"We’ve seen a lot of talk over the past few months about the future of used games, especially when it comes to the next generation consoles from Sony and Microsoft. There has been widespread speculation that either one or both of the upcoming consoles could be blocking the usage of used games, binding games to the primary user of said game." | Explosion.com
Microsoft just posted the third quarter of its 2024 fiscal financial results. The software maker made $61.9 billion in revenue and a net income of $21.9 billion during Q3. Revenue is up 17 percent, and net income has increased by 20 percent.
Xbox content + services up 62% while hardware down 31%... seems about right with the way they tout you don't need the hardware to play. People can play on their phones or smart tv or other means. I don't hardly play on my consoles directly since getting devices like the logitech g-cloud and ps portal. Which is to also say I have been playing more digital than physical because of these devices.
Too expensive hardware when others offer the same or more for less? Good work, Green Team.
"Despite some early successes for Xbox games on rival platforms, Xbox hardware is down by a massive 31 percent this quarter."
"Without Activision Blizzard, Microsoft’s overall gaming revenue would have actually declined this quarter."
"Xbox content and services would have only been up a single percent without Activision Blizzard..."
"It looks like next quarter is going to be a similar story for gaming at Microsoft, too."
That is crazy... so A/B/K is carrying the whole Xbox gaming.
Oh and Microsoft will be fine. Windows, Office and Cloud are growing with each pc purchase.
Activision: "we gonna need a bigger rucksack/backpack please"
Microsoft: "why's that"
Activision: "to carry yo' weak ass'
A new patent recently published by Sony wants to gather biometric data of gamers to track whether one is being harassed using AI tools.
I hope this is one of those patents that never comes to fruition.
I already dislike the fact you can pay a significant amount for a online service buy associated games and content on said service and get banned from that service over potentially a misunderstanding the bans are already handed out for flimsy reasons
I'd rather see money invested in a ban that simply removes the offensive players ability to communicate with unknown players allow them to continue party chats with friends but not with Joe blow on cod.
Agreed. Blizzard recently banned a college Overwatch 2 player who's dependent for saying "shit." Pretty harsh.
How rediculas really. You can't say a word that's allowed in most PG films and prime time TV but the game is based around killing the enemy team using guns, explosives etc.
It's just backwards.
What your talking about is called block list
In 2006 a spaceship dropped of the playstation 3/xbox 360 i say that that generation was the last great gen with game functions/tech that has yet to comeback
Anyhow the playstation 3 if you block listed a id they could not talk to you in chatroom with either text or voice. But that was pre mind fucked 2018 when people were more human than sheep.
But hey gta 6 is coming out billion dollar budget without a single player custom character creator and without singeplayer coop off/online something saints row 1-3 had on the xbox 360.
Take my social security and bank account numbers too! Here’s a picture of my wife and our address.
At this rate I feel Sony will eventually sell a room to play games in it where they can monitor your every breath
I genuinely get a bit worried sometimes when a friend says something that could be offensive In a party
Because I have no trouble believing some bans would happen when in a private party for saying something wrong
I want them to censor erotic content by measuring my groin temperature so i dont get too distracted while playing black ops 2.
Terrible idea. Not only do I not consent to providing my biometric data, the potential for mishandling biometric data is almost a certainty. Positive stress and negative stress can produce similar changes in biometrics. Interpreting the precise emotion a person is feeling is not only invasive but could be easily misconstrued. I hope this never comes to fruition.
As part of its plans to cut 1,900 jobs, Microsoft has reportedly shut down operations at Bethesda France, letting go roughly 15 people
They can form a company if they want, they are just as jobless as if "Microsoft had left them as 3rd party".
"MIcrosoft leaves Bethesda do what they know how to do best" ... close! Oh the irony ....
(Citation from a week old article)
I think Microsoft and other game publishers are letting people go because they think ai will replace them. Doesn’t matter how much profit they make. They were always going to be let go.
Bethesda France was made up of roughly 15 people... they couldn't of being doing much
Bethesda France mainly did publishing and marketing within the region
that's a shame for you to say that, i'm sure Elite loves hearing what you just said.
Bethesda France focused on publishing and marketing in the region. And 15 people lost their jobs as part of the closure.
I wonder if this is part of Microsoft's strategy to abandoned physical media or possibly gamepass advertising makes their roles redundant you don't need to market a game as hard when the majority of players get the game as part of a sub which already promoted upcoming games
It's France too, there's a high likelihood only 1-2 people on the team even had an Xbox.
Tbh Microsoft I think Bethesda being 3rd party same with Activision would probably more competitive than thus scenario imo
I think it would have been better for all parties really especially gamers
The recently purchased Activision French offices might take over all the licensing and marketing for Microsoft in France from now on.
It has pros and cons and simply dismissing cutting out used games sales seems like a silly thing to do. You have to see the sides and the numbers and understand that used games only serves the retail stores well for money at least.
Both sides have a point and PC has already gotten to this point with no problem.
Used games will die for consoles as well. Maybe not this generation but the inevitable will happen its just a matter if they will let it happen gradually or forcefully.
i dont see used games being blocked. however i do see a larger scale integration next generation of the online passes
In theory it appears that used games effect the true potential of new game sales. I'm sure it's true to an extent but not nearly as much as the industry thinks.
The article states that remakes and rereleases of old games have received good enough sales to warrant this interest of eliminating used games. Yet they fail to realize that the target audience they are reselling to is largely based on those that have already played the game, collectors, and those a bit more serious about gaming...the same audience they are largely eliminating by changing the market.
They also fail to realize that the industry is strongly evolved into a social based activity. All the sales this generation have been founded on people. It's not about game quality so much anymore. It's more about who has it, who's playing, and where they're playing it. Sales are largely driven by popularity, reputation, competition, social status, and peer acceptance.
Controlling software by making them new is only going to benefit popular titles. Even then it will only be realized in the short term of the title's life.
Controlling software by eliminating the physical format will only drop competition further for the digital format. There will be less need or pressure to drop prices regardless of it's cheaper cost for the companies.
Controlling software by limiting each game to one account will only destroy the family audience as paying 3 to 5 times for the same game will be too much hassle to get a household to play.
I do believe that a profit of a used game sale (some small percentage at least) SHOULD go to the publisher. But that's not the way the market works. What developers/publishers need to do is make buying NEW copies more attractive.
Here are two examples.
1. Club Nintendo codes. Get free stuff for buying new Nintendo games. Works for me!
2. Sony's cross-buy codes. An extra copy of the game for your Vita is a nice little gift. I think I'd spend the full $50 - $60 for that.
Other publishers need to do the same if they want their new copies to sell. They should not take away something and require, say, an online pass for the player to have all of the content. They should offer more stuff should you buy it new.
I honestly see consoles eventually moving to this direction. I understand that it is completely unfortunate but if companies are wanting to do this they will eventually do it.