I'm not a fan of the Oprah Approach with, EVERYBODY gets Xbox games!

But until Microsoft starts releasing games again, that are just incredible must have games, that sell systems - - the Oprah Approach is unfortunately needed.

Translation, game pass is too expensive, and an unsustainable business model. We are trying our best to keep game pass on life support and refusing to just admit a rebrand to Indie Pass and even more sensible and price tiers to reflect that rebranding.

Probably $20 more month on top whatever already paying for to have Discord now.

I've always thought the name was TERRIBLE. Last thing I ever want to experience in life or be part of is discord or discordance.

Subscription still costs too much.

What exactly did Kiki even do that helped Xbox?

Honestly can think of nothing. It's like only think she did was bring cool name into studio.

@PROPS Exactly. Guarantee they have data that shows people, like you and me, said this is just ridiculous price. Heck, we can only play one game at time, anyway.

After The Great Price Gouge festered into an ignorant existence, Essential was the only plan worth it. I went that way immediately, have never looked back, never will. Microsoft with all their mindset (nadella, I'm looking at you) of forcing completely unnecessary and extremely overpriced subscriptions on customers left me disenchanted beyond belief.

Lost my good faith and good will. Most likely forever.

Personally, I think game pass is tanking after the completely, greedy, unnecessary 50% increase price gouge. Millions said, forget this, I'm out, just like I did. Now everyone at Xbox is scrambling to find way save it.

Just stop. Let it die. It always was failed, unsustainable business model. Just cancel and rebrand it Indie Pass. Which it really is anyway.

Then everyone that wants and enjoys games that look and play like were made 30 years ago can find and play them in one place. Problem solved.

Xbox lost me on ultimate. That 50% increase caused me to leave. I'm not coming back either.

@Balaam_ Sadly that what those NTFs or whatever their called was supposed to do. Paintings, baseball cards, etc, be unique things for individual owners.

Looks like that tech bombed. Hope stays forgotten too.

@GeminiX53 Yep, Game pass is terrible, predatory subscription. And it's terrible for gaming industry as whole. Xbox absolutely lost sales for starfield because of it just as your quote from article suggests.

If game pass such wonderful thing for developers, then I'll renew my subscription to play GTA 6 day one on game pass. Yep.

What played of starfield, I really enjoyed. Never understood the hate. Really think it was just the "cool" thing to do was hate on starfield.

@Royalduder Not at all. Just making obvious observation.

Haven't seen ratio yet. Probably be like 100,000 = $10.

Be bummer if conversion that high.

Granted this is me and very huge personal preference.... But I stopped playing side scrolling 8 bit games back in late 80s. Give me legit current Gen games, only. That's why I bought $500+ console, $4500+ 85 inch OLED TV, $3000+ sound system.

If wanted play Gameboy Color, I'd buy Gameboy color again.

Those are kinda, let me say.....fruity.

I'd be afraid wear either. Like was trying announce a preference of the sorts.

You can really tell Asha's background and bread and butter is PR. Which means she can real spin what people want to hear.

Not sure if that means she'll do good job for Xbox or not?

Verdict still out for me.

I'm 110% for exclusivity to Xbox for a year or three. Then let it out. Or don't.

It's not like Playstation is releasing spider-man or horizon for Xbox.

Say it isn't so. Yet another issue with a game on Series S.

Really hope Microsoft learns from the failed experiment known as the Xbox Series S and only make ONE console next gen. That's it. Just one console.

That's all that's needed.

It absolutely is. But whole business model is incredibly unsustainable.

If want lower price and still have it around. Just change name to Indie Pass (which what it really is anyway) and only load it up with those game boy color quality level games of side scrolling, jumping over lava pits.

Or just acknowledge the truth of having raise price to $50 a month to keep it somewhat sustainable.

Which no way in hades I'm paying that. Ever.

@DonnieTACO Switch probably more powerful than Series S. 🤣

Wait?

Yet another title that Series S is an inferior joke? Say it isn't so?

Hopefully Microsoft learned from this failed and stupid experiment of having two consoles this generation and never, ever, do it again. It's a failure.

@NeoRatt Agree on your PR viewpoint.

But right now I'm being extremely cautiously optimistic. This very well could be her just attempting make hot start then fade away fast.

At this point in time, she has proven absolutely nothing to me.

Could it change? Definitely. But I need lot more time before give her my blessing and approval. Not that mine means anything. It doesn't. I'm a straight up nobody.

@Fiendish-Beaver Do you answer the weekly poll question?

That seems be good start with engagement. I've been answering weekly for years now.

@Zenszulu Yes! Exactly!

There been soooooooooo many games and franchises ruined by catering to the very loud that were just very, very, very, much minority of player base. Also listening to so-called "influencers" is another recipe for stupidity and disaster. They say and do things solely for likes and/or clicks. Any company should take anything from the "influencer" community with grain of salt. Then throw said salt in trash.

A mandatory disc drive is one most important features to me. It is not debatable option or feature.

It MUST be standard.

Notice all mention is, Xbox Series X. Did not see anything about Xbox Series S.

Keep that in mind.

Atari 2600, NES, Game Boy, Super NES, Turbografx-16, Sega Genesis, Sega CD, Game Boy Color, Atari Lynx, Game Gear, PS1, Orginal Xbox, Game Cube, Xbox 360, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox One X, Xbox Series X. Think that's all.

Loved them all. All worth it.

Edit: Forgot Switch 1. Sure I've forgotten others.

Another game, another example of why the 6 Month Rule should always, absolutely, completely, should be followed.

I've lost all interest in this game, other games have filled my open gaming slots.

Will never play this game, even though really enjoyed state of decay 1 and 2.

Did not see free upgrades to those that own previous edition?

No Elder Scrolls Online?

@TrollOfWar Live service games are an incredible determint to todays gaming.

I do not like it at all. More and more every day, the peak and golden age of gaming for me was Xbox/360 eras.

Gone downhill fast since.

@cross717 And that is exactly why I'm anti-apple. Even past their patent troll and unethical business practices.

Apple is overpriced, underpowered, closed source hardware, that just relies on marketing department to keep them relevant.

If $1000 and no internal disc drive? I'm out.

Not even a decision if no internal disc drive. Just no. Hard pass. Not happening.

Battlefield 6 sold 6 million+ copies (at say $60 average is $360,000,000) and EA laid off staff. If unable to effectively and efficiently handle $360,000,000 management are ones needing laid off.

Plus stockholders place ludicrous demands for return on investment. What's wrong just turning a profit? Does it have to be upteenmillion dollars in profits to be justified?

At first, I really thought, she's going do ok for Xbox.

Now everything, evvvvvverything, she says screams of forced acceptance through passive deeds (I hear you, I read gamers want this, etc) to point of starting feel forced and no where close to genuine.

"They argue that such tactics can hurt the industry"

Game Pass already done this. And that's even beyond the point of it's unsustainable business model.

Game pass is and was terrible idea. Mainly due to branding identity. I know, Microsoft having brand or marketing issues. Who would thought that.

If called Indie Pass or something like that, and not shoved down Xbox gamers throats, it be in better place today.

@Tdx Honestly it's hard to explain that vast majority offered in game pass are aftermarket game boy color level of quality games.

For every expedition 33 there are hundreds of side scrolling, jumping over lava pits, that I quit playing back late 80s, early 90s.

I have $4000 TV, Xbox Series X, and full surround sound setup. Absolutely want use it to full potential. I can go gamestop any time and buy game boy color or an NES.

That's game pass biggest challenge, after the high pricing.

@fatpunkslim If she has the brains and understanding to make ANY and EVERY game pass subscription have very nice discount if purchase 12 months in advance, I'll really start take her more serious in the role.

That move, if happens, will tell me that she cares about Xbox and what Xbox customers want.

It's really simple to make large portion of Xbox fans happy.

Give us online play, first party titles (been out a year at least, already), none that stupid laggy, 280i frame rate, streaming garbage, ZERO ads, for $15 month, or $100-$120 a year bundle deal.

Think that hits all the bases, and makes majority happy.

@Fiendish-Beaver The faster nadella, resigns, is forced out, or jumps off a bridge, is better for Microsoft the very moment any of the above happen.

Will absolutely give her kudos and major thumbs up for doing that. It was incredibly stupid idea from the start.

Way it was going, should been called, nothing is an Xbox, since was pushing Xbox into obscurity.

Only questions. When can I pre-order and will there be great pre-order bonuses?

Nothing in list above grabs me. I'm sure when full sale is live at least one will call my name though.

@GeminiX53 Yes! That is the infamous response. You know cause all stuff they have on their hard drives last forevvvvvver. Hard drives never crash, break, corrupt, fail, etc.

Nope. Never.

I paid good money for my home theater setup. I expect to get full value out of it. All digital is basically equivalent buying Lamborghini and only live in school zones.

Agree. It was very underappreciated game.

They are very, very, very, desperate to do anything to keep afloat the failing and unsustainable game pass business model.

Only way it has chance to survive is $45-$50 minimum monthly subscription. Majority will (and rightfully so) turn their noses up at that ridiculous expense.

Be even easier if have just one console. None the multiple underpowered console rubbish like Series S. Just one console and be done.

True Crime Streets of LA was such fun game back then. Be awesome if brought the series back.

@GeminiX53 "unlike video games, physical music and film are still very much catered for"

And the quality for physical movies and music is SUPERIOR by leaps and bounds to streaming rubbish.

If want quality and best experience, physical media is the ONLY way to go. Especially with how entertainment is being censored, edited, and/or deleted. The original vision of entertainment is being destroyed and ruined by small percentage of people that really not represent the majority on a good day.

@GeminiX53 The fact that Walmart by me has decent size vinyl area speaks a lot to me.