S.T.A.G.E. on 08 March 2015
| Wraet said: I think the problem is that MS are using the console subs to build and maintain XBOX Live, which they are then going to be giving to the PC users for free. If the PC online service was completely separate no-one would have an issue. I'm waiting for MS to come out and say the reduction in subs recently was to take the online portion out, as that's the part they are giving to the PC users for free. The remaining subs are for games, console OS and interface updates. Complete BS of course, but hey, people bought in to paying $60 a year without question... Also, Sony had no choice but to follow MS on subs, as there is no way anyone could compete with the income stream MS had on 360, and this would have been a final gen for them otherwise. There just isn't any way to compete with a giant like MS, who have a revenue stream which lets them sell at a loss whenever, and for as long as they feel like, without adopting some of their practices to stay relevant. I'm hoping MS are transitioning back to software only, and building up the PC support before exiting the console hardware market. That's where they fit best as a company, and would benefit everyone if all these shady practices of third party exclusives, timed exclusives, marketing deals, exclusive content, simultaneous release delays etc. were stopped. |
Michael Pachter was talking about the profitability of Xbox Live Gold subscriptions some years back. He said past the first couple years it was pure profit. They are generating far more profit than it takes to run the thing pretty much. Thats as much as I gathered from his convo with Geoff.
