I have no evidence, @NeoRatt, and I don't pretend to do so.
I find it highly improbable that Microsoft will sell 30 million Helix next generation if it costs the rumoured £1000-£1500. People are not going to buy such a device in their tens of millions.
The facts are that Microsoft sold 85 million Xbox 360s, and then 58 million Xbox Ones, which is a drop of 32%. Microsoft have then sold between 30 and 35 million Series consoles, the vast majority of them being the cheaper S model, that is a drop of 40% on the previous generation, and does not take into account the number of people that have moved on from Xbox as a consequence of the troubles Xbox has faced this generation (and as were spoken of by Sharma recently).
So, if we take 35 million Series consoles (so as to take the higher figure) and then assume that Helix is a £1000+ device, then it is not unreasonable to assume that it will have life 50% of the time sales of the Series consoles at best, which means over the course of 8 years they will sell an average of 2 million consoles a year. Truthfully though, sales are likely to be far worse than that particuarly if Sony brings in a PS6 costing £800 or less. I honestly believe that Helix will sell around 3 million consoles within the first 3 years, due to the cost of Helix alone.
It needs to be remembered that the vast majority of Series consoles sold were the S, and most of them were sold close to launch, partly because a lot of people could not get a PS5 due to COVID. Thus it seems highly improbable that people who paid £250 for the S, are then going to pay 4 times that (or more) for Helix. Heck, many people that bought an X will baulk at paying more than double for a Helix. Diehards, such as myself will buy it, but I will be in the minority. Helix will struggle to sell.
So, I may not have the facts about sales numbers of Helix right now, but there is a couple of reasons why, first Microsoft don't tell us, and secondly, the big one, it is not out yet, which makes it extremely difficult to have the facts on it...!
I don't know about that, @themightyant, one of the things that made me happiest about the Series consoles was the fact that my Elite controllers would automatically work with them. It meant it was a no brainer to get one. The fact that the Elite 2 controller has been available for a year prior to the Series consoles release, and is still going strong now goes to show that Microsoft do not need to wait for Helix to release the Elite 3. If it's ready, get it out now. There really is no point in waiting...
I understand what you are getting at, @themightyant, but in 10 years time controllers will have evolved still further, so perhaps we should wait until then to release the Elite 3...! 😉
I'm kidding, of course, but the point I am getting at is that if the Elite 3 is ready now, then there is zero worth in holding it back for Helix, particularly not if it will work with the Series consoles (which we all know it will).
If it's ready, we may as well have it now. I see no point in waiting...
E-Day is a Live Service game, @Sol4ris. It absolutely makes no sense to pull it from PlayStation. Particularly not when you also take into account that the game was essentially finished for the platform. E-Day needs a big community to thrive. It may find it on Xbox and PC, but PlayStation would have hugely bolstered it.
Part of me feels that the management caved to the loudest voices calling for exclusives, and chose E-Day because if the experiment fails (which it might because people will still play it via Game Pass rather than buying the game outright), then the management can say to the community that Xbox is not in the right place in terms of player-base to support exclusives.
Sharma can then use that to do one of two things; decide that there will be no further major exclusives, or remove day one first-party games from Game Pass. Personally, I'd be happy if they took the latter of these options. PlayStation are doing perfectly fine without putting their first-party games on their subscription service, and I cannot see that would be any different for Xbox. Obviously many would rail against such a decision, but Sharma could hold up E-Day as an example of how putting first-party games on Game Pass is hurting sales. Armed with proof, she could make these changes. She would probably sweeten the blow by slightly reducing the price of Game Pass again too (though obviously the bean counters will have worked out how much revenue sales will make so that Xbox does better from such a move!).
My only hope is that Gears of War, as a franchise, does not suffer as a consequence of being made exclusive...
Absolutely agree, @ilyn. And to think I have been shot down so many times for suggesting that Xbox was in trouble! Somehow though, I bet some will just gloss over these facts, and will still trot out the usual fanboy lines.
I have no issue with being positive about Xbox, but I do find people wilfully ignoring the evidence in front of their eyes, totally bemusing...
I totally understand, @somnambulance. When I lost my wife four years ago gaming is what kept me sane. It's obviously not the same as having her around, but it occupies my mind and stops me from wallowing. And to think there was a time when governments in the UK were worried about the affects that gaming had on the population, yet it is a fantastic distraction from real life. I'd be lost without it, so we are in agreement that gaming can be a true saviour in it's own way...
It's not like the Elite 3 would not also work with Helix, @themightyant. I mean, they released the Elite 2 in 2019 and then the Series consoles in 2020, and I'm using an Elite 2 right now. Thus, there is no reason why they have to wait for the next generation before they can release the Elite 3 controller...
The fact is that E-Day is essentially a Live Service game, and as such it really should have been released on PlayStation. The bigger the community in a Live Service game, the more chance of success it has.
I maintain that E-Day and Forza 6 should both release on the PS5. Fable and Halo: Combat Evolved should have been made exclusive to Xbox as they are both single-player games that do not require a community. If Halo had included the online side of the game, then that would have been a different matter, but it doesn't so the point is moot.
Honestly, it just feels like the Xbox management have caved to those shouting most loudly, and made what is essentially a dumb decision as a consequence.
They could easily have been much smarter in choosing which games to keep as exclusive. It's almost as if they want E-Day to fail so that they can then turn to the community and say exclusives don't work. Had they made Halo and Fable exclusive, I think it could have been a much better outcome for Xbox...
They have the premium in-game currency in Gears 5 too, @AccessibleDaydream. You can buy Iron with real world money and then use that to buy in-game skins etc. So if it did not encounter it in Gears 5, you'll be fine in E-Day. You can also earn the Iron (slowly, obviously), so you are not forced to buy the currency...
Because I am stubborn (in games!), @somnambulance, I really enjoyed the whole 'I will get over this mountain with the package' mentality of the first game. Yes, I could walk around the mountain, but where's the fun in that...? 😂
I have bought the Collector's Editions of E-Day, Halo and Fable. It cost me the best part of £800, but I am very much looking forward to playing them. 😊
Next thing I shall do will be to buy the Elite Controller for each of them too. Would be cool if we get the Elite 3 in time for each of them...
I will say it makes a refreshing change to have some honesty from the top bosses at Xbox. Yesterday the admission that Game Pass lost millions of subscribers following the price hike, and now an admission that Xbox is not in the best position possible.
Maybe now some people will actually be more prepared to accept that things are not going so well, instead of blindly trotting out the same old Xbox is doing great line. If the top boss says they are not, then what more do they need to hear before they accept that?
I like Sharma. I want her to succeed. I want Xbox to succeed. I really want E-Day to succeed because Gears of War is my favourite franchise, and I dread the ramifications for the studio and the franchise should the game be seen as a financial failure by Xbox management.
So it's down to us gamers to make Xbox a success. If Xbox is (relatively) failing due in part to our behaviour, then we need to do things differently so as to help Xbox succeed...
Exactly, @themightyant! And it is what I was saying when E-Day was first announced as an exclusive; if we, the gamer, do not change our habits, the experiment will fail. We need to be buying first-party content, and using Game Pass only for those titles we would not otherwise play.
As the saying goes; insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
There is a reason why Xbox pivoted to putting their games on PlayStation in the first place, so if we do not change what we do, then how can we expect Xbox to succeed now (in terms of first-party content) when they didn't when they had far more exclusives?
Simple answer to that is we cannot. If we want Xbox to have more exclusives we ourselves have to change the way we approach first-party content at the very least...
Ideal, @somnambulance. Just noticed the other article update. I always remember the first one with just the faces, and it was a truly WTF moment because it really told us nothing!
I do like Death Stranding though I need to play the second one still. I bought the Collector's Editions for both of those games, so I really should get on the second one...
If Helix is the only console mode Microsoft introduce, @NeoRatt, and it sells only around 2 or 3 million units 3 after it is introduced, then I can foresee Microsoft withdrawing from the console space. They will then become the world's biggest publisher. THat is an issue for me...
I said this yesterday (or the day before) @Sheppard. Have one all singing and dancing Helix that gives us everything, and one that is strictly a walled garden version with no PC access. Much like Sony did with the PS5 and the PS5 Digital; same machine, one with a disc-drive, one without.
I do think they need a third, cheaper model too though...
I've said a fair few times now that Microsoft need to bring in 2 or 3 different models when they release the Helix.
They need something that sits between the S and the X in terms of power (Console A), then a console (Console B) that sits between Console A and Helix. Console A would cost something like £350, Console B £700, and then Helix, which will probably cost in excess of £1000. That gives 3 entry points into the Xbox ecosystem.
In terms of power, I'd hope that Console A would not be far short of the Series X. Console B would obviously be more powerful than the Series X, and then Helix would be your uber powerful version.
I don't think that Microsoft can just do two models as they did this generation because if they do that I think people would still expect the less powerful console to be more powerful than the X is right now, and keeping the costs down on that would be very difficult. Therefore, introducing a third model that sits between the S and X in terms of power would be both affordable and an upgrade for those that game on an S.
I think if Microsoft just give us the Helix, then they are asking for huge problems come the next generation, because if that does indeed cost more than a £1000 then it will be bought by very few.
I'd also like to see Microsoft offer contracts similar to how we get out mobile phones, so that we can buy a console and pay monthly so as to spread the cost over a number of years.
Lastly, I want Microsoft, when they first introduce the different models, to come out and say that there will not be any form of parity clause next generation. Even a whiff of a game being held back or skipping Helix because the developers cannot get it to run equally well on the lower spec'd console will harm Helix. So remove the parity clause, and allow developers free reign to get the game running on each console at whatever performance level they see fit. Let's not have the same issues the S has seen next generation...
I'm still none the wiser as to what OD is going to be, @somnambulance. I liked the last trailer, but it didn't tell us much about the game, and going on that trailer alone, I would think the game is still at least a couple of years away...
So, my favourite game show was most certainly the Xbox one, however, despite probably being the biggest fan of Gears of War, my favourite game reveal was undoubtedly Exodus. That game looks fantastic, and gives great Mass Effect vibes. I really cannot wait to get my hands on that game.
As for the E-Day reveal, I was hugely disappointed that they did not speak about Horde other than to talk about a 12 person version. I really hope that mode is not the only one, because if it is, it'll die a death just like Frenzy did. It's not too difficult to find 4 other mates to play a 5 man team Horde. Finding 11 other people, without resorting to playing with random people, is not going to be easy at all, and I really don't enjoy playing with random people because all too often they do their own thing, or leave mid-game, or just hurl abuse around, because, you know... people suck...! 😆
That's another thing I would add to my wishlist for Xbox, @ilyn; clear, concise, honest and consistent messaging. It's so annoying to see vague statements that are quickly contradicted by someone else within the Xbox management.
If they are going to each speak to the community, at least all sing from the same hymn sheet. When they cannot deliver the same message without contradicting one another, it always either smacks of ineptitude or has a whiff of dishonesty about it. I mean, if you don't know the specifics of something when asked a question, then say so, and just say you'll find out and get back to us. I'm sure none of us expect all of the senior management to be across all of the details, so there is nothing wrong with saying you don't know something...
All important matters, without question, @FraserG. When it comes to the Elite 3, I am clinging on to the hope that there will be a Collector's Gears of War: E-Day Elite 3 controller.
I will be buying an Elite and Standard version when they become available (which I am sure they will), but it would also be a good time to announce the Elite 3, and I will be a little peeved if they the Gears controller is an Elite 2, only for them to announce the Elite 3 a month or so later.
I'll also be getting the Elite Halo and the Fable too. Tis a great, but expensive time to be a gamer...
Kind of you to say, @Skinny-Pete. I always say the same thing, we are all entitled to our own opinions, and providing we are civil to one another then we should be free to express them...
1. Get rid of Ultimate Game Pass, and have Premium as the top tier, which would in turn mean no longer having day one first-party games on the service.
2. Anything that is not Live Service should be exclusive. Where a game such as Gears of War has a strong Live Service element, Microsoft should do one of two things; either separate the multiplayer from the campaign and keep the campaign as exclusive and put the multiplayer on PlayStation, or they should just put the entire thing on PlayStation. When it comes to Gears of War in particular, the amount of money that Microsoft is leaving on the table in terms of microtransactions alone for that game by not putting it on PlayStation is frankly incredible. If you think about Call of Duty, and how much money that makes in terms of microtransactions on PlayStation, the fact that Microsoft are willing to forgo that money when it comes to E-Day I find completely boggling.
3. By all means introduce a Helix, but also provide a closed Xbox console that does offers basically the same specifications as Helix, but without the PC side of things for those of us (me included) that are not fussed about PC gaming. I mean, it would at the very least be cheaper than Helix, and better than the X too, so it would make it a much more attractive offering for many an Xbox gamer.
It's going to take a lot more bolder action than just the two announced exclusives to save Xbox from the problems it currently faces...
That's interesting, @Grumblevolcano. Do you think it would be exclusive, or as it would be a Live Service offering, that it would be multiplatform?
I think the smart move would be multiplatform, although I guess an attempt might be made to use the single-player might as something to attract people into buying an Xbox in order to play it there as exclusive. Problem with that is Live Service lives or dies based on the size of it's community, and PlayStation would definitely bolster that...
You miss my point when it comes to whether it was, or was not, a last minute decision, @Kaloudz, about that I really could not care less. For me it is a matter of the messaging, and the fact that it does not come across as believable, something that could have been achieved by being definitive.
I mean, define recent? To some that might be hours, to other days, to others weeks, and to some months. You get my point. If Greenberg had said we made the decision in a meeting at the end of April, then fine. If he had said we made the decision the day prior to the showcase, then fine. He is giving precise detail and it immediately settles the matter. It's the vagueness of the response that I take issue with because it is left open to interpretation, open to manipulation and open to accusations of lying.
That is why I said he should have been specific because you and I would not even be discussing this (as pleasant as it is) had he been more specific, because we would simply have believed him...
Okay, putting aside the fact the bizarre thought that I am Sammy, @Froggyman1, I would still like to know what I have written that you find so objectionable...?
We agree, @Kaloudz (there's a rarity!). I think it was Nadella's doing too.
I think the one thing I'm not so certain on is whether Nadella can stop himself from interfering with Sharma if things take a turn for the worse in terms of revenue a year or so after she has been given a chance to turn things round.
My only hope, and it should be everyone's hope, is that Nadella is too wrapped up in AI to take a moments notice of anything to do with Xbox.
Hate filled, @Froggyman1? Give me just one example, please. And just to be clear, I have been part of this community since the 1st of January 2015, and I have posted 5110 comments (including this one). Thus you have plenty of comments to sift through to find just one hateful statement.
I said it long before the decision was made, @Kaloudz, but it was very clear that Game Pass had lost a massive number of subscribers just by reading through the comments in these very forums wherein person after person was saying how they had cancelled their subscriptions. The evidence was there for all to see.
Plus, as I have said a number of times, it mattered not who was in charge, Call of Duty needed to be removed from Game Pass, the price needed to come down. It was no obvious that I said this exact same thing the week before the decision was announced.
Sharma gets the credit for it because she was in charge at the time. Had it been Spencer, he would have done the same. Indeed, has Scooby Doo been in charge, he would have done it too because it was so blindingly obvious that such a move was required. I mean, if I can say it needs to happen, then it must have been bloody obvious!
I like Sharma, don't misunderstand me, but I do think she is being credited with something that was as inevitable as night following day. Her hand was forced, and if you are forced into a position then I don't think you should take credit for it.
What I would really like to know is who's bright idea was it to raise the price by 50% in the first place? Was it Spencer's, Hood's or was it Nadella's? One of them should shoulder the blame because it was a terrible decision that smacked of completely taking Xbox gamers for granted, so it is a sobering lesson for Microsoft that people will only tolerate so much.
The next thing I would like to know about is how it affected the number of people gaming on an Xbox, because that will undoubtedly have taken a hit too. Whether that is as easily reversed as people re-subbing is another matter entirely...
I agree that it is obvious, @Skinny-Pete. I think the refreshing thing is Microsoft being open and honest about what happened. I'd love to know how many were subscribed at the time, how many were lost, how low subscriber numbers fell too, and how many it has risen too (assuming it has) since the reversal.
Unfortunately we don't get that level of honesty and openness from Microsoft, but I would love to know the details. It would also be interesting to see what it mean in terms of revenue too...
As for being old, now you have me curious, although I may well have asked you this before, but how old are you?
I'll be 63 In December, which I think also qualifies me as old, although I still feel pretty juvenile, truth be told (well, mentally juvinile, my body would firmly disagree with that statement!)... 😂
I challenge your statement about spending more money than anyone else, @Stocksy. I think you will find that is me, and by a huge margin too. I mean, just yesterday I spent approaching £800 on Xbox games (Gears / Halo & Fable Collector's Editions).
In 2025 I spent £1566.37 on games for my Xbox, and I spent £1300.44 in 2024. That does not take into account the Xbox controllers that I bought last year - 3 Elite controllers (Witcher / Doom & Fallout), and also one standard Doom controller.
Honestly, people have to go a very long way to beat my spending when it comes to gaming. Happy to be proven wrong though... 😉
Clarity, @Kaloudz? Pull the other one! What clarity?
What Booty has said makes ZERO sense!
Gears of War is a Live Service game with a polished campaign attached. Future support for the game will be more and more maps added to the game to support the multiplayer, and if we are lucky, we may get a story expansion of sorts as we did with Hivebusters but whilst they ALWAYS add more multiplayer maps, characters, skins, etc. they do not always add more campaign DLC (they didn't with GoW4 for example).
So why is E-Day not multiplatform, because it is essentially a multiplayer game?
In the same breath, why is State of Decay 3 going multiplatform, when the first two games have never been outside console and PC?
Personally, I think they have made E-Day exclusive to appease the fans, even though it could be highly detrimental to the franchise. It would have made far more sense to put E-Day on PlayStation, and keep State of Decay 3 as a console exclusive, than the decision they have made. After all, until yesterday, State of Decay 3 had never been announced for PlayStation either, so going by his "games announced for PlayStation will be honoured" comment then State of Decay 3 would have been okay to keep as an exclusive.
So, it's business as usual as the mixed messaging continues, as does the lack of clarity.
When it comes to whether the decision was made recently or not, why cannot they be specific then? Tell us the decision was made on (insert date) and be done with it. The problem is not when the decision was made, it is that they reply is deliberately vague and open to accusations of being untruthful. If Microsoft tell us the exact date when the decision was made, the debate over whether Greenberg is telling the truth would not be happening. The fact that Microsoft are not being far more specific in their response is what gives the impression that the decision to change things was made very late, and for whatever reason, Microsoft do not want to admit that.
But again, when someone just says it was not recent, that is not someone offering clarity. I just don't get why Microsoft keep stepping on such obvious rakes...
I think the problem with Gears of War and Halo, @ILuvGames, and the difference when it comes to Forza Horizon 6, is that Gears 5 and Halo Infinite were not particularly well received by their respective communities, it has meant there is less enthusiasm for both games now.
In the case of Halo, it may have been rebuilt and have added extras, but it is still a remake. Obviously it is new to PlayStation, so will possibly benefit from that, but the fact that it is on PlayStation does not benefit Xbox when it comes to being exclusive because, well, it's not...!
I'm hoping it is back, @HonestHick, but at the moment I am worried about Horde. I'm hoping this 12 player mode will be an additional mode to the standard 5 player Horde. If 12 players is the only mode, I will basically not play it, just as I barely touched Frenzy. I think I only played that once. 12 player Horde will die a very quick death, I imagine. The beauty of 5 player Horde is that it is not too challenging to find 4 other friends to play with. I don't have 11 other friends that play Gears of War, and I don't want to make any more! Plus I really do not want to play with random people because invariably they do their own thing in what is a team event, quit out at the most in opportune moments, or just hurl abuse like it's an Olympic sport. I'm sure when The Coalition have play-tested it they think it great fun, but that is not how it will play out in the real world, or at least, I don't think it will.
That's the one huge disappointment I was left with after the deep-dive; basically no mention of Horde beyond there being a 12 player mode. I mean, since when has the community been asking for that...?
As I said earlier, @Weebleman, if I were to compile a list of what I want most from Xbox, transparency and honesty would be chief among them.
Just own the mistake. Admit that yes, the decision was only recently made, and move on. Then the community would move on with you.
Only the truly gullible, totally naïve and most ardent fanboys would possibly believe him. Attempting to deny something that is so very obvious just makes the leadership look bad.
Better to look inept than dishonest, in my books...
It was a decision made in recent weeks at best, maybe even within the week prior to the showcase. Sharma wanted to throw an enormous bone to the Xbox community, and they don't come with much more meat on it than E-Day.
Personally, I think she has listened to a vocal section of the Xbox community, and put their voices over common sense, but I guess we will find that out in due course...
You'd like to think so, @ILuvGames, but in all honesty, when I read the comments on these forums when it comes to first-party games, the overriding sentiment still seems to be that people will opt for the cheapest option, which is to play via Game Pass. I get the impression that people are aware that there are problems in doing this, but take the attitude that they may as well make hay whilst the sun is shining. If it all comes crashing down at a later point, so be it, although I highly doubt that they will then reflect on whether they paid a part in the downfall of Game Pass or indeed Xbox...
I'm not sure that E-Day will do better, @Questionable_Duck, although I really hope it does. It does look like a strong and polished game.
Problem is Gears 5 released on the Xbox One where there were around 50 million Xbox gamers plus PC gamers. E-Day is releasing on the Series consoles where that number is closer to 30 million plus PC gamers.
Thus, with Gears 5, if 5% of those gaming on an Xbox One bought the game, then it was bought by 2.5 million people. If 5% of people that game on a Series console buy E-Day, then it will be bought by just 1.5 million people. Obviously, I have no idea just how many people buy first-party games on Xbox because Microsoft refuse to divulge such things, and Game Pass completely muddies the waters.
I understand your take about Microsoft attempting to retain their userbase by keeping E-Day exclusive, and it is an interesting notion, but truthfully, I think, when it comes to deciding between the PS6 and Helix it will very much come down to how much the two devices cost. If Helix is seen as substantially more expensive than the PS6, then I don't think any number of exclusives will make that much difference...
Absolutely right, @AI-Generation, and any country that appears to be completely out of stock may simply have not received any stock! If you do not get any more stock, and you sell your last console, you are sold out. That does not mean there is demand for that stock, and indeed, the reason that you do not receive further stock may well be because there is no demand. Thus I would not put any stock (ahem!) in a supplier showing as sold out, because it just might be that Microsoft determined that it was basically pointless to supply further consoles to be sold because the demand is not there. I mean, what's the point in having a console waiting to be sold and gathering dust on a shelf? Plus it looks better to be seen as being sold out, than it does to have loads in stock and not being sold...
I care because I am investing my money in Xbox with each game I buy, be that first-party or third, @NeoRatt. If it all goes tits up and Microsoft decide to withdraw from the console space, then that's a problem for me...
I just wish Microsoft would actually give us some details rather than always deliberately being so vague in what they say. How many more consoles are required? Hundreds? Thousands? Millions? Tens of millions? I mean, they could have 100 consoles ready to go, and 101 people wanting them, which would then mean demand is outstripping supply. I'm not suggesting they only have 100 consoles, but the point is without exact details we don't really know just what that demand is. It's great PR to say you don't have enough consoles to meet demand as it creates interest in the consoles, and a feeling of FOMO in the gaming community. After all, it's better to say that you do not have enough consoles, than to say you have many sitting on a shelf collecting dust!
I think if I were to compile a top ten list of things I would like to see from this change in leadership, openness, transparency and honesty would be very high up that list. Treat us like adults, not fools. Tell us how many consoles you are selling. Tell us how many games you are selling. Give us current Game Pass subscriber numbers and advise us in which direction subscriptions are going. And be honest when it comes to first-party game sales, and the harm that Game Pass does to those individual titles (if that is indeed the case). Armed with these details we can fully comprehend why certain decisions are made, rather than the current situation where statistics are cherry-picked to make things appear better than they really are.
Anyway, one can dream, but we know that side of things will not change, which is a real shame...
You and I are of a like mind, @ILuvGames. Unfortunately, I many of those that shouted for games to be made exclusive will not put their hands in their pockets to make it work for Microsoft. I reckon we'll be back to square one in a couple of years, at which point I would not be surprised to see E-Day being the 'exclusive' game ported to PlayStation, heralding a return to everything being released on PlayStation...
Comments 5,492
Re: Xbox CSO Says Console Demand Is Outstripping Supply Amidst A 'Crisis' For Component Prices
I have no evidence, @NeoRatt, and I don't pretend to do so.
I find it highly improbable that Microsoft will sell 30 million Helix next generation if it costs the rumoured £1000-£1500. People are not going to buy such a device in their tens of millions.
The facts are that Microsoft sold 85 million Xbox 360s, and then 58 million Xbox Ones, which is a drop of 32%. Microsoft have then sold between 30 and 35 million Series consoles, the vast majority of them being the cheaper S model, that is a drop of 40% on the previous generation, and does not take into account the number of people that have moved on from Xbox as a consequence of the troubles Xbox has faced this generation (and as were spoken of by Sharma recently).
So, if we take 35 million Series consoles (so as to take the higher figure) and then assume that Helix is a £1000+ device, then it is not unreasonable to assume that it will have life 50% of the time sales of the Series consoles at best, which means over the course of 8 years they will sell an average of 2 million consoles a year. Truthfully though, sales are likely to be far worse than that particuarly if Sony brings in a PS6 costing £800 or less. I honestly believe that Helix will sell around 3 million consoles within the first 3 years, due to the cost of Helix alone.
It needs to be remembered that the vast majority of Series consoles sold were the S, and most of them were sold close to launch, partly because a lot of people could not get a PS5 due to COVID. Thus it seems highly improbable that people who paid £250 for the S, are then going to pay 4 times that (or more) for Helix. Heck, many people that bought an X will baulk at paying more than double for a Helix. Diehards, such as myself will buy it, but I will be in the minority. Helix will struggle to sell.
So, I may not have the facts about sales numbers of Helix right now, but there is a couple of reasons why, first Microsoft don't tell us, and secondly, the big one, it is not out yet, which makes it extremely difficult to have the facts on it...!
Re: Here's What's In The 'Premium Upgrade' Editions For Fable, Gears & Halo On Xbox
I don't know about that, @themightyant, one of the things that made me happiest about the Series consoles was the fact that my Elite controllers would automatically work with them. It meant it was a no brainer to get one. The fact that the Elite 2 controller has been available for a year prior to the Series consoles release, and is still going strong now goes to show that Microsoft do not need to wait for Helix to release the Elite 3. If it's ready, get it out now. There really is no point in waiting...
Re: Here's What's In The 'Premium Upgrade' Editions For Fable, Gears & Halo On Xbox
I understand what you are getting at, @themightyant, but in 10 years time controllers will have evolved still further, so perhaps we should wait until then to release the Elite 3...! 😉
I'm kidding, of course, but the point I am getting at is that if the Elite 3 is ready now, then there is zero worth in holding it back for Helix, particularly not if it will work with the Series consoles (which we all know it will).
If it's ready, we may as well have it now. I see no point in waiting...
Re: Asha Sharma Discusses Why Xbox Decided To Bring Back Exclusives
E-Day is a Live Service game, @Sol4ris. It absolutely makes no sense to pull it from PlayStation. Particularly not when you also take into account that the game was essentially finished for the platform. E-Day needs a big community to thrive. It may find it on Xbox and PC, but PlayStation would have hugely bolstered it.
Part of me feels that the management caved to the loudest voices calling for exclusives, and chose E-Day because if the experiment fails (which it might because people will still play it via Game Pass rather than buying the game outright), then the management can say to the community that Xbox is not in the right place in terms of player-base to support exclusives.
Sharma can then use that to do one of two things; decide that there will be no further major exclusives, or remove day one first-party games from Game Pass. Personally, I'd be happy if they took the latter of these options. PlayStation are doing perfectly fine without putting their first-party games on their subscription service, and I cannot see that would be any different for Xbox. Obviously many would rail against such a decision, but Sharma could hold up E-Day as an example of how putting first-party games on Game Pass is hurting sales. Armed with proof, she could make these changes. She would probably sweeten the blow by slightly reducing the price of Game Pass again too (though obviously the bean counters will have worked out how much revenue sales will make so that Xbox does better from such a move!).
My only hope is that Gears of War, as a franchise, does not suffer as a consequence of being made exclusive...
Re: Asha Sharma Discusses Why Xbox Decided To Bring Back Exclusives
Absolutely agree, @ilyn. And to think I have been shot down so many times for suggesting that Xbox was in trouble! Somehow though, I bet some will just gloss over these facts, and will still trot out the usual fanboy lines.
I have no issue with being positive about Xbox, but I do find people wilfully ignoring the evidence in front of their eyes, totally bemusing...
Re: Here's A Look At The Updated Xbox Game Studios Roadmap From June 2026
I totally understand, @somnambulance. When I lost my wife four years ago gaming is what kept me sane. It's obviously not the same as having her around, but it occupies my mind and stops me from wallowing. And to think there was a time when governments in the UK were worried about the affects that gaming had on the population, yet it is a fantastic distraction from real life. I'd be lost without it, so we are in agreement that gaming can be a true saviour in it's own way...
Re: Here's What's In The 'Premium Upgrade' Editions For Fable, Gears & Halo On Xbox
It's not like the Elite 3 would not also work with Helix, @themightyant. I mean, they released the Elite 2 in 2019 and then the Series consoles in 2020, and I'm using an Elite 2 right now. Thus, there is no reason why they have to wait for the next generation before they can release the Elite 3 controller...
Re: Here's What's In The 'Premium Upgrade' Editions For Fable, Gears & Halo On Xbox
The fact is that E-Day is essentially a Live Service game, and as such it really should have been released on PlayStation. The bigger the community in a Live Service game, the more chance of success it has.
I maintain that E-Day and Forza 6 should both release on the PS5. Fable and Halo: Combat Evolved should have been made exclusive to Xbox as they are both single-player games that do not require a community. If Halo had included the online side of the game, then that would have been a different matter, but it doesn't so the point is moot.
Honestly, it just feels like the Xbox management have caved to those shouting most loudly, and made what is essentially a dumb decision as a consequence.
They could easily have been much smarter in choosing which games to keep as exclusive. It's almost as if they want E-Day to fail so that they can then turn to the community and say exclusives don't work. Had they made Halo and Fable exclusive, I think it could have been a much better outcome for Xbox...
Re: Here's What's In The 'Premium Upgrade' Editions For Fable, Gears & Halo On Xbox
They have the premium in-game currency in Gears 5 too, @AccessibleDaydream. You can buy Iron with real world money and then use that to buy in-game skins etc. So if it did not encounter it in Gears 5, you'll be fine in E-Day. You can also earn the Iron (slowly, obviously), so you are not forced to buy the currency...
Re: Here's A Look At The Updated Xbox Game Studios Roadmap From June 2026
Because I am stubborn (in games!), @somnambulance, I really enjoyed the whole 'I will get over this mountain with the package' mentality of the first game. Yes, I could walk around the mountain, but where's the fun in that...? 😂
Re: Here's What's In The 'Premium Upgrade' Editions For Fable, Gears & Halo On Xbox
I have bought the Collector's Editions of E-Day, Halo and Fable. It cost me the best part of £800, but I am very much looking forward to playing them. 😊
Next thing I shall do will be to buy the Elite Controller for each of them too. Would be cool if we get the Elite 3 in time for each of them...
Re: Asha Sharma Discusses Why Xbox Decided To Bring Back Exclusives
I will say it makes a refreshing change to have some honesty from the top bosses at Xbox. Yesterday the admission that Game Pass lost millions of subscribers following the price hike, and now an admission that Xbox is not in the best position possible.
Maybe now some people will actually be more prepared to accept that things are not going so well, instead of blindly trotting out the same old Xbox is doing great line. If the top boss says they are not, then what more do they need to hear before they accept that?
I like Sharma. I want her to succeed. I want Xbox to succeed. I really want E-Day to succeed because Gears of War is my favourite franchise, and I dread the ramifications for the studio and the franchise should the game be seen as a financial failure by Xbox management.
So it's down to us gamers to make Xbox a success. If Xbox is (relatively) failing due in part to our behaviour, then we need to do things differently so as to help Xbox succeed...
Re: Asha Sharma Discusses Why Xbox Decided To Bring Back Exclusives
Exactly, @themightyant! And it is what I was saying when E-Day was first announced as an exclusive; if we, the gamer, do not change our habits, the experiment will fail. We need to be buying first-party content, and using Game Pass only for those titles we would not otherwise play.
As the saying goes; insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
There is a reason why Xbox pivoted to putting their games on PlayStation in the first place, so if we do not change what we do, then how can we expect Xbox to succeed now (in terms of first-party content) when they didn't when they had far more exclusives?
Simple answer to that is we cannot. If we want Xbox to have more exclusives we ourselves have to change the way we approach first-party content at the very least...
Re: Here's A Look At The Updated Xbox Game Studios Roadmap From June 2026
Ideal, @somnambulance. Just noticed the other article update. I always remember the first one with just the faces, and it was a truly WTF moment because it really told us nothing!
I do like Death Stranding though I need to play the second one still. I bought the Collector's Editions for both of those games, so I really should get on the second one...
Re: Xbox CSO Says Console Demand Is Outstripping Supply Amidst A 'Crisis' For Component Prices
If Helix is the only console mode Microsoft introduce, @NeoRatt, and it sells only around 2 or 3 million units 3 after it is introduced, then I can foresee Microsoft withdrawing from the console space. They will then become the world's biggest publisher. THat is an issue for me...
Re: 'We'll Start To See Radically Different Business Models' - Xbox Boss Talks Future Of Consoles
I said this yesterday (or the day before) @Sheppard. Have one all singing and dancing Helix that gives us everything, and one that is strictly a walled garden version with no PC access. Much like Sony did with the PS5 and the PS5 Digital; same machine, one with a disc-drive, one without.
I do think they need a third, cheaper model too though...
Re: 'We'll Start To See Radically Different Business Models' - Xbox Boss Talks Future Of Consoles
I've said a fair few times now that Microsoft need to bring in 2 or 3 different models when they release the Helix.
They need something that sits between the S and the X in terms of power (Console A), then a console (Console B) that sits between Console A and Helix. Console A would cost something like £350, Console B £700, and then Helix, which will probably cost in excess of £1000. That gives 3 entry points into the Xbox ecosystem.
In terms of power, I'd hope that Console A would not be far short of the Series X. Console B would obviously be more powerful than the Series X, and then Helix would be your uber powerful version.
I don't think that Microsoft can just do two models as they did this generation because if they do that I think people would still expect the less powerful console to be more powerful than the X is right now, and keeping the costs down on that would be very difficult. Therefore, introducing a third model that sits between the S and X in terms of power would be both affordable and an upgrade for those that game on an S.
I think if Microsoft just give us the Helix, then they are asking for huge problems come the next generation, because if that does indeed cost more than a £1000 then it will be bought by very few.
I'd also like to see Microsoft offer contracts similar to how we get out mobile phones, so that we can buy a console and pay monthly so as to spread the cost over a number of years.
Lastly, I want Microsoft, when they first introduce the different models, to come out and say that there will not be any form of parity clause next generation. Even a whiff of a game being held back or skipping Helix because the developers cannot get it to run equally well on the lower spec'd console will harm Helix. So remove the parity clause, and allow developers free reign to get the game running on each console at whatever performance level they see fit. Let's not have the same issues the S has seen next generation...
Re: Here's A Look At The Updated Xbox Game Studios Roadmap From June 2026
That's the one with the candles in the room, @somnambulance, is it not? I'm searching my memory, and that's all that I coming up with.
Re: Here's A Look At The Updated Xbox Game Studios Roadmap From June 2026
I'm still none the wiser as to what OD is going to be, @somnambulance. I liked the last trailer, but it didn't tell us much about the game, and going on that trailer alone, I would think the game is still at least a couple of years away...
Re: Three Questions We Still Have After The Incredible Xbox Games Showcase 2026
I honestly cannot say that I notice the difference, @themightyant. Maybe that's a blessing then...
Re: Poll: Which Was Your Favourite Gaming Event Of The Past Week?
So, my favourite game show was most certainly the Xbox one, however, despite probably being the biggest fan of Gears of War, my favourite game reveal was undoubtedly Exodus. That game looks fantastic, and gives great Mass Effect vibes. I really cannot wait to get my hands on that game.
As for the E-Day reveal, I was hugely disappointed that they did not speak about Horde other than to talk about a 12 person version. I really hope that mode is not the only one, because if it is, it'll die a death just like Frenzy did. It's not too difficult to find 4 other mates to play a 5 man team Horde. Finding 11 other people, without resorting to playing with random people, is not going to be easy at all, and I really don't enjoy playing with random people because all too often they do their own thing, or leave mid-game, or just hurl abuse around, because, you know... people suck...! 😆
Re: Xbox Employee Responds To New Trailer Showing PS5 Logo For Gears Of War E-Day
That's another thing I would add to my wishlist for Xbox, @ilyn; clear, concise, honest and consistent messaging. It's so annoying to see vague statements that are quickly contradicted by someone else within the Xbox management.
If they are going to each speak to the community, at least all sing from the same hymn sheet. When they cannot deliver the same message without contradicting one another, it always either smacks of ineptitude or has a whiff of dishonesty about it. I mean, if you don't know the specifics of something when asked a question, then say so, and just say you'll find out and get back to us. I'm sure none of us expect all of the senior management to be across all of the details, so there is nothing wrong with saying you don't know something...
Re: Three Questions We Still Have After The Incredible Xbox Games Showcase 2026
Honestly, @themightyant, the whole issue of 30fps/60fps completely bypasses me. What is it I am not noticing...? 😆
Re: Three Questions We Still Have After The Incredible Xbox Games Showcase 2026
All important matters, without question, @FraserG. When it comes to the Elite 3, I am clinging on to the hope that there will be a Collector's Gears of War: E-Day Elite 3 controller.
I will be buying an Elite and Standard version when they become available (which I am sure they will), but it would also be a good time to announce the Elite 3, and I will be a little peeved if they the Gears controller is an Elite 2, only for them to announce the Elite 3 a month or so later.
I'll also be getting the Elite Halo and the Fable too. Tis a great, but expensive time to be a gamer...
Re: Xbox Employee Responds To New Trailer Showing PS5 Logo For Gears Of War E-Day
Kind of you to say, @Skinny-Pete. I always say the same thing, we are all entitled to our own opinions, and providing we are civil to one another then we should be free to express them...
Re: Matt Booty Explains Xbox's Plans For Exclusive Games Going Forward
You and I are in alignment, @DetJayT.
My steps to 'save' Xbox would be:
1. Get rid of Ultimate Game Pass, and have Premium as the top tier, which would in turn mean no longer having day one first-party games on the service.
2. Anything that is not Live Service should be exclusive. Where a game such as Gears of War has a strong Live Service element, Microsoft should do one of two things; either separate the multiplayer from the campaign and keep the campaign as exclusive and put the multiplayer on PlayStation, or they should just put the entire thing on PlayStation. When it comes to Gears of War in particular, the amount of money that Microsoft is leaving on the table in terms of microtransactions alone for that game by not putting it on PlayStation is frankly incredible. If you think about Call of Duty, and how much money that makes in terms of microtransactions on PlayStation, the fact that Microsoft are willing to forgo that money when it comes to E-Day I find completely boggling.
3. By all means introduce a Helix, but also provide a closed Xbox console that does offers basically the same specifications as Helix, but without the PC side of things for those of us (me included) that are not fussed about PC gaming. I mean, it would at the very least be cheaper than Helix, and better than the X too, so it would make it a much more attractive offering for many an Xbox gamer.
It's going to take a lot more bolder action than just the two announced exclusives to save Xbox from the problems it currently faces...
Re: Xbox Employee Responds To New Trailer Showing PS5 Logo For Gears Of War E-Day
That's interesting, @Grumblevolcano. Do you think it would be exclusive, or as it would be a Live Service offering, that it would be multiplatform?
I think the smart move would be multiplatform, although I guess an attempt might be made to use the single-player might as something to attract people into buying an Xbox in order to play it there as exclusive. Problem with that is Live Service lives or dies based on the size of it's community, and PlayStation would definitely bolster that...
Re: Xbox Employee Responds To New Trailer Showing PS5 Logo For Gears Of War E-Day
I don't think I'm going to win this one, @Kaloudz & @Skinny-Pete. I really do not know how to prove who I am, nor prove who I am not! 😂
Re: Xbox Employee Responds To New Trailer Showing PS5 Logo For Gears Of War E-Day
You miss my point when it comes to whether it was, or was not, a last minute decision, @Kaloudz, about that I really could not care less. For me it is a matter of the messaging, and the fact that it does not come across as believable, something that could have been achieved by being definitive.
I mean, define recent? To some that might be hours, to other days, to others weeks, and to some months. You get my point. If Greenberg had said we made the decision in a meeting at the end of April, then fine. If he had said we made the decision the day prior to the showcase, then fine. He is giving precise detail and it immediately settles the matter. It's the vagueness of the response that I take issue with because it is left open to interpretation, open to manipulation and open to accusations of lying.
That is why I said he should have been specific because you and I would not even be discussing this (as pleasant as it is) had he been more specific, because we would simply have believed him...
Re: Xbox Employee Responds To New Trailer Showing PS5 Logo For Gears Of War E-Day
Okay, putting aside the fact the bizarre thought that I am Sammy, @Froggyman1, I would still like to know what I have written that you find so objectionable...?
Re: Xbox Game Pass Lost 'Millions' Of Subscribers Following October 2025 Price Increase
We agree, @Kaloudz (there's a rarity!). I think it was Nadella's doing too.
I think the one thing I'm not so certain on is whether Nadella can stop himself from interfering with Sharma if things take a turn for the worse in terms of revenue a year or so after she has been given a chance to turn things round.
My only hope, and it should be everyone's hope, is that Nadella is too wrapped up in AI to take a moments notice of anything to do with Xbox.
We can only hope that is the case...
Re: Xbox Employee Responds To New Trailer Showing PS5 Logo For Gears Of War E-Day
To be honest, @Skinny-Pete, I didn't get there reference about Sammy straight away, which should answer your question really... 😂
Re: Xbox Employee Responds To New Trailer Showing PS5 Logo For Gears Of War E-Day
Hate filled, @Froggyman1? Give me just one example, please. And just to be clear, I have been part of this community since the 1st of January 2015, and I have posted 5110 comments (including this one). Thus you have plenty of comments to sift through to find just one hateful statement.
Over to you.
Re: Xbox Game Pass Lost 'Millions' Of Subscribers Following October 2025 Price Increase
I said it long before the decision was made, @Kaloudz, but it was very clear that Game Pass had lost a massive number of subscribers just by reading through the comments in these very forums wherein person after person was saying how they had cancelled their subscriptions. The evidence was there for all to see.
Plus, as I have said a number of times, it mattered not who was in charge, Call of Duty needed to be removed from Game Pass, the price needed to come down. It was no obvious that I said this exact same thing the week before the decision was announced.
Sharma gets the credit for it because she was in charge at the time. Had it been Spencer, he would have done the same. Indeed, has Scooby Doo been in charge, he would have done it too because it was so blindingly obvious that such a move was required. I mean, if I can say it needs to happen, then it must have been bloody obvious!
I like Sharma, don't misunderstand me, but I do think she is being credited with something that was as inevitable as night following day. Her hand was forced, and if you are forced into a position then I don't think you should take credit for it.
What I would really like to know is who's bright idea was it to raise the price by 50% in the first place? Was it Spencer's, Hood's or was it Nadella's? One of them should shoulder the blame because it was a terrible decision that smacked of completely taking Xbox gamers for granted, so it is a sobering lesson for Microsoft that people will only tolerate so much.
The next thing I would like to know about is how it affected the number of people gaming on an Xbox, because that will undoubtedly have taken a hit too. Whether that is as easily reversed as people re-subbing is another matter entirely...
Re: Xbox Game Pass Lost 'Millions' Of Subscribers Following October 2025 Price Increase
I agree that it is obvious, @Skinny-Pete. I think the refreshing thing is Microsoft being open and honest about what happened. I'd love to know how many were subscribed at the time, how many were lost, how low subscriber numbers fell too, and how many it has risen too (assuming it has) since the reversal.
Unfortunately we don't get that level of honesty and openness from Microsoft, but I would love to know the details. It would also be interesting to see what it mean in terms of revenue too...
Re: Xbox Employee Responds To New Trailer Showing PS5 Logo For Gears Of War E-Day
Sensible? How rude, @Stocksy! 😆
As for being old, now you have me curious, although I may well have asked you this before, but how old are you?
I'll be 63 In December, which I think also qualifies me as old, although I still feel pretty juvenile, truth be told (well, mentally juvinile, my body would firmly disagree with that statement!)... 😂
Re: Xbox Employee Responds To New Trailer Showing PS5 Logo For Gears Of War E-Day
Do you think we will see another Halo game within the next 2 or 3 years, @MrStark...?
Re: Xbox Employee Responds To New Trailer Showing PS5 Logo For Gears Of War E-Day
I challenge your statement about spending more money than anyone else, @Stocksy. I think you will find that is me, and by a huge margin too. I mean, just yesterday I spent approaching £800 on Xbox games (Gears / Halo & Fable Collector's Editions).
In 2025 I spent £1566.37 on games for my Xbox, and I spent £1300.44 in 2024. That does not take into account the Xbox controllers that I bought last year - 3 Elite controllers (Witcher / Doom & Fallout), and also one standard Doom controller.
Honestly, people have to go a very long way to beat my spending when it comes to gaming. Happy to be proven wrong though... 😉
Re: Xbox Employee Responds To New Trailer Showing PS5 Logo For Gears Of War E-Day
Clarity, @Kaloudz? Pull the other one! What clarity?
What Booty has said makes ZERO sense!
Gears of War is a Live Service game with a polished campaign attached. Future support for the game will be more and more maps added to the game to support the multiplayer, and if we are lucky, we may get a story expansion of sorts as we did with Hivebusters but whilst they ALWAYS add more multiplayer maps, characters, skins, etc. they do not always add more campaign DLC (they didn't with GoW4 for example).
So why is E-Day not multiplatform, because it is essentially a multiplayer game?
In the same breath, why is State of Decay 3 going multiplatform, when the first two games have never been outside console and PC?
Personally, I think they have made E-Day exclusive to appease the fans, even though it could be highly detrimental to the franchise. It would have made far more sense to put E-Day on PlayStation, and keep State of Decay 3 as a console exclusive, than the decision they have made. After all, until yesterday, State of Decay 3 had never been announced for PlayStation either, so going by his "games announced for PlayStation will be honoured" comment then State of Decay 3 would have been okay to keep as an exclusive.
So, it's business as usual as the mixed messaging continues, as does the lack of clarity.
When it comes to whether the decision was made recently or not, why cannot they be specific then? Tell us the decision was made on (insert date) and be done with it. The problem is not when the decision was made, it is that they reply is deliberately vague and open to accusations of being untruthful. If Microsoft tell us the exact date when the decision was made, the debate over whether Greenberg is telling the truth would not be happening. The fact that Microsoft are not being far more specific in their response is what gives the impression that the decision to change things was made very late, and for whatever reason, Microsoft do not want to admit that.
But again, when someone just says it was not recent, that is not someone offering clarity. I just don't get why Microsoft keep stepping on such obvious rakes...
Re: 'It Doesn't End With Gears & Clockwork' - Xbox Reporter Teases More Console Exclusives
I think the problem with Gears of War and Halo, @ILuvGames, and the difference when it comes to Forza Horizon 6, is that Gears 5 and Halo Infinite were not particularly well received by their respective communities, it has meant there is less enthusiasm for both games now.
In the case of Halo, it may have been rebuilt and have added extras, but it is still a remake. Obviously it is new to PlayStation, so will possibly benefit from that, but the fact that it is on PlayStation does not benefit Xbox when it comes to being exclusive because, well, it's not...!
Re: 'It Doesn't End With Gears & Clockwork' - Xbox Reporter Teases More Console Exclusives
As probably the biggest Gears of War fanatic here, @Questionable_Duck, I am praying that it will be a masterpiece. The wait will be unbearable...
Re: Poll: How Would You Grade The Xbox Games Showcase 2026?
I'm hoping it is back, @HonestHick, but at the moment I am worried about Horde. I'm hoping this 12 player mode will be an additional mode to the standard 5 player Horde. If 12 players is the only mode, I will basically not play it, just as I barely touched Frenzy. I think I only played that once. 12 player Horde will die a very quick death, I imagine. The beauty of 5 player Horde is that it is not too challenging to find 4 other friends to play with. I don't have 11 other friends that play Gears of War, and I don't want to make any more! Plus I really do not want to play with random people because invariably they do their own thing in what is a team event, quit out at the most in opportune moments, or just hurl abuse like it's an Olympic sport. I'm sure when The Coalition have play-tested it they think it great fun, but that is not how it will play out in the real world, or at least, I don't think it will.
That's the one huge disappointment I was left with after the deep-dive; basically no mention of Horde beyond there being a 12 player mode. I mean, since when has the community been asking for that...?
Re: Xbox Employee Responds To New Trailer Showing PS5 Logo For Gears Of War E-Day
As I said earlier, @Weebleman, if I were to compile a list of what I want most from Xbox, transparency and honesty would be chief among them.
Just own the mistake. Admit that yes, the decision was only recently made, and move on. Then the community would move on with you.
Only the truly gullible, totally naïve and most ardent fanboys would possibly believe him. Attempting to deny something that is so very obvious just makes the leadership look bad.
Better to look inept than dishonest, in my books...
Re: Xbox Employee Responds To New Trailer Showing PS5 Logo For Gears Of War E-Day
It was a decision made in recent weeks at best, maybe even within the week prior to the showcase. Sharma wanted to throw an enormous bone to the Xbox community, and they don't come with much more meat on it than E-Day.
Personally, I think she has listened to a vocal section of the Xbox community, and put their voices over common sense, but I guess we will find that out in due course...
Re: 'It Doesn't End With Gears & Clockwork' - Xbox Reporter Teases More Console Exclusives
You'd like to think so, @ILuvGames, but in all honesty, when I read the comments on these forums when it comes to first-party games, the overriding sentiment still seems to be that people will opt for the cheapest option, which is to play via Game Pass. I get the impression that people are aware that there are problems in doing this, but take the attitude that they may as well make hay whilst the sun is shining. If it all comes crashing down at a later point, so be it, although I highly doubt that they will then reflect on whether they paid a part in the downfall of Game Pass or indeed Xbox...
Re: 'It Doesn't End With Gears & Clockwork' - Xbox Reporter Teases More Console Exclusives
I'm not sure that E-Day will do better, @Questionable_Duck, although I really hope it does. It does look like a strong and polished game.
Problem is Gears 5 released on the Xbox One where there were around 50 million Xbox gamers plus PC gamers. E-Day is releasing on the Series consoles where that number is closer to 30 million plus PC gamers.
Thus, with Gears 5, if 5% of those gaming on an Xbox One bought the game, then it was bought by 2.5 million people. If 5% of people that game on a Series console buy E-Day, then it will be bought by just 1.5 million people. Obviously, I have no idea just how many people buy first-party games on Xbox because Microsoft refuse to divulge such things, and Game Pass completely muddies the waters.
I understand your take about Microsoft attempting to retain their userbase by keeping E-Day exclusive, and it is an interesting notion, but truthfully, I think, when it comes to deciding between the PS6 and Helix it will very much come down to how much the two devices cost. If Helix is seen as substantially more expensive than the PS6, then I don't think any number of exclusives will make that much difference...
Re: Xbox CSO Says Console Demand Is Outstripping Supply Amidst A 'Crisis' For Component Prices
Absolutely right, @AI-Generation, and any country that appears to be completely out of stock may simply have not received any stock! If you do not get any more stock, and you sell your last console, you are sold out. That does not mean there is demand for that stock, and indeed, the reason that you do not receive further stock may well be because there is no demand. Thus I would not put any stock (ahem!) in a supplier showing as sold out, because it just might be that Microsoft determined that it was basically pointless to supply further consoles to be sold because the demand is not there. I mean, what's the point in having a console waiting to be sold and gathering dust on a shelf? Plus it looks better to be seen as being sold out, than it does to have loads in stock and not being sold...
Re: Xbox CSO Says Console Demand Is Outstripping Supply Amidst A 'Crisis' For Component Prices
I care because I am investing my money in Xbox with each game I buy, be that first-party or third, @NeoRatt. If it all goes tits up and Microsoft decide to withdraw from the console space, then that's a problem for me...
Re: Xbox CSO Says Console Demand Is Outstripping Supply Amidst A 'Crisis' For Component Prices
I just wish Microsoft would actually give us some details rather than always deliberately being so vague in what they say. How many more consoles are required? Hundreds? Thousands? Millions? Tens of millions? I mean, they could have 100 consoles ready to go, and 101 people wanting them, which would then mean demand is outstripping supply. I'm not suggesting they only have 100 consoles, but the point is without exact details we don't really know just what that demand is. It's great PR to say you don't have enough consoles to meet demand as it creates interest in the consoles, and a feeling of FOMO in the gaming community. After all, it's better to say that you do not have enough consoles, than to say you have many sitting on a shelf collecting dust!
I think if I were to compile a top ten list of things I would like to see from this change in leadership, openness, transparency and honesty would be very high up that list. Treat us like adults, not fools. Tell us how many consoles you are selling. Tell us how many games you are selling. Give us current Game Pass subscriber numbers and advise us in which direction subscriptions are going. And be honest when it comes to first-party game sales, and the harm that Game Pass does to those individual titles (if that is indeed the case). Armed with these details we can fully comprehend why certain decisions are made, rather than the current situation where statistics are cherry-picked to make things appear better than they really are.
Anyway, one can dream, but we know that side of things will not change, which is a real shame...
Re: 'It Doesn't End With Gears & Clockwork' - Xbox Reporter Teases More Console Exclusives
You and I are of a like mind, @ILuvGames. Unfortunately, I many of those that shouted for games to be made exclusive will not put their hands in their pockets to make it work for Microsoft. I reckon we'll be back to square one in a couple of years, at which point I would not be surprised to see E-Day being the 'exclusive' game ported to PlayStation, heralding a return to everything being released on PlayStation...