should Xbox follow PlayStation & stop selling games on Steam ?

[Skillz]

So you want all future games to be made for cellphones with perhaps a option for tablet mode. Because tjsts what you would get. We need dedicated gaming devices to make games for so pc gaming can elevate them. There is no elevation from phone based games.

No we wouldn't.

 

[Grimlakin]

No we wouldn't.

Clearly we disagree on how corporations think and where the money is. (And thats not a bad thing.)

 

[Skillz]

Sure there is money in mobile games, but their is also money in PC games.

Someone will tap into it if consoles didn't exist.

Probably be a better thing since, as you said, porting a mobile game to PC wouldn't really make sense. Then we wouldnt get all the ****ty console ports. Instead we'd get games that are designed to utilize the hardware.

 

[Marees]

Jez shares his thoughts

No, Xbox isn't quitting Steam — but it IS doubling down on PC gaming. Here's how.​

News
By Jez Corden
Published 1 hour ago
Xbox's PC offering has improved immeasurably over the last few years, and while it isn't indicative of a shift away from Steam, it does show how seriously Microsoft is taking PC gaming.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2084217964446757315

 

[ClumsyCalamity]

I think Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft should just follow Sega. Stop building consoles and just focus on the game

A bit too late for that for Sony and Nintendo - too much resources pushed into development of new systems.
Microsoft tho has all the things needed to make it happen. Though, doing is the whole other thing. They might keep their console 'just in case' things go south.

 

[Marees]

A bit too late for that for Sony and Nintendo - too much resources pushed into development of new systems.
Microsoft tho has all the things needed to make it happen. Though, doing is the whole other thing. They might keep their console 'just in case' things go south.

the problem for Microsoft is if they go the Sega way then they have to pay 30% commission to all the game platforms

at that point I don't see why they need to remain in the games business for such poor margins

 

[Marees]

excellent stated arguments on why Xbox should ditch steam (when they get the chance)

https://twitter.com/x/status/2093815342204059806

This is almost a perfect encapsulation of the problem with the old XBOX mentality.

A former senior Microsoft executive is openly explaining why he has no reason to buy an XBOX: he can simply play its games on Steam. Then, in the very same breath, he explains why he owns a PS5 Pro: because PlayStation has games he can’t get elsewhere.

You couldn’t manufacture a better demonstration of why platform differentiation matters.

And this is exactly why I think the direction @asha_shar and the current leadership are pursuing is so important. XBOX cannot expect people to invest in its ecosystem if it continually gives them fewer reasons to actually choose the platform.

What’s particularly ironic is that Mike has made the case himself. He understands perfectly well why PlayStation exclusives create value. He understands that good exclusive content can make someone invest in a platform and, ultimately, buy its hardware. Yet when that same principle is applied to XBOX, suddenly there’s less reason to invest in the ecosystem in the first place.

That’s not an argument against exclusives. It’s an argument for them.

I don’t hate Xbox. Why would I buy a Xbox console when I can play everything Xbox releases on my preferred platform: Steam. And on my 5090 with performance no console will see for years and years. I have a PS Pro because I can’t play their exclusives anywhere but on PS. I just need a second one now. Funny how that works. Exclusives, good ones, matter.​

 

[Grimlakin]

Personally I hate exclusives like that... give me good solid games I can enjoy and avoid this exclusive dance and you will sell more games. Have consoles that are good for people that can't afford or don't want to deal with what owning an PC means.

They are two distinct markets with two distinct player bases.

You want exclusives, have it be on PC/Xbox, NOT PlayStation. Then your PlayStation people will buy the Xbox to play their games there. Instead of investing several thousand in a PC and having to worry about all that owning a PC entails.. new displays, new controllers, new headsets (in many cases), and on and on and on. Sure SOME of that can be deferred or avoided... but overall you will want to expand that platform... By investing in console gaming for console gamers and being able to have your games on PC for gamers as a whole it is a win win...

Why would I as a PC gamer with overkill hardware for PC gaming care one whit about owning a console unless it's for my non technophile family members that want to play games?

Is there a market for gamers that just CAN'T WAIT to play new X game before or if it Never comes to PC? I am sure there are. But that's not me any more. If you want my gaming dollars you're going to sell the games to me for gaming on PC. I really don't are what storefront you want to use, Xbox, Microsoft, Ubisoft's, EA's, GOG, Epic... if the game is there and available for PC gaming I am in. I won't complain... unless it's a trash game of course.

 

[Marees]

If you want my gaming dollars you're going to sell the games to me for gaming on PC. I really don't are what storefront you want to use, Xbox, Microsoft, Ubisoft's, EA's, GOG, Epic... if the game is there and available for PC gaming I am in. I won't complain...

Microsoft is OK with you buying from the Xbox store on PC, I guess. it still counts as the xbox platform

the reason for this is that from Helix onwards the exact same code is used for both console xbox & pc xbox. the dev just has to create a different deployment package for the 2 environments but code is the same code. one version of the code optimized for xbox (rdna 5) platform.

maybe an additional step to enhance it for cloud deployment (Microsoft gives lots of incentives to devs to enhance game for xcloud)

& then final step to optimize a bit for handhelds / xbox full screen.

Microsoft has tons of incentives to devs, if they deploy the game as xbox play anywhere

but if you buy from steam they lose 30% of the cut. they probably want to cut that down going forward