"it doesn't seem to be having a material impact on the growth"
This is something we might not see until the next generation. Anyone that's already bought a Series S/X isn't going to immediately sell it because of these exclusives moving platform. But this does absolutely nothing for the strength of Xbox as a platform, Xbox gains nothing except money and maybe improving and building an IP.. that is now multiplatform. Sony also gets money (for much less work), and they also get a brand new previously exclusive game. On paper, this is better for Sony than Xbox, at least until Xbox can leverage the additional money they made.. but let's say it's $40 million, Sony takes 30%, so they get $12m, Xbox now has $28m. That's only a net difference of $16 million. If Xbox reinvests that into Sea of Thieves(or other multiplats), that absolutely benefits Sony more than Xbox.
Sony gets $12m for 'free' which they can spend on exclusives that Xbox won't get. And Xbox spends $28m on multiplatform games that Sony does get. It's a win for Sony shareholders, it's a win for Sony players, and it's a win for Microsoft shareholders. The only people not winning from this are Xbox players. Xbox players gain absolutely nothing from this. Oh, but Microsoft will reinvest into Xbox games? Right... But Sony also receives those benefits when the games go multiplatform, so there is no net positive difference for being an Xbox player.
Before this, Xbox players had the benefit of access to Sea of Thieves. That was the net difference between Sony and Xbox players. After this, Sony players have the benefit of access to Sea of Thieves (something they didn't have before) and potentially Sony funded exclusives from 'free' money. Xbox also has additional money, but if that is spent on multiplatform games, it's a net neutral benefit for both platforms players.
This has only increased the value of the PlayStation platform. The next generation will be extremely critical for Xbox, this may have done more damage to the Xbox platform than they realise, but they just won't be able to see it until the next generation.
This was leaked years ago. Along with the fact that they are working on new IP. "No remakes, remasters, prequels or sequels. Something brand new. New IP" - a quote from Tim Schaefer.
Here is my pitch to replace Games with Gold. "Games with Ultimate" Xbox curates a list of games currently available on Gamepass and allows you to pick 1 game per month to keep forever. Not every game is available, it is a curated list of say 5 games every month, and we get to choose 1 from those 5 to keep forever. So for the month of December the games might be Outer Wilds, Gorogoa, Potion Craft, Moonglow Bay, and Banjo Kazooie (360). So a couple of games that are about to leave the service, 1 that has just been added, 1 that has been there awhile, and 1 from previous generations. These are all pretty cheap games, but the quality is still a lot better than what we're currently getting with GWG. Also even if it's only 1 game, I would much rather get a choice, even if it's a limited choice. Some games might be repeated, but that just gives someone the opportunity to pick it up if they missed it the first time, that doesn't punish anyone that did pick it up originally, because there will always be something else to choose.
I think the current GWG (and Gold in general) needs to be sunset. I think removing it completely and offering nothing in return will only generate ill-will. Something different, something slightly better is a good compromise for everyone. I don't expect Xbox to offer AAA bangers every month with GWG, or to ever offer that with Games with Ultimate, but there has to be some middle ground where we don't feel like it's completely horrible every single month.
Comments 3
Re: Xbox's Sea Of Thieves Has Reportedly Sold Over One Million Copies On PS5
"it doesn't seem to be having a material impact on the growth"
This is something we might not see until the next generation. Anyone that's already bought a Series S/X isn't going to immediately sell it because of these exclusives moving platform. But this does absolutely nothing for the strength of Xbox as a platform, Xbox gains nothing except money and maybe improving and building an IP.. that is now multiplatform. Sony also gets money (for much less work), and they also get a brand new previously exclusive game. On paper, this is better for Sony than Xbox, at least until Xbox can leverage the additional money they made.. but let's say it's $40 million, Sony takes 30%, so they get $12m, Xbox now has $28m. That's only a net difference of $16 million. If Xbox reinvests that into Sea of Thieves(or other multiplats), that absolutely benefits Sony more than Xbox.
Sony gets $12m for 'free' which they can spend on exclusives that Xbox won't get. And Xbox spends $28m on multiplatform games that Sony does get. It's a win for Sony shareholders, it's a win for Sony players, and it's a win for Microsoft shareholders. The only people not winning from this are Xbox players. Xbox players gain absolutely nothing from this. Oh, but Microsoft will reinvest into Xbox games? Right... But Sony also receives those benefits when the games go multiplatform, so there is no net positive difference for being an Xbox player.
Before this, Xbox players had the benefit of access to Sea of Thieves. That was the net difference between Sony and Xbox players.
After this, Sony players have the benefit of access to Sea of Thieves (something they didn't have before) and potentially Sony funded exclusives from 'free' money. Xbox also has additional money, but if that is spent on multiplatform games, it's a net neutral benefit for both platforms players.
This has only increased the value of the PlayStation platform. The next generation will be extremely critical for Xbox, this may have done more damage to the Xbox platform than they realise, but they just won't be able to see it until the next generation.
Re: Xbox-Owned Studio Double Fine Seemingly Has Two Projects In The Works
This was leaked years ago. Along with the fact that they are working on new IP. "No remakes, remasters, prequels or sequels. Something brand new. New IP" - a quote from Tim Schaefer.
So no Brutal Legend, Banjo Kazooie or Forza DLC.
Re: Talking Point: Is It Time For Xbox To Sunset The 'Games With Gold' Program?
Here is my pitch to replace Games with Gold.
"Games with Ultimate" Xbox curates a list of games currently available on Gamepass and allows you to pick 1 game per month to keep forever.
Not every game is available, it is a curated list of say 5 games every month, and we get to choose 1 from those 5 to keep forever.
So for the month of December the games might be Outer Wilds, Gorogoa, Potion Craft, Moonglow Bay, and Banjo Kazooie (360). So a couple of games that are about to leave the service, 1 that has just been added, 1 that has been there awhile, and 1 from previous generations.
These are all pretty cheap games, but the quality is still a lot better than what we're currently getting with GWG. Also even if it's only 1 game, I would much rather get a choice, even if it's a limited choice.
Some games might be repeated, but that just gives someone the opportunity to pick it up if they missed it the first time, that doesn't punish anyone that did pick it up originally, because there will always be something else to choose.
I think the current GWG (and Gold in general) needs to be sunset. I think removing it completely and offering nothing in return will only generate ill-will. Something different, something slightly better is a good compromise for everyone. I don't expect Xbox to offer AAA bangers every month with GWG, or to ever offer that with Games with Ultimate, but there has to be some middle ground where we don't feel like it's completely horrible every single month.