Microsoft Signs 10 Year Deal to Bring All of Its Games to Boosteroid Cloud Service

Today, Microsoft announced another ten-year deal to bring all of its games (including Activision Blizzard's if the deal closes) to Boosteroid.

[Abracadabra]

Microsoft want to release their games on all platforms. If Sony ask nicely, Microsoft will release their exclusive games on PS5, even Starfield...

[Alexious]

It's a smart move. It's silly that we are gated by hardware, imagine that for movies or TV or music.

[shinoff2183]

Cause then you go from being gated by consoles to being gated by subscriptions. Its the same damn thing and you are gated by all those things you listed

[KyRo]

It does happen with movies and music though?

[ActualEngineer]

Human words cannot express how ignorant and unknowledgeable you two sound. Xbox and Playstation are a gaming hub - ecosystem that is accompanied by hardware AND NOT hardware manufacturers - they just provide the hardware as a functional part of the ecosystem. They are software developers and retailers. And as such, they make marginal or no profits from the hardware sales.

So why in the world would Sony want Microsoft to publish the competing platform in their service?

[BrainSyphoned]

Ya imagine only being gated by a monthly $180 cable bill or 6 20$ movie providers. But being gated by a one time hardware purchase, oooo that's the big hurt.

[Elda]

It's a business like any other business. The 3 main console platforms have their own identity when it comes to exclusive games.

[fr0sty]

Yes, movies and music, but you aren't going to get lower quality special effects in your movies due to the TV you are watching them on. Picture and sound quality are one thing, but when it affects the movie itself... or if forced to do it over the cloud... it would be akin to the movie's audio and video being out of sync (input lag).

[Godmars290]

Imagine if there were differences in performance as well as production between different types of movies and music-neither industry would exist.

Reason it was diffident for consoles and PCs is that, back in the day, PCs were too complex and expensive for the general market. So console filled the gap PCs left. A gap which pretty much no longer exists.

The ongoing issue with it however, much like movies and music, publishers want to continue to dictate how consumers access *their* media still paying for it. T continue to own it. Something that's been more prevalent with games since code wheels.

So it should not be forgotten as MS moves to put *their* games on everything via subscriptions, that they once tried to dictate how and when they were accessed, and that they wanted to put their hands in your wallet while doing it.

[CrimsonWing69]

we kind of are though. There's things that run specific on MacOS that don't on Windows and vice versa.

The thing you're not recognizing here is the competitive market. How do you compete against a company if you have nothing exclusive to offer?

I don't think the concept of exclusivity is rocket science. You have a number of companies trying their hardest to get a consumer to choose them as the platform to play on.

In a sense for TV don't you have things like premium channel services or streaming services that have exclusivity? Are you wanting a single piece of hardware and then all publishers to have Netflix-type services?

I think it's worth having a discussion over. Like what are you envisioning a console competitive market to be like where every game is available to any console. How do you incentivize a consumer to choose your platform?

[1Victor]

Can’t wait for Microsoft to offer stadia a 10 years contract as well 🤣

[gerbintosh]

Are all Xbox users idiots or are these two the only idiots, who ruin the reputation of Xbox users?

[FinalFantasyFanatic]

@shinoff2183
This, I know for example, you can have Netflix on any smart TV that supports apps, but the content is gated between more than half a dozen subscription services (e.g. Disney+, Prime, Stan, Hulu, Crunchyroll, HBO Max, every TV's own streaming app which may/may not be free, ect...).

In the case of media, for example, if you wanted to watch the anime "Teasing Master Takagi-San", each season is literally on a different service, so you actually need 3 separate subscriptions to watch it all. I see this as content wars where everyone wants to gobble up as much content as they can, look at how some streamers like Netflix have to constantly fund new content to stay relevant and it's putting them in the red.

I know it's not the exact same for video games, but it kinda is, for example, you can play Halo MC on Steam, and Infinite, but not Halo 5. Or we can look at Octopath Traveler as a more recent example, you can play the first one on almost everything, but Octopath 2 skipped Xbox this time.

No matter how you look at it, you're being gated one way or another from your desired content, I don't see how this "smart move" is an improvement to the situation, the rest of your comment is moot because of my first/second paragraph's point.

[DarXyde]

Not that different from how phone companies used to be where you could only call people in your network without using minutes.

I'll also add that was in fact the case for movies when HD-DVD and Blu-ray were competing. Some studios exclusively released HD movies on one or the other.

And actually, streaming platforms are like that too. You can often get titles via in store purchase but not other streaming platforms (similar to playing on one console but also having a PC option).

To Abracadabra,

I would say they're pretty okay with NOT doing that if they can use it to specifically strangle PlayStation. Apparently, one of the reasons for the acquisition was to do just that.

Is the plan to ultimately get these games on PlayStation? Probably, with the caveat being it must be through XGP (i.e, Sony allows the service on their platform). Pretty strong conflict of interest there. I don't see this as Sony asking nicely. It's more like Microsoft wanting to paint Sony into a corner.

[Bathyj]

No, Microsoft being a platform holder is silly. They're clearly supposed to be a 3rd party publisher.

[Vengeance1138]

Oh MS will do that all on their own once Starfield sales tank, they'll be begging Sony to put it on the PS5 for a quick sales boost. Remember MS has no idea how to manage studios or make a hit game, have to take notes from Sony.

[Alexious]

Sure thing.

[JEECE]

Starfield will sell a good amount on Steam.

[Andrew336]

Almost like the game won't also be on PC too or something.

[thesoftware730]

Oh, Is that the new 'goal post hope' now that you know the deal has a high chance to go through now.

MS begging Sony...really, really...lol.

So their games will be on every single other platform, I mean every other, and you feel that they, MS, will have to Beg Sony?

Wow you Sony-Only fans really are in some sort of denial phase.

[GotGame818]

No, Microsoft is setting itself up for success. Starfield is going to be huge and epic.

[Flakegriffin]

Sony doesn’t need Xbox and gamepass to succeed and break records

Xbox on the other hand…can’t say the same for them. Their own player base doesn’t even buy games that drop on Xbox.

[Andrew336]

We get it. You don't like Xbox and you like playstation. You're going wild in all the Xbox posts the last hour.

[hiawa23]

I actually buy all multiplatform games on Xbox, and some of those good GP games, so some of us do buy.

[Flakegriffin]

@Andrew336 Sorry I’m using a forum to speak my opinion. We get it, you don’t understand how forums work.

[Flakegriffin]

@Hiawa Oh for sure. A lot of my third party games that I play is through gamepass PC unless it’s something I really want to play on my PS5. Majority of the Xbox player base doesn’t tho. That’s why most, if not all, games never sell the most on Xbox.

[The3faces]

"Their own player base doesn't even buy games that drop on Xbox"

God of War Ragnarok sold 21 million copies, not so impressive when the combined PS4/PS5 sales are around 150 million. Horizon Forbidden West did the same. Out of 31 million PS5's Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart only sold 1.1 million copies.
Just saying!

[vallencer]

I have game pass and am still buying starfield on steam. It's considerably easier to mod on steam then it is on gamepass and I imagine it's going to have a massive modding community behind it.

[wiz7191]

Lol who said they don’t ?? I buy plenty of games on my Xbox tf you talking about

[CrimsonWing69]

Can you provide a link to the source to back up that claim?

I'm just trying to cross my T's and dot my I's, here. Not saying it's hyperbole, but I'm not saying it isn't, either.

I remember reading something along the lines of Halo Infinite being the 2nd best selling game of its month.

https://gamerant.com/halo-i...

But I won't deny third-party sort of niche titles don't sell as well on the Xbox. I think there's definitely a more skewed demographic with preferences on Xbox.

However, they've broken revenue records for the Xbox division, so something's selling:

https://www.videogameschron...

[Christopher]

It's amazing to see the extreme responses to these things.

One side says they don't need Xbox or ActiBlizz and they will continue to beat the competition and will still dominate because who needs the one most dominant game out there that accounts for ~10% of PlayStation revenue for the last few years let alone every other IP there that makes more money than Sony IPs.

The other side acts like Microsoft is the Jesus of companies and will graciously and without at all making it financially worse for Sony to allow their games on PlayStation, the one competitor that Microsoft has obviously noted and said that they themselves can't compete against in these filings and 100% not the company that Xbox One era Microsoft said they weren't really competing against.

[thesoftware730]

Why do we need a 3rd Console?

Because peoples perceived direction of what MS is doing? Are people really afraid for Sony?

Sony are giants, MS are giants, and Nintendo is Very relevant in gaming, no one wants a 3rd High Spec console with the same exact games as the 2 we have now. You want people to buy 4 consoles now, because MS is disrupting Sony's regularly scheduled program?

Shame.

[Christopher]

***Why do we need a 3rd Console?***

Because competition thrives when it's not a war of attrition.

***Sony are giants, MS are giants***

Not according to Microsoft.

***no one wants a 3rd High Spec console with the same exact games as the 2 we have now.***

*looks at PC* Sorry, what?

***You want people to buy 4 consoles now, because MS is disrupting Sony's regularly scheduled program?***

1. Why do people need to buy more than 1 console?
2. Why do you make MS out to be the good guy here but not when Sony disrupts Microsoft's regularly scheduled program?
3. Why do you think a battle between the 3rd highest earning company in the world and a company that doesn't even chart in the top 100 earning is fine and a one-time deal that is valued at almost the full value of the other company is going to maintain competition?
4. Do you think we should only have Microsoft? If not, then why do you fight so hard against Sony's desire to remain competitive against a $70b buyout the likes of which the industry has never seen?

You're arguing against more competition when I can throw the same argument people throw against others, no one is forcing you to buy the new competition's products. But in arguing against competition, you're arguing against yourself and you just don't realize it because you're so blind to trust that a company that literally buys out competition annually has told you they need to buyout more things to compete against a company worth <8% of them as a whole. The logic is ridiculous. If you support the buyout, you can't support competition. And making it about how you get more games day 1 doesn't change that, it's still losing a massive element of competition in the industry. And capitalism has proven that the only thing that keeps people from dominating is competition. It's the only thing.

[wiz7191]

@Christoper once people realize Microsoft aren’t trying to compete anymore , they’re just trying to make money and put themselves in a position to always make money. You right on raw sales Microsoft can’t compete with Sony they know that , instead of competing why not make money off them ? Say what you want but if this deal goes through Activision will have the financial backing they really need same with Bethesda

[FinalFantasyFanatic]

@thesoftware730
"Why do we need a 3rd Console? "

I actually wish Sega still made hardware, but at this point, everything is just a mini computer, although I do love how Nintendo actually went in a different direction with the hybrid console/handheld (not that it wasn't attempted before in history). Nintendo is innovative enough, different enough, to warrant their place amongst the big three, and I do enjoy their games and other differences they bring to the market.

@wiz7191
"instead of competing why not make money off them ?"
You'd be nuts to think Sony would willingly allow Xbox to take revenue they could have had for themselves, I don't think Xbox has bothered to try and compete since the Xone days (they almost bowed out of the market after the disastrous Xone reveal).

[Christopher]

*** Say what you want but if this deal goes through Activision will have the financial backing they really need same with Bethesda***

The most profitable third-party IP, third most valuable IP, quickly approaching the first two that are Pokemon and Super Mario Bros, which have been out for almost two decades more than CoD, and is the IP that continues to break its own records year after year is finally going to have the financial backing it needs?

Listen to what you are saying. Honestly. Listen.

The absolutely only purpose of ActiBlizz selling is so stakeholders and executives can get massive payouts. There is no problem with the company, it continues to make ridiculous profits every year and has grown every year. The sale isn't because the company is hurting, it's because some rich people want to grab some big money and retire for life off of it.

[MadLad]

Sony with no direct competition will slowly degrade over time. Especially with Jim Ryan at helm.

And Microsoft makes a profit off of their consoles. There's no reason to get out of the hardware business for them.

[Christopher]

Microsoft is and will continue to be direct competition for Sony until they manipulate the market to the way they want and have obtained the primary control in it. The problem is that Nintendo isn't competing with either of these two and vice versa. We really need a third powerhouse to compete at the same level as Microsoft and Sony.

[FinalFantasyFanatic]

I don't really like Jim Ryan and some of the stuff he's done for Sony, but Microsoft aren't that interested in competing, their recent actions have proven this, and they we going to drop out of the market in the early Xone days. This is just Microsoft going all out to own the market so they can do as they please, if it doesn't work out, just might just stop making hardware and spruik Gamepass (which I kinda feel they're doing now anyway).

[MIDGETonSTILTS17]

Why can’t M$ make games instead of just buying them?

[Wintersun616]

"That's just the thing. They don't have the passion that would drive their studios to make the best games. They can hire all the talent money can buy, but as long as the people in charge of Xbox are in it only for the money, they'll never be the top dog in this industry. They just don't understand nor have what it takes to pull it off. Throwing money around and seeing if it sticks just doesn't work when you're up against people who actually love what they're doing and understand this industry."

Wondering about the quatation marks? Yeah I wrote this a couple of years back in some random article. I'm not keeping track you know, just had a little deja vu here.

Now I was hopeful back then, that they would understand this and try something else. Instead they just multiplied the amount of money they're throwing around to find out how much they need to pay to win.

[Chocoburger]

@Wintersun616

Those have been my thoughts for years now. The Xbox brand started strong, I was a big fan of Xbox, bought it day one in 2001 with no regrets. Lots of good times, MS first party didn't always hit, but sometimes it did, and it was a worthwhile experience. To make things even sweeter was that they made deals with companies like SEGA for exclusive niche games that appealed to me. Panzer Dragoon Orta, Jet Set Radio Future, Gunvalkryie, Spikeout: Battlestreet, and more!

The original Xbox had a great library of games, great online service for its era, and overall MS put in the effort to try and succeed. They stopped putting in the effort around the Kinect era, and each year they just slip further and further into scummy territory. As if the 2013 DRM fiasco wasn't bad enough, they're now doing real life PAY TO WIN tactics, blatantly attempting to horde the industry for themselves. The very same industry they honestly do not give a crap about, they just want to "win at any cost."

Even if they don't end up owning Activision, just for their egregious behavior, I'll never forgive them.

[rippermcrip]

So all these Bethesda games are coming to Playstation?

[Hofstaderman]

Nah we cool. You guys can keep that.

[n1kki6]

If Sony adds game pass they get all of the games. Simple as that.

[Profchaos]

Boosteroid is what small EU based PC game streaming this is a publicity stunt forgive my ignorance but I've never heard of them before today

[Tedakin]

MS would love to put Gamepass on PS5. Sony will never allow it.

[crazyCoconuts]

Any other streaming companies with no chance of succeeding want a 10 year deal so that MS looks charitable? Guaranteed the contract will outlive the company

[343_Guilty_Spark]

Boosteroid is one of the largest streaming platforms and is doing quite well.

[crazyCoconuts]

Oh yeah, one of the big boys. /S
Can't even find their company profile in Wikipedia.
Only news you'll find about them is this MS deal. Obviously another PR play for MS

[Mr_cheese]

I like to think I'm fairly clued in with things. This is the first I've heard of them. Doesn't mean they're not big, just never heard of them.

[Stanjara]

Never heard of it.

[crazyCoconuts]

I've heard of Hemorrhoid... is that what you're thinking of?

[ChasterMies]

Raise your hand if you never heard of Boosteroids until today.

[blackblades]

Never heard of it

[BlaqMagiq1]

Not a single soul including you even knew who Boosteroid was until today.

[FinalFantasyFanatic]

"Boosteroid is one of the largest streaming platforms and is doing quite well."
Said no one ever, I don't even know who these people are, it's like they rose out of the ether.

[Extermin8or3_]

Which says everything about the gaming streaming market. They ate based in Ukraine, are fucking tiny. The gsme streaming market is 10% Nvidia, 25% Sony, 64% ish Microsoft and the remaining 1% is companies like this. They have no hope in the long run and that's if a Russian missile doesn't wipe out their entire head office and/or whatever little infrastructure they have. Nvidia mostly let's you just streaming games you own so arguably their market share is probably even less than that.

[Berenger]

MS is practically a third party publisher at this point. Might as well drop the hardware altogether and just put Gamepass on everything.

[Crows90]

Theyre turning into a subscription service and the xbox fans are so happy about it...lol

[Sonic1881]

I agree with you there about turning into a subscription service

[343_Guilty_Spark]

Why shouldn’t we be?

The traditional console model says buy a $500+ console and buy games at $60-$70 a pop that will only play on that box.

The model Microsoft wants is you get access to 1000+ games across multiple devices of your choosing and you get day and date release of exclusives.

You really tryna shade Xbox fans for choosing the model with more value?

You one of those people that spend $50 a pop at the movie theater and gets angry streaming services at all the all you can eat model.

[darthv72]

for me personally... Im getting older now and less interested in the ownership or even the physicality of things like when i was a kid. Im happy just being able to play something that interests me. Or watch a movie without having to buy it.

Just a word of advice to all the young people... it is inevitable that you will get older and your views on things will change. I used to defend the whole buying physical games thing, now... not so much. Convenience has its ups and downs and I'm okay with that.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

@darthv72

I can’t tell you how many movies and games I’ve collected that just sit collecting dust. I’m just not that interested in ownership. Not when the content is readily accessible through streaming or downloading.

[Crows90]

@343 subscription automatically would make gaming more expensive.

It's happened with creative software already.

[Christopher]

***The model Microsoft wants is you get access to 1000+ games across multiple devices of your choosing and you get day and date release of exclusives.***

You don't own games. You play what is currently licensed only. Internet is always required, even for SP. This is control that should be in the hands of players, not in the hands of the people making the games. Players should have the option to ensure the preservation of games, should be able to play whenever they want, should not be dictated what is available by license deals, should not disenfranchise communities that tend to be a generation behind on gaming or lack constant Internet access.

Desiring a better deal always comes at a cost. I think people don't really understand what their decisions mean in the long run and are very short-sighted.

***Just a word of advice to all the young people... it is inevitable that you will get older and your views on things will change. I used to defend the whole buying physical games thing, now... not so much. Convenience has its ups and downs and I'm okay with that.***

This is Boomer Logic. Don't listen to him. This is from a 45-year-old gamer. You might move into a position where you can not worry about ownership, but that doesn't mean others don't rely on it. Why remove options, why allow a company like Microsoft to dominate such an industry seeing their history with software as it is, why ignore that just because you might like something now that it doesn't mean it's for the best of the industry.

[Mr_cheese]

@spark

I'd argue that the majority of xbox owners don't realise the direction of this subscription model.

They see it as they're getting access via their xbox not that they'll get rid of their xbox and use other devices.

You personally may see these benefits and the future plan but most don't

[darthv72]

@chris... both of us are GenX, I'm only 5 years older than you. Who knows what will happen in 5 years. Your perspective might change, it might not... all im saying is don't be surprised if it does.

[Christopher]

***both of us are GenX***

Doesn't change that you're using Boomer logic here. The one that fails to see the ongoing challenges that people outside of your sphere are or will go through or how things you can afford or accept aren't a problem because it's a wealth-tied element that favors powerful first-world nations and profit-focused corporations.

Music streaming services have imbalanced payouts and licensed artist rights by service. TV/Movie streaming services make you pay to see ads still, have some of the worst licensing deals (content that Peacock owns isn't on Peacock because of licensing, help me make sense of the idiocy of it), buyouts literally reduce content potential (see WB/HBO merger and how they throw out content), and prices steadily increase while quality doesn't.

And yet with this writing on the wall, let's throw video games into that? And let's not think that Microsoft or Sony won't capitalize on making more money off it or controlling the gaming arena through such things? Let's trust them to know what's best for us because it's the goodness of their heart, not at all purely profit focused and a goal to maintain control? The thing that's been working perfectly fine with physical and digital releases from competitive storefronts? Why are we messing with any of that?

***Your perspective might change, it might not... all im saying is don't be surprised if it does.***

My perspective will never change to "hey, let's trust profit-oriented corporations to decide what's good for us, and let's ignore that because I can afford a subscription service that is not affordable to and feasible for 50% of the population out there, that portion of the population that the corporations would like for us to just ignore exists."

[FinalFantasyFanatic]

They're already laying the ground work for it, wouldn't be surprised if it did happen in the future.

@darthv72,
I just like having less stuff, my house is cluttered as it is (and not because of my own choosing, it's technically not my house), so I don't want to have to find space to put stuff unless it's something I really want like a collector's item (e.g. art books and sound track CDs, developer interviews and stuff). Plus hard drives are cheap as chips for storage these days unless you only want to use SSDs.

I'm maining Steam as my platform of choice these days and digital is the only option you get, I'd be happy to pay out for physical copies of collectors editions and the items that come with it for games I really love. But that's not an option of PC unless the developer sells a physical edition for PC with a download code.

[Extermin8or3_]

They shouldn't be. If they force the games industry in that direction then it will mean smaller budgets for games and only games they know will keep people subscribed being made- I.e: safe franchises they know people like abd mostly free to play sequel games that are games as a service and you have to keep subscribed to retain access to.

[Charlieboy333]

@ 343 So what you're basically saying is that you wouldn't care if the Xbox console disappears in favour of gamepass only ?

[PapaBop]

I'm a PS fan and happy about it too...I get to play all Xbox games on my PC for £1 a month thanks to them never fixing the trial loophole.

[shinoff2183]

If it falls into place I would do that. Long as I can download instead of stream. Streaming still blows and no gamer should be pushing for it.

[Crows90]

Thats what was being said not too long ago about digital only...especially in the console space.

[FinalFantasyFanatic]

I miss going down to the video store as a family, we used to pick out several movies for a few days/week and I'd often get to borrow out a game. Good times, scrolling through the movie/series option on a streaming service doesn't feel the same to me, I often end up with choice paralysis.

[Asplundh]

The thing is Sony wouldn't allow it on the system as it would cannibalize their game sales and subscriptions. Sony was reluctant to even let EA Access on Playstation, let alone a direct competitors subscription service.

[darthv72]

MS has wanted to make Xbox like Windows. Windows runs on a wide range of products as well as their own hardware. Xbox games are moving in the same direction. They have their own hardware but now they are making it more accessible to those who do not have the hardware.

It reminds me of SNK (Neo Geo). They made games for their arcade hardware as well as their home console but also for other platforms like the Dreamcast and PS2. It really was odd to see but I didn't have to own a $600 AES or pay $300 to play KoF 2002. I could play it on my DC for like $50.

[Christopher]

Because they don't want Sony to win at hardware either. A hardware console manufacturer imposes on their desire to take things all digital subscription. So they continue to compete in hardware to get people onto their hardware and their services to weaken the competition as much as possible.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

@Christopher

nice try

Your entire job is to manage a gaming website were gamers come here to b**** and moan about what some company's box is or isn't doing. I think they use the INTERNET to do this. The vast majority of gamers are using the internet. So what are you going on about lack of access. Console/PC Gaming is an expensive vice, or least it can be.

When I complete a game, unless it is a genre defining classic, that is it for me. I am not going back to complete those games. I'll be okay NOT owning them. I have about 10 different copies of Sonic the Hedgehog...I'll be okay.

Game preservation is something entirely different...that is why backwards compatibility, and emulators are so important.

Also younger than you Gen-Xer.

Streaming is cheaper than Cable, and the movies. Complain all you want that is the direction we are headed. If you want to keep buying increasingly expensive $70 console titles go right ahead. Won't be long til Sony squeezes another $10 out of you.

[Christopher]

***Your entire job is to manage a gaming website were gamers come here to b**** and moan about what some company's box is or isn't doing. I think they use the INTERNET to do this. The vast majority of gamers are using the internet.***

What a strawman argument. Amazing. Bravo. Going to a website on any electronic device to interact in kb of data is equivalent the constantly downloading and updating games digitally, let alone restricting those games digitally by region and not allowing people to import physical copies. Obviously, 80GB of game downloads are equivalent to browser viewing and commenting.

***When I complete a game, unless it is a genre defining classic, that is it for me.***

Great. Because this conversation is all about you.

***Game preservation is something entirely different...that is why backwards compatibility, and emulators are so important.***

No, it's not. Subscription models are dependent on licensing. There is no game preservation. You don't own anything. If companies see a way to make people pay more for less (specifically for not having ownership), then they will. And people like you are encouraging them to do it. Want proof? Look at all the major companies that pulled out of allowing NVidia to stream their games from Steam. Even Microsoft *only* joined to push this deal through and make it look like they're the "good guy" and want "their games everywhere without any additional costs" when what they are salivating for is the IP control from the buyout and the sudden movement to being the most powerful and most profitable publisher of games in the world

***Streaming is cheaper than Cable, and the movies. Complain all you want that is the direction we are headed. If you want to keep buying increasingly expensive $70 console titles go right ahead.***

Haven't paid that for a game yet unless it was a deluxe version. Do you not know how game sales work? Do you think day 1 prices are it? Sony wanting $70 for a game doesn't mean we just buy it. And, do you think I'm sitting here shilling for $70 games? No, you save your money and you buy them cheaper.

And Streaming one service is cheaper than having all of cable, sure. But you add it all up, and you're now in a broken-up system of apps and licensing and what you could watch and record on cable sometimes isn't even available on the app. Streaming has come pretty much full circle to equaling up to cable in costs without the integrated system.

***Won't be long til Sony squeezes another $10 out of you.***

I like how you think this is purely about Microsoft and not the need for competition in general. Really tells me where your mind is because it's obviously not on what I'm talking about. I've literally made the argument on here that Nintendo is not competing well enough against Sony and MS (and vice versa) and that we need a third, main competitor to them.

[cooperdnizzle]

@ 343 Dude you make zero since like every other post you make on this site.

You lie so much I think you actually believe your own bullshit.

If you think streaming is where games are headed read a book, look up some sales figures

Most companies right now are finding out the hard way subscription do not work in the long run.

If you want cheap games with micro transactions and GAAS go right ahead.

Just shut your mouth and stop spreading misinformation, lies and propaganda. You are just some ignorant fool who obviously doesn’t care about video games.

[FinalFantasyFanatic]

Actually, there's alot of younger generations going back to owning things again if the news articles are to be believed, especially when people find out that their favorite content doesn't remain on their service of choice forever. This is something I've struggle with myself as a millennial, there are some Netflix exclusives I really love, but I worry what would happen if Netflix collapsed, I'd have no legal way of re-watching that stuff.

Technically, when you buy a physical copy of a game, or movie, or music, you still don't own the game, just the license to play, but at least I can play it when I please as long as the hardware is still available (or I could possibly emulate the hardware on PC if worst comes to worst). As for game subscriptions, see above paragraph, when the license runs out, it leaves the service.

Who pays $70 for a game these days unless it's Nintendo's first party games? I just wishlist and wait for sales. Sometimes Steam chucks me a freebie, Epic does it every week, Steam and Playstation Store sales make games cheap and $30 is generally my strike price for alot of games. Sometimes there's in-store discounts and sales at physical locations (picked up Metroid Dread this way for about $45, wish I grabbed Mario Golf at the same time). I rarely pay full price unless it's personally a hotly anticipated title that I can't resist the wait for. You also can't get physical collector's goodies with subscriptions either, which is fine for the majority of games, except my favorites, where I would love some memorabilia of them.

Christopher has the cost of streaming down pat, the content is so fractured between so many content providers, we're almost back at square one and paying out like we do for pay TV:

"And Streaming one service is cheaper than having all of cable, sure. But you add it all up, and you're now in a broken-up system of apps and licensing... Streaming has come pretty much full circle to equaling up to cable in costs without the integrated system. "

For those who haven't faced reality or even realized it yet, the golden age of streaming died years ago.

[Extermin8or3_]

Streaming isn't where games are heading for a simple reason- latency. Most gamers will live too fsr from their isp. There'd a hard cap on what you can do with respect to latency and that cap is the speed of light in a fibre or in air. So you can't escape latency of between 40-100ms for a large proportion of gamers- the input lag that results in is a significant issue.

I mean quantum computing/communication coukd theoretically overcome this but the technology is decades away from being in any kind of commercial state if it ever is from a practical perspective.

Thinking about the prices. MS get the streaming monopoly they want snd they will Jack up their prices becauae it needs to be profitable- it also means sma
Ller budgets for games and every gsme being gaas in order to force people tk need to keep subscribed as having enough content to have a constant stream of new AAA titles is way too expensive and impractical.

[darkrider]

Marketing campaign. Microsoft keeps going all out to get the deal approved....

[hiawa23]

That is exactly what they should do, imo.

[DVAcme]

Boosterwhatnow?

[Vengeance1138]

Who?

[Magatsuhi]

And Activision needed Microsoft to do this?

[Thundercat77]

Nope. It's just part of the show.

[porkChop]

When has Activision been pro consumer? Of course they needed MS to do this because Activision would never bother with options, value, etc.

[IRetrouk]

The cod games are already on the boosteroid service though.

[porkChop]

Yes, MW2 and Warzone 2 are. But only in an unofficial capacity. It's not officially sanctioned or endorsed by Activision. Boosteroid basically rents you a server to play a copy of COD that you already own. This deal is for full, official support on the platform.

[IRetrouk]

It's more than just those two games and that's exactly how that service works, you pay a sub to stream the games you already own.

[hiawa23]

Good move, MS. Put the games on as many platforms as possible, as far as I am concerned. Opening up your games to more is a good thing.

[Shepskywalker]

Why would anyone want to call this news as anything but positive for gamers. That's all we are. We buy what we want and can afford and play the games. If most of you have wife's or girlfriends and they could see the petty comments you make daily they would run a mile. It's embarrassing. Play on any system and stop being salty .

[thesoftware730]

Exactly!!

[343_Guilty_Spark]

Because they are plastic box fans not gaming fans. What’s good for the community isn’t good for PlayStation. That’s how they see it.

[cooperdnizzle]

Once again you are so far up your own ass.

You are the one who defends a box, you are the one who post on this site over and over.

You don’t want good games to be made just cheap games.

At least PlayStation only gamers know good games.

And last point I’ll make but you won’t be able to hear because your head is up your own ass. M$ did nothing this gen to push the industry forward.

If you like cheap games and bad quality that’s fine, but don’t act like you are in the right. You are just flat out wrong. You don’t have an opinion, you are just a speaking box for Xbox. Vomiting out the same lies day in and day out.

I don’t say this to most people, but you can suck a butt.

[FinalFantasyFanatic]

Some of us are PC gamers, although I own multiple Nintendo and Sony plastic boxes too (and one the 360), it's not just the "Sony fans".

[Aloymetal]

''Why would anyone want to call this news as anything but positive for gamers.''
Because some of us are not that dumb to believe this ''fake concern'' the green side is always portraying.
Why do you care SO MUCH if gamers on other platforms get to play MS games or not... Besides, anyone interested in playing any MS game would've bought their consoles long time ago. Contrary to what some minority of you think, MS games are not what most gamers around the planet wanna play. Where have you been in last 20+ yrs...

[UltimateOwnage]

I personally will always vote with my wallet against MS cannibalizing the market, buying up treasured multi platform developers and breaking them down, and converting the industry to a trash subscription service. We’ve all seen the pros and cons of Netflix movies vs blockbuster movies that you can buy off the shelf. The production values suck and the more costly and time involved AAA game development industry won’t survive it - but hey, it’s cheap a sub so it’s gotta be a win-win, right?

[DOMination-]

Personally I only played FH5 and MSFS so far on XSX. PS5 iis my third party place of choice. I’d love Xbox Game Pass on PlayStation because it’ll be much easier having just one console. Would be even better if you earned trophies as well as achievements.

[Gamer_Dude]

Why so much outrage, it's only a few games and everyone hates cod, besides PlayStation has the market in exclusives over Xbox so what does it matter anyway?

Play games on your PlayStation and let everyone else play where they want.

[Aloymetal]

@Gamer_Dude
''Play games on your PlayStation and let everyone else play where they want.''
I know reading is hard...But my whole post was about not giving a single iota where gamers play.
BTW, don't let the facts affect your blood sodium levels...

[Gamer_Dude]

Maybe they don't have wives or girlfriends and that's what's making them salty! :)

[Obscure_Observer]

Another smart move by Phil Spencer.

More gamers will help fund more and more quality Xbox first party games.

[gerbintosh]

Or you know, MS with their billions in the bank could do that as well. Then that would bring more gamers. Instead they want to buy everyone out and force people to choose their platform. What a great console /s

[Obscure_Observer]

@gerbintosh

In case you didn´t notice, the gamers already coming. There´s a reason why Gamepass is the most successful gaming service in the world. And it is getting bigger and better by the day. Most gamers will not miss out on Starfield, Forza Motorsport, S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2 or Redfall over some crazy obsession with Playstion.

[gerbintosh]

@Obscure

You mean the games that were already in the works when they bought other companies? Let me know when MS develops a first party game this gen from the ground up that isn't a sequel or bought from another company.

Also Starfield = Better graphics No mans sky, so pass. Dont like racers, so pass. Didnt like the first stalker, so pass and redfall appears to be like left for dead, so pass

With so little time I have an obsession with quality, not systems.

[cooperdnizzle]

Did you just say quality Xbox first party games? Give me one game of the year they have had in the past 15 years?

You Xbox only guys wouldn’t know a good game to save your life.

I could manage a game studio and make a better game/ product than m$ could at this point.

I don’t even think most of you actually play game outside of one or two. That’s fine. To each their own, just keep your bs to your self and let the real gamers discuss the real issues, you know gamers who actually care about the medium and don’t want it to go the way of the movie/ music industry.

And there you guys go again lying and being nothing more than a puppet. PlayStation has more subscribers than m$ does..

Suck a butt

[FlavorLav01]

Tell me again how optimizing games for a million different devices versus one or two consoles will end result in better gamers long run from the industry for consumers. Xbox’s service-centric focus will stifle and cheapen AAA gaming with gamepass “reaching more players” over any real risk taking, innovation, and straight up making games worthy of the AAA moniker. It’s year 3 and besides Forza Horizon, Halo was a turd and we’re left with nothing else so far this gen and they had how many studios even before all their acquisitions? Tired of the excuses. If this were Sony, the sharks would be swirling and the end would be near. The mentality that something cheap today is better for the consumer long run is a total bust if you almost never get a quality meal. But Xbox fans keep eating at the buffet and many don’t complain but instead justify. I’m still an Xbox fan, still got my SeriesX but they need some heart and soul besides gamepass badly.

[Obscure_Observer]

"Xbox’s service-centric focus will stifle and cheapen AAA gaming with gamepass “reaching more players” over any real risk taking, innovation, and straight up making games worthy of the AAA moniker."

Lol. How? New Xbox first party studios evolved from Indie and AA studios to full AAA. Compulsion, Undead Labs, InXile, Ninja Theory, Obsidian...

"It’s year 3 and besides Forza Horizon, Halo was a turd and we’re left with nothing else so far this gen and they had how many studios even before all their acquisitions? Tired of the excuses."

Before the acquisitions back in June 2018, Xbox Game Studios were made of only 5 first party studios. 343i, Turn 10, The Coalition, RARE and Mojang. While Playstation had 13 first party studios, almost triple!

"I’m still an Xbox fan, still got my SeriesX but they need some heart and soul besides gamepass badly."

What? You? An Xbox fan? Now you have me dying here. Lmao! XD

[FlavorLav01]

I don’t need your belief, I’ve got a crap ton of old hardware and software that say otherwise, including being a Day 1 Halo: Combat Evolved and OG Xbox system adopter. You can GTFO if it hurts your feelings to see a fan venting about gamer wanting actual Xbox games. But instead they need to go purchase half the industry to do that. Haha….A return to form is all I’m asking. Make games worthy of full price regardless of where you put them. I think gamepass is a sink hole for AAA budget games and therefore will lead to fewer of them. But hey, time will tell.

[cooperdnizzle]

M$ didn’t grow not one of the studios you mentioned. And if you were such the gamer you claim to be you would know that m$ has crippled most of the studios they have worked with or owned in the past.

The devs leave and the only thing that remains is the name of the studio and IPs which m$ doesn’t have a clue what to do with them.

Xbox only fans, are just not gamers. Simple as that

[Obscure_Observer]

"You can GTFO if it hurts your feelings to see a fan venting about gamer wanting actual Xbox games"

You call yourself an Xbox fan when you didn´t even knew how many first party studios Xbox had before Phil got promote and start to acquire/create more studios. I mean, you were complaining about Halo, Forza and Gears when XGS couldn´t possible deliver much more than that.

You said Gamepass is the death of AAA game development by completely ignoring that even former Indie and AA studios are now fully AAA studios working on actual AAA games AND new IPs which apparently you don´t know nothing about.

This is a quote from a PS fan here on N4G:

"If MS is already making a killing with GP, by releasing practically no first party games on it, and the userbase is over the moon with the current service, then what business reason does MS have to fund multiple AAA games and studios?

I watched that Senua 2 developer video. Trips to Iceland to rebuild the landscape in the game. Looks hella expensive, and I wonder what that will bring to the gameplay."

https://n4g.com/news/253890...

I mean, if even PS fans on N4G recognizes that Xbox is investing big money in AAA first party development focused on Gamepass, what kind of Xbox fan it make out of you? An uninformed one at the very least I would say.

I understand valid criticism which every company in gaming deserves on some lv, but imo, you come across as a uninformed person complaining about things you didn´t even bother to research on the subject.

Microsoft is one of biggest and richest companies in the world and you think its made up of morons? Do you think they don´t read pieces like "This piece of garbage just fit Gamepass" on social media? Do you think they would sit idle and do absolutely nothing about it?

A quick research and you´ll find out that since the Series consoles got released, there isn´t a single Xbox first party game which has a score below 82 on Metacritic.

That´s why new first party games is taking more time to be developed. Microsoft wants to make sure that those games are ready to hit the shelves in a more quality/polished state.

It´s a pretty simple equation, if Gamepass has superior quality Indie, AA and AAA games in comparison to the competition, what reason most gamers will have to own a PS5 and pay for lower quality full priced $70 games?

Yeah... I don´t think you understand what Microsoft´s endgame with Gamepass is about. But you will. Very very soon.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

All they really need is 90+ exclusives. That’s really all.

[cooperdnizzle]

M$ hasn’t released a first party game under an 82. Lmfao. You are right the whole two games they managed to release in the past 5 years.

You are the one who is missed informed talk hypocrisy is thee name obscure observer.

[thesoftware730]

🤣🤣🤣, anyone that thought MS didn't have some have some of the best lawyers in the world, that would slay the shit out of this attempt to stop the A/B merger were in denial.

We might as well welcome A/B to the Xbox Ecosystem.

Sorry Sony.

[Mr_cheese]

Sorry gamers*

[thesoftware730]

Nope, im a gamer and I been gaming for a long time and I'm ok with.

No apology needed...thanks tho.

I am sorry you have to endure such a dramatic change as a Sony-Only gamefan such as yourself..

Hey, you still have the SM 2 date to look forward too, am I right!

[Mr_cheese]

I'm not a Sony only fan, far from it. I live gaming and love positive competition.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

Microsoft should rescind their offer to Sony.

[MIDGETonSTILTS17]

Purty smug for someone still waiting for an XsX AAA game…

[GoodGuy09]

I'm liking Microsofts thing with bringing all their games to as much platforms as possible. Exclusivity needs to be a thing of the past for all 3rd party games imo. This brings Microsoft to a good spot within the console war competition.

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

Yeah they should bring all of their games to Playstation as well.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

Tell Jim Ryan to sign the deal.

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

Deal only includes CoD. Tell Phil to bring all their Xbox games in addition to CoD maybe he'll sign it.

[MIDGETonSTILTS17]

…do you think 3rd party exclusivity deals are the cause of Xbox’s drought?

Delivering on their promise for the last decade, “the games ARE coming,” is the ONLY thing that will “bring M$ to a good spot.”

[SimpleSlave]

Can't wait for the 10 Year STADIA deal. That's gonna be checkmate Sony for sure...

[gold_drake]

not to be negative, but streaming games sucks ass. especially from last and current gen.

can u imagine what a stuttering mess the newer ones are gonna be?

[mastershredder]

When Boosteroids flare up... Tucks medicated game pads...

[UltimateOwnage]

What the heck is boosteroid. Never heard of it. I saw the word cloud and immediately didn’t care.

[Kyizen]

I'm looking forward to this, I'm not going to buy an Xbox but if they release a $99 dongle bundled with Gamepass, that runs games off the cloud well. Well that is pure gold. They could be the netflix of gaming. PS5 will still be HBO haha.

[YourMommySpoils]

Yep, Microsoft definitely needs a boosteroid. Boosteroid with games.

[ApocalypseShadow]

Microsoft is doing the same thing as before. The same thing I've been saying for years. Just like Windows software. Creating an inoperable situation where they know Sony won't go for it. Because they know it would harm their business.

Same monopolistic tactic, same situation where the FTC and lawyers have to get involved to stop a predator trying to control a particular market by strong arming.

The funny thing is to see those in support of a digital future just like DRM 2013.

"Well, I'm getting older and don't want to own things as before when I was young."

These individuals are fine to lose ownership, have always online 24/7, fine with not being able to play single player games offline, fine with games leaving a service and there's nothing you can do because there will be no physical release in a streaming future. Chris above is stating what I've been saying for years.

There's a portion of the gaming community that doesn't care about the industry. Don't care about who controls it and the repercussions of it. They have been groomed on cheap services blindly not knowing that it will cost them later. And if they did stop gaming because they are supposedly, "older," they would have screwed over future gamers getting into gaming.

We all know which community this is. The same that was fine with paying for online, fine with micro transactions and DLC because content didn't fit on a DVD, fine with proprietary hardware during 360 and even now with series X HDD, fine with a brown box sent to their homes, fine with a raise in price of online, being targeted with a camera for advertising, fine with a lack of consistent AAA releases for years, subscriptions on top of subscriptions, paying to play free to play games for years. And now, they are fine with a particular company buying up the industry because they can't compete in a fair and square match. But has billions of dollars and is worth 2 TRILLION.

Everything that is bad that has happened in the industry is because of this community that doesn't care about gaming. Or wishes payback from the continual domination a smaller, yet hard working game company that releases award winning games and high fidelity VR when that other rich company didn't.

Thanks. You know who you are.

[Harryvok]

Pretty low move using the war to try and push the deal. But I'd expect no less from Microsoft.

[AmUnRa]

You know what is disquisting? MS is beating theyr chest that the firm is in Oekranie, and that they are helping the people of Oekranie this way.

But the problem is Boosterriod is listed in Bulgaria on theyr website with the complete adres and phonenumber and al relevant information.
Thats just so low.....

[derek]

With each passing move by Microsoft it seems like they know the deal will been rejected by the CMA at least and all this pr is to ensure they look like the good guys instead of the clowns who screwed it up.

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Again Microsoft become 3rd party publisher or another thing is some ppl I rather have physical discs regardless of my age because I support ownership, also stop these downloads on these discs thing it's not cool. Streaming ain't the future it's an option.
Support options not limitations. It's just imo 🤷 Sony will be the last physical disks console manufacturers I will and always support that. You ppl who support the death of physical discs nah you gamers support the wrong thing.

[kingnick]

Sadly the days of having complete and functional games on physical disc are mostly gone.

Xbox's smart delivery means that if you have a crossgen game the default install is often the XBO version and you have to download extra data or the game in its entirety on the XS consoles to get the XOX or Xbox Series S/X enhanced version.

Sony took the other route of having different physical releases for some PS4/PS5 games but this comes with its own issues.

I miss the old days of popping in a disc and within seconds/minutes I'd be playing the game.

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Ong I want that back I want options not destruction of one format that is essential to console gaming.

[jznrpg]

Anyone ever heard of this company ?

[Babadook7]

No. Kind of a you scratch my back I scratch yours type of deal.

[Ethereal]

*look over here... look at the little dolly...*

[Babadook7]

If you think for a second or two you’ll know why this otherwise unnecessary deal was made.

[AmUnRa]

It does not matter that firm is so small (aprox 3mil users) that the CMA does not count them as beiing relevant to let the deal pass. MS is just despared trying to let the deal pass, thats clear as water.