Microsoft Has No Further Plans To Bring First-Party Games to Other Platforms

[PotentHerbs]

LudicrousSpeed said:

PotentHerbs said:

Here's a few more: 

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-scarlett-at-e3-2019-phil-spencer-talks-disc-d/1100-6467725/

"Spencer also spoke about how Microsoft doesn't necessarily need you to buy Project Scarlett. The real money is made in software and services, Spencer pointed out. So if you're already invested in the Xbox ecosystem, say if you already own any of the Xbox One family of consoles, Microsoft isn't overly concerned about if you upgrade to Scarlett.

"I actually never really need that customer [who already owns an Xbox One] to go buy a new piece of hardware," he said. "The business is around software and service growth. That is the profitable part of the business; selling the hardware is not the profitable part of the business."

"This is a little bit why we've backed away from the race on how many we can sell or announce the the sales of as many consoles as possible," Spencer said. "Not that that's immaterial; I'm not at all trying to say that. But the real root of the business is how many customers are engaged in your service. How engaged are they? And can you keep that number growing?"

How does this signify a worry about Microsoft dropping Xbox hardware? That same interview he literally says the best way to play high fidelity games is still with a machine sitting right in front of you. What is confusing about this? You can disagree with their push to include streaming all you want, you can disagree about the importance of services and engagement... but what here is confusing?

PotentHerbs said:

https://www.geekwire.com/2019/beyond-console-xbox-leaders-detail-microsofts-gaming-future-led-xcloud-streaming-service/amp/

Microsoft laid out this strategy on a tour of its gaming facilities at its Redmond, Wash., home base this week. Executives steadily repeated a key number: 2 billion. That’s the number of gamers in the world, by Microsoft’s estimates, and many of these players live in parts of the world where console gaming isn’t feasible.

The shift in the gaming teams’ focus fits with Microsoft’s overall evolution. Under CEO Satya Nadella, Microsoft wants to bring its services and apps to as many people as possible, regardless of what devices they use.

In some cases, this means working with competitors that make devices rivaling some of Microsoft’s own gadgets. Gaming appears to be no exception, as Microsoft is expected to unveil the extension of Xbox Live compatibility to several additional platforms, including Android and iOS mobile devices and the Nintendo Switch, at the Game Developers Conference later this month.

Microsoft executives demurred when asked specifically about this plan, but Phil Spencer, head of gaming, wasn’t shy about the company’s cross-device ambitions. That push is embodied by Project xCloud, but the company also wants to expand its Game Pass subscription service as well.

“We want to bring Game Pass to any device that somebody wants to play on,” Spencer said. “Not just because it’s our business, but really because the business model allows for people to consume and find games that they wouldn’t have played in any other space.”

“That is not where you make money,” Spencer said of consoles. “The business inside of games is really selling games, and selling access to games and content in means like that is the fundamental business. So if you open it up, the more often people can play, the more they’re enjoying the art form. It increases the size of the business.”

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Again... whats the point here? They're going to push the hell out of xCloud but they've also been adamant that local hardware is going to be a big piece of the puzzle. Their whole GamePass and xCloud initiative is worthless without their own hardware, because rival console companies aren't about to let Microsoft's services on it. It's not one or the other, you can push strong for streaming and also still realize physical isn't going anywhere. Microsoft points that out every time they talk about streaming.

PotentHerbs said:

There is more than enough evidence that MS makes "confusing" PR statements about Games Pass/ Xbox just this year. Even in this thread, the original article linked in the OP, claiming "no further plans to bring first party games to other platforms," gets contradicted by MS a few days later. There is no question to me that MS can do a much better job at PR. Their actual statements aren't the problem, its the amount of differing statements, making it seem they can go in either direction, depending on the week or time of day.

Well I'm glad you put confusing in quotations because if these articles you're referencing are your idea of confusing then it certainly deserves those quotations. Also they didn't contradict anything when they talked about bringing GamePass to other consoles. It's called context. Again, if a hugely anti-Xbox site like Resetera can be rational and logical about it, anyone should be able to.

MS doesn't care if you upgrade to Project Scarlett? Why wouldn't Microsoft want XBO users to buy Project Scarlett? MS is content as long as you're already invested to the Xbox ecosystem? How does MS view the next generation then? They'll support the XOne and Scarlett? Its all about software and service growth? This is not a line of thinking that is attractive for consumers ready for the next console generation. 

It sounds like Games Pass is taking precedence over the next generation Xbox. Which likely means MS Studios are going to develop and optimize for both the XOne/Scarlett. MS Studios won't be able to push the Scarlett if they're held back by the XOne. But I guess some of you are okay with that. 

This makes Scarlett sound like an after thought coming into the next generation. The worry is signified through the transition of Xbox as a console, to Xbox as a subscription service, as these statements from Phil make it sound like. Yes, MS is adamant about local hardware being key, but this could mean Project Scarlett, or the entire Xbox ecosystem, as ambiguous as MS made it sound.