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[Windows Central]Xbox is closing out 2024 with a ton of momentum, and plenty of cause for optimism:COD, record engagement, and Xbox Game Pass success

Clapping Applause GIF
 
Not seeing it.

  • Hellblade II was a commercial disaster
  • Starfield: Shattered Space was a critical and commercial disaster
  • Indiana Jones has been met with lukewarm previews
  • The new Xbox Series X hardware that just released has been a complete flop

Game Pass subs are doing alright, which is good, and I do think things will eventually look up with all of these games from their acquisitions on the way, but I'd say Xbox today is in the worst spot they've been in since ~2016 right now.

I was going to say "what new Series X hardware?" and realized they DID release something this summer. I completely forgot about it, probably says a lot about how it did.


This reminds me of all the talking heads on TV saying the economy is great when we are in a recession.

Right, except we aren't in one, haven't been in one since 2020 (and arguably 2022). It just feels that way because our currency has been devalued so much the last few years.
 

Jaybe

Member
Since they don’t mention Game Pass subscriptions hitting a new high, I’m going to assume it’s still off of its peak of 34 million (including the renamed Gold tier) that it was at earlier this year during the “business update”
 

nowhat

Gold Member
Xbox console sales are in a freefall and Xbox is nowhere to be seen in retail stores in Europe. Momentum my ass.
OTOH, I just saw an Indy ad in YouTube. Honestly the first ad for an MS gaming property I've seen here in .fi since... I guess when Diablo 4 came out? But that wasn't even MS at the time. So maybe they've figured out you got to do some advertising as well, outside US/UK. Maybe.
 

Cyberpunkd

Gold Member
CoD BO6 was one of MS's few hits this year
Except it has absolutely nothing to do with Microsoft, they count CoD since they bought Activision. Everything that made CoD the success it is has nothing to do with Microsoft. If anything - previous experience shows Microsoft is a poison to any talent. They went on a buying spree because they are incapable of nurturing and growing the talent inside the company. Guess what, now all these companies that they bought are inside Microsoft...

Think Hold On GIF by Rosanna Pansino
 

Roufianos

Member
Too little, too late. Xbox has had nothing while PS5 has had Silent Hill 2, Wo Long, Helldivers, FF VII and Stellar Blade. A good couple of months doesn't make up for a barren year.
 

GinSama

Member
No matter what they always find a way to twist and praise the brand....

Good games this year and I still think they will finish strong in terms of games....but holy shit they keep digging their grave with bad decisions.

Forza is building their foundations again with the motorsport brand....they keep doing the same mistakes with weak release products since FM5, taking way to much time to have a proper game after big amount of updates.rizon brand needs to have a reboot on their core gameplay. Stop having the game full of freebies and make the game where you have actually be good and win. Keep the expeditions.


They still don't know how to work the brand and keep changing directions, keeping old costumers and new costumers confused.

Their people keep saying different stuff all the time, there is no one voice, rumours keep spreading and nobody is able to give an proper answer.

I
 

DenchDeckard

Moderated wildly
Too little, too late. Xbox has had nothing while PS5 has had Silent Hill 2, Wo Long, Helldivers, FF VII and Stellar Blade. A good couple of months doesn't make up for a barren year.

One Sony game and 3 definite money hats. One alleged. Yeah, thats a good way to run the industry.

Also can't believe you forgot Astro Bot....WTF!
 
More in the article, sorry if my quotes seem disjointed I didn't want to just copy and paste the whole article.

Basically his arguments boil down to:
  • Black Ops 6 has been a resounding success. The Game Pass doubters were wrong
  • Third party game publishers are flocking to Xbox
  • Xbox Game Studios have hit their stride with a solid slate of banger titles coming soon
  • It's time to put the Xbox fears to bed, and new hardware reveals next year could do just that. A death spiral similar to Windows Phone won't happen, there is no evidence to support that view
 
More in the article, sorry if my quotes seem disjointed I didn't want to just copy and paste the whole article.

Basically his arguments boil down to:
  • Black Ops 6 has been a resounding success. The Game Pass doubters were wrong
  • Third party game publishers are flocking to Xbox
  • Xbox Game Studios have hit their stride with a solid slate of banger titles coming soon
  • It's time to put the Xbox fears to bed, and new hardware reveals next year could do just that. A death spiral similar to Windows Phone won't happen, there is no evidence to support that view
The last part is interesting to me. Even saying that is proof that Xbox future is really in a weird place. Nintendo is slow to make a Switch successor, but we know it is coming. Playstation just launched a PS5 Pro, is seeing the PS5 closing in the PS4 sales and is naturally working on the PS6, with some rumors of a portable Playstation being heard recently. But Xbox next gen should be there very soon, and this means some problems for them no matter what. The standard should be to let the Series S/X lasting the full generation, not be happy of a early reveal next year. Unless that was the plan at launch but I doubt it.
 
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