Microsoft Releasing Exclusive Games on PC Is Great for Xbox Owners
- Thread starter dancrane212
- Start date
MS is gonna need all the money they can get. The Xbox one software sales aren't really all that impressive outside of some shoot bang mutliplayer multiplats with big marketing budgets. Even if they broke even it still would be considered a failure. MS knows this so they pushed QB to PC day one. Remedy is one of those devs that takes forever to get shit done. Hollywood actors + tv show + all that new tech or wtvr. The game was first revealed when the Xbox one was first revealed. The budget for this thing is probably north of 75 mil. If they are serious about making money on PC they need to release it on steam tho. The lifetime sales for QB would be like tenfold on Steam compared to what they would be if its Win10 store only. MS needs to suck it up and give Valve that cut.
Also bring MCC to PC. Make it cross play or cross coop. They are all older games and some of them already been on PC so it won't be that big of a deal. MCC would make Win10 store much more attractive for PC gamers. QB is the type of game that people will just beat and never play again. Halo on the other hand is something many PC gamers could build their library around.
90% of PS4's library is already available on Steam and their 1st party lineup this gen hasn't really blown anyone off their feet. I don't think Sony would have much success on PC unless they really put a lot of effort into it.
I think Nintendo would be a much better candidate. They are already pursuing mobile. They might as well pursue PC to make even more $$$.
Also bring MCC to PC. Make it cross play or cross coop. They are all older games and some of them already been on PC so it won't be that big of a deal. MCC would make Win10 store much more attractive for PC gamers. QB is the type of game that people will just beat and never play again. Halo on the other hand is something many PC gamers could build their library around.
90% of PS4's library is already available on Steam and their 1st party lineup this gen hasn't really blown anyone off their feet. I don't think Sony would have much success on PC unless they really put a lot of effort into it.
I think Nintendo would be a much better candidate. They are already pursuing mobile. They might as well pursue PC to make even more $$$.
? There isn't one
That'll never happen. Why would MS give steam users the reason to switch OS's?
Have they ever blocked anything from Apple, Google, Amazon, etc?
Do they need to block Steam? If the Steam user base is predominantly Windows based then MS just needs to give consumers a few incentives to stay that way and keep upgrading to newer versions of Windows.
I'm not entirely surprised, but holy shit, he just doesn't even care haha.
If they dared to block any application that isn't malicious then they'd bring the company down. It's totally against everything the PC is (an open platform). It'd have the entire industry scrambling to reduce their reliance on Microsoft platforms just in case Microsoft ever decided to compete with them and then block their application.
They absolutely wouldn't even dare to try and block steam, anyone that suggests they would is insane.
But doesn't exclusivity mean more sales and higher profits according to Kuchera? Or is that only when Microsoft does it?
I am sure it will eventually, Steam sell the quantity of titles during its sales. I feel they will continue to offer the Xbox/PC combo on their store after pre-order, to help keep the price up for a longer period. When its ready for discounts due to age, push to steam as a PC only sell and let the discounts happen to give it legs.
No there's not a big difference. Sony fans saying SF5 will increase PS4 because it's console exclusive while isn't true when it comes to QB.
The whole thing is just fanboys being delusional. Sony could actually benefited from releasing The Order on PC since it disappointed critically and sales wise.
Every console exclusive should be on PC period. Sony and Nintendo should follow. It's a win for gamers. Why limit my options on where to play the games I bought?
Yeah, I also found this very strange after the Tomb Raider article.
vpance
Gold Member
To force users into using the Windows Store? MS wants into that walled apps gold mine bad.
Of course they won't block Steam overnight. It's got to be a gradual weaning off process.
DeepEnigma
Gold Member
Hearing it from forum members people are saying they are only getting Tue xbo for their exclusives. If that is the case, MS isn't missing much. I know what you are saying but the number of people on this forum making this argument is for xbo exclusives, not the other games.
Give you free games if you buy them on win 10. Not really a move to block them but I would not share revenue with steam for my 1st party games.
wapplew
Member
I really want to see how MS compete with steam and other PC storefront on fair grounds.
Xbox exclusive on Windows store is nice, but I don't think they can win with that alone.
MaulerX
Member
But there's no need to even try to block Steam at all. Unless of course I'm not understanding your definition of "block". They will just release their games on the Windows Store while you can go about your business using Steam. I mean, you'll still be able to play games from both stores in the same PC.
Lol people treat other stores like rival gangs. If your set ain't steam we don't trust you.
But then they go complain about shitty service that steam has.
I don't either but having it baked into Windows 10 helps.
They won't, just like EA and Ubisoft aren't actually competing with Steam.
SmokedMeat
Gamer™
I guess if they offer cross buy it won't really matter. I assume they will given they need to push this as hard as possible.
Tfault
Member
The intention is more than just Xbox exclusives.
From Bill Duff, CVP & CFO, Windows and Devices Group
It comes down to services each provides. MS still does have Xbox One owners. If you like to play games with your friends (who are on Xbox...if they are), then if a game is on Steam v. W10...most likely you'll get it on W10 to play with your friend. Steam has the advantage of the amount of games and being the #1 on PC for so long but they don't have the reach that MS will with consumers. Also, achievements...Steam has achievements but cmon...everybody knows that them Xbox cheevos is where it's at (and that's just a mindshare type of thing).
But I truly do think that the friend stuff will play a huge part because a huge amount of people have friends that play xbox than they do that have PC games. (i'm talkin IRL friends, not online PC friends). I know one thing, MS not being the top dog is always the best MS for the consumer. Ahh...I love competition.
MS has to compete against Steam, Sony, and Nintendo to try to win the PC and living room. They definitely have to go above and beyond to try to convince users it's the best thing to use their services and play their games.
Good times ahead gamers.
------------------------------------
EDIT: Also, Xbox app/One has the community that they've been trying to build. If you think about it...Xbox app and the Xbox One have a facebook-like aspect to it. Profiles, Statuses, Likes, Comments, what's trending, etc...Not saying Steam doesn't have stuff like that...but they don't have it on console as well and that's where it can hurt them for customers of the same game (some games will only go to Steam, CS, Portal, TF2, etc...) that are third party. That's why I said friends play a big part in this.
vpance
Gold Member
If they can migrate all the users of Steam to Windows Store they'll finally have an active user base for it. No doubt this is their endgame, the walled app ecosystem is $$$ and they need to jumpstart theirs badly.
Outrun
Member
Pantaghana
Member
Not a chance in hell that's happening.
They won't block Steam ever.
You're talking about the company run by a CEO whose first order of business was to get better versions of Office on OSX, iOS, and Android. Who now has Linux in Azure as an option and backing other open source projects like Google Kubernetes and Docker. They want more users of their products, they're not going to start running people off again with Ballmer's failed walled garden strategy, not when their new direction is working.
However, you're free to be wrong as much as you like.
Yep:
rakkadakka
Member
If you start with the presupposition that MS is evil and is only out to screw gamers then you can really come up with anything.
DeepEnigma
Gold Member
MSFT does not make enough first party games, or own enough IP's to harm Steam and it's massive portfolio it build up as a service.
wapplew
Member
We don't know the power of Xbox friends/achievement/cross buy/cross play/MS exclusive yet. Also, PC is like MS home turf, there is so much they can do to win.
Night Angel
Member
But we do know the power of Steam sales, and we've seen fuck-all from MS on that front.
GHG
Member
The sales figures over the next few months will show who is right or wrong in this case. What will you say if the PS4 sees a huge increase in sales around the time that SF5 releases but Xbox One sales don't move at all around the time of QB's release?
Sony doesn't give a shit about the PC in general, that's why you will never see their 1st party games natively on the platform. They have no reason to. They shut down Vaio and are currently all in with the PlayStation brand at the moment as a company. Microsoft on the other hand have Windows 10 licences to sell. The only reason Street Fighter 5 is coming to the PC is because it's a 3rd party franchise. I doubt Capcom would have done the deal if it meant it wouldn't also get a PC release. There would be minimal benefit to Sony releasing a game like The Order on the PC. It's not like it would be free/cheap to port the game either unlike Microsoft who develop their 1st party games in direct X already.
Microsoft want to try and bring people back to the PC because their console venture is currently failing. Why do you think they are giving out the Windows 10 version of the game to all Xbox One pre orders but are not doing the same thing the other way round?
They already do with Fable Anniversary, Kalimba, Halo: Spartan Assault, Halo: Spartan Strike, Ori, State of Decay, Max: The Curse of Brotherhood, & Cobalt.
I suppose they could have waited for Windows 10 to release these on their own other platform but they chose to release those on another competing service as well.
I would argue that perhaps they're fighting too many fronts considering they also compete with Google and Apple.
If they didn't block Chrome or Itunes do you really think they'll block Steam? They've never blocked anyone in their history.
And Amazon. Hell, they all compete with each other.
I agree with you. I would be all in on PC gaming if I could get Sony and Nintendo exclusives there as well. The PC could be like a mall and the game publishers have competing stores which will drive prices down and be more consumer friendly than locking people into hardware and ecosystems.
Yes, they have many people to compete with...I wouldn't say apple/Google are going to be big players in the gaming world... yet but for casuals, they got it. The living room is still a pretty core gaming front.
Pantaghana
Member
No matter how powerful the lure of Xbox is, on PC it's just another storefront.
I use Steam, GoG, Origin, even Uplay. I lose nothing by creating one more account for the Windows Store.
If they want me to "migrate over" so I stop using all those storefronts and use theirs near exclusively, their service would have to have all the best features of all of them with none of the downsides.
Not a chance in hell that's happening.
mindfreak191
Member
Actually, you don't even have to create a new acc for the windows store....it's the same as your acc on your pc
Crayon
Member
It will be failing a one, that's all I can say with any confidence. Valve has set a dead man's switch of epic proportions. The more steam is hampered on windows, the more users rub off onto other os's.
infiniteheteroskdasticity
Member
Remedy isn't a first party studio. It makes it more attractive for 2nd/3rd party devs like them to sign up for a Xbox One exclusive if they're also allowed to release it on PC. A straight up 2nd/3rd party exclusive is very hard to swing because of how far behind the PS4 the Xbox One is. A PC release is a way to make up the installed base numbers. I'm pretty certain this won't happen (day one at least) with first party titles.
Microsoft also has some level of ownership of the PC gaming space through Windows. Releasing Xbox exclusives through the Windows app store (and not steam) lets them push their own platform. Delayed first party games and day one 2nd/3rd party games seems like a reasonable compromise.
This makes no sense for Sony at all. They have no stake in PC gaming and don't generally need a larger install base for their games. The idea of a WWS game on PC is laughable and they already allow some 3rd party "console exclusives" to launch on PC.
Microsoft also has some level of ownership of the PC gaming space through Windows. Releasing Xbox exclusives through the Windows app store (and not steam) lets them push their own platform. Delayed first party games and day one 2nd/3rd party games seems like a reasonable compromise.
This makes no sense for Sony at all. They have no stake in PC gaming and don't generally need a larger install base for their games. The idea of a WWS game on PC is laughable and they already allow some 3rd party "console exclusives" to launch on PC.
MS doesn't have to "win" nor does Steam have to "lose". People will use what they think is best for them for a specific game. It may be price but it may be friends, it may be exclusive, who knows.
Pantaghana
Member
Actually, you don't even have to create a new acc for the windows store....it's the same as your acc on your pc
I use so few of W10 features that I completely forgot about that. Frankly the Windows account system is a major pain in the ass for me avoided using it as much as possible.
Yep, Amazon too.
As far as the op goes, I think we'll see the results of the move to releasing more exclusives to PC in a few more years. If we see a higher quantity of new games come out (preferably a mix of old and new IP's) then it's good for the Xbox brand and by extension Xbox owners but if it's around the same output as now with the same issue of less indy's and 3rd party support then it wasn't that great of a benefit to Xbox fans.
I think you'll see a lot more Indies as the Xbox store and Windows store combine. Xbox being able to run w10 apps/games make it easier for a dev to just "build once" and distribute wherever. That's been MS goal with UWP. its just gonna start this year. I know I cant wait to dev on it.
I just meant in general, they're doing surfaces, mobile phones, OS's, business and game software, music & movie services, game and PC hardware, AR equipment (Hololens). At some point they're going to have to contract again and focus on what works best for them.
I certainly hope that's the case, Xbox misses out on a lot of games that could have benefited from an easily portable OS but that's also assuming the parity clause aspect isn't the other big obstacle.
Absolutely, they need to filter out the 'mainline' game releases from the other free to play mobile crap, or it will look awful. Putting Tomb Raider, Quantum Break etc besides Candy Crush Saga is moronic ..
If you put it in the context that their CEO has then all of those make perfect sense and you can understand why they won't be getting rid of any of them. He said he has three products: Azure, Windows, and Office. Everything else he called features or parts that have been realigned to support the growth of those three products.
For Windows, he said he moved all hardware, first-party game development and services, and services for music, movies, and TV to support consumer preferences for Windows. That is, those divisions now are officially rolled into the OS group, with their teams reporting to the Windows leaders. He believes there will be a growing number of screens and that people expect their experiences to go with them (mobile) across those screens, so he said they will build new hardware anytime they can showcase innovative uses of Windows experiences, including their mobility, and hopefully inspire manufactures to build Windows devices (like they did with Surface).
If you put that in contrast with what Apple or Google are doing it still seems like Microsoft is only doing just enough to attract users to the Microsoft platform.
Satya Nadella said: