Xbox Series X & Series S Will Not Follow PlayStation 5 Price Increase

Good news. Hope they stick to it. Should have gone for the kill and announced a price cut today.

@Bleachedsmiles it's a business let's not forget.

People can sit and debate that Microsoft's gigantic pockets are a boon to gaming; but, in this case, being an over $1 trillion company has its perks.

Xbox money is a drop in the bucket compared to Microsoft's other money-making ventures. Gaming is pretty much a tax write-off.

I didn’t think they would raise the price. It didn’t make sense for them to when looking back at the console war history.

There’s an error here. It says “confirming the price of both the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series S will remain the same.” One of those should have been “Xbox Series X.”

Wouldn't be a good look if they were spending 70 billion buying Activision but saying they need to increase prices at the same time like how Sony has just spent 3.7 billion buying bungie & is apparently still looking to acquire more studios they can obviously afford it

It's like Playstation lives to piss off their fanbase.

@Bleachedsmiles That would have been EPIC! (Kind of like what Sony Playstation did to the Sega Saturn.)

@GuyinPA75 I didn’t get the sense that many were all that upset. Blissfully ignorant maybe 🤔

@SplooshDmg to be honest I thought delaying Redfall and Starfield at the same time were shoe ins but nope not with this bombshell.

This doesn't surprise me, they can afford to take a hit.

With enough backlash sony might reverse their decision, they could recover the costs another way like closing down one of their other divisions like Cameras, Headphones, TV's or mobile phones, which don't make anywhere near what playstation does for them, infact pretty sure its only playstation that makes them a decent profit.

@UltimateOtaku91 and take the hit ? Lmfao
Like the $10 on games backlash ? We will suspend it for this game but then the rest ,tough live with it

If the ones who's support this crap are really lucky they could shove another $10 on thier next gen games

Maybe they should take some out of Thier 1 billion plus profit ,yes make less profit but still profit just the same , keep customers happy not shareholders

@Martsmall sony rely on playstation for profit as the rest of their divisions are failing, wouldn't be surprised if the profit they are getting off playstation is being used to keep the other electronics in production. Plus the PlayStation 5 is already being sold at a loss, so now the cost of materials is going up so their selling it at an even bigger loss now, plus last month they recorded their profits were down, plus this potential 5 billion lawsuit against them, they will lose billions just by losing call of duty to xbox, just spent over 3 billion on bunjie (waste of money), most likely spending billions on the PSVR2 (another waste of money), yes playstation is bringing in some big revenue at the moment but at the same time I bet they are bleeding money, I honestly think they need to scrap their mobile market, who even buys sony phones as Samsung and Apple are the leaders in that field and won't budge any time soon. They need to focus on the PlayStation brand and make that Sony's main attraction by going all out, but they will realise too late.

I try to see this from a business perspective instead of an upset fan, though if I'm be totally honest with myself maybe I'd be more bothered if I didn't already have a ps5 or didn't have a good job, so maybe I'm being selfish I don't know.

@SplooshDmg "There's also a strong argument to be made that Sony's other divisions could perform better if they'd get their head out of their arse and acknowledge they have to actually price products competitively."

I think that might be Sony's problem, they seem like they are the "premium" product like apple do in the smartphone business, yet they don't do anything better than the competition, I mean I can get anandeoid phone that costs £500 thats better than the latest iPhone which costs £1100. Eventually it will effect iPhone sales (maybe alrwady has) and the same I can see happening to playstation. The more and more people that have less spare money for entertainment because of bills, the less will buy playstation consoles.

If sony are smart they would release a cheaper less powerful version like the series S or a ps5 slim which would cost less anyway, and do it ASAP.

@UltimateOtaku91 honestly yes it is a business perspective ....but u don't wipe Ur ass with the customers who put food on the table for you to eat, them customers have got enough problems with paying everything else , pay less to the fat cats at Sony higher ups done problem solved , or fire the pr department who release bs ps statements about they doing oh so well, or the ones who bad mouth game pass practices then do the same ( day ones are bad ok ..let's put out a day one game ) ...but they won't

They are full of rubbish this gen ,I know that companies are about the money I Get that but how many times will the customers take this crap ?

They do the opposite of things they say and if that wasn't the case would for the players have been turned into for the payers ?

And before u say it,if Microsoft did the things Sony do I would b saying exactly the same thing about them like the gold price ..but at least they backed down after

As for the damage this could do for Sony is massive , a lot of parents will b buying the series s thanks to Sony ,that's not going to help Sony make more money and let's be honest all the money they paid to keep.games on ps only ( especially the Hogwarts level ) would have come in handy

@SplooshDmg Nintendo getting sue for sexual harassment?

@SplooshDmg same with me, I've got a Samsung phone, TV, tablet, wireless earbuds and notebook, I find Samsung to be reliable and offer both premium and budget options in all of those categories and either way you still feel like your getting your moneys worth, if only Samsung could buy playstation 😂 I honestly think I'd be OK with that....

The switch is the perfect example that high specs, subscription services and a hundred million dollar budget games aren't a necessity. Playstation could learn a thing or two from nintendo. And maybe bring out a new handheld whilst they're at it.

Seriously though after thinking about all this more, Sony will learn their lesson when their sales dip, and games sell less, and their competition sells more than them. They need to find a balance between keeping their profits and keeping their fans happy. Personally I think they should never of made the psvr2 if the cost of materials and inflation has increased, that money would of been better spent on a cheaper ps5 sku.

Wait. So Microsoft isn't counting raising the price of the Series consoles twice already in the last two months in India?

@GamingFan4Lyf
You do realize that MS is running a profit in its gaming segment right?

People keep saying MS uses XB as a tax write-offs. But, tax write-offs are for money losing ventures. With the number of first party studios, the patents they own through DirectX and things like the Havoc physics tech, and the Azure hosting of gaming services Microsoft is satisfied with the revenues generated.

Their gaming segment is not just about console sales, it is a very broad and deep investment that makes money not only through consoles/games but the services and the technology that under pins a lot of games.

Thats great news!

It was obvious, Sony totally screwed up yesterday, and it's not very often you will get such a big win without having to actually do anything at all. Sonys reputation has been in the bin for a while and this is just another disaster after a long list of them this gen. You know a company is bad when they complain about costs while making $400million profit

@UltimateOtaku91

"This doesn't surprise me, they can afford to take a hit."

Of course they can unlike poor new startup megacorp that is Sony, right amirite??

Sony splurged nearly 4 billion on Bungie while looking for further acquisitions yet here you are again their defender an justificator in chief. The embodiment of Sony's defence force, I actually wonder if you are devoid of self awareness when it comes to defending your beloved Sony.

@Sol4ris did you not read my other comments above with SplooshDmg

I admitted sony isn't perfect and what they need to do and why I thought they increased the price etc I have never said sony is perfect

Great move by MS. Like I said yesterday they didn’t even have to do anything. Sony have handed them a free win and they’ve took it. Good move.

Why is every thread lately ending up with the same few people coming in and arguing with each other (on both sides I might add)

Just crack on and enjoy the games on your box of choice.

@Bleachedsmiles
Think I mentioned it in another article they should go for the jugular right now as being honest they could do with shifting some consoles in the UK which in turn can sell a game pass subscriptions.

They could almost do a mini re-release and big PR etc some clever bundles in a new flash box etc.

But they will do nothing, and sit back and chill as this seems to be their new mode of operation for this year.

I don’t think it was the price increase but yesterday UK had very good PS5 stock, Argos, Smyths Toys etc. I got one for my nephew being delivered today from Smyths toys. Old price.
Go look now extremely hard to get one all sold out at those stores in the UK. In store and online.
This price increase will do nothing to PS5 sales in the UK.
As now doing a quick scan stock check series consoles not moving at all. Series x sold one console in store across 9 stores over this week.

My point Sony have far to much momentum currently and going into Christmas as where Xbox have almost zero.
Sony did what they did and certainly will get away with it in the UK.

@Jaxx420 i know right? its like deja vu every time i come here. doesnt seem like the admins mind though, guess traffic is more important then an actual xbox only community.

@Dezzy70 I will admit you have been pretty on top of the stock since these consoles hit in 2020; but the PS5 has had pretty good stock for a few weeks now. They sit there for a few days before disappearing; and not just talking about the bundles. ShopTo especially seems to hold stock for 3-4 days at a time. Even I bought a PS5 this month. I feel like they’re not selling out anywhere near as quick as they used to.

There is fake outrage for the PlayStation price increase. The people complaining will be the first ones to buy the console when they find it in stock. The only reasons corporations act like they do is because they know they can get away with it given their consumer base.

PlayStation will still sell millions of consoles this generation. They increased it by £30 even if it was a £60 increase it wouldn't have made a single dent in the sales charts. If people were truly angry then they'd vote with their wallets but I pretty much guarantee that will never happen.

This is a great opportunity for MS to really take advantage of this, go with some strong marketing, maybe even throw a free digital game in too.

@K1LLEGAL
PS5 in UK has slowed a little and it is summer and money is tight over here. But they do sell quick and out in the end.
Argos and Smyths had good stock yesterday which this morning has dwindled to almost zero apart from the odd store and no online deliveries.

Being honest I was expecting Xbox to do a lot better, it started very well, but they are just everywhere in stock now and selling slower than a snail. I just wish Xbox was doing better and it’s Microsoft it’s self I get up tight with. It’s like they not bothered and are so chilled. Console sales mean a possible game pass sale.
Phil the mouth Spencer has just said in an article it will be hard to get an Xbox at Christmas, well he must be talking about USA. He needs to pop to the UK usually a very strong Xbox country and take a look at his consoles sitting on shelves.
Im starting to believe now and I didn’t a first this new generation that Xbox will under sell in the UK and be a low third. They are now third year to date July 2022.
Im surprised being honest how the PS5 up take is still in massive momentum mode especially with some of PS5 policies, game and now console price but there seems to be no stopping momentum and the enthusiasm.
Xbox is now a little cheaper and game pass is great value but Phil you listening it’s not working and it’s not enough, you have no Xbox UK momentum and should be in a far more stronger and competitive position at this stage in the game.

@Chaudy
You are spot on there PS5 UK wise somehow is far to strong and momentum and enthusiasm for the console and mainly games is massive.
Xbox this year look like they already given up.
They don’t seem to understand the European and UK market at all.

@Dezzy70 Xbox is doing just fine in the UK, very well actually. Similar to the US. Xbox don’t really need to worry about those territories. It’s Europe and the rest of the world they really struggle against PlayStation. They’ve been trying for years to break those markets but never really have. Even so their gaming division is still making record profits and doing very well. Try not to go just by what you see at smyths online or in store. Things ain’t that bad.

No company, regardless of their 'bank balance', is willing to lose money, especially in an uncertain climate, unless they have more avenues to offset the 'loss' in one area.

Sony only have their PS5 store/services to offset any 'losses' they have to take on their console. I doubt very much Sony or MS break even on Hardware - and use PS+/Gold and game sales to offset that. However, MS also has a store on PC and Game Pass is on PC/Cloud too. That gives them more avenues to sell products to offset 'losses' on Console hardware.

Customers on console may need to buy a few games and/or subscribe to PS+/Gold for a year or more for the manufacturer to break even. However, on MS's side, they have Game Pass on PC/Mobile being sold to customers who haven't 'lost' MS money because they didn't buy a Console.

If Sony lose £50 per console and sell 10m units a year, that's a £500m deficit that they need to recuperate through their Console ecosystem. Yes they sell a few games on PC, but only after they have 'exhausted' the console and put it out to get any extra money in - but don't get money from PC stores, from PC/Mobile subscriptions etc like MS.

If MS lose £50 per console, they are not reliant on those customers only to subscribe to services and buy enough games to eventually offset that loss. MS's console is 'optional', If they don't sell 100m, its not a 'reflection' of the size of their 'ecosystem' and the size of their customer base they rely on to be 'profitable'.

With Sony also rising game prices and the overall state of the economy, their customers are not spending money like they were, which means that they are not 'recuperating' their losses on Hardware as quick and now feel 'forced' to bump up prices.

Xbox just won this Xmas with that statement, and during the Xmas period for a few months, reduce the price of game pass a few dollars will increase its user base dramatically

@Fenbops
Have to disagree and I really want Xbox to be massive in the UK. But when they have consoles sitting on shelves and sell 1 series x in one week across 9 stores, that is not doing well.
Especially when the competition console comes in stock and sells out in a day or two.
Also especially how the competition is also making it a little difficult for themselves, weaker console, not a good design, £70 games. No game pass equivalent. More expensive console now, that won’t make any difference.
It’s shows me how far Xbox needs to go to catch up with level of popularity and enthusiasm and momentum. Also since this year 2022 what a crap job Xbox are doing.
They will be a low third, but I really thought they would not be, in what is usually a very strong territory for them the UK.
All this shows how far they have slipped back since the Xbox360 days and unfortunately in my opinion have lost and will never recover the UK in any big way.

@Buckster666
No chance of winning sweet fa in the UK
not a chance in hell. Xbox UK momentum and enthusiasm general public wise is almost zero.

Hang on I have to fair
One series x sold this morning across my nine local stores. Well done.

@Dezzy70 There’s a bigger picture than what you’re seeing though. Here’s an article from July:

https://www.vgchartz.com/article/454305/ps5-best-selling-console-in-june-2022-in-the-uk-xbox-series-xs-sales-jump-31/

Which states: ‘ The PlayStation 5 was the best-selling console in the UK in June 2022, according to GfK Entertainment.

The Xbox Series X|S came in second place, and the Nintendo Switch in third place. Sales between the three consoles were neck-and-neck’

And also: ‘ For 2022 year-to-date, the Nintendo Switch remains the best-selling platform, with the Xbox Series X|S in second place, and the PS5 in third place’

@Fenbops
Xbox is third year date up to July 2022 in the UK.
It’s was second year to date up to June 2022 in the UK, but has slipped to third.
My point and my tracking of some UK shop sales is simply this. We all want Xbox to do well and Microsoft should be making a better job of it, especially when Sony keeps stabbing its self in the back and making it easier for Xbox.
I back the series x console and game pass all the way but some how they are not gaining any momentum now and sales are starting to show this UK wise.
Like I said one series x sold in store in one week in my nine local branches. That’s is poor.
If they where PS5 in store stock and not an expensive bundle, all that stock in those nine stores near to me would sold within a day or two, which is about 60 consoles.
Xbox series x mange’s to sell one out of 60 consoles in one hole week. Not great I’m afraid.
Also the series s is not doing any better.
Some stores are bundling for free a cheap old game and cases to try to get sales of the Xbox console. Now if that isn’t a sign then you will never be convinced.

@Dezzy70 I agree with what you say about Xbox needing to do better with their marketing and it is like they’re asleep, as well as managing their studios way better. I’m just not worried, I think in the UK they’ll be fine.

@Fenbops
Not sure why they gone to sleepy 😴
But they now have a window of opportunity with the recent PS5 price increase.
But I think they will sit back and do nothing.
I’m not sure what Microsoft Xbox are up to but they need to get some fire in their corporate bellies, some more management motivation and get on it.
Or, they are so dam rich and making a bit of money that they are satisfied or some long term secret objective means all this doesn’t really matter 😂

@Dezzy70 I know 😂 I’m not quite sure what they’re doing either.

@Dezzy70 @Fenbops
They've gone quiet because they have nothing to shout about. No first party games till early 2023 is not a good look. Especially with X-Mas on the horizon. Let's hope the ActiBlizz deal gets greenlit soon and Xbox along with Game Pass gets a massive shot in the arm in the form of games. Personally, I would like them to continue with the backward compatible games programme. This generated a lot of buzz. I don't know. They should do something. Anything.

@NeoRatt Yes, I am aware. It's a joke.

My point was, Microsoft won't raise prices on consoles because it doesn't have to, the company is doing just fine.

@gollumb82
Totally agree with you. I know some in here say Sony exclusives don’t sell at the very top end but they definitely create games people want, which took off massively with the PS4 and is still creating massive momentum for the PS5.
Sony games appear in the top weekly sellers in line and in shops. You can find any Xbox AAA exclusive games in the charts. So it looks like the Xbox doesn’t exist.
It’s all about PR, advertising and momentum and Xbox in the UK has almost none now.

Good example today my nephews PS5 I got for him yesterday has arrived and I’m setting it up for him now. His friends are around tonight all looking forward to playing the games he has now got.
Sack Boy, Ratchet and Clank.
His dad my brother is going to try HFW as it came as a bundle game.
Now imagine the simple free PR tonight when my nephews friends come round and play, it will be irreplaceable PR.
And that is how it works with the general public, the games that they want to play and word and mouth.
PS, I’m doing the bbq later for food. 😂

@Dezzy70 Yeah there’s loads they could have done to capitalise on yesterday. They don’t have the games but they could have lowered the price of the hardware, or made a post about the savings gamepass family pass will offer, or announced a new pack-in bundle with the consoles is coming this Christmas, reminded people they don’t even need a console to play gamepass etc

Re:the charts…
Of course Xbox has to have some games out to hope to even get in the charts. They really dropped the ball this year - the backing of one of the richest companies in the world and for your second year you can’t get out a single AAA game?… and we get the apologist on Xbox side citing covid etc like it only effected Xbox…and like they don’t have a long history of failing to deliver AAA games regularly. It’s poor management.

Having said that, they should make more of an effort to remind people they own Minecraft. Peter Moore would have announce Minecraft 2 timed exclusive by now

@Bleachedsmiles
Strange games wise at Microsoft Xbox at the moment.
I just don’t get them overall with Xbox at the minute. Obviously got so much money it all probably means nothing to Microsoft and the suits are millionaires as well and super paid so what do they care.

I think it will be hilarious if microsoft is cutting xbox series x price instead of raising it 😂

@Dezzy70 What you seem to be forgetting is that Xbox and the Xbox Ecosystem is much bigger than 'just' their Console market - unlike Sony whose sole ecosystem is their Playstation. Yes they may release games on PC - eventually, but only after they have exhausted their Console market. When the game is 'not' selling anymore, therefore not selling 'consoles' either, they then release on PC to extract whatever 'extra' money they can. If they only sell 20m consoles, that's the maximum number of games and Subscriptions they can sell to.

MS is NOT reliant on their Console. If they only sell 20m Consoles, they can still sell 'millions' more games and Game Pass Subscriptions to all those 'other' gamers not on Xbox, but still part of the Xbox Ecosystem. They also have their own Store on PC too. If Every console 'loses' money for the manufacturer, Sony only has their Console users to offset those loses. MS doesn't even need to sell a Console and all their PC/Cloud Subs/sales are also helping offset 'losses' on console hardware.

If MS only sells 20m consoles and Sony sells 40m, that doesn't mean Sony has a 'bigger' user base, much more 'popular'. The Xbox ecosystem is EVERY gamer with a MS account/service on a wide variety of devices so includes every Game Pass subscriber as well as their Console and of course PC gamers. By not 'forcing' PC gamers to buy an Xbox and 'lose' MS some money just to play the odd 'exclusive or two, they are buying the game on PC (or subbing to Game Pass) so helping to 'offset' those people that bought the Console to play...

Its very short-sighted to go on Console sales as any indication of Popularity when for Xbox, the Console is just an option into the Xbox ecosystem where as for Nintendo/Sony, it is their 'only' option. Neither has their own Store on PC (for retailer profits as well) or sell subs to Mobile/PC gamers. If 10m sub to Game Pass on PC/Cloud (don't own a Console) that's ~$100m a month, another 10m Xbox gamers!!

@Dezzy70 I’d love to know what their marketing for the Xbox is like in America…if it’s a case of night and day compared to here…or if they hardly push there with it too.

To give Xbox some credit though…at least they put the effort in when it comes to making sure they have a presence at these shows like gamescom. Greeting their fanbase. I’m not sure Phil himself went. But I reckon it does make some difference to the perception of the brand. Maybe they’ll sell a few subs and consoles off it.

But nothing is going to sell Xbox to people better than the games…and this is where they really need to start showing results now. And, of course making sure people know they actually have those games. Soon as they have the marketing for cod they’ll be heavily advertising the message cod is on Xbox. I’ll be frankly shocked if they don’t.

@BAMozzy
I understand your comments but game pass is about games and console sales do relate to popularity and games and any console sold could sell a game pass.
Time will tell but I don’t think Xbox currently UK wise are doing that great going on my own console sales findings.
Also every time there is enough PS5 stock it manages to outsell Xbox in the USA, like the last two weeks.
If they want to enlarge the Xbox eco system they have to do a lot better and get some momentum behind the brand.
Because if consoles are not selling that well in the UK you can be dam sure game pass is not.
It is all interlinked and just Microsoft’s way of playing with numbers.
They don’t tell you about the extremely low Halo Infinite multiplayer up take of late:
“Halo Infinite isn't in the Top 10 of most-played Steam games. In fact, at a little more than six months old - and its fan-favourite multiplayer component entirely free-to-play and available on Steam - Halo Infinite doesn't even breach the top 50 games that boast the highest concurrent player numbers. Or the top 100.”

Xbox games are just not grabbing the gamers or more importantly the general public, hence almost stagnant console sales and I bet game pass up take in the UK of late.
It’s almost like the Xbox is an older persons niche geeky hobby in the UK. Whilst the younger ones, teens and 20-30 year olds general public flock to the Switch and PS5.

#ChargeThemMore. At this rate Sony talking like they have been "especially that nonsense they spewed in the Brazilian article, is the best PR Microsoft ever had. Just let Sony sink their reputation themselves ...

@Dezzy70 You obviously don't understand because you are constantly talking about Popularity as being directly related to Console sales - yet over the past 5yrs, Xbox stopped being 'just' the console but became the entire MS gaming 'ecosystem' that includes PC/Cloud options too.

For example, during the 360 era, the gamers on Sony and MS hardware directly correlated to the size of their user base. So if they sold 80m consoles, there was up to 80m in their ecosystem. If PC gamers wanted to play Halo, Forza etc they had to buy a Console but now in 2022, they don't so that's less Consoles 'needed' but doesn't change the Popularity. That person who 'had' to buy hardware before now doesn't and is still part of the Xbox ecosystem.

The only user Growth that Sony/Nintendo can have is through their Console - no sale, no one to sell games/subs too so no growth. MS can have 'growth' through Game Pass subs on a variety of other devices as well as any growth in their PC market place too.

When GoW:R releases, the only way to play is on Playstation so if people want to play, they must buy a PS, maybe losing Sony money but with Starfield, they will sell the game in their PC store, sell PC/Cloud Game Pass subscriptions etc at 'no' loss as well as sell the game and Gold/Game Pass Subs on console. That's potential growth in 3 areas and 2 of those haven't been 'sold' at loss.

If MS's console is being 'outsold' 2:1 vs PS, that doesn't mean Playstation ecosystem is 'growing' twice as fast, or is 'twice' as popular - because they could see 'growth' in their PC/Cloud platforms. Sony could well have 30m PS5 users vs just 20m Series consoles, but have more than 10m PC/Cloud gamers to eclipse the 'Popularity' and user base of Sony.

Halo Infinite still had over 20m players in its first week, 20m for FH5, over 25m have played Sea of Thieves - vs less than 1m played Returnal in its first few months on Playstation, R&C took a month or so to reach 1m sold. Sony sold 4m Last of Us 2's in its first week - that's less than 20% of the players that played Halo in its 'first' week so in terms of 'Popularity', Halo was a LOT more popular if you really want to 'focus' on small points whilst completely missing the 'whole' picture.

Sony is VERY dependent on their Console, MS could sell NO consoles and still grow faster and bigger than Sony - especially when those studios they acquire really start delivering after 'transitioning' to the MS ecosystem. We already know they haven't had the 'SAME' time to develop AAA big budget titles to Rival Sony's studios who take ~5yrs on their games - MS studio's haven't been at MS that long - in fact 8 only joined about 18 months ago. Growth in their PC/Cloud market can offset a decline in their Console market - although that too is much stronger than last gen...

@BAMozzy
Ok I understand let’s see where Microsoft and Xbox go with all this.
Time will tell.

And as you say, Game Pass is about Games and Game Pass is delivering games every month - ok so not all of them are AAA big budget 1st party exclusives, but games like Life of P, Warhammer: Darktide, Atomic Heart, Scorn, Plague Tale, Tunic, Pentiment, Grounded, Stalker 2 and ALL the other Day and Date games, as well as the library of 'older' games are still an attractive proposition - much cheaper than buying a PS5 and any of those games you 'could' play, better than buying through 'steam/epic' on PC so Sub to Game Pass, play 'anywhere' on Cloud so much more accessible to many more people - especially in a 'difficult' financial time.

All I am saying is that MS's gaming 'growth' is not tied to their Console alone - like it is with Nintendo/Sony, as they are also growing their PC/Cloud ecosystems too as the Console is purely optional for those that 'prefer' (or can afford/obtain) that format. However, if all you have is a Student Laptop (for example), can't afford a Series S/X, and its not got the spec to run these games, you can still play via Cloud and that is still growing 'Xbox' despite the fact that they haven't purchased an actual Xbox. Sony or Nintendo don't have that 'growth' potential (at the moment) but they could grow 'Cloud' services on PC/Mobiles too. Until then, Xbox popularity/growth etc is more than just the Console hardware sold...

@SplooshDmg
I think it could catch on once more of us have the internet speed for it. Mine is 6mb sec really bad.
But it needs advertising and very good PR to take off with the general public.
The general public I know have moved forward with Netflix and Disney plus, so there is definitely some scope and hope there.
But just like Disney plus, you need the content people want to watch, like Marvel and Star Wars.
The same goes for game pass, you need the games people want to play.

@Bleachedsmiles

@Sploosh 5G for now is still sold in expensive small capped buckets and unlimited only on phones, and "5G" is a bit of a mess, because it really only works right by the box, mostly only in dense urban formats, and most of the rest that's "5G" is really an expansion of 4G tech labeled "5G". It's like USB 3.1 vs USB 3.1-Gen-2, where USB 3.1 is actually just USB 3.0 with a fancy new label incorporating it into the spec (at Apple's request so their laptops launching that year didn't look obsolete. Well...moreso.) Telcos talk about 5G everywhere, but so far, that's just not how 5G works. BUT I do think that will keep evolving, and I know Verizon said years go they're going to stop fiber rollouts and instead push 5G for home internet (not sure how that plan is going at $70/mo unlimited, phone-only, no hotspot....) I do agree though it's progressing much faster than I thought originally.

@Bleachedsmiles XB marketing in the US isn't necessarily more visible than elsewhere, they're not great at the advertising thing. But I'll say what they do do on marketing is much more subtle than just commercials and billboards. It's more tied to sponsorships, sports arena ads, co-branding, product campaigns (Doritos, Taco Bell, Mtn Dew, Monster, etc.) Coupled with the fact that XB is also huge in terms of word of mouth marketing and social presence it's effective. There's not a defining superbowl commericials that says "wow, I have to get one of those ex box things", but it's more a sense of permanence where Xbox is just "everywhere"....it's not uncommon for teens to say "wanna play some xbox?" as a generic trademark the way Nintendo used to be in the 80's.

That's an important differentiation in the US, defined less by any active marketing and more by the brand's existing perception here. I get the sense from EU that "Playstation = games, PC = enthusiast games, and Xbox is some weird imperial american upstart trying to uneurope our europe, ww2 is over go home yankees, lol". In the US xbox is just a big enough part of the social fabric that "playing xbox" is a suitable default common noun for "playing video games", or, ok, if we're real "playing Fortnite, COD or Madden"

That social awareness really changes everything about how the brand operates. Sufficiently so that Sony is afraid to try raising their price here.

We are constantly evaluating our business. Sounds like corporate speak for things can change at any time, without actually saying it.

@GuyinPA75 That's why I am no longer a part of their fanbase. I could only get alienated so much by them until I just said forget them and no longer had any interest in the brand.

MS is leading, Sony is bleeding and Nintendo is needing.

This is a bad move for Sony. It's the same kind of prideful attitude they had with PS3 and Microsoft with the fumbled Xbox One release. It's going to bite them in the long run.

Some of my acquaintances in Japan seem quite disappointed. First Sony started alienating the customers here with swapping the X and O buttons and now this.

Also, looking at the upcoming Sony pro controller, it looks much less appealing than the Elite. VR2 I can't imagine doing well either if it's coming early next year.

Time will tell I suppose. Great opportunity for MS to capitalize on this situation.

It's not that they don't want to do it. Just a tactic to get more sales.