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[FrankWza]

I'm honestly finding it hard to believe they go ahead with those prices considering everything that's going on. Would be insane.

I agree. But, it does not take away from the fact that they outmaneuvered a much bigger company again. Pretty ridiculous at this point. Another black eye for the big guy

 

[Mibu no ookami]

This is why there is no excuse for Microsoft raising their prices. Trump always said he was going to push tarriffs way more aggressively if he was elected again. Sony and Nintendo correctly stored up a bunch of inventory in case that happened. Microsoft were probably going to raise prices regardless of tarrifs because their console sales are in the toilet. They were already losing a bunch of money on their hardware

To defend Microsoft here a little; they were not in position to stockpile Xboxes that could or could not end up selling. It's not like you make them and retail is forced to buy them. Retailers across the globe have already reduced their intake of XBS. Stockpiling in the US could leave Microsoft with a lot of unsold inventory that they'd have to sell at a drastic loss, causing even more layoffs.

They did the prudent thing in avoiding stockpiling. The XBS is dead for the rest of the generation, they know it, retailers know it, and Sony knows it.

Instead they decided that the rest of their inventory they'd sell at a premium to people who desperately want to stay in the Xbox ecosystem. On one hand shitty for people who are xbox fans, but also these people waited nearly 5 years to get an XBS.

I agree. But, it does not take away from the fact that they outmaneuvered a much bigger company again. Pretty ridiculous at this point. Another black eye for the big guy

They have vastly different situations. Sony has a relationship with the market and retail allowing them to stockpile, Microsoft doesn't.

Sony could stockpile 20 million units in the US and they know they'll sell them by the time PS6 comes out. If Microsoft stockpiled 20 million Xboxes, they'd end up with 15 million on their hands with nothing to do with them but ship them to developing countries at a large discount... while eating additional shipping costs.

 

[DenchDeckard]

I'd never buy a system today, that I didn't think my purchases would carry over to the next generation. I guess maybe that's just me and has a lot to do with my backlog of games and lack of interest in GamePass, but even if I was interested in GamePass, I'd access it through Nvidia GeForce Now before I bought an XSX for it. The system likely loses mainstream support in a year or two... which could include GamePass games.

I promise you one thing. If MS doesnt protect the 20 years of purchases I have done in their eco system. I will actively try and stop using every MS product possible, and they wont get a penny from me.

They are one of the largest companies on the planet. They should be able to come up with a solution that isnt streaming haha

 

[Mibu no ookami]

I promise you one thing. If MS doesnt protect the 20 years of purchases I have done in their eco system. I will actively try and stop using every MS product possible, and they wont get a penny from me.

They are one of the largest companies on the planet. They should be able to come up with a solution that isnt streaming haha

You're absolutely going to be locked out of your purchases, particularly the physical purchases.

Allowing xbox emulation or virtualization of 3rd party games or first party games with licensed content is going to be difficult on PC.

Most of your purchases are going to be locked to Xbox... Look at Microsoft's strategy for the Zune and you'll pretty much see a general template. All that shit is locked to OneDrive... like that's a valuable or useful location for it...

 

[Crispy Gamer]

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Xbox is the best and biggest Sony first party publisher. how the turn tables.

 

[DenchDeckard]

You're absolutely going to be locked out of your purchases, particularly the physical purchases.

Allowing xbox emulation or virtualization of 3rd party games or first party games with licensed content is going to be difficult on PC.

Most of your purchases are going to be locked to Xbox... Look at Microsoft's strategy for the Zune and you'll pretty much see a general template. All that shit is locked to OneDrive... like that's a valuable or useful location for it...

I don't have any physical games on xbox luckily. Due to their awesome back compat initiative anything I purchased was digital.

Fingers crossed I'm covered but I have already started compiling loads of games on steam and pc stores that would cover me for a large percentage of those anyway.

Luckily I have been on steam for almost 20 years so I have my largest collection of games on there. I'll be OK lol

 

[Tiago Rodrigues]

Xbox is the best and biggest Sony first party publisher. how the turn tables.

It's a win-win situation for both companies.

Sony makes 30% of all games sold on their store without spending a single dollar and MS gets more sales from an IP that's now tied to the PS brand the most (it used to be them back in the day, but Sony ended up having deals with this IP and the brand ended up getting tied to Sony instead)

 

[GulfCoastZilla]

On the one hand, the more people playing COD the more money MS makes

On the other hand……the series x and s are basically dead or they want it dead and dying.

Will my Series X become a relic? Who knows.

 

[Astray]

This is why there is no excuse for Microsoft raising their prices. Trump always said he was going to push tarriffs way more aggressively if he was elected again. Sony and Nintendo correctly stored up a bunch of inventory in case that happened. Microsoft were probably going to raise prices regardless of tarrifs because their console sales are in the toilet. They were already losing a bunch of money on their hardware

But I'm sure if this trade war continues for much longer that everyone will raise prices

They don't have the demand to keep production lines running (which is expensive), and retailers are not confident that them ordering units will lead to sales.

Out of the big 3, they actually had the least room to maneuver here.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

It's a win-win situation for both companies.

Sony makes 30% of all games sold on their store without spending a single dollar and MS gets more sales from an IP that's now tied to the PS brand the most (it used to be them back in the day, but Sony ended up having deals with this IP and the brand ended up getting tied to Sony instead)

you know what is funny?. Xbox fanboys were making all this insane escenarios in their head; from CoD being exclsuvie to using bundles to drive Xbox sales and GP subscriptions.

it's a win-win.... or it's just the only choice, when you console is dying and not even CoD can save it.

 

[Tiago Rodrigues]

you know what is funny?. Xbox fanboys were making all this insane escenarios in their head; from CoD being exclsuvie to using bundles to drive Xbox sales and GP subscriptions.

it's a win-win.... or it's just the only choice, when you console is dying and not even CoD can save it.

But it does show how MS keeps missing in every department. They had a marketing deal with COD and then dropped it.

Even Gamepass it's clear at this point it's not the golden goose they expected, otherwise they wouldn't need Playstation to keep their business where it is now. And the fact they stopped reporting numbers a long time ago says it all.

 

[reinking]

Arrogant Sony.

 

[Kerotan]

They spent 70 billion to end the PS5 marketing deal, to start it over on year later, good job Phil

To make this money back they've increased the price of everything Xbox related and offered COD as a bundle with the PS5.

Who had this on their bingo card?

 

[ToadMan]

you know what is funny?. Xbox fanboys were making all this insane escenarios in their head; from CoD being exclsuvie to using bundles to drive Xbox sales and GP subscriptions.

it's a win-win.... or it's just the only choice, when you console is dying and not even CoD can save it.

To be fair, the blue camp was also making these kind of claims during the ABK legal stuff as an argument against the acquisition.

But in reality none of that was looking at the base issue, and neither is this thread or the Gears of War stuff...

MS made that ABK purchase amongst others not to win the current console war, but to win what comes after - probably cloud streaming. They're still well positioned to do that with the studios and IPs they have. So while Sony makes hay now on PS5, what the future of gaming holds is less clear.

But as things stand MS are still in a strong position going forward as a result of the ABK and Zeni purchases. If they hadn't made those acquisitions, I believe they would have started to wind down the xbox division as a whole by now.

 

[Astray]

Mibu no ookami Supposedly Madden 26 is gonna skip past-gen (while adding Switch 2), this is a major potential driver of current-gen volume, so I can see Nintendo or Sony jostling for bundling here.

It's gonna be an interesting battle between the two Japanese giants from here on out.

 

[Mibu no ookami]

Mibu no ookami Supposedly Madden 26 is gonna skip past-gen (while adding Switch 2), this is a major potential driver of current-gen volume, so I can see Nintendo or Sony jostling for bundling here.

It's gonna be an interesting battle between the two Japanese giants from here on out.

I'm not surprised that Madden would skip the previous generation after CF25 became the best selling sports release in US history. The bigger question for me is EA FC as it has more ramifications in Europe where sales are lagging.

Madden might hit switch 2 but it's not going to get a bundle.

It'll be interesting to see Nintendo and Sony jostling, but I don't see much overlap.

 

[mckmas8808]

Microsoft: Lets increase the prices of our consoles

Also Microsoft: Let's have one of our new biggest IP's on Sony's cheaper console and let them make the bundle even cheaper


…I dont even anymore

Sony is truly going for the KILL!!!

 

[mckmas8808]

Lmao, I'm not sure what's going on with Xbox these days, but they should really drop the pretense that they're working on next gen hardware. Because it looks like they're focused on wiping out anything related to Xbox as gaming hardware, if those competitor prices are real.

And Microsoft CLEARLY knew that these PS5 bundles were going to release soon too. Because NO WAY does this deal happen "AFTER" Microsoft raised the price of the Xbox Series consoles. So what really is MS doing?! I have no clue, but I think the bolded is right. And you have a great point.

PS5 with CoD for $450 when MS just raised the price of the Series X to $600. Damn.

And the All Digital PS5 is $399 WITH COD: Black Ops 6, whereas the All Digital Xbox Series S is $429 and the All Digital Xbox Series X is $550!!!! Microsoft has lost their ever-lasting minds!

 

[tTHANOSs]

Playstation - Who's your daddy phil?
Phil - you are

 

[StereoVsn]

https://vxtwitter.com/billbil_kun/status/1919667386262626627

https://www.dealabs.com/magazine/de-nouveaux-packs-ps5-inattendus-bientot-devoiles-avec-des-promos-a-la-cle-60148

Slim PS5 $450 / €499
Slim PS5 Digital $400 / €450

At the same time as Papa Microsoft is jacking up prices on Xbox hardware. It's truly an amazing approach.

 

[Astray]

I'm not surprised that Madden would skip the previous generation after CF25 became the best selling sports release in US history. The bigger question for me is EA FC as it has more ramifications in Europe where sales are lagging.

Madden might hit switch 2 but it's not going to get a bundle.

It'll be interesting to see Nintendo and Sony jostling, but I don't see much overlap.

EA FC is sticking around on past-gen this year.

 

[mckmas8808]

Yeah would make sense these are the stockpiled consoles.

BLOPS 6 bundle is indeed wierd at this late stage, maybe they got a really good deal from activision? i don't know.

It's for people moving from old generation consoles and new console gamers

Even the best deal doesn't make sense unless part of the deal is CoD 2025 as well.

Promoting Astro Bot as the bundle makes more sense at least to me, because you're building up brand recognition for Astro Bot. Just not really sure what this does. Maybe you're specifically targeting PS4 owners who haven't purchased CoD yet in hopes that they move over to PS5 at these prices, but yeah the timing is just super weird.

I also wonder how weird things continue to get. Will Microsoft and Sony partner on making a Gears of War Dual Sense, maybe even in the Xbox controller configuration?

If we assume a sunsetting of the Xbox brand, I'd have to imagine that Microsoft and Sony's relationship is going to change drastically.

OH BOY! This would be a tell-tale sign that MS is out of the real console business, if they start making PS controllers using games like Gears of War or Halo. Never thought of that.

I always found it funny the people who were attacking Jim Ryan. I said it before but he's probably the most consequential head of SIE in its history, maybe other than Ken Kutaragi.

Jim Ryan sucks dude! HE SUCKS!!! But he wasn't a totally loser. One of the few things he did well was manage MS' Xbox takeover. I give him alot of credit for that. But his Live Service agenda and his need to move away from communicating with the PS fans was total ass.

To be fair, the blue camp was also making these kind of claims during the ABK legal stuff as an argument against the acquisition.

But in reality none of that was looking at the base issue, and neither is this thread or the Gears of War stuff...

MS made that ABK purchase amongst others not to win the current console war, but to win what comes after - probably cloud streaming. They're still well positioned to do that with the studios and IPs they have. So while Sony makes hay now on PS5, what the future of gaming holds is less clear.

But as things stand MS are still in a strong position going forward as a result of the ABK and Zeni purchases. If they hadn't made those acquisitions, I believe they would have started to wind down the xbox division as a whole by now.

It's pretty clear bro. Personal computing hardware in the home to play games on is OBVIOUSLY the choice that most gamers are making. That hasn't changed 1%.