ArnoldRimmer said:
I think you're missing my point. I know how cloud computing works. But that still doesn't change the fact that his words and the headline give the impression that running dedicated game servers on the MS Azure cloud will be completely free for Xbone game developers. Which is nonsense imo. Microsoft will offer game developers very affordable prices, which I think makes perfect sense, but there will still be costs the developers have to pay, at least in some cases. Well, they might actually make it completely free and completely cross-finance it with XBL revenues, but I consider that rather unlikely. |
"There should be no confusion on this point. We do not charge developers for Dedicated Servers."
Even I believe there is some cost somewhere but I also believe that MS is making it so cheap that any X1 developer can and will use it. I can see this roled up in the cost of XBL. Each company eat cost in certain areas. Take Sony PS+, we know that they buy out games to release them as rentals for PS+ members. Sony is paying out developers to increase their customer base by giving away games on the service. This type of model is not unusual and this could be exactly what MS is doing. They want to increase XBL and also get consumers hooked on it services. If the X1 becomes the MP game service of choice it will increase subscriptions.