Topic: General Xbox Series X|S Thread

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@TheFrenchiestFry Exclusives are anti-consumer. They are there to make you buy into that ecosystem - not just the hardware as that can often be sold at a loss. By being on that platform, they will make money from ALL purchases - whether its a first party game or multi-platform release - they will get a percentage from ALL software sold. Its the same situation that Epic are fighting Apple over right now.

As a PC owner, the deals MS made perhaps won't affect you in terms of being able to access games - the choice of how/where you access them though could be affected. For example, Starfield may now not be coming to Steam and you would have to purchase through the Microsoft Store but on the other hand, you could have Game Pass and play it on PC, Console and/or Mobile for 'free' on Day 1. I say 'free' because you don't have to pay any extra to play it on day 1 although I know you are paying money for your Subscription. Whether the choice to play on Playstation or not remains, we will see.

If you do have multiple platforms, you aren't necessarily impacted by the deals as you can still access any game. Its not as if you can't play the game because its locked to Microsoft, Sony etc but what it can do is affect your choice. Hypothetically, if MS were to purchase Sega for example, you wouldn't suddenly be locked out of playing a future Sega game on PC or Xbox, but your choice to play it on Switch or Playstation may well be affected. I think that there would potentially be a bigger chance of playing it on Switch maybe than on PS - depending on the game (a new Sonic for example) - but MS would probably still assess on a Game by Game basis.

What would concern me more would be if Sony were to buy up some established studio(s) as I think they would be far more reluctant to release games on other platforms (PC excluded) regardless of history. That being said, if you own a Playstation, it wouldn't impact on your ability to play a game - just limit the choice of where you access it.

Personally, I would be happy if Exclusives don't exist. Every game is released on hardware that can run it to a satisfactory standard. No point releasing a game that struggles to run more than 20fps at less than 580p on a Switch for example - just to release it on that hardware. You should have the choice on what hardware you want based on cost, based on spec, based on features, based on controller layout preference, whether its portable or not etc and not be 'forced' to buy hardware just to play the game(s) you want. Of course that doesn't benefit the manufacturers of hardware because they want to force you to buy into that ecosystem and spend money so they get their slice - even if they do 'nothing' but build a box of electronics that other peoples hard work will run on.

MS were a software company first and foremost and seem happy to sell games on other platforms - and of course would prefer you buy their console over a Playstation as they then get a cut on other software released. But it doesn't matter if you don't buy the console and opt to game on PC or Mobile, buy their Game Pass and/or games through their store. Making those games run on more platforms is in their interest - as it means that developers are not making a few games for Mobile, a few games for PC and a few for Console - they are making a Lot of games for ALL those. It also means that as a consumer, you can start playing on your PC, carry on playing on your mobile on the train to and from work, and then carry on playing on your Console from the sofa in the evening if you want - don't need to buy multiple versions with non-transferable save points. Its perhaps not totally anti-consumer as it is locked to the Xbox family but does give you more choice and options as to how and where you play than others offer.

One of the Studio's in the Zenimax deal has only made Mobile Games so far and that could also be attractive to MS - with Gears Pop for example. I don't know what this deal may mean long term for MS as Bethesda do retain some 'independence' too so we will have to see. Ultimately, if these deals help studio's develop more games with less issues because of a bigger resource pool - not just 'money', but knowledge, experience, tools etc, I don't mind too much. I can't see a time when Exclusives no longer exist - even if they are anti-consumer. I would much prefer to see multi-platform exclusive deals banned (no more 'extra' content, earlier release of DLC etc) as all that does is cause division and anger between gamers where as 1st party exclusives at least aren't changing others the same for less content or making them wait to get the same content. I also think that these deals have saved studio's from going under (although we have seen some studio's get closed down too) so we will have to see how things transpire. It may provide opportunities to 'grow' studio's, for staff to move around internally so if Studio A isn't economic to keep open, those staff have opportunity to move to other studio's within the family to grow them up rather than find themselves unemployed.

At the end of the day, I just want to play the games I want on the platform I want. Deals won't stop me having access to games - as I will have both a Series X and PS5 - but may just impact on what platform I am 'forced' to play them on and could impact those who will have their access and opportunity to enjoy the game(s) removed. It also divides gamers instead of uniting them....