Fess
Member
That's last year. What 1st party games are people playing now, this year?? My Pro is collecting dust, no joke, I just don't use it at all. I got my Astrobot plat and then there has been nothing.
PlayStation active players base has significantly grown over Xbox in the past two years, according to Ampere. End of 2024: PS +10M from Xbox in the US
- Thread starter jm89
- Start date
Topher
Identifies as young
Wasn't until 2016 last gen that Windows got any Xbox games at all (outside of those older shitty GFWL ports). And Game Pass was launched exclusively on Xbox consoles. Now PC gamers can get games on Game Pass day one for $12 while consoles have to pay $20. That's one heck of a turn around in less than 10 years.
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Fess
Member
That's old news now. I just don't see how they've actively abandoned their console, seems like an exaggeration no matter how you look at it. They might do it eventually, no doubt, but they haven't done it yet. That's all, As it is they've just started selling their games on more platforms and done what had to be done to grow the new userbase. Essentially to get more money. No extra drama needed. Xbox-only userbase wasn't enough. PC was added. Still not enough. Xbox+PC+PS5 was added. NSW too in rare cases. Is it enough? We'll see. It's starting out well for sure going by recent news.
And I mean couldn't you say similar things about Sony now when they port everything to PC? They're starting to shorten the delays and and have free online and add dlc and even do some day 1 ports. Quite the turn around in less than 5 years. No? Are they abandoning consoles?
As with MS I would say that they're just trying to lure in a new audience to sell more games. They do what they have to do when more money is needed for more expensive game development.
bitbydeath
Member
You want them to buy more studios?
Their current studios will not sit on their laurels as it would cost Sony money.
The Days Gone remaster is what I'm currently playing.
Topher
Identifies as young
I didn't say this was all happening now. It has been happening over the period of years. And we are seeing the results in real numbers in the OP and the quarterly financials. No, I don't think I'm exaggerating at all, but obviously you disagree. That's fine.
I haven't been particularly high on Sony the last couple of years either. The lack of competition is giving Sony plenty of rope to hang themselves. Folks will say I'm full of shit, but I'm fully convinced first party output has suffered directly because of this new Gaas direction. PlayStation is still doing well in spite of it all because they are pretty much the only game in town. So yes, you can say all kinds of negative things about Sony that I would agree with, but PlayStation console is still front and center in the overall strategy. That hasn't changed even if I don't like other things they are doing. Cannot say the same for Xbox at all. PC ports a year or two after PS release doesn't really change that or even come close to ports to their direct competition.
ChorizoPicozo
Member
Fess
Member
I just want exclusives since that's why I have the console. Ghost 2 in October looks like when I'll start the console the next time. It's depressing for real.
A diplomatic explanation for the lackluster year would be that they thought GTA6 would arrive this year and that's why it's so empty.
But I can't help thinking they simply see no rush when they know the money comes in anyway now from having essentially monopoly on the highend console market. Switch 2 is no real threat. Same with a ROG Ally Xbox handheld. Xbox Series is dead. Cloud gaming ain't picking up fast enough to be a threat this decade. SteamOS devices could be something in theory but I doubt they could be produced fast enough to fill up into a new console competitor. Would likely be expensive too. Same with the mythical Xbox PC hybrid. And Microsoft is filling the store with sales top list titles now that they get 30% cut from.
So why rush anything?
bitbydeath
Member
To make the money.
It costs them to hold back, and they like the money.
I think ouya saw more interest than cloud gaming.
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Bojji
Member
FalconPunch
Member
Nah, if they hadn't put Phil in charge, they might have actually recovered. People blame Mattrick for tv tv tv but Phil was head of games during that period.
The same guy who released absolutely nothing of value on Xbox 1 but also launched Xbox series with no exclusives…
Xbox problems actually started mid way through the Xbox 360 generation. They stopped creating good games then. Just rehashing the same halo, Forza, gears slop.
Fess
Member
Idk, I think they've already been holding back for awhile… 1st party, I played Astrobot last year. And this year I'll play Ghost 2, unless something else pops up from nowhere after the GTA6 delay.
bitbydeath
Member
I agree it could be a lot better but I don't think having Microsoft around will fix that.
Hell, it may even improve things as they'll be spending less on third parties (timed exclusives and marketing deals no longer required) and could put that money towards their first parties or other worthy improvements.
Mibu no ookami
Banned
Again, this just isn't true though. Who else were they going to put in charge? The Microsoft board wanted to get rid of Xbox, he fought to keep it going. Nadella wanted to get rid of it later, again Phil coming up with GamePass is what kept it going.
Like him or not, these are the facts.
Xbox has NEVER created good games.
Gears? That was Epic. Halo? That was Bungie and the only reason Microsoft found them was because they were in Bellevue... They literally lucked into it. They never really had the game development studios that weren't built to make console games nor did they invest in this early (outside of Bungie, who dipped on them). Epic and Bungie didn't want to be stuck making Gears and Halo forever, they both went on to make massive live service games.
Can you name a studio Microsoft cultivated from the ground up? What about a game franchise? They bought Minecraft after it was big. They bought CoD after it was big. Same with Fallout and Elder Scrolls..
They were never really all that interested in first party development because they aren't a game company. That actually changed because of Phil Spencer again for better or for worse.
ShadowkillXNA
Member
Gameplay Gods Bless
Member
When Xbox went to MAUs Sony was beating them there too already. Sony never lost to Microsoft except at the start of Gen 7th and even then Sony won gen 7 anyway. Sony was always the dominant force.
I certainly do. Also how tribalism / bias can influence opinions.
You think Sony only creates IP and very expensive games to compete with Xbox?
Just a moment brb...
Also this is Xbox vs PS5 . What happens when PS4 is added?
Hawk The Slayer
Member
Not that I mind since I'm a PC player but main reason is PS5 has a lot of great games like Rebirth, Stellar Blade, Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart etc that's timed exclusive while XBOX's great games like Oblivion Remaster, Halo Infinite launches on PC too during launch day so there's no reason to really get a XBOX.
ChorizoPicozo
Member
Phil blames capitalism and Gen Z.
MacReady13
Member
I mean, this is a pretty spot on point. Phil was banging on about digital libraries and that is why they lost "the most important generation" by losing the Xbox One fight to the Playstation 4. Thing is, it seems Xbox gamers don't really care about digital libraries seeing as they own nothing playing games on gamepass.
And lets be even more honest, they didn't help themselves when Sony were releasing banger after banger on the PS3 whilst Microsoft was more interested in pushing out a terrible camera attachment that made gaming far worse. THAT is when I certainly lost a tonne of interest in Xbox consoles and my focus shifted more towards the Playstation brand.
Shadowstar39
Gold Member
What good exclusives? There hadn't been any since ps4.
bitbydeath
Member
Disagree.At least you guys no longer have to pretend that Resistance and Killzone were better than Bungie era Halo. Exhausting, wasn't it?
Killzone 2 was phenomenal.
It's a shame Guerilla couldn't maintain that standard. I would even go so far to say it was probably a fluke, but no doubt about it that one entry was better than any single Halo entries.
Bungie era Halo set a high bar but that is a fair point about Killzone 2.
Dr. Wilkinson
Member
If Xbox truly ever does stop making proprietary hardware that plays their huge back catalogue with great out-of-the-box back compat + improvements, and plays current major third-party games well, I will prolly just convert to Switch-only, and maybe there'll be a Steam Deck 2 or 3 out by then that has feature sets and games that don't come to Nintendo. I do not enjoy PS hardware, and I do not care for their controllers. I've tried every PS generation other than the first one and the current one, and they always end up being my least used current gen device.
I love my Series X, I will take it to the grave with me. I hope we can get just one more powerful native Xbox console for next-gen, and then I'll feel like I'm set for a very, very long time.
I love my Series X, I will take it to the grave with me. I hope we can get just one more powerful native Xbox console for next-gen, and then I'll feel like I'm set for a very, very long time.
Astray
Member
Yeah, for all the times we've ragged on Phil, it's very clear that he was the only reason Nadella hasn't axed the Gaming division already.
Like if I'm an Xbox-centric guy, a 2nd chance for the ecosystem (and essentially a decade to half-decade of guaranteed existence, not to mention much-improved 3rd party support) is quite a good deal to have and Spencer is the man to thank for that.
3rd party devs are also thankful for whatever leverage he gave them as Sony's arch competitor, they're gonna have it very tough from now on imo.. Nintendo won't be interested in AA/AAA games that can't run on Switch 2, and Steam doesn't do marketing at all.. For a lot of devs, the only port of call available for marketing deals etc will be Sony.
Fess
Member
That last bit is true, good point. But in general I think it's safe to assume that no competition ain't going to improve things for us gamers, everything speaks against that. Sony will literally be in a monopoly position in the highend console market, they'll have complete control unless someone else steps in.
Fess
Member
Only? Not at all. But why do you think PS3/360 generation brought so many great games and features?You think Sony only creates IP and very expensive games to compete with Xbox?
Just a moment brb...
Competition. PlayStation and Xbox went through it essentially side by side and tried to outdo each other, and it was an awesome generation.
With no competition you end up with fans listing last year's games when asked what 1st party games they're playing in May.
indigoSociety
Banned
ABK taking over Microsoft—the almost 3 trillion dollar behemoth that purchased ABK—is the most idiotic statement ive heard in a while. Unless you worded that incorrectly and meant ABK will take over Xbox operations ? God i dont know. Im praying for you.
bitbydeath
Member
If the competition were better I'd agree.
But with them pushing for cloud, the removal of physical games, and GamePass lately, along with having a passion for buying up the industry like a growing cancer, I think we're better off without Sony learning anything further from them.
Except that's not what this thread is about. Even if you were to change the subject of xboxs decline in active players to impact on xbox of it coming to GP you are still spinning it to a positive by ignoring crucial information about its decline. Obviously a game on Gamepass will have an influx of people downloading but they won't remain active players compared to those who actively buy the game. From the article:
"Meanwhile, Xbox's share of Call of Duty players (on console) has gone from 47% in November to just under 37% in March (Ampere data). For the US, Xbox has gone from being the No.1 platform for Call of Duty in November, to matching PlayStation by March (both on 33.3% active players, according to Circana)."
As you can see they dropped off. xbox still isn't ahead of PS despite its inclusion in a subscription and due to xbox's decreasing playerbase overall will likely see no YOY improvement despite the 3-4% intial boost the first time.
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Killjoy-NL
Member
Nobody cares.
There are games you can play on Playstation. That's all there is to it and all people care about.
And now you can play Xbox games on PS as well.
sendit
Member
Xbox platform is dead. Microsoft raising the prices on dead consoles will accelerate that.
DenchDeckard
Moderated wildly
I mean. Xbox is dead....
But a dead platform, more or less matching the very much alive platform in playerbase for one of the biggest games on the planet, is always an entertaining stat to read.
Killjoy-NL
Member
Or it means a smaller percentage of the PS userbase bought blops6 on Playstation and are probably more into Warzone.
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indigoSociety
Banned
I mean id hope so considering they have them beat by what ? 50-60 million units ? Not sure but i know its a large margin. But with that being said how many of those active users are playing MS published/owned ip ? Ahhhhhh 
Fess
Member
I think you're playing with fire on that thought. There is a reason why someone dominating a space and reaching a monopoly position is feared. It's not going to end well tbh, someone needs to step in, and fast.
The PC space is still alive though, Sony and Microsoft are both trying to grow into something there, so you get both platforms in one spot. If Sony build a launcher things could get interesting. And if Microsoft succeed to update their Xbox App into something people want to use. Steam is too big at the moment. Epic, Microsoft, Ubisoft, EA, GOG are keeping Valve somewhat in check but I'd say it's because Valve themselves aren't douches that things hasn't already turned sour there. They definitely have too much control.
bitbydeath
Member
I'm interested to see what happens when Steam releases its desktop OS. Might shake things up a bit in the PC landscape.
nial
Member
They've been playing the #2 best-selling game in the US last month.
It's not Sony's problem that you don't care about games like Death Strnding 2 or Lost Soul Aside.
Cool opinion, the market disagrees with it.
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Mibu no ookami
Banned
Jesus... I didn't know I had to spell that out for you... maybe pray for yourself....
Mibu no ookami
Banned
Fess is an xbox fanboy that moved to PC after the collapse of xbox... don't argue the value of PlayStation with him, he's never going to have a serious take on it.
DavidGzz
Member
I used to say this, but no competition means less money hats so less games taken from being day 1 PC. Which is why I haven't turned mine on since Demon's Souls. The only one it hurts are PS fanboys who want to feel special.
lh032
I cry about Xbox and hate PlayStation.
not trying to be an ass, but i dont think sony cares about people who play exclusive games only on playstation console.
Fess
Member
Nobody cares? Are you talking about mainstream here? Yes I know they're satisfied with COD and Fortnite but if you're an enthusiast and like PlayStation it's not unlikely that you want to play Sony's games the most. This is a bizarre conversation to have tbh. Other games is not a solution and neither is Xbox games, there are other devices with more of that if that's what you want.
Killjoy-NL
Member
If it was such an issue, Playstation would be in a similar situation as Xbox.
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