20by20! Fill as many genres as possible! I think it's likely that they will reach 20 studios Tbh, they've still got a few gaps in terms of genres that they need to fill for Gamepass, it would be a great number to stop at.

Keep trying to buy Moon Studios, buy Iron Galaxy for fighting, I do believe that 1 Japanese studio won't cut it, they'll need at least two Imo, Japan is pretty diverse in it's games as well, if I could pick I would go for Platinum Games and White Owls, both make completely different games that can compliment Gamepass, I don't think Platinum is likely at all though so pick some JRPG studio. Then having a horror studio would be good too.

Buy White Owls, Grounding Inc, Platinum Games, JP Games, Mistwalker /s

I agree with you, they definitely need to go big, Platinum would be perfect for that, I just don't know how it would realistically happen, and not because they cancelled Scalebound cause that doesn't really mean anything in business, but because I just can't see how Microsoft would pull them away from Nintendo...They seem pretty close to Nintendo and are practically being bank rolled by them, Lol.

Regarding Mistwalker, I was doing some digging, are they even based in Japan anymore? I remember reading that Sakaguchi actually lives in Hawaii and it seems like Mistwalkers HQ is in Hawaii too now...Kinda makes me think Mistwalker is even less likely...buying a Japanese studio that's HQ'd in Hawaii...Lmao.

We know Moon is also working on a new IP for after Ori and have been for a while now, Ori on Switch could of been a deal sweetener to keep them producing for Xbox and I'd take that :D They don't want to sell to MS and have apparently already turned down an offer and been vocal about staying as they are but I hope they can keep them producing quality games like Ori going forward.

I don't see what the issue is Tbh, Ori is a 4+ year old smaller game, it is not going to be pushing Xbox consoles anymore (If ever), especially compared to the major AAA releases which will seemingly remain exclusive. Microsoft also seems to just see Switch as their go-to handheld device and not exactly a direct competitor to Xbox, which I'd agree with, I don't think releasing these smaller titles on Switch hurts Xbox at all and benefits Xbox in terms of more money for their XGS, which means more money for future games.

Everything one day will available through XCloud, their exclusives, at the start will be available through Android thanks to XCloud while Xbox hardware will provide the high end affordable gaming, but the future is going to be service wars.

I think this change of direction was needed in order for Xbox to survive also, I posted a week or so ago an interview where Phil said the first thing Satya did after making him Head of Xbox was to ask why they were in gaming and outright told him they may be a future where Microsoft isn't in gaming, I do believe if Xbox continued as usual and didn't move towards more of a service model, that Satya likely would have shut the division down, Phil has changed Xbox in order for it to survive.

Apart from XGS receiving money from this, it also increases the Xbox brand awareness along with the IP brand awareness and is easy marketing for the sequels which could entice more people to buy into them, as of right now, Ori and the WotW is Xbox/PC only but it's almost certainly Microsoft's ultimate goal to get XCloud everywhere, including Switch which may be where they put their sequels.

Also, as Wooden and Machiavellian have said, this will keep their relationship with Moon Studios high, ensuring they're a happy partner and continue to make amazing games for Microsoft, we know Microsoft have already attempted to purchase them in the past, maybe they'll try again in the future, and we know Moon is working on a 2nd IP which hopefully Microsoft is negotiating for by keeping Moon happy.

I could see the financial freedom being a pretty big convincing factor for them, not having to work contract to contract nonstop to keep the lights on, they could take it easy and consolidate some of the teams, I mean as of recently they were working on 2 Mobile IPs, Astral Chain, Bayonetta 3, Babylon's Fall (I'm guessing that's cancelled...) and 2 Original IPs between 200ish staff...

Also I believe Matt Booty said there's a clause in their recent acquisition contracts where the studios can leave at any point they want without fear of being shutdown, basically they'll part ways like they did with Twisted Pixel which leaves the door open for any studio if they don't like how things are going to being able to amicably split.

Still don't see it happening though, If it did though, they should revive Scalebound and make it one of the first Scarlet exclusives, one of the biggest problems with Scalebound was rumoured to be that it was running like crap on Xbox One.