Xbox Series S/X: Thread 05

[dataDave]

Mechs. That’s a plural, though. Unless you mean one decidedly average mech every eighteen months?

[Neon Ignition]

We're okay - the mechs will be powered by the Cloud!

[fishbowlhead]

We're at a point where if Microsoft were to exit the games industry there would be a very real risk of a collapse. To have Sony hold an effective monopoly and, for many companies, be the sole marketplace for consumers and third parties to compete on... not only would things from a consumer perspective become horrendous very quickly but we'd see closures left, right and centre. It'd be every Activision buyout concern amplified to 11. MS might constantly be straggling in the rear of the contest but at worst they've been necessary to keep Sony in check.

There really wouldn't be a collapse at all, the industry would be just fine, there would be a few devs badly affected that partner directly with only MS, and there would be the issue of their now large inhouse workforce with the recent purchases (that would again be a MS problem), but the industry would go on as normal. Sony would just absorb the extra sales in the short term that would have gone to MS, both console & software. Nintendo would carry on doing exactly what they have and are and would be completely unaffected. Long term Sony & Nintendo would go back to each others throats in the console market, with MS most likely turning Xbox into a service and shoving it on every device imaginable.

[Neon Ignition]

Trouble with MS's approach in that scenario is it's still there but in a very Epic Store way, it wouldn't last long. Taking competition from Sony would be awful. We've seen Sony's arrogance before when they feel unchallenged. On top of that I don't think the absence of MS would see it's sales transfer to PS5. I expect we'd see the market contract, fighting over a smaller pie and many studios end up shuttering. No-ones entering the platform race, definitely no room for someone to bow out either

[fishbowlhead]

Everyone here is so concerned about Sony the big bad wolf getting “arrogant” again when you should of been looking over your shoulder at the monster you invited into your fun space with MS with it’s cheap gamepass and rewards, MS just want to eat the world up like the few other mega corps, Sony & Nintendo want to sell you a device you have fun with and actually enjoy, they have no visions of hoovering the entire population of the planet up like MS do, and don’t kid yourself, MS would if they could.

If MS bowed out the market there really isn’t anyone that has the cash to launch another successful console/gamedevice, and would break into the market, but honestly I just don’t see them doing so, they will just bludgeon the world to death with Xbox everywhere on everything until they win I feel.

[Nu-Eclipse]

https://wccftech.com/microsoft-may-e...nough-by-2027/
Spencer has stated during the FTC confrontation that if Microsoft cannot expand Game Pass's base fast enough by 2027 then the company may begin serious discussions about exiting the gaming space altogether

Please God, I really hope so.

Haven't been an Xbollox gamer since the end of the 360 era and I really and truly don't miss it.

Absolute pile of sh1t.

[CMcK]

Sony & Nintendo want to sell you a device you have fun with and actually enjoy, they have no visions of hoovering the entire population of the planet up like MS do, and don’t kid yourself, MS would if they could.

They are all for profit companies. All that matters is making money.

[Neon Ignition]

They are, but in no way would such a level of less competition in console gaming be good. Nintendo might have a huge userbase on its hands but there are entire swathes of games that don't sell well amongst its userbase, the market would be insanely funnelled. It's not about Sony or MS winning control, it's about consumers losing very badly and we're already facing issues. The level of existing competition, such as it is, is probably the only thing that's kept things as reigned in as they are. The same works the other way round. Whoever is spitballed as exiting the console market - it would be nothing but a horrendous outcome.

[nonny]

There really wouldn't be a collapse at all, the industry would be just fine, there would be a few devs badly affected that partner directly with only MS, and there would be the issue of their now large inhouse workforce with the recent purchases (that would again be a MS problem), but the industry would go on as normal. Sony would just absorb the extra sales in the short term that would have gone to MS, both console & software. Nintendo would carry on doing exactly what they have and are and would be completely unaffected. Long term Sony & Nintendo would go back to each others throats in the console market, with MS most likely turning Xbox into a service and shoving it on every device imaginable.

I think you're wrong... Microsoft exit and you can bet Apple and Amazon will swoop in to do the exact same thing.

The market is rapidly expanding into mobile and consoles, while staying constant are most likely a dying platform or one that will undergo significant changes.

Every big company out there wants to be seen as relevant in this space so you're effectively just trading one wolf in a pack.

[hudson]

When we say "mobile" do MS mean mobile phones? If so, get in the sea. This is the last place I wanna game.

[MartyG]

When we say "mobile" do MS mean mobile phones? If so, get in the sea. This is the last place I wanna game.

I've no idea, but follow the money.

[fishbowlhead]

I've no idea, but follow the money.

Sorry I just threw up in my mouth at that statistic, phone games are appalling in every respect.

[MartyG]

Why? The market for mobile entertainment is bigger because there are more phones in the world and more people have access to them.

It's not a zero-sum game.

[fishbowlhead]

Why? The market for mobile entertainment is bigger because there are more phones in the world and more people have access to them.

It's not a zero-sum game.

Oh absolutely it’s a bigger market and most people have one on them at all times, vs dedicated console that needs dedicated time to play.

Their just s**t experiences, phone games are fundamentally crap and have to be simplified to the point of pointlessness due to controls.

[MartyG]

I didn't realise things were that black & white. My error.