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How long can Microsoft float on goodwill?

As a pandemic-distorted market starts to return to normality, the need for Xbox to impress with game exclusives has become urgent.

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Obscure_Observer52d ago

2023 already started amazingly for Xbox with Hi-Fi Rush.

Atomic Heart - Day One on Gamepass
S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2 - Day One on Gamepass
Hollow Knight: Silksong - Day One on Gamepass
Minecraft Legends - Day One on Gamepass
Forza Motorsport - Day One on Gamepass
Redfall - Day One on Gamepass
Starfield - Day One on Gamepass

These are only some games for Xbox in 2023 from the top of my mind.

I doubt the competition to have such strong lineup of games to compare.

2023 will definitely be an awesome year for Xbox gamers.

Rocosaurus52d ago

It is a strong lienup, and Hi Fi Rush is the best shadowdrop ever.

Orchard52d ago

Shadow dropping that was a great idea, it gave the negative media and online communities no chance to dunk on it for weeks for "omg cartoon graphics!", "clearly made for gamepass" etc.

Instead, it was a great surprise for gamers, is being well received, and is performing well in sales, despite being on GamePass.

52d ago
Wintersun61652d ago

Care to elaborate on this supposed hate campaign? I don't understand what it is you claim the media to have a bias against? Is it cartoon graphics or just anything else than massive AAA GotY contenders? There's a lot of great games with cartoon graphics out there, some of them AAA GotY contenders. @Orchard In the context you're creating, "Made for gamepass" sounds like cheap filler games to me.

S2Killinit52d ago (Edited 52d ago )

Shadow dropping allows for less expensive PR campaigns. Pay off the first couple of reviewers to make a big deal out of said game and other reviews will follow to catch up without knowing know about the game.

With normal game drops, if you dont allow reviews until drop date, it raises red flags. With “shadow drop” you are rewarded. Its a nice tactic.

Flewid63851d ago

I tried it on GamePass PC last night. It was fun for 5 minutes but not something I could see myself investing time in.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 51d ago
SoulWarrior52d ago

'I doubt the competition to have such strong lineup of games to compare'

Well, considering 3, possibly 4 of those games you listed are multiplatform, not sure how you come to this conclusion, especially so early in the year.

SurgicalMenace52d ago

Took the words right out of my mouth.

Obscure_Observer52d ago (Edited 52d ago )

@SoulWarrior

"Well, considering 3, possibly 4 of those games you listed are multiplatform, not sure how you come to this conclusion, especially so early in the year."

I said "from the top of mind". And yes, there´s some games that will be multiplatform. But none of those will be day and date on Nintendo or Sony´s services. And that´s a HUGE plus in Xbox´s gamers favor.

I forgot about:

Wo Long - Day One on Gamepass
Flintlock - Day One on Gamepass
Lies of P- Day One on Gamepass
Inkulinati - Day One on Gamepass
ARK 2 - Day One on Gamepass
The Last Case of Benedict Fox - Day One on Gamepass
Party Animals - Day One on Gamepass

Some games are exclusives, others not. But all of it will be Day One on Gamepass.

So my point stands:

I doubt the competition to have such strong lineup of games to compare.

2023 will definitely be an awesome year for Xbox gamers.

Outside_ofthe_Box52d ago

^^^
So we're allowed to use games releasing on competing consoles to bolster lineups now? Guess every year is great year for everybody now. The big 3 will be happy to hear that they no longer need to release any games as long as we have 3rd parties to release games for them even though those games are also available elsewhere! Nice job Obscure!

andy8552d ago

Again because they are "free' and not free on PS doesn't make it any better. Plus we have no idea how the exclusives are actually going to score (look at Forspoken)

Chevalier52d ago

SoulWarrior questions Obscure about strength of the line up when half the list are MP games then Obscure responds with more MP games on Gamepass. Pretty sure Obscure should remove Observer from the name because observant they are NOT. Absolutely idiotic. Spiderman 2 alone would destroy that whole list of games by itself and that's not including FF16, FF7 REBIRTH and a bunch of other 3rd party exclusives.

Crows9052d ago

Let them have their cookie it's just an illusion but they like it like that

SoulWarrior52d ago

@obscure, ah I see, so goalposts move and they now I guess we call them 'service exclusive', I'm surpsied MS don't run with that to go with their usual 'console launch exclusive' line.

RedDevils52d ago

I'm pretty sure Obscure fit better with Insecure name more. He sound very insecure everytime he post and act so defensive if someone disagree with his xbox fanboy view.

r2oB51d ago

You have to give Microsoft massive credit, they successfully indoctrinated their gamers. No longer are the days of measuring success about the release of quality games. Now success is measured by how many games are released on a subscription service, regardless of quality and availability on other platforms. I guess when Microsoft seems adverse to making quality titles outside of Forza, what else can you do.

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darkrider52d ago (Edited 52d ago )

Everything you wrote was good until you had to talk about the competition...

Do you want that I write every exclusive already available and that millions can by? Because games from the launch are still being bought by gamers. The choice is huge. Because Sony exclusive got long legs.

One, 1.5 millions or more got the ps5 is just in december... And they buy games. Again buy.

Psvr2 is coming next month...

And of course that Sony is hyping psvr and not other games...

If half the rumors are true! For me, just one game. And the year is done. Nothing come close to that. Not even Spiderman 2

Lightning7752d ago

If you're into VR. The first PSVR had a low attach rate of 4 to 5%. Sold less than the Eye Toy. I'm telling you at 550$ only the hardcore will only get into it. It'll be fun but I can't see it taking off like a rocket just yet.

If we're being logical here.

fleshzombie51d ago

@Lightning77

I am not hardcore and I have it preordered, I have never even used a VR system outside the star wars oculus game at an arcade.

PSVR2 is worth it to me for GT7 alone, and this is coming from someone who hasnt even played GT7 yet lol. I have it waiting for my PSVR2 to arrive so I can experience it with a wheel in VR. Any other games that end up being good experiences are just a bonus.

So there are definitely non hardcore gamers that will be picking this up

crazyCoconuts52d ago

I'd leave the competition out of it... They seem to be doing just fine.
As long as Microsoft doesn't buy them too lol

Aloymetal52d ago

''I doubt the competition to have such strong lineup of games to compare.''
The competition (if you insist in calling it that) does not need a strong lineup to compare, it just needs one! aka Spider man 2 which will wipe the floor with all those games you have posted.

DarXyde51d ago (Edited 51d ago )

If I'm being objective... Spider-Man 2 will very likely outsell all of those games. With Game Pass, that is much more likely. More people will probably play those other games, though. We really don't know what Sony is sitting on. They've been fairly quiet. It is always a bad idea to bet against PlayStation. Betting against Nintendo is also a terrible idea.

I do think the "competition" comment was a not-so-subtle "teehee, I'm clever", passive-aggressive remark I might expect from either an amateur troll or preteen. But... This is Obscure_Observer, so we get the sense that they're just feverishly delusional in their dismissal of what's on the other sides of their fence.

Frankly, I hope all of those games are good. Not because I care to play any of those games, but I need Sony to sweat a little bit. I don't want them getting too comfortable. I'm expecting delays, honestly. And don't forget that launching near Zelda is always a bad idea because that game is going to destroy (and will likely be the best selling game this year by a wide margin).

I have to say though...I find it really odd that the excitement coming from the Green Team seems to be more about XGP as a service than the games themselves.

And this is why Microsoft gets away with things. 🙂

jwillj2k452d ago

It’s more rinse and repeat with you guys….

How about you wait for these games to come out before declaring victory yet again, and losing in such shameful ways yet again...

tagzskie52d ago

ahahaha is the only thing i can reply with those list.. i dont get it, some xboys think sony and nintendo games are not great but have the nerve to list those kind of games

FinalFantasyFanatic51d ago (Edited 51d ago )

Xbox generally has a drought of games, we already know Sony and Nintendo will be stacked before the end of the year, it's rare that they aren't. Plus, half of those games aren't even exclusives, you can play most of them on the other consoles, and PC gets all of them (can't always say the same for alot of Nintendo/Sony exclusives). Didn't even know xbox was getting some of those games because I was looking at the Steam versions.

Pretty sure Sony/Nintendo will be fighting each other this year for best games lineup, again.

DarkZane52d ago

"I doubt the competition to have such strong lineup of games to compare."

LMAO, between Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft, Microsoft are the ones with by far the weakest lineup for 2023. At least 3 of the games you named are multiplatforms. The others, you don't need to buy a Xbox, you can just play on PC.

SurgicalMenace52d ago

The real question is: If you were required to actually buy those games, would you still be so excited for their release?

Petebloodyonion52d ago

Does it matter what the competition has to offer?
Will my enjoyment of what I can play on Xbox increase if PS5 releases 3 games instead of 5?
And vice versa, will my enjoyment of HI-fI rush diminish if the game gets a release on Switch or PlayStation?

RedDevils52d ago

No because I can play without an Xbox.

CBaoth51d ago

you're actually happy that MS has its AAA devs making indie games? Really? A trillion dollar publisher....must be that IndiePass effect. I wonder if MS is gonna release a sequel to that Burger King game on the 360 next!

S2Killinit51d ago

For the people rooting for MS to buy multiplatform publishers, yes, yes it does.

Petebloodyonion51d ago

@RedDevils
Why bother commenting on an Xbox article if you don't play on Xbox?

@ Cbaoth
I feel sad for you if your level of enjoyment for a game depends on the budget size, the studio behind it or if it's exclusive to a platform.
And you're right it must be the indie pass effect that makes Hi-Fi Rush one of the best-selling games on Steam atm with a 98% positive review
https://store.steampowered....

@S2Killinit
Well, I feel sad for the person rooting for that if the goal is to prevent others from playing the game (and that includes companies signing an exclusivity agreement just to prevent certain games from appearing on others' platforms).

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parkesy7852d ago

You do know most of the games you named there are also on PS5 ,and out of the 3 that are not only Forza would appeal to the average consumer

tay870152d ago (Edited 52d ago )

Much stronger yr for MS than last yr was, but sony is likely going to have the best yr for games once again. In addition to all the multiplat games you listed, Sony has some spectacular exclusives dropping. Spiderman 2, FF16 and FF7 rebirth are all coming exclusively to ps5. We also get HFW burning shores exclusive to ps5. Other games that don't have an official release window but will likely hit this yr are: last of us online, silent 2 hill remake, helldivers 2. Sony has a lot unanounced games they are keeping under tight wraps. Rumor keep popping up we will be getting remakes of metal gear solid and MGS 3. A couple of indies i am looking forward to this yr are season and tchia. Also psvr 2 is coming out next month, which will have over 30 launch titles. I think all 3 consoles are going to have a great yr, but PS has true exclusives you can't play anywhere else.

curtain_swoosh52d ago

damn, all i see is "day one on gamepass"

the "competition", has the new Zelda, 2 new final fantasy, Stellar Blade, the new Spiderman.

since you started the conversation of the competition, it will stomp Microsoft, in comparison of lineups of course.

TheTony31652d ago (Edited 52d ago )

Forza Motorsport - Day One on Gamepass
Redfall - Day One on Gamepass
Starfield - Day One on Gamepass
Atomic Heart - Day One on Gamepass
S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2 - Day One on Gamepass
Hollow Knight: Silksong - Day One on Gamepass
Minecraft Legends - Day One on Gamepass
Wo Long - Day One on Gamepass
Flintlock - Day One on Gamepass
Lies of P- Day One on Gamepass
Inkulinati - Day One on Gamepass
ARK 2 - Day One on Gamepass
The Last Case of Benedict Fox - Day One on Gamepass
Party Animals - Day One on Gamepass

"I doubt the competition to have such strong lineup of games to compare."

What strong lineup? 80% of those are multiplats.

And why even bring "the competition" into this? Said competition has been kicking Microsofts a** for over a decade now. Even longer if we include the 6th gen.

Reddrover21u52d ago

Isn't it funny how they always like to throw out "Day one on Gamepass" like it makes a difference?

Gamepass is not a winning strategy as Xbox fans keep thinking it is and hasn't been since it was announced. Xbox dropped the price on the S and still got bodied by Nintendo and Sony.

Gamepass is nice but it does not sell consoles.

neutralgamer199252d ago

Hopefully all these games are awesome and here is hoping competition brings it's A game too. During Xbox 360-ps3 days that's what made it so special. We should hope of healthy competition where neither have vast majority market share and have to earn our business

Vengeance113852d ago

Ummmm Spiderman 2 legitimately demolishes atleast 50% of that list solo. Then we have FF16 which smashes the other 50%

GG

Obscure_Observer52d ago

"Ummmm Spiderman 2 legitimately demolishes atleast 50% of that list solo."

Spiderman 2 will be nothing but another glorified DLC that Sony will shove down your throat as a fully fledged game at full price, just like they did with Miles Morales. Lol.

What? Are you really expecting a game developed in less than 3 years after Miles Morales to be something fresh and unique? A true next gen game? Wake up! It´s gonna be the same old PS4 engine, same old environments, assets, moves and animations.

It´s gonna be successful? Of course it will, it´s Spiderman after all. Marvel´s biggest franchise and superhero. But in the end, it´s gonna be more of the same and not gonna "destroy" other games.

"Then we have FF16 which smashes the other 50%"

Good luck to SquareEnix if they´re thinking to launch FFXVI anytime near Starfield. XD

SoulWarrior52d ago

@obscure

'Spiderman 2 will be nothing but another glorified DLC that Sony will shove down your throat as a fully fledged game at full price, just like they did with Miles Morales. Lol.'

You say this when the 50th Forza game is releasing this year which I'm sure you'll hype the heavens.

What a load of baseless delusional assumptions about a game they haven't fully shown off yet, didn't SM1 sell over 20 million copies? Better than measuring success by miles driven or number of practically free copies given away.

TheTony31651d ago (Edited 51d ago )

@Obscure

"Spiderman 2 will be nothing but another glorified DLC that Sony will shove down your throat as a fully fledged game at full price, just like they did with Miles Morales. Lol."

That's a great description of the new Forza game.

FinalFantasyFanatic51d ago

@Obscure_Observer,

I know SE as a company is a shadow of it's former self and has somewhat fallen to s**t, but let's not joke that Starfield is in the same league as FF16 or that's it's even competition for that game. FF will sell gangbusters regardless of it's quality, can't see Starfield faring well against that behemoth.

Obscure_Observer51d ago

@SoulWarrior

"You say this when the 50th Forza game is releasing this year which I'm sure you'll hype the heavens."

The last Forza Motorsport game was released in 2017.

The new Forza Motorsport has been development using a new engine specifically for next generation consoles. It´s gonna be a true current gen game. Don´t take my word for it. Just wait for DF analisys.

"What a load of baseless delusional assumptions about a game they haven't fully shown off yet, didn't SM1 sell over 20 million copies?"

It´s not baseless dude, it´s a fact. Old engine, old everything. PS fans can be mad at me as a spoiled child but you can´t hide from the truth.

Sony made fools out a lot people who fell for that "We believe in generations" rhetorical bs from Jim Ryan.

Spiderman 2, same old proprietary, The Insomniac Engine
New Factions, same old proprietary, ND engine
Death Stranding 2, same old proprietary, Decima engine.
Next Unannounced Bend game, True Next gen game powered by UE5.

You can´t squeeze out a true next gen game out of old technology. You need to find some way and deal with the hard cold truth.

@FinalFantasyFanatic

"FF will sell gangbusters regardless of it's quality, can't see Starfield faring well against that behemoth."

I have no doubt that FFXVI is gonna sell like hot cake, don´t get me wrong, but there´s some factors to consider.

Bethesda has HUGE fan base that will be there for Starfield day one, unless the game turn out to be total crap. (which is not impossible)

Starfiled will be available on both Xbox Series consoles and PC, while FFXVI will be only available on PS5 consoles. Which one will reach more gamers? Which one has more chances to be popular in that context?

Fallout 4 sold about 13 million copies across multiple platforms while FFXV sold about 10 million copies across multiple platforms.

There´s the Gamepass factor yes, which could potentially "steal" many sales from Starfied. But that remains to be seen.

After Forspoken, I think SquareEnix will keep a closer eye at Starfield and they shouldn´t announce an official release date before Starfield´s own event, so they can measure the hype. That´s strategy. Not weakness.

SoulWarrior51d ago

@obscure so now you're talking about engines? How is an engine relevant here? Any engines used by sony studios clearly hasn't had any impact on any games graphical quality and success.

So while you're baselessly bashing spiderman and conveniently ignoring that there having been 4 forza games since 2017, with another on the way, I'll be enjoying Playstation output here and seeing the success of these titles and you'll be celebrating how many miles were driven.

You talk of spoilt children but you're one of the most immature fanboys on this site lmao, pot calling kettle black. I mean just look at basically all your comments, nonsensical, false fanboy garbage with downvote ratios that rivals orchard lol.

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Traecy52d ago (Edited 52d ago )

Renting multiplats on GP isn't a start. Releasing consistently AAA first party exclusives is a great start.

SurgicalMenace52d ago

Do tell them anything. They're like children who need their parents to buy their games for them. As long as they get to play, who cares who covers the cost? It's a dead argument. Just let them pretend to be contributors, that they are ready to sit at the big table, and that Santa doesn't traffic "little helpers" internationally.

ChiefofLoliPolice52d ago (Edited 52d ago )

No one cares much for Gamepass according to how much money Xbox is losing. Plus Xbox no longer has exclusives and of course these games will be best played on PC anyway.

Also "I doubt the competition to have such strong lineup of games to compare".

Uhh...Making alot of assumptions here...

Plus we are more then two years in and Sony has already had MUCH stronger lineup then anything MS has had to offer yet this gen.

Godmars29052d ago

And still the issue with Gamepass:

Several major titles available day one via a subscription service is not the same as those titles selling well on their own. "Profit" for each equates to what portion of subscription "pie" MS deems to dole out which MS hopes to only expand as subscribers are attracted to those titles. Thing is by their own admission the number of subscribers is leveling out.

Gamepass, like other streaming services, is not a viable.

There will never be enough subscribers to justify it, they will become fixed, and then something is going to give. Be it raised sub prices, lower quality of games or MS dropping it like Google dropped Stadia if not all of the above.

Saying its "great for gamers" now just ignores what's coming later. And it wont be great.

DRambo52d ago

Do you have 'Day One on Gamepass' programmed into a key, or do you have to type it out every time?

FinalFantasyFanatic51d ago

It's definitely a macro, alongside "wait for E3" and several others.

nitroxhotshot51d ago

If you think that’s a strong line up, there is no hope. Seriously don’t know how anyone can defend MS for their lacklustre effort on exclusives.

51d ago
Sonic188151d ago (Edited 51d ago )

It takes more than one good game to float on goodwill 🙄 Microsoft needs to be consistent for the next decade

Vengeance113851d ago

Lmao Forza ? Talk about rushed DLC! haha just more of the same old content everyone has seen before. Using the same old Xbone engine and assets!
Yawwwwwn MS can't afford good games.

Jrpg_Gamer51d ago

Im going to buy half of these on ps5, increasing lists with multiplatform games? You seem desperate

51d ago
Flewid63851d ago

Yet the competition is still outselling Xbox. I'm not saying you cant prefer what Xbox is offering, but clearly that's not what the general consensus is interested in.

SirBruce51d ago

It is good to have a laptop capable of gaming with all those titles and also connect it flawlessly to a 120Hz TV. Good times to be a games player.

Psychonaut8551d ago

Your thumbs must hurt from writing “day one on game pass so many times”.

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jonny89752d ago

They can float on dollar bills dude, they are freaking Microsoft.

TheEnigma31352d ago

But no company likes to lose money over ego.

FinalFantasyFanatic51d ago

Pretty sure the strategy is to burn money until they wipe out the competition if they can manage it.

crazyCoconuts52d ago

Especially when the dollar bills are....INFLATED!!
LOLOLOL LOL 😉

MrBeatdown52d ago

All floaters sink eventually.

-Foxtrot52d ago (Edited 52d ago )

Long as possible clearly

They shadow dropped a decent game and suddenly everything has been reset. Die hard fans eat it up and come out the woodwork to use it as an example that they “are back”. Case and point, the first comment 🤷🏻‍♂️

That’s why MS never learn because they know they can get away with it.

shinoff218352d ago

I think that that's the biggest issue. On ps we've been getting games so if Sony doesn't have as many this year as ms so be it. It isn't the end of the world cause again we've been getting games and not on a multi year drought.

crazyCoconuts52d ago

The market is rewarding the winners... We know who's been winning, no debate there..
So why not make this interesting and just judge this year as a whole. I'd include new hardware like VR in the mix because it's still Playstation. So far, a nice start for MS with Hi-Fi. Let's see what's next.

CBaoth51d ago

because you can't ignore history Coco. Or you're doomed to repeat it. Like MS over and over the past decade - since 2012. I have no qualms about judging each platform based on its 2023 merits but it'll be this time next year. I mean even if we score each publisher based on its last product released it's GOWR vs. Hi-Fi.

See that list above? I betcha several won't even release in 2023. Trying to declare a winner for alleged 3rd party 2023 releases seems absurd and a folly of the ignorant.

Chevalier52d ago (Edited 52d ago )

It's like giving a dehydrated person coming out of a desert a cup of water. So delusional about the state of things the bar is literally below the floor is so low it can be stepped over. If this recent Xbox show was a Playstation State of Play or Nintendo Direct let's be honest it would have been absolutely trashed for being so mediocre. But when you're thirsty that mediocrity starts to look like a Oasis in the desert. This isn't year 1 it's year 3 since launch and if you include Xbox One I would say it's more like 6-7 years that the bar dropped lower and lower to the point people would settle for having anything.

Crows9052d ago

They had no other exclusive to play in a long time that wasn't super niche

Reddrover21u52d ago

Basically. At this point the standard for MS is so far behind Sony and Nintendo just putting out a game put them in their fans good will.

Sony and Nintendo don't get that leeway because they been running high standards for years now.

It's kinda like calling the big three restaurant where Sony and Nintendo have been open and successful for years so they have a high standard to hit while MS had to shut down for rats and mold and the fact they even opened up again is enough for most people.