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[MisterXDTV]

MS is just trying to hide the fact they are leaving the console market by pushing the few people that still care towards PC gaming....

They will soon find out that, except for the one-and done Windows license, PC Players give their money to Valve AKA Steam, not to them

 

[Bonfires Down]

MS is just trying to hide the fact they are leaving the console market by pushing the few people that still care towards PC gaming....

They will soon find out that, except for the one-and done Windows license, PC Players give their money to Valve AKA Steam, not to them

I mean, if they actually had a functional Play Anywhere program, that might not be the case. Then they would have some 50+ million console users with a digital library waiting for them on the Xbox PC Store.

But that's not the case and at this point I have little faith that Microsoft will manage to do anything correctly.

 

[squidilix]

Ally gonna flop

 

[Donald mac Ronald]

Like a dead cat bounce?

Rolf Harris, Denis hopper all bounced back.

 

[ReasonBeing]

"Xbox's platform-agnostic approach has a huge, gaping hole"

So does your Mom

 

[MisterXDTV]

I mean, if they actually had a functional Play Anywhere program, that might not be the case. Then they would have some 50+ million console users with a digital library waiting for them on the Xbox PC Store.

But that's not the case and at this point I have little faith that Microsoft will manage to do anything correctly.

Why would other publishers allow this when MS is now a third-party as well?

If they don't support Play Anywhere now that Xbox is a platform, they will have no reason once the Xbox platform/store dies for good

They will just tell people to buy the PC version via Steam...

 

[clappedcheeks]

It's a pretty good article. Me and my work mate who's a steam guy were discussing about the rumoured steam console and how that will make them a big competitor to Microsoft, and how all these years of fighting playstation, it's allowed steam to go about their business.
I'd say if steam starts releasing consoles and more decks all coming with steam os, it could be a big problem for Microsoft. They could also serve as a big problem for playstation too

I'd much rather valve own the pc/console hybrid space than Microsoft. MS have their fingers in everything, they are the dominant os and productivity suite in business. Do we also want them to dominate the living room too?

 

[Astray]

PlayAnywhere is a born-dead initiative because devs and publishers either want to induce double-dipping behavior (which is fucking massive in the industry), or they want to have their launcher be the sole connection between them and their PC gamers.

 

[gerth666]

I'd much rather valve own the pc/console hybrid space than Microsoft. MS have their fingers in everything, they are the dominant os and productivity suite in business. Do we also want them to dominate the living room too?

Preferably I wouldn't want anyone company to own anything.
More competition is better for consumers.
Hopefully the market is large enough for everyone to thrive
Me personally, a steambox is a more compelling product than another Xbox.
It would compliment my ps5 nicely I think

 

[Tobimacoss]

Largely because this next gen Xbox PC hybrid will only have a niche audience.

Why a niche audience? It would be similar TAM to a Prebuilt PC market that runs on AMD hardware.

Next-gen, devs will only need to develop for PC for their games to work on Xbox.
Play anywhere will be limited as a last-gen /old games problem.

No, they won't. Devs will still need to use GDK for Xbox PC and GDKX for Xbox Consoles. They will have to create an Xbox ecosystem version regardless.

Home console

A console that can't play most of the popular live service games....

Maybe devs could charge more for the play anywhere version. Some incentive at least.

There already is an incentive, reduced store cut. MS takes only 12% from MS Store on PC. That applies to sales of Play Anywhere games done via the Xbox app/MS Store. They could simply make it 12% even on consoles if publishers do a Play Anywhere version with xcloud support included.

 

[bitbydeath]

No, they won't. Devs will still need to use GDK for Xbox PC and GDKX for Xbox Consoles. They will have to create an Xbox ecosystem version regardless

Why would they bother?
It'll just cost more time, money, and resources to port something that doesn't need to be ported, as it will still reach the exact same audience without it.

 

[Radical_3d]

With good cause, if Xbox PC doesn't beat Steamdeck and the upcoming Steamboxes then it could be the end of the Xbox brand and lineage.

Do you know the chances of Xbox crawling back on Steam after 20 years of Valve domination and their games in every other system?

 

[diffusionx]

Why a niche audience? It would be similar TAM to a Prebuilt PC market that runs on AMD hardware.

No, they won't. Devs will still need to use GDK for Xbox PC and GDKX for Xbox Consoles. They will have to create an Xbox ecosystem version regardless.

A console that can't play most of the popular live service games....

There already is an incentive, reduced store cut. MS takes only 12% from MS Store on PC. That applies to sales of Play Anywhere games done via the Xbox app/MS Store. They could simply make it 12% even on consoles if publishers do a Play Anywhere version with xcloud support included.

or they will just skip the Xbox version because it's a failing console.

If the failure of EGS has shown us anything it's that the cut doesn't move the needle in any significant way.

 

[ZehDon]

Do you know the chances of Xbox crawling back on Steam after 20 years of Valve domination and their games in every other system?

... Xbox is already on Steam? Their games are released day one and have been for some time now.

 

[adamsapple]

... Xbox is already on Steam? Their games are released day one and have been for some time now.

And pretty soon Steam is gonna be on Xbox.

 

[Tobimacoss]

Why would they bother?
It'll just cost more time, money, and resources to port something that doesn't need to be ported, as it will still reach the exact same audience without it.

Why do EA and Ubisoft bother creating Steam and Epic versions of their games? They're all on the same PC platform. Because certain users prefer certain ecosystems, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.

Bold of you to presume that the hard-core userbase that stuck with Xbox, with large Xbox libraries, and only prefers Xbox Console and controller gaming will simply migrate to EA, Ubisoft, Steam, Epic versions of games.

Xbox Store will be the default front facing store. If devs want to sell on that store, they will need a Xbox ecosystem version. If devs want a Gamepass deal at launch or 24 months later, they will need an Xbox ecosystem version. If devs want to have their game on xCloud, they will need an Xbox ecosystem version.

If devs want free MS marketing, they will need Xbox ecosystem version. In case of Rockstar, they are only doing and maintaining Console versions at launch. In case of EA, if EA still wants EA Play to be included within Gamepass Ultimate in the future, their games will need to have Xbox ecosystem versions. They have been included for 5 years now, it's a very lucrative deal for EA.

Publishers also prefer secure, closed platforms that can prevent piracy or cheating.

Just because MS allows third party PC stores, doesn't mean MS would be promoting or selling other Ecosystem games. They made a commitment to being an open platform, not an obligation to improve games and versions for other platforms. Xbox ecosystem versions will have certain advantages the users want and the publishers need.