No, but casual gamers are the biggest market. Do you revolve your strategy around waiting for casual gamers to buy your console + subscribe to gamepass in 1-2 years after release? or do you try to sell as many consoles + subscriptions as fast as you can?
They also delayed pre orders 12 weeks invited more scalpers with a later more valuable pre order. So 12 weeks of demand and fighting scalpers of course people felt the need to do it asap. So that metric is meaningless. Next summer will give us a test of demand of both devices.Meanwhile preorders for PS5 achieved numbers in 12 hours that it took PS4 12 weeks to achieve.
im on GP baby all the way...He's right. But apparently Xbox Series owners won't buy games? They'll only play what's on gamepass?
The responses to this thread has been weird, it will be funny to see how everyone on this thread will praise Sony's gamepass as the second coming of Jesus.
It's his job to act as if sales aren't a thing. It's his job to act as if used games aren't a thing. It's his job to act as if BC isn't a thing (oh the irony) while someone can wait for price drops.This is what I don't get.
Why is he acting as if sales aren't a thing? The majority of my games are bought cheaply.
Considering the fact Phil is bringing to market a $500 console and allowing third party to charge $70 for games I found this quote interesting.
"You know, gaming can be an expensive hobby. I see certain platforms going to, in the US pricing, $70 for games. The consoles are $500 in US pricing," he said. "I think that's a heavy investment for people who aren't every day playing videogames ... the more casual player or a family that's balancing many things."
Head of Xbox Implies PS5 Is 'Heavy Investment' Compared to Series X
Xbox Boss Phil Spencer shares his thoughts on the pricing models for next-generation consoles, and how Xbox Game Pass adds value.gamerant.com
Just buy a Switch, Phil
Phil is a PHILosopher!
It was the case before Covid and it is even more now. There's countries that have gone back into full lockdown. Put that together with the majority of gamers being casual and the most important factor is money. Definitely not performance although games might still have a bit of a sway but paying €80 for Demon's Souls; I only see hardcore gamers doing that. The rest will wait for that retail price reduction or 50%+ sale.
I feel like maybe you're missing the point. Casuals not buying new games is the problem Microsoft is trying to solve with the Series S. This is a play at getting them to buy in to gamepass via an inexpensive console upgrade instead of waiting years to spend any money. Pushing those folks into recurring revenue streams like Xbox Live and gamepass is the strategy. Not selling the most hardware units.Microsoft inventing solution to not existing problem - casuals don't buy $500 consoles. They buy $200-300 discounted models 2-3 years into generation when Fifa or Madden needs it.
That's completly wrong - people are buying expensive electronics in masses on a scale never seen before because of Covid. Due to lockdowns people are sitting on ton of unspent cash and with other forms or entertainment heavily restricted gaming is receiving major boost.
Do you seriosly think people are going to fight to get a $500 console on day 1 because they're super excited to play Fortnite on it? You're joking, right? Are they also lining up to buy 3080's for their high end Fortnite rigs?Don't talk shit.
What year is this?
The casual gamer is no longer some old biddy or 'soccer mom' playing a Wii. A casual gamer is someone sinking $100's in to fortnite, fifa and COD.
Yes they can afford and yes they will pay, the full price of consoles. Does Phil honestly think that the 5 million+ launch day buyers of consoles are hardcore fans only?
idiot.
I disagreeDo you seriosly think people are going to fight to get a $500 console on day 1 because they're super excited to play Fortnite on it? You're joking, right? Are they also lining up to buy 3080's for their high end Fortnite rigs?
The bulk of launch day buyers are people who would consider themselves hardcore. The FIFA and COD folks buy new consoles when their friends upgrade because that's the only way they get to keep playing. They're not out there in mass on day 1 and they never have been. If they can buy Series S and continue to play with their friends playing on Series X that's what many of them are going to do, especially if they're playing in 1080p TV's
Microsoft inventing solution to not existing problem - casuals don't buy $500 consoles. They buy $200-300 discounted models 2-3 years into generation when Fifa or Madden needs it.
I paid with my hard earned cash thank you very much!You guys will find anything to bitch about. Let's pretend most of you aren't putting this on a credit card..
He's right, but if I buy a £70 game, at least it's mine to own and I can play when and I want, without the risk of it being pulled from the service (Gamepass)
Who said people were too poor to pay $500 for a new console? Is it somehow an issue of prestige?I disagree
If people are too poor to buy a $500 machine, then why would they waste $300 on an upgrade that they don't need? If they can still play next gen games on their One or X, why wouldn't they do that vs wasting this valuable money?
People are out in droves buying the new consoles. The XSX and PS5 will be sold out for a long time. The XSS will be purchased by those forced to, because of lack of stock of the other consoles.
Like i said, the 'casuals' are not the 'casuals' of the Wii era. The casuals today are more like pop-gamers. They do it because it's popular, they have the new Iphone, Nikes and cars, because it's popular. So it gaming.
Come on buddy, personal views on this subject to one side for a second, 90% of the population still lives in the middle school playground. They might be old, have houses and a job, but they're still that popular or bullied kid in school who wants to relive that era or get revenge on it.Who said people were too poor to pay $500 for a new console? Is it somehow an issue of prestige?
Not everyone lives on the middle school playground where having the best toys matters. Nobody will ever be forced to buy a Series S. There is literally no scenario where someone will have to make that decision.
or you could buy it whilst having a gamepass subscription for 10-20% less, options are a good thing
True, but then I'm also paying for Gamepass. I'll only pay for Gamepass once all AAA third party exclusives are there day one and stay on there forever.
Anyone wants to defend $90 Demons Souls edition here or $20 extra unlock for a weapon and armour that should be available for everyone ?
Imo casuals dont buy consoles because the price of games and subscription are too high.
Its not about the $500 but the $70s and $60s upkeep cost.
If Phil can change this model to provide casuals with more bang for their bucks, then instead of great success at just 100m console sold, we could see double triple of that.
He says for CASUAL gamers.
Anyone who claims $570 USD for a console + 1 game is not a big investment are blessed and I hope you continue to have success in the foreseeable future.