Xbox Series S/X: Thread 05

[Wools]

I never thought of this but after watching the latest Digital Foundry video it got me thinking about this generation and where Microsoft are.

I’ve never been a fanboy of any PC or Console as I really do just love good games. But I purchased a PS5 for GT7 and seriously? There’s not been another game made exclusively by Sony that has made me want to buy it. The XB1 was great for Titanfall and Forza Horizon 4 but **** all else. The XBSX has been a wet fart for me. Basically, the current consoles are **** from an exclusive standpoint for me, but the Xbox is particular has long lost its way.

However, Microsoft have more money than god, have a **** load of developers but their sales of hardware are rubbish. It makes total sense for them to go fully multi platform with Game Pass and porting their current games. Long term, it makes sense to make all current projects multi platform.

But games have become so lacking in character among Sony, Microsoft and PC but Nintendo have continued that feel. As in; You know it’s a Nintendo game when you play one and the hardware works so well with the software. If Microsoft went multi platform, I don’t see anything would be lost as the era of XB and XB 360 have long since gone, just like Sony with PS1 and PS2, I have no issues with it.

[nonny]

A podcast?! To announce...something... Jeez!!

https://x.com/Xbox/status/1757102346000286155?s=20

Seen this popping up all over... it isn't exactly just a podcast. If you've ever watched it when Larry Hyrb was hosting it always has a video stream and if they're co-located it's more of a round table.

I think the important thing is it's the 3 biggest names in Xbox management right now and no-one from Microsoft. It's basically straight from the horses mouth in terms of getting down to facts and really they need to be absolutely clear on where Xbox is going, what the plan is and what is/isn't going to other platforms.

I also watched that digital foundry episode last night and it is funny watching Alex (who is 100% PC and never ventures into consoles) and John (who admires the old school consoles) debating on the console space as it stands right now. The reality is the Xbox and PS5 aren't that different from one another...

Xbox is now definitely shifting to look away from the console market as a wider strategy but with cloud being limited and PC not having the penetration they expected I think that will be where things get interesting. I do not think they will go 3rd party when a console market continues to exist, I think they believe they need a hardware presence so that customers see the brand in bricks and mortar stores when games go fully digital... but I think they will unveil a strategy to bring more of their older/smaller titles to other platforms such as PS, Switch and Mobile after timed exclusivity on the Xbox ecosystem.

I also wonder if we will see a shift in pricing model for game pass, where day and date isn't a thing for major titles... or at the very least only happens for the top tier of game pass.

Roll on the 15th.

[Lebowski]

A round table is quick to rehearse script and put together, and it's a good way for them to directly address the rumours and the strategy going forward, this more and more feels like their hands being forced before they were ready.

[MartyG]

But games have become so lacking in character among Sony, Microsoft and PC but Nintendo have continued that feel. As in; You know it’s a Nintendo game when you play one and the hardware works so well with the software. If Microsoft went multi platform, I don’t see anything would be lost as the era of XB and XB 360 have long since gone, just like Sony with PS1 and PS2, I have no issues with it.

Stop playing AAA games.

There's been a whole week of demos in Steam Next Fest up until yesterday (and is a regular thing). Aside from a load of Vampire Survivor clones, there is loads of character - the indie space has never been so alive with different creative ideas; people just need to shift their focus a bit.

[Neon Ignition]

I'm expecting a middle path which the attempt to still have hardware in bricks and mortar stores would fit into but it's a direction that's destined to fail. On either spectrum I can't imagine them announcing anything exciting in terms of new hardware using this format but likewise you wouldn't hold an event of this nature just to reveal Hi-Fi Rush is coming to Switch. Likewise, as much as the game has endured, Sea of Thieves isn't big news either. But any attempt to try and exist in the hardware space without a reason for that option to be there will be DOA. Stores won't care about a console that exists to undercut their business, it'll get a tiny section in a corner until they drop it completely. Without all their exclusives behind them the Xbox console truly has no future. As amazing as it's been, Day 1 launches on Game Pass were a death blow.

[MartyG]

The fact that it's being done in their podcast (which is a weekly show and often guests Xbox higher-ups), tells me that all this fanboi hysteria is mostly unfounded and what they have to announce isn't a particularly big deal.

[wakka]

I think it's also that there's literally no way they could have had their weekly podcast this week and not discussed this stuff. It would have seemed bizarre. It's all anyone has been talking about in relation to Xbox for the past week.

I don't know how long the pod usually is, but a 30 or 60 minute slot also gives plenty of runtime to package anything that they think the core Xbox fandom might not like in plenty of cotton wool about ongoing support for Xbox and Game Pass.

[Lebowski]

The fact that it's being done in their podcast (which is a weekly show and often guests Xbox higher-ups), tells me that all this fanboi hysteria is mostly unfounded and what they have to announce isn't a particularly big deal.

Because yeah most high profile companies leave brand damaging rumour's that have been picked up by the main stream press out there for a week and comment with, "we will have more to share next week"

If it was all bull****, they would have shut it down straight away.

[nonny]

A round table is quick to rehearse script and put together, and it's a good way for them to directly address the rumours and the strategy going forward, this more and more feels like their hands being forced before they were ready.

Jez Corden basically confirmed this. They'd planned for an announcement in March as far back as November last year but the whole hysteria on social media has forced them to bring it forwards.

I think Xbox just needs to set the terms here. Z much like they have done clearly with game pass (e.g. day/date across PC and Console).

If they remain in the console hardware space then those devices have to offer the best access to their game portfolio. To me it really is that simple... And for that reason I see any titles going to other platforms having a timed window in game pass within the xbox ecosystem before that even becomes as thing.

Then the narrative becomes a decision of sticking with game pass in the xbox ecosystem to enjoy them day one, or wait X months to buy them digitally on other platforms.

I don't see Nintendo or PlayStation allowing game pass on their hardware, ever, unless Xbox actually exits the console hardware space altogether... but as I've said above I don't think that is what we're going to hear.

[MartyG]

Microsoft will set the terms, as per their long-term strategy - they're not going to change it because a few people are crying about it. That's not how businesses of this scale operate.

Line go up - that's the core of it. Microsoft is going to do what they believe is best for the business. And the sky isn't going to fall down.

[Lebowski]

The way some of the Xbox fanboys are behaving you would believe the sky is falling, theirs people pleading with Microsoft on the twitter thread about the announcement it's bizarre.

[Neon Ignition]

That's why it will be big news regardless. They could have addressed the matter at last weeks podcast when the speculation was already 4 days old and at fever pitch, the format chosen would have made it easy to do so but instead they held off all this time to talk about it whilst the brand burned. That they're so behind the curve on this shows that even though planning will have been going on for a while now, they won't have been going on for too long a period.

But that's why I don't feel that this can be a nothingburger moment even if the intention of the podcast is to pitch that.

If Xbox consoles continue and act as the best access point for their games and Game Pass, but later on the games eventually make their way to other formats starting with some lower key titles.... that's still a watershed industry moment because no-one wants Xbox with permanent exclusives, they sure has hell won't want one with temporary ones meaning the countdown to a two platform console market begins.

[Neon Ignition]

The way some of the Xbox fanboys are behaving you would believe the sky is falling, theirs people pleading with Microsoft on the twitter thread about the announcement it's bizarre.

That's been part of the fun, so many meltdowns that there's no coming back from. They've defined their hobby by the Xbox vs PlayStation mentality. By comparison, when Sega stepped out of the market many moved to Xbox as a replacement but this time they seem to have a sense of dread because unless they become PC gamers (for whom the culture doesn't exist the same) they practically would only have one place to go - their 20 year enemy. That's then fuelled by the Xbox dedicated youtubers whose careers could soon be over against their will which is probably why there's been so many embarrasing takes. Thursday is going to be Forum Gold.

[MartyG]

You've been able to play all of Microsoft's games on PC for the whole of this generation there are no exclusives now - people still clinging onto the platform mattering are clinging on to the past anyway.

The way the market is heading, like it or not (and I am in the not camp), is toward streaming and the hardware being in the cloud - but that's not an immediate transition, so there will be a next-gen Xbox.

[Neon Ignition]

The problem with the straming/cloud direction is that it's a scenario where the ecosystem is king. The catch there is that there are effectively four ecosystems at play:


Steam/Epic - Where it's all digital but cloud effectively doesn't exist and isn't likely to, also has little bearing on the console market
eShop - Very basic and closed with no cloud future lined up within the next few generations
Xbox - Leaning towards demise
PSN - Likely the emerging victor but dependant on having a direct to sale entry point and on external providers for its services


I won't lie, I think the march toward digital will continue but I don't think the all on cloud version of it will ever emerge as the default endgame (or at least in a timeline that bears weight on the next few gens of consoles). I don't think there's all that much demand for it and too many reasons to delay it even if it were possible. I defintely don't feel sold that there will be a next-gen Xbox either. Definitely that one is being planned but there has to be a market to make it worthwhile and if this is where we're headed after 3 years of this gen then another 4 could easily lead Microsoft to feel the projected hardware sales aren't worth the effort.