No way Microsoft could get away with any of that. Look at all of the trouble they got with consumers and media when not all of Europe got Starfield code. I think best route to go is stop giving exclusive previews to outlets like IGN. I don’t think it’s wise to not provide review codes because they’ll end up reviewing the game anyways and it creates negativity about the brand.
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Fable! Playground has the pedigree and they show off during a Direct. The gaming industry better get ready!
I think they dont have a big issue with the US, it is other world areas like the UK where they have issues. Id focus on growing every UK publishing that isnt run by playstation fanatics. Id work to grow those outlets by giving them all the interviews, quotes, previews, leaks etc. Dont give anything to a reedpop company or eurogamer or metro etc.
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It’s tricky because you do need outlets for awareness. Good or bad Microsoft still went awareness of product. It will take awhile for these outlets to change and not naming names, but certain outlets won’t change no matter what and ready to slam xbox no matter what. I still feel in UK and Europe they still want to use these outlets for awareness becasue lets be honest xbox brand isn’t recognized that well outside of their major markets, so they need these outlets for awareness.
You don’t need gaming media outlets… You just need to advertise on Youtube etc.
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I do think they can limit their review codes to these biased outlets. For example, giving IGN 13 codes they could reduce it to 1 next time. I also think they embargo the game reviews to release in the middle of early access. The review on the Microsoft store and Xbox app should also make it compulsory or mandate that only those who have downloaded and played said game for a certain time period be allowed to write reviews with an asterisk below that show that the user has played the game with certain other things shown like time played and whether the game was completed or the completion level. Starfield’s backlash mostly failed because there were a lot of people that had access to the game when reviews came out enough to call out the BS. Early access also helped as well as marketing. Starfield will be hard to gloss over at the Keighley’s as it might be the biggest game of the year, and will no doubt be a marketing force for the Keighley’s, and I think once you have Game Pass user reviews like Steam Metacritic will become less relevant as most will be using user reviews that have been vetted.
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I don’t think you need gaming media outlets just advertise in general areas where people go by and will take notice like the Time Square, Airports and other places of interests and then the digital like YouTube, Twitter or X, TikTok, Reddit and so on.
Once they start growing the Xbox Series console base, the store will do the advertising for them. They should have a tab in the store with game trailers.
Stuff like that is extremely expensive and only makes sense for the biggest of big games like Starfield. You won’t be seeing Hellblade or Avowed in Time Square.
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I think Game Pass is the focus for them not necessarily the console hardware. They have shown they can monetize engagements.
True and they could do it maybe just once to market Game Pass as a whole.
I guess but I think they would only do it when they can use stuff like Fable and Starfield and Perfect Dark in the ad. Otherwise it’s probably not worth the money.
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That’s my point you put it on Time Square promoting game Pass through the big games on it.
https://x.com/ign/status/1547681075563859969?s=46&t=O_AGT9SEnlptKOF_2SxtqQ
In the word of Randy Marsh, “Hey…F*** you.”
Don’t be like this if you want to succeed.
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Starfield at TGS (Tokyo Games Show):
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S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2
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Saw this a few days ago at a Quick Check, was surprised to see Starfield marketing there of all places but good to see, they’ve clearly have gone hard on marketing the game.
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Now I’m in mood for one.
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More Starfield cross-promomotion:
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No Xbox or Microsoft booth inside though.
