I think Gamepass meant there was not much software selling for retailers and with Microsoft Windows actually performing worse for many games compared to Steam OS its ended up with Microsoft in a tricky situation. The Windows activation system is completely open now. Anyone can use a simple script to activate a copy of windows and Microsoft is now forcing people in later Windows builds to have a Microsoft account so they can sell their data so that their operating systems generate some income. We even get ridiculous situations where a simple office application is sold on a subscription basis. It feels like Microsoft's products aimed at commercial businesses are doing very well but more consumer led products are struggling to generate income like they used to.
I think there announcement of new Xbox consoles is really just to stop the abandonment of the platform and in reality we won't see new proprietary hardware from them based around Xbox games but what we may get is a PC based system that can run xbox titles from older xbox platforms. I think such hardware will be expensive and less cost effective to building your own rig or getting a pre-built rig from a more value orientated brand. Microsoft doesn't have its own factories they buy from OEM factories and this adds to their costs compared to PCs sold directly by the manufacturer itself.
I'm not going to lie I personally see little point in buying a PS5 or Xbox. They are proprietary hardware with expensive games, a subscription for online use and lack the software range and software pricing of PCs. Both consoles have struggled to produce decent exclusive games and really for me personally I have no interest in a console without exclusive games, yes there are a few but nothing I personally care about. We may lose Xbox consoles soon but it wouldn't surprise me if Playstation goes the same way in a few years unless they bring back amazing exclusive games. PS1, PS2, PS3 and PS4 all had amazing exclusive games same as Original Xbox and Xbox 360. I don't remember much in the way of exclusive Xbox One games but that might just be my memory failing me.
