Microsoft should make XBLG free for MP (360/X1/XS/PC)

[Arkaign]

Huh? I'm not sure what you're trying to say, and I'm pretty certain that you're not sure what I meant. I probably stated it poorly. To summarize :

Xbox revenue/profits are the definition of irrelevant for Microsoft as a whole (in fact,their entire consumer-facing product lineup is basically the same case of pretty much zero impact on the bottom line). The VAST VAST majority of MS's income comes from business products.

Apple's computer sales are basically the same story for them : irrelevant in their big picture. iPhone, iTunes/Apps dominate their financial picture to such a massive degree that it's basically 'iPhoneTunesCorp'. iPad is falling pretty fast (tablets in general are doomed), and Mac is on a downward spiral because it seems they just don't care. They just dropped their Thunderbolt display with no replacement, merely the latest in a long list of unspoken hints that Mac means nothing to Tim Cook and the new leadership.

So to recap, Xbox means nothing to MS in terms of $$, as the + and - impacts are literally molecules in the drop in the bucket in the ocean to them. But in terms of consumer headspace, nothing else MS offers really has much brand awareness, particularly to the younger customers, many of whom have never and will never own a PC. So yes, I think the only reason MS has kept Xbox going is simply for consumer outreach and brand awareness. The writing has been clear since they let iOS and Android dominate the mobile space that they were simply too late to get going in mobile. Windows Phone is a fine product, but it will probably never break 10% global market share. However, by keeping Xbox going, they can try to crack away in the consumer space almost as a hobby (in comparison to their behemoth business-facing business operations). Xbox could double sales or vanish tomorrow, and the bean counters at MS probably wouldn't notice, haha. But marketing and product development are always paying attention to outreach. This is in stark contrast to Sony, which is a much smaller company overall, and for whom Playstation is a sizable chunk of their revenue. Insurance is still their top product, but PS isn't tiny compared to the rest of the company. MS is gargantuan in comparison money-wise.

I agree totally about W10, it's great. I also think what they're doing with Xbox on Windows is brilliant and way overdue.

Anyway, I don't think we really disagree about anything to be honest. Things simply are what they are.