Microsoft announced it has signed a 10-year agreement with European cloud gaming platform Nware. The deal will bring all Xbox games on PC to the cloud gaming platform, as well as Activision Blizzard games if the deal closes.
Regarding Microsoft’s position in the broader game industry, it seems we have our answer: It’s now a publisher first, a subscription platform second, and a console hardware platform a distant third.
when i hear people use the word "exclusive"... all I can think of is the princess bride: https://youtu.be/dTRKCXC0JF...
I would really like for you to expound on this comment.
I assume we both know what exclusive means, but what do you think it infers when utilized in the discussion of games now?
You have pure exclusives, only on one platform no where else. Then you have platform exclusives, available across a family of platforms (such as PS consoles or Xbox consoles). After that you have console exclusives, it's on PC and/or mobile and on a single console system. Then we have timed exclusives, those fall in one of the above but are limited in how long they will last as such.
Understanding that, why do you think the author doesn't understand the word "exclusive"? Do you think it's because everyone should know that games going to Xbox and PC on Day One is what we mean by exclusive now in industry related terms? Do you just ignore that there exist actual exclusives, especially on PC and Nintendo Switch?
Then let's go further in the article where the author said:
"Xbox hardware, and its attitude to console exclusivity for Microsoft-owned games remains ambivalent at best."
Is this the bit you are referencing? Is it a wrong statement? I feel that's up to opinion. But obviously they understand the discussion is about games going only to Xbox and PC. Do they not understand that games like CoD Back Ops 6, Sea of Thieves, DOOM, Fallout 76 being Microsoft developed titles going 'everywhere' they would have if owned by a third-party?
I think they do. And I think this is the crux of their opinion. I feel they are looking at all of this potential power Microsoft is wielding and how they are wielding it. They aren't taking those massive games and making them a foundation to sell their hardware. They're making them a foundation for selling their subscription service and leaving hardware to flounder with no similar titles that would sell the hardware. Sure, there are a few exclusives, but they are going to PC. And that's always going to hurt them in the discussion of 'hardware support'. And now with these latest games, with more games going to more places than just PC, is it not an accurate statement to say that Microsoft's focus is on Games first, subscription second, hardware somewhere down the line in third?
Would like to hear your response. Thank you.
More like an afterthought. Not even a service. Most gamers around the globe don't care about any of the green ''offerings'' and now that they're going full 3rd party even less.
Ybarra, who spent two decades at Microsoft, acknowledged concerns about the future of Xbox hardware by fans once more first-party games go multiplatform.
As an xbox guy, If porting some exclusives to sony and nintendo allows MS to continue offering gamepass day one, I'm all for it. Port them all if you need to.
Your way of thinking is why Microsoft is where they are. All they had to do was hold the line of the 360 circa 2010. Had the continued with thay strategy they would not have had to introduce gamepass which has spectacularly kneecapped them.
@hof, but then they would still be in the same position as sony, fighting for those same 150 million customers. As a publicly traded company, they still need to show growth. Once sony is day and date on PC, they will also need to find new customers, likely by embracing 3rd party. What you consider "kneecapping" I consider an incredible customer value in gamepass.
Kneecapping the xbox and pc owners are loving it I do t think u telise how popular gamepass is
They were faltering in the last year or two of the 360 era. Don't forget that they doubled down on Kinect, which might be part of the reason why they didn't have much to show going into Xbox One.
But GamePass is not MS' consolation effort; it was always the endgame! MS is all about subscription-based revenue-streams now! They have turned almost all of their businesses into software-as-a-service; only Windows remains. Stay tuned for that one in the next 5 years.
As a consumer, I really get that point of view.
As an ex dev seeing what's happened to the industry I have no doubt that GP is harming the industry I love by devaluing games, so my thoughts are little less positive about it.
I can agree with the sentiment that most of their games should be multi platform. Until they swallowed up these devs, most of the titles we are wating for would have been multi platform anyway.
@ThinkThink
"As an xbox guy, If porting some exclusives to sony and nintendo allows MS to continue offering gamepass day one, I'm all for it. Port them all if you need to."
I won´t say all, but definitely some games I wouldn´t care either as long excellence continues to be delivered to us.
If some then why not all? Think think isn't wrong, his reasoning is quite concise in that yes multi platform brings more funds to develop more games all available day 1 on gamepass, he's happy as Larry.
I still find it funny that Microsoft is spinning its obligations that it has to releasing on other systems as if it is some noble decision. Before they bought the companies they did these games were all in development easily the last 3-5 years and had some type of standing agreement they absorbed.
People are acting like this is a dependency when in reality it’s them just trying to avoid major lawsuits. I am willing to bet any game that’s started development in the last year that would release in the next 5 will eventually be Xbox only unless in the next 5 years Xbox just fails hard.
And with the new skus they released I REALLY don’t foresee them having a huge jump. When now the disc version is a HUGE luxury at 600 with them not even having a physical presence anymore it’s them killing their physical market.
They just need super strong games and consistency. This showcase was the first time since the 360 era where I actually was excited for what Xbox has. I already own a paper weight Xbox Series X, but now it’s looking like it’s time to blow the 3 inch layer of dust off it and give it some loving.
What Xbox needs to do now is be consistent with the releases. Don’t let this be a one time thing and then back the the poultry exclusives and typical Forza, Halo, and whatever else they just release. If they can do that I honestly believe they can rebuild the brand and possibly get it back to how it was when the 360 was alive.
I agree with article and I believe sony will follow suit budgets to big development times to long none can sustain this forever and sony won't be able to either
I also think in 20 years we are going to look back and say "Remember when we used to have to buy a game publishers box to put under your TV in order to play their games?"
The former boss of PlayStation has responded to some recent comments made by Xbox head Phil Spencer in a recent interview. The wide-ranging interview covered a variety of topics, with the conversation at one point leading Spencer to mention that he doesn't want to do "slimy platform things" to force gamers to play games a certain way, which has now prompted a response by PlayStation's former leader.
“Phillip W. Spencer III:"Xbox’s aim with Call of Duty is to give players choice, not "do slimy platform things" that make one option more appealing."
Yet Xbox were the ones who started this exclusive crap with CoD during the 360/PS3 era. This guy is something else.
Yep, some of their fans also parrot this hypocritical line, MS started and popularised that trend, then spent 80 billion.
Pot kettle black.
"MS started and popularised that trend"
What a load of horse poo. Atari was paying for and securing exclusives back in the '80s. It's been around since the dawn of gaming, they're all at it. The earliest one I actually remember as it played out was Sony hijacking Final Fantasy 7 from Nintendo.
Edit: just read the comments again, are ye only talking about COD exclusive deals? If so then yeah, ye're probably right!
Old mcgroin
Just a heads up. Nintendo lost square by staying with cartridge. That's fact. After square pleaded with Nintendo to switch to a larger format. So Sony didn't really hi jack anything.
Last where we're you before Sony even entered cause this was common during Sega vs Nintendo.
Also before that I believe on nes. Developers used to have to sign like a 2 year exclusivity with Nintendo to be on their platform.
Might wanna read up a bit
@shinoff2183
"where we're you before Sony even entered cause this was common during Sega vs Nintendo."
"Might wanna read up a bit"
Might want to take your own advice and maybe read the start of my comment where I said "Atari was paying for and securing exclusives back in the '80s. It's been around since the dawn of gaming".
Gaming didn't start with Nintendo buddy.
"Yet Xbox were the ones who started this exclusive crap with CoD during the 360/PS3 era. This guy is something else."
That's not actually true. Sony paid to keep games off of Nintendo and sega back in day. Plus they payed blocking rights to keep certain games off of gamepass which is probably what Phil may be referring to. Imo that makes them slimey too if we're being honest. At the end of the day it's just business. There is no doubt in my mind that if sony could make huge purchases like Microsoft, they would. You probably won't see sony respond with an official statement because they know they are just as guilty.
"Sony paid to keep games off of Nintendo and sega back in day."
That's not actually true.
Nintendo (and Sega) had licensing of games exclusive to their system way before PlayStation even existed, and both used 3'rd party developers to make licensed games exclusively for their hardware.
You and Microsoft are literally trying to rewrite history.
To be fair here, Einhander, Phil didn't mention Sony by name with his comment, it was just implied.
That said, the practice goes all the way back to the "Nintendo Seal of Quality" that not only limited developers to publishing on NES, but also limited the number of games they could make per year to 5.
Nintendo did it, sega did it was business at the end of the day. Y'all people gotta stop rolling on the Sony did it back in the day nonsense. Always blaming someone and back in the day was back in the day stop going that far back in time.
You're creating a strawman here. Nobody claimed Sony didn't do that type of tactic. He specifically singled out CoD since that's what the whole topic and Phil's statement was about.
Don't be dishonest man
Regardless it's not about who done it first....it's about who is doing it now.
You do know that Xbox does the same thing right. Xbox blocks Sony, Sony blocks Xbox. Please stop crying about gamepass. Thats the root of the problem.
The first instance of this crap I remember is Soul Calibur II. GameCube got Link, Xbox had Yoda and PS2 had Darth Vader.
you are thinking Soul Calibur 4 for the SW characters. Soul Calibur 2 had Link (GC), Spawn (XB) and Heihachi (PS2). Then Soul Calibur 3 was exclusive to the PS2 while Soul Calibur 4 was on 360/PS3... no Nintendo version until Soul Calibur Legends for Wii.
Adding on to what darth said, Soulcalibur II HD came out later on PS3 (maybe Xbox 360 too?) and it included the PS2 exclusive character Heihachi and the Xbox exclusive fighter Spawn but unsurprisingly, Link wasn't included
Soul Calibur IV on Xbox had Yoda (hate fighting that short bastard) and PS3 had Darth Vader but each platform had the other fighter as paid DLC.
True... and yet the kind of 'exclusivity' MS paid for was usually timed. The same things would still come to the PS but when Sony does it they make it so what they pay for stays exclusive.
I get paying to get something sooner, but paying to keep others from ever getting it too... that shit is slimy AF.
"but paying to keep others from ever getting it too... that shit is slimy AF "
So than you agree the Act/Blizz and Zenimax deals are slimy AF becasue there are definitely former multi-plat games PlayStation gamers lost becasue of the aqusitions.
@romulus, the entire practice is slimy, no matter who does it. Especially if the games in question were initially mutliplat and then became paid exclusives through acquisitions or contractual obligations.
As far as I know, MS has not removed access to any existing games for PS gamers. You can probably look to ones that were initially announced but never released until after, those likely shouldnt count because they weren't existing games in franchises that were always multiplatform. We can look to games such as Street Fighter V as a good example of a game in a multiplatform series that suddenly became exclusive and other gamers lost out on. Same goes for Dead Rising 3. Both of which were some back alley deal made between Capcom and the platform holder which YES... those are slimy AF.
@Darth
"True... and yet the kind of 'exclusivity' MS paid for was usually timed. The same things would still come to the PS but when Sony does it they make it so what they pay for stays exclusive."
Like Dead Rising 3? 🤔
Can you blame Sony for paying for exclusives. Ms went and bought up 2 major publishers, many studios , alot of the wrpg market.
Are you as upset ps fans don't get to play Ms 3rd party exclusives as well
@shin... in the grand timeline of things... Sony paying for exclusives predates anything MS did since joining the club.
***As far as I know, MS has not removed access to any existing games for PS gamers.***
In what time frame? Recently? No. But, you know, they definitely have.
And why do we always goal post with 'removed access to any existing games' as if that's the only slimy thing these companies are doing, specifically the fact that Microsoft is buying up massive publishers to control where those games go just like Sony making agreements with third parties (who can say no, btw).
Phil says things but it's the actions of the company he runs that just nullifies all of his statements. You can't call a company slimy for using money to buy exclusives when you do the exact same thing by buying out studios and making their new games exclusives. At least up until the point you realize you're not selling enough and need to put them on that other platform to make the game studios stick around and exist.
Yeah...I love how now that's a plus while also limiting IP from other platforms at the same time. What a bullshit slimy car salesman tactic.
Anyone with a brain or memory bigger than a pea can remember who started cod bs
Phil was and is the right man for the company he is working for. Slimy..through and through. The Persons as well as the company itself.
Wow so you all really loved corporate scum like Jim Ryan then? All the games as a service projects and no backwards compatibility unless it's an overpriced remaster? And abandoning Twisted metal, resistance, syphon, getaway and all of the other IPs?
And if Phil is so bad why did the xbox showcase/the games he greenlit annihilate PS last presentation?
"You scared bro?"
No one is scared, have you seen the hardware/software sales from the most irrelevant gaming brand in the past 15 yrs aka the green brand...???
Their latest show was so ''AmAzInG'' that they'll be able to sell at least 40 more consoles/games and capture the attention of at least 6 more gamers around the planet...
Phil's a blowhard , and fk Jim Ryan to. I feel Jim's the reason sonys at were their at. Game wise. To say blew the lead is such and overstatement though lol. Ps is still killing Xbox.
POS boss for a POS brand with POS fans, that's what xbox is.
So good to see them begging for Sony and Nintendo money and making all their games multiplatform, they are the ultimate losers and got what they deserve.
What trash you must be. Criticizing every fan of a brand you don't like. You're a great example of PS fans and bias. Anyone you don't agree with is wrong and stupid right? You must be a liberal.
I mean your a bit wrong to though lol. And of course just like a true repub, gotta resort to politics. Yall some straight crazy in the head mfs
Jim Ryan is literally corporate scum who doesn't play games. Enjoy Concord.
Weren't you just calling out someone else about how demonizing people is bad. Here you are thiugh
Phil Spencer surely must have the world record in the amount of times a CEO can put his foot in his mouth throughout his career. I honestly wonder why Microsoft even lets him do interviews at all at this point.
They at it again I see
These MF still signing those deals. Its like they really need activison to succeed like its a big part of there plan a do or die plan.
Still signing imo just add it to Luna to truly make the point.
It's getting a little difficult to keep track of the number of decade-long deals Microsoft has signed with other gaming companies in recent weeks. Nware marks at least the fifth effort in a strategy in the past few months
It's become increasingly clear Microsoft would sign a deal with just about anyone to get this acquisition over the line.
Are they choosing unknown companies to sign deals with on purpose? The majority of these deals they sign the first question you ask is who?! MS dying on that hill even though its over baby!