(Business Perspective) Does MS really need Xbox Hardware?

[Pemalite]

Azzanation said:

1) The articles linked say more than you think. Phil said " he thinks" and another manager said they want to build bridges to their rivals, you know who isn't building bridges? Those planning on competing in the hardware market. I am only joining the dots here.

And yet, they stated -outright- that they will produce -more- consoles.

So to conjure up the idea that they are exiting the market is just blatantly incorrect and a conspiracy theory and literally goes against their own statements which you have thankfully provided the evidence for.

Azzanation said:

2) Sega failed because there was too much competition. If the PS brand didn't exist, Sega would still be in the market. You claim its BS about the 3rd Wheel, well which 3rd Wheel in the console hardware market worked well in the end? My proof is with all the 3rd wheel exits we have seen many times in the gaming industry.

Sega's only competition at the time of it's demise was Sony and the Playstation 2.

Is one competitor to much?

Because that is what you are trying to say here.

Azzanation said:

3) Steam is the only main platform of its scale on PC, anything else isn't even comparable. The closest thing Steam had for competition was Epic Game Store which caused more dramas with PC gaming than benefiting competition. Which is exactly my point. Steam doesn't need competition, it doesn't need split revenue, EA Play, UPlay, Battle.Net, GoG etc are not competition. Steam Drawfs them all by miles.

You are ignoring history.

Steam started life fighting physical copies and it won. That is competition.

Netflix started life fighting physical copes and it won. That is competition.

Then you have alternate services that have popped up which have provided added investment into these forms of media into the industry and driven innovation.

That is competition.


Steam has Gog, uPlay, Epic Store, Battle.net, Origin, Windows Store and more.

And some of these stores are growing rapidly and taking user-time away from Steam.

Steam does need competition, it's competition that places downward pressure on prices, it is competition that forces Valve to improve steam, to reduce it's resources, to add features and more.

Azzanation said:

4) Nothing says Sony will reject GP. They will want Xbox games to sell even more consoles and software which they will benefit from. GP brings in more money for Sony. If Sony doesn't except, then MS will just sell games separately on PS which will increase sales and player counts drastically.

Sony rejected cross-platform play for years.

They will only begrudgingly do it.

Azzanation said:

6) This porting argument isn't making any sense. If all 20+ studios make all their new games with PS in mind than no porting will be needed. Like how Redfall   and Gears 3 were in development for PS. Also, it wouldn't take long to port games like Sea of Thieves to PS etc.

Porting is always needed. Playstation does not live in a vacuum. It isn't the only platform in existence.

Porting games to "cloud hardware" is also a thing as well you know.

If the cloud service hardware differs from Xbox or Playstation, then those games need to be ported to that specific hardware and software ecosystem featured in the server farm. - It doesn't run on Pixy dust, hopes and dreams.

Azzanation said:

7) The SteamDeck point has gone over your head. The point I am making is with a previously comment stating why isn't GP on Steam and I answered saying Valve and MS greenlight GP working on a dedicated Steam device. Sales have nothing to do with this. Its proof that GP is technically supported by Valve.

Gamepass isn't on Steam.

That is a lie.

Gamepass runs in a browser. - In theory I could run it on a 3DS.

Azzanation said:

8) MS doesn't have to provide you with competition just for competition sakes. Money speaks louder than words, if Xbox isn't selling, they are not bind to keep Xbox on the market just so Sony and Nintendo don't screw up. I see this point nonsense. You don't need Xbox Hardware, it's not benefiting anyone apart from the small minority who buy it.

Xbox is selling. Making this entire argument redundant.

And yes, money speaks. Microsoft makes billions off Xbox.