Phil Spencer: Xbox Game Pass Is Completely Sustainable The Way It Is

The thing with Sony's comment is that it comes from a very different perspective considering they have to basically rely on their hardware sales for the PlayStation brand to survive, that's why they don't see stuff like Game Pass or porting their games to other consoles as sustainable, because it isn't for THEM. With Microsoft, they're taking a very platform agnostic approach to where even if you invest in their services or buy Game Pass subs or their games on PC or Switch, it's still giving them the money. Sony and Nintendo don't really have those options. I'm aware Horizon on PC is a thing but it's not really the same as literally building an ecosystem around things that aren't just your core gaming hardware. Xbox isn't a console anymore. It's essentially a connected ecosystem of different devices that all connect back to the brand. Sony can't really do that with something like PS Now or cloud streaming PS5 games to mobile because they just don't have the sheer money and resources to pull that off while making sure their hardware sales don't die in a ditch that a company as monolithic as Microsoft does, so I totally understand why Jim Ryan said what he said.

I think Phil has done one of the biggest turn arounds as far as the perception of the current Xbox console. The Xbox One was dead in the water until Gamepass and the studio acquisitions.

@Mckilmer Spencer was a blessing for the company. I do think by the time he came the damage was probably as close to irreparable, but after the Bethesda acquisition, I'm not going to say that's going to be what makes them come out on top, but the competition just got a whole lot more interesting instead of what I expected with Sony cleaning house with them again.

@TheFrenchiestFry im really excited to see what the Initiative is working on. With talent from Naughty Dog, Rockstar, and the God of War team they might be able to crack into Sony's dominance in the third person adventure genre.

@Mckilmer The SIE Santa Monica alumni is what really gives me faith in that studio. God of War would've been my GOTY for 2018 had Marvel's Spider-Man not been as amazing as it was.

@TheFrenchiestFry i forgot that they also have some Crystal Dynamics talent at that studio. It's kind of bits of every studio that makes good third person games. I think anything less than a 9/10 game from this studio will be considered a disappointment. Expections are high.

@Mckilmer My faith in Crystal has been shaken a bit because I didn't love Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Avengers was AGGRESSIVELY average, but the ex-Bioware and SIE talent makes me hope that something good will come out of that studio, especially given I don't gravitate towards a lot of Xbox's first party IPs compared to Sony or Nintendo.

Xbox was gutted out before Spencer. The whole idea that first party games where a thing of the past and 1st party studios a waste of time. All gamers would be playing a limited set of tent pole releases and a console way just a entertainment gateway. Given every call they made was wrong he has done a great job of rescuing the brand but it will take a few more years for some of the fruits of his leadership to make their way into gamers hands.

@graysoncharles That is good for them.

I still want to support the dev individually. Nothing wrong with that.

Tbh I was/am expecting a price hike because its such great value, that's why I got a year ofit just recently before it goes up.

They have more than 15 million subscribers now, that's over $2 billion per year. And the numbers will be higher with Series X/S and when more subscription options are released such as mobile-only, TV sticks, etc.

@Mckilmer 100% I don't always like some of the things he says but he has really shook up the Xbox brand and created a buzz around it. Its what MS needed and he has done a good job.

I hope this is not like in sport where a manager is given a vote of confidence then is sacked. I'm happy at current pricing and am glad to hear sustainable but we will see if price remains the same and I hope that ALL future 1st party big bangers are always on Gamepass and not excluded from the service.

I hate gamepass. It has turned microsoft into a company that just pumps out mediocre at best games over and over aa quickly as possible to get as many things on gamepass. Quantity over quality. Make better games? Nah just get some 3rd parties to put their big games on instead.

@BlueOcean in theory yeah but let's not forget the special gamepass loopholes with Gold! Once that's over though people will still pay the sub. It is good value.

In Phil we trust.

It’s that simple.

Just give Xbox Game Studios time! In the beginning of this generation, Microsoft only had a few studios. Now they have 23 (more, really). Also, Sony's exclusives are massively overrated. I have a PS4, that's how I know. Impactful interactive films/walking simulators with zombies.

@Menchi Honestly. If they need to make gamepass price higher to produce goty quality games, they should. It would also help get some extra third party games.

Either that or they get 50m soon, but they would have to sell as many consoles. Not sure the xbox/pc ratio for gamepass subs is. My prediction is 60m xbox series consoles at the end of the gen.

@BlueOcean

Exactly! Sony’s 1at party output is ridiculously overrated by the media & gamers alike.

@BlueOcean I would pay physical cash to anyone who actually can get through games like Demon's Souls, Horizon, Bloodborne, God of War or Spider-Man just by walking and hitting a button every few hours.

@BlueOcean They do not always get high ratings.

They have killzone, days gone, medievil, gran turismpo sports, predator hunting grounds, knack 1 and 2 baby etc...

@Revengercm I think Knack II is decent, baby! 😁

@KelticDevil Drop your psn id to confirm

@TheFrenchiestFry It's another way of saying linear and mediocre gameplay. You use hyperboles a lot, actually.

@BlueOcean I will fight anyone who said God of War or Spider-Man had mediocre .

You get a pass on Demon's Souls and Bloodborne. They have lots of lore but they don't actually have proper narratives outside surface level stuff like "a plague is enveloping the "X setting of game""

@BlueOcean I hope you are joking. I got Knack for free because of ps plus. Did not bother to download it.

Sony games have awesome gameplay mechanics. I am very critical about gameplay in games. It is the most important thing for me.
I played most ps4 game of the year nominees this gen, and sony really holds up every year.

I honestly think in 2021, sony could have 6 games nominated at the game awards if they all release in time and the games I expect to compete, for some odd reason do not live up to the expectation.

@TheFrenchiestFry He said gameplay. Not story

@Revengercm Each person likes different things and I respect that. Every Uncharted (the only one I haven't played is the Vita game) and The Last of Us game is massively overrated. They all have very mediocre gameplay, sometimes very rough. The games you mentioned didn't get so high scores, that's right.

@Revengercm Ok take that statement but gameplay then.

Death Stranding, Last of Us and Order 1886 are literally the only proper PS exclusives I can actively think of that are nothing but actual walking simulators.

@BlueOcean

Like look

Resident Evil 8
Final Fantasy 16
Cyberpunk 2077
are good bets for goty

but lets say they do not live up to expectation, which I highly doubt it will live up to it.

Sony has
Ratchet
Demon Souls
God of War 2
Miles. yes I know it is a DLC. Whatever.
Horizon 2
Returnal

I would not count Gran Turismo because it is a racing game. I do not think D. All stars will be that good and sackboy is just... sackboy.

@BlueOcean I liked uncharted 4 gameplay. Very fun and fast pace for me.

Tlou 2 is holy ***** I cannot believe this exists for me. I played tlou 1 multiplayer for hundreds of hours because I love the methodical and tactical gameplay games lack these days. I CANNOT WAIT for tlou 2 factions. Will be my go to multiplayer next gen for sure.

@Revengercm There is also Dying Light 2.

if Miyazaki shadow drop Elden Ring, it is over.

Gotham Knights seems cool too. Outriders and Godfall could be good. Lots of co op games in 2021. Woohoo

@TheFrenchiestFry Yeah. I did not buy DS for that reason.

I think tlou is a survival horror/ stealth game depending on the difficulty.

@Revengercm I don't think that Horizon 1 is that good. Ratchet & Clank is fine but no masterpiece. Demon's Souls is the genre what I don't like. God of War is linear single-player repetition. Spider-Man is not as fun as other "open-world" games (same for Horizon). I respect people that love these games as long as they're not missing better third-party games. Most of my favourite games are third-party so that's why I think that Sony's are overrated (some, not all). Just my opinion (I have to sleep now!).

@BlueOcean Horizon is my 2nd favorite game of the gen.

but the first one got the second most awards in 2017, after botw and before mario. Both 97 scored games.

God of war is my gotg ;0

but regardless what we both think. The nominees will be the nominess.

@BlueOcean and just to make sure. My top 10 games of the gen are not filled with sony games.

Playing Nier Automata and yet have to play Dark Souls 2 and NiOh 2 to finalize the games I wanted to play this gen, but so far.

1. God of War
2. Horizon
3. Doom Eternal
4. Monster Hunter World
5. Witcher 3
6. Sekiro
7. Bloodborne
8. Resident Evil 2
9. Persona 5
10. FF7 remake

@TheFrenchiestFry

You will “fight” anyone who says what? I would love to meet you face to face. Trust me.

And don’t tell him what he should think about Sony’s games. He has his opinions, if you don’t like them, then who cares?

I love how you Push Square trolls come over here & start nonsense. Apparently, you have nothing better to do, even with all of your “exclusives”. You are a sad little man.

@TheFrenchiestFry @BlueOcean I've been playing on PS4 since 2014 and the issue that I've seen with PlayStation games is that they have a gameplay structure that's mostly the same across the majority of their titles. God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn, Spider-Man, The Last of Us, Ghost of Tsushima, these are all action games with an open world, lite RPG elements, skill trees etc. It's a good structure but it can get overly repetitive and mentally exhausting the more of these games that you play consecutively.

For example, I got God of War on launch day back in 2018, platinumed it in one week and had an amazing time with it. Got Spider-Man on launch later that year and it felt incredibly mediocre. Was it because I had played God of War earlier that year and that ruined the experience for me? Probably. Because there's nothing inherently wrong with Spider-Man, I just didn't think the gameplay was inventive and appealing at all.

With Last of Us Part II conserving mostly the same gameplay structure as the first game, what hope is there for Horizon II and God of War 2 to get revamped and fresh gameplay? That's largely why I don't have much interest in PlayStation anymore because there's just so little variety and I absolutely love and need variety. Otherwise I get completely burned out on gaming altogether.

@LtSarge

Exactly.

@LtSarge I loved doom eternal to death, but I am expecting the same gameplay. I do not want it to change. I think you are asking too much of a change.

You can give ideas on how one of their games could change, because I honestly cannot think of much. You could add flying in horizon fw and shoot arrows while riding a flying robot.

@LtSarge

Wouldnt Xbox now have too many fps and rpgs as their big hitters?
I have no problem with that. I love fps and RPGs.

The problem is. Some genres sell more than others. Housemarque tried arcade games, now they are using the sony template and I am now interested in buying them.

Look at most Ubisoft games. Open world games with repetitive missions. People buy that.

Look at the lack of horror games this gen. Apart from resident evil 7, they are not selling that well.
Survival horror games sell on pc but not on consoles. Neither does top down view games. Or sims, strategy games etc...

I think you have a problem of not having the same likings in genre along with the mass, and that will not stop.

@Kefka2589 I think he is just getting tired of the triple A formula.

If you want variety. Nintendo is the best at that. With Metroid Prime they will have every genre covered basically.

@Revengercm I understand that a series can't just change its gameplay formula like that. The problem still remains though that most games from PlayStation Studios are similar in structure and the majority of the studios are developing sequels to their PS4 entries instead of creating brand new games that differentiate themselves from each other. This means that we're still going to see these action open world games well into next generation with PS5 and that's sadly not what I want to see from PlayStation. I want to see variety, which Xbox has, especially now with the acquisition of Bethesda.

@LtSarge

Once again, you said it better than myself.

@Kefka2589

Once again, a smart PlayStation gamer. 👍🏻

Oh and remember when PlayStation gamers ripped Xbox because it was all “sequels” and no new IP? Lol. 😂

@LtSarge Well they have vr games, but like I said. Those genres do not sell. They are niche. Even Yoshida admitted that.

These are not ps3/360 days where they can afford multiple genres. Some genres just die.

The best selling franchises from xbox are two shooters and a racing game.

Name all the genres Xbox has, and I will tell the ones that will not survive in this environment.

All the studios will end up making
FPS
RPGs
Open World
Multiplayer trends

Look at how many people wanted c2077 to be third person.

@Kefka2589 Well you'll be glad to know that I absolutely loved Death Stranding and it's definitely one of the best games I've played on PS4. Simply because of how different it was. I thought it was so cool to play a single-player game with online mechanics where other players could help you rebuild structures in your world and make it easier to traverse it. The whole "connecting" theme felt very unique and fun, I really enjoyed my time with that game and would absolutely love to see more of those games in the future.

To get back onto the topic of Game Pass, the reason why I love it so much is because it gives developers the freedom to be more creative and the ability to develop more varied games. One title in particular that I'm interested in playing on Series X is The Medium. The fact that you have two different screens depicting two different worlds simultaneously in a horror game is such a cool idea and I can't wait to see how Bloober Team has utilised this concept to create some scary moments.

@KelticDevil You really have a tendency to talk about braindead sony fanboys don't, you?

They are not here. Go to twitter if you want to trigger a fanboy.

@LtSarge That is a good example. You liked Death Stranding, but it did not make their money back up until this year. They had to release on pc too, to make their money back. Even if you found it refreshing, sony probably thought it underperformed and now a sequel will not be made.

I think Kojima's next game is a horror game. That could work since there haven't been that many.

But you get what I am trying to say.

I mean look at the best indie games. Most of them are side scrollers lol.

@Kefka2589

Very true! I didn’t mean to label you. That’s my fault, obviously. 👍🏻

@Kefka2589
I second that! Got called a 'traitor' on Push Square when I said I was switching to Xbox 😁 I have no brand loyalty. I game wherever suits me best. Right now, Xbox/Game Pass is the best way to go for me. I got bored of Sony's TPP formula. I will admit, though, that some of their games are great (Naughty Dog games, especially).

@Revengercm
Try State of Mind or Deliver Us the Moon. Finished the former and it was amazing. About to finish the latter and I'm loving it. None of them is a side scroller. I never would have played either of them if it hadn't been for Game Pass. That says a lot.

Personally I don’t use gamepass anymore because I wasn’t getting my money’s worth. When I joined it after I got the system then yea it was worth it but after 3-4 months I realised that there’s not much new been added that I’d play. It was cheaper to go out and buy the games I did play than to do it through Gamepass

@WesEds see I use it as a way of trying games that I normally wouldn’t buy (most of the time). I still buy the stuff I would have, mostly. Plus if real life gets in the way and I don’t finish; I don’t feel bad.

@gollumb82
I have to be selective with the games I play. I replay games and collect everything so I am still not done with those. Like I said above. Gamepass does not suit me. Don't like renting games that go away, when I play games years later after I beat them.

I will get an xbox for doom 3, elder scrolls 6 and whatever else turns out to be worth my time. Then, if I need more games because I am bored, which I doubt, I would just get a switch.

@Revengercm
Fair enough. I absolutely understand time management in terms of gaming (being a working family man). Ditto for collecting games. You can, however, buy the games I mentioned. Game Pass doesn't tell you not to buy them. If anything, I've put the two I mentioned on my wishlist just to support the devs.

@gollumb82 I just checked the gamepass games. Seems it has a worse selection of games compared the last time I checked. Has nier and witcher 3 as the only third party triple A games. Thing is I would have already played them. Same thing for siege.

I just mostly play triple A games. I bought a $400-500 to play games I can only play at that price. I am very close minded to indie games. Most of them are side scrollers, walking sims, arcade games because that's what they can do with their budget. There are like little good appetizers for what I really want to play. In my case those are free to play games.

Gamepass would make sense for first party games. But I think I rather spend $100 for all the gears and halo just to have them.
Then buy the 1 or 2 games new games per year. It is much cheaper and time friendly to do it that way.

Buying the multiplats on ps5 cause of trophies, friends and that is where my investment has gone to. There is not much difference in performance neither. AC is 4k 60 on both. Difference is the grass may look better and on ps5 it will load better. As a trophy hunter loading is much more appreciated.

@Revengercm
No worries, man. I'm not trying to convince you. Your mind is set and that's fine. If you're mostly into the big hitters then it's your preference. I was like you once but I've discovered indies can be more interesting and creative than most AAAA games with big budgets. Also, I've never had an Xbox so I've got plenty of big games to play through (Halo, Gears). As long as you're happy with the games you play that's all that matters. Side note: I will get a PS5 eventually. Waiting for The Last of Us 3 to be close to launch None of the games Sony announced for PS5 interest me (Horizon FW being the only exception, but I can wait).

@Kefka2589 I beat Knack II, I think it is fun 😁.

@gollumb82 I agree with your comments. I tried Yoku's Island Express and many other games thanks to Game Pass. The best thing about Game Pass is that it gives me unlimited demos so I can try hundreds of games and buy what I like the most. Game Pass is optional, not forced rental, and thus its value is incredible.

Wow, such long comments, debate and discussions!
I only hopped on to say that the GP (ultimate) works out really well for me, and I'm really looking forward to what's coming up in future.
Great to see not only the creativity and freedom, but also the thought of blockbuster games that we haven't really had before.
Someone above doesn't like the GP model, so to don't subscribe, but I'm like that with PSN, I detest that Sony close down their multiplayer servers, especially VR ones, cos only a 'few' people play

@BlueOcean To say Sony's first party games are all overrated is just fanboy talk. The reason Sony sold so many consoles is because these games were loved by their players.

In my opinion I don't expect game pass to be able to create the same high quality of AAA games and agree with a lot of people's
comments above, however it sounds like they aren't trying to and are more focussed on creative variety, which is a plus for me. I will be getting high quality AAA game on Sony and I'm happy to pay the money for it, while the low cost of game pass will give me all the weird and wonderful alternatives that I wouldn't be purchasing on Sony. There is no way they will be putting in AAA budget to an experimental game but thats fine. Not all games have to be AAA to be good.
My plan next gen is to buy the handful of top quality games on the PS5 and probably the 90% remaining games I play will be on game pass.

@StonyKL I know for PushSquare users anything not praising Sony is "fanboy talk" but the reality is that I bought a PS4 before an Xbox One. The you're an Xbox fanboy argument is very cheap. PS4 did not sell so many units because of Sony's exclusives. PS4 didn't have any new games for over a year (Knack?) and even Sony was surprised by its success, they have to thank Don Mattrick and Wii U for not being very strong rivals (PS3 and Vita were not as successful as PS4).

@Kefka2589
You made some really good points about Sony, Game Pass and gaming in general. I like how most of the discussion here is civil and guys use valid points. I was hell bent on buying a PS5 first, but MS (Phil, in particular) won me over with their pro-consumer approach, BC focus and making the moves to ensure great exclusives this time around. Game Pass is going to be my indie paradise, like most guys have said. It will be my source of games till Cyberpunk 2077 finally arrives. Cheers

@StonyKL
I would not say they cannot produce sony level quality games. More like the studios were not capable of doing it this current gen. Some might do it because they are backed up now, like ninja theory and obsidian, but bethesda studios had pretty decent budgets and did what they did.
Id say iD is the only A plus studio xbox has, for now.

@BlueOcean
You do not have to praise them or like them to recognize they are better games. This is a fact. I know this community hides in a bubble that they think they are overrated and it is all subjective and everyone has an opinion blah blah blah, but you all should not be complacent with what you just think. You should be looking forward to the exclusive games you play, that they are also praised by other people.

Like I watched Halo 5 and Gears 4 story. Does not even come close to something like red dead 2 or god of war. We do not have to compare them to sony games neither. Resident Evil, FF7 remake, Witcher 3 etc.. all are better than anything on Xbox exclusively. As a console maker, you should be on the top of your game. Your games need to be better than those third party games too.

The fact, no Xbox game was even close to being nominated and Nintendo and sony had the most goty nominations this gen, and it will probably continue, should entitle you to ask for more.

In my case, I would not accept anything but a better doom game. Doom 3 HAS to be better than eternal, especially when it is a new-gen and new stuff can be done. So like the same score of Eternal because standards go up with each gen, so that means it is a better game if it gets the same score. We are talking objectively here btw.

Ps4 did in fact outsell Xbox because of exclusives. After the DRM was all fixed, what other reason would be there? Power? Nobody cares. The price was the same after a time.

You do not like them, fine, but nobody is a fanboy when it points out they could be better or that sony reached Nintendo level of quality this gen.

@BlueOcean
and I did not say things like Xbox has no games, their games will be trash, gamepass filler, xbots or whatever usual idiotic phrase ps fanboys make.
I am getting a second console next gen. Have to position myself to enjoy all possible games, and since I am very selective in terms of the quality of a game and I only go for big games, I might need more next-gen. In other words, another console.

but it seems this site is also one-sided. Well, most of the people here and it is exactly the same behaviour on both sites, or all 3.

But pushquare said, but Jim Ryan said... those type of comments.

@Revengercm Wow, so your opinion is facts? You don't even have an Xbox One. Your opinion is as subjective as any other PS user's. No matter what your opinion is, you can't make everybody agree with you, especially when you come to an Xbox site to scorn Xbox games 🤨.

@BlueOcean
Game awards and scores are facts. Not my opinion.80 percent of people have this disease. That is a fact. Not an opinion. This movie sold this many tickets. That is a fact. Not an opinion.

Just admit Xbox should also be aiming for goty nominated games.

That is all you have to say. It doesnt hurt you to say.

Look.

Death Stranding sucks.

I am still alive.

@Revengercm As I told you before, I bought a PS4 before an Xbox One. Reviews and awards aren't objective. Anyway, since you are not interested in Xbox you shouldn't waste your time trying to convince everybody why PlayStation games are better than Xbox games on an Xbox site.

@BlueOcean Yes they are. Case close. Ofc I should. Literally nobody knows what a good game is here. I do. You don't. My opinion is more valuable since I am most in time in agreement with the majority of people, and I understand why this game is good and why this other is bad.

Stop replying. Done arguing and do no want to receive any emails.

@Revengercm Funny, i thought this gen was overloaded with horror, though people seem to define horror differently these days. I swear half of Sony's games have zombies. At least half of Bethesda is horror, including dishonored. Even freaking Control is "i can't believe it's not zombies". Bleh.

@Menchi Yes, because pumping out lots of games is exactly what xbox is known for...... I too miss those big polished gems of the Xbox one era prior to game pass like scalebound and.......uhh...... Yeah i got nothing....

@NEStalgia Xbox is loaded with great and varied games but some people like Revengercm just love to glorify Sony and doom Microsoft but they don't even know Xbox. The same people that talk about Xbox One OS v.1.0 because it's the one that got the negative feedback. They hear a few things about Xbox One OS and lack of variety in 2013 and repeat them until 2020. They hear that Microsoft have now 23 studios and still won't make a difference because Sony has Naughty Dog in spite of its exodus of key people. Reviews don't mean anything to me. Breath of the Wild is in theory the best The Legend of Zelda game and I know it isn't and it's not even a The Legend of Zelda game (just an example). My opinion is as good as anyone's but Sony's fans can be quite ridiculous. Thanks for bringing common sense 😉.

@NEStalgia I count Xbox One close enough the same to gamepass. It was a bandaid fix on the disaster that was the entire generation as they tried throw everything at the wall and see what sticks.

@BlueOcean Well as far as revenger's statement on horror, I just find that shocking since it seems to me every E3 like all I see are horror games from pretty much every conference. Even MS's conference spent tons of time on Until Dawn, Blair Witch, etc every year. Nintendo was the only place without it, all they had was Luigi's Mansion, Fatal Frame a few years back, and Eternal Darkness many years back. Bethesda (and thus now Microsoft) is loaded with horror (Prey, Evil Within, Dishonored, they've even taken Fallout in a bizarre horror direction at times.) MS has State of Decay. CoD adds zombie mode. But nobody seems as obsessed with horror as much Sony (and Bethesda.) Every show showcases RE, TLoU, Days Gone, half the other games shoehorn zombies (GoT's free addon, etc.)

Seems like horror is overrrepresented, really, so hearing the idea that it wasn't seen much this gen is baffling.

X1 OS was bad, but not nearly as bad as the last iteration of 360's UI. I'm convinced that final update, combined with Kinektimals and Matrickvision all combined back in 2013 to create the disaster

I have to defend BotW though....if you were a big fan of the original Zelda...BotW feels like a reboot of the first game with modern graphics. It does need more dungeons, though, I'll give it that, and am hoping for the best in the sequel. But it's the first time the overworld has been a true overworld since 1986....it's worth the price of admission for that. But since Miyamoto's original design of the original was actually supposed to be a dungeon game with no overworld, I do think the lack of dungeon space is a miss. He added the overworld to the original in response to negative feedback of repetitiveness.

Menchi on the other hand is just a hardcore PC master racer that loathes all consoles equally but buys them anyway. The ultimate Microsoft fan, technically.....

@Menchi True enough....but it was bottled lightning they discovered in the process. I just don't think it's fair to say that Game Pass ruined their catalogue of quality, polished games. They didn't have any to ruin. Game Pass came after the fact they realized they had no studios after Matrick torched them all. If we remove Halo, Gears , and Forza, the meme, the last major first party highly polished game they'd produced was Fable 3 at that point. And that was controversial.

As I see it from the time Matrick started abandoning, then culling their internal studios, they hadn't made a single "real" non H/F/G meme game since the middle of the 360 era. X1 started with no studios and published 3rd party exclusives (Quantum, Ryse, etc.)

Game Pass didn't kill the premium content, there wasn't any available until the buying spree yields results. The timing is a shame that Matrick taints XSeries too. By the time they were able to start buying some studios, they still had to get the contract work on already inked deals out of the pipe, so realistically the studios bought around the X1S/X1X launch can't really have much to show for another 2 years minimum, with average dev times. All because Mr. Zynga thought Wii players were "gamers."