Xbox Series S/X: Thread 04

[wakka]

https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/27/23426512/microsoft-xbox-game-streaming-console-years-away

Keystone is ‘years away’ and sounds like it may not ever happen.

Makes sense. As people on here pointed out the other day, the S is already such good value that it’s hard to see how Keystone could be attractive currently, considering the inherent drawbacks.

[nonny]

https://www.axios.com/2022/10/27/mic...game-pass-miss
Another tiny piece in the mysteries of Xbox business. Game Pass significantly missed its growth targets this year

I'm not surprised. It's been a crap year all round and I'm sure any targeted forecast a year ago couldn't have predicted just how bad it's been.

[Cassius_Smoke]

I'm not surprised. It's been a crap year all round and I'm sure any targeted forecast a year ago couldn't have predicted just how bad it's been.

It's only as good as the games that are on it. It's still good value for us gamers, but its missed its mark when it comes to new big releases that would draw the audience they wanted.
Next year they have some big hitters and those numbers will increase, mainly for pc gamers I would say. Console players as a percentage will probably float around the same numbers.

[Neon Ignition]

That the PC Game Pass subs increased at such a high percentage but the overall figures were so behind projections also seems to confirm that the PC increase is off the back of very low numbers

[Cassius_Smoke]

Thing is, there is a ceiling. They can't expect 100% of console owners to have GP. An acceptable level needs to be found. I'd probably plug for 40%/60%. Which it may well be close to already. Doesnt matter how many more consoles are sold, that percentage stays.
There are a lot of pc owners, so there is probably still numbers to squeeze there too. But again, there is a ceiling.
A 70% increase in a year isn't very realistic. Especially in a year when they haven't released anything of importance.
End of the day, they can only squeeze this lemon so hard.

[wakka]

That's true, but there's still plenty of room for it to grow. 73% in a year does seem like a bit of a mental goal though, especially considering they knew there wasn't going to be much on the slate games-wise as the effects of COVID are still being felt on development.

I think what's interesting from the Axios article above is that it says the only gaming-related metric tied to executive bonuses is Game Pass subscriptions. Not hardware or software sales, just the subs. Shows that that is where they know the real money will be coming from going forwards.

[nonny]

You've also got to consider game pass subscribers who don't own a console or PC.

They've rolled out the Samsung TV app this year and they were going to roll out the project keystone device (and we don't know exactly when plans changed on that one).

They definitely see growth in subscribers outside of the conventional hardware which is why maybe the targets were so aggressive.

Either way this year hasn't gone as planned with game releases and so I think really this high target is simply going to shift to next year.

If they can get Redfall, Starfield, Forza... and possibly Avowed or Hellblade out before 2024 it should convert to an uptick in game pass.

[Cassius_Smoke]

Phil Spencer acknowledges ‘it’s been too long’ since Xbox’s last big first-party game.

No ****.

https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/phil-spencer-acknowledges-its-been-too-long-since-xboxs-last-big-first-party-game/

Also...
'Spencer claimed earlier this week that Game Pass growth on console is “slowing down”, but that PC subscriptions had seen a huge 159% increase year-on-year.'

Which is what I was saying.

[nonny]

Yep he alludes to next year being on track, which if true should be great what with all the crap that got delayed from this year.

[Cassius_Smoke]

Yep he alludes to next year being on track, which if true should be great what with all the crap that got delayed from this year.

Yeah by all accounts it's looking like the best release schedule for Xbox probably since the 360 days.

[Neon Ignition]

Xbox's schedule is so backed up we should be getting the 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018. 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 line ups all landing next year

[Cassius_Smoke]

Xbox's schedule is so backed up we should be getting the 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018. 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 line ups all landing next year

I suspect they only begin developing games for series consoles in 2020...after it launched.

[nonny]

Best guess on the first party output for next year:

Age of Empires II and IV
Redfall
Starfield
Forza Motorsport
Hellblade 2*
Avowed*

*Rumoured to potentially hit a late 2023 window.

[Neon Ignition]

I hope to be proven wrong but I can't help but feel that Hellblade 2 risks getting things wrong very easily based on the approach and intent behind the original

[nonny]

So looks like there's some new game pass surprises this month.

Return to Monkey Island is hitting the service alongside the indie favourite Vampire Survivors.

Plus of course Pentiment is out as well. This month is looking good.

https://www.eurogamer.net/return-to-monkey-island-vampire-survivors-headline-xbox-game-pass-for-november