Eddie-Griffin
Banned
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/x...BF-11ED-B39D-36D796E8478F&ServiceType=twitter
https://www.verizon.com/gaming/xbox-all-access/?linkId=174872483
A few days old but it seems to have flown under radar here.
This is what I believe will be just as if not more of a big deal than Gamepass. Microsoft said long ago they were in talks with multiple companies for the All Access program which will allow people who don't want to drop $500 or who are low income to get a console cheap, as well as two years worth of free gamepass to go with that two year installment plan. 50% off the Elite controller is also additional value even though it targets a niche buyer group.
Once more companies participate, each likely offering their own exclusive deals like smartphones do across carriers, it may completely change how the industry operates. On a Subscription plan we can have in the future super powerful $800 consoles that can be brought at $0 upfront, then after two years you can upgrade to a revision or a "pro" model. It's very clear that gaming is going the way of the phone, only difference is you have to wait 2 years or more to upgrade to another device since consoles can't come out every year. We have also seen a resurgence of netbooks at internet and phone companies, or companies that handle both. But this time the Netbooks aren't dysfunctional pieces of garbage you throw away, they're actually decent now for basic productivity, web surfing, and low settings PC gameplay.
When everyone who can't afford phones are locked into payment plans, they end up tied to their carriers ecosystem. Microsoft jumping on this ahead of time is good, because in a few years this program may become popular enough to where you have millions of buyers worldwide locked to their ecosystem on contracts just like phone carriers. Then Sony and Nintendo will have no choice but to negotiate with companies and provide their own payment services for their consoles, and for the unwary customer, to them it seems like they are actually saving money since they aren't spending money on hardware upfront and games monthly (even though they aren't actually saving money) at $70 a pop.
What's more important about this strategy is when it takes off, not if, it will open the door to new companies to finally enter this expensive gaming industry because they will no longer have to worry about taking a loss on hardware and no longer have to worry about trying to convince consumers to spend hundreds on a console because all the money will be made from millions of people who are locked into installment plans, so the customer will believe they get each new console for free, one customer may even have 3 or 4 different payment plans to own 4 different systems, opening the door to multi hardware adoption which fosters competition!
Gaming will be for the better, Even Sega and Philips can come back to the console industry with their own games and machines and only have to worry about selling games, services, and locking customers to a program. They won't have to make compromises on hardware for a lower price, or have to cheapen out on development because games costs a ton to make, they now have infinite recurring revenue, and all the customers will buy hardware upfront at $0, and in the end they always end up paying more money than the retail price when it's time to upgrade, some may even continue paying until the own the console outright paying up to $300 more than what the machine actually costs. It brings in more money to gaming companies than ever before, but customers no longer have to pay upfront costs as well, it's the first time where both sides will see only benefits in the long haul.
This means we can have hardware innovation again because this trend would allow companies to make powerful $1000-$1500 game consoles which can be gotten for free at no additional cost to you the consumer. Even a 5th place console who only has 4 or 5 million players, knows that those players are locked in bringing in millions in cash on monthly payments, games, microtransactions, and accessories. So there's less possibility to fail, so a loser can try again in the next round and end up becoming number one!
Isn't this great and will change gaming for the better?
Or am I completely crazy and this scenario is actually dystopian?
Phone and internet giant Verizon will soon begin offering Xbox All Access, allowing users to grab a new Xbox Series X|S for $0 upfront and then pay it off over time like a smartphone plan.
Beginning Thursday, July 28, anyone can get an Xbox Series S with a two-year membership to Game Pass Ultimate for $25/month or an Xbox Series X with two years of Game Pass Ultimate for $35/month. Payments are spread over 24 months at 0% APR (provided you qualify during the credit check).
At $25 a month over two years for the Xbox Series S, you'll pay $600 total. Normally, the console costs $299 and two years of Game Pass Ultimate costs $360--that's a $59 savings. For the Xbox Series X, you'll pay $35 a month over two years--that's $840 total. The Series X costs $499, and if you add on the $360 Game Pass Ultimate cost, you're still saving $19.
Additionally, anyone who signs up for Xbox All Access can get 50% off an Xbox Elite controller. Outside of that, Verizon shoppers who buy a regular wireless controller can save $40 on the Xbox Stereo headset and save 25% on the Razer Xbox Wolverine V2 controller and Kaira headset bundle.
Xbox All Access is a subsidized payment program that may be familiar to anyone who has bought an expensive new smartphone and paid it off in monthly increments. Microsoft tested the subsidized program back in the Xbox 360 days, and now it's more widely available.
https://www.verizon.com/gaming/xbox-all-access/?linkId=174872483
A few days old but it seems to have flown under radar here.
This is what I believe will be just as if not more of a big deal than Gamepass. Microsoft said long ago they were in talks with multiple companies for the All Access program which will allow people who don't want to drop $500 or who are low income to get a console cheap, as well as two years worth of free gamepass to go with that two year installment plan. 50% off the Elite controller is also additional value even though it targets a niche buyer group.
Once more companies participate, each likely offering their own exclusive deals like smartphones do across carriers, it may completely change how the industry operates. On a Subscription plan we can have in the future super powerful $800 consoles that can be brought at $0 upfront, then after two years you can upgrade to a revision or a "pro" model. It's very clear that gaming is going the way of the phone, only difference is you have to wait 2 years or more to upgrade to another device since consoles can't come out every year. We have also seen a resurgence of netbooks at internet and phone companies, or companies that handle both. But this time the Netbooks aren't dysfunctional pieces of garbage you throw away, they're actually decent now for basic productivity, web surfing, and low settings PC gameplay.
When everyone who can't afford phones are locked into payment plans, they end up tied to their carriers ecosystem. Microsoft jumping on this ahead of time is good, because in a few years this program may become popular enough to where you have millions of buyers worldwide locked to their ecosystem on contracts just like phone carriers. Then Sony and Nintendo will have no choice but to negotiate with companies and provide their own payment services for their consoles, and for the unwary customer, to them it seems like they are actually saving money since they aren't spending money on hardware upfront and games monthly (even though they aren't actually saving money) at $70 a pop.
What's more important about this strategy is when it takes off, not if, it will open the door to new companies to finally enter this expensive gaming industry because they will no longer have to worry about taking a loss on hardware and no longer have to worry about trying to convince consumers to spend hundreds on a console because all the money will be made from millions of people who are locked into installment plans, so the customer will believe they get each new console for free, one customer may even have 3 or 4 different payment plans to own 4 different systems, opening the door to multi hardware adoption which fosters competition!
Gaming will be for the better, Even Sega and Philips can come back to the console industry with their own games and machines and only have to worry about selling games, services, and locking customers to a program. They won't have to make compromises on hardware for a lower price, or have to cheapen out on development because games costs a ton to make, they now have infinite recurring revenue, and all the customers will buy hardware upfront at $0, and in the end they always end up paying more money than the retail price when it's time to upgrade, some may even continue paying until the own the console outright paying up to $300 more than what the machine actually costs. It brings in more money to gaming companies than ever before, but customers no longer have to pay upfront costs as well, it's the first time where both sides will see only benefits in the long haul.
This means we can have hardware innovation again because this trend would allow companies to make powerful $1000-$1500 game consoles which can be gotten for free at no additional cost to you the consumer. Even a 5th place console who only has 4 or 5 million players, knows that those players are locked in bringing in millions in cash on monthly payments, games, microtransactions, and accessories. So there's less possibility to fail, so a loser can try again in the next round and end up becoming number one!
Isn't this great and will change gaming for the better?
Or am I completely crazy and this scenario is actually dystopian?