(Business Perspective) Does MS really need Xbox Hardware?

[Machiavellian]

Azzanation said:

Okay before you go, accouple things. 

First, this isnt about Sony and Nintendo doing well without MS games, its always about doing better with Corparate mentality. If their is revenue to gain with GP, its on the minds of shareholders etc.

Sony and Nintendo are in direct competition with MS.  While they would allow MS to publish their games on their system, there is no scenerio I see where they would allow GP on their hardware, especially Sony.  Both Sony and Nintendo would get even more games and sells on their platform if MS leave the hardware space.  Both companies sales would increase 2 to 3 folds, so no, neither one needs MS games and they especially do not need GP.

Second, MS compete with Steam the same way MS compete with Playstation. Steam has no issue selling MS games on its Storefront considering MS are a direct competitor to Steam at the same time. No different to Sony and Nintendo. So again why would Sony and Nintendo say no to free revenue gain? Steam also has no issues for GP running on Steamdeck either. So again, why would others say no?

We are talking about GP.  So lets keep it there.  Steam does not have a GP service, Steam is basically a storefront not a console platform.  Either way I agree that neither Sony or Nintendo will not be against MS selling their games on their platform but you are going to have to give me a good reason why they would accept GP.  PS+ is exactly like GP, MS and Sony fight for the same games on their service, why would Sony allow GP on the Sony console? 

Third, GP can sell on its own with its own 1st party outings. Why do you think MS want to release 4 AAA games a year? To drive GP subscribers. In the coming years, GP will have plenty of 1st party titles, big and small to offer its customers. MS own some of the biggest franchises in the industry that gamers arent going to ignore, especially Sony and Nintendo when they see a protential boost in furthering sales. ABK will only support this fact.

Well its no point in arguing this, if GP can sell on its own, why is it not selling like gang busters on PC.  Hell, why its not selling like gang busters on MS own hardware.  Its not about releasing AAA games that will push GP, its selling games that entice customers to want the service.  AAA is just a label until the actual games come out and are must have.  Sony have must have IP, we are yet to see if MS have must have IP.  While the growth of GP seems to be ok, its not growing at a number that suggest without hardware, all those Xbox GP subs will stay. My perdiction would be that at least half would leave and that would include myself.

Casuals will flock to GP to play CoD and that might be the only way Sony can gain CoD in the future, but based on what your saying, they are comfortable, they dont care if they lose out on CoD billions because they are doing just fine. I dont believe thats how the industry works.

Casuals isn't flocking to GP now.  I would not put to much hope in ABK just yet but if MS does pull out a win which mind you is slim at best, ABK would help MS in the long run but even still, there is no casual I know that plays COD that is willing to play that competitive game over the Cloud.  By the time cloud infrastructure is at a level where that can be done as I stated, all the OEMs would be using Cloud.  Last but not least, even if MS get COD, they would lose a hell of a lot of money excluding COD from Sony systems but then again as I have seen in this industry, when one game goes away, another will fill in the space.