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[RUMOR] Microsoft To Announce Xbox Game Demos & More On June 9th

DeepEnigma

Gold Member
Probably was an easy thing to ask devs for since devs are being forced to do it by Sony. So ms thought, might as well get the same thing without any additional hassle for devs. It is what it is. I don't really ever play demos
Oh yeah, has that been confirmed officially?

You seem salty, just enjoy sweet sweet demos like we all wanted, if true.

“Will somebody think of those monetizing devs… fuck the consumer” - corporate cheerleaders, literally
 

CatLady

Selfishly plays on Xbox Purr-ies X
I don't like this if it's only available on Game Pass. In my opinion it's really dumb and pretty useless if that's the case. It doesn't really offer enough value to be a feature in a paid sub service. I feel like it cheapens Game Pass.

Since participation is voluntary on Xbox, I would guess the devs that do participate have a decent game and aren't ashamed of it. I bet they would like to use this as a tool to sell more of their game, so it should be available to everyone on Xbox to give the game the maximum exposure.
 

THE DUCK

voted poster of the decade by bots
I don't like this if it's only available on Game Pass. In my opinion it's really dumb and pretty useless if that's the case. It doesn't really offer enough value to be a feature in a paid sub service. I feel like it cheapens Game Pass.

Since participation is voluntary on Xbox, I would guess the devs that do participate have a decent game and aren't ashamed of it. I bet they would like to use this as a tool to sell more of their game, so it should be available to everyone on Xbox to give the game the maximum exposure.

I can agree with this in general, but publishers just were not seeing enough value in it or they would have been doing it already. I'd rather have it then have nothing - what we have now wasn't likely to change.
 

Mr Moose

Member
So you not having any facts means mine are invalid? Ok.
What facts? You said most Xbox users are on GamePass, prove it or stop pulling facts out of your ass.

https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/26/22250795/xbox-game-pass-subscribers-growth-microsoft
On an earnings call today, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella also revealed that Xbox Live has more than 100 million monthly active users.

You made the claim, now you prove it.
 

CatLady

Selfishly plays on Xbox Purr-ies X
I can agree with this in general, but publishers just were not seeing enough value in it or they would have been doing it already. I'd rather have it then have nothing - what we have now wasn't likely to change.
In the article it states Xbox is compensating the studios that enroll in the program, so that should encourage more to join up:
Developers that choose to enroll in the project will not only get the necessary data needed for game development, but Microsoft will reportedly also be compensating developers for participating (exact details not disclosed).
I mainly don't want to see it listed as a feature of Game Pass, it's just too cheesy compared to all the really excellent features Game Pass offers.
 
Demos belong as part of the G3(Great Garbage Gyre) mobile freemium ocean.
Drowning as I sort through my library removing demo's that were downloaded over the years.

I can turn almost any game into a demo by typing into Google the game I'm interested in and up comes dozens of people playing the game.
I can usually get the gist.
 

THE DUCK

voted poster of the decade by bots
What facts? You said most Xbox users are on GamePass, prove it or stop pulling facts out of your ass.

https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/26/22250795/xbox-game-pass-subscribers-growth-microsoft


You made the claim, now you prove it.

The fact is we don't have updated data. What you have quoted is almost a year and half old at this point. My point was that my "facts" are just as good as yours. It's basically conjecture on both sides, at least I can admit it.
 

Mr Moose

Member
The fact is we don't have updated data. What you have quoted is almost a year and half old at this point. My point was that my "facts" are just as good as yours. It's basically conjecture on both sides, at least I can admit it.
So then you have nothing? You didn't provide any facts at all.
R reksveks Do you have any up to date XBL monthly active user numbers?
 
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bitbydeath

Member
I don't like this if it's only available on Game Pass. In my opinion it's really dumb and pretty useless if that's the case. It doesn't really offer enough value to be a feature in a paid sub service. I feel like it cheapens Game Pass.

Since participation is voluntary on Xbox, I would guess the devs that do participate have a decent game and aren't ashamed of it. I bet they would like to use this as a tool to sell more of their game, so it should be available to everyone on Xbox to give the game the maximum exposure.
It’s probably a carrot and stick situation.
Demos have dried up for years, paying the devs incentivises them to put something up, which can help drive sales benefiting both MS/Sony and the devs.

They shouldn’t need to do this but apparently they do.
 
Sad its taken so long for demos to see some kind of comeback. I remember on Ps3/360 gen there was tons of demos.

On PlayStation you need a premium membership for the demos?
 
They shouldn’t need to do this but apparently they do.
They completely HAVE to do this. Demo's are bad. They suck the life out of game sales. If your trying to sell a game do not make a demo.
Actually playing a game has dire consequences for you buying or skipping.
Watching someone play is better than actually playing it yourself.
I watched lots of videos on Youtube of people playing Elden Ring and thought, hey that looks great I can do that I'm going to buy the game.
I bought the game.
Had I played a demo of Elden Ring I would know pretty darn quick that I can NOT play the game and I would not have bought it.
Now I'm doing my best not to waste my money and Git Good.
 
It’s probably a carrot and stick situation.
Demos have dried up for years, paying the devs incentivises them to put something up, which can help drive sales benefiting both MS/Sony and the devs.

They shouldn’t need to do this but apparently they do.
There are still demos. SquareEnix puts outs a lot and they are awesome, because they basically give you the first few hours of the game and let you carry progress into the main game.

Dragon Quest XI gave you the first 10 hours for free. That's longer than some AAA games take to complete.
 
Sad its taken so long for demos to see some kind of comeback. I remember on Ps3/360 gen there was tons of demos.

On PlayStation you need a premium membership for the demos?
There are demos on PlayStation now, just like Xbox and Switch.

What's included on PS+ is basically a period of time to play the start of any game under the program. I assume it will be similar for GamePass.
 

bitbydeath

Member
They completely HAVE to do this. Demo's are bad. They suck the life out of game sales. If your trying to sell a game do not make a demo.
Actually playing a game has dire consequences for you buying or skipping.
Watching someone play is better than actually playing it yourself.
I watched lots of videos on Youtube of people playing Elden Ring and thought, hey that looks great I can do that I'm going to buy the game.
I bought the game.
Had I played a demo of Elden Ring I would know pretty darn quick that I can NOT play the game and I would not have bought it.
Now I'm doing my best not to waste my money and Git Good.
I remember playing the Final Fantasy 10 demo (exaggeratively) 100+ times. Demos can be amazing.
 

bitbydeath

Member
There are still demos. SquareEnix puts outs a lot and they are awesome, because they basically give you the first few hours of the game and let you carry progress into the main game.

Dragon Quest XI gave you the first 10 hours for free. That's longer than some AAA games take to complete.
Yeah, most devs don’t bother though.
 

Three

Member
So if the demo's are free and not behide a pay wall and the developer is compensated then this becomes good?
If the other thread is anything to go by apparently not because it's extra work for devs and people don't buy the game anymore after they play a demo. They apparently buy games they play on gamepass once it leaves though, go figure.
 

Starcheif

Member
If the other thread is anything to go by apparently not because it's extra work for devs and people don't buy the game anymore after they play a demo. They apparently buy games they play on gamepass once it leaves though, go figure.
I'll never understand some of the view points on Neogaf but to me Demo's help people try games they normally would not have ever tryed.
 
If the other thread is anything to go by apparently not because it's extra work for devs and people don't buy the game anymore after they play a demo. They apparently buy games they play on gamepass once it leaves though, go figure.
Demo's are not a 'game' it's only a piece.
Imagine that free to play mobile game Diablo Imortal only allowing you to play up to the first boss. Would you buy a microtransaction?
Gamepass is similar. I played the entire F'n game and now I want it.
vs
I played a level in a demo that was neat F'it, never touching that again.
 

Lognor

Banned
Oh yeah, has that been confirmed officially?

You seem salty, just enjoy sweet sweet demos like we all wanted, if true.

“Will somebody think of those monetizing devs… fuck the consumer” - corporate cheerleaders, literally
No, but it makes the most sense. Who is going nuts for demos anyway? You were. Are you not anymore because of this rumor? I laughed about demos being a benefit to a subscription service. I laugh again.
 
I will only warm to the idea of a demo when we get metacritic scores for demos.
That demo was a 89 on the metacritic. I'm going to try out that demo.
 

recursive

Member
I love a great console war thread but this is not. Warriors dying on the field of battle over demos is pretty fucking stupid. They are demos. Who gives a shit. Lets get back to shitting on halos graphics and sonys walking simulators.
 

Clintizzle

Lord of Edge.
I have mixed feelings about Demos. Was super useful for me to play 2-3 hours of BF2042 for free to see how good the games is and save spending $100. Otherwise, I don't think I have the time or have ever thought "Oh this game might be good, let me try the demo first"
 

reksveks

Member
So then you have nothing? You didn't provide any facts at all.
R reksveks Do you have any up to date XBL monthly active user numbers?
Sadly not.

A part of the reason that I haven't looked, is cause of the definition of xbox live is one that incorporate alot of platforms aka minecraft on switch etc. It is not a bad thing but it makes its own unique metric in the gaming space.
 

Stuart360

Member
Why do the developers need to be compensated? Demos exist to convince people to buy the game.
Exactly. We iused to get demo's all the time for most games, on cd's with game mags etc. Why did publishers stop doing demo's when its a consumer friendly thing?, and why now are publishers being paid to do it?.
Its stupid.
 

StreetsofBeige

Gold Member
Exactly. We iused to get demo's all the time for most games, on cd's with game mags etc. Why did publishers stop doing demo's when its a consumer friendly thing?, and why now are publishers being paid to do it?.
Its stupid.
The pushback people say on the internet seem to be these when this topic comes up. Take your pick

1. Demos take a lot of time and resources to make
2. It can be a shit demo, so it turns off people (better to get gamer sales buyer beware style)
3. Gamers dont care about demos because they can just watch YT videos

Probably the only industry in the world where a company doesn't want to do demos even though it doesn't sound that hard to take a cut of a game and digitally release it for millions to try.

For everything else in the world that isn't software, demos and samples are literally physical testing which takes a shit load of money for demo people, kiosk fees, free products with costs. Even a free sample size cereal box probably has a cost of 50 cents per freebie.

Companies would love to do it, but it costs a lot of money.
 
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DeepEnigma

Gold Member
The pushback people say on the internet seem to be these when this topic comes up. Take your pick

1. Demos take a lot of time and resources to make
2. It can be a shit demo, so it turns off people (better to get gamer sales buyer beware style)
3. Gamers dont care about demos because they can just watch YT videos

Probably the only industry in the world where a company doesn't want to do demos even though it doesn't sound that hard to take a cut of a game and digitally release it for millions to try.

For everything else in the world that isn't software, demos and samples are literally physical testing which takes a shit load of money for demo people, kiosk fees, free products with costs. Even a free sample size cereal box probably has a cost of 50 cents per freebie.

Companies would love to do it, but it costs a lot of money.
But this takes no time at all. As described in the PS thread on this, they will use the timed trial timer that exists on the OS level that both Xbox and PS has, and have used themselves, and EA Play uses. It’s literally in the firmware.

No creation of a separate demo, just a timed trial of your full game.
 
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Shmunter

Member
Games demos would be amazing if one can depend on being able to sample everything. Ala, old days of Xbox arcade.

Much better proposition for consumers and the industry than a selection of shelf fillers on all you can eat.

I reserve the right to my opinion.
 

adamsapple

Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
I know, It is impressive how the narrative is constantly changing... actually it is not impressive anymore, It always happens. Most people here are becoming predictable.

One is a mandatory requirement for games in a certain price threshold.

The other is an opt in program for developers, and those who opt in will be given financial compensation and is mainly targeted towards indy developers.

Even the extremely little we know about this makes it clear how different this is from Sony's approach to the topic.

I know we love dogpiling and all, but just a little bit of reading goes a long way.
 
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DeepEnigma

Gold Member
One is a mandatory requirement for games in a certain price threshold.

The other is an opt in program for developers, and those who opt in will be given financial compensation and is mainly targeted towards indy developers.

Even the extremely little we know about this makes it clear how different this is from Sony's approach to the topic.

I know we love dogpiling and all, but just a little bit of reading goes a long way.
“Will someone think of the monetization industry!”

How about we all want devs to put that pretty little OS level timer on their games.

That would be PRO CONSUMER.
 
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