160°

Microsoft: It's Easier to Sell Offline Single Player Games on Consoles than PC

Most PC games are service based making offline single player titles hard to sell on the platform says Phil Spencer.

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gameranx.com
US8F4185d ago

How?, don't all systems right now get modded and play copied games? maybe because more people on the PC space know how to pirate than the console space.

slayorofgods4184d ago

Its not pirating that is making MS continue down its path of dumb brain trust. Its their objectives of trying to control the market in a direction they want it to go. But its a free market, Valve will do fine taking over the PC market while MS tries to battle Sony on the console front by alienating PC gamers.

All Phil's doing is making excuses for making games XBone exclusive. No Phil, its because you want to compete with the PS4's exclusives. The truth even sounds better then that garbage.

Stsonic4185d ago

So why did they want their console to be always online?

Convas4184d ago

You think ALL of the Xbox Division was behind Mattrick and company's vision for the Xbox One?

I've got news for you.

CynicalKelly4184d ago

Always online doesn't mean multiplayer.

Hicken4184d ago

Because it's easier to control the game- and therefore the gamer, and therefore the money- if it's online rather than offline.

lonewolfjedi4184d ago

stole the words right from my mouth

LightofDarkness4184d ago (Edited 4184d ago )

"They" didn't. Mattrick did. Mattrick is the "genius" behind Kinect and the family-oriented/casual direction Xbox went in post-2007/2008. He also conspired with the marketing department to focus on Kinect and TV integration at the reveal.

The vast majority of the Xbox division are dyed in the wool gamers. But at Microsoft, engineering and marketing don't really get along, and have different visions for the products. Seeing as the reveal was marketing's show, they decided to focus almost entirely on TV and Kinect integration, because they seem to know sweet FA about what gamers and their customers actually want. Microsoft's marketing team are pretty abysmal at marketing technology, it seems.

Having spoken to a few people from MS, they were just as surprised, disappointed and outraged after the reveal as most of us were, albeit for some different reasons. They poured years of hard work into a product only to have the final unveiling focus on a bunch of crap they didn't care about either. They wanted people to see the great gaming device and possibilities of the new hardware, but all of that took a backseat to what marketing and Mattrick deemed to be more important to the consumer. I'd have probably quit my job there and then after being screwed like that (one of the guys I spoke to did just that).

kreate4184d ago

Maybe they just now figured that out.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 4184d ago
KrisButtar4185d ago

Do PCs even get offline games anymore? I mean the last time I went shopping for a PC game they all had internet required on the back of there box. Then you have most people using an online service like Steam

Pandamobile4184d ago

The internet is sort of a basic requirement for modern day game design.

JsonHenry4184d ago

He meant single player games with no online/multiplayer portion.

But it isn't true. The PC indie scene is FULL of offline single player only games. And the PC indie catalog is incredibly larger than that of all consoles. Combined.

This isn't knocking consoles here. Just goes to show why MS is failing so hard this generation. They have no clue what is going on in the games industry or simply don't care and try to force what they FEEL it should be on us rather than accommodating what IS.

thehitman4184d ago (Edited 4184d ago )

What he said was right its much easier to sell offline singeplayer games on consoles. Idc what amount of indie games you say is on PC 99.99% of them are unknown to the majority meaning THEY DONT SELL. If your going to make a game like UC, TLOU, AC, GoW, MGS great singleplayer at their core consoles are where they are found and will sell the most.

KrisButtar4184d ago (Edited 4184d ago )

@Json

Can you buy Indie games in the brick and mortar stores? I asked because I haven't looked at the PC selection in a while. When I do make it in there I always seem to see that they require the Internet.

No matter how many Indies games are on PC, it doesn't matter if they are all digital as that means they are not really an offline game. As you had to be online at least once to buy it.

JsonHenry4184d ago (Edited 4184d ago )

Requiring the internet to DOWNLOAD a single player game is a lot different that requiring the internet to PLAY a single player only game. (IE, no multi-player or co-op)

And @thehitman- Steam, humblebundle, and many many other (D2D, Greenmangaming, etc, and etc) sites that sell those indie games "no one has heard of" laugh all the way to the bank and sell millions.

Just because you're a console kiddie doesn't mean the rest of the gaming world lives in a cave.

And almost all of those games you just mentioned have multiplayer components. Why? BECAUSE ITS HARD TO SELL SINGLE PLAYER ONLY GAMES ON CONSOLES!!! You seriously just made my point. Even the consoles AAA heavy hitters had to include multi-player or Co-op.

KrisButtar4184d ago

@Json

"Requiring the internet to DOWNLOAD a single player game is a lot different that requiring the internet to PLAY a single player only game. (IE, no multi-player or co-op)"

Internet=Online

No its not, they both require the Internet. one just needs the connection consistently and the other only needs a connection once for the download. An offline game means acquiring and playing a game without ever requiring the Internet. I didn't have Internet services offered in my area until last year. How would I have downloaded a game without the Internet even if it was playable offline forever? I couldn't, I would have to go somewhere to get connected to be Online so I could download the game.

webeblazing4184d ago

Json was gonna say the same thing PC gamers support single player games the most. And why do people use AAA as a counter when their not proving a point. PC gamers supported a love of indies that made its way to console . Games that are fun and even have big pub following their lead. When hitman say he Dont care about the amount of indies, saying they Dont sell, and goes to name Sony exculsives n how they sells, speaks to me what kind of gamer json is arguing with.

Single player games sell great on PC, they Dont need mp tacked on to sell, a PC gamers will talk and spread the word about them because they appreciate games even if its not a big budget title unlike a certain group.

How are you liking Dont starve?

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4184d ago
TheGrimReaper00114184d ago

Well, every single indie game
Skyrim
Sonic Generations
Torchlight 1 & 2
Minecraft
Terraria
Every 3rd party game that's also on consoles with singleplayer

pandehz4184d ago

Skyrim isnt indie, nor is Torchlight.

Skyrim is being bummed by ZeniMax or whaetver and Torchlight is Perfect World Ent

KrisButtar4184d ago (Edited 4184d ago )

Skyrim require the Internet even if it is just once as I couldn't play it when I 1st bought it because Internet services were not offered in my area and I needed to connect to Steam.

Edit: Have people forgotten what an offline game is? It means never connected or require to use the Internet at all to play/work. Not having Internet and buying games, you quickly find out what an offline game is because otherwise you couldn't play it.

XiSasukeUchiha4185d ago

@STSonic

I Don't why too? But i have one theory is too produce more money in the pocket while losing freedom of choose to the gamer!

MasterCornholio4184d ago

They are saying this after they realize that online single player games would never sell on consoles.

;)

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260°

AMD CEO Shares Vision Behind Xbox Partnership and Next-Gen Chip Roadmap

AMD CEO Lisa Su talks about the Xbox AMD partnership, next-gen Ryzen + Radeon chips, and AI rendering tech coming to all Xbox devices.

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clouddosage.com
Obscure_Observer4d ago

AMD is really building hype around their unique partnership with Microsoft to help and build an advanced and seamless Xbox ecosystem across all Xbox consoles and devices.

I wonder what she meant by "full roadmap of gaming optimized chips" though? Seems ambitious.

Next year´s Xbox Showcase already looks promising and exciting. Here´s hoping they deliver.

InUrFoxHole4d ago

They had best show 3yrs in a row. Heading for another

VenomUK3d ago

Obscure_Observer said “I wonder what she meant by "full roadmap of gaming optimised chips" though? Seems ambitious.” To me, I interpret this to mean rather than having a couple of X/S products for launch and a handheld there is a longer term plan to release new products with higher specs at timed intervals. I’m speculating of course, but this could mean a spec bump every year or two, so that even if the PS6 or Steam Deck Home is released a year after ‘Xbox’ Microsoft can release an updated model that has a higher spec.

Agent753d ago

But Microsoft forgot the games.

KwietStorm_BLM3d ago

It's X3D chips for console. Everyone knows this. And it's been rumored in the PS6 forever.

Ganif3d ago

Correct.

"Sony's PlayStation 6 reportedly will feature an AMD semi-custom APU with a Zen 5 CPU and UDNA GPU, capable of 4K 120FPS and 8K 60FPS gaming. The console will include X3D cache and advanced AI upscaling technology."

https://www.tweaktown.com/n...

Obscure_Observer3d ago

"It's X3D chips for console. Everyone knows this. And it's been rumored in the PS6 forever."

I doubt that AMD´s CEO would waste her time making this huge and important partnership announcement over a tech that will be 7 years old by the those next gen consoles will be released.

Notellin3d ago

You should have just lead this comment with the fact that you have zero understanding of technology in the consoles and instead have a Toms Hardware online forum level of education.

Obscure_Observer15h ago

"It's X3D chips for console. Everyone knows this. And it's been rumored in the PS6 forever"

I´d told you were on some bs

https://www.pcgamesn.com/wp...

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 15h ago
Agent753d ago

But Microsoft forgot the games

Obscure_Observer3d ago

@VenomUK

"I’m speculating of course, but this could mean a spec bump every year or two, so that even if the PS6 or Steam Deck Home is released a year after ‘Xbox’ Microsoft can release an updated model that has a higher spec."

Very interesting theory. Still not sure how MS would actually make it work.

KwietStorm_BLM3d ago

"I doubt that AMD´s CEO would waste her time making this huge and important partnership announcement over a tech that will be 7 years old by the those next gen consoles will be released."

How old is the tech in consoles? It's not a huge announcement. It's marketing and you know it is.

Obscure_Observer2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

"How old is the tech in consoles? It's not a huge announcement. It's marketing and you know it is."

Dude, what I know for certain is that a tech as old as X3D chips which is actually *older* than both PS5 and Xbox Series consoles, is hardly the reason behind this new partnership between AMD and MS to build new *custom silicon* for next generation of consoles.

And yes it´s a huge announcement since AMD is working closely with MS to co-develop custom SoC which will allow backwards compatibility across all MS´s next gen devices allowing seamless integration between devices and full backwards compatibility across all generations of Xbox consoles.

I also know is that this announcement don´t have anything to do with Playstation and their strategy with AMD for the PS6, so stop comparing the two pretending that you know what´s going on, because you clearly don´t.

If Sony is working on something remotely similar, that´s remain to be seen.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 15h ago
Fishy Fingers4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

Some odd, deliberate wording, no branding, not 'Xbox consoles, Xbox handhelds' specifically, feels and sounds like they're building towards hardware that anyone can be used or licensed to/by themselves and other manufacturers.

Multiplatform software and hardware 'Xbox/AMD APU'.

Obscure_Observer4d ago

I guess you missed Sarah Bond´s next generation Xbox announcement this week, were she clearly states:

"I´m thrilled to share that we´ve established a strategic multi-year partnership with AMD to co-engineer silicon across a portfolio of devices, including, *our* next generation *Xbox consoles*."

But hey, I don´t think you´re entirely wrong, maybe MS will build their own Xbox consoles while licencing other manufactures to build and sell their own Xbox branded consoles. Who knows

BeHunted4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

I think you watched the wrong video. It's below the description, or you can watch it directly on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/kprpRvsOua...

HyperMoused4d ago

Shares vision....we provide chips for money, this deal will sell many chips, we will make lots of money...good vision

Christopher4d ago

The marketing behind this is so heavy that I worry about the actual outcome. Why are they just not showing us the product, why all this talking in market speak?

Lightning774d ago

Probably because the next xbox isn't ready to release yet?

The marketing and rumors seem to be heavy out of no where. The rumor was a 27 release but it maybe it could be 26 new console launch instead.

Who knows.

Eonjay3d ago

There PR is alrways super heavy handed. No one is acutally buying an Xbox as is.
Also it is very early to be talking so much about a next gen console.

Obscure_Observer3d ago

There´s a lot of people interested on Xbox Next and its ability to run games from major stores like Steam.

We know that the PS6 is just around the corner as well, but so far, no news on what it might improve over the PS5 or PS5 Pro.

However, Sony already made public that their priority and actual focus is the PS6. So its not "very early" to talk about next gen when the very console manufactures are talking about it.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3d ago
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210°

Activision Forces Adverts into Call of Duty Black Ops 6 and Warzone Loadouts

With the launch of Call of Duty Season 4, Activision quietly put adverts inside loadouts for Black Ops 6 and Warzone, sparking a backlash in the process.

23d ago
23d ago
lukasmain23d ago

Putting Ads in a pay-to-play Premium title? Well done Microsoft. Well done /s This is really scummy.

jjb198122d ago

This game will never change because these sweatlords love buying up all the skins and bundles that become obsolete the following year. They're the ones perpetuating Activision's greed.

VenomUK21d ago

If Microsoft introduces adverts into its other games I hope it can do them without disrupting the immersion of the game world. So for example in the new Fable game it would look out of place if there was a billboard advertising Cadillacs.

A far better way to do it would be to have a wizard conjure a 'dream cloud' in front of your character and then in the cloud you can see the Cadillac car and see the text with price and availability and hear a booming sales voice promoting the car. That would work so well as it wouldn't be a billboard and completely, 100%, fit in with your character's adventuring in Albion. Doesn't that sound so much better?!

crazyCoconuts21d ago

@venom, or how about our of 100 farts in Albion, 1 of them has a Cadillac pop out

VenomUK21d ago

@crazyCoconuts That’s undeniably off-beat - but it could really work!

22d ago
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410°

Xbox's first-party handheld has been sidelined

Xbox's handheld ambitions continue unabated, but the focus is shifting towards improving Windows 11 for third-party handhelds — for now. The Xbox Series X 'Melrose' successor is safe, with development continuing at full pace.

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windowscentral.com
25d ago
25d ago
25d ago
shadowT25d ago

Is there really a market for handhelds next to mobile?

Vits24d ago

If they run the same games as the main home console, then yeah, sure.
But if they need specially tailored games just for them? Probably not, unless there isn't a home console for comparison (see Switch).

RaidenBlack24d ago (Edited 24d ago )

I am kinda low-key happy this happened.
Dont want another Series S situation (games to be designed from 4 to 12TF scale and not 10 to 12TF).
Hope PS follows suit as well. Tablet SKU sharing with console for 10th gen, will just continue the cross gen -esque development/design phase/nature.
Want a proper 20+ only TF rasterized next-gen plz (+ frame-gen and the lot).
If anybody wants to continue the cross-gen, the Series S|X, PS5 will remain for that. And Switch 2, if you gotta go even lower in the TF range.

ABizzel124d ago

Yes and No. All of the PC handhelds combined have struggled to sell 7 million units, which would be a flop for any “console”. So the market is extremely niche because of price and target market (the informed hardcore gamer / casuals aren’t picking these up).

These handheld PCs are $500 or more, and offer at best Xbox Series S performance levels, so it’s best for MS specifically to just partner with ASUS, instead of investing millions if not billions.

Sony can make their own with custom AMD hardware due to their partnership, and stronger global brand for hardware. But even then it brings the question, of being a lower resolution PS5, and what does that mean for PS6 cross-gen (likely another generation where the first 3 - 4 years are just upgraded last-gen games).

Kosic24d ago

Imagine a Wii U style console, where the tablet doesn't rely on the console it's self, you download the game on the console under the TV and play in 4k glory, then you can remote play, get some unique game features if using both console and handheld in tandem. Then you can download the games in 720-1080p to play on the go, continue your progress, and continue on the TV when you get back.

Sony could get away with this due to exclusives, and that would be a reason for sales. Look at the portal.

I can picture seeing new hardware having some sort of GPU dock, where the handheld runs 1080p, and the dock has additional hardware to bring in 4k/60 specs.

I do think handheld gaming is going to be a strong future, imagine Nintendo release a new upgraded GPU dock for the Switch 3, every 2 years. More frames, sharper graphics on the same game for an extra £150 for a dock with a built in GPU chip. Console cycles doesn't have to be renewed, just the hardware can be improved by them reselling docks to us again and again with small/yearly upgrades like mobile phones.

GamerRN24d ago

Did you just imply that Sony can make a better stronger handheld than Microsoft? You do realize we are talking about Microsoft, the tech giant, right? If Microsoft can't make one that's cost effective, Sony definitely can't...

Brand and market share means nothing when you are a trillion dollar company

ABizzel123d ago

@GamerRN

It has nothing to do with what company can do it, or what company can spend.

For anyone taking a basic business class there is a term called ROI, and Xbox home consoles are selling at an all time low, meaning their ROI on a handheld is a risk that doesn’t make sense, even if they can afford it. Businesses are there to make money and it doesn’t make sene for MS to invest in a handheld that’s a companion device when their current home consoles they’ve spent 20 years working on are at an all time-low, when they can invest with little risk with what ASUS already has to offer.

This is why Sony can build a better device, because they have less risk involved, meaning they can invest more in their own product, and they already have an exclusive partnership with AMD on creating features and hardware. So in this specific case, YES Sony can built a better handheld, due to custom hardware, customer tools, low level APIs, compared to an off the shelf product running Windows or a Window Xbox kernel =.

TheEroica24d ago

I play steam deck primarily... Don't play consoles or mobile. The deck covers it all.

badz14924d ago

@shadowT

The Switch is a handheld, so will the Switch 2. what are you on about?

Cacabunga24d ago

To run native games offline? Anytime

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 23d ago
CrashMania25d ago

Funny to see the alt already damage controlling and having a meltdown with multiple accounts in the comments already.

Sad for MS if true, a dedicated handheld would go down a lot better than a rog ally 2 with an Xbox sticker on it I think.

crazyCoconuts24d ago

It couldn't have succeeded for a number of reasons. Now they've retreated to the Windows front and trying to keep that relevant for gaming. How long before Windows Central realizes there won't be a real console successor to Series X either?

Lightning7724d ago

Except there is. That project is reportedly full speed ahead.

Outside_ofthe_Box24d ago

@Lighting77

So was the handheld until today...

Lightning7724d ago

@outside obviously not since they sidelined it and they wanna see how the Asus does. Are you saying they're gonna cancel the next console?

crazyCoconuts24d ago

@lightning - I'm admittedly trying to box you in here - Do you think the next Xbox console will have Steam on it?

Outside_ofthe_Box24d ago (Edited 24d ago )

@Lightning

Here we go with having to spell everything out.

If I told you yesterday that Xbox was going to sideline the handheld console what would your response have been? Probably something along the lines of "I doubt that since Phil has been talking about it for some time now"

My point is just because they are "full speed" ahead now does not mean that will not change in future. As we have seen with the handheld. Do you understand what I'm trying to say now?

Lightning7724d ago (Edited 24d ago )

Box me in? No you said the same thing you've always been saying for years now. Those are the rumors to have Steam integration.

What about it

If you told me they were gonna cancel it tomorrow it would nothing more than fanboy talking points. I only wait for credible sources not what someone else says.

Also this is the handheld not a full blown new console. The Asus is yet to release and they're waiting to see how that thing does. Critical thinking is my strong suit you should try it some time if you can. But Ok cool well you hang your hat on that I guess. Main New console is gonna get cancelled even though the handheld is a different marketing device than the main the console itself.

__y2jb24d ago

I think there is a 75% chance there will not be another Xbox. There is zero reason to buy one now. No way it can possibly sell more than 10m units after Xbox went third party.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 24d ago
BLow24d ago

That's what they do. Goalposts shift like the wind.

I'm really confused on why they are making a "first party" device and also have a Rog Ally with their sticker on it. Make this make sense. How is their own device going to be any different?

Your console doesn't sell and they expect a handheld to?

RaidenBlack24d ago (Edited 24d ago )

The Rog Ally one is gen agnostic ... as you deciphered, it was to be the updated Rog Ally but just with Xbox branding. PC handheld with some Xbox features.
The handheld Xbox is/was supposed to be sharing the same gen/ecosystem with the next-gen (10th gen) Xbox. Think Series S but handheld ... it'll run the Xbox OS or whatever the next Xbox will run.
...
As for anybody wondering/confused why MS is doing another Xbox console ... coz mainly its the 10th gen of home consoles next, which started wayy back in 1972 for the 1st gen. And MS wanna be part in it, in the 10th anniversary gen of consoles. If they gotta bow out, they can't do that at 9th i.e just before 10th. They wanna stick around till the 10th or the X-th gen and check what the fuss happens.

Outside_ofthe_Box24d ago

Curious as to what excuses the spam was saying. Because prior to this news, the Xbox handheld was used as proof that Xbox is still committed to the hardware space. This handheld being scraped is not a good sign...

24d ago
Outside_ofthe_Box24d ago (Edited 24d ago )

@Spam
You can replace scrapped with pushed back if you like. It's not a good sign either way.

24d ago
1Victor24d ago

asq3= obscured: “ What’s your source on the handheld being scrapped? “
Read the article from Microsoft own website and one of your favorite quotations site when it’s something bad about Sony.
Oh BTW good luck with your next SPAM account.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 24d ago
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