…and now you know a big reason why they're trying to buy Activision Blizzard King.
And they've started with Mobile. Slow so far (Gears POP failed, for example), but there's an Age of Empire mobile game coming out next year.
Phil Spencer: The Xbox business will become ‘untenable’ if it remains ‘irrelevant’ on mobile.
- Thread starter Eddie-Griffin
- Start date
…and now you know a big reason why they're trying to buy Activision Blizzard King.
And they've started with Mobile. Slow so far (Gears POP failed, for example), but there's an Age of Empire mobile game coming out next year.
Tiago Rodrigues
Member
I swear they barely mentioned mobile when this acquisition was announced. Now they are making it seem like it's their main focus lmao.
GHG
Gold Member
Phil doesn't lie though, we get told this all the time.
So I'm not sure what the takeaway is from all of this. If he's using words like "untenable" with regard to their current business model then that's pretty ominous.
adamsapple
Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
The interview is fine. He could have said the sky is blue and some posters here would still find ways to call him a liar for that statement.
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Punished Miku
Human Rights Subscription Service
feynoob
Banned
But still, you have to put him on leash. You know this sub is hungry to eat him alive right?The interview is fine. He could have said the sky is blue and some posters here would still find ways to call him a liar for that statement.
Some data
You can see the growth trends for mobile significantly outstrips console and PC. Consoles spiked in 2020 but seems to be flattening post COVID.
And if projections are correct…
Mobile growing to $338bn by 2030 will leave other platforms as relatively niche performers if trends remain flat.
Sony's well ahead of MS in the mobile game. Tencent is far ahead of everyone else.
Phil is playing catch up
You can see the growth trends for mobile significantly outstrips console and PC. Consoles spiked in 2020 but seems to be flattening post COVID.
And if projections are correct…
Mobile growing to $338bn by 2030 will leave other platforms as relatively niche performers if trends remain flat.
Sony's well ahead of MS in the mobile game. Tencent is far ahead of everyone else.
Phil is playing catch up
Dr. Wilkinson
Member
This would make me nervous if I was one of the many, many console-focused studios that got purchased by Microsoft over the last couple years. "Am I going to get put on a mobile game that I don't want to work on?". Console games make so much damn money, like just look at Nintendo. Or, Elden Ring. It's Xbox's weak lineup that's hurting them, not the lack of presence on mobile. Maybe put out some games that people want to play?
I probably sound overly critical, but it's because I bought a Series X over a PS5, on the promise of Xbox first-party and Game Pass. Still waiting for Avowed, Fable and Starfield....
I probably sound overly critical, but it's because I bought a Series X over a PS5, on the promise of Xbox first-party and Game Pass. Still waiting for Avowed, Fable and Starfield....
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Thirty7ven
Banned
This guy is a hero for some people around here.
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feynoob
Banned
I heard blitz has more. Maybe I should get one from them.
adamsapple
Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
They've literally been saying it since February.
Activision Blizzard acquisition "hits home" according to Xbox's Phil Spencer
Phil Spencer says the "responsibility" for the £50billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard "definitely hits home."
www.nme.com
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DeepEnigma
Gold Member
It's almost as if, now hear me out, almost as if throwing all these day 1 AAA bangers from what were traditional third party publishers, onto a sole subscription rental service where you admit has stagnated, I mean, "reached saturation" (his words), will need a mobile gatcha revenue stream and internal book cooking to remain sustainable under than umbrella.
feynoob
Banned
For saving their brand, they consider him as a hero.
I wish he would stop doing these bits of interview, and have less public appearances.
He is getting little bit annoying for me now.
Stuart360
Member
As much as i hate mobile gaming, and it will be something i never invest in, Moble gaming does make up something like 70% of the gaming market, with PC and the consoles making up the other 30%.
It would be stupid for everyone, not just Xbox, to not get involved in the mobile sector.
Of course Phil said it so it must be something weird and ridiculous he's said.
It would be stupid for everyone, not just Xbox, to not get involved in the mobile sector.
Of course Phil said it so it must be something weird and ridiculous he's said.
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And he's so smart that even random people on message boards can call out the nonsensical diversion aimed at throwing smoke at regulators
Things must be getting really tense about the Activision deal internally.
DeepEnigma
Gold Member
Sony owns the number 1 (or was the number 1) revenue mobile game for years now.
YeulEmeralda
Linux User
Can't wait to play mobile games on a 55 inch TV lol.
Gudji
Member
Have you heard about Vampire Survivors? Available on gamepass.
feynoob
Banned
Why don't you talk about the cost of making those games?
PS and Xbox don't really have the same userbase. So both won't have the same sales.
If God of war was on xbox, it would have done 10m due to userbase.
Xbox needs to have a higher userbase, if they want the to make close to what Sony makes from their 1st party.
This is just business. Subscription makes sense for them, unlike Sony.
Business isn't a charity.
Captain Toad
Banned
Sounds like lose/lose if you're an Xbox gamer. Last thing I want is the big three putting their focus toward mobile.
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feynoob
Banned
That was only for fate.
Now they are doing full investment like Nintendo.
DeepEnigma
Gold Member
Never said it was. You don't need to lecture me, nor does anything you say detract from what I said. In fact, what you said reinforces my take even more.
Yep. And some of the very same proponents in here, raked Jimbo Sony over the coals when that were announced.
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Wesleyalucard
Member
How much triple A games like Ragnarok or Elden Ring cost to make? How many of these games could be made with 70 billion?
Punished Miku
Human Rights Subscription Service
Elden Ring and God of War dont have comparable budgets
Negotiator101
Member
say it ain't so Mike 
GHG
Gold Member
Ok, so what needs to happen to put a stop to this "trend" he's identified?
Jet Set Willy
Member
Think about the backdrop to this interview and when it was conducted.
This is just another way of MS spelling out to regulators and observers: the AB acquisition isn't just about COD.
That's it.
This is just another way of MS spelling out to regulators and observers: the AB acquisition isn't just about COD.
That's it.
Punished Miku
Human Rights Subscription Service
I think you should stop letting console warriors dictate how you view these things.
These interviews bring a pretty good transparent window in what Xbox plans and strategy are. And they're perfectly fine.
Take this interview. While VGC and OP went with a small portion for clickbait, the full interview goes deep into their plans for Call of Duty on PlayStation/Switch, some talk about regulators and narrative about how the delays for Starfield and Redfall came about.
https://www.theverge.com/23459189/p...box-playstation-candy-crush-apple-fortnite-vr
You should take a read.
feynoob
Banned
If people wants those games, then xbox has to get the investment from somewhere. And that is where gamepass is coming for them. It's already a part of their business now.
People here like to hate. They have super closed minds.
feynoob
Banned
He could have made a small public post on their website.
That would have been enough.
DeepEnigma
Gold Member
A new revenue stream since their current one has reached "saturation" for them.
mansoor1980
Member
Spencer added: "As a percent of the overall gaming business, the console business is shrinking, because the overall business is growing and console stays relatively flat as a business, same thing with PC.
Swift_Star
Banned
As ir should.
feynoob
Banned
I would love your confidence.
Banjo64
cumsessed
He has said in the past they monitor social media channels. Considering his age and tech background and NeoGAF's size - it wouldn't surprise me at all if he knows of the forum and checks in from time to time.
Like Taylor Swift browsing 4chan.
DeepEnigma
Gold Member
I did not expect that last line, LOL!
Interfectum
Member
The problem with this is MS is only trying to buy one big mobile publisher (King) and there is no guarantee lightning will strike again for them.Some data
Mobile gaming is an extremely tough nut to crack and none of the developers MS has is capable of competing in this space. Hell even mobile titans like SuperCell is having a tough time creating the next big mobile game and they made CoC and Clash Royale.
You either go for console gaming experiences or casual mobile games. You aren't really going to be able to do both.
DarkMage619
$MSFT
You underestimate King and Activision as a whole. They had the biggest mobile AND console games at the same time. MS will absolutely benefit from this acquisition.
Bernkastel
Ask me about my fanboy energy!
Two of the big three already way too deep into mobile(Pokemon or Aniplex stuffs like Fate Grand Order). Xbox is just the last one.
Not really. They've dabbled with mobile gaming on their own. I mentioned Gears Pop and AoE mobile, for example. Lots of other IP they could try to switch to mobile.
But aside that, 'mobile' for them also refers to the always-with-you screen and gaming on the go, and they're pushing XCloud streaming to mobiles for that.
Not to mention that aside King, Activision also makes a ton of cash from COD mobile.
GHG
Gold Member
I'm not sure how that's of interest to the majority of people who post on this board.
He's basically saying that the market for the games and types of experiences we like are becoming increasingly niche. Personally I don't give a fuck, I have no problem participating in markets that are considered "niche" provided I continue to get enjoyment out of them.
Also selecting mobile as a potential growth vector is a curious one. It's a market that is already dominated by the established players (Google and Apple) and it's a space that is already showing signs of stagnation:
Mobile gaming's surprising slump is dragging down the game market
New data from Newzoo has mobile gaming declining for the first time ever.
www.protocol.com
Video Games Were Betting on Mobile. Then Advertising Went Poof.
Hi, everyone. It’s Cecilia. We just wrapped up earnings season (although millennials call this “cuffing season”) and I’m here to walk you through how the games industry has fared and what to look for in the months ahead. But first…
www.bloomberg.com
What are they going to (and what can they) offer in the way of disruption that will a) result in them being taken seriously by mobile gaming consumers and b) result in a much needed shot in the arm for the mobile gaming space?
People better hope that it never amounts to anything more than a small side project compared to their current offering.
Well I did say that was the case, doesn't take a genius to work out the console market is approaching saturation considering it's now very much a mature industry:
It's like they are scrambling around looking everywhere for potential industry growth when it doesn't exist. I don't understand why.
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Interfectum
Member
King has Candy Crush. Phil literally wants to buy Candy Crush so he can put the "Xbox" or "MS" logo at the top. There is no guarantee that King will ever make another hit like that again.
Call of Duty Mobile was made by a Tencent studio.
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I mean that's probably his point. He wants to stop losing money.
Depends on the way he's saying that. If he intends to use some divisions like the mobile to counterbalance what he's losing with the traditional games, that works for me.
Ghost of Caelid
Banned
I think people think only candy crush when they hear mobile and not cloud. Cloud seems to be the primary focus for Xbox mobile. If you. An get say sea of thieves as an accepted mobile game as well that'll dwarf the amount of users on console. Xbox does a good job with their cloud and touch controls offering. Not for me at all but it hasn't been intrusive on my home console preference yet. Pentiment might be their first game I play primarily mobile.
DarkMage619
$MSFT
There is no evidence Xbox is going to transition to a 'Candy Crush' platform. MS wants to EXPAND to mobile not replace traditional gaming to mobile.
At this point unless Candy Crush stops being popular it doesn't need to be replaced anymore than CoD needs to be replaced.