"We believe that by continuing to expand Xbox Play Anywhere, we will be able to grow the ecosystem," Xbox doubles down on cross-buy in new interview

It's a good idea but it requires you install or buy PC games from the windows store.

I think that's fine for many but your more seasoned PC gamers don't want anything to do with it. Even some of MS's own games have prioritized patches on Steam, most mods don't work on windows store, it's had serious issues corrupting hard drives, etc, etc.
 
I would gladly pay some sort of tax to play across all platforms instead of having to buy separate keys

Come on Rockstar, use your might and lets experiment

Would be nice if there was a way of implementing a paid cross-buy option. Would be a way of recouping part of that 30% fee on other platforms if you think about it. I buy Forza on Steam and pay some fee to get that license on Xbox as well.

Which is why Sony could offer the same Play Anywhere initiative but choose not to.

Which is also why Microsoft could offer the same Play Anywhere initiatives on non-Microsoft platforms but choose not to.
 
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Powerful, premium box with working, hassle free Steam access and i'm there. Cloud services and Play Anywhere are icing on the cake. Thank you.
I really don't think this is gonna happen. MS is just creating a launcher that searches through your steam install folder like dozens of other launchers have.

There's no rumors they have some way of making it more "hassle feee." It's almost certainly just going to be a Windows handheld and a new UI that'll be available for anyone to install.
 
No, you just don't see it the way I do.

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Which is also why Microsoft could offer the same Play Anywhere initiatives on non-Microsoft platforms but choose not to.
I very seriously doubt Sony would allow you to buy a game from outside the PS store to download it there. That's just not gonna happen.

On Steam? Maybe but they'd need some sort of integration, you can't just do download codes. There's rumors they've had talks with Valve.

They could build some sort of Xbox app that is free on Steam / Steam deck though.

But sure they want to sell their own handhelds. Honestly I also wouldn't be shocked if they were working on some sort of steam deck launcher too for Steam OS. It'd be quite a bit of effort though for a platform with probably max a few million people on it.
 
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I think he mostly plays on PC. Never once seen him insult anyone. The guy just points out BS with facts if he sees it, like seeing people get all negative about a universally positive feature like Play Anywhere that has literally zero downside and is very pro consumer.

ironically, PS is my most used platform, thanks to FIFA/FC.

Would be nice if there was a way of implementing a paid cross-buy option. Would be a way of recouping part of that 30% fee on other platforms if you think about it. I buy Forza on Steam and pay some fee to get that license on Xbox as well.

It would certainly be difficult to make that work. Additional Issues including regional pricing, Steam keys etc.

And if the next Xbox truly is more PC like, with the ability to also run Steam, I'm not sure there'd be the need for that anymore.
 
I very seriously doubt Sony would allow you to buy a game from outside the PS store to download it there. That's just not gonna happen.

On Steam? Maybe but they'd need some sort of integration, you can't just do download codes. There's rumors they've had talks with Valve.

They could build some sort of Xbox app that is free on Steam / Steam deck though.

But sure they want to sell their own handhelds.
Imagine if they did allow it lol. Just buy from any website and you get a PS code. Sony hosts it and pays for the download infrastructure but gets zero money. Of course they don't allow that.
 
Catering to the diehards that wont leave behind their large Xbox libraries

I just wonder if being a niche market hardware wise is good enough for them if they start selling all their titles day one everywhere
I don't think MS has any interest in maintaining a niche hardware platform. Play everywhere means do it with Game Pass, and niche hardware is not going to increase subs.
 
Imagine if they did allow it lol. Just buy from any website and you get a PS code. Sony hosts it and pays for the download infrastructure but gets zero money. Of course they don't allow that.
I really don't think codes are a workable solution as they can be sold and then MS loses out on whoever the code was sold to.
 
Yeah, this whole buy it on Steam get it on Xbox, or any combination of that is never going to happen. Someone has to eat that cost and that ain't happening.
 
there is this concept in the movie industry called: "repeat viewing"

you can look it up, it's real. and it is a big factor for a movie sucesss at he box office.

in gaming this concept is called "double dipping".

Play Anywhere is just a PR/Marketing ploy that doesn't make bunsiess sense and most importantly; has not worked.

Challenge: Are you able to engage in the conversation like a mature adult, contributing thoughtful, well-rounded arguments that reflect your critical thinking and respect for different viewpoints?


spoiler: challenge impossible.

Xbox fanboys are unable to leave their "sick love" for the brand at the door; their identity is fused with it, and they can't even begin to reconcile their loyalty with years of disappointment. They can't fathom the fact that what they love... just isn't thriving. What do they do instead? They deflect, get defensive, and dismiss any criticism as "sick hatred" which is nothing more than projection.

sad but true. 🤷🏼‍♂️
 
I'd like an alternative to SteamOS from Microsoft that comes installed on a nice little black console that just works ootb without me having to install or configure anything. I'd pay 1500 eur for something like that if its above console tier performance.
You said this before in another thread and I'm still with you on it.

SteamOS is great but it's too finnicky to be practical for most people. I don't want to fire up Fatal Frame only to realize cutscenes aren't working because I didn't select the correct proton version. Absolutely haram.

A living room PC box with a slick, console-like UI and none of the SteamOS compatibility issues is very much needed. That space is wide open atm.

"B-b-but just build your own PC and have a wireless keyboard and mouse nearby"
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Play Anywhere is awesome.

You can tell between those who have utilized it, and those who don't even have access to such pro-consumer innovations.

You could say it's pro comsumer if you really REALLY REALLY! like Microsoft.

Xbox Play Anywhere*

* Restricted to Microsoft Windows Store, Microsoft Xbox store, Microsoft Xcloud app.

Not compatible with Microsoft games bought from PlayStation Store, Nintendo Store, Steam Store or Epic Games store.
 
I personally think Xbox and especially Xbox consoles are the future. Xbox Series S is proof of this. Slightly cutting edge technology for it's time, rendering scenes at (or around) 1080p, and a marginally reasonal price.
 
MS would then have to pay Nintendo and Sony the 30% fee. That won't fly at all

Yeah, definitely agree. My point there is that Microsoft has an interest in having cross buy between Xbox and Windows since they own both. A bit of a no-brainer to push a cross buy initiative across the same Microsoft ecosystem. Why this is turned into a console war argument......well, I guess I shouldn't be surprised.
 
there is this concept in the movie industry called: "repeat viewing"

you can look it up, it's real. and it is a big factor for a movie sucesss at he box office.

in gaming this concept is called "double dipping".

Play Anywhere is just a PR/Marketing ploy that doesn't make bunsiess sense and most importantly; has not worked.

Challenge: Are you able to engage in the conversation like a mature adult, contributing thoughtful, well-rounded arguments that reflect your critical thinking and respect for different viewpoints?


spoiler: challenge impossible.

Xbox fanboys are unable to leave their "sick love" for the brand at the door; their identity is fused with it, and they can't even begin to reconcile their loyalty with years of disappointment. They can't fathom the fact that what they love... just isn't thriving. What do they do instead? They deflect, get defensive, and dismiss any criticism as "sick hatred" which is nothing more than projection.

sad but true. 🤷🏼‍♂️
Imagine a brand hater whose participation in a forum is continually demonstrating that hatred , using different standards and constantly attacking people who have preferences, interests and tastes different from their own ... giving lessons and asking for a debate and discussion of a mature person🙇🙃

Well

Well Done Hug GIF by The Animal Crackers Movie
 
Schitts Creek No GIF by CBC


If you think it's possible:

How do Microsoft fund the r&D, production, sales and marketing of the console - where do they make money?
Which products is it competing with and how can Microsoft make money?
Why will people choose to buy it over those competing products in significant numbers so that Microsoft can make money?

In short:

How can Microsoft make a console-like device that competes with other console-like devices without pricing themselves out of the market and while significantly reducing their ability to make money from software sales?


It's the question us smart guys have been asking for the past 6 months.
 
This has been my thought for a while now. I still believe them when they say more hardware is coming but I don't think it's important to them. Spreading themselves to as many places as possible is the obvious play here.
I didn't get the feeling they felt their expandability comes in the console market

And yeah more hardware is coming and again will be multiple skus (because its worked so well for them this time)

The Rock Eye Roll GIF by WWE
 
Imagine a brand hater whose participation in a forum is continually demonstrating that hatred , using different standards and constantly attacking people who have preferences, interests and tastes different from their own ... giving lessons and asking for a debate and discussion of a mature person🙇
wa98riW.gif

The failure of a brand you love doesn't make you a loser.

1VPFFsx.gif
 
wa98riW.gif

The failure of a brand you love doesn't make you a loser.

1VPFFsx.gif
I think it's the opposite, the guy is already frustrated in his life and thinks he has no chance of changing that, so he transfers all of that to the Xbox so that if the Xbox wins he will also become a winner.

A frustrated guy who thinks that if the Xbox wins, with his "help", he will become a winner too

I've seen a guy be such a failure that he became an "Xbox fan without an Xbox" just to try to "win" on the merit of the Xbox he defends. The guy was so lonely that he only found "friends" in the Xbox Sect
 
I think it's the opposite, the guy is already frustrated in his life and thinks he has no chance of changing that, so he transfers all of that to the Xbox so that if the Xbox wins he will also become a winner.

A frustrated guy who thinks that if the Xbox wins, with his "help", he will become a winner too

I've seen a guy be such a failure that he became an "Xbox fan without an Xbox" just to try to "win" on the merit of the Xbox he defends. The guy was so lonely that he only found "friends" in the Xbox Sect
Wow, now we have Neogaf fanatics masquerading as expert therapists and psychologists to declare that XBOX gamers are mentally unbalanced with low self-esteem... 🙇🙇

What's next? 🤣🤣🤣

It's really you who should be worried about your mental state. 😉
 
I think it's the opposite, the guy is already frustrated in his life and thinks he has no chance of changing that, so he transfers all of that to the Xbox so that if the Xbox wins he will also become a winner.

A frustrated guy who thinks that if the Xbox wins, with his "help", he will become a winner too

I've seen a guy be such a failure that he became an "Xbox fan without an Xbox" just to try to "win" on the merit of the Xbox he defends. The guy was so lonely that he only found "friends" in the Xbox Sect

Star Trek GIF
 
PlayAnywhere isn't the sell Microsoft thinks it is. And totally ignores the F2P model which is already doing "play anywhere"

Even the number of people who want PC and a handheld has proven to be super small with Steam Deck and the ones that want console and handheld, Sony is going to beat Microsoft to the punch with (and kind of already has with the Portal) and the Switch has beaten both to the punch essentially by its hybrid nature.

I don't know why they're trying to make this into something so unique and amazing. I have zero interest playing these games on my phone and not really even an iPad.

I wonder if they have metrics that suggests this is more popular on PC/Xbox, but I honestly don't believe that could be the case.

It also massively undercuts GamePass because to have any inherent value and long term value, it has to be buy to own with the promise of playing on any devices in the future.
Because Xbox is now thinking like msft aka software. Destroy the walled gardens and sell folks software they can take anywhere aka hardware becomes optional. This only makes sense if msft was some kind of mega publisher. Like they actually believe their competitors can't compete via software.

This only makes sense if no one else can output 8-10 AAA games per year and dev costs won't go down or simply competition can't grow their software market share.
 
Greedy Sony could start by having one license for their PS and PC releases, but they choose not to do that to fleece their customers.
Have you seen how much money Epic has sunk into PC, trying to get their store off the ground?

Seems pointless to try and compete with Steam.
 
'The idea is to push these other games to be played "anytime, anywhere, regardless of the platform." '

Regardless of platform is bullshit though. Folks who own Indiana Jones on Xbox are not getting it for free on PlayStation. Play Anywhere means play anywhere where the game is actually running on a Microsoft platform. Either on Windows or streaming from Azure.
Which is what Microsoft wants and is putting a typical marketing spin on it.
 
play anywhere is awesome, I use it quite a bit; I dunno how anyone could dislike it or argue about it, it's nothing but a positive.

Combination of Play Anywhere, Game Pass and MS Rewards. That's what has kept me engaged in the Microsoft ecosystem.
 
"We believe that by continuing to expand Xbox Play Anywhere acquisitions cloud gaming Game Pass Kinect TV TV TV cloud gaming again, we will be able to grow the ecosystem," Xbox doubles down on cross-buy acquisitions the cloud subscriptions Kinect multimedia the cloud in new interview
 
Play Anywhere is a v.cool feature to have, but its problem is there's not enough people that own both an Xbox + a PC AND want to take their playtime back and forth between the two devices. The use case is just too niche and limited in user interest for it to be a selling point to the masses.

It's honestly a microcosm of Microsoft's long-running inability to read the market and understand what the consumer actually wants. They listen to influencers like Parris or Colt Eastwood far too much when they are a niche of a niche of a niche.

With that said, it's super clear atm that MS are trying to migrate as many Xbox users as possible to the Xbox store on PC, and more PlayAnywhere titles helps with that, hence we get these puff pieces about a feature that doesn't cover more than %15(?) of the system's library. There are Microsoft-owned games like the Arkane Collection that don't have Play Anywhere.. So why exactly do they expect devs and publishers to do better there?
 
Play Anywhere is a v.cool feature to have, but its problem is there's not enough people that own both an Xbox + a PC AND want to take their playtime back and forth between the two devices. The use case is just too niche and limited in user interest for it to be a selling point to the masses.

It's honestly a microcosm of Microsoft's long-running inability to read the market and understand what the consumer actually wants. They listen to influencers like Parris or Colt Eastwood far too much when they are a niche of a niche of a niche.

With that said, it's super clear atm that MS are trying to migrate as many Xbox users as possible to the Xbox store on PC, and more PlayAnywhere titles helps with that, hence we get these puff pieces about a feature that doesn't cover more than %15(?) of the system's library. There are Microsoft-owned games like the Arkane Collection that don't have Play Anywhere.. So why exactly do they expect devs and publishers to do better there?

Definitely. There is no real reason to promote Play Anywhere except to highlight PC.
 
Definitely. There is no real reason to promote Play Anywhere except to highlight PC.
The thing that kinda irks me is Microsoft itself isn't adding more of its own titles to the Play Anywhere program. It comes across as an attempt to gyp publishers and developers more than an attempt to help out consumers.

Like let's get real here, why should Ubisoft or EA help you out here when you yourself don't give a shit about your own program and have many very easily covered gaps in your cross-platform offerings?
 
'The idea is to push these other games to be played "anytime, anywhere, regardless of the platform." '

Regardless of platform is bullshit though. Folks who own Indiana Jones on Xbox are not getting it for free on PlayStation. Play Anywhere means play anywhere where the game is actually running on a Microsoft platform. Either on Windows or streaming from Azure.
Spot on. Where is my Series X version of Indiana Jones when I purchased it on Steam? This is just more bullshit from Microsoft. They got obliterated in the console wars and now will try anything to stay relevant in the gaming space. Fuck gamepass. Fuck play anywhere. Stick to making games and make them exclusive on your consoles.
 
Spot on. Where is my Series X version of Indiana Jones when I purchased it on Steam? This is just more bullshit from Microsoft. They got obliterated in the console wars and now will try anything to stay relevant in the gaming space. Fuck gamepass. Fuck play anywhere. Stick to making games and make them exclusive on your consoles.

It's even more ridiculous when you consider most of their games when purchased through Steam require the Xbox app and Microsoft Gaming Services to be installed, along with forcing you to sign in to the same Microsoft account that you would if you were to purchase games via their shitshow of a store.

Same game, forced to eventually go through the same account/store, but somehow that's not "play anywhere". I wonder why.

Play Anywhere is awesome.

You can tell between those who have utilized it, and those who don't even have access to such pro-consumer innovations.

Pretty much all of us have access to it. We just don't want it in the current way that they are offering it.
 
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