UltimaKilo
Gold Member
Th problem is not the strategy, it's the leadership that is inept and can't implement.
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Bloomberg: Xbox’s ‘Exclusive’ Video Game Strategy Leaves Everyone Confused
- Thread starter EMR
- Start date
Crayon
Member
It really is
Somebody should make a cartoon: comedy sketch about MS management.
And oldie but a goodie:
Heisenberg007
Gold Journalism
So why did Hi-Fi Rush and Pentiment came to PlayStation, as they were also new IPs just like Starfield?
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newtypepilot
Member
ah yes... the good ol' MS's no-plan plan!!
StreetsofBeige
Gold Member
Whole article:
Xbox’s ‘Exclusive’ Video Game Strategy Leaves Everyone Confused
Hi everyone. Today we’re trying to figure out just what the heck Xbox is doing, but first...www.bloomberg.com
Jason Schreier:
''The problem with Xbox's new vision isn't that the company is moving away from console exclusives. The problem is that their release strategy is messy, confusing, and inconsistent. Just pick a lane!''
Sounds exactly like Sony to PC strategy
GAAS = day one
Many of their games lately = timed exclusive
Many of their other games = not coming out
And unless it's GAAS, they dont tell if a new game comes to PC or not until a year or two later and then in a random tweet or PS Blog article says a PC port is coming in 3 months.
Sanepar
Member
MS bet is to transform industry into a subscription model. Gamepass and cloud are their focus.
Netflix needed 13 years to a success. Gamepass has 7 years and they will keep trying.
XXL
Member
I'm not sure what's confusing here?
Their priority is now developing for PS5 and PC, they're just too afraid to come out and say it.
Apparently they now have some of their internal studios focusing on PS5 dev kits over Xbox dev kits.
This is all going to come to a resolution sooner than later.
What they did with Indiana Jones says alot.
Their priority is now developing for PS5 and PC, they're just too afraid to come out and say it.
Apparently they now have some of their internal studios focusing on PS5 dev kits over Xbox dev kits.
This is all going to come to a resolution sooner than later.
What they did with Indiana Jones says alot.
Robb
Gold Member
I agree. I’m just saying that this is very likely the last time I purchase their hardware considering I’ll get more software/value elsewhere. Assuming they’ll continue like this.
mayham2199
Member
I know we like to compare Netflix and Gamepass because they seem similar but they are just very different.
First off TV has a much larger audience base than gaming does. Pretty much everyone who watches TV pays for it some way shape or form. On top of that Xbox has to compete with the GAAS games that have capture everyone's time and even worse than that almost all of them are completely free.
Fess
Member
Never for first party games. Nobody knows. We just have that Nvidia leak many years ago hinting that everything will arrive, some day. But the number of years vary between games. I’m still waiting on Demon’s Souls from 2020.
reinking
Gold Member
X Gon Give It To Ya... 
...Even If Ya On PS5! 
digoutyoursoul
Member
I'm not sure what's confusing here?
Their priority is now developing for PS5 and PC, they're just too afraid to come out and say it.
Apparently they now have some of their internal studios focusing on PS5 dev kits over Xbox dev kits.
This is all going to come to a resolution sooner than later.
What they did with Indiana Jones says alot.
Where did you hear this?
Wildebeest
Member
If you are confused by this, you should go to a doctor and get medicated. Either a game is due for release on PS5 or it isn't. Not confusing.
Crayon
Member
Or it isn't, UNTIL IT IS.
violence
Gold Member
Bethesda might’ve bloated to the point of being mediocre. A PlayStation release would’ve only hurt the product (Starfield) most likely. I mean they had a hard enough time making the product they made. Imagine adding PlayStation to that.
Id is a studio that hires wizards. They’re going to put that game on every platform.
Id is a studio that hires wizards. They’re going to put that game on every platform.
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Wildebeest
Member
One day a game isn't announced to be released and the next day they announce it and it is. How does this work brain hurt now caveman angry.
XXL
Member
Another forum. I'm not gonna link it, but they have talked about it a few times.
Gambit2483
Member
This game was never going to be a "system-seller" or push software sales, that's why.
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XXL
Member
The ironic part of your statement is that if they would have released it only on PlayStation (and Steam) it would have done much better than it did for Xbox.
I think they're starting to realize this fact.
PlayStation is becoming more and more of a priority for them.
I mean, they just announced Indiana Jones (previously exclusive) for PS5, months before the Xbox version even came out.
Tiago Rodrigues
Member
Well their console audience is falling alright
Topher
Identifies as young
They are pushing their console audience off a cliff.
SkylineRKR
Member
When Starfield came out MS still had a different strategy in mind. Perhaps they could release a PS5 version now, maybe they will announce one when this game has its anniversary soon.
Then project latitude happened. Doom was announced multiplatform day one. And Indy is a Disney IP, there might've been some sort of different contract behind it. I don't know. But this game was likely originally planned as an exclusive like Starfield, unlike Doom.
And Spencer can't be taken seriously. He admitted they lost the most important generation with the Xbox One, the one with full day one digital ecosystems. So his earlier words hold no value anyway.
Then project latitude happened. Doom was announced multiplatform day one. And Indy is a Disney IP, there might've been some sort of different contract behind it. I don't know. But this game was likely originally planned as an exclusive like Starfield, unlike Doom.
And Spencer can't be taken seriously. He admitted they lost the most important generation with the Xbox One, the one with full day one digital ecosystems. So his earlier words hold no value anyway.
Syphon Filter
Member
then here is no point getting an xbox and decreases the confidence in consumers for their future hardware.
Crayon
Member
That boat sailed.
havoc00
Member
The last few months have def been rough no clear vision no clear communication, delays etc… even with the launch of the revised systems is baffling. Oh and now the 30fps fiasco. Like what the fuck is going on over there?
I think to myself if they would have been in a better or worst spot if the activision deal didn’t go though?
I think to myself if they would have been in a better or worst spot if the activision deal didn’t go though?
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clarky
Gold Member
I said the same earlier in the thread. The statement he's referring to came before those titles so makes little sense.
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ShaiKhulud1989
Gold Member
It’s hard to expect a solid messaging form a company that can’t create even a coherent branding for it’s hardware generations.
SkylineRKR
Member
Depends how you would look at it. For fans, probably better. They would still get the same games, and MS didn't need to recuperate huge investments with a more aggressive multiplatform approach. On the other hand, Xbox would be tanking either way so they would have to do something.
But MS does get all revenues from the next ABK and Bethesda games now.
Exactly—that is why I sold my Series X a few weeks back.
Klayzer
Member
+5000 worthless internet points for that post. Genuis, I love it.
Astray
Member
Easier said than done, if I'm a talent that's getting recruited by studios, why would I want to be part of the studios that are beholden to the weakest console platform for sales, where my bonus conditions most likely won't be met because sales targets won't be met?
Also they have already released more XGS stuff on PS5 than they did Bethesda stuff.
Barakov
Member
Yup. People have said it before and they're just throwing ideas at a wall and see what sticks.
havoc00
Member
I know it’s cliche to say that at this point but that’s exactly what I feels like
azertydu91
Hard to Kill
Oh I thought you meant 3rd party deals since MS doesn't reveal either.
pasterpl
Member
hifirush is part of the multi platform project/test MS is running, testing waters (probably ps5 version was being developed long before Xbox acquired zenimax), wasn’t grounded initially a kickstarter project where they promised multi platform, Sea of Thieves is very successful GaaS so this shouldn’t be a surprise. Same as Sony releasing their GaaS games day 1 on PC. None of the games where released day 1 on PlayStation. MS might stick to timed exclusivity for their titles.
LavitzSlambert
Member
As a public company, especially one as prolific as Microsoft, you can't just pull out as a major player of a lucrative industry like video games. Shareholders will have a fit and actually file lawsuits against the company. So, they need to fail and it needs to not look like it was obviously self inflicted. Since the ATVI deal, it's clear Microsoft wants to return to being a publisher and get out of the console/hardware business. They want to grow a fanbase that will pay for and become addicted to their games, and then Microsoft being Microsoft, they will tighten their stranglehold and start extorting their fanbase to extract profit while creating as little value as possible - just like how they operate the rest of their business.
clarky
Gold Member
Ok but you said:
He said that before he released those 4 titles on other platforms. There was no existing community for those games. He also said those acquisitions were about building titles for xbox customers. All backtracked on and bullshit.
Heisenberg007
Gold Journalism
The problem is that people keep trying to defend and justify Phil's statement by marrying his current actions with previous statements. They don't want to accept, for some odd reason, that Phil's previous statements are no longer valid.
He might have meant what he said earlier, but the Xbox strategy has changed.
The only issue is that they haven't publicly announced that strategy clearly. Although they have implied that all Xbox games will come to PlayStation sooner or later.
The arguments "Oh, it's because it's a legacy IP" or "because that's a GaaS game" etc. do not work anymore.
Heisenberg007
Gold Journalism
No, they have already given up. Remember when Satya Nadella removed Game Pass from his CEO bonus criteria?
He replaced that with "Content & Revenue" and then starting to put Xbox exclusive games on PlayStation. This is increasing the Revenue of Xbox (e.g., Sea of Thieves generated an additional $28 million of revenue) and, therefore, giving Satya more money in executive bonuses.
Game Pass is no longer an important thing for Microsoft or Xbox.
chromatic9
Member
Could be more about a change of plan and also release dates and history and owners of the ip. Referencing Bethesda does not provide context, like also ignoring the dates.
Jason has referenced Starfield (2023) in his 3 game list, a game from last year. It's clear Starfield was a big play for pushing an exclusive console game and gamepass planned a long time ago but it didn't move the needle. It's a large scope game that requires a ton of fixes and perhaps picking a time to relaunch if in the works now, they aren't going to scramble out a PS5 port in this instance. Note by exclusive I mean console space, I know it's on PC, like Fallout and Skyrim.
Indy (2024 on Xbox) may have been full exclusive but have been able to shift due to change of plan and possibly pressure from Disney, a bit like MLB. Maybe the timed deal reflects the port progress or some compromise
Doom (2025 on everything) I can see from the outset it was one title, the most multiplatform title in history they weren't going to mess with it, the bits of info we've had about it being the one allowed to be planned to be PS5 I think are true . If not true they've had time to pivot fully and get it out on time
The failure of previous titles like Starfield will have only cemented the change of plan and backup plan all along from Satya. MS have been about buying ip, the Series consoles and tempting/buying the player over to gamepass play failed.
Jason has referenced Starfield (2023) in his 3 game list, a game from last year. It's clear Starfield was a big play for pushing an exclusive console game and gamepass planned a long time ago but it didn't move the needle. It's a large scope game that requires a ton of fixes and perhaps picking a time to relaunch if in the works now, they aren't going to scramble out a PS5 port in this instance. Note by exclusive I mean console space, I know it's on PC, like Fallout and Skyrim.
Indy (2024 on Xbox) may have been full exclusive but have been able to shift due to change of plan and possibly pressure from Disney, a bit like MLB. Maybe the timed deal reflects the port progress or some compromise
Doom (2025 on everything) I can see from the outset it was one title, the most multiplatform title in history they weren't going to mess with it, the bits of info we've had about it being the one allowed to be planned to be PS5 I think are true . If not true they've had time to pivot fully and get it out on time
The failure of previous titles like Starfield will have only cemented the change of plan and backup plan all along from Satya. MS have been about buying ip, the Series consoles and tempting/buying the player over to gamepass play failed.
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Fess
Member
They do reveal the length of the timed exclusivity with Indiana Jones.
But anyway the new strategy for first party seems to come in two variations:
1. Play it day 1 on Xbox, or wait
2. Play it day 1 with Gamepass, or pay $60
If it’s not 1, like with DOOM, then it’s 2.
Personally I don’t think it’ll help them. I’m an enthusiast and I still don’t go away from my preferred platform for timed exclusivity. Can’t see the mainstream or casuals act differently, most stay on one platform no matter what.
adamsapple
Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
azertydu91
Hard to Kill
Well they do now and only for 3rd party.
draliko
Member
Something clearly changed in the last years about their strategy, I don't think they're leaving console space they're simply rebranding the series consoles as everyday gaming focused PCs at various price points and formats, as in if you like gamepass concept and console get a series, otherwise game on pc with gamepass, if you like console gaming but not gamepass game on PS5 but pay full price for every IP we own. More than moving gamers with exclusivity they're trying to entice them with the all you can eat model, like now that you've played our games think that they're included in the gamepass service. Anyway market is really in a changing state, curious to see where it goes, but glad to have moved back to pc gaming. As a gamer I don't like ms current course, but at least my kids have always stuff to play
Fess
Member
Indiana Jones is 1st party but yeah it’s a new move, the rest are like how Sony does it, games might come soon or in several years nobody knows. Imo it’s annoying. They think people will buy new hardware to play early but I just don’t see it working.
azertydu91
Hard to Kill
Freelance Yakuza
Member
They can't predict your next move if you have no idea what you're doing.
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