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Days ago I got a Dutch notification that I had perks for PSO2 through Game Pass Ultimate. That game is not available here, so what's the plopping point of sending me that message, fully-translated? There is none, and Xbox will never thrive outside the Anglosphere. There's just so much wrong with their ecosystem.

 

[Dazraell]

 

[ResilientBanana]

Pass. Their DRM is fucked 50% of the time and requires to delete and redownload and troubleshoot. Steam doesn't.

I wonder what it's like to develop software no one wants.

 

[ExtendEmbraceExtinguish]

So they will either have a working storefront with full integration or purchase a working storefront

 

[newtypepilot]

 

[Dr. Samuel Hayden]

It's truly astounding how out of touch these companies are with PC gaming.

Steam is the king and unless something insane happens it's never going to be unseated. Especially by an org as incompetent as MS gaming.

 

[cinnamonandgravy]

zune.exe

 

[simpatico]

Imagine the good timeline where Microsoft used their vast resources wisely to make PC gaming better. A stripped down version of windows just starters.

 

[Badlucktroll]

 

[Hari Seldon]

Maybe before losing more 10s of billions on failed strategies they should fire the retard running it who has already lost 10s of billions

 

[Freeman76]

Good that they are adding loads of play anywhere titles, wonder what quality they will be. The hate for MS on Gaf is fucking delusional, they might be a shit company but Sony are no better

 

[GHG]

Imagine the good timeline where Microsoft used their vast resources wisely to make PC gaming better. A stripped down version of windows just starters.

Yep, I'm pretty sure most people would pay a small one-off fee to have access to a stripped away gaming focused version of the Windows OS where controllers work from the sign in page onwards.

Good that they are adding loads of play anywhere titles, wonder what quality they will be. The hate for MS on Gaf is fucking delusional, they might be a shit company but Sony are no better

Nobody is talking about Sony here you nutter.

 

[HogIsland]

It's truly astounding how out of touch these companies are with PC gaming.

Steam is the king and unless something insane happens it's never going to be unseated. Especially by an org as incompetent as MS gaming.

What Microsoft is doing is recognizing that Steam is the king. They would rather not have to expose Steam games via their UI, but nobody will try out their UI if it doesn't show your Steam library.

 

[GHG]

What Microsoft is doing is recognizing that Steam is the king. They would rather not have to expose Steam games via their UI, but nobody will try out their UI if it doesn't show your Steam library.

The point about Steam libraries being integrated to the UI is speculation on the author's part.

If people want a UI that brings together libraries from various stores then GOG Galaxy and Playnite already exist.

 

[mayham2199]

Also yes, I acknowledge that doing exclusivity moves are a risk. But Microsoft has IPs that are very, VERY valuable to the PC gamers and likely cannot be mass-ignored like what happened with the EGS timed exclusives. Alternative launchers have proven their success if the games are popular.

Even if they do this we already know what will happen. People will go to the store to buy that one game they want and that's it. Then they'll go right back to Steam. That wont be enough for MS and it will still lead to them losing money on sales because a ton of Steam users simply wont play that game and they'll wait. Nearly every single dev who has tried to leave Steam has come back at this point. The community knows this and has no problem waiting for MS to capitulate.

MS does have more tools but they don't know what the hell they are doing. Even now you have people posting here about how horrible the store is to use. How long has that store been around now? Almost 10 years? They just don't know what they are doing and having all the tools in the world doesn't mean anything when you can't even get the basics right.

 

[HogIsland]

The point about Steam libraries being integrated to the UI is speculation on the author's part.

If people want a UI that brings together libraries from various stores then GOG Galaxy and Playnite already exist.

It fits with what Spencer is already saying about the direction of Xbox. Even more true if future Xbox hardware turns out to be Windows-powered PCs with a gaming frontend.

Phil Spencer says he's open to bringing stores like Epic and Itch.io to Xbox consoles

Could PC digital storefronts end up on Xbox? Apparently anything is possible.

www.pcgamer.com

Gog galaxy and playnite have major room for improvement. There's really no downside to MS doing their own version of it. And they own Windows.

 

[rodrigolfp]

If they want to make it, they should add controller native support on Windows first.

Already added.

 

[Calverz]

Pfff good luck with that.

 

[Astray]

Even if they do this we already know what will happen. People will go to the store to buy that one game they want and that's it.

Given the big volume of games and IPs Microsoft has, I don't think that will be a problem for them.

The objective is not to become dominant overnight, it's to establish a sustainable and profitable slice of the pie and grow it over time.

Similarly, they and Sony aren't entering into the handheld arena in hopes of killing Nintendo overnight, instead it's the same idea: Get a position that sustainably gets you more revenue and profits etc etc.

 

[Not_A-Cop_Maybe]

If they want to make it, they should add controller native support on Windows first.

pretty sure this has been a thing for ages now. i literally just tested out AOE on controller last night.
and i literally have played halo infinite for years now when i take my pc with a controller or stream from my phone to game.

 

[JohnnyFootball]

Is there a list of these 400 games added? The store looks the same to me.

 

[mayham2199]

Given the big volume of games and IPs Microsoft has, I don't think that will be a problem for them.

The objective is not to become dominant overnight, it's to establish a sustainable and profitable slice of the pie and grow it over time.

Similarly, they and Sony aren't entering into the handheld arena in hopes of killing Nintendo overnight, instead it's the same idea: Get a position that sustainably gets you more revenue and profits etc etc.

If they remove their games from Steam? It will be a big problem because it will affect the sales of all their games on PC. They will go down. That's not even up for debate it's just how bad are their sales hurt by removing them from steam. Yes, I understand what the objective is and the issue is there's almost nothing they can do to take over Steam. They will be stuck in a scenario where people who aren't as strict about the Steam thing will come over and buy the game they want and then go back to Steam. That's what always happens.

Honestly though I think MS knows all this and I don't believe for one second they will remove their games from Steam. It wouldn't even make sense with the way they are talking about bringing their games everywhere and wanting Steam on Xbox. I think it's pretty clear MS is in the business of putting their games in as many places as possible and selling as many copies as possible or sub service as possible and that's it. They'll probably wait and see if they can eventually make a move on Steam once Gabe passes.

 

[Gamezone]

Publishers and developers ultimately need to agree to this. Xbox Play Anywhere basically prevents devs from getting that sweet double dip revenue on PC sales. Microsoft cannot force this on everyone out of the blue. A hybrid console might allow them to side step that, but you're not going to get Xbox Play Anywhere for the entire Xbox platform.

Can't imagine any PC gamers wanting to buy something for both console and PC. You can literally pay once for something on PC and play it anywhere you want trough cloud gaming or PC handheld. Publisher have to let go of the "sweet double dip". Let us pay once and let us it accross all systems.

 

[EverydayBeast]

Games for windows was rough.

 

[Astray]

If they remove their games from Steam? It will be a big problem because it will affect the sales of all their games on PC. They will go down. That's not even up for debate it's just how bad are their sales hurt by removing them from steam. Yes, I understand what the objective is and the issue is there's almost nothing they can do to take over Steam. They will be stuck in a scenario where people who aren't as strict about the Steam thing will come over and buy the game they want and then go back to Steam. That's what always happens.

Honestly though I think MS knows all this and I don't believe for one second they will remove their games from Steam. It wouldn't even make sense with the way they are talking about bringing their games everywhere and wanting Steam on Xbox. I think it's pretty clear MS is in the business of putting their games in as many places as possible and selling as many copies as possible or sub service as possible and that's it. They'll probably wait and see if they can eventually make a move on Steam once Gabe passes.

They have their own storefront and Battle.net (which they already are sort of trying to expand, they're putting Avowed on there + advertising Indy).

What was the biggest EGS exclusive? Borderlands 3? Metro: Exodus? None of these two come even close to the attention Elder Scrolls 6 or a new Doom can get to a new storefront.

This clash is coming, but I think it's too soon to suggest who will win this.

 

[Taur007]

The xbox app works fine for me, I press download it downloads, I press play it plays, it has all my achievements and offers play anywhere

Exactly, people just really love exaggerating here

 

[GHG]

It fits with what Spencer is already saying about the direction of Xbox. Even more true if future Xbox hardware turns out to be Windows-powered PCs with a gaming frontend.

Phil Spencer says he's open to bringing stores like Epic and Itch.io to Xbox consoles

Could PC digital storefronts end up on Xbox? Apparently anything is possible.

www.pcgamer.com

Gog galaxy and playnite have major room for improvement. There's really no downside to MS doing their own version of it. And they own Windows.

That's all good and well, but who is this for exactly other than a bunch of Xbox console refugees who feel like they still need to hang on to Xbox in any way possible after they have moved from the console to PC? As with GOG Galaxy and Playnite you will still need to have the underlying launcher where you own your ganes running in the background - it's a launcher for a launcher (and if you're launching a game you own on Steam that also requires a 3rd party launcher then we are reaching inception levels for launchers).

The current store is the only way to access gamepass, that should be enough in itself but the big problem is the fact that the store/app don't work as intended. That's what puts people off, adding more games and integrating stores doesn't solve that, it's just further masking the underlying issues.

Nothing really gets solved until they decouple the store and the games being sold on the store from being within the UWP wrapper (AppX).

Exactly, people just really love exaggerating here

Ah yes, the "works for me crowd" is just who they need to hear from in order to fix issues and actually appeal to millions of PC gamers who have had nothing but a rough user experience with them.

 

[mayham2199]

They have their own storefront and Battle.net (which they already are sort of trying to expand, they're putting Avowed on there + advertising Indy).

What was the biggest EGS exclusive? Borderlands 3? Metro: Exodus? None of these two come even close to the attention Elder Scrolls 6 or a new Doom can get to a new storefront.

This clash is coming, but I think it's too soon to suggest who will win this.

That's the thing Steam is more than just a store. People aren't going to completely switch the store they love because MS releases a big hitter or two. While ignoring the fact that Steam will infact also have big games coming to their store with all the PS games going over there. They'll go over there buy it and move back to Steam. No one is going to "Hey this store that has had massive issues since release, continues to have issues a decade later, has none of my past purchases, friends, trophy history, is now the place where I'm buying all my games".

 

[Astray]

That's the thing Steam is more than just a store.

I do not believe in this.

It's a well-featured launcher, but honestly it has a lot of superfluous features that take valuable real-estate from info that matters (the library screen hurts my soul from a design standpoint). Like I don't need to see the thirst trap fanart of Lara Croft, I want to see what DLC I have for the game without clicking too much.

People aren't going to completely switch the store they love because MS releases a big hitter or two.

No one is asking them to switch completely, that simply doesnt happen, but you can ask them to buy 1-2 games on there, maybe try gamepass, then maybe you like gamepass enough to stick with it and buy less on Steam etc.

It's a gradual process because the days of mass consumer switching have long been over now. And Microsoft of all companies knows that very well given their experience with Sony.

 

[Denton]

I do not believe in this.

Irrelevant what you believe, for tens of millions of people it is more than "just a launcher" or "just a store" and what they believe is relevant.

As for Xbox App:

I have been using PC Gamepass since 2019 without interruptions. Lately (last year or so) whenever there is an update to the app, it shits itself and stops logging me in properly, requiring "app reset" and PC restart to start working again.

Other than that, it works OK and the number and quality of games added can be ridiculously high (just in last few months, Dead Island 2, BLOPS6, Flight Sim 24, STALKER 2, Indiana Jones..). It is well worth it, but will it ever supplant Steam ? No, because MS is vastly more incompetent than Valve. There is a reason Gabe left MS to create his own company.

 

[GHG]

I do not believe in this.

It's a well-featured launcher, but honestly it has a lot of superfluous features that take valuable real-estate from info that matters (the library screen hurts my soul from a design standpoint). Like I don't need to see the thirst trap fanart of Lara Croft, I want to see what DLC I have for the game without clicking too much.

Do you actually game on PC and/or use Steam?

Because honestly, it's coming across like you don't.

In terms of hierarchy, it goes as follows:

Games owned > DLC/Add-ons available along with update and patch information/news > steam community hub for that specific game > thirst trap fan art for Laura Croft if you wish to seek it out

This is how the page appears for me right now on the TV in Steam's desktop mode:

So what exactly are you talking about? I (unfortunately) am not seeing any thirst traps.

 

[ZehDon]

Can't imagine any PC gamers wanting to buy something for both console and PC. You can literally pay once for something on PC and play it anywhere you want trough cloud gaming or PC handheld. Publisher have to let go of the "sweet double dip". Let us pay once and let us it accross all systems.

I imagine that's what Microsoft is trying to move towards: buy a game once, play it one everything everywhere.

 

[Gamezone]

I imagine that's what Microsoft is trying to move towards: buy a game once, play it one everything everywhere.

Then I'll take that over Steam only to be honest.

 

[Kataploom]

They need to level up to Steam levels, just to start having any serious chance with new players. Old players will not only stay where most of their library is and where lovely Gabe is, but also will influence new players unless Microsoft have any distinctive feature that feels compelling enough, and I don't think Game Pass is, I mean, they have a better console than Sony and yet can't do shit in sales lol

 

[Tams]

They failed since Games for Windows Live. They will continue to fail.

I'm not trusting them ever again on this front because of that.

They still owe me games I bought on Games for Windows Live Marketplace.

 

[Astray]

Do you actually game on PC and/or use Steam?

Because honestly, it's coming across like you don't.

In terms of hierarchy, it goes as follows:

Games owned > DLC/Add-ons available along with update and patch information/news > steam community hub for that specific game > thirst trap fan art for Laura Croft if you wish to seek it out

This is how the page appears for me right now on the TV in Steam's desktop mode:

So what exactly are you talking about? I (unfortunately) am not seeing any thirst traps.

Steam is actually my most played platform last year, though I didn't get to play as much as I wanted to in general.

My PC is off rn as im watching the TGAs in bed, but I'll try and get you some screenshots tomorrow.

I just think there is a lot of wasted space in this layout, with a lot of focus on features I have never and will never care about (Steam is a storefront and launcher to me, i don't want to socialize on it). I really wish I can customize it natively to emphasize what I care about and skip what I don't.

Also some better library filtering tools would help (sifting thru +600 games can be annoying without the right tools), look at how robust the store filtering options are compared to the library.

I like Steam but let's not act like it's perfect.

 

[MayauMiao]

I'm not trusting them ever again on this front because of that.

They still owe me games I bought on Games for Windows Live Marketplace.

After GFWL, then got screwed again with EA Origin, I just completely stop using other launchers to buy games apart from Steam.

While I have Epic Game Store, I only use it for the free games but wouldn't use a single penny on it but even that I barely use it.

 

[Laptop1991]

Not a chance in hell lol

 

[StereoVsn]

Steam is actually my most played platform last year, though I didn't get to play as much as I wanted to in general.

My PC is off rn as im watching the TGAs in bed, but I'll try and get you some screenshots tomorrow.

I just think there is a lot of wasted space in this layout, with a lot of focus on features I have never and will never care about (Steam is a storefront and launcher to me, i don't want to socialize on it). I really wish I can customize it natively to emphasize what I care about and skip what I don't.

Also some better library filtering tools would help (sifting thru +600 games can be annoying without the right tools), look at how robust the store filtering options are compared to the library.

I like Steam but let's not act like it's perfect.

It’s not perfect but everything else is far worse and Xbox PC is going to continue to suck until they decouple it from the shit show if Windows Store backend.

As for Steam DLC, go to your game, scroll down to a link to manage your DLCs. It sure what’s particularly tough there. Could Valve make it more visible and move higher on the page? Yes, but it’s not the end of the world.

 

[Mortisfacio]

As long as GabeN leads Valve, PC gamers ride or die with GabeN

 

[ZoukGalaxy]

They are trying since 2 decades, and hopefully will still keep failing, good luck (I lie).

 

[YeulEmeralda]

At some point companies just get too entrenched to compete with and you're just throwing good money after bad.

Linux can't beat Windows. Signal can't beat WhatsApp. Xbox can't beat Steam.

 

[Stardust911]

I get they are trying to compete with Steam, but the difference is night and day. Steam is THE PC gaming app. Xbox right now needs to know their role, and shut their mouth.

 

[Astray]

It’s not perfect but everything else is far worse and Xbox PC is going to continue to suck until they decouple it from the shit show if Windows Store backend.

As for Steam DLC, go to your game, scroll down to a link to manage your DLCs. It sure what’s particularly tough there. Could Valve make it more visible and move higher on the page? Yes, but it’s not the end of the world.

GOG does a better job at showcasing and filtering your Library imo.

I'm only just trying it out (got a 1-month Gamepass ultimate code with my 8bitdo controller and want to play Indiana Jones for free lol), but so far, Xbox has neat ideas when it comes to managing your backlog and your queue of games to play next (which tracks, given that it's larger reason for existing now is Gamepass).

The first big dumb thing I've encountered so far is the lack of an independent option to manage your download speed cap (from what I've seen it's linked to the larger Windows update framework).. Honestly.. Why?

I also definitely agree with you that Windows Store as it is right now sucks ass (I had a terrible experience with it when I purchased an app), and the Xbox storefront needs to decouple from it in order to get the best impression.

 

[Gamezone]

Epic and MS tries the same thing, but I don't know who has the worst store. At least Epic is throwing free games at people, and even that isn't working. All this is happening at the same time as SteamOS is about to release more publicly.