Because if they do a native handheld as well, I would think the console would cost more and thus be a higher specification. Also, if the games are stuck on low settings or close, I don’t see the benefit of even having Steam storefront in the first place because if you can’t run the games at high settings, it would just be the same thing as what the consoles already do now.
The point is filling gaps in the library. All of those games that Xbox doesn’t get would now be playable. The hardware is still going to be limited by mass market pricing. A console is typically a mid range PC at launch and half way through the generation is probably a low range one.
If you want to run games at high your going to need to get a full up PC (and spend 2.5-3k).
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Not going to lie, if Microsoft were to sell a $1500 console that could run games at high settings at 1440p with HDR at 60fps for every game, I would be very likely to buy it.
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I am hopeful that whatever experience they bring to console can also be run on your own hardware (PC) but without support for BC.
If the PC store fronts are coming over I see nothing but big boost in sales besides if all this is where gaming is moving chances are all platforms will become stores with hardware being left to every capable manufacturer like Samsung, LG and others assuming all this doesn’t get incorporated into upcoming or future TVs.
Sony is not even doing well, competing 1 to 1 will be disastrous. I think charting one’s own path is always the best just like Nintendo did.
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No way I’m spending $1500 on a Xbox lol
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@Sikamikanico didnt want to expand on his “tease” so my 2 cents:
- Next Xbox is build as a PC but with Xbox OS and UI.
- Developing for PC and Xbox is virtually the same even thought It may be needed to maintain two separate SKUs logistically-wise.
- Xbox console will effectively run PC versions of games from a technical stand-point, and games will automatically adjust its settings to the fixed specs of the console. You can still access to performance settings as in any PC game.
- BC of previous Xbox consoles is run through the required emulation layers.
- The Xbox store still exists and some devs may feel enticed to publish on the console given that developing for it is easier than ever.
- T̶h̶e̶r̶e̶ ̶a̶r̶e̶ ̶a̶p̶p̶s̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶i̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶c̶o̶n̶s̶o̶l̶e̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶a̶c̶c̶e̶s̶s̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶d̶i̶g̶i̶t̶a̶l̶ ̶l̶i̶b̶r̶a̶r̶y̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶P̶C̶ ̶s̶t̶o̶r̶e̶s̶.̶ ̶Y̶o̶u̶ ̶d̶o̶w̶n̶l̶o̶a̶d̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶P̶C̶ ̶g̶a̶m̶e̶s̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶c̶o̶n̶s̶o̶l̶e̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶p̶l̶a̶y̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶m̶.̶ ̶I̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶s̶e̶ ̶a̶p̶p̶s̶,̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶c̶a̶n̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶b̶u̶y̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶g̶a̶m̶e̶s̶,̶ ̶o̶n̶l̶y̶ ̶d̶o̶w̶n̶l̶o̶a̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶m̶.̶ ̶W̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶,̶ ̶X̶b̶o̶x̶ ̶s̶t̶o̶r̶e̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶s̶t̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶c̶o̶m̶p̶e̶t̶i̶t̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶h̶a̶r̶m̶e̶d̶.̶
Edit: I crossed the last part cause I don’t know how including other stores in the console (even just to download and play the games) would not harm the Xbox store competitiveness, so I will leave it like that.
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I’m sure achievements will exist as long as the Xbox platform exists. Not just the console, but PC, cloud or whatever else might be coming.
Beyond that I’d recommend Exophase.com to track and archive your stats and achievements. It’s already keeping my Stadia achievements alive. 
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I’d think if MS is going to be releasing games on other platforms it opens the door for a really high-end Xbox. Why? Well because they would be moving away from the (console sales/install base → attract third party + exclusives → sell more consoles → more exclusives) loop. The Xbox wouldn’t necessarily need to be attractively priced w/ a high install base because game sales can come from other platforms. MS may want the Xbox to be bleeding edge powerful and simply cater to that high-end market. This way the best version of the games will be on Xbox and there will be no excuses as to why.
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To me the idea seems more towards pushing a single format in the industry whereby all platforms are relegated to becoming stores. This gen is giving us visuals like hellblade 2 and if the rumors are to be believed Gears 6 will top it pretty much achieving CGI level visuals and you will have similar level visuals through the team Kate Rayner has built to get UE5 up to the optimum level for Xbox studios. I’d imagine from next gen tech will be very capable of achieving CGI level visuals much easier and according to leaks might be a hybrid that works with the cloud to mitigate issues.
If all platforms become apps or stores it would be similar to what you have in the movie industry where you can buy your movies from anywhere but subscription services are where exclusives might begin to make sense.
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Was listening Xbox Two podcast earlier today and they had an interesting convo regarding the possibility of having PC stores on Xbox consoles.
Jez sees It could work but Rand doesnt.
Apparently maintaining your on store is expensive so Xbox doesnt make much more money selling a first party Game in the Xbox store VS. Steam for example. But what happens with third party games sold in your on store? Are they okay with folks buying on Steam or Epic Store from Xbox consoles? This if those agreed to be on the console. Would want MS a cut of sales in those stores?
Dunno man many questions
It is interesting but I’m not sure if that’s right with first party games.
Yes there will be costs involved with running your own store but it will be nowhere close to 30% IMO.
If they sell it via the Xbox/MS store they get 100% of the profits (minus the store running costs).
If they sell it via another store e.g. Steam they get circa 70% and there is still costs (admin, finance etc) involved with working with with that storefront. The main cost saving would be the hosting/servers.
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Yeah Jez was trying to justify the idea but I don’t know how it could work.
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I do agree with his take that it would likely be closer to the SteamDeck model where you obviously boot into Steam, however have the option to go buy from other storefronts. Just forcing you into Xbox each time, with Xbox ads/sales would likely be incentive enough.
I think they would make it slightly easier to access other storefronts than the SteamDeck does though (that said you can currently access Epic and GoG really easy).
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I don’t know if they are pushing for all platforms becoming stores, but I don’t doubt they want to be able jump on or pivot to that if necessary. However that does mean you don’t need to make a physical Xbox affordable or a loss leader as a means to lock people to their store. Hardware can stand on its own merits, which probably means more powerful and no cost subsidy
Another issue is what happens to Xbox Live Game Pass Core or whatever it is now. You can’t really ask for people to pay to play online when other stores/platforms are free.
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It could go different ways. First way is that Xbox Store and Services are native and being pushed in front of customers. Most (everyone outside of the hardcore) will purchase there by default.
Second way is Xbox serves as a intermediate key seller for Steam/Epic (just a digital version), getting a cut of each sale that goes through their ecosystem. This wouldn’t help with microtranscationals though.
I general though, Microsoft is saying that this is what they want to do so I don’t see why we (with limited insight into the financials) are worried about it not making sense to us. I think it’s beneficial to me whether they make money from it or not and I don’t really see a way that I lose as a customer.
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This! If it happens it can’t be soon enough 
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The future of Xbox is mobile
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Xbox Game pass core or live has been said to have about 6million meaning Xbox has done a good job of converting most into Game Pass proper besides one box and this idea multiplies the user base and the chance to go well above 100 million subs.
As for the single format pivoting, I think it helps in future acquisitions and I think if it succeeds it will become the DeFacto way and further shrink the other console bases pushing them to adopt a store or die. I do think Xbox does have to make a console first though that can become a blue print for others.
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