I can just barely believe that Microsoft is doing something like this.
With this new pricing model only being offered in Microsoft stores, they are limiting the negative blowback that this will have.. and will ofcourse only be focusing on the bottome line.
Fact is, this will bring in more money. AND offer an instant way for broke people to buy the system and get suckered into a contract for a video game system..
There are a lot of gullable people who will go for something like this.
BUT
There are aslo a lot of smart and aware people out there who will see this for what it is.. a scam.
After 2 years, these same people will still be under contract and will be paying insanely over-rated monthly fees which everyone else will be paying less for.
This sort of move will just move early adopters and the vast majority of core gamers away from Microsoft and their next console, whatever it may be.
Whats left is the entire casual market, a small segment of media services consumers who dont opt for cheaper/ better alternatives, and the "COD-only crowd".
This is still a sizable market segment, but not something that will serve them well at the dawn of a new generation.
̶3̶R̶D̶ 2ND! Place has never been so sweet.
