450°

Quantum Break’s Windows 10 Store exclusivity is bad news

Restricting Quantum Break to the Windows 10 Store may benefit Microsoft, but everyone else will suffer for it.

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Neonridr3046d ago (Edited 3046d ago )

Well isn't that the point? To ensure MS is making the money for their efforts?

"If I were working for Remedy, I’m not sure how I’d feel about that." - Pretty sure Remedy was compensated nicely for their work on the project.

christocolus3046d ago (Edited 3046d ago )

I agree but what does the writer expect? Microsoft owns and runs the windows store why would they put it up on steam and share royalties with valve? Their games run on same windows 10 ecosystem and they can easily implement crossbuy,cross save and cross play with xbox one.I would like to know what the writer thinks about Origin and UPlay-only games?

Crimzon3046d ago

I can't speak for the writer of the article but I have no intentions of switching from Windows 7 to Windows 10, so I couldn't buy this game for PC anyways because of the Windows Store & DX12 requirements, but if this game was actually available to me and on Steam? I'd buy it. As it is however, Microsoft is missing out on my money by going this route. I'm just one person of course, but I doubt I'm the only person who feels this way. I'd be buying the Gears of War Remaster as well if I could, along with some other future PC titles if Forza made the jump, for example. As it stands however, Microsoft won't be selling these games to me now.

For reference, I also avoid UPlay like the plague (I won't even buy Ubisoft games on Steam) but I'm totally fine with BattleNet (Blizzard's standalone storefront/launcher for their games like Diablo/Overwatch etc.) and Origin (I still love playing Titanfall regularly).

OpieWinston3046d ago

The writer doesn't understand how it works at all.
"This all no doubt makes sense from Microsoft’s perspective (they have a new service, they want push everybody into using it), but it’s not great for all of us, nor, I’d suggest for Remedy themselves."

Remedy has stated that MS handles distribution. Not them. The game has gone gold most of their work has been done. Now MS is in charge of marketing and selling.

The writer is the kind that would hate Origin/Uplay/GoG/Battle.net...

It's not hard to understand. They want to keep profits and maximize them.

3046d ago
AngelicIceDiamond3046d ago

Article is confusing why would MS put it on Steam or any other OS?

First paragraph he answers his own question.

"it’s pretty safe to assume that Microsoft want to use this game to drive as many as possible towards Windows 10 and their own storefront. Remedy’s title won’t do that on its own, but it’s evidently a piece of Microsoft’s plan to build up a “Windows 10 exclusive” library that they hope will be irresistible."

Plus he compares the laughable GFWL lol.

"I can’t find any reliable numbers for copies of RotTR sold through the Windows Store, but if it’s anywhere near that figure I’d be very surprised indeed."

Well that's what the main platform is for, the X1.

donthate3046d ago (Edited 3046d ago )

I don't see how this can be bad for the community at all?

First, MS is offering cross-buy and cross save. Secondly, they are an alternative that gives Steam competition. That is good for innovation, prices and consumers.

That said, I don't see why MS wouldn't put their games on Steam as a good will gesture. Maybe they will implement some of the GFWL features to mimic the Xbox Experience on PC.

I could talk to my Xbox friends while playing a PC game isn't such a bad thing (although I can already do that with the Win 10 app, but in game direct access would be nicer).

mikeslemonade3046d ago (Edited 3046d ago )

^
You relics who stick to Windows 7 smh are as bad as the Windows XP snobs.

Good! So you don't get to play the game.

Rookie_Monster3046d ago (Edited 3046d ago )

What is wrong with MS using their own store and get 100% of their profits just like EA and UBISOFT are doing? I'LL get a FREE Windows 10 version and a Free Killer Instinct version on the MS store with the XB1 digital so that should be applauded that MS is doing this instead on complaining on a relatively non-factor just for the sake of just complaining.

MS could give out a free copy on MS store and people would still complain with the mindset some people have pertaining to MS. Smh

This is getting silly people. It is on Windows 10 only and instead of hitting the Steam Icon, just use the Windows 10 store icon that came with Windows 10. Some people are making a big deal out of nothing.

badz1493046d ago (Edited 3046d ago )

@MNR

Personally I don't like Win10. Having been using Windows for the longest time, IMO Win7 is still the best and most flexible OS they have released with XP the close 2nd!

I installed Win10 on my laptop and honestly I don't like it very much. It's restrictive, confusing, complicating simple tasks, memory hog and kinda messy!

Of course this is my opinion. I love Win7 but now I'm using 8.1 on my PC and I'm tolerating it. The only drive for Win10 is DX12 support which MS purposely locked out of it!

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 3046d ago
Eonjay3046d ago

We aren't privy to the deals that do down between publishers and developers. And by the same token, we don't know how the artist and programmers themselves are compensated (whether its based on scores or whatnot). A check to Remedy isn't a check to the artist and developers.

But hey at least Microsoft will be making as much as possible so you are right about that.

Neonridr3046d ago

and if MS funded the development of the game, then that is all that matters in the end. They should be the ones reaping the rewards if they are paying for this game to be made.

donthate3046d ago

Neon:

You are right, and without MS, maybe there never would have been a Quantum Break and it certainly wouldn't have been what it is today.

So it is up to MS to choose where they put their games. Nobody questions Sony or Nintendo for not putting their games on other platforms such as Windows Store.

Eonjay3046d ago

I would say both matter. Obviously, funding is needed but so are the people who actually make it. I don't understand your point of view.

Hoffmann3046d ago

I wonder if Remedy even gets something from the raw earnings through Quantum Break. Guess they are simply paid to deliver the game, the rest is up to MS

jb2273046d ago

I've been wondering that as well...in light of Lake's recent comments about AW2 not panning out w/ MS at the time in favor of a new IP that MS owns, it seems to me that QB could be a big fork in their relationship. If MS does very right by Remedy here then they would most likely stick w/ them, but at this point their reputation is such that tons of publishers would be willing to absolutely toss money at them to work on a game like AW that they own the rights to and that would give the studio more money on the back end.

MS would essentially have to overpay on any more deals if they insist on owning ip because they are paying not only for the game at hand, but any potential funds Remedy may be losing by not going multiplat w/ their own ip. I could see Remedy using QB's critical success as a way to shop around & make their next title a multiplat (or at least I hope so)

rainslacker3046d ago

It's typical to get a percentage over a certain point in unit sales. It can vary between games based on target sales numbers and expectations of the game. This is true for most 2nd party games, except on occasion outsourced projects, where they are contracted to make the game, and usually only get bonuses for meeting deadlines.

It's rare that a developer makes a game, get's paid for just that, and then sees nothing else afterwards in these types of deals. Even publisher owned studios get bonuses when meeting certain goals.

kotaku773046d ago

I'd tell you how Remedy's feeling: bad. They've been compensated to make the game an exclusive, but I'm sure they're not happy with this.
Well anyway that's the way things are. The game looks awesome

Neonridr3046d ago

They have job security currently, pretty sure that is paramount to them in this industry. Keep putting out hits and you will keep getting a paycheck. In this volatile industry that should be a plus.

Dark_Crow3046d ago

Remedy has taken games out on pc long before this one.
You are horribly mistaken.

If you feel bad that's on you.

Kiwi663046d ago

Then any game dev must be feeling "bad" because they get compensated for making their game an exclusive , so there must be a lot of unhappy devs out there

jb2273046d ago

MS would still make money off of a Steam release as they own & publish the game...they just make more money off of Win10, and considering they are giving away free copies of the PC version the only potential PC sales market may be a very narrow one: PC players who are on Windows 10 (lot of gamers have rolled back to earlier versions), use Win10 over Steam (well known that Steam has a much larger user base at this point), don't own an Xbox One & are unwilling to pirate.

Ultimately the Win10 release seems to me to be less about making more money or sales for QB (although that is a small part of it) & more about pushing PC gamers into using or trying Win10 & the store for the first time...in which case it isn't necessarily about pushing sales for the game itself but more about furthering the Win10 platform.

Either way I'd assume Remedy was paid a flat fee for the game and that they don't necessarily make much (if any) money off of each copy sold (could be wrong there but just assuming that is how a third party partnership would work in this instance)...this is also MS' ip so its success only matters to Remedy if they get a kickback and to keep a solid track record. Pretty sure that Remedy benefits quite a bit more off of working on their own ip's & in the future they may want to keep to that route. They deserve to own their work imo considering the caliber of it, would probably be much more beneficial to them in the long run.

freshslicepizza3046d ago

how much does remedy care when just a short time ago we all thought it was just an xb1 exclusive? microsoft is most likely paying the bills.

but yes you are right. this is more about getting more people in the windows platform and more encouragement for the holdouts from upgrading their os.

jb2273046d ago

@moldy

Yeah you are most likely right, I think Remedy are being done right on the financial end or they simply wouldn't have gone back to Ms to make QB. Seems like they wanted to experiment with this game & the safest way to do that was on MS' dime which is a smart move. I really hope the game sells gangbusters & reviews better than any Remedy title before, but I'd be lying if I said that I didn't hope they moved to a multiplat for their next release...they are great devs & just like I'm glad that MS gamers got to play an Insomniac exclusive title w/ SSOD it sure would be nice if Sony gamers got to feel the love w/ a Remedy multiplat, as long as they had good backers (or maybe they make enough money off of QB to back it themselves) & were able to make the game they want to make. If MS is truly the only place that they can create quality titles then it hurts but I hope they would stay there in that case.

freshslicepizza3046d ago

it wouldn't be far fetched for microsoft to acquire remedy as a 2nd party partner.

conanlifts3046d ago (Edited 3046d ago )

The article misses the point. Ms own the ip to quantum break, they have already been paid and anything else is a bonus. Why would they care about exclusivity to the windows 10 store.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 3046d ago
Herbalistic3046d ago (Edited 3046d ago )

Microsoft isn't going to release huge budget games on PC unless they are Win10 store exclusive.I believe the store offers everything that XBL does but free of charge.

bmf73643046d ago

The game is already Windows 10 exclusive by using DirectX12 because the API is made exclusive to Windows 10. The game is being used as a push for the PC demographic to convert to Windows 10, which Microsoft is trying to make appeal to PC gamers.

svoulis3046d ago

If this is a means of stopping people from pirating their game, then all the more power to them.

Honestly I feel devs deserve to be paid for their efforts.

KTF263046d ago

I don't think Windows 10 store can stop piracy
with denuvo it can postpone the crack

the whole story is MS try to make people switch to windows 10

RiseofScorpio3045d ago

PC fanboys will always find a way to steal games.

curtis923046d ago (Edited 3046d ago )

I mean you have to be realistic. I want it to be available outside of the window store as much as the next guy but I get it...

at the end of the day if it means me getting to play it on my new rig, I call that a win.

ScorpiusX3046d ago

I think its brilliant , keep all profits in-house . No need for paying people or other sites .

SteamPowered3046d ago

Keep all its profits, yes. But what kind of exposure will the masses get from the Windows store? I know I dont frequent their site very often. So unless you are specifically looking for QB, I cant see too many people clamoring to sign up for Windows Live again.
Steam is still THE premier PC gaming service with 25+ millions of users.
I cannot see Microsoft sharing profits with Valve, thats a given. But I have to wonder what the sales numbers will be at the end of the day. Will Microsoft make more money by directly keeping the game on Windows store? Or would they would have sold more copies on Steam, but have to give Valve their cut.
I cant wait to see the numbers roll in for QB on PC. It will be a big sign for the future of the Windows Store.

Microsoft let Dead Rising 3, Ryse, and ORI onto Steam, so its not like they havent let exclusives slip into the Steam Store before.

OpieWinston3046d ago

Ryse and DR3 were handled by Crytek/Capcom at that point.
And Ori was before they launched W10.

Ori Definitive Edition will be coming to W10. I haven't heard anything about the Definitive edition hitting Steam.

jb2273046d ago

"Microsoft let Dead Rising 3, Ryse, and ORI onto Steam, so its not like they havent let exclusives slip into the Steam Store before."

Not sure about Ori but MS didn't own the ip to either DR3 or Ryse so those are a different situation as Capcom & Crytek would've had more leverage in those instances. Remedy most likely had virtually no say in where QB ends up. Their leverage is growing w/ each game though..I personally think Lake & co. are beginning to realize it would benefit them to go multiplat. A game like Alan Wake last gen could've sold at least twice as much (and most likely more than that considering it seemed to cater more to the PS3 audience than the 360 audience considering its lack of multiplayer & its sp story driven focus that resembled far more ps3 exclusives than 360 ones).

Remedy are getting the critical success but they are being hamstrung by attaching themselves to one console imo, if they want a future for the studio, they should seek third party publishers so those sales can start matching that critical acclaim & ip's like Alan Wake can start building the cache that could spin it off into more money making realms like film & television.

rainslacker3046d ago (Edited 3046d ago )

Windows store is likely to get plenty of exposure given that it's integrated into the OS. The other alternatives require knowing about them, and downloading them in some cases, so it's more fluid. Because of this, it will probably get more exposure than if it went to another store, although being in more places can maximize exposure.

Biggest question still unknown is if the PC gamers will adopt the Windows store to get certain games, or if they'll simply decide it's not worth the trouble, or have some other reason. I don't think one game is going to push people over the edge, but long term support of the store could see benefits for MS. Bigger question is will gamers move over to another store just for exclusives. MS is in a situation where the only things that may sell to PC gamers are going to be their exclusive titles, which means the other titles are likely only going to be seen/sold to the more casual PC gamer, of which, I'm not sure AAA is their primary concern. If that happens, then long term support of the store may dwindle if Steam decides to push hard against MS to keep publishers off the Windows store.

OpieWinston3046d ago

Yep especially since Steam takes like a 30% cut (Which is a standard cut).
I want this game to be a massive success and the more revenue the better. Also means MS further invests into Alan Wake 2 and possible QB 2 in the future.

jb2273046d ago

I think MS investing in QB 2 is far more likely than AW 2 if the former is a success considering MS is making the move towards owning all ip's that are produced first party. They are building their first party software library by buying up franchises like Minecraft & the license for Gears & every new ip announced after Phil's introduction have all been owned by MS even when they are developed by third parties.

Spencer said something to the effect of spending their money on franchises they own vs. other ip's in regards to KI vs. SFV so I assume that holds true across all genres.

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110°

Microsoft's Xbox gaming handheld will fail unless someone else makes it

Despite Microsoft's experience in hardware manufacturing, I don't trust it not to fumble its first gaming handheld device which may eventually lead to a successor not getting released.

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LG_Fox_Brazil2d ago

Unless it has some fature that really makes it standout I don't think someone who wants a handheld will pick it when the Switch 2 is just around the corner and the Steam Deck offers a huge library with much better prices worldwide

OtterX2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Especially since the existing PC handhelds (Steam Deck, ROG Ally, etc) can already run Gamepass. I don't have a Steam Deck yet, but I did see Forza Horizon 5 already running pretty well on it natively, so I'd imagine most XBox exclusives on Steam would run pretty well too. The most Microsoft could do is try to brute force a more expensive, higher power handheld. I doubt it would do well if that were the case.

ABizzel12d ago

This has been my point. It’s too little too late, and there are too many options out now that can already do the same thing with similar or better tech, in a similar price-range. A best case scenario for them is slightly above Steam-Deck performance at $100 less, but that’s not a huge selling point for anyone who has already jumped into the handheld PC market, and people still on the fence. Or go the other route of as cheap as possible but making it a streaming only device around $199.

It would do well and reach over 1m sold just because of the Xbox branding, but their consoles are already selling less and less (by the looks of it), so I don’t see a handheld being this great savior for them.

They simply need to rebrand one of the Surface tablets into the device with dedicated controls and more gaming focused, and call it a day instead of heavily investing in a handheld

VariantAEC1d 21h ago

I'm guessing Xbox Wireless will be a streaming system like PS Portal. And yes I fully expect their portable Xbox to be given a really stupid name like "Wireless." Maybe even a dumber name like the Xbox Series W.

Jingsing2d ago

Doesn't make much sense to have a handheld that is locked down to the Xbox ecosystem when the PC handheld can run everything. I'm sure the same people that bought the Xbox fridge will give Microsoft their free money though.

XBManiac2d ago

Microsoft handheld Qualcomm based... you will see it next year... and you will see it sink.

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90°

The Xbox showcase brought the E3 magic

After having to prove itself for years, Xbox doubled down and pulled it off..

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videogameschronicle.com
GaboonViper12d ago

Yep Xbox absolutely knocked it out of the park with that stunning show, it was everything a gaming showcase should be, games games and games, well done team Xbox.

CrimsonWing6912d ago

It really did. Like I came out of that with the hype for new games I haven’t felt since… well the better years of E3.

monkey60212d ago

It was without a doubt one of the better showcases in years. There was plenty there that excited me. Something has been lacking in years on all platforms

EasilyTheBest12d ago

It was an amazing showcase I loved everything about it. Can't wait to play some of those games.
What's going on. 4 comments & no negatives yet. Wow, what's going on with N4G.

ThinkThink12d ago (Edited 12d ago )

Show was so good, it made me forget about that blue dragon rumor until the next day. Too many games to process.

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240°

Is Xbox Going Multi-Platform The Right Decision For The Console Market?

Shahmeer from eXputer: "The new Xbox strategy to go multi-platform could eventually change console gaming as we know it, and I am concerned."

Bathyj13d ago

Can we stop pretending that Xbox has any great influence over the console market?

All they can do is try and steer their own Destiny. They have very little to do with what the other players in the console market are doing.

And yes, going 3rd party is pretty much their only option and is good for them.

RaidenBlack13d ago (Edited 13d ago )

Still whatever little direct competition they're offering against Sony ... that'd be gone, which is never good for consumers.
I know Sony will continue to apease the gamers but without any proper competition in same space, they might not work at the fullest efficiency.
(Taking into account, thats generally been agreed here, that Nintendo has long been not the direct competitor to either MS or Sony)

xHeavYx13d ago

The " without any proper competition in same space, they (Sony) might not work at the fullest efficiency" narrative has been proven false for years. Let's stop pretending that, in terms of games, Xbox has been any competition to Playstation.

fsfsxii13d ago

Sony had 0 competition for most of its playstation business, and they still succeeded, the only thing xbox introduced was paid online and dlc

maniacmayhem13d ago (Edited 13d ago )

Sony had little to no competition during the PS2 era and they have an iconic catalog.

I don't think Sony needs competition in the console space to still release great games. It would be the games that would be competing against each other.

Einhander197212d ago

Xbox does not need to exist for PlayStation to have competition.

They compete with Nintendo, PC, streaming and countless other devices.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 12d ago
neutralgamer199212d ago

Yes release games on other platforms

Your own gamers still get the games day one on GP. So GP will grow and stay stabilize

By releasing the games on PC,PlayStation and next switch they can get $70 for their games.

MS didn't invest 100 billion for nothing. This way Xbox generates way more revenue

GhostScholar12d ago

And Sony is doing the same thing whether you want to admit it or not.

anast13d ago

The show was like a sub-show for Sony. All these games are coming to PS5.

13d ago
outsider162413d ago

You gotta admit though..xbox showcase was actually really great.

RpgSama13d ago

I mean, yes, it was an Activision, Blizzard, Bethesda presentation, they just so happened to buy all of those publishers, nothing we would not have seen on any other award show if they had not bought developers that were and STILL are developing multiplatform games.

If you remove them you are left with Microsoft game studios, another Fable, Another Gears, Perfect Dark which for me didn't look all that great, Avowed, Age of mythology and south of midnight (might be missing something I guess)

anast13d ago (Edited 13d ago )

No better than any other show. There weren't any major new announcements, which is what everyone has been complaining about. The bar shouldn't get lowered for a trillion dollar company.

crazyCoconuts13d ago

"another Fable, another Gears, Perfect Dark"?
That's a lot of pretty great "anothers".
I could use a few of those "anothers" from Sony right now.

helicoptergirl13d ago

Yes it was a really great showcase that Xbox had. Multiplats and all. Overall it was really cool

Terry_B13d ago

for pc and playstation..yes it was. Not a single reason was given to buy an xbox.

MrBaskerville11d ago

Perfect Dark looked amazing! Wouldn't mind seeing something like that from Sony tbh.

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thesoftware73013d ago

anast,

"All these games are coming to PS5."

Very disingenuous statement... Some, but not all.

Oh, so that is the new narrative, "sub-show for Sony." lol, wow.

The sad part is that you are clearly and fully aware that it is very unlikely for any 1hr and 30min gaming presentation show to showcase ALL Exclusives, it just doesn't happen.

And don't you think it sad that MS had a better Sony showing than Sony? If I were you, I wouldn't consider that a flex, lol.?

anast12d ago

They are coming to PS5, the ones that matter of course.

There is nothing sad here. You might need to start your argument without an emotive.

I don't think they had a better showing. Unless we lower the bar for only Xbox.

crazyCoconuts13d ago

None of us really know how much they're going third party. They're still ACTING like they want to protect the platform - no mention of PS5 in their show, still marketing the console, still using the Xbox logo.
Yeah Phil acknowledged more is coming to PS5. But is that Indiana Jones? Perfect Dark? Gears?
If they keep those key properties in their stable it's not accurate to label them as simply 3rd party.
They may very well still be in the game after all...

anast12d ago

@Coconut

Sony did the same in their last. They showed games that were already announced.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 11d ago
Giga_Gaia13d ago

We need to stop pretending like Xbox matters and has any influence in the industry.

By entering the industry, Microsoft made it worst, everything bad in the industry can be tied to them (like paid online and DLCs). The industry would be better off if they had never been in it.

Before you say Sony would have no competition, they would still have PC and Nintendo. As they are right now, Microsoft are not competition, they don't actually matter.

crazyCoconuts13d ago

I think you're mostly right. They've been failing on console and will most likely drop out.
But the concern a lot of us had was that they would use their $ to win monopolistically. They've already bought a huge number of big studios. Going multi-platform would alleviate that concern.
But they could still turn the screws, this game isn't over quite yet... They're sending mixed signals.

CrimsonWing6913d ago

I think in Xbox’s direness it is, but let’s not pretend like they don’t understand the value of exclusiveness to their platform. Not every damn Xbox game is coming to PS5 and the stuff that has hit have either been GaaS games or games that didn’t exactly sell gamgbusters and are extremely niche.

When Halo, Gears, Forza, Perfect Dark, Fable, etc. start coming to PS5 then that’s pretty massive and also diminishes any reason to own an Xbox.

LucasRuinedChildhood13d ago

Doom isn't niche. It was heavily implied that all Bethesda games, outside of games with contractual agreements and the existing multiplayer games, would all be exclusive to Xbox.

CrimsonWing6913d ago (Edited 13d ago )

Ok, sorry, Doom is the exception.

My point is Xbox is still keeping exclusives for their bigger games. What’s been released are GaaS: Sea of Thieves, Grounded aka Honey I Shrunk the Kids, and then niche stuff like Pentiment and Hi-Fi Rush. Then you got Doom coming out, which is an outlier, I suppose.

crazyCoconuts13d ago

It's not niche but it's not everything.
MS has got a HUGE cache of IP and studios now

Scissorman13d ago

It's the only decision. Hardware sales are on a sharp decline and Game Pass growth has stagnated.

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