Xbox multi platform discussion

[Resist]

They just released a popular ad campaign and a critically acclaimed game like 3 weeks ago.

[Mort]

@Resist

They just released a popular ad campaign and a critically acclaimed game like 3 weeks ago.

I don’t know if this is a response to me or just another random drive-by post special?

[Resist]

@Mort

I don’t know if this is a response to me or just another random drive-by post special?

It’s for anyone reading the thread.

[Haven (Victor)]

@Mort

One thing I haven’t seen discussed much is how Xbox could have handled this differently.

I strongly believe that if Xbox had rolled out this change in a more positive way with the messaging being something else than corpo talk, suits and frankly odd behaviour at times, a much bigger group of the community would have been onboard sooner.

Imagine something like a big push to rally the users behind the multiplatform strategy. “Xbox conquers the world” sort of thing.

I think that could have been cool.

I’m not sure that could have worked because in my opinion the whole problem is definition. What exactly is Xbox? I think that is what they need to figure and push. The whole multiplatform or this is an Xbox is more a direction they seem to be headed in.

[Mort]

@Haven

I’m not sure that could have worked because in my opinion the whole problem is definition. What exactly is Xbox? I think that is what they need to figure and push. The whole multiplatform or this is an Xbox is more a direction they seem to be headed in.

Why not sync it better then? Not sure this past year was the best way to roll out a change like this… Surely a more coherent strategy which could bring everyone onboard could have been figured out?

I’ve mentioned it before but I think the charade is important. We know they only care about money and even a 0.1% increase in profits is worth blood, but they are supposed to pretend to give a shit about, in this case, video games. Even if we know, everyone knows, it’s kind of the deal.

I think a lot of people are just disappointed that mask slipped.

[Haven (Victor)]

@Mort

Why not sync it better then? Not sure this past year was the best way to roll out a change like this… Surely a more coherent strategy which could bring everyone onboard could have been figured out?

I’ve mentioned it before but I think the charade is important. We know they only care about money and even a 0.1% increase in profits is worth blood, but they are supposed to pretend to give a shit about, in this case, video games. Even if we know, everyone knows, it’s kind of the deal.

I think a lot of people are just disappointed that mask slipped.

I’m just saying since the speculations are running wild and causing uneasiness in some fans. Satya Nadella coming out and talking about the “This is an Xbox” campaign suddenly sounds different from some other speculations and one might think the limited Xbox experience on other devices is what an Xbox is hence why I think define it first before the push. Look at Steam, it’s a platform not defined by hardware but now expanding through hardware and possibly OS. Xbox on the other hand has been defined for the longest through hardware which makes many question it when they try the software approach. I think they need to first build a strong digital platform that they can then move around to any device. I don’t think people would even be pissed if Xbox had a native Xbox app on PlayStation that plays just Xbox first party games natively because it would still be a full Xbox on the system. Game Pass is cool but it’s a service not the platform sure it helps and enhances it but all that works when the platform is well defined.

[Mort]

@Haven

…ight think the limited Xbox experience on other devices is what an Xbox is hence why I think define it first before the push. Look at Steam, it’s a platform not defined by hardware but now expanding through hardware and possibly OS. Xbox on the other hand has been defined for the longest through hardware which makes many question it when they try the software approach. I think they need to first build a strong digital platform that they can then move around to any device. I don’t think people would even be pissed if Xbox had a native Xbox app on PlayStation that plays just Xbox first party games natively because it would still be a full Xbox on the system. Game Pass is cool but it’s a service not the platform sure it helps and enhances it but all that works when the platform is well defined.

Yeah, the “This is an Xbox” ads would probably be more relevant if those things actually were “Xboxes”. It feels like everything is out of sync lol.

[Whistler]

@BadNews

…s. Also, unsure how strong of a value proposition is gamepass as a platform if games are elsewhere. I enjoy gamepass, but I am okay with waiting on a sale for certain games. Of course there are Microsoft games I would buy day one like Halo, Gears, Fable, Forza Horizon, Outer Worlds 2, Avowed, and a few others. However, there are many games where I am okay with waiting on a sale or skip like Indiana Jones, Hellblade, Age of Empire, Microsoft Flight, South of Midnight, etc. Anyway, this move is a gamble on the console side, but on Microsoft gaming side it seems logical if they want to maximize revenue. However, the risk of losing people to ecosystem is huge imo. Interesting times ahead, and I am going to wait and see what their next gen console will look like before I make an irrational move

Game Pass really isn’t a double edged sword except in limited cases. If you are a power user that buys a ton of games day one, Game Pass actually saves you money with the automatic discount. You don’t even need to actually use GP “free games” to benefit. If you are a budget gamer then GP is the best deal, so no need to leave. Sure there are edge cases where there may be users that can buy games but don’t because of GP so when the next gen rolls there is nothing tying them down. However those types probably jump from platform to platform as needed anyway.

The real benefit of GP is to allow developers another way to monetize and advertise their games. Xbox now has another avenue to make deals also. GP just takes the place of spending money on 3rd party exclusivity deals, think of it as the same type of marketing.

[euV2]

@toddborn

I feel that some “insiders” and Xbox “journalists” who unfortunately have somehow taken up the mantle as unofficial mouthpieces for the brand do more harm than good and really, sometimes, should just shut up.

Not trying to be rude or mean or toxic or point out anyone in particular. I just see the same names perpetuating the same speculative negativity that gets ran with across all headlines as fact and they do not learn from their actions.

It’s the Jez playbook, bait some outrage with some unverified take and then publish an article to explain the stuff he himself caused an outrage to. Voila, free clicks.

This ad campaign is just too early, the Xbox everywhere plan hasn’t come to fruition yet for multiple reasons (google/apple/publishers/tech). The planning has to be better than this, people need to see stuff working or there’s no point raising awareness for things that don’t exist. If they didn’t start porting to PS5 people would have been more accepting but now they’re facing the double whammy of losing exclusives and incomplete ecosystem.

[Resist]

@euV2

It’s the Jez playbook, bait some outrage with some unverified take and then publish an article to explain the stuff he himself caused an outrage to. Voila, free clicks.

This ad campaign is just too early, the Xbox everywhere plan hasn’t come to fruition yet for multiple reasons (google/apple/publishers/tech). The planning has to be better than this, people need to see stuff working or there’s no point raising awareness for things that don’t exist. If they didn’t start porting to PS5 people would have been more accepting but now they’re facing the double whammy of losing exclusives and incomplete ecosystem.

We live in the real world, there is no “perfect” time for any of this.

[euV2]

@Resist

We live in the real world, there is no “perfect” time for any of this.

There is no perfect time, but some time is better than others. That’s why I said that the current double whammy situation is not ideal. This is an Xbox ad outrage was dying down but they went full on at the Game awards whilst also announcing a previously exclusive game as multiplat. So yeah, they could definitely have done better.

[PowerDrift (Paul)]

@Haven

… You have every right to feel the way you do. I do think though the reality is if this strategy doesn’t work they’ll abandon it in favor of one that does. They are a business at the end of the day and if the business doesn’t work or isn’t profitable, they’ll have to shut it down. I’m sure your sentiments as that of many that see the way you do are clearly known by Xbox. There is a lot of speculation and guesses on what the future is for Xbox or on what they may be working towards but as of now I think they’re still holding the cards close. They’ll probably have something like a direct in January where they’ll expound a bit more. For now, I think like someone says just enjoy your games on the platform of choice. Xbox is still here and kicking.

I just feel some here think that just by having GamePass on every screen is going to make all the difference when many people have either no interest in gaming at all or are perfectly happy with the standard style mobile phone style game of it being free or paying just £2 never mind the people who look to the likes of Tik Tok and social media for their forms of entertainment.

There is now so much choice to entertain people that is a world away from the big-budget AAA games that Sony and Xbox are investing in never mind how so much of the youth of today don’t like paying for anything not even their mobile phone contract.

That’s why I feel the industry needs to get back to being able to make a game every 3 years and for more of the industry to act like Capcom or SEGA’s Yakuza studio which can push out games out on a regular basis. It’s crazy what the Yakyza studio is able to do in terms of productively

I feel that games taking 5 to 7 years for the whole studio to make for just one game is totally unsustainable

[SilentJay76]

@euV2

This ad campaign is just too early, the Xbox everywhere plan hasn’t come to fruition yet for multiple reasons (google/apple/publishers/tech). The planning has to be better than this, people need to see stuff working or there’s no point raising awareness for things that don’t exist.

What they’re advertising does exist and works just fine. I can play Xbox on my console, on my TV without a console, on my PC, on my phone, on my laptop.

Is it perfect? Does it work for everyone? Does it work for 100% of the games? No. But it’s an option for a large amount of people. Especially the younger generation used to having everything at their fingertips instantly. It’s an easily accessible gateway to “proper” gaming.

I think it’s a great campaign. It’s tongue-in-cheek, works on a viral marketing level and raises awareness of the brand.

[CallMeCraig]

“That feels like a punch in the face to those who carried this platform for over 20 years.”

I mean i would understand this if you are twelve where your life is only school, having fun with your friends in Goldeneye and then suddenly you see Squares ad for FF7.

But you are over 40 (forty)! Act (and write) like it.

[PowerDrift (Paul)]

@CallMeCraig

“That feels like a punch in the face to those who carried this platform for over 20 years.”

I mean i would understand this if you are twelve where your life is only school, having fun with your friends in Goldeneye and then suddenly you see Squares ad for FF7.

But you are over 40 (forty)! Act (and write) like it.

That’s a little disingenuous I feel.

People can not only get attached to a product or brand but emotionally attached to it and that’s when common sense goes out the window

I see it happen not just with video game brands but sports teams music bands or even TV shows where people worship them like GODs

[CallMeCraig]

@PowerDrift

That’s a little disingenuous I feel.

People can not only get attached to a product or brand but emotionally attached to it and that’s when common sense goes out the window

I see it happen not just with video game brands but sports teams music bands or even TV shows where people worship them like GODs

ok

just don’t do that

[Staffy]

Exclusive Xbox console games will be the exception rather than the rule...

[Vonterribad (Matt)]

@Staffy

Did they settle the future once and for all?

[Staffy]

@Vonterribad

Did they settle the future once and for all?

I’m reading the article as we speak, but I like this bit:

Microsoft states that it is seeing record users on Xbox consoles, in direct, legally-binding comments to its shareholders. Microsoft could be sued by the U.S. SEC for misrepresenting its business, so there’s no reason to think it’s lying here. Indeed, things aren’t as “doom and gloom” as the internet might have you think, particularly given AAA publishers are still eagerly building games for the Xbox ecosystem. If things were truly as dire as people suggest, we’d see swaths of major AAA games skipping the platform — that simply isn’t the case (for now). And in fact, we’ve seen games that were previously PlayStation exclusive come to Xbox to find new revenue streams. Genshin Impact and Death Stranding being two recent examples. If there was no business opportunity on Xbox, we simply wouldn’t be seeing this happening, and sources suggest to me that even more unannounced and previously PlayStation-exclusive games are slated for Xbox in 2025 as well.

Especially the bold part.

Honestly, a rather good article!

Microsoft figures at events like Summer Game Fest told me they’re not seeing users switch between consoles much, despite their multi-platform plan.

The Outer Worlds 2 being announced for PlayStation was not a result of a game being delayed out of 2025 nor was it the result of Xbox or developer Obsidian needing a rapid cash injection. It was decided as a result of the “four Xbox games” previously slated to move to PlayStation having no material impact on active Xbox console users. Microsoft is taking this as a signal that people are happy where they are, and aren’t willing to move platform on the basis of what the “other side” has access to.

[Swanlee]

Over time, I hope the fanboys are weeded out and what’s left are just people who want to play games instead of rooting for plastic box wars.

It’s so silly and stupid to be so hung up on console sales.

It is 100% obvious that the industry is changing and the old business models dont work anymore.