tend to think PlayStation hardware maybe moving units but not users probably in my opinion due to people/users having multiple consoles also the many issues like heat dissipation probably adds to more people getting a second PS5 so to me the high console numbers are meaningless if the software is not showing it. The highest selling game for the year was Hogwarts legacy at 22 million and that was multiplatform.
If Xbox is indeed exploring bringing games to rival platforms to me, it would seem more like a bailout than a business moves more like the move Microsoft made to keep Apple in the game to avoid looking like a monopoly especially after how weak Sony was shown in the leaks.
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One issue that Microsoft face is their windows store has no traction when it comes to selling games and getting publisher support, certainly nowhere near what they have with the Xbox store on console. I thought this was why they had to embrace the Steam store.
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My last post until official statement from officials:
No one knows if it’s true and no one knows if it goes through the plan. It could be true in the scope of test or could be true in the scope of making it a reality. Some feels like they are the most important in the universe, some feels like they want to drill to watch the community burn, especially after yesterday’s announcement. Seriously, they have to invent the thought of two showcases for PS to make themselves feel better. We know they will, why act like this is a way to hurt Xbox, let alone to relate to it.
Anyway, it’s best interest for everyone here to move on and wait and see. Will it happen? No clue. No matter if more people begin to claim to know, it’s nothing until an official statement comes in. Don’t stress over it. This year, Xbox is going all in and that itself cannot be stopped.
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Skull & Bones is scheduled for February. If I was Xbox I would want to get out my ports before that so we will know soon about SoT.
The Sea of Thieves bit was in the past, as in “had investigated”, and not something active now.
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Well said besides I think the community has made it loud and clear where they stand, and Xbox has heard. What has officially come out from them is the DIRECT which is what their focus and ours should be on for now.
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I dont know why people dont believe shinobi, nate and olliolli (the one with wario pic) words. If they say those games are coming to other platforms and “more” are planned to come then it will happen, those are some of the most reliable insiders out there.
Xbox releasing GAAS everywhere is smart, they releasing games on switch 2 and specially ps5 is a massive mistake that will only end hurting the brand and hardware down the line and you have to be delusional to not see it.
I can already see it, PS5 versions having better versions thanks to the dualsense features alone if doing good (and oh boy I can already tell you that HFR has the potential to be one of those)
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