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Microsoft's internal documents recognize that adding games to Game Pass would lead to cannibalization of Buy-To-Play sales

DeepEnigma

Gold Member
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Well yes that's always going to happen. Some people that used to buy those games won't if they are included in a sub service. Doesn't make sense to buy 1st party titles if they are available on a sub that you own. Once you get rid of the sub or those titles get taken off then I can see those people buying those games.

I think it's rare that someone will try a game with gamepass and then reward the devs by buying it.
 
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Tg89

Member
No shit.

Game Pass is riding on good will right now because it's still relatively cheap and they're spending $ on games to acquire customers. We all know what happens 5-10 years down the line, just look at Netflix. Once they hit that critical mass of subs the focus shifts to getting the most profit.
 

Heisenberg007

Gold Journalism
Interesting quote from Phil Spencer:

When you put a game like Forza Horizon 4 on Game Pass, you instantly have more players of the game, which is actually leading to more sales of the game," he said.

"Some people have questioned that, but when State of Decay 2 launched, you saw if you looked in the US at the NPD you saw this game selling really well the month it launched on GamePass."
 

Beechos

Member
Isnt this obvious? This is why the sony setup is the more logical way. 1 party games see retail 1st and eventually make it to ps premium after they are old and discounted a year or 2 after release.



Ms has to do it their way to try to gain marketshare with day 1st party on gamepass.
 

ACESHIGH

Banned
I bought quite a few games I played on game pass. Gamepass on PC it's a different animal. It's really useful just to try how well games will run. I've dodged many stinkers (either in quality or PC performance) thanks to the service
 
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Isnt this obvious? This is why the sony setup is the more logical way. 1 party games see retail 1st and eventually make it to ps premium after they are old and discounted a year or 2 after release.



Ms has to do it their way to try to gain marketshare with day 1st party on gamepass.
Basically, MS is so desperate they are digging their own grave.

Who could've seen this coming? /s
 
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DeepEnigma

Gold Member
It could backfire on them.
They will undermine the competition by putting it on gamepass, which is cannibalizing their sales.
Which is not good for the industry and what many of us have said when we used the phrase, "race to the bottom."

They are trying to loss-lead the industry in a war of attrition so they're the only ones who can afford to stand on top by the backing of their parent company.
 
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Pelta88

Member
So basically XBOX has known that Game Pass hurts game sales on both the front loaded sales and back end.

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But did all that false flagging because they were trying to build a false narrative of success? I don't think Microsoft thought through what they were doing. I'm not sure these insights into their XBOX business being made public, was a great decision.
 
So basically XBOX has known that Game Pass hurts game sales on both the front loaded sales and back end.

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But did all that false flagging because they were trying to build a false narrative of success? I don't think Microsoft thought through what they were doing. I'm not sure these insights into their XBOX business being made public, was a great decision.

It's the tried and true loss leader strategy, shovel enough marketing and money at it until the venture turns a healthy profit.
 

93xfan

Banned
Well yes that's always going to happen. Some people that used to buy those games won't if they are included in a sub service. Doesn't make sense to buy 1st party titles if they are available on a sub that you own. Once you get rid of the sub or those titles get taken off then I can see those people buying those games.

I think it's rare that someone will try a game with gamepass and then reward the devs by buying it.
Silksong may be my first.

Also, definitely bought The Messenger, Jedi:Fallen Order, Streets of Rage 4 and some other games due to Gamepass.
 
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feynoob

Gold Member
Which is not good for the industry and what many of us have said when we used the phrase, "race to the bottom."

They are trying to loss-lead the industry in a war of attrition so they're the only ones who can afford to stand on top by the backing of their parent company.
They are trying to hit that sweet spot of 40+m userbase.
Once they hit that, the sub money would generate alot of money, more than what their first party makes.
 

ACESHIGH

Banned
They just want to make themselves look bad so that the deal moves forward. Next thing you know nadella will say that he works as an Uber driver as aside gig to make ends meet.

Sony is also doing the same. Both companies want to look like mom and pop stores to the regulators to get the outcome they want.
 
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Silksong may be my first.

Also, definitely bought The Messenger, Jedi:Fallen Order, Streets of Rage 4 and some other games due to Gamepass.

Well I did say it was rare. I didn't say it doesn't happen. But I wouldn't rely on that to convince people that it helps a ton with sales.
 
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