My Trust in Xbox is on Shaky Ground Right Now

The Outerhaven writes: With multiple gaming studios, including Tango Gameworks, closing, the editor-in-chief of The Outerhaven shares his thoughts on the matter.

[rlow1]

Honestly I was looking back and at the launch of the Xbox 1. With Don Matrick at the helm I was disappointed but therevwas something else. That fighting spirit of Xbox at its inception was lost. They stopped innovating, I lost excitement on what the next big new surprise was, because their weren’t any. Not like Halo 2 and Gears launch. You couldn’t really brag about it anymore.
So here we are and corporate MS has ruined what was a beautiful renegade project.

[Cacabunga]

Xbox do not give a crap about developers they want publishers to make money for them that is all.

[romulus23]

Well without developers there's nothing to publish so if that's their plan it's a pretty bad one.

[senorfartcushion]

They've not changed. They went from discless trash to live services

[neutralgamer1992]

Atleast don matrick competed and knew what it took to compete. Phil can’t stop speaking from both sides of his mouth

Since 2011-2012, the Xbox brand has faced challenges due to significant management issues. The latter years of the Xbox 360 era were lackluster, with anticipation building for the next generation, yet the Xbox One ultimately disappointed consumers. This misstep has led to Xbox falling far behind competitors like PlayStation and Nintendo.

While Game Pass is appealing to consumers, it poses challenges for developers. Many are unaware of the intricacies of game development; developers typically rely on regular income and aim for successful game launches to earn significant bonuses and royalties. However, Game Pass disrupts this model, potentially reducing developers' earnings. This has led to dissatisfaction and departures from Xbox studios, as developers feel undervalued.

Despite significant investments in acquisitions, totaling over $80 billion, Microsoft's messaging has been ineffective. Despite ample resources, Phil Spencer and his team have struggled to compete effectively.

To address these issues, Xbox should consider making their games available on PlayStation and Nintendo platforms. Despite positive sentiments from some fans, Microsoft's focus on sales and profits remains paramount. Despite efforts to spin the narrative, achieving these goals on the Xbox platform seems increasingly challenging.

[jznrpg]

Took until now?

[dumahim]

and somehow it's only shaky

[shadowhaxor]

For everything that Xbox did, I was hopeful it would turn stuff around. Game Pass was a start, and the release of its upcoming titles was a nice way to return. I mean, I'm not going to say it was perfect, just like I wouldn't say PlayStation is perfect. Neither company is, but when Xbox goes and does this, it makes zero sense. The message of Xbox's plan had already had me frustrated, but I was like, "Maybe they'll fix this mess."

Now... yeah. Not so confident anymore.

[Aphrodia]

That's how you know this is clickbait garbage. If you write about games for a living and didn't know Microsoft is a cancer on the industry until now than you are awful at your job.

[hiroyukisanada]

Came here to say exactly that @jznrpg 🤣

[FinalFantasyFanatic]

I was going to say this, now? Now, your trust is shaky? The only good gen Xbox had was the 360, and Sony stumbled badly at the beginning of that gen anyway.

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Xbox will destroy Activision too and Bethesda will be gone too lol

[Chocoburger]

"Right now"?
But not 11 years ago with the disastrous Xbox One reveal which they NEVER recovered from?
Man are you slow on the uptake.

[shadowhaxor]

No, Xbox never recovered, but Game Pass (which you're a fool if you deny the success of it), Xbox Cloud, the acquisitions, the reboot of Perfect Dark (which seems to be in the gutter now), the success of Forza Horizon, Sea of Thieves, and yes, Hi-Fi Rush (FFS).

Denying any sort of improvement only goes to show you don't pay any attention to the entire picture.

[Crows90]

I think you missed the part where these things were spread years apart. Theres no consistency

[ApocalypseShadow]

Bullshit.

Perfect Dark IP was purchased along with many other games like Halo, Gears, etc. Perfect Dark needs help with Crystal Dynamics just to finish the game. That's pathetic. HiFi Rush was purchased and was probably already coming to PlayStation before the purchase.

If Game Pass was a success, these developers wouldn't be closing their doors. We told gamers it isn't profitable. It does make revenue. But revenue isn't profit. It hasn't changed Microsoft's position in the industry or increased hardware sales. If it did, they would be shouting from the rooftops like their arrogant asses always do.

Anyone can have a cloud service. And Sony's is more successful. It took buying major publishers just to increase their spreadsheet. But Xbox continues to fail even then. By having to place games on their competitors platform while still trying to compete. You don't see Nintendo putting their games on Xbox. And Sony was only forced because they don't own the MLB license. Which was forced behind the scenes by Microsoft to take away Sony's successful game and throw it on game pass to use it against gamers buying it on PlayStation. How is the acquisitions a success if they have to close companies they just bought and make many developers jobless? Are you serious? Unless you call it a success by taking away games from other platforms that made those developers more money. That's ridiculous.

Sea of Thieves took years to fix. How is that a success that you have an unfinished game for years that needs fixing? Games should be complete at launch. Just like Halo was an incomplete game that needed fixing. Forza Horizon is a good game but even that game hasn't improved Microsoft's standing at all.

Denying all that shows that you're not paying attention.

[Chevalier]

Success? They missed their own targets 3 years straight, stopped announcing numbers because they're so terrible and it's not profitable. Hence the closing 4 studios. There will be more consolidation too. Just watch the by the books garbage yearly releases too followed by more season passes and shorter games come out

[Chocoburger]

I have been paying attention for past 11 years. That's why I made my fully accurate above post.

You're the one who hasn't, thus you made that completely worthless post.

- I don't care about a rental service for mid-tier (or any tier) games.

- I don't care about streaming services, I play on actual hardware.

- What is Perfect Dark at this point? Its just a name trying to have an easy win with nostalgia. The original developers and talent has long been gone once MS bought Rare in 2001. ITS JUST A NAME, nothing more.

-Don't care about Forza Horizon.

- Don't care about Sea of Thieves.

- I am interested in Hi-Fi Rush, but MS killing off Tango has pissed me off, so I don't want to reward them for their B.S. and now its guaranteed that the hard working devs won't see any benefit from me supporting them.

MS has done squat over the past 11 years. Nothing but the embarrassing stink of failure. I know this because I have been paying attention.

[StoneTitan]

I never played hi-fi rush, even though I would have loved it from all I can see, but as it never came to playstation... Now it comes to playstation and I have no intention to buy it because they closed the developer and the money will only go to poor phil and his poor suits. Well I mean, what else is there to say.
Gamepass brought them into this position so you would be a fool to see it as a success lol

[romulus23]

It's also foolish to deny the negatives gamepass is having on the industry as that is part of the entire picture as well.

[ocelot07]

Gamepass? That is one of the main things that's killing Xbox as a platform imo.

[shinoff2183]

Gamepass imo is the downfall. It literally took its base and said wait no need to buy games we will provide you. That's a fking disaster not a good thing. Alot of us been saying it

Idk about the Xbox cloud either. I'm not quite sure that's ever even been useful.

I'll give you the few game examples you gave. Even though I don't do online games sea of thieves seems to be striving and doing well. Hi fi was rated high and sounds decent(I'm buying the physical). They did have a couple decent things going on. Its just what it should've been to what it was, was lackluster as fk. In the end.

[Skuletor]

Must be getting their news on Microsoft's Internet Explorer

[notachance]

I imagine smaller ABK studios like toys for bob and beenox are now feeling uncertain about their futures

[LucasRuinedChildhood]

Thankfully Toys for Bob managed to safely separate from Xbox and are independent now.

[notachance]

lol I don't know that, thanks for clarifying

[TheColbertinator]

Beenox has been in danger for years now with Activision. Microsoft may act more ruthlessly to them unfortunately.

[anast]

The S torpedoed the ship.

[purple101]

yeh I have to agree,

People who thought they were going to buy a cheap box, pay a minimal monthly rent, and still get play all the latest games at full quality, were sold a lie,

this has probably tanked the whole operation, as now people wised up to it,

the number of xbox series s on ebay, far out numbers the amount of used ps5s. I take this as a sign,

[anast]

Exactly

[HyperMoused]

Was going to happen when they are taking away the xbox identity, all games available anywhere on any platform is where they are heading, no point in buying the box, the box will soon go, cant be an xbox with no box, it will just be MS studios. anndd thats a lot o sunk cost for me...damn

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Fight that sunken cost fallacy my friend 😤

[Knightofelemia]

You just discovered this now? They are not just the only company shedding off excess arm fat.

[PRIMORDUS]

TBH I don't trust any game company anymore, haven't for a long time, and my respect for them is going down the shit hole, if it's not already there. I buy maybe 1 or 2 PC games a year the rest I just take and don't give a shit anymore. I used to buy more, not anymore.

[Eonjay]

You shouldn't 'trust' any corporation because a corporation is a group of investors seeking to maximize their returns... and nothing more.

[PRIMORDUS]

Which is why I take 90% of PC Games for free.

[Barlos]

My trust in the gaming industry as a whole is on shaky ground right now. It's going in a direction that I really don't like, with a push for digital only, live service games, the rise of AI and only small number of companies buying everything up, and then shutting studios down. It's in a terrible state right now.

[Killa78]

Should have never been able to buy massive devs / publishers.

[NiceneCreeder]

now? NOW??? congrats on catching up moron

[evirdtset]

Xbox this generation is the most pro consumer doing an about face after the launch of the one. Backwards compatibility on the console, opening the console to developers, frame unlocks and hdr upgrades that are free to existing games, full mod support for bethesda games and support for past and upcoming ips. Sony just did this to so many employees, abandons almost any and all ips that nobody wants and sells you games for full price that released last generation. Playstation is the system for casuals, the wii of this generation.

[The Wood]

you aren't coping too well are ya.

[shinoff2183]

Evir, your reaching hard as fk. I'd say Xbox with gamepass is more casual. Hence no one buying games. Take take take. Sonys got better and way more games then Xbox. Hit me up when most Japanese devs develop for it. It won't happen especially now

[Jingsing]

Only shaky after the past 10 years. That explains why people still buy Xbox's and I'm pretty sure there are a subset of people still buying them because they see it as the stars and stripes box and that gets blind loyalty.

[shinoff2183]

As an American. Yea plenty buy it based off that alone. Then are surprised when they gotta call customer service.

[jbl316]

MicroFAIL

[gold_drake]

has it ever been anything but that?

they've been, imo, doing nothing but dropping the ball for a decade

[Flewid638]

The fact that you have any trust at all after 20yrs is concerning

[Aloymetal]

Exactly!
I'm glad I saw their BS the moment they entered the gaming space long time ago.

[Redgrave]

Lmao, which user made an alternate account for damage control?

I only see one clown, and it's not Aloy.

[shinoff2183]

As much as I hate to say it. Buying mine for starfield and then being disappointed in starfield pretty hard. I've finally dev moded mine and I gotta say it's extremely dope. I've finally been able to play dq5 ps2 remake the English translation

[Hofstaderman]

In 2000 when I read in an Xpert Gamer magazine they wanted to launch a console I rolled my eyes. I'm still rolling my eyes at their incompetent antics.

[ocelot07]

Wow only now? I personally started loosing trust in 2010 due to the focus on kinect rather than AAA exclusives.

Then pretty much all trust was gone just before the launch of the Xbox one. Still don't trust them 11 years later.

Gamepass as soon as it was announced. I knew full well it was going to hurt Xbox as a platform unless they instantly got 100+ million full paying customers instantly (they didn't).

[Jingsing]

What is amazing is how Microsoft bombarded the gaming press with positive Game Pass articles to try clearly manipulate people into using it. It was quite something. In the end it wasn't enough as most people were smart enough to see through it. In these hard economic times the shine has started to come off Subscription Services. People know what they are losing.

[ocelot07]

I don't completely blame gamers. Who doesn't like a bargain? I'm guilty my self I used gamepass in the past. Mostly to try new games I was unsure about.

For example, Starfield I wasn't sold on it like I was with elder scrolls or fallout. So I tried a month of gamepass and I just didn't like it. Same goes for the latest Forza. First Forza game I haven't bought in years. Before gamepass I would happily pay for a game I was unsure of at release if I didn't like it I would sell it as fast as I could to recoup money.

So I can't fully blame them. It's Microsoft they have not only seriously hurt Xbox. But gaming in general. Even some playstation fans started begging Sony for a gamepass equivalent. To the point they created gamepass extra and premium and still complained because they couldn't play god of war Ragnarok or Helldivers 2 on launch day at no extra cost.

[jwillj2k4]

To only be on “shaky ground” after all these signs over the years is humiliating and comical.

[derek]

Wait till they close Ninja Theory after HB2 doesn't sell so well.