Xbox Apparently Has Some 'Really Interesting' Partnerships In The Works

Okay, can’t wait for the reveal! 🙌

I can see the connection with the Ubisoft logo... but how is the whirlpool connected to Sega?

@antonvaltaz In the Dreamcast era, Sega was using a spiral, or swirl logo.

@antonvaltaz the only thing I can think of is that it represents Sonic spinning? But it looks more like the Ubi logo to me

Can't see it being Ubisoft of he's trying to say Xbox will publish a game.
Could be SEGA related though as that symbol reminds me more of Dreamcast.
Maybe a revival of classics like Jet Set Radio or Crazy Taxi.

Gears vs Rabbibs anyone? The Mario one was really fun!

Xbox can read GD-ROMs confirmed?

I see Xbox as partnering with Sega rather than buying out.. I feel they first started this partnership by bringing phantasy star online 2 to Xbox followed by Yakuza series and I’ve heard Judgment is coming soon as well as rumoured Persona. I’m happy as Sega are my fave video game company and I play exclusively on Xbox.

With this article, here's hoping that Xbox and Kojima Productions partnership rumour become reality🙏🏻

@telepathy2000 I would rather MS just buys Sega before someone else does.

@GunValkyrie I mean I'd prefer if nobody bought SEGA out personally just saying

I think Microsoft is probably partnering with SEGA rather than buying them out. They have timed exclusivity on PSO2 New Genesis and it managed to score them not just the Yakuza ports on Xbox but Yakuza 7 launching with Series X. I can see some other stuff coming out of this like Catherine Full Body finally coming to Xbox and maybe Persona, but that one's still really up in the air for me

I think in most cases this should be the way to go. I don't want this gen becoming a competition of who can buy out more studios and lock more things to their platforms unless it's a developer that has a super healthy working relationship with said console manufacturer specifically

Same with what's happening with Kojima Productions if the LUDENS figure on Spencer's shelf was anything to go by

@TheFrenchiestFry That's fine, I just don't want any other company like Sony buying them cause that would mean no Sega games ever released on Xbox ever again

@GunValkyrie The thing is, you can't be bought if you don't want to sell. So, odds are they may never get bought by anyone. But I can't disagree with you, if they do eventually sell, I hope it's to MS. I don't expect many SEGA releases to miss Xbox going forward. SEGA was extremely pleased with the sales of P4G on PC, so I think they have began to see how console exclusivity probably isn't doing them any favors.

@GunValkyrie no one is buying Sega. SegaSammy is too big and too sprawling to be interesting to IT companies.

Hmm.. how about it's both Sega and Ubisoft? The swirl could play as a combo of both, and it does mention partnership'S'.

As well, it's talking Microsoft Publishing, so maybe MS will become the publisher of their games, at least for the Xbox, and if true, you know they would come to GamePass day 1.

@SegataSanshiro Honestly if mainline Persona goes to Xbox first before Nintendo I'd be stunned

Especially given the rest of MegaTen have basically been treated like a second party franchise to Nintendo for years and Atlus' games have historically sold extremely poorly on Xbox dating back to the time they actually got a mainline SMT game as an exclusive that never left Japan

@antonvaltaz it's a reach, but maybe associated with sega, because that's what sonic, kind of, resembles, when he is spinning/speeding up(?). Like I said, a reach.

@TheFrenchiestFry I'm genuinely expecting it to happen. But I think Persona mainline will hit Nintendo as well. They'd be fools not to imo. I think the factor here is that Xbox's past doesn't really matter anymore. The brand has for all intent and purpose forged a completely new identity under Phil and there's no question that Xbox has some really good years ahead of it. I'd say Yakuza was far more poised to fail on Xbox than Persona, and nope, they ported basically the entire franchise and then heaped praise on how pleased they are with Game Pass. If I wanted to look for excuses of why not to do it, I'd look at Xbox's past, but the fact today is that Japanese games are doing well on Xbox, if the publisher actually brings them over.

Isn't it obvious? They partnering with Whirlpool to expand into more appliances.

Xbox Series dishwasher... 😭

@SegataSanshiro I thought Yakuza was good to test the waters considering I think despite it being billed as a JRPG it definitely has a lot of elements that have mass appeal regardless

Persona occupies the same boat but Atlus have never played well with Xbox as a platform even before they were acquired by SEGA so that obviously puts everything up in the air for me. My assumption is that if Persona 5 or practically any of the numbered entries come to Xbox, I feel like they also have to come to Nintendo either day of or shortly after because that series is just in a weird predicament where it's a franchise that has mass appeal but considering how much larger Japan's audience for Persona is I don't know if SEGA or Atlus want to take the risk of only putting out on Xbox if it does go multiplatform given Atlus' history with the console

I think it's a publisher-by-publisher thing considering obviously if Square Enix puts out something like Final Fantasy or a new Kingdom Hearts game on Xbox it's going to do at worst, decently given those IPs just have such broad recognition and iconography. FFXIII going to Xbox after the series was firmly PlayStation-exclusive in terms of main installments for years was a big thing back then, same thing with what happened with DQXI recently, but I think SMT/Persona is a riskier sell especially given Atlus' core audience and their ambivalence towards Xbox in general

@TheFrenchiestFry I'd say Persona has a way huger mass appeal than any Yakuza game.

Again, I just don't think any of that is relevant anymore. Xbox today isn't Xbox ten years ago. Japan has shown it strongly favors the Switch over any other platform, so delivering these titles on Switch seems like a no brainer. Persona 5 sold more copies in North America than it did Japan, and that isn't accounting for sales in Europe. According to the info I can find anyway, and I believe it.

You are looking backward, you need to look forward. Xbox in 2021 just isn't Xbox in 2013. I simply think the "Well... This happened ten years ago" is just being pessimistic. I personally prefer to be optimistic, and I think Xbox's relations with Japanese developers look pretty great right now. I bet my bottom dollar Persona will find it's way to Xbox and Game Pass.

@SegataSanshiro I don't doubt it's happening, I always thought given Microsoft seems to be in close partnership with SEGA they'd bring Persona into the conversation

I just think that there's something about it launching on Xbox before a Nintendo system that just sounds weird. For Atlus to basically go almost 8 years without anything on Xbox barring an SMT game that bombed, two Persona fighting games and an original IP that sold way better on PS3 anyway and didn't even get its enhanced port released on Xbox One, there's just something weird about SEGA suddenly deciding to go straight to mainline Persona, specifically Persona 5. I personally think if a numbered entry goes to other consoles first, P4G is way more likely imo

@TheFrenchiestFry Oh no, I don't think it'd be before Nintendo. I think it'd probably just be a P6 announcement, then coming to PS5, PS4, Switch, Xbone, XSX, PC, Etc etc.

I think publishers just don't think about it like that. If anything makes the most sense, it's probably a popular mainline entry. I honestly think it's weird that Switch got Strikers but doesn't have P5. This is an industry trying to make money, so if the money on the platform makes sense, they just do it. In this case, SEGA is pretty fond of Game Pass, and if the money is right, they'll do it. I'd say P5R for Switch, Xbox and PC is in the pipes.

@antonvaltaz
It's the Sega Dreamcast Logo

@Only1PJA
It's the Sega Dreamcast Logo

@SegataSanshiro See the thing with Strikers is that firstly this was way back when Atlus was way less platform agnostic and their big releases were usually restricted to just one or two platforms, like SMT being only on 3DS/Switch and Persona only being on PS4, so I just wrote Strikers off as at the time, an Arena situation where they obviously wanted it on PS4 given how successful P5 was, but also the Switch is basically the Xbox 360 in this situation where it has a rapidly growing install base and they wanted to tap into some of that, especially coming off of Joker being announced for Smash at the Game Awards

The thing that kind of recontextualizes everything for me now is the fact P4G did so well on PC, because Nocturne and Strikers' Steam ports I will put money on being decided at the last minute. Had neither of those games gotten PC ports I think they would've come out way sooner than they did. Should Persona go multiplatform. I wouldn't hold my breath for an announcement until way closer to Persona's 25th anniversary in the fall, especially if they want to do a concert again like they did in 2019 and especially given SMTIII HD and SMT V are both still not out worldwide. I'd say that probably has the best chance of an announcement that Persona 5 is going to other platforms

I think a bigger prediction I almost think is safe is given that Sony has been super aggressive on exclusivity deals, and given one of the SIE reps at a P5 Royal event in Japan acknowledges Persona has this unique relationship with the PlayStation brand, I can see them moneyhatting P6 for exclusivity. I think it'll definitely come out on PS5 for sure but I can almost see it being a console exclusive or a timed one even while also being on PC due to the success of the series on that platform so far.

@TheFrenchiestFry I think the way Strikers and Nocturne were announced for PC definitely seemed like a last minute thing, to the point that it did delay the release of the game on other platforms.

I think the money hatting is going to slow down a lot this gen. Reason being, Sony was aggressive last gen and going into this gen, but I've got a feeling they are about to be met by the forces of hell. Buying Bethesda takes any level of Sony aggression and multiplies it ten fold in my book. SMT has gone from being a small unknown franchise to something much bigger. I think going major multiplatform is just part of that growth. FF did it. MGS did it. Tales did it. DQ has even now done it. I really don't see Sony having the pull this gen that they did with the PS4.

@SegataSanshiro I wouldn't say SMT has reached the level of Persona yet

I think SMT V has the potential to be probably the most popular mainline entry given both the platform of choice and the decision to make it a worldwide simultaneous release but Persona has become so gigantic of a name in the JRPG space as of late no matter how popular SMT gets, I honestly can't see it reaching Persona numbers, especially given Persona was actually introduced first before the other subseries or mainline in the West

I think the Bethesda acquisition will probably result in something big from Sony. I feel like they know the kind of ripple effect this causes for the industry and they probably have to respond, so I think someone's getting acquired on their end as well or potentially some major third party collaborates with Sony's internal teams on some massive exclusive like what's been rumored as of late regarding Konami which I personally hope happens for sure

I think just based on Sony and how they've talked about Persona, they make it sound like it's so important to them and their brand image it honestly astounds me there isn't some sort of exclusivity thing behind the series. I feel like by communicating to everyone it's this thing that is really important to them, especially using terms like "platform holder", they're planning something, I just think they're planning something big. I ain't saying moneyhatting exclusivity over Persona 6 is Bethesda joining Xbox-levels of big but given how big Persona is now, it would turn a lot of heads, and it could definitely help and repair the perception that they don't care about the Japanese market

@TheFrenchiestFry I mean, just as a whole, Persona is part of the greater SMT universe. Persona is bigger than the mainline entries, but has brought attention to the series as a whole.

I honestly don't know if it will result in anything big from Sony, because really, it's a fight they probably can't win. You start a checkbook battle with a trillion dollar corporation, you might find yourself having a bad time. So maybe it will, maybe it won't. People thought after MLB was announced on Game Pass that maybe Sony might put it on Now or Plus, and they didn't do that. I think in the grand scheme of things, Sony has a long term planned laid out and this just wasn't part of it. Phil Spencer has proven to be a hyper competent adversary for them, and just because he outmaneuvers them doesn't mean they can always just find a solution.

Sony can talk all day about how important Persona is, but they don't own it. MLB was really important to them until what seems like about three days ago. Now people are wondering what universe they're living in because anything seems possible now.

@SegataSanshiro That is true

I wouldn't say Sony is back in the PS3-era predicament they were in but despite the strong first impression in terms of software Xbox has definitely become hyper-aggressive this gen amidst fears they might not even have a place in gaming anymore which is why Bethesda was a big deal

I personally think Microsoft's long term ambition of having Game Pass just be this giant ecosystem that encapsulates a lot of content is them basically saying they aren't focusing on just the consoles anymore due to the fact Sony and Nintendo are quite formidable in that space even still, but I also think Sony can't exactly ignore the kind of proposition that has. I wouldn't say the solution is for them to do everything Microsoft is doing since they obviously can't, but they have to have some form of long term goal specifically to get more people into the ecosystem. Even if whatever they do doesn't match the Bethesda acquisition, there are a lot of things they could do that definitely wouldn't go unnoticed. The Show going to Xbox is a bad look for them, but I also hope Sony also felt their mortality there and that they probably need to start embracing their own services and making them better, especially where PS Now is concerned.

@TheFrenchiestFry I'm glad you don't think I'm a lunatic. And to be fair, I really have no ilk with Sony. This is simply me observing the industry the way I see it, for the sake of discussion.

Sony is nowhere near the trouble they were in with the PS3, they probably just aren't in nearly as good a shape as they were with the PS4. The Bethesda deal solidified that MS is here to stay, and they're looking to play ball. This is not a drill.

Mortality is the perfect word. I think that's more why I enjoy this discussion. It's interesting and worth discussing when it's actually civil. Lmao. They just aren't bulletproof, and their opponent has broken out the war chest, and what seems to be a large one at that. Game Pass as an ecosystem is neat and definitely looking to the future, but I think the way Xbox has been marketed as a console for anyone and everyone has been really effective in my eyes. I never felt like I had a place in Xbox, but I really do now. A year ago I wouldn't have imagined I'd own an XSX and not a PS5. I'd have told you that you were drunk and high. I'm not some raving Phil fan boy, but I think the guy deserves a lot of credit. He oozes charm and charisma and actually plays games. I think he connects with the community in a way that Jim is going to struggle to. And again, Jim isn't some incompetent fool, that just isn't true. But I think an executive holds a lot of power in that sense, especially since a huge amount of gamers are old enough to appreciate what these people actually do from day to day.

@SegataSanshiro Even as someone who didn't go Xbox this generation I have to commend Phil for the work he's done in turning the brand around. This time 7 years ago people were genuinely starting to doubt that Microsoft would even be in the business of making consoles past that generation but even if there are definitely steps they could take to make Xbox a more prominent brand in the space, they've done an excellent job making the right moves that cause more than just footnote in the industry with stuff like Game Pass & xCloud as well as the Bethesda buyout. He's definitely a more respectable face in person as well and communicates the kind of image a brand like that was sorely missing after people like Peter Moore left the company. He definitely stands toe to toe with people like Andrew House, Shawn Layden, Reggie and Iwata in terms of presenting and just having a pretty outgoing passion for what he talks about

As someone who's supported Sony for years I genuinely hope they can pull their act together because I love the PS5 so far of what I've played but I know that in terms of consumer transparency they could be doing a lot better in being more forward thinking about what consumers really want outside of the games

There was a rumour about KOTOR 3 a while ago, and that it would not involve BioWare. Obsidian comes to mind next, though I appreciate they already have their own projects.

Disney has also released Marvel exclusives for PlayStation (Spider-Man) and Nintendo (Ultimate Alliance 3). It would be interesting if Xbox also had its own Marvel game.

Realistically it is probably just a partnership with Sega of some kind. Perhaps Persona finally ends up on Xbox via Game Pass like they did with Yakuza.

@TheFrenchiestFry 100% agreed. Sony is sorely missing Layden and House right now. Those guys were amazing. I really think Spencer is MS's very own Hirai or Iwata. During the dark times he stepped up and by some miracle made it work.

I don't think the PS5 will struggle at all. But my prediction is that by the time this is all over, the US market will have been claimed by Xbox. Sony will hang onto Europe, and Japan will remain Nintendo country. The Xbone held it's own in the US, it didn't win, but it was far from a flop. Something like 3:4 ratio. The way the XSX is looking and just considering things, if the Xbone did well, how well is the XSX going to do? I could see them reclaiming the home front.

@SegataSanshiro I think Sony will still ultimately outdo Xbox worldwide simply due to the fact there's larger worldwide appeal and recognition for the PlayStation brand even to more casual consumers especially after last gen, but it's going to be extremely close. I think Sony's IPs at this point have more mass market appeal as a result of Xbox struggling to really branch out last generation with franchises that weren't Halo, Forza or Gears, and the IPs that were introduced last gen like Ghost of Tsushima and Spider-Man garnered widespread attention in general, but the thing is Xbox's strategy this gen also doesn't seem to be purely about the dedicated hardware so I don't know if that really matters to them

There will be pockets of time where Microsoft does end up pushing out more Xbox units especially if stuff like Starfield and Elder Scrolls VI end up being completely exclusive to Xbox/PC, and I also expect xCloud to be somewhat popular in particular regions like Japan where mobile and handheld gaming is more preferred over home consoles, but overall especially if Sony keeps up the software momentum they had going during the PS4 era where pretty much the large majority of their exclusives were super high quality and got very good word of mouth, at least in the hardware space I can see Sony barely edging Microsoft out. The sales differences between them right now is way closer than it was last gen so clearly announcing the Bethesda acquisition right before Series X/S preorders went live definitely turned things towards their favor

Ubisoft usually seems willing to work with platform holders early on, presumably to build a working relationship for future projects. Some of these projects have not payed off so well(ZombiU, Stadia support) but you can usually count on some kind of support from Ubi. So that makes sense to me.

Getting into wishful thinking territory, I could see Beyond Good and Evil 2 getting some extra funding/marketing from MS. It's one of those long-shot projects that's far from a guaranteed success, but one that would get people excited and generate some good will. Sony got a lot of cred for helping launch games like Shenmue 3 and FF7 Remake, and MS could use a similar approach.

It looks like it's going to be a few years before Microsoft's studio investments really pay off in exclusive titles, so it makes sense for them to lean on 2nd party projects to fill in some gaps until then.

If it is Ubisoft, I wouldn't be surprised if it's a new Splinter Cell. Conviction was tied to Xbox after all, and I think Microsoft not only like having Sam Fisher appear on their consoles - almost as their version of Snake - but would also like to be the ones who help bring him back.

@TimG13 If they were positioning Splinter Cell as basically the Xbox Metal Gear equivalent it's kind of hilarious in retrospect given how quickly a Metal Gear game ended up coming to Xbox to begin with

I'm pretty sure MGS2 Substance was launch window

@TheFrenchiestFry I'd lean toward Sony moving more units Worldwide, but in the grand scheme of things, like you mentioned, I just don't know if that number even matters anymore. MS acquired some pretty serious streaming tech from Bethesda, so I'm sure that is being married into xCloud. Once Game Pass streaming truly gets up to snuff and hits PC, that's where I'd say this is about to get on like Donkey Kong. But both parties really have good stuff going for them, I think people neglect that a lot of now MS owned studios released a lot of really highly rated multiplatform games last gen. So I think once these 23 studios really get it in gear and start launching games, that's where the conversation will start to change some. I had been on the fence for an XSX, then Phil announced the Bethesda acquisition the day before, and I preordered the next day. I do love Sony's 1st party stuff, but I'd trade all the Spiderman, Horizon and God of War in the world for Bethesda and Obsidian. So you are definitely right, that announcement couldn't have been more perfectly timed.

@SegataSanshiro I personally care way too much at this point about PlayStation's exclusives to ever trade them in exchange for Bethesda's, but again going back to Microsoft deemphasizing their focus on just selling Xbox as a console platform, I don't have to at all because since I have a PC, I'll just get the exclusives I'm interested in and I don't have to own multiple consoles past the ones I already do own which is how Xbox approaches that kind of value proposition. Now I just have a PS5 for my Sony-exclusives, a Switch for the Nintendo ones and a PC for my multiplats and whatever Xbox puts out from first party

I'd honestly argue if the Series X just came out without being prefaced by stuff like them buying Bethesda, or the absence of first-party at all at launch barring the Gears 5 port, they'd be in an almost completely different place than they are now, especially given how poorly received their initial "gameplay" showcase for Series X was back in the summer in comparison to Sony's

Announcing stuff like acquiring Zenimax and all its associated companies ensuring that stuff like Elder Scrolls would be day one on Xbox and specifically Game Pass was really something at the very last minute that shifted everyone's perception towards how serious they actually are about staying in gaming. I hope it doesn't become a recurring thing simply because I hope they don't luck out at any attempt to maximize their existing IPs as opposed to absorbing new ones since they have a dense back catalogue of franchises, but it definitely made a statement and its made this back and forth between Sony and Microsoft a lot more interesting compared to last gen where Sony was clearly wiping the floor with them almost the entire way through

@TheFrenchiestFry See, oddly enough, my main platforms are PC and Xbox. I play them about 50/50, but the fact that my Game Pass sub covers both platforms, I really like that. Game Pass on console is currently just better than Game Pass on PC, so that's my true desire for the console. I'll probably pickup some Sony games on PC as more of those start rolling out. And I have a Switch, so between the PC, Xbox and Switch I'm covered for all of my Japanese needs. If forgoing some Sony 1st party is the only real hitch, I can personally, just me, live with that. I will literally play every Bethesda and Obsidian game on PC and Xbox just because they typically have separate achievement lists. Lol

And I don't think anything you said is wrong. But in the grand scheme of the game, they are making all the right decisions. So regardless of how or why the public perception changed, the matter at hand is that they did in fact change it with very calculated moves. But the back and fourth has certainly been interesting, and I'm sure there's plenty more yet to come.

@SegataSanshiro If anything I hope this gets Sony to realize they're potentially sitting on a gold mine of opportunities when it comes to their services

PS Now right now is underpromised as hell and it predates Game Pass by a few years. It has so much potential to be this amazing way to stream games from across PlayStation consoles in the same way xCloud is but they just aren't using it. I also hope their current initiative for PS Plus where one of the games in each monthly pool is a PS5 game expands to include more noteworthy titles. It baffles me that considering what's happening with MLB, they didn't offer that up to Plus subscribers as the free game as opposed to Oddworld, which would've been more than enough imo to counteract something that big, and I don't even care about that game. Right now the biggest reason to get a PS5 is purely its games, and they're great games, but they could be doing so much more to just bring people to their side. In fact I think that's kind of what they're going for with their PC releases but it's not enough given the statement Microsoft has made about how upfront they are about their content

@TheFrenchiestFry I think Sony's thing here isn't really a fight to win anyone over, as much as it is going to be fight to retain them all. PSNow needs help. Big time. I'd say it's still worth a year sub though, because I think you can squeeze $5 a month out of it pretty easy. But I think a lot of players will find the prospect of a great service to outweigh even some excellent exclusive games. I'm sort of that guy. I have something like 50 platinums on my PSN and a huge majority of them are Sony 1st party, but Game Pass still reeled me right on it. I platinumed Knack 2. I'm a loser. But I don't think we'll see Sony do much in response to Game Pass for probably a while. You know it's a topic of conversation at HQ, but I don't see them making any huge changes until some more long term data rolls in and they actually see if they're losing blood or not. Which I imagine they're going to be losing blood.

@SegataSanshiro I think the same can be said about backwards compatibility as well

I still have a gut feeling them taking down the PS Stores on pre-PS4 consoles this soon, which is especially concerning given Vita was actually still getting some content from smaller developers, is signalling them having some sort of plan for that they're not telling us about. I feel like they know how well received Xbox's program is and despite the fact I actually think how the PS5 plays PS4 games is actually pretty amazing especially in the case of Sony's first party content, they have to do more. They released some PS2 Classics here and there but not nearly to breadth they used to, so either them scrapping the PS Store on those other consoles really proves they genuinely don't care about their legacy, or best case scenario they're either revamping PS Now to be taken more seriously or even supplying a BC program of their own for their own past systems like Microsoft's initiative

Either way I think we won't hear about their responses to stuff like Game Pass or BC until at the earliest, maybe 2022 considering I think they at least want to get the launch window first party titles out the door first, but I suspect they know that how upfront Microsoft is with the consumer by comparison is something they can't ignore

@TheFrenchiestFry This is perhaps me being a pesimist, but I really just don't think they have any plans for further BC. The reason being is because their leader has basically flatout said over and over that they don't. That's the way I read it anyway. Microsoft's backwards compatibility team has put literally half a million man hours into their BC program. That's a whole lot of labor to pay out so people can play games that Jim thinks look prehistoric. I'd say those store fronts just cost them more to have open and maintain than they brought in, so they shut them down. I think this is just the same story as the Wii and Wii U shop. Which is really just pretty typical business. If it's open and not making money, shut it down. I don't mean this in a condescending fashion, but I think people in the PS space have gotten so used to Sony winning, that the thought of Sony losing at something is almost impossible to process now. It's like, everything that happens turns into some borderline conspiracy theory of how they're back at HQ cooking up some secret sauce. When in fact, they might really just do nothing at all, because they've now poked the bear way too many times and this is just what's happening. If you look money up in the dictionary, I'm pretty sure Microsoft is listed as a synonym. Now that they're showing to be rooting around in their wallet for the Xbox division, that really isn't good news for the competition. Again, I don't mean that in a condescending fashion, that's really just the way it looks to me. MS has just been working on this for years. It wasn't cooked up in a year or even two. It's been five years in the works, maybe longer. The only way I see more PS 1, 2 and 3 coming to PS4/5 is through what would hopefully be a completely relaunched PSNow or whatever platform puts PSNow in the dirt and isn't treated like a leper.

@SegataSanshiro PS Now needs a massive revamp

I've only ever used it on PC but it feels like such a half hearted way to technically get PS3 games on the system and especially given what they had to do to even get it off the ground in the first place it's still a super uncompelling proposition as opposed to just buying the games outright, especially given a lot of PS3 remasters are already on PS4

I honestly hope that PS Plus Collection thing they have going on expands to more than just PS4 games. That's probably the best possible answer to Game Pass they could have that would be subscription based and still necessitate the pushing of hardware sales since it's only for PS5 users. The lineup on the Collection as is curates a solid selection of the key PS4 first and third party titles but it could totally use past consoles as well if they really want something that isn't as cobbled together as the limiting selection on PS Now where even the first party games rotate

Buying SEGA department of games , and then having Ubisoft - publishing them? Maybe?

@TheFrenchiestFry I've used it on console and PC over the years and I've never been impressed with it. I used it really heavily the two weeks before the PS5 and XSX came out because I was bored and in a state of waiting. I really struggled to find much of PSNow to download and play. I wanted to play the PS3 games, but the experience is just way less than savory. Part of what makes the Xbox BC so amazing is the One X enhancements. A great enhancement can basically border on a remaster, and that is a feature PS just does not have in any form for PS3.

I think they're just in so deep with Plus that I don't see them changing that. I imagine the Plus games each month can carry a hefty tag since the users keep them "forever". But I don't really know. I have a hunch that MS spends considerably less money to get a game on Game Pass day one than trying to money hat exclusivity, and that day one deal might really be worth more to them in the grand scheme of things. The Plus Collection was a step in the right direction, but it's been what almost five months now and not a single title has been added to it since launch, right? Not to mention the issue of just logging in on a PS5 and claiming all the titles. It seems to have great intentions, but definitely seems a little harebrained in that regard.

I wouldn't be surprised if this was Ubisoft + was included with gamepass like EA play.

I would also be happy if we had more Saturn ports added to the xbox library.
Panzer Dragoon Saga
Burning Rangers
Dark Saviour
Fighting Vipers / Fighters Megamix