If one of the strongest tools in my arsenal were Azure, I’d want something big to emphasize it too. And in terms of using features creatively, I would go for Kojima over anybody else in the industry. I think we’re going to get something very interesting but not necessarily fun for everyone. I’m willing to wait 
1 Like
Console wars. It’s hard to know if your plastic box of choice is “Winning” if they don’t release console sales. 
4 Likes
Like I said - we collectively have to tear ourselves away from that kind of thinking. You are still thinking as a console consumer, and Xbox has been thinking as a console maker up until 2018 These are seed figures or starter numbers that will propel Gamepass numbers, but believing that they are the only thing that should matter because they matter in 2021 or 2022 due to a residual console base will be a strategically bad way of thinking.
I watched MS go through this exact phase even when they were entering into the Nadella era from the Ballmer era with decisions about Office on a Mac, or Office 2016 versus Office 365, Windows as a serrvice, or asking questions about installing Linux variants on Azure. This is precisely the attitude slant that has to emerge as a service provider, as opposed to declaring in equivalent terms, say, the number of Fire sticks sold.
Gaming as a category is inherently tradional thinking. So, we end up discussing metrics with loss leader categories like console hardware numbers. But even the Sony folks know that this is just an entry point or top line figures. It does not guarantee attach rates on the biggest super hit IPs like it does with Nintendo.
Console sales and general distribution of vintages makes for good pop reading. Thst is why you see silly media types grasp onto it quickly.
That is why sometimes, I do miss Stadia. The threat was so large that all the console fans were fearful and were hapoy with them out. Stadia or Luna as a competition would have forced a different mindset and different conversations for customer acquisition and conversion.
.
5 Likes
I agree with you in general but for me personally, it’s consoles or nothing which is why I want Series X/S to sell great. I’m hoping that it surpasses Xbox 360.
4 Likes
I hope so too. 
1 Like
Well said!
He has been known for amazing games like MGS, MGS2 and MGS3S ( my favourite) after that it went downhill more and more in my opinion and DS certainly isn’t for everyone. If it was up to me I’d let Kojima make a horror game, but ultimately it’s up to him what he’s going to make.
But yep, it will undoubtedly be something unique. I wonder if it will be SP, MP, or both. There are examples of SP games that also use cloud, Flight Sim is one of those.
1 Like
A mixture of both is the way to go. People falling for the PR speak saying consoles don’t matter that much are kidding themselves.
Consoles will always be the #1 money earner in the ecosystem. Microsoft wants the entire ecosystem to be the best in the industry, whether that’s console sales, cloud, subscriptions, games etc etc
The sky’s the limit with Xbox this generation.
5 Likes
Wish people would stop saying they dont matter. They do and xbox would 100% rather you sub to game pass via it than any other way.
2 Likes
Agreed.
1 Like
How does Cloud Streaming going to Xbox One mean less third party support? Someone cloud streaming is a customer just as much as a console owner. An cloud streamer is also playing on xbox hardware, console sales alone won’t be the only metric a publisher uses to determine where they put their games.
In fact, when they enable cloud streaming for purchases (outside of Game Pass), that should improve third party support even further because it gives access to a limitless number of cuatoners.
They have already said they want us to be able to play entire libraries, so I think its a given that cloud expands beyond Game Pass. I believe that is why there was talk about them requiring streaming ability in their licensing terms recently.
1 Like
I think the console sales are preferable to MS because of the probability of the attachment. Paying a monthly fee to use Gamepass on your phone/PC (with no fixed term/ cancellation fee) is very easy to drop out of and move to a competing service etc. If you’ve invested in the console you’re more limited in terms of options i. e. you’re not going to scrap Gamepass and use Stadia on your Xbox, and more likely to stick with Gamepass for the duration of the generation.
4 Likes
I agree that console sales are preferable due to high to attach rate and ecosystem lock in.
If subscriptions are their goal, they need to put together a service good enough that people stay invested in the ecosystem (with or without a console) though.
Do you guys think Diablo 2 remake will run at 60 fps on a one x and ps4 pro?
I’m still baffled by the whole abandoned situation it gets more bizarre every time we hear more about it
People should blame themselves, they have conflated the bubble from nothing.
2 Likes
Yea an app for a trailer the fact that we only know one guy from a studio of 50 people supposedly the rabbit hole gets deeper and deeper
1 Like
It’s not the same, Nintendo was relying on selling WiiU’s like Sony with PS5’s. This is not how it is for Xbox anymore, that’s old thinking.
1 Like
6 Likes
I don’t think anyone is saying they don’t matter? But if company X is releasing their games on console-PC-cloud day 1 and company Y is releasing their games only on console, which do you think console sales matters the most to? And why would a comparison be a relevant metric?
Consoles are important, no doubt. I love consoles, and that’s my prefered way of gaming.