GoldenPants

I'm new to Xbox for this console generation, bought in with a Series S, then got hooked with Game Pass Ultimate content as I obviously had no content starting from nothing, then also bought Series X. It's pretty clear that if all the best content is going to be on PlayStation, then if I had to make the decision again it would be too buy a PlayStation. Also given that it obviously takes more work to port a game to Xbox as the S is a different machine, not like PS disc or disc less versions (as proven by difficulty with Baldur's Gate 3 port), throw in smaller & declining user base, then it's clear to see why they're is concern about a death spiral, less and less content to Xbox.

I tried to see the future, that maybe Phil envisions, do I really even need a console? I have a Samsung smart monitor, so decided to try playing my GPU on it, quite frankly, I was surprised as didn't think the monitor would have the horsepower to play well, but obviously you don't need much horsepower to stream a game.

If Microsoft decides to go the path of Nvidia GeForce Now, I don't know, maybe that is the future where you really don't need a console...?

After playing on my smart monitor, I feel like I should minimally sell my Series S, not out of anger, but it feels made obsolete by GPU streaming on the monitor, then just keep the series X for content I own not on GPU. Maybe the X will even be obsolete if Microsoft goes Nvidia GeForce Now clone.

@tho_mi Yes, correct on the reduced conversion rate. So another reason for not buying a brand new Xbox now, plus MS constantly nerfing down rewards points, which I'm sure will continue in the future. In my shoes now, I wouldn't buy into the xbox ecosystem now, but a year ago it was a great deal.

@Fiendish-Beaver
Your post exactly sums up the situation no matter how MS spins it... Basically we all want great content, now it's obvious all the best content is going to be on the PS ecosystem, so likewise obviously don't buy Xbox hardware, which furthers the death spiral of less great content. I'm new to Xbox for this generation, I would be kinda mad about this developing situation if it were not for the brutally cheap/free Game Pass Ultimate, I bought 2 years of Gold (should have done 3...), upgraded to GPU 1:1, but over a year later I still have 2 years of GPU, thanks MS points! So I can't really complain, I may not have access to the best content, but I have access to the cheapest content. But yeah, my next console obviously won't be Xbox, unless MS is still giving away free GPU, which you can't count on, so death spiral continues...

I got my Series S free with points from Shoppers Drug Mart, large chain here in Canada. Looks like they are also moving to get rid of all physical disc products, all games discounted to CAD$19.99 (so like less than USD$15), including Starfield, etc. Not a surprising move...

@Kaloudz I went back to the Bing app on my S21 Ultra & I don't have the points for reading news & daily check in money bags, while it shows on my Pixel 8 Pro.

So it is weird that my account has different reward points available depending upon what device I use.

@Kaloudz regarding the points to read articles & Bing money bags I did not get them either, then upgraded my phone from a S21 Ultra to Pixel 8 Pro, I instantly got the read news article points & Bing daily checkin money bags on my pixel 8 Pro. Coincidence? I don't know, but I think this might also depend on what device you use??

My last console was a PS3, so I had some content catching up to do! Even with GPU I was surprised I bought 27 games in the last year. Since I'm catching up it's good that I can get some good older games on sale and not be paying full price. Diablo IV was what I consider to be the only fully priced game I bought, I should have waited... I will probably add Hogwarts legacy soon, then slow down on the purchases to play the backlog of accumulated games.

I'm not saying I don't want freebies, it's just MS rewards were insanely generous, yes, MS may benefit, but I highly doubt it makes business sense, which is why we're getting the nerfing of the points. If it made business sense it would not get nerfed, so we already have the answer from MS if it makes sense. They won't say it in so many words, but the actions they are taking is telling us what we don't want to hear.

For example, As @trev666 says they're is no question google search is better than Bing. Getting daily search points was not changing engagement to Bing. You just powered through to get the points & that is it.

I'm sorry I only discovered MS rewards, Apr of this year, when I saw posts of people saying MS going to pay for their Xbox series X. There is no question whoever dreamed up/started MS rewards points was waaay too generous. No business would be giving their products away for free, month after month with no purchase required, so I fully expect the chopping of rewards points to continue.

It seems MS has finally clued in with their divide by 10 in handing out rewards points. It's soon going to be pointless (see what I did there....) to actually try to collect points.

I for one bought a Series S last year, primarily because I couldn't easily find a PS5 or series X in stock to buy.

I had no idea what the X/S sales split was, but it doesn't surprise me the ratio being what it is, as buying an X was constrained by lack of availability for a long time.

If you have a series S, you might want to consider to beat the rush & sell before there is a flood on the market. Yeah I saw that 314GB to preinstall!! That is going to chew up a bunch of space!! Going to be needing the new 1TB Series S or a series X.