XboxEra Community Hangout |OT11| It Goes To 11!

Just pointing out that there is a “reason” why there isn’t a Series X Starfield Edition. I wouldn’t call that a complaint, just an observation. Clearly if there weren’t stock issues then there would be a Starfield Special Edition. Do you disagree? …if so could you explain your reasoning and elaborate. :peace_symbol:

4 Likes

I would agree with you if it was a customized SF console, because that throws a wrench in your manufacturing process of the console with a different clamshell and so on. A design that follows the controller and headset would have been incredible looking. For both the X and S.

But I picked up the Forza Horizon 5 bundle and it’s the exact same console with a sleeve that showcases the game over the box. I’m guessing the Diablo 4 bundle was the exact same.

It simply included a code that was already in the OS of the unit.

So essentially it is like manufacturing a typical Series X unit, but when the OS is installed it includes a code for a game. The packaging is the exact same. The only physical thing added is a thick paper sleeve.

So I’m puzzled by the fact that one doesn’t exist. This is a very important title for Xbox.

But I’m also puzzled by the explanation that a hardware shortage would mean they couldn’t print paper sleeves and generate install codes for X% of the consoles being made.

So I think there has to be some other explanation as well. Maybe there is a hardware shortage and they thought putting out only 100K bundles wouldn’t make sense, but also maybe there are some other reasons why they thought they shouldn’t bother that put them over the edge.

One of these other reasons could be the fact that Xbox needs to demonstrate to Microsoft that their $8 billion purchase was something that would actually move the needle on Gamepass subscriptions.

It may seem counterintuitive but at this stage Xbox would likely prefer you getting a subscription to Gamepass over purchasing the game. This is one of those games that isn’t one and done over a weekend. It can consumer players for months on end, and for many it will consume them for years.

The other maybe that they already have research, focus groups, and pre-order metrics that let them know that SF is a very different game than most, where the physical special edition might be the way most new Xbox owners will go for. Or that many pre-orders for people that do not exist in the Xbox ecosystem have made their pre-order for the PC version.

This last one is not as strong reason at all, so I hope you don’t think that I am trying to make it seem like a strong reason.

But I am genuinely confused as to why there isn’t one when, as already mentioned, that it’s literally a paper sleeve over the typical box. And I honestly don’t see how a hardware shortage would mean that they wouldn’t be printing these paper sleeves and releasing such a digital bundle.

1 Like

What is the benefit of these bundles for anyone? For people that want Starfield they could buy a console and buy Starfield for the same price. For people that don’t want Starfield they are potentially being forced to buy a game they don’t want to get an XSX.

I could see bundles in the future as a value add to push console sales, but the FH5 bundle happened over a year after the release of FH5.

The Forza bundle was the ultimate edition of the game so there was some price savings but most bundles provide zero cost savings. It looks like the only real reason is marketing.

Which is why I see and agree with the case of SF getting a bundle.

But to your point, there could be a bundle released later. There could even be a limited edition console released next year simply as a collectable.

But yeah, I think it’s really all about marketing.

4 Likes

A Starfield console would have been nice but considering they were and maybe still are struggling with X stock, making that even harder on themselves probably isn’t the wisest choice

Like was said above it’s all really just extra marketing, nice to have but not particularly necessary

I have seen a whole bunch of custom Series S/X designs that look awesome so im definitely not against them, I also think expanding the design lab thing that controllers can do for consoles would be an amazing edition but I’m not sure how feasible that would be for them

1 Like

I feel they make for great collector items. However, I feel with gamepass it makes console bundles for first party games redundant because most people get an xbox for gamepass. However, there is of course a segment that aren’t or planning to be subscribed, so I guess these bundles can entice them.

Yeah I agree for like the truly custom ones, but I meant like the bundles where it’s just a game in the same box (like Sony does often).

2 Likes

It honestly wouldn’t shock me if we see a Starfield bundled Series X for the last 3 months of the year and into next year. Announce it at Gamescom or Tokyo Game Show or if they do an X0 (I originally thought they would but now not so sure). I agree simply including the code isn’t hard and I honestly don’t think it’s too late for it to be impactful if announced soon.

2 Likes

They are just sucking on sour grapes since Sony will never buy anyone important. They shut down another studio a few months ago.

2 Likes

https://x.com/txchainsawgame/status/1692944584802726294?s=46&t=O_AGT9SEnlptKOF_2SxtqQ

Do I need to say it?

8 Likes

Ok, I have to ask. When I visit x.com it redirects to Twitter.com or share a link from the Twitter app it’s a twitter.com link…are you manually editing your links to x.com?

They expected to close a big deal to either sell studios or develop publish something. They also expected interest rates to stay historically low, since most institutions figured they would for a lot longer than they did, to allow them to finance the waiting for longer.

The big mistake they made (IMO) is that they didn’t buy anything in terms of studio names or IPs that really sets the world on fire. All they bought was the talent, which can leave pretty easily.

Embracer has the talent and the talent is what makes new Grand IP Y’all got to stop with this you use the talent to make brand new IP that will set the world on fire you buy the studios for the culture aren’t dancing trying to build it up The problem is they didn’t really take that seriously and they didn’t have actual game plan

The vast majority of the cinematic cutscenes in BG3 are not very good lol in terms of animation quality. I played the early access version of the game… And it was fine there but I expected them (and they said they would) to polish them (more) by the final release.

Black Myth: Wukong

Wukong is set to launch on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

15 Likes

All the fear that it won’t come to Xbox has come to an end.

9 Likes

Dating sim what?

“Looking forward to cloud gaming.” Oh Game Pass~

Start screen is enough to keep the conversation going on.

The game is just epic.

4 Likes

Not releasing a Starfield themed console is a problem.

A “first world” problem.

3 Likes