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[NickFire]

I don't understand who the target audience is for this exactly. Console users buy consoles cause they don't wanna deal with different storefronts or anything that remotely involves or resembles a PC. This seems like they're making the steam machine 2 and we know how much of a bomb that was.

I feel like I am part of the target audience if a couple assumptions are acccurate. Specifically, people who would jump at Steam in a true console form that is reasonably priced (default to controllers, simplicity of console compared to pc on hardware and settings). As long as it's easy to navigate between them I don't care about two or more storefronts.

But I also have a tough time believing my assumptions will pan out to be true. And even if somehow this all happens I'd still expect some sort of Achilles heel like needing to pay for a high tier gp plan just to have access to Steam and that could be a deal breaker itself depending on cost and trust that the costs stays relatively static.

Still an interesting concept. I won't be surprised if it's just a concept though.

 

[BennyBlanco]

I just can't see anyone buying hardware that expensive and especially the casual crowd and even the hardcore crowd. The economy everywhere is rough right now, and launching an expensive machine into it, especially considering how weak the xbox brand is right now is going to be a disaster. I think this has a 0% chance of succeeding and they're fools for going this route.

I think you're looking at this all wrong. It's not gonna be a mass market device like Switch 2. Companies like Asus etc sell expensive ass hardware and seem to be doing fine.

 

[Punished Miku]

I just can't see anyone buying hardware that expensive and especially the casual crowd and even the hardcore crowd. The economy everywhere is rough right now, and launching an expensive machine into it, especially considering how weak the xbox brand is right now is going to be a disaster. I think this has a 0% chance of succeeding and they're fools for going this route.

We heard Xbox was transitioning out of the traditional console business about 15 months ago. First thing a lot of us started wondering about is how much it costs to get into PC gaming since that's the next best thing. This is going to be priced at the same level as prebuilt PCs, but designed to be user friendly for console owners who don't game on PC.

 

[lughnasadh123]

Eh? Will be just like Steam Deck so some "hassle" will still there.


So like Nano 11 on Deck and others. \o/

Maybe. We won't really know until we start getting info about it showing everything it has to offer. It certainly couldn't hurt having another strong competitor in the handheld PC space.

 

[Sebastian1295]

I really don't get why people can't follow the logic. Xbox Series consoles are done. Assuming they do nothing, that means 100% of sales will be on other stores and losing 30% to the store owner. Let's say these systems are sold for a profit, and get 10 million sales. That's 10 million more sales without losing 30% than they would have had otherwise, and it will make GP available, which isn't the case for PS or Switch where it's not allowed. They lose literally nothing. A few employees working on emulation and using the surface team to make the hardware.

The xbox hardware has been declining for years now and that's with them trying to sell the series s for 300 or below. There's no way in hell that they're going to be able to persuade people to drop 1000 or more on a PC when console users don't want anything to do with a freaking PC or different storefronts etc. The casual crowd isn't going to drop 1000 or more, and xbox has lost alot of the hardcore crowd to playstation/nintendo because they went third party. This is going to BOMB and bomb so hard that it won't even be funny to witness. This is idiotic.

 

[Punished Miku]

The xbox hardware has been declining for years now and that's with them trying to sell the series s for 300 or below. There's no way in hell that they're going to be able to persuade people to drop 1000 or more on a PC when console users don't want anything to do with a freaking PC or different storefronts etc. The casual crowd isn't going to drop 1000 or more, and xbox has lost alot of the hardcore crowd to playstation/nintendo because they went third party. This is going to BOMB and bomb so hard that it won't even be funny to witness. This is idiotic.

No one expects the casual crowd to buy these. You just aren't getting it. If you want this, buy it. They don't have subsidy that they have to make back. They are going to sell it for a profit. Lets say they literally only sell to 5 million to the most hardcore Xbox owners. It's 5 million units sold at a profit. If you don't want it, get a Playstation or a laptop, or whatever you want. No one cares.

However, if you are a hardcore console owner in the market for a Pro or Pro+ at a high price point, but don't know shit about PC gaming, this might appeal to you. It continues what you had on Xbox, but adds a ton more to it and likely higher performance as well.

 

[Sebastian1295]

I think you're looking at this all wrong. It's not gonna be a mass market device like Switch 2. Companies like Asus etc sell expensive ass hardware and seem to be doing fine.

If you're not striving to make a profit or appeal to the mass market then you're not even surviving. You're on life support and about to get the plug pulled. Going from one of the big 3 to now selling a niche and expensive product will just kill the brand further. Sony/nintendo would understand that going down this route is idiotic as well.

 

[Gambit2483]

Correct me if Im wrong but...wouldn't putting Steam on Xbox effectively Kill the Xbox storefront? Potentially wiping out millions of dollars in sales for MS?

 

[Sebastian1295]

No one expects the casual crowd to buy these. You just aren't getting it. If you want this, buy it. They don't have subsidy that they have to make back. They are going to sell it for a profit. Lets say they literally only sell to 5 million of the most hardcore Xbox owners. It's 5 million units sold at a profit. If you don't want it, get a Playstation or a laptop, or whatever you want. No one cares.

However, if you are a hardcore console owner in the market for a Pro or Pro+ at a high price point, but don't know shit about PC gaming, this might appeal to you. It continues what you had on Xbox, but adds a ton more to it and likely higher performance as well.

5 million or 10 million sales is nothing and i doubt they hit that if this thing is over 1000. You're losing a MASSIVEEEEEEEEE amount of revenue by allowing storefronts on your platform which means in the long run you're going to lose more money then you gain.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Correct me if Im wrong but...wouldn't putting Steam on Xbox effectively Kill the Xbox storefront? Potentially wiping out millions of dollars in sales for MS?

It's all about evangelical™ "loyalty," you see.

 

[Three]

This is where I feel like his source is full of shit, PC game pass is already "PC-only"

I think that's meant to say "PC only Ultimate". As in you won't get console access but with ultimate features in the PC Only Ultimate.

 

[Buggy Loop]

Next Xbox is going to be a Game Pass and xCloud Machine.

The days of exclusives are over and Sony is probably going the same route eventually.

I mean think about it

What's the point of all using the same architecture as PC and close the ecosystem for a plastic box with your logo on it

It's completely outdated. Only Nintendo will be too stubborn.

 

[Punished Miku]

5 million or 10 million sales is nothing and i doubt they hit that if this thing is over 1000. You're losing a MASSIVEEEEEEEEE amount of revenue by allowing storefronts on your platform which means in the long run you're going to lose more money then you gain.

Like I explained to you, Series consoles are done. They are going to lose 100% of revenue from the store. 100%. All of it. This would be more profitable than zero so this new box isn't losing them anything.

 

[Three]

It's all about evangelical™ "loyalty," you see.

If I had to guess it's about EEE. You get the steam/PC fanboys in, you make their games cost $80, you offer "the alternative". It's not like they're making that much at xbox on game sales anyway.

 

[PauloRoberto]

Like I explained to you, Series consoles are done. They are going to lose 100% of revenue from the store. 100%. All of it. This would be more profitable than zero so this new box isn't losing them anything.

I see a problem with this approach... MS only knows/wants to earn a MASSIVE amount of money, i cannot see that happening with this approach (to be honest, i dont even believe 100% of of original post will happen).

 

[vaibhavpisal]

Correct me if Im wrong but...wouldn't putting Steam on Xbox effectively Kill the Xbox storefront? Potentially wiping out millions of dollars in sales for MS?

Xbox store isn't shit on console and will give steam run for money.

Xbox fans are gonna buy the system. They will support xbox store primarily.

 

[GHG]

Correct me if Im wrong but...wouldn't putting Steam on Xbox effectively Kill the Xbox storefront? Potentially wiping out millions of dollars in sales for MS?

Yes, but they will come up with a devious way to replace all that revenue.

People really think they are really about to give up on the Xbox Live/gamepass basic (or whatever it's called) revenue just like that?

 

[Jaybe]

Xbox Emulation on PC

• An Xbox emulator for Windows (x64 architecture) is in development, allowing users to play their Xbox library on PC by emulating the console rather than running native PC ports of the games.

This is likely being highly oversold. Publishers that didn't sign on to the Backwards Compatibility or Play Anywhere programs are not going to allow the game license to be transferable to a new platform. I'm sure at least the Play Anywhere and Xbox first party will be a part of this though.

 

[NickFire]

I really don't get why people can't follow the logic. Xbox Series consoles are done. Assuming they do nothing, that means 100% of sales will be on other stores and losing 30% to the store owner. Let's say these systems are sold for a profit, and get 10 million sales. That's 10 million more sales without losing 30% than they would have had otherwise, and it will make GP available, which isn't the case for PS or Switch where it's not allowed. They lose literally nothing. A few employees working on emulation and using the surface team to make the hardware.

I think your thought process warrants kicking the tires. Is it enough for MS to buy the car though? Impossible for me to say and there is reason to be doubtful.

10 million sounds like easy money at first glance, But is it? there will be lost sales from those 10 million who buy on steam (though maybe steam gives back a percentage which would offset or possibly dwarf lost sales). Even if MS takes no responsibility for hardware failures they will still need to support the operating system. And their studios will need to do so as well when developing and supporting games post launch. I could also see third parties skipping Xbox altogether if they needed too many versions of a game.

Anyway, this is an interesting rumor that seems to have been percolating a while.

 

[Punished Miku]

I see a problem with this approach... MS only knows/wants to earn a MASSIVE amount of money, i cannot see that happening with this approach (to be honest, i dont even believe 100% of of original post will happen).

Their approach is to put everything on everything, and that will be the massive amount. If they put all their games on PS and Switch 2 it's a significantly larger install base than Xbox Series, and they get their own store to boot and sell on Steam also. And they don't lose money on hardware. And if the market transitions to cloud / subs, they're in position.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Xbox store isn't shit on console and will give steam run for money.

Xbox fans are gonna buy the system. They will support xbox store primarily.

 

[Klayzer]

I mean think about it

What's the point of all using the same architecture as PC and close the ecosystem for a plastic box with your logo on it

It's completely outdated. Only Nintendo will be too stubborn.

The ecosystem is the prize. All of the profits from games, dlc, services, etc are the lifeblood of a plastic box. Unless, Microsoft has an upcoming deal with Steam to share some of the profits. If that's the case, what's in it for a Steam?

 

[vaibhavpisal]

I mean think about it

What's the point of all using the same architecture as PC and close the ecosystem for a plastic box with your logo on it

It's completely outdated. Only Nintendo will be too stubborn.

To get some 30% cut or something on 3rd party stuff. Thats what GAF keeps saying.

Not sure which company would want to depend on nebulous cash flow like that? Ubisoft practically went under.

Unless you make something played by many, there is no guarantee that 30% will keep flowing.

 

[Klayzer]

I think dude is literally insane.

 

[Buggy Loop]

The ecosystem is the prize. All of the profits from games, dlc, services, etc are the lifeblood of a plastic box. Unless, Microsoft has an upcoming deal with Steam to share some of the profits. If that's the case, what's in it for a Steam?

Microsoft makes more out of a platform, OS, cloud and professional suites, than just transactional. You're data.

 

[RobRSG]

It certainly sounds cool. My faith in Xbox being able to pull it off when they don't even have a proper functioning store is next to 0.

They can pull it off, look at their Backcompatibility program as a good example. Windows as a platform sucked since the beginning of times, just like the Xbone did in its time.

 

[Klayzer]

Microsoft makes more out of a platform, OS, cloud and professional suites, than just transactional. You're data.

I was speaking just on the gaming side. Of course their other business interests are more lucrative.

 

[Jigsaah]

This would be great for game preservation. I'm wondering if they would even go back to Xbox OG titles being on PC. I wouldn't mind giving Midnight Club another go.

The price hike for PC Gamepass was inevitable...no surprise there. Folks were getting away with murder.

As long as steam is on the handheld it's likely a day one purchase for me. I don't know if I want the ASUS version though.

 

[NickFire]

To get some 30% cut or something on 3rd party stuff. Thats what GAF keeps saying.

Not sure which company would want to depend on nebulous cash flow like that? Ubisoft practically went under.

Unless you make something played by many, there is no guarantee that 30% will keep flowing.

You shouldn't dismiss the 30% cut of third party sales. As long as video games are a mainstream form of entertainment the 3rd party pie will remain massive.

 

[Buggy Loop]

I was speaking just on the gaming side. Of course their other business interests are more lucrative.

You're also data while playing games

 

[vaibhavpisal]

You shouldn't dismiss the 30% cut of third party sales. As long as video games are a mainstream form of entertainment the 3rd party pie will remain massive.

It's something the company doesn't control.

Nobody likes that.

Any company would feel safer and have a right to exist if they make the games themselves that were played by millions, instead of depending on others.

 

[NickFire]

It's something the company doesn't control.

Nobody likes that.

Any company would feel safer and have a right to exist if they make the games themselves that were played by millions, instead of depending on others.

Why are you looking at it as black and white? This is a classic why not both situation.

Also, making every game yourself is extremely risky. Taking 30% is easy.

 

[Thebonehead]

This can't happen due to legal reasons.

Also extas1s is a fraud and I wish people would stop listening to him.

Yeah as far as I'm aware 3rd parties enter an agreement / licence that the code only runs on xbox consoles. Although that could explain the "Everything is an Xbox" now

 

[onnextflix5]

Sounds like just pc stuff, that should have been done 10 years ago, we are more interested in the next gen consoles. Which needs billion of dollars of investment, if it does come, I feel like it could be their last Xbox console, I just can't see how they will be able to compete with Sony and Nintendo with no exclusive games.

 

[vaibhavpisal]

Why are you looking at it as black and white? This is a classic why not both situation.

Also, making every game yourself is extremely risky. Taking 30% is easy.

Making biggest games

Vs

Taking 30% cut and keep your games exclusive.

Both are at odds with each other.

 

[SHAKEZ]

If they want this whole integrated ecosystem to work, they need Valve to do it themselves, else it's going to work like ass.

 

[jshackles]

Yes, but they will come up with a devious way to replace all that revenue.

People really think they are really about to give up on the Xbox Live/gamepass basic (or whatever it's called) revenue just like that?

I could see them taking a play from Apple's handbook in the mobile space. Xbox is a walled garden, and you want to sell your games on Steam in our ecosystem? You've gotta give us a percentage of the sales made through our hardware platform.

 

[Mr Moose]

Xbox store isn't shit on console and will give steam run for money.

Xbox fans are gonna buy the system. They will support xbox store primarily.

They are going to start buying games?

 

[DeepEnigma]

Making biggest games

I could see them taking a play from Apple's handbook in the mobile space. Xbox is a walled garden, and you want to sell your games on Steam in our ecosystem? You've gotta give us a percentage of the sales made through our hardware platform.

They have almost zero the leverage in the console space compared to Apple in in their space, however.

These are tactics you would pull if you're the big dog in the arena, not almost both feet out the door.

 

[Punished Miku]

They are going to start buying games?

No one but people who bought lots of games cares about emulation or their forward compatibility plans.

 

[jshackles]

They have almost zero the leverage in the console space compared to Apple in in their space, however.

These are tactics you would pull if you're the big dog in the arena, not almost both feet out the door.

Oh, I agree completely, and obviously Microsoft needs Valve more than Valve needs Microsoft. They're obviously adding Steam support somehow, I just wonder the extent that Valve is involved: both from a technical and a business/financial perspective.

 

[Astray]

This thing is pitching to a minority of a minority.

Will be hilarious when it manages to pack the worst of both console and PC gaming in one device.

They are going to start buying games?

Shhhh let him dream.

 

[Klayzer]

I just wonder the extent that Valve is involved: both from a technical and a business/financial

My main question as well.

 

[Puscifer]

This really just sounds like a tldr of every rumor we've heard the past 2 years

 

[Housh]

All I want is an Xbox Elite Series 3 controller for my PC.

 

[Little Chicken]

Sounds absolutely incredible

 

[GHG]

Xbox store isn't shit on console and will give steam run for money.

This is too funny.

 

[Astray]

All I want is an Xbox Elite Series 3 controller for my PC.

Just go for a ZX O+ Excellence imo.. Tons of accessories for it too.

ZD O+ Excellence Wireless Controller

Modular Design Joystick & D-Pad, Personalized Swappable Components Trigger Mode Switch, Linear Hall Effect & Tactile Mechanical Triggers 2 Extra Shoulder Buttons + 4 Magnetic Remappable Paddles Gyroscope 6-Axis Motion Control + 4 Onboard Config Profiles 4 Vibration Motors + 3.5mm Audio Jack...

gadgethyper.com

 

[mayham2199]

It's something the company doesn't control.

Nobody likes that.

Any company would feel safer and have a right to exist if they make the games themselves that were played by millions, instead of depending on others.

That's just part of capitalism. Even companies making games can only control so much. You can't control who buys it or how well it does. How many great games have we seen come out that sold like crap? So even making an amazing game isn't enough. On top of that the amount of money being made isn't even close. It's why Sony is the first gaming company in history to reach 30 billion in revenue.

 

[Pedro Motta]

Great, more Windows bloat, just what we needed.