In a shocking move, Microsoft has reversed the DRM policy on Xbox One. This is seen as a good move for consumers, but what does it mean for the games industry? It seems like this move will hold back the gaming industry for a while, unless alternatives are found.
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.
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.
Hanzla from eXputer inquires: "If Xbox can care about preserving its games and legacy, what exactly is wrong with Nintendo, trying to kill game preservation single-handedly?"
Ahh yes the good old game preservation of saving all your games to a removable hhd on the Xbox 360, taking it round your mates house, setting up multiple tvs to
Be met with “save data corrupted, please re download”
Or how about removing 360 games
From the store
, download them now or else, and, better hope to god that save data doesn’t corrupt, or it’s lost for ever
Nice one ☝️
This is just a scammy PR move to distract from the fact they are going digital only and trying to push streaming and subscriptions only.
No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft.
Without discs there is no preservation, preservation can't be done by the rights holders it can only be done by the consumers, anything else is a lie.
Nobody wants this. Sales or the lack of it in the case of XBOX is very telling. I wonder how the adorably all digital series X will fare. Adorably dismal perhaps?
Only time will tell, but for from someone like me suspecting that Xbox is trying to gracefully exit the console market, that "forward compatibility" team is trying to get Xbox games playing on Windows PCs. I mean, it's nice that they're not planning on exiting with a "enjoy your games while the hardware still works" message, so that's nice. They still have a brand to protect via Microsoft so probably feel obligated to have a better exit strategy.
It's all software as Microsoft are showing so that means web the world is ready for always on stuff they can re add it easily.
As for drm I am glad it has been done away with and hope we don't hear about such controversy again.
The main point of this article appears to be: "I think that a lot of publishers will design games to be used online heavily, which was a major trend seen at E3. Games like Watchdogs and Titanfall thrive on online interaction, even in single player mode. Another thing they can do is incentivize digital versions of their games; give gamers a reason to buy online instead of on disc. From exclusive in-game items which cost the publishers nothing, to slightly discounted prices."
In other words, there are ways for publishers to advance their interests in a more subtle and seductive manner. MS, at least, was trying to address issues that are not going to go away. As the need for physical copies of games declines, and digital sales increase, the same issues that provoked controversy in recent weeks will return and will need to be dealt with, rationally.
Hold back the gaming industry?
The gaming industry is a hundred billion dollar industry.
This generation was fantastic and millions of ppl rented and purchased used games.
Just stop lying and showing big publishers as victims.
Here's an idea. Maybe the successful publishers will be the ones who employ the best developers.
Wrong. It's was good for gamers and the industry. MS had a bad policy in the DRM and this would have spread through the industry like a cancer. The industry will do just fine.
Where are the xbox fans calling the X1 names like its the "FUTURE"
I wanna know what they think now about the DRM removal.
I'm pretty sure the industry would be fine if MS hasn't joined