Update: Microsoft claims retailers remain "committed" to Xbox

[Cerebralbore101]

bonzobanana said:

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.

This is exactly what will happen to both Xbox and Playstation. While I disagree about PS5 having worth while exclusives, I agree with the rest. And take my opinion with a grain of salt because I'm into some pretty deep cuts in the PS5 library. To your average consumer you are right and neither system is really worth it anymore unless you desperately like physical media, in which case you go with PS5. 

But yeah. Next gen Xbox will be an overpriced PC. Playstation will slowly lose marketshare to PC gaming as a consequence of porting their games to PC. People will slowly transition from playing on PS consoles to building their own rigs. After all whats to stop them once PS5 has no more exclusives? What's to stop them when PS5 (and PS6) goes up in price instead of down? What's to stop them when physical games that are complete on disk slowly become harder and harder to obtain? Right now 69% of all PS5 games are complete on disk and play fine without an internet connection. But it used to be 72% with PS4 and 89% with PS3. Also this 69% number doesn't include games that never get a physical version or only get a limited run games version that requires a 2 year pre-order. 

Anyway, yeah you are absolutely right with your predictions. Xbox will be just a shitty pre-build. Playstation will slowly die to PC gaming. 

Last edited by Cerebralbore101 - on 13 October 2025