Where Xbox One was doomed to fail, Xbox Series X is set up to succeed

Fast forward six years since Spencer's Xbox appointment, and his vision hasn't just taken shape: it's morphed into a gaming behemoth.

[potatoseal]

"morphed into a gaming behemoth"

Right now, Xbox is not a behemoth. Right now, the way they have invested and with how gamepass is set up is NOT SUSTAINABLE. Obviously they're hoping things will change in the future. But it hasn't happened yet.

These opinion pieces act like they've seen the future. Why don't you wait a while before you start calling the 3RD PLACE gaming company... a Behemoth. For all you know this could end in complete disaster.

Fine, hype up their potential future in the games industry, but don't act like they've already arrived on a cloud of success. They haven't.

[glennhkboy]

"the way they have invested and with how gamepass is set up is NOT SUSTAINABLE" Why is this not sustainable? Haven't Netfix & HBO not only sustain, but very successful, under the same business model? Haven't Netfix & HBO produced many high quality shows using subscription model (of cause there are many not-so-good show as well)? Why can MS do the same?

[NEXUS-6]

The last few years should be enough of a red flag. The last few months should also be a red flag.

All this talk about BC and gamepass has been done to death.

They apologised after the 3rd party event, then repeated the same mistakes in their 1st party event.

Anyone that needed to be sold on gamepass and BC - is on board 1000%.

I need to see new games, 1st party games, stuff that takes advantage of the new hardware.

Very strange strategy they're going for.

[potatoseal]

It's just not the same at all. Different variables. Different set of costs involved. Technically everyone and their mother should have subbed to GamePass already, I mean the value is there for the consumer, but they haven't... and I believe it's because the majority of gamers don't want a subscription based service for games. If it's not super touch-of-a-finger, play straight-away type experience, then most people will not bother in my opinion. It needs to be as fast and accessible as Netflix and it's just not. The technology is not there yet.

This is all just my opinion ok. We'll see in the coming years. They need a heap more subs and they need them to stay there, but I just don't see that happening. This is also another reason why I think you'll see the Bethesda games on PS5, but we need to wait on that too.

[sprinterboy]

Agree somewhat fella, but I would say a Netflix original series like stranger things only takes a year to film and release and potentially have 50m plus watching the new series but in game development for a AAA game takes 4/5 years and potentially it could be a flop with maybe only 1m playing the game on gamepass and maybe only a small percentage actually buy the game?
Atm there bleeding money but there in it for the long haul and we will only really know of its a success twds the end of the gen.
MS are hoping they can can tap into the mobile gamer who plays Castle crashers, angry birds, farm ville etc but tbh and its only my opinion but I don't think the casual or hardcore mobile gamer is gonna transition to gamepass? There more interested in 10/30min on the bus/toilet experiences and quick fix than play forza on the toilet for 10mins or play MP gears on the bus?
3rd party games and AAA don't play well on a small screen so maybe games like limbo, ori could do well for the casual mobile gamer but they ain't gonna be subscribing to gamepass for 3rd party games like rdr2 on the bus or park bench or resident evil or halo etc.
For me personally who loves the AAA SP story driven games mainly all I'm gonna do regarding Xbox nxt gen is just subscribe to gamepass over Xmas holidays once a year and binge play 2 or 3 hopefully in 2 years time great AAA games then cancel until the following Xmas rinse and repeat.
Xbox for me nxt gen to play there AAA SP story driven games (hopefully) will cost me no more than about £50 over the course of 6 years? If 50% of say 20m subscribers do exactly that then that billions in lost revenue?
Is that sustainable? Only time will tell

[jukins]

Netflix isn't doing as good as it seems. They are burning through so much of their cash reserves vs revenue income that investors are worried eventually they will fall flat especially with so many new big streaming services. Disney eventually is going to have all ita movies in house on Disney + thats going to be a huge loss to Netflix. Big shows are leaving Netflix to go to home streaming.

For gamepass to be succesful in the long run its going to take a much bigger selection than 200 or so rotating games. Yea 1st party games will come but so far its halo forza gears. Zenimax titles are years away. And people are still going to want to play the 2ks the madden gtv games that usually won't appear.

[kneon]

The difference is scale. if microsoft could get as many subscribers as netflix then perhaps it could work. but that will never happen

[waverider]

Nope they arent. Netflix got almost 200 millions and still... Microsoft got 15 millions...

[WiiU-Dude]

Agree. Microsoft knows what they are doing to be profitable. My mind is terribly stuck in the traditional way of making a game, sell it for $60 and move on to the next. It is hard for me to believe Gamepass will work, but Microsoft is going all in, they must know something the rest of us don't. They very well could be one step ahead as they are in cloud gaming. We will see what dividends cloud gaming will bring soon enough. Microsoft is evolving. That is often painful for those stuck in tradition. Of course Microsoft has to because they can't beat Sony straight up, nor Nintendo for that matter. To be truthful, Microsoft can do things exactly as they see fit and Sony can keep doing things their way. Who says they both have to conduct business the same. Time will tell which will win...maybe they can co exist and both companies make their profit.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

He's betting on a Trillion dollar company....let that sink in that just spent billions on a entire publisher

[sprinterboy]

All xbox eggs are in one basket with gamepass, if that fails its another long 6 years for the Xbox division?

[Gunstar75]

have you guys forgotten that you can buy every game in gamepass?

[nickanasty206]

I think we need to wait and see what the new 23 development studios are working on before we can make any remarks like this. Next year or the year after will really set in stone what Microsoft is trying to do. Once you start seeing some of those big first party games release on a regular schedule, this could all change. Don't think they have shown all the tricks in their hat just yet.

[Chris12]

You criticise an opinion piece because they act like they have seen the future, and then you openly declare that Gamepass is not sustainable. Don't you realise who stupid you sound?

And as for MS being a behemoth. The definition is not who comes first and third in an industry sector, you can have multiple 'behemoths' in a sector.

Stop trying so hard and questioning Xbox when you have no interest in the product, there is enough to worry about with your preferred console which you constantly ignore. Why is that?

[sushimama]

But right now, in the present, it's losing lots of money and it's not sustainable at the current level, they're also Billions and Billions in the hole. So technically he is correct. You might want to look in that mirror when you call the person in front you stupid.

Listen to you... "But but But, there can be more than one behemoth"

According to some people, in a running race there can be more than one winner too. "You're all winners. Even if you come in last place. You all get a trophy"

The term Behemoth should be saved for a company that has had sustained success at the top of the heap at multiple times. Nintendo and Sony. Xbox has yet to earn that "behemoth" title you speak of.

[Chris12]

@ sushimama 'Billions and billions in the hole' - accounts are not your strong point are they? Your dream does not equal reality.

Behemoth refers to size, not who is a winner, so your analogy doesn't work.

Stop embarrassing yourself.

[darx]

How is potoatoseal not running the MS gaming division?

[mariopasta]

It just that person's opinion. Who really cares? No one

[Elda]

Preach.

[TheGreatGazoo30]

You say it's not sustainable based on what? Your financial and business acumen being that much more than Satya's and the rest of executivea at MS?

They went from 10 to 15 million GamePass subscribers in like 6 months.That's 150-200+ million dollars per month. The Xbox division reported record revenue in Q3, so it's seems sustainable.

[Gunstar75]

Calm down mate.

Compared to 2013, xbox is looking like a serious competitor.

They have gone from a handful of studios making the same IP's, to around 36 teams across 26 studios and some of the industries best talent making games.

Gamepass also goes from strength to strength.

You have to be a fanboy not to recognise the transformation

[King_Noctis]

"Right now, the way they have invested and with how gamepass is set up is NOT SUSTAINABLE."

Sustainable or not, companies like Netflix and Spotify still exists and they aren't going nowhere. Same thing can be said for Gamepass going forward. So instead of worry about this or that not making enough money, we should just enjoy the service for what it is. Gamepass is a success and nothing would change that as of now.

[Godmars290]

@potatoseal"
"Microsoft is a Behemoth..."

Only because they bankrolled DOS, something practically given to them by IBM, into a practical monopoly. Bought into many tech infrastructures making money off those patients and licenses while generally mucking up open market offerings such as Zune and Xbox.

Yes I said Xbox, which would have gone under with RRoD.

[Ratty]

I don't know if I would call the Xbox a behemoth but Microsoft certainly is one. They had huge setbacks with the Xbox One and made really atrociously bad calls at first with the online-only thing. I personally owned an Xbox and a 360 and hated my experience with both. Not to mention my 360 quit on me after a few months of casual use vs my first PS3's 6 years of intense use. Safe to say I don't think I'll ever buy another Xbox ever again. If I get a next-gen console it's a PS5.

That said, right now they're playing all their cards right for a change. Game pass is an investment and whether or not it's sustainable I honestly don't know. But that's the way to do it. You don't try something for a year and call it quits if it doesn't bring back on investment yet. That kind of service is something you work on for years before it starts bringing in money. That's the smart way to do it if you can afford it... and they can. Google is an excellent example of what happens when you don't do it smart. They're doing the exact opposite with Stadia. Any smart person could have seen they'd be losing money for the first couple years but they could have made a lot of profit long-term if they kept throwing money at it.

And I'm not happy about the Bethesda acquisition but was that a smart move on their part? Hell yes. I don't think Sony buying studios is the way to go. Unfortunately, Sony has been acting as if the battle is already won probably because of the PS4's success. Look back at how they were playing their cards when they announced the PS4 vs the PS5. They were always several steps ahead of Microsoft back then. You could see they were keeping an ear to fan feedback back then. But they really turned that around a few years after that unfortunately.

IMO taking past success for granted is one of the worst mistakes you can do in business. But we'll see. At this point I'm not really cheering for one side or the other. Neither has really been talking to me. I don't really care which one comes out on top.

[StormSnooper]

It’s more hyperbole subjective wording from PR. Means nothing, doesn’t inform you one bit, and there is no way to disprove it, because no one can say what a behemoth translates to in this context, so they can make whatever claim they want.

What is interesting is that MS seems to be doing the same exact thing as last gen, except now they are patting themselves on the shoulder.

[StarLink]

Your opinion pieces speaks like if it was fact. Why don't you wait instead of downplaying. For ALL you know this could be a great success...even though it already has started being a success.

[Christopher]

The strength of Xbox is that it's being leveraged by Microsoft to take on Google and Amazon in cloud-related business. It's why I think they were able to offer GamePass early on for $1 conversion and have made the studio purchases they have. Xbox is another attack against companies way larger than Sony.

[umair_s51]

It is very safe to say Xbox will do very well this gen. It is Sony who will loose market share to Xbox.

[umair_s51]

Truth is Sony fans are hurt that Xbox is stealing their thunder. It's hard to accept loss. The facts are out Xbox are competing and Sony is in for a much harder gen than the last.

[pocolocoX]

Netflix is currently not sustainable. Their stock is dropping. 📈

[EasilyTheBest]

"The best thing MS has done for Playstion fans is put Gamepass on PC.

Now we don't have to buy their console at all. Not only that, we can buy a $70 game for only one month sub to gamepass, finish the game, and unsubscribe for PEANUTS. So thank you to MS for this"

How many ppl have a PS5 plus a powerful PC, it's a stupid argument. Plus if u ain't buying those third party games on PS5 but are getting them on Gamepass it means the publishers are seeing their game do better on Gamepass rather than PS5.
Ridiculous argument.

[potatoseal]

The Nvidia 3070 performs better than the 2080Ti and it's only $499. PC gaming that has more power than consoles has never been this affordable. This is THE BEST TIME to get a PC. It's PS5 and PC for the absolute WIN in this coming generation.

Gamepass in a money pit. Of course they would prefer to sell a game at full price as opposed to someone ONLY signing up for 1 month for $10, finishing the game, and the unsubscribing. It's basic maths.
Infallible argument.

[jukins]

Most people aren't even paying $10. All I see, and done, is people using tricks of the trades to renew for a $1

[Chris12]

A guy on a forum who hates Xbox knows more than all the bean counters and lawyers at Microsoft. You couldn't make it up.

[darx]

Chis12 funny isn’t it!

[jukins]

You mean how Spencer himself says gamepass isnt profitable? Lol I mean IF everyone was paying full price but their not. . .like I said I've abused the $1 trick several times on pc and I rarely even use it

[jukins]

Also funny saying I hate xbox lol. Do we need to examine YOUR comments? Ironic hypocritical typical fanboy lol

[Chris12]

My comment was made @potatoseal, who spends every day in Xbox stories despite having no interest in the console. A slight difference to an Xbox fan being in Xbox stories.

[boing1]

Majority of people that play on consoles don't want to play on PC, no matter how powerful it is. It's not about power.

[chiefJohn117]

Junkin so you gave Ms money for something your not even using? Lol that's a Win for MS. They got Money from you for literally nothing

[pocolocoX]

$500 plus $5 a month vs
$500 + $500 plus $70 every 2 months plus PlayStation Plus...

Is it basic math or quick mafths 2+2=4-1=3. Mans not hot.

[TheGreatGazoo30]

They don't care if you buy the console. They want you to play Xbox on PC, Android, or the Xbox. Yes, you can join and quit, same as with Netflix, there is a reason investors LOVE subscription models, because most people don't so that. If you're someone that plays on casually from time to time, sure. Anyone that plays a lot, always new games out there and the Bethesda acquisition means even more.

[RazzerRedux]

"How many ppl have a PS5 plus a powerful PC"

Probably a lot more than you think considering there are 1.3 billion PC gamers in the world. Of course, not all have a "powerful" PC. But Steam hardware surveys say half its members have PCs equal to or more powerful than Xbox One X. Not enough data to make any conclusions as to how many intersect with console or PS specifically, but I'd guess that most who own PCs that powerful wouldn't have a need for Xbox and would opt for PS5 instead. I know that's what I do.

"Plus if u ain't buying those third party games on PS5 but are getting them on Gamepass it means the publishers are seeing their game do better on Gamepass rather than PS5."

That's fine for smaller games, but we all know most big third party AAA games are not going to Game Pass day one.

[Obscure_Observer]

"Probably a lot more than you think considering there are 1.3 billion PC gamers in the world."

Source? Yeah, I´m curious to know how many PC gamers are actually ACTIVE PC gamers.

"But Steam hardware surveys say half its members have PCs equal to or more powerful than Xbox One X. "

Also curious to see how many out of "1.3 billion PC gamers in the world." will have a PC as powerful as the Series X on launch.

[Hakuoro]

Obscure_Observer

>Also curious to see how many out of "1.3 billion PC gamers in the world." will have a PC as powerful as the Series X on launch."

You mean the Series S right? Did you already forget that Microsoft made that?

[RazzerRedux]

"Source? Yeah, I´m curious to know how many PC gamers are actually ACTIVE PC gamers."

It is a good question. Of course, same question could be applied to console gamers.

Source:
https://venturebeat.com/202...

"Also curious to see how many out of "1.3 billion PC gamers in the world." will have a PC as powerful as the Series X on launch."

Even if we assume RTX 2080 or greater and then add in the RTX 3000 series (which is selling very well) and then the RDNA 2 GPUs coming.....we don't typically get hard numbers of component sales so it is hard to say for certain.

[boing1]

I think this setup is more likely to happen. Multiplatform gamers are still a minority, though. Not counting mobiles.

[Hakuoro]

EasilyTheBest

It's not about how many people own a PC and a PlayStation. It's about how many people own a PC and don't need to buy an xbox console. They eliminated the need for the console for all those PC owners.

If that's even 25% of their prior fanbase that's a huge loss of potential sales for the SX.

[RedDevils]

I do. So many of my mates as well. Hell, I don't even see a single reason to buy Xsx anytime, maybe in 5 years time when it dirt cheap so I can play some last gen games.

[CaptainObvious878]

Not just taken shape but morphed into a behemoth?

Remind me again, how many exclusives is the xsx releasing with? How did the 5 years and 500 mil halo turn out?

Behemoth... what an absolute joke.

I don't know how many times I've said this bc xbox fans keep prematurely counting their chickens, but how about you actually wait until Ms actually produces something of value instead of shallow, hollow promises.

[RpgSama]

The only thing Xbox has for themselves is a bunch of people that don't want to pay for games, people that are only excited to play "free" games on Gamepass, that's all they care about, that's all you read on any gaming site comments.

[Kavorklestein]

I've gotta ask, is it really so bad to be excited about a killer deal that let's you play a lot of games for cheap?

If that ends up being something that changes down the line then ok big deal, but for now the value is incredible and there's nothing wrong with being able to have some fun playing games and saving money doing it .

[waverider]

Thats a major problem. They dont buy the games. Why would they? They already play them on gamepass. Less 15 millions buying games..

[chiefJohn117]

No they care about more stuff, it's just game pass is so great everything else in the industrial doesn't come close to it from an entertainment standpoint. You as a gamer should realize that. We play games right? That's the hobby we love. gamepass gives you more access into this hobby that makes our life so peaceful, stress free, exciting. That beats a mega powerful, ultra fast, super expensive console. Beats a new controller with a ton of features. It seem some of you plays sells and brands rather than games

You forgot who you are and where you came from

[RpgSama]

@Chief

I love games, and I want to support the developers that make them, developers big and small, by buying those games, not a trillion dollar company that wants to make everything service based online only, this is a trojan horse, once everybody is on board the online streaming only future, things on console will be no different than the phone market, bunch of casual Freemium games (Freemium because you get them on Gamepass for "free" but then ALL of them will have MT's to recoup money)

[chiefJohn117]

You say that but go buy a used copy of games. Devs get a cut when they add their title to GP. If I was unsure of a game, playing it on gamepass is much better for the devs than waiting for a cheap used copy where they get 0 dollars from it. So please save that BS for someone else. If GP was bad for developers they wouldn't be adding their games to it now would they? Plus if you love the game you still have the option to buy it. Many came out and said their games sold better after adding it to gamepass. So you can go broke trying to buy 100 games that peak your interest and many of which you won't like. I'd rather look out for myself, save money, all while supporting the developer at the same time all Thanks to gamepass. BTW GP isn't streaming only and never will be so that goes to show you know nothing about the service or how gamers use it so please stop speaking about something you're clueless on

[RpgSama]

@Chief

I DIDN'T buy a SINGLE used game this entire generation, you don't know me, don't talk about things you don't know, I put my money where my mouth is.

[Futureshark]

Shame the Xbox One was doomed to fail really in the first place.. but hey, that's Phil!

[Gardenia]

It will be an exact copy of the Xbox One X. First months it will sell good, then after when the diehard fans all have the system the sales will go down. Playstation will be the same as the PS4 or even better.

The simple fact is that outside of the US the Xbox is not populair. And it still doesn't have great exclusives either.

[badz149]

Xbox? Behemoth? Muahahaha...somebody is living in the bizzaro world

[Gunstar75]

name a console / streaming service with as many IP or teams under its belt?

Then we can debate what adjective is best suited.

This site really does attract some delusional fanboys

[CaptainObvious878]

Name a publisher that mismanages their developers worse that Ms.

Name a single exclusive launching with the xsx.

You're right about delusional fanboys though :)

[yomfweeee]

You think they can just buy their way to the top? They can buy all these studios. They still have to produce results from them, which they haven't. They have a history of running studios into the ground. Halo and Gears have gone downhill under their control.

[badz149]

@Gunstar75

But can you show us where else is the world the least selling brand is considered a "behemoth"?

[Gunstar75]

So, avoid answering questions, but instead ask questions that will best fit your narrative...okaaaaay hahaha.

And to answer your questions (as I'm not a total doosh)

EA and Activision are worse publishers.

I'm not hung up on launch exclusives. That is just ammo for fan wars. This ain't like back in the day when ALL you had to play was whT came at launch.

This is more like a new graphics card launch amd nobody bangs on about launch titles for those.

MS/XBOX is in a great position compared to 2013 and i don't much care for idiots who deny it to be the case.

[Gunstar75]

@badz149

Sales dont make something the best.

Otherwise Iron Maiden would outsell Rhianna and Pagani would kick Honda into next week

You guys are just childish fanboys and this site is fucking riddled with you.

Stay safe in your echo Chambers kids, because the grown ups in the real world, you know the ones that love games, as opposed to brands, are excited to see what xbox brings this gen.

[crazyCoconuts]

Name a console that Xbox is beating in terms of sales and active users

[crazyCoconuts]

I guess some of us kids have been around enough to know that just because MS buys something doesn't mean it's going to get better. MS has a lot of interesting IP to work with now, but they have to perform some hard work and turn some of these studios around and form new ones to create some awesome studios. They have NOT done that in the past. In fact, somehow, they allowed the MOST IMPORTANT 1st party IP they have, Halo, get into an inexcusably bad state right under Phil's nose without even knowing it. So now multiply the # of studios by a big number. Can they put the work and management into turning things around? I hope so, but they don't have a great track record

[Gunstar75]

@crazyCoconuts

I've been around for every console launch since the NES and Master System.

I ain't green mate.

You have some valid points and MS have a LOT to prove.

My point is that they have a much much better position than they did 7 years ago.

I cannot fathom why everyone is not in agreement on this point

[RedDevils]

@Gunstar75 Seem like you live under a rock for last 30 years.

[aaronaton]

The Xbox One was lucky early on as they had an established player base with the 360, and people genuinely thought it was an half decent console (mental i know).
The problem they have now is that, the figures suggest that half of that established player based has migrated. I can't even see them being lucky out of the gate.

[yomfweeee]

Microsoft's success fully was due to Halo and Gears. And we all see what they've done with those franchises under their own control.

[SCW1982]

And why did they migrate to begin with? Oh that’s right Microsoft screwed them halfway through the 360 generation as well.

[gold_drake]

im not sure a whole lot has changed. their first party line up is basically non existent, they focus more on gamepass than actual games, yes they have bought up Bethesda but we all know thats not going to change a whole lot, their boss is still a shit talking mess. the naming of their co soles is confusing for non gamers who buy them for their kids, they've basically said that they dont need us to buy their console which is funny and apparently its running really hot too. not to mention the design of their consoles.

so whats changed? nothing.

[Chevalier]

Really love the narrative about power, gamepass etc. All the Xbox fans talk about delusion and yet when you ask them about facts there are none. Ask them to explain how Xbox is getting destroyed by the severely underpowered Switch and they go nothing 🙄

[PsychoCrusher]

Set up to cater for the masses who are brainwashed by Microsoft! I ask people why they buy Xbox, their response everytime, “it’s better online” maybe 10years ago but now it’s definitely a level playing field in that respect.

[TheGreatGazoo30]

I see a lot of "unsustainable" related comments to GamePass. Xbox had its most profitable quarter in Q4 this year with almost 2 billion and increased GamePass by 50% in 6 months. Seems sustainable.

[CaptainObvious878]

Ms themselves have said it's not making a lot of money.

You think you're going to get amazing AAA exclusives with a subscription model? Sony said no.

[Obscure_Observer]

"You think you're going to get amazing AAA exclusives with a subscription model? Sony said no."

We´ll see.

Fable vs Horizon?

Forza 8 vs GT 7?

Avowed vs FFXVI?

New God vs The Initiative´s new game?

Exciting times ahead.

[Hakuoro]

Obscure_Observer

We'll in 4 years or so when most of those games they haven't showed more than trailers for actually release we'll see. Meanwhile in that time Sony will have won 4 GOTY's.

[RedDevils]

I wonder why Obscure to insecure.

[Imortus_san]

"Xbox One was doomed to fail" - not really sure what that means, Xbox One sold 2or 3 times the PS Vita numbers, PS Vita TV was what 1 million or 2? the Same for PSP Go, 3x or 4x the Wii U numbers.

The console just did not hit the masses like the Xbox 360.

[RedDevils]

Since you compare to a Vita is already mean you looking at it as fail a system. As you already know Vita isn't so successful...

[Imortus_san]

Selling 50million is a failure, WOW boy.

[Kakashi Hatake]

So no excuse if they don't come out on top then, right?

[IdeasWithJax]

MSFT will focus on growing gamepass so much this next gen that they will lose their focus on their console. I predict that Sony will have an even greater market share this time around. MSFT will lose market share this gen. And even though Im a fan of both it's obvious the 1st party titles on PS5 will make us all be in complete shock. Expect reviews highlighting how the PS5 version is a better experience due to the controller and sound effects.

[anast]

With all those new IPS over the last gen, Xbox is a gaming giant compared to PC and Sony. Can't really talk about next-gen yet, can we.

[abra511]

it will fail

[waverider]

First they must beat the xbox one launch that Was the biggest in Microsoft history and made more then a billion in 3 days and after a year lets see how they are doing. Right now they arent on top of nothing.

[Stanjara]

Only thing is Gamepass.
It is still a good hardware with "wait for next year" games.

[chiefJohn117]

This rustled a lot of feathers lol, sprinterboy wrote a Book as a response 🤣. Anyway good read, Phil's done a great job setting up Xbox up to succeed and his seeds and eggs are starting to hatch. Turning the branding into a behemoth. Game pass was obviously his most genius move, he got die hard PS fans that would never in a million years buy an Xbox spending money on Xbox services. That's the purpose of game pass, people who otherwise wouldn't buy such game will now give em the bucks to play it. Phil out here playing chest, when everyone use to checkers. Box got its Identity back, the best gaming service, the most powerful console, the cheapest console, and a ton of exclusives on the horizon for next Gen. Give the man his credit

[Atticus_finch]

Don't be bothered, have a Snickers.

[chiefJohn117]

Boo!!! You didn't use it right lmao

[YourMommySpoils]

All I see is is Xbox gamers loving snikers bars.

[chiefJohn117]

Lol try one, it satisfying, cause you're not the same when you're hungry 😭 hence the angry PS gamers

[YourMommySpoils]

Don't be angry.

[nickanasty206]

Personally, i want this generation to be competitive. It forces both Sony and Microsoft to compete and make great games. There is nothing more pro-consumer than competition. Lets hope this race is closer than last gen so we get true innovation in our games.

[nickanasty206]

Even if you don't like Phil, you have to admit he is doing a better job than Don Mattick. Nobody can really argue against that. Phil is turning things around for the better. Xbox future is brighter than it once was. Truly a good thing.

[Unknown_Gamer5794]

We will see, but MS is going to have to start being...not like MS, and actually use the studios they've invested in, for more than one game, and for those games to be top-notch enough, and Xbox exclusive. They invest in everything and the kitchen sink, whether it be power, services, etc. to see what sticks, but at the end of the day, it's about games.

If their recent acquisitions help MS make a positive change, and we see a new MS who's actually competitive then great. If not, I see them at most doing marginally better this gen, and that's if everything else aligns right for them. Success is possible, but MS is going to have to put in the work to make that happen. Owning studios is only part of the equation. We need to see games come out of them.

[kayoss]

I think the problem with gamepass is that we perceive it as the "Netflix" of gaming. All we know is that it might not work out the way we think it will. Let me try to explain (again, its just my opinion so dont grill me too hard).
We have subscription to Netflix, but the majority of us hardly use it unless there are brand new content (im going to leave Pandemic factor out and focus on the normal circumstances). However, we continue to pay for the subscription even though we hardly use it. I see Gamepass going similar paths. At first, it will have a lot of activities because its something new and people who never owned an Xbox console, will now have access to the library. However, as time goes on, people will use it less and less until brand new content is released. But they will continue to pay for the subscription. Another factor is the time investment. Video games are not like movies. Re-watching a movie youve already seen beofore on netflix, you only have to invest 2 hours. Where as in a video games youre looking at 20-40+ hours.
Lets behonest, how many of us have Gold or PS+ subscription, but now we hardly even touch our console (unless there are brand new content)? it will be the same way as Gamepass. I had subscription for PS+ that will last me another 3 years, however I rarely even turn on my console. Same goes with Netflix. This is where Microsoft will make their money, through continued subscription fees.

[ironmonkey]

One x barely helped them out. Let the hype begin but be prepared to tell yourself what the hell happend a year from now.

[Wrex369]

Everyone willing to pay that Sony tax raise your hand!

[galmi]

"its a positive xbox article"

"This artcle is stupid, clickbait, its all lies and creating a false narrative"

N4G is undefeated lol