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MS Earnings Call - FY23Q3 | 4% decline for MS Gaming, Xbox HW down 30%

zomboden

Banned
My optimistic outlook is that this gen they will do better than Xbox One but worse than Xbox 360. And starting next gen (idk 2027 or whatever) the acquisitions will start paying off. I look for Microsoft to have at least one more big acquisition besides Activision before the generation is over.

Microsoft needs to have game pass as an even better unbeatable deal that you would have to be crazy to not be subscribed in order to rake in some PlayStation market share. Hot AAA titles releasing every few months and all you need is game pass to hop and play Day One.

How can they convince somebody who is emotionally invested in PlayStation to switch to Xbox? This is what they need to be thinking about. But as people said before me maybe they have abandoned the idea of winning console wars and started the subscription war instead.
 
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skit_data

Member
I’m still a litttle surprised how fast Xbox console sales fell off this gen. It’s possible the Series X simply are out of stock but I read conflicting ”reports” all the time regarding that.

So far they haven’t really released a killer app for the system so it’s possible they increase but I’m not 100% sure Starfield will be it since I’ve got the impression its main audience are PC players.
 

Luigi Mario

Member
30%?!?!?

And people still doubted when I said that MS abandoned the console wars in favor of the platform wars.

And mark my words: That's the same path Sony is in.

Only Nintendo, the ones that "won" the console wars, is the one that remains faithful to them. For now anyways.
Xbox and PlayStation are done for, only Nintendo will remain. The war is over!
 
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Nothing1234

Banned
My optimistic outlook is that this gen they will do better than Xbox One but worse than Xbox 360. And starting next gen (idk 2027 or whatever) the acquisitions will start paying off. I look for Microsoft to have at least one more big acquisition besides Activision before the generation is over.

Microsoft needs to have game pass as an even better unbeatable deal that you would have to be crazy to not be subscribed in order to rake in some PlayStation market share. Hot AAA titles releasing every few months and all you need is game pass to hop and play Day One.
This was meant to be the Xbox bounce back gen. 14 years of nothing is shocking.
 
jUrIlLd.gif
 
30%?!?!?

And people still doubted when I said that MS abandoned the console wars in favor of the platform wars.

And mark my words: That's the same path Sony is in.

Only Nintendo, the ones that "won" the console wars, is the one that remains faithful to them. For now anyways.
even Nintendo lost.
 

zomboden

Banned
This was meant to be the Xbox bounce back gen. 14 years of nothing is shocking.
Sony has insane mindshare amongst gamers. I don't see how Microsoft can convince people to sell their PlayStation's and buy Xbox. They already tried grabbing up entire publishers and taking their games off PlayStation to try to entice people. But regulators aren't going to let them do that anymore it seems after Bethesda. So how do they convince somebody who is invested in PlayStation to switch? I don't think they can. There aren't any Xbox console exclusives anymore so if somebody has gaming PC and PS they won't ever need to buy an Xbox.

The average gamer thinks of AAA great console exclusives, genre defining games, and pushing graphical boundries when they think of PlayStation.

When they think of Xbox they think "Why?".

I had PS5, and Xbox Series X, and I settled on just keeping my series X. Because I've had Xbox since I was a kid and I'm invested in the platform and I think the controller is better, game pass is an insane deal, cloud saves are free without subscription and for me I just think it's a more full experience. But there's many more PlayStation gamers thinking the same thing about their console.
 
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Nothing1234

Banned
Sony has insane mindshare amongst gamers. I don't see how Microsoft can convince people to sell their PlayStation's and buy Xbox. They already tried grabbing up entire publishers and taking their games off PlayStation to try to entice people. But regulators aren't going to let them do that anymore it seems after Bethesda. So how do they convince somebody who is invested in PlayStation to switch? I don't think they can. There aren't any Xbox console exclusives anymore so if somebody has gaming PC and PS they won't ever need to buy an Xbox.

The average gamer thinks of AAA great console exclusives, genre defining games, and pushing graphical boundries when they think of PlayStation.

When they think of Xbox they think "Why?".

I had PS5, and Xbox Series X, and I settled on just keeping my series X. Because I've had Xbox since I was a kid and I'm invested in the platform and I think the controller is better, game pass is an insane deal, cloud saves are free without subscription and for me I just think it's a more full experience. But there's many more PlayStation gamers thinking the same thing about their console.
This is not what what people were saying at console reveal time. Series X and S was going to be the silver bullet. Games will always matter first and foremost.
 
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Wasn't there a rumor circulating around these forums that Microsoft was forcing Bethesda to release RedFall and Starfield before they were ready because their Intelligent Cloud/Azure business was looking gloomy and they needed some revenue streams to pad the bad news? A 17% increase in Azure Cloud services and 27% increase in "other" cloud services sounds pretty good to me.
 

onQ123

Member
I'm starting to seriously get worried for the Xbox brand now.
The brand will be ok but you can worry about Xbox Consoles as is a smart thing to do is just have Xbox as a name but not as a limiting platform let the games they make for now on play on any windows device , let people sell Xbox approved devices.
 

XesqueVara

Member
Wasn't there a rumor circulating around these forums that Microsoft was forcing Bethesda to release RedFall and Starfield before they were ready because their Intelligent Cloud/Azure business was looking gloomy and they needed some revenue streams to pad the bad news? A 17% increase in Azure Cloud services and 27% increase in "other" cloud services sounds pretty good to me.
The basis of that rumor was always retarded, Azure is always growing and here is no signal than that will descrease lol.
 

zomboden

Banned
This is not what what people were saying at console reveal time. Series X and S was going to be the silver bullet. Games will always matter first and foremost.
That was 3 years ago and this is a sales thread about right now. Idk why we're talking about what was said in the past.

People were hyped for both consoles. Sounds like you read some comments that were echo'd around by a vocal Xbox minority and are dwelling on it for some reason.

And if anything Xbox has fizzled out since then. There's not a single Xbox game that I would write home about. They have insane amounts of studios and yet are cranking games out at a snails pace.

People didn't care for Halo Infinite. Forza Horizon 5 was fine if you enjoy racing games. At this point I would say the Last of Us Part 1 Re-Re-Remake or whatever iteration of the game it is had more hype than anything Xbox has put out so far.

If it wasn't for Game Pass I think Xbox would be in a Sega Dreamcast situation right now.
 
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Nvzman

Member
Sony has insane mindshare amongst gamers. I don't see how Microsoft can convince people to sell their PlayStation's and buy Xbox. They already tried grabbing up entire publishers and taking their games off PlayStation to try to entice people. But regulators aren't going to let them do that anymore it seems after Bethesda. So how do they convince somebody who is invested in PlayStation to switch? I don't think they can. There aren't any Xbox console exclusives anymore so if somebody has gaming PC and PS they won't ever need to buy an Xbox.

The average gamer thinks of AAA great console exclusives, genre defining games, and pushing graphical boundries when they think of PlayStation.

When they think of Xbox they think "Why?".

I had PS5, and Xbox Series X, and I settled on just keeping my series X. Because I've had Xbox since I was a kid and I'm invested in the platform and I think the controller is better, game pass is an insane deal, cloud saves are free without subscription and for me I just think it's a more full experience. But there's many more PlayStation gamers thinking the same thing about their console.
I'll save you the words as someone who also has a Series X: Microsoft's first party output has been fucking garbage. Forza Horizon and Hi-Fi Rush have basically been the only two major high quality releases (not counting Flight Sim as it's more of a PC title) since the Series X came out. That's goddamn pathetic. Game pass is great but I'm not going to lie it is literally the only thing carrying Xbox right now, without it id honestly argue the Series X is even more of a flop than the One in terms of software.
 

Nothing1234

Banned
That was 3 years ago and this is a sales thread about right now. Idk why we're talking about what was said in the past.

People were hyped for both consoles. Sounds like you read some comments that were echo'd around by a vocal Xbox minority and are dwelling on it for some reason.

And if anything Xbox has fizzled out since then. There's not a single Xbox game that I would write home about. They have insane amounts of studios and yet are cranking games out at a snails pace.
Gaming media pushed that opinion too, remember Bethesda purchase was announced just before Xbox Series X preorders.
 
These results are much better than people think; they beat Microsoft's projections from their Q2 2023 earnings call.

Based on Microsoft's projections for Xbox from Q2 FY2023, Xbox has outperformed their projections completely, including Game Pass.

pprzW6k.png



Revenue didn't decline high single digits, it declined just 4% and only 1% on constant currency, which means eliminating the effect of changes in exchange rates. And Xbox content and services didn't decline low single digits, but instead gained 3% and 5% on constant currency. Sounds like Game Pass' growth exceeded Microsoft's expectations quite a bit more than they expected. They were expecting its growth to be more than offset by lower monetization in third-party and first-party content.

First quarter major events were the Xbox Direct, Hi-Fi Rush launch, and Halo Infinite Season 3 release.
 

fermcr

Member
If I'm not mistaken, Microsoft hasn't had big exclusives on their console for two years (Halo Infinite).
This is simple to understand... Without big exclusives, they won't sell consoles. With so many studios, they really should be launching way more exclusives...
 

Roufianos

Member
I can't think of a worse period for a major publisher, let alone a console maker. The decline in sales is deserved.

Redfall isn't going to change anything, the rut will continue until Starfield.

I'd love a more competitive industry but MS have just been a joke this gen.

I'll take cunty Jim, if it means a decent lineup of games, over nice guy but no games Phil anyday.
 
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zomboden

Banned
I'll save you the words as someone who also has a Series X: Microsoft's first party output has been fucking garbage. Forza Horizon and Hi-Fi Rush have basically been the only two major high quality releases (not counting Flight Sim as it's more of a PC title) since the Series X came out. That's goddamn pathetic. Game pass is great but I'm not going to lie it is literally the only thing carrying Xbox right now, without it id honestly argue the Series X is even more of a flop than the One in terms of software.
I agree and like I edited in to my post above I really think if it wasn't for Game Pass being the value that is, we would be seeing a Sega Dreamcast situation with Xbox right about now. No one would want one at all.

Hi-Fi Rush is my favorite day one release on game pass. I enjoyed Ghostwire tokyo as well. I don't know if I will like Redfall but I will try it. And I am hyped the absolute most about Starfield.

Without Bethesda Microsoft would have practically NOTHING releasing.
 

zomboden

Banned
Just reading that is crazy.
What's also impressive is they are managing to keep them in stock too. Selling the base consoles for 499.99 and now you see Xbox bundling Forza Horizon 5(???) and charging 559$ for their console bundles. When your hardware is down 30% is it the right time to raise the barrier of entry? People shopping will literally say "Hey the Xbox is $60 more let's just get the PS5. I heard it's better anyway"

Please buy our $560 bundles with this almost 2 year old racing game in it that will be available on the game pass subscription that you will no doubt subscribe to anyways because that's the only reason to own an Xbox in 2023.
 
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Dolodolo

Member
These results are much better than people think; they beat Microsoft's projections from their Q2 2023 earnings call.

Based on Microsoft's projections for Xbox from Q2 FY2023, Xbox has outperformed their projections completely, including Game Pass.

pprzW6k.png



Revenue didn't decline high single digits, it declined just 4% and only 1% on constant currency, which means eliminating the effect of changes in exchange rates. And Xbox content and services didn't decline low single digits, but instead gained 3% and 5% on constant currency. Sounds like Game Pass' growth exceeded Microsoft's expectations quite a bit more than they expected. They were expecting its growth to be more than offset by lower monetization in third-party and first-party content.

First quarter major events were the Xbox Direct, Hi-Fi Rush launch, and Halo Infinite Season 3 release.
When will xbox console sales start not smelling like crap?
When will they announce the new number of gamepass subscribers?
Or will you also analyze when PS5 sales outsell Xbox S|X by 3-5 times worldwide?
 

GHG

Member

These threads read like the fucking twilight zone now.

R reksveks

Can you share the link to the call itself?

Have they talked anything about the acquisition deal ?

Here:

https://www.youtube.com/live/f2VTEH2MiaU?feature=share

Didn't hear anything regarding the deal, but I didn't stick around for the guidance section.
 
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ReBurn

Gold Member
I agree, and would add that MS needs to sign more marketing deals with large 3rd party IPs and generally increase spending on XSeries marketing.

It may be a coincidence or not (I guess we'll see soon), but since the ABZ Acquisition process went awry, MS has practically abandoned marketing and advertising of XSeries. It was very different in 2020 and 2021.
I wonder if a lot of it isn't on purpose to minimize Xbox to make it look a certain way to regulators. I mean they were going to be smaller than PlayStation anyway but big pushes for growth and successful new games in the middle of saying you need to buy one of the biggest game companies in the world to be able to compete might give off a more questionable impression than they were going for. Probably tinfoil hat stuff but I wouldn't be surprised by it.
 

Nothing1234

Banned
What's also impressive is they are managing to keep them in stock too. Selling the base consoles for 499.99 and now you see Xbox bundling Forza Horizon 5(???) and charging 559$ for their console bundles. When your hardware is down 30% is it the right time to raise the barrier of entry? People shopping will literally say "Hey the Xbox is $60 more let's just get the PS5. I heard it's better anyway"

Please buy our $560 bundles with this almost 2 year old racing game in it that will be available on the game pass subscription that you will no doubt subscribe to anyways because that's the only reason to own an Xbox in 2023.
The Series S was heavily discounted here in the UK from £250 to £190 over Christmas and into January too.
 

zomboden

Banned
The Series S was heavily discounted here in the UK from £250 to £190 over Christmas and into January too.
You can find Series S on Facebook Marketplace in my area for like $160-180 all day long. People selling them for practically nothing.
 
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Nydius

Gold Member
Without Bethesda Microsoft would have practically NOTHING releasing.
To add, their one non-Bethesda release scheduled for this year, Forza Motorsport is (pardon the bad pun) stuck in neutral.

I still believe it will release this yearbut it’s not a very good look when it went from “Spring 2023” to “First Half 2023” and now just “2023” as of their developer direct a couple months ago.

Microsoft really needs some of their other acquisitions and studios to begin paying off. All their exclusives from Bethesda this year are games that were in development before the acquisition happened.

With Sony leading the console market share MSFT can buy up all the big studios and then foreclose Sony out of gaming by keeping the games off of PlayStation.
Do you want a monopoly/anti-trust lawsuit that would actually be successful and might end up forcing Microsoft to split off the Xbox brand? Because your plan would certainly accomplish that goal.
 

Pedro Motta

Member
That hardware number is concerning if they want to grow more GP subs. I wonder what the console/PC GP split is.
A lot more PC gamepass users than Console Gamepass users, last numbers they released then Gamepass had 25M users, is 15M on PC, 10 on console.
 
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