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Phil Spencer: Selling as many consoles as Sony or Nintendo is not our approach

Warnen

Don't pass gaas, it is your Destiny!
SMH good grief!

The point is that it would work with phones /tablets & PC because it work with what they already have but when it come to TV it's a really small market because people would have to go out & get a controller.

You are wrong, people buy accessories to use stuff. People buy ear buds to listen to music on their phones, people buy controllers to hook into there phones.

If you can’t see the benefit of a $75 buy in ($50 for controller $15 for sub) vs a console and games ($600+). I can’t help ya.
 

Nikana

Go Go Neo Rangers!
They don't need to change.

The formula they had worked. It worked well with the OG Xbox and with the 360. Then they got arrogant and launched Kinect, instead of sticking with their formula. They've pig-headidly tried changing their formula, the customers and the industry to try and suit them, that's arrogant.


Kinect
Drm
Always online
No used games
Gamepass (I love it, but it's still forcing a change)
No generations.

It doesn't work.

At this rate, Microsoft will be still trying to chase subscribers while they miss the next boat; VR.

If, they want to make gamepass the next 'Wii' in terms of offering a new concept to attract a wider audience, they should be focusing on bringing the B tier companies to Gamepass. Forget indies or AA or AAA.

Its like a sports team, take the youth that is the B tier and build relationships with them until they reach A tier. Then mooch off of them.

They very clearly need to change. If you look at Microsoft as a whole they very rarely had success with their own IP. Even the Xbox 360 with it's install base didn't match the competitions attach rate and their exclusives games created by their studios very rarely stood out other than the big 3(which even Forza never really lit up the charts the way Gears and Halo did) they are known for. Which is why they went so hard on their IP that did have success.

Their bread and butter has always been about XBLG and third party games.

You played CoD on Xbox 360 because that's where your friends were and it was better than the PS3 version. The Xbox audience didn't buy a 360 to play Alan Wake, Crackdown, Too Human etc.

Same with Madden, GTA, Read Dead, etc. Their platform has always been strongest when third party games play best and look best on their machines.

When they lost that advantage along with the price advantage they lost a lot but the same thing can be said about their games. People didn't buy the Xbox One then buy Quantum Break and Sunset Overdrive.

So Microsoft is looking to repeat what they did with 360 which is have the best version of third party games and now are offering a second reason to jump in with Game Pass which can be propped up by it's value and IP like Halo which are the reason you got the box to begin with.

The difference is now they are looking at selling the experience of Xbox as the place to play if it's on console, PC or Phone which is achieved with GP.
 
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onQ123

Member
You are wrong, people buy accessories to use stuff. People buy ear buds to listen to music on their phones, people buy controllers to hook into there phones.

If you can’t see the benefit of a $75 buy in ($50 for controller $15 for sub) vs a console and games ($600+). I can’t help ya.

SMH you're going back in forth saying nothing


The market of people who will buy a controller for a TV without being into gaming enough to buy a console is small
 

AeneaGames

Member
Phil is cute with this statement! Even if they would love to do just that (sell more than Nintendo and/or Sony) they full well know it's gonna be really tough to actually achieve that and the way things are going for them currently it doesn't look like that it's gonna be possible. Perhaps they can overtake Sony/Nintendo in a few years when their exclusives hit and they don't have to drag along the current gen consoles anymore, but till then they should be happy with any sale they are getting.

Hope they make pc game pass better. Id do the $5 but at $10 I don’t think it’s worth it. With halo delay the $5 is a real ask as well personally.

Console seems best choice if u wanna do game pass thing really.

I dunno, I have GP for PC, don't have an Xbox, I pay €3.99 a month and get a lot of use out of it. Next week I'm so gonna try the new Flight Sim too. I've already played several Xbox exclusives I would never have bought at full price but now I can play them. I will keep the sub going if they don't increase the price without adding a ton more games tho. Many of them are smaller games and old AAA ones, both is ok of course, I'm all for indie games, tried a few of them that I otherwise also would not have played at all.

Biggest reason for me was and still is the Xbox exclusives, on day 1 with next gen, and since they also should be able to run on the stock X1 my PC will be more than capable for it (deleted bunch of stuff about my PC, way too off-topic!). What I was really rather surprised about is that not all Xbox exclusives are on there!

Like earlier this week I read about Forza Horizon 3 leaving the digital store next month and wondered why I hadn't downloaded it yet from GP, well because it's not there!! Neither is Forza Motorsport 7!

Crying shame if you ask me why those 2 haven't been included yet! And with FH3 leaving the store it will never be added anymore either. This kinda makes GP less 'worth it' to me if I'm honest.

So I had to resort to buying FH3 and all the stuff that's out for it (not all car packs tho, not sure if they are worth it), probably will grab FM7 too one day...
 

Klayzer

Member
Software and services is a FAR more lucrative market than console hardware sales. You guys are about to learn this lesson soon enough.
Here is were we pretend that the competition doesn't have software or services to sell. You guys are about to learn, more hardware sales will increase your software/services pitch. As evidenced by huge growth with Nintendo/Sony software numbers and Plus/Now growth. They go hand and hand for console metrics.
 

Warnen

Don't pass gaas, it is your Destiny!
SMH you're going back in forth saying nothing


The market of people who will buy a controller for a TV without being into gaming enough to buy a console is small


What ever, there is a huge market for people to buy into to gaming for the cost of a controller vs buying a console and a library for games that 10-0x more expensive.


it’s like saying no one would buy a roku to stream netflix when they could buy a Blu-ray player and $1000s in movies.

There is always a market for low cost entertainment. Absurd to argue otherwise.
 
Here is were we pretend that the competition doesn't have software or services to sell. You guys are about to learn, more hardware sales will increase your software/services pitch. As evidenced by huge growth with Nintendo/Sony software numbers and Plus/Now growth. They go hand and hand for console metrics.

Sony and Nintendo don't offer their software on anything but their consoles, and they don't have anything comparable to Game Pass or xCloud. This is obvious stuff.
 
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onQ123

Member
What ever, there is a huge market for people to buy into to gaming for the cost of a controller vs buying a console and a library for games that 10-0x more expensive.


it’s like saying no one would buy a roku to stream netflix when they could buy a Blu-ray player and $1000s in movies.

There is always a market for low cost entertainment. Absurd to argue otherwise.

SMH LOL
 

//DEVIL//

Member
No phill it’s your approach it’s just you can’t compete . Better sales means better user base means better game pass subs . You just suck at it and can’t compete . Sorry there is no any other way to spin this.

if you had the sales numbers higher than psand Nintendo you would brag about it just like how u try and brag Xbox series x most powerful console.
 

reinking

Gold Member
What ever, there is a huge market for people to buy into to gaming for the cost of a controller vs buying a console and a library for games that 10-0x more expensive.


it’s like saying no one would buy a roku to stream netflix when they could buy a Blu-ray player and $1000s in movies.

There is always a market for low cost entertainment. Absurd to argue otherwise.
The problem is nobody has been able to pull of streaming in gaming yet. I would think MS has the best shot at making it happen but we all know it is much easier to stream music and video than games.
 

Warnen

Don't pass gaas, it is your Destiny!
I dunno, I have GP for PC, don't have an Xbox, I pay €3.99 a month and get a lot of use out of it. Next week I'm so gonna try the new Flight Sim too. I've already played several Xbox exclusives I would never have bought at full price but now I can play them. I will keep the sub going if they don't increase the price without adding a ton more games tho. Many of them are smaller games and old AAA ones, both is ok of course, I'm all for indie games, tried a few of them that I otherwise also would not have played at all.

Biggest reason for me was and still is the Xbox exclusives, on day 1 with next gen, and since they also should be able to run on the stock X1 my PC will be more than capable for it (deleted bunch of stuff about my PC, way too off-topic!). What I was really rather surprised about is that not all Xbox exclusives are on there!

Like earlier this week I read about Forza Horizon 3 leaving the digital store next month and wondered why I hadn't downloaded it yet from GP, well because it's not there!! Neither is Forza Motorsport 7!

Crying shame if you ask me why those 2 haven't been included yet! And with FH3 leaving the store it will never be added anymore either. This kinda makes GP less 'worth it' to me if I'm honest.

So I had to resort to buying FH3 and all the stuff that's out for it (not all car packs tho, not sure if they are worth it), probably will grab FM7 too one day...

Im paid up till next year with game pass ultimate form back when I had an Xbox. Now that I just have a pc it doesn’t seem as great just becuase it feels like for every 4 games on console we get one.

when my sub is up if it’s still like that $5 is pushing it and if it’s out of beta $10 is way to much.

Kinda feel like buying halo for $60 on steam might just be better for me since it’s really the only game I want to play.

also wouldon’t half to worry about them getting pulled. I enjoyed Streets of Rage and Carrion on pass but I already got Streets of Rage on a steam sale because I fear it will be removed lol.
 

Crax

Neo Member
Microsoft has always primarily been a software house, so this shouldn't really surprise anyone. Console sales have never been very lucrative for any company, but the software and accessories are. Microsoft has opened up to far more customers than Sony have with Game Pass on PC and xCloud for mobile phones. If the also can convince people to actually use (and pay for) their services then Microsoft will be more than satisfied.
 

reinking

Gold Member
So you are wagering that PSNow will be more successful than Game Pass? Ok.
No. You said they have nothing comparable to the Game Pass service. Sony will be no more successful at going after Game Pass with PSNow as Microsoft will be going after PS5 with the Series X. That does not mean they are not comparable.
 

Warnen

Don't pass gaas, it is your Destiny!
The problem is nobody has been able to pull of streaming in gaming yet. I would think MS has the best shot at making it happen but we all know it is much easier to stream music and video than games.

yep agreed that’s the biggest issue. I was so hyped for stadia and didn’t work worth a fuck in my house. Xcloud was better but still not great. It will take time but when someone does it wow it will be a game changer.
 
No. You said they have nothing comparable to the Game Pass service. Sony will be no more successful at going after Game Pass with PSNow as Microsoft will be going after PS5 with the Series X. That does not mean they are not comparable.

Does PSNow have day one first-party releases?
 

Klayzer

Member
Sony and Nintendo don't offer their software on anything but their consoles, and they don't have anything comparable to Game Pass or xCloud. This is obvious stuff.
Which makes it even worse. The competition is raking in record amounts of revenue/profits doing it the traditional way without needing to go outside their own gardens. Xfans act like in Microsoft, is the only console maker that can go to a services model campaign.
 

H-I-M

Member
The problem is nobody has been able to pull of streaming in gaming yet. I would think MS has the best shot at making it happen but we all know it is much easier to stream music and video than games.

Also keep in mind that buying a song used to cost 0,99$ vs buying a game that costs up to 70$.

So how do you translate that huge difference into a successful streaming service for games...
 
Which makes it even worse. The competition is raking in record amounts of revenue/profits doing it the traditional way without needing to go outside their own gardens. Xfans act like in Microsoft, is the only console maker that can go to a services model campaign.

I'm not an "Xfan" whatever that is. I'm just someone who can think critically. Just because something works the traditional way doesn't mean that it won't be supplanted by new technology. In fact, the entire history of the world proves this is the case. Sony wouldn't be able to offer the same services as MS even if they wanted to, so I'm not surprised that they haven't tried.
 

Darklor01

Might need to stop sniffing glue
I need to try to understand. They build the most powerful console to date. The strategy is to sell cloud based streaming services with XSX as a part of the options to play on?

I mean, I guess? If the games come for it within a reasonable time within it’s life cycle and it’s the best place to play those game’s and 3rd party, .. XSX will be worth it at some point.

If that’s the message.. OK. We all know that the subject is beaten to death on XSX. The only add on here is that it’s not a traditional console war(if there is not enough ammo to fuels the guns at the start of the war).
 

Warnen

Don't pass gaas, it is your Destiny!
Which makes it even worse. The competition is raking in record amounts of revenue/profits doing it the traditional way without needing to go outside their own gardens. Xfans act like in Microsoft, is the only console maker that can go to a services model campaign.

Don’t think nintendo or Sony has the infrastructure to do mass streaming. Amazon and google only others that can pull it off.

Think Sony even using some of MS stuff to stream now.

MS is in a unique place really, they have the library and the tech.
 
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Klayzer

Member
I'm not an "Xfan" whatever that is. I'm just someone who can think critically. Just because something works the traditional way doesn't mean that it won't be supplanted by new technology. In fact, the entire history of the world proves this is the case. Sony wouldn't be able to offer the same services as MS even if they wanted to, so I'm not surprised that they haven't tried.
"Thinks critically" but doesn't understand why Sony hasn't tried the Xbox's approach. Nintendo and Sony are doing the best they have ever done financially, but you don't understand why they don't pivot to something way less profitable. :pie_thinking:
 

reinking

Gold Member
Also keep in mind that buying a song used to cost 0,99$ vs buying a game that costs up to 70$.

So how do you translate that huge difference into a successful streaming service for games...
If someone can really remove latency and get other 'online' issues resolved from game streaming it will become huge. Especially in the model Microsoft is shooting for with Game Pass. Until latency no longer exists though game streaming is not going to take off. Like I said before, I think MS has the best shot so far but I have been beta testing xCloud for months now and I have had mixed results. While I know my experience is anecdotal I also know I am not the only one. When I buy a game for a console it just works. That has always been a consoles strong point.
 

Klayzer

Member
Don’t think nintendo or Sony has the infrastructure to do mass streaming. Amazon and google only others that can pull it off.

Think Sony even using some of MS stuff to stream now.

MS is in a unique place really, they have the library and the tech.
Its not like they can make a business deal for servers..... Oh wait, they can and have done the very samething.
 

H-I-M

Member
I'm not an "Xfan" whatever that is. I'm just someone who can think critically. Just because something works the traditional way doesn't mean that it won't be supplanted by new technology. In fact, the entire history of the world proves this is the case. Sony wouldn't be able to offer the same services as MS even if they wanted to, so I'm not surprised that they haven't tried.

Sony's approach isn't just "working", it's bringing in record revenues, the highest we've seen in gaming history...
 

Warnen

Don't pass gaas, it is your Destiny!
"Thinks critically" but doesn't understand why Sony hasn't tried the Xbox's approach. Nintendo and Sony are doing the best they have ever done financially, but you don't understand why they don't pivot to something way less profitable. :pie_thinking:

Sony and Nintendo would have to rent the server infrastructure from either google amazon or MS or invest so so so so much money and build it themselves.
 

H-I-M

Member
"Thinks critically" but doesn't understand why Sony hasn't tried the Xbox's approach. Nintendo and Sony are doing the best they have ever done financially, but you don't understand why they don't pivot to something way less profitable. :pie_thinking:


Exactly.
Not only is Microsoft's approach as of right now way less successful, but they're also known for their many, many failures.
 

DavidGzz

Member
That's obviously damage control PR for 'we know we're going to lose the gen, so let's pretend that we're not competing' .

Why else would there be 2 consoles, one of which is rumored to be much cheaper than the competition?

Easy. They know it's too soon to drop consoles completely. They are covering all of their bases. People want consoles. Enthusiasts want a powerful one and others are ok with a weaker one for less money. The more products out there that can deliver their Game Pass service the better. So yeah, we all know console sales will help them but it isn't their primary focus.

Making money is their focus not winning the console war. If they do it's a bonus. I know this offends console warriors that pull out the cocoa butter when sales numbers are revealed but please understand.
 
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Warnen

Don't pass gaas, it is your Destiny!
Its not like they can make a business deal for servers..... Oh wait, they can and have done the very samething.

While for MS it’s no cost at all. Maybe that cost is what would make a Sony game pass unprofitable.
 

John254

Banned
It certainly looks like some people around here just wants to force Microsoft to the competition "who has longer dick" and don't understand fundamental differences between Microsoft's and Sony's approach.

If you can't grab obvious stuff like...
... There is a Xbox service but you can use them through device of your choice and Xbox consoles are only one of a choices you can make...
And
... There is a Sony services and only way you can fully enjoy them is by buying PS console...

Then I don't know what to tell you.

I will put it that way
If Microsoft stops producing consoles today, there is strong chance they would survive. If Sony stopped making consoles today, then they would go bankrupt.

But don't mind me, just carry on with your nonsense tries to compare, when Microsoft doesn't care about it...
 

H-I-M

Member
Making money is their focus not winning the console war. If they do it's a bonus. I know this offends console warriors that pull out the cocoa butter when sales numbers are revealed but please understand.

Nintendo and Sony are, in 2020, bringing in record breaking revenues selling games and hardware. Proving that you can "win the war" and make money.
 

MrFunSocks

Banned
May as well put xcloud on PS5 then.
They absolutely would if Sony would allow it. How do people not understand this by now?

How does one become a "member" of Xbox?

What do I have to do?
How do you become a member of anything? You sign up and pay your annual fee. Do Microsoft sell some sort of annual subscription? Like some sort of pass for games? Hmmm
 

Klayzer

Member
Sony's approach isn't just "working", it's bringing in record revenues, the highest we've seen in gaming history...
Phil is a dam good salesman, he can make rational (I think) people sell his PR for him at no cost. What's more likely, Microsoft's new focus becoming the standard or it blowing up in their faces? Their recent history betts on the latter.
 

Zoro7

Banned
All that marketing about it being the most powerful console is for what exactly then Phil. This guys just a buffoon.
 
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