Why Xbox Series S + Game Pass Is Microsoft's Secret Weapon

IGN: "Welcome back to Next-Gen Console Watch 2020, our new show following all the news and rumors on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Series S. This week we discuss all the latest details on Microsoft’s Xbox Series S including price point and release date, what that means for the Series X, and how Sony might react. Does the $299 price tag raise your interest in the Xbox Series S Console?"

[Jin_Sakai]

We hear the same thing every generation.

DirectX 12 - Secret Weapon
Power of the Cloud - Secret Weapon
Series S - Secret Weapon
Gamepass - Secret Weapon

There’s only one secret weapon, the games. That’s why PlayStation continues to dominate.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

Well Game pass is a consumer friendly service that will undoubtedly keep MS competing next gen but I don't think XGP alone will make the console super successful. So far MS AAA's are years off which will undoubtedly hurt MS. If their games are good (scoring around 9's) on top if game pass that will be the winning formula.

[CaptainObvious878]

In 3 years time, when the releases on game pass are nothing but shallow aa experience riddles with MTs, I'll ask you if you still think it's 'consumer friendly'.

[--Onilink--]

100million PS4 and the biggest seller has only around 15mill I believe (and many not close to that)

50million Xbox and most exclusives dont get close to 10mill

Not only that, but other than Nintendo’s titles, the exclusives for MS and Sony dont really continue to sell that high every many years later. (Just look at amazon’s best seller list for 2020 as an example)

So if 100million people are buying a ps4 because of the exclusives, why do the games sales dont reflect that?

At one point people here need to understand that we (who buy the majority of exclusives and are actually driven to one console or the other because of the exclusives) are the minority in those dozens of millions of consoles sold.

Sure exclusives in an overall manner give a better look about the console, but at this point its honestly so much more about brand appeal, of which Sony will definitely hold an advantage over MS, and it explains why MS is looking at different approaches to this generation, otherwise its even more of an uphill battle

[343_Guilty_Spark]

PS4 also started $100 less and was more powerful than the Xbox One which started out the gate with poor messaging, weaker hardware, and shit ton of other problems.

[Unspoken]

Fast food sells more than healthy organic food, doesn't mean its better.

Its called addiction.

[F0XH0UND922]

Worst attempt at a rebuttal I've seen this year lol

[morganfell]

Game pass = Fast food. Yeah I agree.

[Sitdown]

You said every generation, but just talked about the Xbox one. Please tell us what is was for the Xbox, and then the 360.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

@obvious show me these games that will be riddled with MTX on gamepass because I really wanna know. Avowed, Hell blade are AAA experiences. You're just another short sided fanboy.

[mcstorm]

I love this exclusive comments. Let's face it this gen was no where near as good as last gen in terms of exclusives and quality. Alot of the same ips from both Sony and Microsoft. No where near the verity of last gen.

I ended up moving over to pc but I am hoping this one can bring me back to consoles.

For me the wiiu was the console I enjoyed the most this gen.

Well here is to the next gen and hopfuly more new ips and great games to play outside the yoy gemes we get now.

[SullysCigar]

Too late @IGN, the truth is unfolding regarding this console - and it ain't pretty.

[Destiny1080]

charging people 15 bucks a month to play free to play games is pure genius

[--Onilink--]

Free to play games? Have you even checked the catalog?

[LOGICWINS]

It's not much a secret. We know that Game Pass is the best value in gaming and that most gamers don't have a 4KTV (making the Series S a good low cost option for them). Microsoft has a good chance of dominating the North American console market if they can get a few of those high profile Series X exclusives out in 2021.

Playstation and Nintendo will continue to dominate the worldwide console market, but it doesn't seem that Microsoft cares as they're more focused on subscription revenue.

[waverider]

Dude its late 2020. 1080 TV are over. This isnt 2013... You can get a next gen TV for 500 or 650 55 size. Like h9g... If you want to play at 1080p buy a pro or a x. Much better choice

[darthv72]

There are still plenty of people who havent made the jump to 4k because nothing has really compelled them to do so. I can say that up until last week, I had been still using 1080p tv's. I scored a good deal on a 55in samsung 4k from a couple who wanted to go bigger. They bought a 65in and I got their 55 for only $160.

I gave my son my old 47in 1080p and it was an upgrade for him as he was using a 32in 720p for his ps4

[LOGICWINS]

"Dude its late 2020. 1080 TV are over."

You're living in an echo chamber if you believe 1080p TVs are "over".

[343_Guilty_Spark]

1080p isn't over

4K isn't standard. Broadcast TV is still in 1080p

[Father__Merrin]

Up scaling on a decent 1080p set still looks tremendous

[S2Killinit]

Can someone explain the rules about “inappropriate” comments to me? I just happen to notice that Rainslacker was marked here but he is saying the same type of thing as everyone else in this thread. Im just asking. Anyone? Can someone help please? This question comes up for me all the time, and I never know where to get the answer from.

[crazyCoconuts]

This just in.. @rain and I ran the numbers. PSNow is the best value in gaming. By a lot. I'm calling the IGN offices now :-)

[rainslacker]

How do we know that most gamers don't have 4K TV's? Not just one week ago, the major discussion being had was that if something wasn't 60fps it wasn't worth playing. Is that not the case anymore? I don't know of any 1080 displays that can do 60fps and if they do exist, do most people with 1080 displays actually have those kinds of displays? Don't get me wrong, I was adamant in saying that 60fps wasn't necessary, and it was a foolish argument to pretend it was that much in demand, but I see the tides shifting again....which indicates a new week is upon us, because the excuses for MS seem to change weekly.

Why is it, what works best for MS is the current talking point and anything that was a big thing in the past is no longer relevant.

Also, isn't value a matter of perception? Is that value present at the regular price? Why is MS 200 or so games more of a value than PSNow's 700+ games at half the price? Since most people don't have 4K TV's, aren't they going to be OK if they play them on the weak sauce PS4P, or even regular PS4?

Can you follow your arguments through to more complete logical conclusions? because it seems that whenever new arguments crop up, they invalidate the past one's, or are easily extended to make the new one's look meaningless or help another platform actually look better when you start adding in all the facts.

[Petebloodyonion]

Actually the majority of 1080P TV can do 60 frames per second since they have a real 60HZ refresh rate built-in.
What they often fail to achieve is 120 frames even when they have a 120HZ refresh rate marketed on the box because the real refresh rate is 60 HZ, the 120 Hz is made via an effect like motion plus to give you a feel of fluidity.

Also, the majority of gamers own bad TV for gaming because they are buying the cheap 500 4K TV or are still owning a cheap 1080P TV. Here are some of the common problems of low budget tv.
1) High input latency, you would be surprised by how many ppl never validate the input latency and if the tv support a game mode (props to Sony and Samsung to highlight that now)
2) Bad refresh, Now don't be fool by the number on the box because you really have to validate the refresh rate on the specs sheet. Having a true 120 Hz will cost you a lot more compared to a 60 Hz
3) Lower image quality

And just for the record, I do own a good 4k (bought in 2015) and still play in 1080P on (Pc and console) because I can double the refresh rate and use it as a good pc screen. The best part was hearing my pseudo 4k expert friend regarding the quality of my screen and how 4k is great until I showed them the resolution on the screen.
Conclusion: 4k is overrated at the moment and it's the reason why TV makers are trying to build on HDR10 since you can easily see a difference between a tv with and without HDR.

And here's a link explaining when you start to see the difference between 1080P and 4K resolution and HDR
https://www.displayninja.co...
https://www.forbes.com/site...

[SpaceRanger]

Short term gain, long term loss for them and their first party studios.

[Hakuoro]

I think IGN already wrote this article and they just CTRL-F'd and replaced all the X's with S's

[rlow1]

@Hakuoro, It's a video. Probably should've clicked the link first before making a comment. @Jin_Sakai blah, blah, blah.....that all you ever say on every article. Just saying.

[masterfox]

https://pa1.narvii.com/6039...

yep nice secret weapon MS ^_^

meanwhile Sony's weaponry power does:

https://i.pinimg.com/origin...

:P

[Bobertt]

More like their only weapon if their other exclusives turn out like Halo.

[gold_drake]

i feel like ive heard all of this before.

[Good-Smurf]

1:13 in "But otherwise very similar spec"
Do I have to tell you to "Do The Math!" again?
4 vs 12 TF is not similar spec and that just the GPU,makes it seem like they're tried so hard to shill Ryan and Xbox team.
This is why you don't brag about power when you have a seriously cut down causal console coming out later on.

[blacktiger]

I'm not sure If I'm understanding any of it, why is it a secret weapon when you can just keep Xbox One, hell you can sell Xbox One and keep Xbox 360 and use that to play gamepass,

[yeahokwhatever]

as someone with PS Now and Game pass, PS Now is better. come at me.

[Bathyj]

Can you tell me cost: number of games for each service?

[Bathyj]

Ok, I looked it up.

So someone please correct me if I'm wrong but

Game pass is $10: 230 or so games

PSNow is $5 a month (if you buy a year}:800+ games.

So purely from a dollars to games standpoint, then by definition p.s. now is the best deal in gaming compared to gamepass. That's just numbers.

I guess you could factor quality into it as well. I don't know what's in PSNow, but what's in gamepass didn't impress me. And given the game libraries of the past I'm going to take a punt and say there's more good games out of those 800 on PlayStation than in Xbox.

Best Deal in gaming is just a marketing term like everything Phil Spencer says. And these guys out here parrot it until they think it's true.

[darthv72]

The selling point is GP offers new releases while PSNow is older titles with semi new (a year or couple years old) mixed in for limited time.

The argument used to be quality over quantity but when it comes to these services it seems its quantity over quality. And since quality is subjective... quantity is what they tout.

[Bathyj]

Yep fair point. PSNow does not have the new games day and date as all the kids are saying now.
Doesn't that back my point up but if we're only talking quantity? From a quantity stand point PSNow is better value right?

I mean that's just simple maths, what do you think Darth?

[yeahokwhatever]

yes, there are some new titles on gamepass. no, they're normally not very good. gamepass is mostly shovelware.

[Silly gameAr]

It seems only MS articles that say the same thing over and over again, can make it through approval. smh.

[R6ex]

Game Pass still missing a lot of the games that interests me. No thanks!

[tdogg]

Why do some of you get mad when you hear the word "XBOX"?😂

[Christopher]

The secret weapon is a cheap, non-4k console they put on layaway while they still get their PS5 (what the folks at IGN said themselves).

I mean, I guess if they want people on their console, but honestly it's not that great of a weapon, secret or otherwise.

[Imalwaysright]

It is a great weapon if it plays next gen games at 1080p/30fps. This console + gamepass will most likely be MS biggest weapon for next gen as we're about to feel the effects of an economic depression that according to experts will be worse than the 2008 crisis. Price has always mattered, it certainly mattered more than 4K as evidenced by X1/PS4 sales vs X1X/PS4 pro sales and it will matter even more from now on.

[Christopher]

There's a recession, so why wouldn't people pay hundreds more to play games that look like last gen games?

[Imalwaysright]

..

[Imalwaysright]

Oh I don't know... will next gen games be released on the X1 and PS4? If this console does indeed run next gen games even at 1080p/30fps then you'll have a console that will provide next gen games at what? Half or close to half the price of a PS5 and the Series X? Combine that with the value that gamepass offers + the fact that time and time again the console market has proven that graphics were never the main reason as to why people buy consoles + the fact that the vast majority of console gamers are colloquially called "casual gamers" + an economic depression and I fail to see how this console/gamepass combo isn't a great weapon in MS "arsenal".

[Christopher]

***Oh I don't know... will next gen games be released on the X1 and PS4?***

Almost all games right now are and I don't see that changing unless people buy into new hardware.

***Half or close to half the price of a PS5 and the Series X? Combine that with the value that gamepass offers***

You just made it more expensive by including a subscription service. Most casual gamers play a handful of annual games that aren't on it or would save more money just buying them separately.

***the fact that time and time again the console market has proven that graphics were never the main reason as to why people buy consoles***

Yeah, but they are part of it. Going from every old console to a new one has seen great advancements from the past. Kind of like how Microsoft will use the XSX to sell games for the XSS.

***the fact that the vast majority of console gamers are colloquially called "casual gamers" + an economic depression and I fail to see how this console/gamepass combo isn't a great weapon in MS "arsenal".***

Why move on when Fortnite and similar games are available now without any extra cost? CoD is on older hardware. Sport games are still on older hardware, even the new titles that won't permanently move off of them until a majority of the market does.

Again, and you didn't address it at all, but how is the secret tool to pay more for the same when they can get that with what they have already? These people in recessions aren't looking to play the latest games at the best apparently and they can still play them with what they have at no extra cost. Perhaps in a year they'll feel the pressure to move on, but not anytime soon.

[Imalwaysright]

I'm not talking about right now. I'm talking about next gen, an entire generation worth of games.

Yeah a subscription service that provides great value at €12 per month. In a year that adds up to €140 and access to dozens of games + discounts on new games. 2 new games right now cost €120 but apparently publishers want to raise the price of next gen games wich would automatically give more value to the service as long as MS doesn't raise the monthly fee of the service... wich is also a possibility but the value would still be there and value is something that has always mattered and will matter even more in the foreseeable future.

"Going from every old console to a new one has seen great advancements from the past."

If this console runs next gen games then you will experience them as well unless the only advancements we'll see are the obvious advancements in graphical fidelity. You would be experiencing the same games with a downgraded graphical fidelity and perhaps lower framerates wich is something that the
majority of console gamers don't seem to mind as evidenced by the sales of the PS4 and X1 vs Pro and X1X in the same time frame. Given the choice console gamers go for price over graphical fidelity and unfortunately framerate as well.

I didn't adress it because I am talking about long term. I'm talking about seven or eight CoD, Fifa, NBA 2K and Madden games. Not one or two games from each of these franchises.

https://venturebeat.com/202...
https://www.web24.news/a/20...

[xetiro]

Will be funny if Sony released a PS4 Family Pack for just $199, with 3-5 high profile games (i.e. better than anything you will get on the XSS for the first couple of years) and a 3-6 month PS Plus, on sale by November 1st.

Doesn’t even need to be PS4 Pro.

The message would be. Did you skipped this generation greatness and you’re not yet ready for true next-gen? Here is the best and most affordable 1080p gaming console, featuring the best selection of games of the current gen, that will keep you busy with high quality entertainment for the next 3-6 months. Maybe by then, after you catch up, you will be ready to jump in to true generation.

[Brazz]

Gamepass is great with day one big console AAA games... and sadly Xbox got none at the moment.

[ssj27]

The only secret weapon i see is that 1tb ssd that will be sold for over 200 and will make many very upset and return the console or exchange it for a ps5

[Exthun]

And the final secret weapon take out the reviews of games and products from the microsoft website.

[waverider]

Again for all that dont understand. If you are gonna get a next gen system. You need a new tv or else its just a Huge waste of money. Even 1080p. A great deal of gamers dont have a tv for even the half step that the S is. They dont have 1080 TV that run at 120frames and is able to do full hdr. Not even 60 frames with full hdr, that is a big deal...