Jeff Grubb postulates on Xbox's next gen plans. Steam, Epic...Playstation!?

Under the current cut structure they would still get 88% for any game sold via their app, so it would more be a case of "why not".

The bigger question to ask is why would Xbox open themselves up to a scenario where they stand to lose so much more, and could end up seeing absolutely no revenue for purchased/owned games if people simply purchase and redeem Steam keys from 3rd party sites.

The Game Pass gambit....which, to be fair, has certainly been center stage for their marketing team for the last few years. I don't think it's a sound strategy, but it's not like their is a future in the Xbox brand anyway.
 
If they can even hang on for that long. Sega's been on the brink a few times and they never had the overhead Xbox already has and will wind up with when they're finally done taking a hacksaw to their own ecosystem. Legitimately can see them shutting down or selling almost everything that isn't Minecraft and Candy Crush when all is said and done.

The first step is going to be making GamePass undesirably expensive to save CoD, but they know their relationship with Sony is now paramount, which again is why we're seeing this bundle and why we'll probably see a bundle when the next CoD launches. Microsoft simply cannot afford a loss in revenue from CoD while sustaining the operational costs surrounding the CoD machine.

Imagine a Sony bundle with Battlefield resulting in Battlefield taking 25% of the CoD market. That would be devastating for Microsoft.

And yes, I think we're going to see Microsoft shift to a very small number of games after the failures we've seen from games like Doom, Forza, and Indiana Jones. Doom and Forza are already about to fall behind E33 on the PSN store. Indiana Jones is about to fall behind Spider-Man 2, which is nearing year 2 on the market.

That seems somewhat inevitable at this point.

I would not be surprised if Nadella simply rips the bandaid off and says no more hardware or that the surface xbox desktop is very short lived.

The thing with this is that you need to bring that out pretty soon. If it can emulate XBS games, then it can play GTA6 and would be the first PC device that can support it. You would need that at a minimum, so you're looking at a 2026 release, 2027 at the latest.

We've already seen the signs that the XBS has essentially been discontinued.
 
Dreamcast was not free. I had to sign up to seganet to play multiplayer.
Yeah I recalled, we had a convo on it just after this post, but as I said above, the fact it was just AT&T we used it as our ISP for our PC as well and so for us the $22 was what we'd have paid any other dialup ISP at the time. Not saying it was amazing lol cause we all know it was bare bones
 
If this is the case, how come Valve hasn't made a new Steam Machine to do this exact same thing yet?

I mean there's a ton of whispers that that's exactly what Valve is working on right now. And even so, Valve runs into the issue of not being able to run Xbox games or take advantage of Game Pass because of SteamOS limitations.
 
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The convenience of a console with the flexibility of a PC.

So Microsoft's version of Big Picture mode.

Happy Adam Scott GIF by Sky
 
The first step is going to be making GamePass undesirably expensive to save CoD,
Even if it managed to do that, it would destroy the rest of their library. To be totally honest, Gamepass engagement per game has been atrocious; Doom should have way more than 3 million players on a service that has ~25 million subscribers. It indicates that their game library is generally so unappealing that not even giving access to that number of people at no additional cost doesn't move the needle. If GP becomes prohibitively expensive (and we already have evidence that there's been pretty massive churn with the last year's price increase), it's a wrap for their business as a whole.

This also all assumes that COD won't be negatively impacted by Microsoft's influence in the coming years enough to damage the appeal of that brand.
 
Another question is what happens with the emulator. Playing original Xbox and 360 games is one thing, but what happens with modern games? Sounds like a technical and legal nightmare. I think it's safe to say that Series games are out so I would imagine you "lose" them if they're not already cross-buy. But, what happens with Xbox one games where there's a PC version being sold? Do publishers allow you to emulate the Xbox version on PC?
 
Wtf I usually laugh at your posts but that's just plain scary.
Or are you Grubb???????!!!!!!!!

For anyone who has followed their involvement in the Epic vs Apple case and their comments it was obvious that they would go down this path if they continued on the tragectory that they were on at the time (the trajectory was down, and they have, far worse than anyone could have imagined).

This is the only hand they have left to play in this space if they have still any unfounded dreams of "domination".

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P.S. I'm definitely not Grubb.
 
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*snip*
- The move to open up it's ecosystem could be argued in court to essentially coerce other platforms via regulation to open up their platforms (If this happens I will eat...something inedible)
*snip*
I've been pondering if such a Samson Option would actually help Microsoft's position (it is a nuclear option).
If they open the platform for third party stores, then lean innocently on consumer protection organization in the EU and the FTC. It wouldn't take long before Nintendo and Sony would have to open up their platforms like Apple.
The age of milk and honey is over and MS would be on level ground with the competition, users would install the Windows Store/Xbox store to play Call of Duty giving the store a huge install base overnight.

It should be a net positive for MS, but they would destroy the village to save it. I think the biggest winner of them all would be Epic, they would be one of the first to launch a store (guaranteed) and offer users free online multiplayer, free cloud saves and shower them with free games.
No, scratch that... Biggest winner would be the consumer, heck, developers could shop around for the best platform to publish on and as a positive side effect, Nintendo would be dragged kicking and screaming to the PC.

The more I think about it, the better it sounds.
 
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Post in thread 'Capcom Fact Book 2024 (FY3/24 data), Software Shipments: PS4/5: 3.08M units, Switch: 1.21M units, Xbox: 0.21M units' https://www.neogaf.com/threads/capc...units-xbox-0-21m-units.1677455/post-269811486
I have seen versions of this theory since the Epic VS Apple trial.

I think it's a very messy scenario, if there is a legal battle (or even the possibility of one). I can see Sony adopt a more aggressive "consumer-friendly" position, especially in the pricing of its console.
 


Some of this has been discussed in a previous thread unrelated to Jeff Grubb. However, Grubb adds that Xbox plans may have some pretty insane implications.
Some highlights:
- Xbox COULD make online free if you are playing your Xbox games through Steam (huge revenue loss, seems like a stretch to me)
- Xbox would try to make up for lost revenue by hosting other stores (Epic, Steam...even Playstation and IOS could if they wanted to)
- Xbox has allowed vendors to set up their own payment process 2 years ago which could make this a win-win for all involved
- The move to open up it's ecosystem could be argued in court to essentially coerce other platforms via regulation to open up their platforms (If this happens I will eat...something inedible)

All this sounds really far-fetched to me, but if they are even trying this...get ready for another mega-thread the likes on the ABK acquisition. Should be good fun, I really enjoyed that thread. So, what are your thoughts? Please watch the video first. It's like 11 minutes.


lol.

"Tales from Jeff's ass"
 
Getting rid of paid online would fuck up their gamepass money. Lots of people paying for day 1 games are forced to pay for online for console in ultimate sub?
 
So, are we going to see an evolved Xbox OS that isn't locked down? Something you can install on devices of your choosing and tinker with as you please? With no mandatory GP/free MP?

Sound implausible...but If they do it the right way, it could be massive. If not, it's only a matter of time before Valve eats their cake.
 
So Microsoft's version of Big Picture mode.

Happy Adam Scott GIF by Sky
It could be great if they solve how to directly browse and install games from other stores, and how to show playtime, achievements, screenshots etc, and if they can have all that from within the same UI.

Don't know how it could be done. Everybody wants to be the frontend to rule them all, and nobody is playing nice with outsiders. Maybe if they have the native stores running and just flick through them with the triggers like alt tabbing. But the UI would be a mess with different menu styles.
 
True, Xbox Live did indeed invent pay to play online.

The PS2 was free (yes the PS2 had online games)
Dreamcast was free
PC always free
Dreamcast was not free. I had to sign up to seganet to play multiplayer.

I noticed you guys went back and forth trying to remember what it really was (and you remembered quite a bit along the way, but let me clear it up).

SegaNet was not required to use Dreamcast online. It was just an ISP offered/marketed by Sega. If you did use it, you could use it for anything else like your PC. Personally, I did not use it. I used a different ISP on Dreamcast, and never signed up for Seganet service, and played many many hours of PSO. I am almost certain that the Seganet ISP wasn't even there day one -but the console still came with a web browser CD, which you could still use to set up your ISP to go online. I think Seganet coincided near the black box rebranding later.
 
Would align with MS's recent war against wall gardens on other platforms. I just don't understand where the profitability for them is

It doesn't make a whole lot of sense unless they're getting a little piece of the action on games sold on steam through xbox and who knows.

I do think there's a market for a uniform "gaming pc/hybrid" simply because pcs can be overwhelming with all the different parts and brands and people generally have no fucking clue what to buy. The pc market has been that way since as long as I can remember.
 
Since everything feels like it's a way to transition mostly console players to a pc by use of a hybrid of the two, it'll be interesting to see where the hardware eventually winds up.
 
You know what price point they're going to be asking for it? How?
HeisenbergFX4 HeisenbergFX4 was saying Around 1 grand and so was S SneakersSO . Phil already hinted at this when he talking about console subsidization not making sense anymore.
Nahh, trying to make a PC not feel so PC like for people who work all day long on PCs and don't want to come home and then game on said PC
The problem is there's already a product for those people and it's a console and they are fine with that. In fact just mentioning to those people that it's a PC probably has them checking out the minute you say PC.

It reminds me of the time they were talking to this CEO and his thoughts on trying to bring down twitter. He said the main issue with all the sites that want to be the new "twitter" is that they are just doing what twitter did. You are never going to get people to move to your product if it's just doing the same thing the last product did and isn't providing some real concreate reason they should be using your product instead of the one they currently have.

That's the issue MS finds themselves in but at the same time I don't think they care. I think this is just for the hardcore and I don't think MS cares how many they sell as long as they keep their 30 million or so customers.
 
Morale among the Xbox Army troops is low, they need to invent some delirium to raise the troops' morale
Now it's the master plan that forces Sony and Nintendo to destroy their closed platforms, just like the clown Phil Spencer destroyed the Xbox.

It's basically the same every two or three years, here comes the "master plan" of "4D chess from the super powerful MS that is actually not losing, just reinventing the game"

Now yes

didn't dominate the world with Kinect
didn't dominate the world with backwards compatibility
didn't dominate the world with Day One GamePass
didn't dominate the world by releasing its games on PlayStation

But Now It Will

Always with megalomaniac fantasies of world domination.
Everything they do, they think they will have a monopoly like Windows and Office.
Exactly. This was all part of their 25 year master plan since the original xbox.
 
I have seen versions of this theory since the Epic VS Apple trial.

I think it's a very messy scenario, if there is a legal battle (or even the possibility of one). I can see Sony adopt a more aggressive "consumer-friendly" position, especially in the pricing of its console.

It would actually go the other way around Sony would have to sale their consoles for profit since they wouldn't be able to make the money back through the storefront.
 
It would actually go the other way around Sony would have to sale their consoles for profit since they wouldn't be able to make the money back through the storefront.
you are talking after a decision is made by the court. I'm taking before that . I don't think Sony will accept that decision without a fight.
 
HeisenbergFX4 HeisenbergFX4 was saying Around 1 grand and so was S SneakersSO . Phil already hinted at this when he talking about console subsidization not making sense anymore.

The problem is there's already a product for those people and it's a console and they are fine with that. In fact just mentioning to those people that it's a PC probably has them checking out the minute you say PC.

It reminds me of the time they were talking to this CEO and his thoughts on trying to bring down twitter. He said the main issue with all the sites that want to be the new "twitter" is that they are just doing what twitter did. You are never going to get people to move to your product if it's just doing the same thing the last product did and isn't providing some real concreate reason they should be using your product instead of the one they currently have.

That's the issue MS finds themselves in but at the same time I don't think they care. I think this is just for the hardcore and I don't think MS cares how many they sell as long as they keep their 30 million or so customers.
And there will be an option for people looking for a more traditional Xbox "console"

And a handheld
 
what im taking about is for all the money CoD generates, MS needs to spend a shit ton of money too on it. this is not Minecraft situation.

i think ABK was reporting around 1.5 / 2.7 Billion in profit before the MS acquisition. asking to ChatGPT/Grok to estimate CoD contribution:
yAswEBb.jpeg

it sound about right

Yes but the merger ended up costing more

activision-impact-2024.jpg


Activison had $1,362 billion losses last year following the acquisition
 
For anyone who has followed their involvement in the Epic vs Apple case and their comments it was obvious that they would go down this path if they continued on the tragectory that they were on at the time (the trajectory was down, and they have, far worse than anyone could have imagined).

This is the only hand they have left to play in this space if they have still any unfounded dreams of "domination".

8400dLN.jpeg
hVNwHTo.jpeg
98LYVMD.jpeg


P.S. I'm definitely not Grubb.
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I predict that this thing will bomb worse than the wii u did. It'll go down as one of the biggest flops in gaming history alongside the virtual boy, atari 5200, wii u, etc. The market for this is non existent and xbox can't sell hardware right now even when they were practically giving it away 'series s' but now people think that selling an expensive ass machine is going to result in success? No chance.
 
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For anyone who has followed their involvement in the Epic vs Apple case and their comments it was obvious that they would go down this path if they continued on the tragectory that they were on at the time (the trajectory was down, and they have, far worse than anyone could have imagined).

This is the only hand they have left to play in this space if they have still any unfounded dreams of "domination".

8400dLN.jpeg
hVNwHTo.jpeg
98LYVMD.jpeg


P.S. I'm definitely not Grubb.
GHG GHG receipts himself? 🤔

 
so they're gonna try to garden the walls of pc again?
Funny GIF

they're so fuckin retarded its insane. a prebuilt pc with no bs and premium pricing was slightly exciting to me because their hardware team can cook, i mean they can do that and still make money on their store, steam gamepass , accessories etc. idgaf about some half assed pc with grandpa microsoft decide what i can and cant do with it.
 
I mean there's a ton of whispers that that's exactly what Valve is working on right now. And even so, Valve runs into the issue of not being able to run Xbox games or take advantage of Game Pass because of SteamOS limitations.

But it's very clear that Gamepass isn't moving the Earth like Microsoft has anticipated. So, I doubt that's a thing that matters short or long term.
 
a prebuilt pc with no bs and premium pricing was slightly exciting to me because their hardware team can cook, i mean they can do that and still make money on their store, steam gamepass , accessories etc. idgaf about some half assed pc with grandpa microsoft decide what i can and cant do with it.

I just can't see how a non-upgradeable PC that can play Xbox games, but will be priced more than every other console.....will be that interesting. Feels like the ceiling is 20 million total people that would care.
 
I just can't see how a non-upgradeable PC that can play Xbox games, but will be priced more than every other console.....will be that interesting. Feels like the ceiling is 20 million total people that would care.
ya idk either, ever since one x i want to buy a pc from their team tho, shit was sleek and whispery, series x too love the build.
 
I mean there's a ton of whispers that that's exactly what Valve is working on right now. And even so, Valve runs into the issue of not being able to run Xbox games or take advantage of Game Pass because of SteamOS limitations.
Valve's bigger issue with SteamOS is the fact that a lot of MP games aren't supported. Gamepass isn't even selling Xbox consoles not sure why Valve would care about getting gamepass working on their OS.
 
This is what I have been wondering since Google and Apple's walled gardens started to get attacked. What's stopping the courts from ruling that Nintendo and Sony have to open their systems up for other stores?
Yea I just can't see this happening. Where would competition be?
Microsoft changing how they operate because they suck ass at operating the Xbox business should in no way force everyone else to change with them. That would be fucking retarded.
This is my thinking pretty much exactly. Like do what you do Xbox...but to have the audacity to take this to court to change how other companies are set up is a dick move. I am of the mind that I want all games everywhere. I've said as much in several previous threads. But not like this. Not by legal coercion. If it works for Xbox maybe Sony would follow to whatever extent they are comfortable with. But it shouldn't be forced on them.
 
Yea I just can't see this happening. Where would competition be?

This is my thinking pretty much exactly. Like do what you do Xbox...but to have the audacity to take this to court to change how other companies are set up is a dick move. I am of the mind that I want all games everywhere. I've said as much in several previous threads. But not like this. Not by legal coercion. If it works for Xbox maybe Sony would follow to whatever extent they are comfortable with. But it shouldn't be forced on them.

I'm also curious if the courts would even buy their argument. iOS got the results it did because they kept calling iPhones general purpose computing devices. That same argument just doesn't work for a PS5/6 or a Switch 2.
 
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