Valve recently announced their plans to launch a console in 2013 that will directly compete against Sony & Microsoft in the Next-Gen console war. One would think that a new player in the console arena would start off at a big disadvantage, and that probably would be true for most companies. But if any company has the capacity to deal some big punches, its Valve.
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.
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.
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 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
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
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
Tbh Microsoft I think Bethesda being 3rd party same with Activision would probably more competitive than thus scenario imo
The recently purchased Activision French offices might take over all the licensing and marketing for Microsoft in France from now on.
I for one would love something partially upgradable (ram, GPU) but still compatible with older hardware, sort of like iPhone.
I know the advantage of consoles is optimizing for specific hardware and knowing a game will work immediately after you put it in but if Valve can work out a deal with a GPU maker that allows for a specific "SteamBox" GPU so devs would still know exactly what hardware they're working with.
Maybe have 3 versions of the SteamBox like one capable of medium settings, high settings, ultra settings, etc. The hardware would be the same for each specific version so devs know exactly what they're working with. And gamers can upgrade their "Basic Steam Box" to Ultra anytime they want by buying a better Steam GPU/RAM pack.
Take the best of both consoles and PC - optimization, confidence that your game with work the second you put it in and upgradability.
Microsoft and Sony have nothing to worry about! There fanbase is huge and so many of them have never heard of Valve. Valve is the one that needs to worry about trying to get people to convert to there console.
What I do agree with in this guys assessment is...competition is good for the industry!
why would any gamer not want competition?
Of these 1,800 games are not some of them published owned by Sony, MS & publishing partners that could have their games pulled off steam due to maybe some board room conference or fine print in most contracts.( just saying their always the Screw u factor the big 3 can always pull).