Xbox Business Update Podcast | Xbox Everywhere Direction Discussion

[QPlayer]

Game pass is great value for people that play a lot of games, but subscription services in general remain too exploitable for the videogames medium. I can just wait until 2-3 games that I want to play get on game pass or other subscription, play those, and then cancel the sub. There is no attachment of those games to an account, the transactions are "transient" for lack of a better word, which I guess is good for the consumer, that can hop between platforms without many negatives, but not for the platform holder.

But what if from now on, great games that are interesting are released in GP almost every month? In this case, everyone keeps their subscription because they can't resist the offer. And MS is doing exactly that, just take a look at the current and upcoming offer. A year ago, people didn't think they would have 10+ games a year in GP, everyone was only talking about 4-6 games.

Reminder. Most of their games so far have been delivered by their original studios and Bethesda teams. However, the biggest game dumping is expected only after that, from the ABK teams! I suspect they will also present a lot of new Xbox games at this year's summer showcase.

 

[Charlietus]

But what if from now on, great games that are interesting are released in GP almost every month? In this case, everyone keeps their subscription because they can't resist the offer. And MS is doing exactly that, just take a look at the current and upcoming offer. A year ago, people didn't think they would have 10+ games a year in GP, everyone was only talking about 4-6 games.

Reminder. Most of their games so far have been delivered by their original studios and Bethesda teams. However, the biggest game dumping is expected only after that, from the ABK teams! I suspect they will also present a lot of new Xbox games at this year's summer showcase.

Right now many games are coming out in the same period, but keeping up this rythm is impossible, unless there are no delays and some perfect planning. They have like 40 studios, and even that isn't enough to prevent periods of draught.

 

[Cyan]

Yes, the form-factor. I bet there will be more and more nice console-like PCs coming to the market soon, and it's not out of the question that future OEM Xboxes could be very attractive in terms of their form. The only thing that might be inconvenient is that there are several form/performance models coming out in quick succession, which get better and better and we want more of them

But maybe this is part of MS's strategy, as the market will soon be flooded with console-like PCs. They just need to provide a dedicated Xbox OS for these hardware.

it'd be in their interest tbh. Nowadays computers can almost be OS agnostic, but when it comes to gaming Windows still has the advantage. I am using Linux Mint now and it's surprising how many games work, but some other games that I bought with my money like Legends of Eisenwald and who knows some others, crash on me and I can't play them. On Windows they should work like a charm.

 

[Johnny Awesome]

I don't think most people unsubscribe to GP. That's why it's so good for MS.

Unlike TV shows where you watch and then don't go back, there's usually "something" to play.

 

[Cappuccino]

Xbox users will remain Xbox users precisely because of their existing Xbox library, as you mentioned, and because of the increasingly strong Game Pass. Most people would rather wait and be happy on Series X/S and PC than to suddenly buy a more expensive PS with a more expensive ecosystem like a fool. People are not fools, but there are always a few who suddenly jump to another side out of excitement, which is not relevant.

You are making a super bold assertion when actual data shows Xbox’s install base is shrinking every generation. Clearly, a lot of people each generation decide to jump ship to PS from Xbox.

Library isn’t nearly as big of a concern as people make it, most aren’t going back to play games from previous generations.

 

[QPlayer]

Right now many games are coming out in the same period, but keeping up this rythm is impossible, unless there are no delays and some perfect planning. They have like 40 studios, and even that isn't enough to prevent periods of draught.

Now? Rather from now on. They can release more than ten AAA games a year, see this year. But I am convinced that they will keep this pace in the coming years.

Let's not forget that in addition to their own studios, they are constantly signing partnership agreements for Day1 GP or temporary exclusive games.

The second half of this year currently looks like this:

Outer Worlds 2
Subnautica 2
COD
Ninja Gaiden 4
Gears of War collection (99%)
Silksong?

And there will probably be one or two more titles that will be announced after that.

 

[Nisaaru]

You are making a super bold assertion when actual data shows Xbox’s install base is shrinking every generation. Clearly, a lot of people each generation decide to jump ship to PS from Xbox.

Library isn’t nearly as big of a concern as people make it, most aren’t going back to play games from previous generations.

It's more likely they jump to PC. 10 year old Libraries are a huge investment for some.

 

[Cyan]

Phil Spencer says everything on Game Pass should also be available for purchase.

Microsoft Gaming Chief Phil Spencer on ‘A Minecraft Movie’ Gamble, ‘Fallout’ Season 2 and Mixing Hollywood Pursuits With Xbox Biz Priorities

Microsoft Gaming's Phil Spencer on "A Minecraft Movie," 'Fallout" Season 2, and Xbox's larger goals in Hollywood and gaming biz loyalty.

variety.com

For me, I look at Game Pass as a healthy option for certain people. It's not for everybody. If you play one or two games a year, Game Pass probably isn't the right business model for you, you should just buy those two games, and that would make total sense.

But I want you to have the choice. So we remain focused on everything that's on Game Pass is also available to buy. We're making those games available to buy in more places. And I look at the overall hours of people who are playing on Xbox, playing our games, and that's a number that continues to grow fairly substantially, and that's really the metric I think about for success.

And Game Pass has been an important part of that, but I don't try to solve for Game Pass specifically on its own. It's kind of part of the equation for Xbox finding new players.

 

[see colon]

I struggle to draw parallels between games and tv. They are so different. What applies to one medium doesn't translate to the other.

Maybe, but you've made the case that people would just play a game and cancel after a month. I've simply stated that is a danger for all subscription services, regardless of their content.

Right now many games are coming out in the same period, but keeping up this rythm is impossible, unless there are no delays and some perfect planning. They have like 40 studios, and even that isn't enough to prevent periods of draught.

I think what we have seen recently is that Microsoft is going to maintain a release schedule and supplement with rereleases, remakes or drops from the back catalog (like the random, older COD title) when they need to pad out the pace of releases.

 

[Cappuccino]

It's more likely they jump to PC. 10 year old Libraries are a huge investment for some.

Either way they are abandoning their library.

 

[see colon]

Either way they are abandoning their library.

Some games from the Xbox store give you the same game on Windows store. So a move from Xbox to PC would likely not abandon one's entire library.

 

[Johnny Awesome]

Latest rumour is GamePass is about to hit 40 million subs.

Btw, GamePass IS our library.

I'm kidding, but only a little.

 

[QPlayer]

Latest rumour is GamePass is about to hit 40 million subs.

Btw, GamePass IS our library.

They should throw in the OEM Xbox handheld at this year's Showcase, even with a same-day release. Reading the reaction over the past few months, many want it!

 

[Cappuccino]

Some games from the Xbox store give you the same game on Windows store. So a move from Xbox to PC would likely not abandon one's entire library.

The only games that do this are Microsoft published titles. I've never seen a third party game do this.

 

[rntongo]

You are making a super bold assertion when actual data shows Xbox’s install base is shrinking every generation. Clearly, a lot of people each generation decide to jump ship to PS from Xbox.

Library isn’t nearly as big of a concern as people make it, most aren’t going back to play games from previous generations.

It really isnt, people will switch to whatever platform. You can still access your large library on your old console. Its really that simple.

 

[Cappuccino]

It really isnt, people will switch to whatever platform. You can still access your large library on your old console. Its really that simple.

Yeah, that kinda reinforces my point. People aren't going to be stopped moving over to PC or PS because they have a lot of Xbox games.

 

[QPlayer]

Yeah, that kinda reinforces my point. People aren't going to be stopped moving over to PC or PS because they have a lot of Xbox games.

Xbox and PC will be same ecosystem very soon. Many people will probably switch to either future XboxPC consoles or simply PC because of the Xbox OS that will be introduced soon. GP is available only on these platforms. And Game Pass will be a very attractive offer, we already see this.

 

[Cappuccino]

Xbox and PC will be same ecosystem very soon. Many people will probably switch to either future XboxPC consoles or simply PC because of the Xbox OS that will be introduced soon. GP is available only on these platforms. And Game Pass will be a very attractive offer, we already see this.

A lot of conjecture. GP hasn’t exactly succeeded in bringing people over to Xbox so far, I’m not sure why further merging Xbox and Windows would change anything here.

 

[rntongo]

Yeah, that kinda reinforces my point. People aren't going to be stopped moving over to PC or PS because they have a lot of Xbox games.

Exactly people jumped onto the PS4 and 5 despite having large Xbox collections, Gamepass is even less sticky. You can subscribe or unsubscribe at any moment.