onnextflix5
Member
Hold ur hat, no one knows if they are going make any profit from gamepass, but hats off to them for trying something different. Hope they susceed, as need we competition.
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Honest Question: Do you believe Xbox Series could have been competitive this generation without gamepass?
- Thread starter remember_spinal
- Start date
- Opinion
Magic Carpet
Member
Nope.
Can you imagine where they would be right now with only this new Halo?
I also would not have played Forza as Im not a tacing dude.
I would have bought Psychonauts 2 on Playstation.
Its bleak to think but Gamepass is Xbox.
They should just completely rebrand from Xbox to Gamepass.
The Microsoft Gamepass Series X.
Can you imagine where they would be right now with only this new Halo?
I also would not have played Forza as Im not a tacing dude.
I would have bought Psychonauts 2 on Playstation.
Its bleak to think but Gamepass is Xbox.
They should just completely rebrand from Xbox to Gamepass.
The Microsoft Gamepass Series X.
DarkMage619
$MSFT
Until Sony start putting their big titles on their service day and date the services really aren't in competition. There is no evidence people are subscribing to Sony's service in greater numbers than MS's. There is a reason that even with a smaller number a consoles sold, something MS isn't tied to, MS still had more Game pass subs. Subscription services never really took off on PlayStation, see PS Now. The comments about the number of first party releases is pretty silly too seeing how Game pass gets lots of day one 3rd party titles as well. MS has never relied on their first party studios for success.
Banjo64
cumsessed
What did you start last gen with Bernd? PS4?
64bitmodels
Reverse groomer.
ah yes, the Original Xbox and Xbox 360 succeeded totally because of their.... third party games. it wasn't because of any big franchise Xbox had, no they just coasted along just fine with 0 first party. It's not like they had this big, revolutionary shooter franchise in their lineup that bolstered the sales of their console, nooooooo
Yumi
Member
Nope. If they made all the recent acquisitions 5 years ago, and all those developers made new games that landed within 2 years of the release of the series consoles that may have competed, theoretically speaking.
Wether or not Gamepass is financially successful I think still remains to be seen. But it has been successful in keeping Microsoft and Xbox competitive in the console space. And ultimately, I think it’s set them up in a stronger position for the future.
They would have been steam rolled by Sony and Nintendo without it, in my opinion.
Wether or not Gamepass is financially successful I think still remains to be seen. But it has been successful in keeping Microsoft and Xbox competitive in the console space. And ultimately, I think it’s set them up in a stronger position for the future.
They would have been steam rolled by Sony and Nintendo without it, in my opinion.
Bernd Lauert
Banned
Bought the PS4 mid gen, but yeah.
SmokedMeat
Gamer™
Xbox was never competitive in my eyes, and I always preferred PlayStation simply because they put out way better games.
Being competitive with Series depends on whether they’d buy Bethesda if Game Pass didn’t exist?
With Bethesda I feel they’re very competitive. I mean, you’re talking Doom, Wolfenstein, Rage, Arkane’s stuff, Elder Scrolls, Fallout, etc…it’s a massive shot in the arm for them.
Being competitive with Series depends on whether they’d buy Bethesda if Game Pass didn’t exist?
With Bethesda I feel they’re very competitive. I mean, you’re talking Doom, Wolfenstein, Rage, Arkane’s stuff, Elder Scrolls, Fallout, etc…it’s a massive shot in the arm for them.
lostinblue
Banned
If all of them were exclusive, firing on all cylinders and basically doing their best work... Then yes, people couldn't ignore them so they either bought the console or had to skip it.
If we think about it, that's what happened with X360, Halo, Gears, Forza, Fable to name a few. Now imagine if that generation Rage, Dishonored, Fallout 3, Fallout New Vegas, Elder Scrolls Oblivion and Skyrim were exclusive as well.
The issue we have now is that Halo and Gears are stale. Elder Scrolls 6 is still ways of, and might not deliver, Fallout 5 is coming after Elder Scrolls 6 so gen after this one (
), Dishonored 3 is not coming anytime soon, new Doom? Or Quake reboot? Will it be good?With the way they manage studios they'd need a lot of luck for so many things to go right at once.
DarkMage619
$MSFT
Check the sales charts. Xbox is not known for their first party. I saw how you left out X1. That was just the last generation and when you have go back 2 generations to make a point you don't have a good one. Halo, Gears, and Forza, were the mantra. Those games are hardly setting the world on fire although Forza is still dominant. The biggest titles are Call of Duty, Fortnite, and Madden. Game pass is a far bigger deal than MS's first party games.
ah yes, the Original Xbox and Xbox 360 succeeded totally because of their.... third party games. it wasn't because of any big franchise Xbox had, no they just coasted along just fine with 0 first party. It's not like they had this big, revolutionary shooter franchise in their lineup that bolstered the sales of their console, nooooooo
How else do you think they were successful even when they didn't launch the Series consoles with tentpole first party titles. You realize MS and the other platforms are conducting business differently right? Subs are MS' domain. Traditional consoles sales are what Sony and Nintendo are doing. They don't have to copy each other and there isn't any sign other companies are going to beat MS at the sub game right now just like MS did win at the console sales game.
Ghost of Caelid
Banned
Need to know the attach rate. I’m sure it’s pretty high. I think they would be in a better place being that games like starfield are exclusive but gamepass lead to people going from Xbox one to XsX already loyal to the ecosystem in part of gamepass. So they would be still better off than they were in the Xbone generation but worse of then they are now tracking the numbers of the 360 generation.
TheGodfather07
Member
No. Gamepass is what reinvigorated the brand from where it was. Gamepass is what xbox is now.
MegaBustet
Member
Not at all. I bought one specifically for gamepass as did a few other friends. It's totally a gamepass machine.
Lognor
Banned
Game pass (and switch) really reinvigorated my love of gaming. I didn't own an Xbox one or ps4 and was gaming less and less, but signed up for gp on a whim for pc since it was like $1 for 3 months and realized how amazing it was. Then I decided to get a series x solely because of game pass. Haven't regretted it at all! And now I'm subbed through the end of next year
CamHostage
Member
Xbox Series X alone? Maybe not. (Also, "Xbox Series", such a terrible title for a game console, that couldn't help...)
But Xbox Series S is key IMO. It's cheaper, it's plenty powerful (just at a lower resolution,) it's not the size of an air conditioner (or, in the PS5's case, a very big air conditioner,) it's easily expandable, it's simple to use and to connect up with friends, it plays pretty much all the Xbox games you own... and you can get Call of Duty for it, which is all that really matters to a lot of kids is that their favorite game is on the box. And then, if you want to brag to your friends that you're elite and they're poor, you can get Xbox Series X and feel special for having the best Xbox that they made.
Xbox Game Studios has frustratingly let down its audience with massive exclusives which build brand loyalty and rewards gamers for their purchase with experiences they couldn't get anywhere else (although Sony has struggled on that same vanguard too,) but Xbox itself is as solid a buy as ever. Game Pass sweetens the deal, but if you're buying an Xbox for Apex Legends and Minecraft and Overwatch and Rocket League and stuff like that, your wallet isn't that much different.
So it kind of depends IMO what we call "competitive". They're not beating PlayStation even with Game Pass, so without it, surely it would have been worse. But devastatingly worse? From a gamer's perspective (it'd clearly be worse from a MS stockholders' perspective,) if there were no Subscription Wars and this gen was the same as every other gen, I'm not sure how lopsided it really would have been.
But Xbox Series S is key IMO. It's cheaper, it's plenty powerful (just at a lower resolution,) it's not the size of an air conditioner (or, in the PS5's case, a very big air conditioner,) it's easily expandable, it's simple to use and to connect up with friends, it plays pretty much all the Xbox games you own... and you can get Call of Duty for it, which is all that really matters to a lot of kids is that their favorite game is on the box. And then, if you want to brag to your friends that you're elite and they're poor, you can get Xbox Series X and feel special for having the best Xbox that they made.
Xbox Game Studios has frustratingly let down its audience with massive exclusives which build brand loyalty and rewards gamers for their purchase with experiences they couldn't get anywhere else (although Sony has struggled on that same vanguard too,) but Xbox itself is as solid a buy as ever. Game Pass sweetens the deal, but if you're buying an Xbox for Apex Legends and Minecraft and Overwatch and Rocket League and stuff like that, your wallet isn't that much different.
So it kind of depends IMO what we call "competitive". They're not beating PlayStation even with Game Pass, so without it, surely it would have been worse. But devastatingly worse? From a gamer's perspective (it'd clearly be worse from a MS stockholders' perspective,) if there were no Subscription Wars and this gen was the same as every other gen, I'm not sure how lopsided it really would have been.
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Iced Arcade
Member
hard to tell seeing the whole divison has been molded around.
also off topic... ask a mod to fix that name Spina L
also off topic... ask a mod to fix that name Spina L
Rhazer Fusion
Member
No and yes.
No because the lack of quality exclusives and having the same games as Sony would definitely make the console look less appealing. Even if you are considering both consoles and only play third party games, the idea of having some more highly rated, critically acclaimed first party choices, more Japanese and indie games could push consumers to the PS5.
Yes because the XBOX Series consoles are new hardware and if you cant get find a PS5, it’s the next best thing with mostly similar games, graphics and performance. Basically, a third party machine and they essentially have all the games that appeal to the masses.
No because the lack of quality exclusives and having the same games as Sony would definitely make the console look less appealing. Even if you are considering both consoles and only play third party games, the idea of having some more highly rated, critically acclaimed first party choices, more Japanese and indie games could push consumers to the PS5.
Yes because the XBOX Series consoles are new hardware and if you cant get find a PS5, it’s the next best thing with mostly similar games, graphics and performance. Basically, a third party machine and they essentially have all the games that appeal to the masses.
Hendrick's
If only my penis was as big as my GamerScore!
No
Syphon Filter
Member
As of now they arent competitive. we will see in a few years.
ChorizoPicozo
Member
Just one example of how fucked up was/is MS management/production:
Remember when MS released the most powerful console ever made (Xbone X)
It was released with PUBG as a selling point(which ran like shit)
PS4 Pro was released with Horizon Zero Down.
Remember when MS released the most powerful console ever made (Xbone X)
It was released with PUBG as a selling point(which ran like shit)
PS4 Pro was released with Horizon Zero Down.
TheShocker
Member
I’ve been an Xbox guy since the originals launch. But at this point in the life cycle, game pass is one of the few things Microsoft is offering to keep me invested in my Series X. I think that if I paid full price for the steaming pile of shit that is Halo Infinite MP, I would have walked away from the console all together.
Gambit2483
Member
Not a chance in hell. Even with Gamepass they are still trailing behind in most regions
adamsapple
Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
Horizon released a few months after Pro came out.
Let's keep the over-enthusiasm in check.
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JohnnyFootball
GerAlt-Right. Ciriously.
Yes, if they had competent first party development, and had 2-3 big exclusives a year like Sony and they were solid games. MS solution is to throw amoney at everything and hope that fixes their issues. Money doesn’t solve poor leadership and sadly instead of Bethesda bringing Xbox up, I’m more inclined to believe MS will bring Bethesda down.
ChorizoPicozo
Member
It was marketed (press event) with horizon.Horizon released a few months after Pro came out.
Let's keep the over-enthusiasm in check.
PUBG was the Xbone X "big game", I think it was supposed to be Crackdown 3
.The point still stands.
You sell hardware with software. And when you marketing is: "the most powerful console ever made" and the game that was supposed to show that, is something like PUBG...yikes
Stuart360
Member
Thats a weird post as PUBG was arguably the biggest game on the planet back when thre OneX launched.
As for the question from the OP. I think Xbox would of done fine in 2021, but yeah they would of struggled this year without Gamepass.
Gamepass is def making up for the lack of first party games this year (and the lack of third party games too to be fair, what a shitty year this has been for games).
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Gambit2483
Member
But by that same token MS has ultimately trapped themselves into a corner.
Publishers no longer want to put their games on Xbox unless they get that Gamepass bag
And consumers are being trained to NOT actually buy software for the system anymore.
So that means Xbox will literally live or die off the strength of a subscription service. A subscription service thats sustainability can be debated/questioned.
How long before game budgets shrink or Gamepass subscription fees skyrocket in order to maintain profitability? The later is fine...if you're the only game (no pun intended) in town but if there's other options....
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alabtrosMyster
Banned
I have a friend who got scammed into buying one thinking there would be "day and date" games made by all these studios...
Edgelord79
Gold Member
Obviously not.
No dissertation needed.
No dissertation needed.
ChorizoPicozo
Member
And it ran like shit. And it wasn't a looker either and more importantly wasn't First-Party.
I bet it was like panic decision.
This is from memory:
We all know their incredible shitstorm they had PR/Marketing wise before the console Xbone was even out.
When it released, it was more expensive and several games ran worst. I remember a meme of 900p and even 720p.
BUT it had more games in the (lunch window). meme was: PlayStation 4 haz no gamez. One of the horizon games came out and it was incredible especially against DriveClub.
I don't really remember exactly when things starting to get worst for Xbox.
But I remember MS cancelling like 4 games and some of them were like vaporware or not what people were expecting.
This was one of the lowest point of MS. It was really bad.
Then you had one E3 when MS introduced their backwards compatibility and after that Game Pass.
BC and Game Pass were for several years doing the hard job of keeping Xbox afloat.
This is where the meme of "Next Year" came to be.... which still is relevant (this is insane)
Of course the green rats were/are evangelizing Game Pass like Jehovah's Witnesses....but it was after Outrides that I start to feel an infection point in which Game Pass starting to actually turn the narrative.
I think it was because of combination of factors:
1. Day one or pretty close to it (I don't remember).
2. Kind of a big game.
3. It felt like coming to Game Pass gave a game a second chance of succeeding.
Right now when I think of Xbox I think of Game Pass; they are synonyms in my mind.
TheGreatMusashi
Member
I think it definitely would, parents would buy it for their kids. Its a great Fortnite, Apex, Warzone box. It’s the new 360 Arcade edition but it’s better.
ThatOneGrunt
Member
I don't think so.
I have never been able to understand why Microsoft just can't seem to cultivate successful IP's. They have so many strong ones. But when they release, they're always mediocre. Something within the culture of Microsoft just stifles the development.
I have never been able to understand why Microsoft just can't seem to cultivate successful IP's. They have so many strong ones. But when they release, they're always mediocre. Something within the culture of Microsoft just stifles the development.
Iced Arcade
Member
from strickly a business sense.... why would ya? every console is sold as fast as ya can produce it.
Lognor
Banned
Publishers don't want to put games on Xbox with getting the game pass bag? What the heck are you talking about? Please tell me which games have skipped xbox because they weren't offered the game pass bag? It never happened. You literally just made that up. Like lol
