Satya Nadella reveals Microsofts new mission statement, tough choices ahead
- Thread starter Captain Zyrain
- Start date
So? Neither does any PC developer that puts their games on PC other than MS (and I guess Valve). You don't need to own an operating system to put your games on PC.
I wouldn't doubt if that is an option for people who want to make their PC a central media server with streaming from it to any TV with a Xbox TV dongle.
Agent Matt
Member
It's not exactly new. They've been saying this for 10 years. Does anyone remember Live Anywhere?
The Abominable Snowman
Member
Xbox One already supports Miracast.
BRocknRolla
Member
Indeed. I just keep waiting to see it happen. All the half steps just make it hurt more.
If I'm going to do that, why wouldn't I just want a PC that I could swap parts in and out of? What would be the appeal? It sounds extremely expensive. Do people really believe consumers are going to buy yearly refreshes of steam machines?
As far as the Win10 store, there's no doubt about that if they really do offer full support to the PC. They would be silly to do anything else.
BRocknRolla
Member
Edit: Whoops. Double post.
McHuj
Member
The current Xbox could already be that if they wanted it to be.
Crayon
Member
Not at 350 dollars it cant. Im saying the next xbox will be a dongle and a controller for $100.
Poodlestrike
Banned
I'm basically 99% sure that Next Xbox will have more in common with a Steam Machine or an HTPC than a console. The "half steps" they're doing now (ports, crossplay, crossbuy) aren't supposed to get PC players to buy Xboxes, they're to get Xbox players into MS's PC ecosystem.
statham
Member
They could do very well with a steam like device, one they would would sell at cost, where steam devices want to make profit on hardware of course. Two, they don't have to pay for the windows license. Three, since they will sell millions instead of thousands like the steam devices, parts should be cheaper to buy in bulk.
The day that happens is the day they give up on gaming and sell off most of their first party studios.
Poodlestrike
Banned
I was thinking that they'd do something like how the Surface line is shaping up, with an entry model (the Surface) and a more heavy duty device (the Pro). They could certainly try to subsidize the cost, but honestly I doubt they will. Outright loss leading on hardware (barring phones, which have contracts so it's sort of different) seem to be a thing of the past.
Silent Chief
Member
You're misquoting there.
He's not saying Xbox Live first party titles are coming to PC.
He's saying Xbox Live, along with first party titles on PC. console, mobile and HoloLens will be integrated somehow.
The point is that most consumers will still need to purchase Windows to playing their games on PC, just like how you need to buy an Xbox to access some of their software today, so Microsoft wins either way. That is not the case for Nintendo or Sony.
Me too, and Surface.
Although I love the SP3, and still think it's one of the best "laptops," I feel like it may be on the chopping block - it's not core to the new mission; that said, neither is XBOX...
It'll be interesting to watch the analyst / streets reaction to this in the coming days.
rokkerkory
Member
What if next xbox can run office?
Wiktor
Member
Wiktor
Member
The sad thing is...MS really doesn't need to port all their exclusives to PC. It's not some petite cash-strapped corporation. They have enourmous ammount of money and spending pretty small chunk of them on making few PC exclusives a year wouldn't do anything to damage either their bottom line or prospects of Xbox One.
Shrennin
Didn't get the memo regarding the 14th Amendment
I think that's really where they need to (and they very well might) go with this new strategy. Assuming that is the plan, then Spencer could theoretically make plans to create games that will fulfill both Xbox and PC gamers with different exclusives that will make both platforms viable. I still think they should even maybe add certain components of certain exclusives to the PC from the Xbox One -- like maybe Halo 5's multiplayer could be an option on PC but the full experience of Halo 5 (including the campaign and whatnot) would only be available on Xbox One. However, perhaps if the Xbox One version was owned by someone who also games on Windows 10, then the full experience is also unlocked on Windows 10 (campaign, etc.). That's a different take on cross-buy, but it would (I think) make more sense for the Xbox's biggest exclusive IP. The non-big stuff should hopefully be on both Xbox One and PC in their full forms, or if the big IP could also benefit from it (Killer Instinct is an example of a more niche IP, while Sea of Thieves could potentially be a huge new IP but since it has what is probably also a huge online component then cross-play would probably benefit both platforms tremendously).
Bigmac1910
Member
Because it's free, not like Xbox Live which you have to pay for, also without Valve the PC renaissance would have never happened. That said, I like GOG the best, and hope that more AAA games will be launched there at the same time as Steam in the future.
flaxknuckles
Member
What a terrible idea. Gimping PC versions of games because they sell too much is asinine and Microsoft would get shat on just like they did when they tried making people pay for Live.
Crayon
Member
Not to mention you dont need to buy games on steam to use steam. You can buy the steam codes elsewhere and redeem them on steam; not giving valve a dime.
Bigmac1910
Member
Very good point, totally forgot about it.
Wiktor
Member
They';re still get tied to your account though. Still...Steam is convienient and realistically it's far from the only game in town. It's got very weak position in casual and F2P markets. And big games can do just fine on other services and in retail. Plus Valve is now releasing almost everything. Before the biggest problem was heavy curration, which pretty much was killing the whole idea of indie gaming. But Greenlight stopped that. So overall I don't think there's anything to worry about here
Crayon
Member
It is indeed tied to your account. At its core, steam is a drm service. We love it instead of loathe it because they seem to understand drm in a big pain in the ass, and thus pile on features that make the hassle worthwile. Friends list, workshops, returns. They earn their business.
Alx
Member
I think there's no reason it couldn't, they demoed Excel as a "universal app" last Build, with a phone spreadsheet adapting to a TV display with full features. If it's not made possible, the only reason would be they'd think it wouldn't be worth the trouble of coding an input system using controllers.
They don't "win either way", as they don't control distribution on the PC. Those Windows licenses practically sell themselves, so in many (most) cases a user moving to the PC isn't selling them an extra copy of Windows. All it really does is makes them more likely to buy third party titles from Valve or EA, whilst no longer paying a LIve sub. That's not a "win" at all. It's basically the same as is Sony or Nintendo were to do the same, and set up their own storefront on Windows. The actual Windows licenses are a non-factor here.
I have high hopes for MS, since Satya took the helm they have really turned things around. One of the first things he did was promote Phil Spencer to head of Xbox.
Windows 10 looks to be a huge step in the right direction too - good seeing them turn things around after a nightmare few years for Windows + Xbox.
Windows 10 looks to be a huge step in the right direction too - good seeing them turn things around after a nightmare few years for Windows + Xbox.
Because those people have actually used Steam and know it is NOT a console-like locked ecosystem?
There are several MS 1st party games on Steam already, including Ori and Fable. MS would be stupid to pull their games from Steam. I'm not planning to buy games from the Win10 store. I just don't trust Microsoft. They will probably keep games prices high for parity between pc and Xbox One. And I'm pretty sure that they will put features behind the Xbox Live Gold paywall when enough people use Xbox Live on pc. Microsoft will not disadvantage Xbox-ownsers by giving the same service for free on pc.
Very true. But Microsoft should do this by giving extra service (cross-buy with Xbox is a good start), not by pulling their games from other ecosystems like EA did. I think we can both agree that Origin is no competition at all for Steam, but just a seperate DRM-client we have to use when we want to play EA games.
Maybe because it isn't a locked "console-like" ecosystem...
I will remind everyone that a "Steam machines" like console has been done before...if you are old enough to remember 3DO. Remember how that turned out. Same concept. Failed hard (and was expensive during the time). Not saying that Steam machines will fail but this process has been done before.
Steam and Xbox Live are pretty a like (besides having to pay for Live) in the sense that your digital games carry across to wherever you are logged into. You have one account, have a messaging system, boards for games, now Early Access/Game Preview, etc... so saying that Steam isn't "console-like" is not really true. There are a lot of things that Steam has taken from Xbox Live and vice versa.
Xbox Live can still be a paid service for PC gamers in the sense that you can get the service to receive 2 free games per month (those games don't necessarily mean they have to be cross-play with XBO, they can have their own stuff for PC). That's 24 games per year for $60...that sounds like a pretty good deal in my opinion. That same $60 applies to the Xbox One console as well, and obviously if you want to play multiplayer on Xbox One, you need Xbox Live. So I think saying that PC gamers won't pay for Xbox Live isn't necessarily true...I think that Microsoft just has to make a compelling reason to pay for it. Free games (like, good games) is a compelling reason in my opinion. It's pretty much the only reason in my opinion.
Steam and Xbox Live are pretty a like (besides having to pay for Live) in the sense that your digital games carry across to wherever you are logged into. You have one account, have a messaging system, boards for games, now Early Access/Game Preview, etc... so saying that Steam isn't "console-like" is not really true. There are a lot of things that Steam has taken from Xbox Live and vice versa.
Xbox Live can still be a paid service for PC gamers in the sense that you can get the service to receive 2 free games per month (those games don't necessarily mean they have to be cross-play with XBO, they can have their own stuff for PC). That's 24 games per year for $60...that sounds like a pretty good deal in my opinion. That same $60 applies to the Xbox One console as well, and obviously if you want to play multiplayer on Xbox One, you need Xbox Live. So I think saying that PC gamers won't pay for Xbox Live isn't necessarily true...I think that Microsoft just has to make a compelling reason to pay for it. Free games (like, good games) is a compelling reason in my opinion. It's pretty much the only reason in my opinion.
everthustodeadbeats
Member
'tough choices ahead' is a nice signal for layoffs.
Come to Microsoft and shrink with us!
Come to Microsoft and shrink with us!
Steam and Xbox Live have a lot of things in common, but there are more differences than you mentioned here. Xbox Live is a closed ecosystem. This means Microsoft determines almost everything: if you're allowed to bring your game to Xbox Live or not, when it's gonna be released, what servers you should use, if it can be part of a sales action etc... Microsoft also has a shitload of rules and limitations you need to follow if you want to bring your game to Xbox. The parity clause and forbidding cross-platform play with other ecosystems are the best known, but there are many, many more. Several devs mentioned that it's about 1000 times easier to bring a game to Steam than to Xbox.
Also for gamers, an open ecosystem like Steam has lots of benefits: games are (much) cheaper, are lowered in price faster and there's nothing like Steam Sales on Xbox or any other console. Games can also be patched faster and more often, and of course there's Steam Workshop with unlimited support for mods and community content.
While it's very true that Steam needs competition, Microsoft needs another bunch of U-turns to make that actually happen. And we both know that's not gonna happen. First of all Microsoft still likes to force people to their ecosystem by moneyhatting (the TR exclusivity deal for example). And as I already said, they are not gonna make Xbox Live much more attractive on pc than on their own console.
This one applies equally to Steam. If it didn't there would be no reason for something like Greenlight to exist.
Crayon
Member
3do was hardly the same concept as steam machines. There was the concept of hardware partners, but similarties end there. The hardware spec was fixed. The os/runtime was proprietary and locked to 3do hardware.
Aside from all that, digital distrubution wasnt invented yet. I had a pager back then, to put it in perspective.
McHuj
Member
By the time we're ready for the next xbox, it might be in the $100-150 range (another 4-5 years or so).
If people remember the old 2011/2012 roadmap leak about Xbox, they were already thinking about streaming Xbox experiences (see 2015 under console) and Hololens.
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=581071
Sure Kinect flopped, and a lot of what they planned is slipping, but it seems they're sticking to their plan.
Surface sales are on the rise however, while windows phone sells reasonably in East Asia/ Russia/Latin American countries. Nadella mentioned Mobile being important, so I'm really not sure what's going to happen in the near future.
Funky Papa
FUNK-Y-PPA-4
Microsoft confirmed today the launch of new flagship phones along Windows 10 and they made a lot of noise about their one device future back during their developers conference.
I mean, I wouldn't completely shocked if MS did something drastic there, but Nadella knows that this is a mobile first world, so I that seems out of the question unless they've found a way to leverage Android's success in their favour (other than patent milkin, that's it).
They should just make an Xbox a reasonably priced pre-built Windows 10 PC to sell at brick and mortar. Then, allow people to use their discs or redownload digital titles on that machine or any Windows 10 PC to play these games.
There would then be no arguments about 1080p this and that if you could just choose to build a beast computer and still get all of Microsoft's gaming experiences. Also, Street Fighter V, and Shenmue, and Steam. Just buy a computer...
There would then be no arguments about 1080p this and that if you could just choose to build a beast computer and still get all of Microsoft's gaming experiences. Also, Street Fighter V, and Shenmue, and Steam. Just buy a computer...
StrangeTaco
Member
I should probably have been more specific, once they have their cross-platform structure put in place theyll likely stop releasing games on Steam and only on their store. I dont seem them pulling anything from Steam but same as EA with Origin they dont want a cut of their profits going to Valve. Also like i said Gears and Killer Instinct are coming to the Win10 store and I could be wrong but ive heard nothing about them coming to Steam.
Edit: Also this makes sense with them giving Win10 free to Windows users, they want them on their new ecosystem where their store is going to be.
Nutella popsicles better
http://www.instructables.com/id/Nutella-Cool-Whip-Popsicles/
On Topic: hope they really are focusing on pc gaming and not just spouting bs again
Clearly you haven't tried nutella gelato. Sweet goodness
I think the direction MS is heading is good. =D
rokkerkory
Member
This gen the X1 was a clusterfuck of a beginning with almost everything corrected except for the relatively weak h/w. I don't think MS will make same mistakes next time with Spencer and Nadella at the helm.
I hope not.. 😓 (crying).
I love my apple/google hybrid of a phone. If they do axe the phone in the next couple of years, ill have to jump on the overpriced apple train =/
No mention of it anywhere in that statement from what i could see. They'll probably jump on Android I'm guessing if they continue to do phones.
Diablohead
Member
the most lite OS right now is 8.1 for sure but i'll reserve my thoughts on 10 until it's out of testing next month, sometimes my sound cuts out, windows bogs down and my capture card has framerate issues in windows 10.