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Pred: Microsoft may announce an Xbox Series S price cut to $269.99 at gamescom (links incl.)

UltimaKilo

Gold Member
I would like to see the breakdown of PC Gamepass subscribers vs. console Gamepass subscribers. I think the great majority of those subscribers are from the consoles, hence why MS is so aggressive with the Xbox series S pricing. Unfortunately, we may never know since MS is so secretive with numbers for obvious reasons.

Still, doesn't change the fact that hardware sales don't matter was such an absurd statement. Every sale matters, no matter from where it comes, be it from consoles, PC, or other means. Sounds more like sour grapes from being outsold by the competition by a large margin ( more than 2x from their own mouths).
It matters, and yet it doesn't really for Microsoft; they're playing the (very) long-game. They're a huge company who's gaming division is such a small sliver, not quite an afterthought, but might as well be, that reporting losses is not worth it when the story should be positive growth of overall earnings.

They division is likely in the red, but they're really focused on 10-15 years from now by making video games a service, and a part of their ecosystem. That's worth much, much more than some physical hardware sales to them. It's why Apple doesn't release sales numbers on so many products i.e. HomePod, or even hardware sales of the iPhone.

So you see, for Microsoft, it doesn't really matter. For Nintendo, or even Sony (gaming division is their largest division now), it's everything.
 

ReBurn

Gold Member
I would like to see the breakdown of PC Gamepass subscribers vs. console Gamepass subscribers. I think the great majority of those subscribers are from the consoles, hence why MS is so aggressive with the Xbox series S pricing. Unfortunately, we may never know since MS is so secretive with numbers for obvious reasons.

Still, doesn't change the fact that hardware sales don't matter was such an absurd statement. Every sale matters, no matter from where it comes, be it from consoles, PC, or other means. Sounds more like sour grapes from being outsold by the competition by a large margin ( more than 2x from their own mouths).
Feels like a meaningless metric if we're being honest. There's really not a lot of reason to buy console Gamepass when you consider what you get for 5 bucks more by going ultimate. The inclusion of online play, EA Play and cloud gaming makes GP Ultimate the better option even for console only players. I guess if you don't like EA Play, cloud streaming or online play console Gamepass is ok. But it would be dumb to do Gold + console Gamepass unless you just hate options.
 
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Panajev2001a

GAF's Pleasant Genius
It matters, and yet it doesn't really for Microsoft; they're playing the (very) long-game. They're a huge company who's gaming division is such a small sliver, not quite an afterthought, but might as well be, that reporting losses is not worth it when the story should be positive growth of overall earnings.

They division is likely in the red, but they're really focused on 10-15 years from now by making video games a service, and a part of their ecosystem. That's worth much, much more than some physical hardware sales to them. It's why Apple doesn't release sales numbers on so many products i.e. HomePod, or even hardware sales of the iPhone.

So you see, for Microsoft, it doesn't really matter. For Nintendo, or even Sony (gaming division is their largest division now), it's everything.
When you say it like that what I hear you are saying is that when Nintendo and Sony go against MS hoping that MS sells similar console and game numbers for the sake of competition is actually anti competition as MS is not nearly as dependent on their product succeeding (being competitive) to fund it ;).

Thanks Riky Riky for the reaction score boost :).
 
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Now that Sony has increased the PS5 price, i could actually see this happening and MS announcing a price drop for the Series S.

"While our competition increases the price and barrier to enter, we continue to lower"
 
Now that Sony has increased the PS5 price, i could actually see this happening and MS announcing a price drop for the Series S.

"While our competition increases the price and barrier to enter, we continue to lower"
Would be more impactful on Series X. The S is already the cheapest and the constant enticement of seeing the -10% sale might be more important than actually reducing the price and make the same number the regular price.

But imho not outside the realm of possibilities that MS surprises with 249 and 399, maybe add a year of GP too, for shits and giggles, and continue their aggressive long term moves.
 
Would be more impactful on Series X. The S is already the cheapest and the constant enticement of seeing the -10% sale might be more important than actually reducing the price and make the same number the regular price.

But imho not outside the realm of possibilities that MS surprises with 249 and 399, maybe add a year of GP too, for shits and giggles, and continue their aggressive long term moves.
Yes, but there is no room on the Series X.
The X is probably still selling at a slight loss, while the S at $299 is break even or even making a profit.
 
Yes, but there is no room on the Series X.
The X is probably still selling at a slight loss, while the S at $299 is break even or even making a profit.
It's not like MS is avoiding to lose money to gain market share this gen. Only the Gold price increase joke did not align with their current aggressive expansion.
While I don't think any adjustment of both Series' price is necessary to have success this gen, finally get back where they lost track in the 360 era, it is not impossible that they use Sonys blunder to increase the pressure hugely. Currently the Series X starts to be readily on stock, and only Sony increasing will not immediately change anything for Sony since their demand is high enough, but just imagine if MS drops both prices and their demand then probably jumps while Sony suddenly becomes less attractive to even loyal Sony people (me). Selling at a slight loss if you get more consoles in the hands of people, who then buy games, outweighs the negative. "Lose" some money now but get it back as soon as 2+ games are sold. Selling at loss is more risky with a wii type of system, where many buyers are people just wanting one or two games (wii sports and wii fit) and that's it, but the average XBox or PS owner buys a couple of games through their ownership.
 

DaGwaphics

Member
honestly, the system was overpriced so far IMO. the low storage made it a really hard sell as getting the console + more storage made is basically as expensive as a Series X

That's almost more of an issue of the addon storage being excessively priced, tbh. I grabbed a used 1TB card off of CL for just a bit less than half price, and I still don't feel like I got a killer deal, that says a lot. However, I was getting by fine with the 512GB. That is only a problem if you play a lot of different games at the same time.
 
With current market conditions the XSS continues to look like a genius move. Having its price drop when other entertainment products are increasing in price will make this an even easier purchase. Here's hoping it expands the overall gaming market, gets more people gaming and more developers creating new titles.
 

UltimaKilo

Gold Member
When you say it like that what I hear you are saying is that when Nintendo and Sony go against MS hoping that MS sells similar console and game numbers for the sake of competition is actually anti competition as MS is not nearly as dependent on their product succeeding (being competitive) to fund it ;).
Kind of, actually. For Microsoft, it’s more about keeping you in the ecosystem. This is one of the reasons I think Apple would do well to dip their toes further into video games, maybe with a new Apple TV? They shouldn’t have their customers go elsewhere to play large AAA video games.
 
honestly, the system was overpriced so far IMO. the low storage made it a really hard sell as getting the console + more storage made is basically as expensive as a Series X
I wouldn't sat it was overpriced, but I don't know why anyone serious about gaming would buy one. Just buy the good one, you cheap bastards.
 

Banjo64

cumsessed
With current market conditions the XSS continues to look like a genius move. Having its price drop when other entertainment products are increasing in price will make this an even easier purchase. Here's hoping it expands the overall gaming market, gets more people gaming and more developers creating new titles.
For anyone who has to choose where to invest their money I couldn’t recommend a better combo than the Switch OLED and Series S in the £500 ball park.
 
Kind of, actually. For Microsoft, it’s more about keeping you in the ecosystem. This is one of the reasons I think Apple would do well to dip their toes further into video games, maybe with a new Apple TV? They shouldn’t have their customers go elsewhere to play large AAA video games.

Apple is not going to invest in the traditional gaming software market. Apple TV also wouldn't be strong enough unless the bump the specs which would make it $1000+ and no one would buy it.

Well, with the competition raising their prices, that's an ipso facto price cut right there!

I don't speak Korean but I will say that it does make the S look more enticing. lol.

I wouldn't sat it was overpriced, but I don't know why anyone serious about gaming would buy one. Just buy the good one, you cheap bastards.

People who don't have 4K TV's, or don't want to spend $500? not all the people serious with gaming can just take $500 out their bank, or go get a payday loan.
 
People who don't have 4K TV's, or don't want to spend $500? not all the people serious with gaming can just take $500 out their bank, or go get a payday loan.
If you can't afford a 4K TV today, then there is a console for you.

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Seriously, do thry even sell TVs that aren't at least 4K anymore? Even at Walmart, they are dirt cheap TVs, all 4K.
 
If you can't afford a 4K TV today, then there is a console for you.

lAxZMqw.jpg


Seriously, do thry even sell TVs that aren't at least 4K anymore? Even at Walmart, they are dirt cheap TVs, all 4K.

Many stores sell TV's that aren't 4K, and many of the cheaper ones or the ones people get on sell aren't.

4K still hasn't reached standard status yet in homes, it's 40% of US estimated and less than 30% WW iirc. This is made more complicated with the real vs. fake 4K issue, where you want a 4K TV with the technology behind it, and preferably HDR or Dolby Vision, and not just a TV that says 4K on the box but barely provides a better picture than 1440 (rare) or 1080p.

it was only in 2018 where articles still questioning when 4K will become mainstream were frequent, I believe people would be surprised at how slow 4K adoption has been, and the prices haven't really dropped to a mass market low either like 720 and 1080 did.
 
Many stores sell TV's that aren't 4K, and many of the cheaper ones or the ones people get on sell aren't.

4K still hasn't reached standard status yet in homes, it's 40% of US estimated and less than 30% WW iirc. This is made more complicated with the real vs. fake 4K issue, where you want a 4K TV with the technology behind it, and preferably HDR or Dolby Vision, and not just a TV that says 4K on the box but barely provides a better picture than 1440 (rare) or 1080p.

it was only in 2018 where articles still questioning when 4K will become mainstream were frequent, I believe people would be surprised at how slow 4K adoption has been, and the prices haven't really dropped to a mass market low either like 720 and 1080 did.
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But where are the exclusives games? How is a gaming console the best when they dont release games?
This only matters to PC centric gamers. It doesn't matter to someone who is just looking for a deal so that they can open the door and put one foot into current gen games. To those people, this is a bargain and exclusives don't matter.
 

Sleepwalker

Gold Member
But where are the exclusives games? How is a gaming console the best when they dont release games?
There are plenty of games, wether you like them or not is another matter completely.


Plus, I'm sorry to burst your bubble, the majority of gaming happens in 3rd party territory, you can get a series S as a dedicated COD/FIFA/Fortnite/Apex box, as a casual thats a hell of a deal.
 

The reality is people aren't buying those TV's in mass. There's also a higher configuration of 4K Tv's on sale that dind't happen with 720p and 1080p TV's which all had a standard. There isn't a standard for 4K.

4K can be stretcher 1080P tv's, 4K Tv's with no technology behind them. 4K Tv's with outdated display tech. 4K displays with current HDR or Dolbyvision, 4K Displays with outdated forms of HDR, 4K TV's, that may or may not have build in standard cable channels, 4K tv's that have varying pixel quality despite being the same resolution etc.

For most 720 and 1080 TV's this wasn't a common problem.

The minimum for the better 4K Tv's that are at least serviceable are $750 or more, not including sale prices.

Separately, there's brand perception, TCL TV's are inconsistent, they are also not sold everywhere and some people and have never even heard of them before. Those who have may not want to give them a chance based on word of mouth.

4K TV adoption hasn't become common place for a reason. It may take another year or two before we see over 50% US and over 40% worldwide. Probably at the same time we start seeing more phone manufacturers push 2160p screens and apps actually have support for them.
 
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Ansphn

Member
There are plenty of games, wether you like them or not is another matter completely.


Plus, I'm sorry to burst your bubble, the majority of gaming happens in 3rd party territory, you can get a series S as a dedicated COD/FIFA/Fortnite/Apex box, as a casual thats a hell of a deal.
Then what's the point of buying an Xbox if 3rd party is the most important. Might as well buy a Playstation or PC.
 

Kerotan

Member
Paying more = GOOD
Paying less = BAD

I think I need a bit of time to get used to those new rules, they feel a bit counter-intuitive to be honest.
Not a good look in terms of business. MS would only cut the price if they feel they need to. Demand ain't that high if they're pulling these moves.
 
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