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[Astray]

How can they have a monopoly if there are so many alternatives to their products that nobody would miss them?

They built it when alternatives were scarce. Then used their wealth to block new entrants.

 

[UltimaKilo]

To get the hardware to survive, they need to relaunch Xbox as a pc in a console format or something similar, as there is literally no reason to buy one as of now.

A pc as a console would be something I'd get, but I see no reason why Microsoft would do this as they wouldn't be able to make it a walled garden.

I think ultimately making a Windows machine would be good for Microsoft, given Apple is clearly slowly dipping their toes in the gaming waters. However, it seems like their bet is subscription model, which is the gold standard in business: recurring revenue.

The average consumer spends $60-110 a year on video games. GamePass (for now before they 100% raise the price) is $120.00 a year. Ultimately they bet is that the younger generation don't care to own video games, movies or music: they play it once and then never again.

 

[Woopah]

I mean I fully expect developers to give up the XBS. The obvious question is when. How many times did we see games get a PS4 port but not an X1 port and the XBS is doing even worse than the X1. Once the attach rates drop beyond a certain point, you're going to see support fall off. There's enough evidence of that.



A lot of people online try to push long form podcasts. It's why you have a WWE style attitude about simple business and economics. The problem for Dring is that outside of some people who actually care about this stuff, no one knows who he is.

If I was his media manager, I'd have him putting out a series of tweets similar to Mat P. and having short video segments expanding on the context of these tweets, combined with well written articles and then and only then maybe some long form interviews.

He does like one long for interview a month. And as someone who is actually interested in the data that he has, I'm not watching these videos. He launched his youtube channel over a month ago yet barely has more than 1K subscribers.

He doesn't segment his content very well. Everything seems random and he doesn't do enough to market his site or his channel. There doesn't seem to be a proper cadence to it.

Makes sense! Thanks

 

[JohnnyFootball]

I think ultimately making a Windows machine would be good for Microsoft, given Apple is clearly slowly dipping their toes in the gaming waters. However, it seems like their bet is subscription model, which is the gold standard in business: recurring revenue.

The average consumer spends $60-110 a year on video games. GamePass (for now before they 100% raise the price) is $120.00 a year. Ultimately they bet is that the younger generation don't care to own video games, movies or music: they play it once and then never again.

It ain't $120 a year bud. Gamers love Steam. If MS can work something out with Valve so that that library works on Steam, PC Gamepass might get growth.

 

[Mibu no ookami]

Makes sense! Thanks

One thing I'd add to that is that he needs to invest in more than just GSD and GFK data...

He should be putting analysis into Japanese and American (circana) datasets.

This would make him inherently more interesting and probably give him considerably better cadence.

 

[MandingoMcThickens]

You don't realise how bad you have it. Buy a PS5 now and thank me later.

After leaving the 360 for the PS4, I am similar to Dr. Wilkinson as the Series X has been my main console this whole gen, too. I was curious about the hype; I bought a PS5 in May of 2023 and used it exclusively for a month. I mean exclusively, easily 30 hours a week. Easily. I bought it for a specific game that I was missing terribly. During this time, I also purchased Returnal, and the Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut. By the time June hit, the game I had bought the PS5 for was announced for Xbox, and the PS5 sat and collected dust for a month, unplugged from electricity, until I realized it was a complete waste of money and sold it for a few hundred dollars.

It's not just you, but the way the PS5 and its library are evangelized is insane, absurd, and quite frankly, fucking retarded. Returnal is easily the worst Housemarque game I've ever played, and it's not even close. Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut is a Ubislop snoozefest with slightly better production values. Lurking this forum and knowing other first party releases like Spider-Man 2 and Ragnarok were going to be trash, then reading the Sony faithful come to their senses a month or so after release has been personally gratifying, if not amusing. LMFAO imagine having to mute a controller then going on enthusiast forums reading replies from nerds trying to convince you no, it's actually good

Anyway, 452 hours into the Xbox version of Final Fantasy 14 later, I truly, TRULY hope no one takes your advice, or anyone else that would suggest something similar.

Turning "gaming into work with achievements?" Really?
Some people's kids, I swear

 

[neocycle]

After leaving the 360 for the PS4, I am similar to Dr. Wilkinson as the Series X has been my main console this whole gen, too. I was curious about the hype; I bought a PS5 in May of 2023 and used it exclusively for a month. I mean exclusively, easily 30 hours a week. Easily. I bought it for a specific game that I was missing terribly. During this time, I also purchased Returnal, and the Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut. By the time June hit, the game I had bought the PS5 for was announced for Xbox, and the PS5 sat and collected dust for a month, unplugged from electricity, until I realized it was a complete waste of money and sold it for a few hundred dollars.

It's not just you, but the way the PS5 and its library are evangelized is insane, absurd, and quite frankly, fucking retarded. Returnal is easily the worst Housemarque game I've ever played, and it's not even close. Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut is a Ubislop snoozefest with slightly better production values. Lurking this forum and knowing other first party releases like Spider-Man 2 and Ragnarok were going to be trash, then reading the Sony faithful come to their senses a month or so after release has been personally gratifying, if not amusing. LMFAO imagine having to mute a controller then going on enthusiast forums reading replies from nerds trying to convince you no, it's actually good

Anyway, 452 hours into the Xbox version of Final Fantasy 14 later, I truly, TRULY hope no one takes your advice, or anyone else that would suggest something similar.

Turning "gaming into work with achievements?" Really?
Some people's kids, I swear

ff14 is also available on ps5.

 

[MandingoMcThickens]

ff14 is also available on ps5.

What a creative way to come out as someone that can't think critically!

 

[Woopah]

One thing I'd add to that is that he needs to invest in more than just GSD and GFK data...

He should be putting analysis into Japanese and American (circana) datasets.

This would make him inherently more interesting and probably give him considerably better cadence.

He doesn't even has access to GSD anymore. They changed how they work with the media after 2024, which is why we haven't got Europe charts this year.

I agree he should do more with Japan, since Media Create and Famitsu data is accessible.

I don't think US analysis would be possible. Even if he subscribed to Circana, he wouldn't be allowed to share any of the data publicly. Maybe he could come to some sort of agreement with them, like he had with GSD.

 

[neocycle]

What a creative way to come out as someone that can't think critically!

Returnal owned you, so you ragequit the PS5 and bought an Xbox where you play a no-skill-required mmorpg.
There is a tragic fate behind every Xbox player.

 

[Moridianae]

I have a few friends in my circle that, in a nutshell, are mostly averse to Game Pass as a primary thing because they don't want "Netflix for Games" to be something gaming turns into.

I'm not sure how widespread that stance is(we are middle aged now), but I sometimes wonder if that's a sentiment that's more prominent than just a few people, especially in light of the recent backlash to "keys on a cartridge or disc" situation.

 

[MandingoMcThickens]

Returnal owned you, so you ragequit the PS5 and bought an Xbox where you play a no-skill-required mmorpg.
There is a tragic fate behind every Xbox player.

Achievements owned you, so you ragequit the Xbox 360 and bought a PlayStation where you play a no-skill-required template.
There is a tragic fate behind every forum dipshit.

 

[neocycle]

Achievements owned you, so you ragequit the Xbox 360 and bought a PlayStation where you play a no-skill-required template.
There is a tragic fate behind every forum dipshit.

I never had an xbox. I bought a ps3 because the wii disappointed me.

 

[GHG]

Anyway, 452 hours into the Xbox version of Final Fantasy 14 later, I truly, TRULY hope no one takes your advice, or anyone else that would suggest something similar.

The game that was released and available everywhere else for over 10 years before it ended up on Xbox?

And you want to twist yourself in knots to wonder why the platform is in the predicament it's in?

 

[MandingoMcThickens]

I never had an xbox. I bought a ps3 because the wii disappointed me.

Excellent, you've admitted to hating things you have no personal experience with, then. Too easy!

The game that was released and available everywhere else for over 10 years before it ended up on Xbox?

And you want to twist yourself in knots to wonder why the platform is in the predicament it's in?

Now now, no one that you're quoting is twisting anything. Do try and keep up, reading comprehension is key.

 

[GHG]

Now now, no one that you're quoting is twisting anything. Do try and keep up, reading comprehension is key.

You wrote a load of nonsense about games you tried on the PS5 but then went on to say you spent 450+ hours with FF14 on Xbox instead.

The game that playstation gamers have had access to since 2013. Well done, you sure showed them.

 

[MandingoMcThickens]

You wrote a load of nonsense about games you tried on the PS5 but then went on to say you spent 450+ hours with FF14 on Xbox instead.

The game that playstation gamers have had access to since 2013. Well done, you sure showed them.

That you can't follow or understand my post doesn't make it nonsense lmfao
Look, I know since ethomaz got canned you've taken up the mantle as GAF's one man circus of stupidity, jumping at every chance you think you have to talk down to someone, but you have no idea what I wrote because you don't understand the context. You don't understand the context, because you thought you saw an opportunity to dunk on someone.

Now, to thinking people, it just looks like you can't handle reading a couple elementary level paragraphs.

You're a chump, the worst form of human, a troll that thinks they know everything and everyone else is beneath you.

It's not my fault or problem that you can't keep up.

 

[drganon]

That you can't follow or understand my post doesn't make it nonsense lmfao
Look, I know since ethomaz got canned you've taken up the mantle as GAF's one man circus of stupidity, jumping at every chance you think you have to talk down to someone, but you have no idea what I wrote because you don't understand the context. You don't understand the context, because you thought you saw an opportunity to dunk on someone.

Now, to thinking people, it just looks like you can't handle reading a couple elementary level paragraphs.

You're a chump, the worst form of human, a troll that thinks they know everything and everyone else is beneath you.

It's not my fault or problem that you can't keep up.

 

[GHG]

Look, I know since ethomaz got canned you've taken up the mantle as GAF's one man circus of stupidity, jumping at every chance you think you have to talk down to someone, but you have no idea what I wrote because you don't understand the context. You don't understand the context, because you thought you saw an opportunity to dunk on someone.

Deep in that neogaf lore but your account is only a few months old.

I would say it's unfortunate that you're having to burn through alt accounts like this, but it's immediately apparent as to why.

 

[MandingoMcThickens]

Deep in that neogaf lore but your account is only a few months old.

I would say it's unfortunate that you're having to burn through alt accounts like this, but it's immediately apparent as to why.

It's definitely impossible for someone to lurk a forum for years and years and years before deciding to finally open an account.
You were wrong about "twisting myself into knots," wrong about the context of my whole post ("You sure showed them?" Really?), and now the only thing you have is to accuse me of being an alt.
I've seen this with you before, you get called out, change the subject, rinse and repeat. Further evidence that you're the worst form of human, someone that just wants to talk down to others in order to make themselves feel better.

Now you're wrong THREE times. Wanna go for a fourth?

 

[QLQ]

Achievements owned you, so you ragequit the Xbox 360 and bought a PlayStation where you play a no-skill-required template.
There is a tragic fate behind every forum dipshit.

lol wow you admitted he nailed you with that reply!

 

[damidu]

That you can't follow or understand my post doesn't make it nonsense lmfao
Look, I know since ethomaz got canned you've taken up the mantle as GAF's one man circus of stupidity, jumping at every chance you think you have to talk down to someone, but you have no idea what I wrote because you don't understand the context. You don't understand the context, because you thought you saw an opportunity to dunk on someone.

Now, to thinking people, it just looks like you can't handle reading a couple elementary level paragraphs.

You're a chump, the worst form of human, a troll that thinks they know everything and everyone else is beneath you.

It's not my fault or problem that you can't keep up.

is this what a nervous breakdown looks like

 

[GHG]

It's definitely impossible for someone to lurk a forum for years and years and years before deciding to finally open an account.
You were wrong about "twisting myself into knots," wrong about the context of my whole post ("You sure showed them?" Really?), and now the only thing you have is to accuse me of being an alt.
I've seen this with you before, you get called out, change the subject, rinse and repeat. Further evidence that you're the worst form of human, someone that just wants to talk down to others in order to make themselves feel better.

Now you're wrong THREE times. Wanna go for a fourth?

Considering how irate you're getting it's obvious that you've experienced this before.

It would have been easier for you to simply explain how people are supposed to interpret the following:

Paragraph one summary : purchased a PS5, tried a few games, didn't like them so sold it.

Paragraph two summary: more of the same, but this time with a more aggressive tone and namecalling

Paragraph three summary: says that nobody should take the advice of somebody who suggests purchasing a PS5 because of a game that you've put 450+ hours in to on Xbox in a year, a game which happens to have also been available on Playstation platforms since 2013

So guess here we are once again, when all else fails, resort to personal attacks. It's all going so well, keep it up.

 

[UltimaKilo]

It ain't $120 a year bud. Gamers love Steam. If MS can work something out with Valve so that that library works on Steam, PC Gamepass might get growth.

I was going on the low end of $10 a month realizing most people are paying $20. I think a partnership with Valve would be the best, especially if Valve's Deckard can run on the next XBOX / Windows Machine. Pay Valve whatever to takes to keep them off MacOS. Apple is going to release the M6 next year an that GPU is going to be a beast, per rumors.

 

[MandingoMcThickens]

Considering how irate you're getting it's obvious that you've experienced this before.

It would have been easier for you to simply explain how people are supposed to interpret the following:



So guess here we are once again, when all else fails, resort to personal attacks. It's all going so well, keep it up.

youmad.gif lmfao

Educate yourself on what "irate" means.

This is a forum, I disagreed with someone, provided explanation as to why, and now all you have to fall back on (besides inability to accept disagreement and tossing out alt accusations) is to cry about being called a troll, or *checks notes* a nerd.

And no, it would've been easier for YOU. I can (and did) explain it, but I can't understand it for you.

you suck at this

 

[m14]

Isn't it funny when someone will posts statements such as "I mean I fully expect developers to give up the XBS" as if they are impartial observers rather than fanboys fantasising about what they desperately want to happen?

 

[GHG]

youmad.gif lmfao

Educate yourself on what "irate" means.

This is a forum, I disagreed with someone, provided explanation as to why, and now all you have to fall back on (besides inability to accept disagreement and tossing out alt accusations) is to cry about being called a troll, or *checks notes* a nerd.

And no, it would've been easier for YOU. I can (and did) explain it, but I can't understand it for you.

you suck at this

Again, still more personal attacks and attempting to make this about me instead of that comical post of yours above.

You're free to let everyone else know how else it was supposed to be interpreted any time.

It's just a shame that you supposedly "lurked" for all of those years to such an extent where members that got banned coming up to half a decade ago still haunt you, only for you to behave like this once you do finally have the opportunity to participate here.

 

[m14]

Again, still more personal attacks and attempting to make this about me instead of that comical post of yours above.

You're free to let everyone else know how else it was supposed to be interpreted any time.

It's just a shame that you supposedly "lurked" for all of those years to such an extent where members that got banned coming up to half a decade ago still haunt you, only for you to behave like this once you do finally have the opportunity to participate here.

I guess you didn't expect you'd be on the menu for the Sunday barbecue?

Don't forget to take some screenshots.

 

[MandingoMcThickens]

Again, still more personal attacks and attempting to make this about me instead of that comical post of yours above.

You're free to let everyone else know how else it was supposed to be interpreted any time.

It's just a shame that you supposedly "lurked" for all of those years to such an extent where members that got banned coming up to half a decade ago still haunt you, only for you to behave like this once you do finally have the opportunity to participate here.

Again, still more deflection instead of actually reading what I wrote and addressing the issue at hand. Again, still more deflecting because you've been proven wrong four times now. Again, still more intentional mischaracterization of arguments then tucking tail to make yourself look like the victim.

You're free to not talk down to me as if I need your permission to post what I want, or as if I need to meet your criteria.

The real shame is that it took this long for someone to see right through your bullshit

 

[GHG]

Again, still more deflection instead of actually reading what I wrote and addressing the issue at hand. Again, still more deflecting because you've been proven wrong four times now. Again, still more intentional mischaracterization of arguments then tucking tail to make yourself look like the victim.

You're free to not talk down to me as if I need your permission to post what I want, or as if I need to meet your criteria.

The real shame is that it took this long for someone to see right through your bullshit

I've addressed it, multiple times, but you insisted on making it clear that this is a long term personal vendetta of yours from this post onwards.

So again, you're free to go ahead and explain how else the following post was supposed to be interpreted any time:

After leaving the 360 for the PS4, I am similar to Dr. Wilkinson as the Series X has been my main console this whole gen, too. I was curious about the hype; I bought a PS5 in May of 2023 and used it exclusively for a month. I mean exclusively, easily 30 hours a week. Easily. I bought it for a specific game that I was missing terribly. During this time, I also purchased Returnal, and the Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut. By the time June hit, the game I had bought the PS5 for was announced for Xbox, and the PS5 sat and collected dust for a month, unplugged from electricity, until I realized it was a complete waste of money and sold it for a few hundred dollars.

It's not just you, but the way the PS5 and its library are evangelized is insane, absurd, and quite frankly, fucking retarded. Returnal is easily the worst Housemarque game I've ever played, and it's not even close. Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut is a Ubislop snoozefest with slightly better production values. Lurking this forum and knowing other first party releases like Spider-Man 2 and Ragnarok were going to be trash, then reading the Sony faithful come to their senses a month or so after release has been personally gratifying, if not amusing. LMFAO imagine having to mute a controller then going on enthusiast forums reading replies from nerds trying to convince you no, it's actually good

Anyway, 452 hours into the Xbox version of Final Fantasy 14 later, I truly, TRULY hope no one takes your advice, or anyone else that would suggest something similar.

Turning "gaming into work with achievements?" Really?
Some people's kids, I swear

 

[FrankWza]

Returnal owned you, so you ragequit the PS5 and bought an Xbox where you play a no-skill-required mmorpg.
There is a tragic fate behind every Xbox player.

 

[diablos991]

Are developers/publishers just complaining they can't make sweet exclusivity deals with MS ($$$) or pit MS against Sony in a bidding war for exclusivity?

Feels like this might piss publishers off but be an overall win for the consumer.

I don't see where the doom and gloom comes from on this.

Sounds like any company making an exclusivity deal with Sony under this strategy are the ones limiting their user base.

 

[Crunchbox]

I wouldnt make any games for xbox. Microsoft is trying to manipulate gaming into all digital/ gamepass subscriptions. You see how ms a trillion dollar company intentionally doesnt put all the game data on the physical disc meanwhile 30 person dev team of expedition 33 does while only charging 50 dollars for the game as well. Microsoft is a lazy manipulative company who pushes all the worst things in gaming. They are one of the first to charge 80 bucks for games while being in last place.

They want to make devs, gamers and everything their servants. There is no future with them.

 

[Elios83]

It's obvious that the situation is not sustainable, Xbox is not a viable platform to sell software anymore and I'm sure that Microsoft will soon tell partners to pretty much migrate to PC, their next Xbox branded box will likely run PC code, it won't be a unique platform anymore.

 

[poppabk]

I wouldnt make any games for xbox. Microsoft is trying to manipulate gaming into all digital/ gamepass subscriptions. You see how ms a trillion dollar company intentionally doesnt put all the game data on the physical disc meanwhile 30 person dev team of expedition 33 does while only charging 50 dollars for the game as well. Microsoft is a lazy manipulative company who pushes all the worst things in gaming. They are one of the first to charge 80 bucks for games while being in last place.

They want to make devs, gamers and everything their servants. There is no future with them.

Maybe you missed where Clair Obscur is sold out almost everywhere? Or that every publisher wants to go digital?
Not everything has to be so melodramatic, yeah MS can be shit sometimes (coming as a PC gamer who somehow survived the GFWL era) but they are just a business not literal evil incarnate.

 

[Dr. Wilkinson]

Returnal owned you, so you ragequit the PS5 and bought an Xbox where you play a no-skill-required mmorpg.
There is a tragic fate behind every Xbox player.

Just… grow up. It's not hard

 

[Det]

What a creative way to come out as someone that can't think critically!

look, the intellectual elite of video games

Relax, man, this type of post of yours is a classic that I've read dozens of times.

"I'm not a fanboy, I have all the consoles, but the PS5 has nothing and it's all propaganda from the Sony media, it's all from the "PlayStation Ambassadors" program"

If I were part of the "xbox ambassadors" program or had combined strategies to "counterattack playstation" through Discord, you can be sure that I would accuse the "other side" of doing this.

And I left in Bold the most relevant parts, the parts that reflect factual reality and not victimist conspiracy theories.

 

[Dr. Wilkinson]

You think people buy Xbox? You think 3 million last year is a significant figure? Brace yourself for less than 2 million they're selling this year.

Well, it's 3 million more than whatever nonsense your post implied. You're the one that wrote it dude, don't blame others for failure to make a salient comment and then can't accept responsibility when called out on it. . Tough love, bro.

 

[Tomeru]

MandingoMcThickens

Please stop, youre embarresing me.

 

[QLQ]

Well, it's 3 million more than whatever nonsense your post implied. You're the one that wrote it dude, don't blame others for failure to make a salient comment and then can't accept responsibility when called out on it. . Tough love, bro.

pfftt, what a load of crap you just spouted.

 

[FrankWza]

MandingoMcThickens

Please stop, youre embarresing me.

Ssssh..... Live thread incoming

 

[Baemono]

MandingoMcThickens

Please stop, youre embarresing me.

Ai wo tomoranai, you should now Tomeru

 

[GHG]

look, the intellectual elite of video games

Relax, man, this type of post of yours is a classic that I've read dozens of times.

"I'm not a fanboy, I have all the consoles, but the PS5 has nothing and it's all propaganda from the Sony media, it's all from the "PlayStation Ambassadors" program"

If I were part of the "xbox ambassadors" program or had combined strategies to "counterattack playstation" through Discord, you can be sure that I would accuse the "other side" of doing this.

And I left in Bold the most relevant parts, the parts that reflect factual reality and not victimist conspiracy theories.

Not to mention the fact that they send them in one by one like whack a mole as well.

What's nuts is that it always follows the same pattern and they think people aren't going to see through the bullshit. Especially given everything that's happened and the direction Xbox are now going in, how do you not realise it's not working?

 

[Tomeru]

Ai wo tomoranai, you should now Tomeru

Dont go embarresing me too now.

 

[ReasonBeing]

Wtf was xbox thinking its on them they are giving out games for 'free' on gp why the fuck would buy any of em after this its on them not the consumers they really stabbed themselves in the foot with a doubled edge sword

$240 annually = free? I think the idea is converting the large portion of casuals that normally only buy a game or two per year, into regular subscribers. This would extract more revenue than what would be possible trying to sell them games the traditional way.

Problem for Xbox is it took until 2025 to really be able to push that value proposition. They have an uphill battle, but if they can continue their recent release cadence, then I think they can eventually change the conversation around GamePass. That's a big IF though. I'll believe it when I see it. I will admit though, for the first time in a long while, GamePass is looking attractive.

 

[m14]

MandingoMcThickens

Please stop, youre embarresing me.

Uncomfortable witnessing such a public evisceration, wasn't it?

 

[Darsxx82]

-The person who originated the OP's news source denies the interpretation some give and even provides the exact opposite.

-Reality contradicts that interpretation (it's the Xbox console with the best Third party support in history, and it's getting better every day).

-Developers appear to refute that false interpretation...

It has become a good example of how the information is like through social networks.

PS.

GSC Studios



Larian Studios

 

[ExtendEmbraceExtinguish]

I wanted Xbox to succeed when they actually wanted to succeed.

When they innovated and were leaders they did GREAT things. They had people like Peter Moore, J. Allard, and Shane Kim to name a few. Those were non-MS people who understood what gamers wanted. They new how to nurture studios, lock up high quality exclusives (2007....man...what a time to be an xbox fan) and while it wasn't perfect (RRoD) they created a large following and made Xbox the multiplayer place to play.

Gamepass, was an innovation, but Phil and co BADLY misunderstood that market, games are not consumed the way Netflix is and they started it in an era when subscriptions were cheap enough that people could keep them going. The market got saturated with subscription services and gamers simply have different habits.

When they became trend chasers (Kinect an all in one box) and brought the Microsoft culture into the brand with people like Don Mattrick, Phil Spencer, Aaron Greenberg and Matt Booty is when they flopped and have flopped hard. They let people like Pete Hines walk. Their solution to every problem was to throw money at it and fester an online FUD culture with henchmen like Jez Corden, Arthur Gies, Colt Eastwood. I will NEVER root for that to succeed. NEVER. There solution was to buy everybody and I have no doubt that Phil and Co wanted to make Bethesda and Activision exclusive. They have never come CLOSE to getting their money's worth from Bethesda. They haven't touched franchises like Fallout or Elder Scrolls. Fallout 3 and New vegas should have been remastered LONG ago. They had SO much potential with the stuff they owned and they blew it. They had no balls.

Jim Ryan, for all the hate he gets (and I HATE that man) understood what game MS was trying to play and while he didn't stop the acquisitions, he got MS to air a LOT of their dirty laundry and make them stay 3rd party.

XBox tried to be too many things and never got good at one thing.

Completely different take; msft is now able if the rumors are true to launch a device tethered to windows pcs. We know pc gaming ain't getting cheaper.
Gamepass for those that can't fork over 60-100 usd per month.
Ability to utilize its publisher status to effect multiple markets pc/console.

If Sony nor Nintendo can't feed AAA fps/wrpgs/action games and other pubs drop the ball we could be seeing a publisher with an os that caters to over 800 million consumers align itself in a nasty way.

Would be interesting if spec wars returned in a devastating way aka pc ports being a league above consoles.

Just random thoughts as I think msft could be a monopoly if they play this right.

 

[Signalis]

Didn't Philnocio also say that raising games above $70 would be manipulative

 

[Panajev2001a]

Didn't Philnocio also say that raising games above $70 would be manipulative

Yeah, but his hands were tied. Prices went up all by themselves like magic … .