Xbox Series X/S Was the Biggest Xbox Launch Ever (eurogamer.net) 31
Microsoft has trumpeted the release of Xbox Series X and S as its biggest Xbox launch ever, though not provided any specific sales figures. From a report: Xbox boss Phil Spencer broke the news on Twitter today, noting that "more Xbox consoles had been sold, in more countries, than ever before" and that many more were on the way. Xbox Series X/S are sold out in many places, making this - like many console launches -- simply a matter of how many console boxes Microsoft can inject into retailers to sell on launch day. The mention of more countries this time around is also important. Xbox Series S/X arrived on the same day in 37 markets, compared to just 13 for the Xbox One. Still, as video games analyst Daniel Ahmad points out, any total now the largest ever for Xbox means it was higher than the 1m units Microsoft managed at the Xbox One's launch -- which is no mean feat in the middle of a pandemic.
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Pandemic + XBox Games Pass FTW (Score:3)
I regret waiting until 9:30AM to try to buy mine when they opened up pre-orders. I also regret not going to my nearest WalMart, 45 min away, at 8AM on launch day to grab one (in fairness WalMart's website wouldn't didn't tell me my nearest store had some until the day of. Had I known the night before, I would have set an alarm). I don't think I will be able to get an XSX in 2020. I requested in stock alerts from every store I could and they have also been silent.
If it's not obvious, the Games Pass is the big winner here. Pay a monthly fee and get a rotation of great games. It's why I am so excited to get an XBox and why my Switch is collecting dust. When you have young kids, the pass is huge. I keep looking for video games to engage them now that the weather is getting cold, but my efforts on the switch have been expensive and unsuccessful....Hey kids, you'll LOVE Mario Party...10 min of frustration and $60 later, it has never been played again, despite my best efforts. Before having kids, I had gamefly and would rent (disc via mail) every shooter I could find, have a blast and send them back after I finished the single player campaign.
The other business genius decision is that people like me tend to sign up for things and get busy and never use them. I went 3 months without using Disney+ but never canceled. MS will make a huge amount of money off that. I am really surprised Sony isn't doing more on this front. If they had a viable Games Pass competitor, I would have bought their console. There are just too many busy people on the planet who enjoy video games and would love to pay a monthly fee for some "Netflix for Games" service.
Re:Pandemic + XBox Games Pass FTW (Score:4, Insightful)
So pay forever, own nothing and risk the chance of a game disappearing before you can complete it.
You and I have a different concept of "winner".
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I find with netflix and youtube and similar, there is a decent chunk I like and make the effort to have a local copy, but there is a much bigger chunk of content where once is enough. That is, the casual browsing stuff.
I can absolutely see the same being applicable to games. I'm not much of a gamer, but I do have a steam library of games that I've played through, got my value out of, and have never had the desire to revisit. Sure I've got some classics that I occasionally dust off, but a big chunk of them w
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Unfortunately for us, it seems that "over-indulging from different sources for a monthly fee" is the new norm. Look at all the different monthly fee/streaming services: Netflix, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Amazon Prime Video, etc. People these days can't concentrate on a single thing and enjoy it, they're always bouncing around from one thing to the next.
If we were to compare this to going to a restaurant, they would be running around the buffet, taking one bite of something and then rushing to the
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The reason for the switch pay to win and micro transactions are just pissing off most gamers and killing new game sales. So they want to force them back in through renting the game. But you got to play for free, what is wrong with micro transactions and pay to win it was FREE, you did not 'PAY FOR THE GAME' (they will skip over paying for access to the library). It is an admission their new content is utter shite and so they are switching to renting and 'er' free games with micro transactions and pay to win
Re:Pandemic + XBox Games Pass FTW (Score:5, Insightful)
I'm not sure what the fascination with ownership is. There are some things I prefer to own (like music that I listen to over and over again) or online multiplayer games, and there's some things I want to experience once.
The majority of single player games fall into the latter category. My bookshelf and my Steam library is full of shit I've played once and despite really enjoying have zero intention of playing again.
Ownership is a strange requirement for entertainment.
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Play real games and not interactive movies.
Why? I enjoy "interactive movies". And while I know what you're referring to not all games are quite as braindead as the one in your reference. If you're into 13 year old boys telling you how good your mum is in bed, then by all means keep playing those "real" games. I prefer something with a well written plot.
Why not just "Games Pass"? (Score:1)
If it's not obvious, the Games Pass is the big winner here. Pay a monthly fee and get a rotation of great games.
On the surface, it seems nice... but it also seems like something you can already use if you have a PC. A console is a bit more convenient to be sure, but it doesn't seem as bad to not be able to get an Xbox if most games are just on game pass.
What I worry about longer term is how many really excellent games there will be for the Xbox, if most of them are made for the game pass. It seems like le
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The other business genius decision is that people like me tend to sign up for things and get busy and never use them. I went 3 months without using Disney+ but never canceled.
A classic but very effective strategy, especially at a given price point.
Netflix is this for me. Even with the price creeping up, I tend to think about the series I occasionally binge watched and not the 6 months or so in between when I might not even visiting the site. Its just nice knowing the option is there.
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People still don't realize how big a point this is.
I too have a moderately sized physical games collection. However I realized I am using them less and less and rely more on digital versions instead.
Yes, there are real advantages to having a disc in your hand. In theory, they cannot "revoke" your license, nor can they prevent you from giving it away, trading it, or sharing with friends.
That being said, the convenience factor overcomes those advantages. Also the next generation of games will probably never s
Re: Pandemic + XBox Games Pass FTW (Score:1)
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Hey kids, you'll LOVE Mario Party...10 min of frustration and $60 later, it has never been played again, despite my best efforts.
If only there were some way for people to evaluate software before they buy it, like a demo of some kind. Eh... guess I might as well buy something blind and just hope it's worth it!
Contrast the console stores to Steam, and it's pretty obvious the console companies aren't even trying to sell their products to people. That's why my PS4 has been collecting dust and I won't be buying any of the "next gen" systems. Hell, if it wasn't for Let's Play videos, I'd have stopped buying games entirely years ago.
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Pay a monthly fee and get a rotation of great games.
Aside from the lack of Linux support and privacy issues (which make this a non-starter for me), this bit is what I'm really having trouble with. The FAQ says that games may be removed from the service. I don't know if that's Netflix-style, where it's not too many or too often, or if it's more like a rotation as you say, but something that freemium games have taught me is that time-limited content is absolutely awful. To be avoided at all costs.
I'm sure that different people with different mindsets will h
Hmm... maybe (Score:3)
I was thinking about buying the new Xbox, but I'm afraid I have no idea if I'd end up buying the correct version... Xbox X Pass Ultimate Series... something?
I just realized I've become my dad.
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Going with the PS5 is easier. You know that "5" is the latest since there is no "PS6" yet.
The only choice you need to do is "disc or disc-less". The rest of the hardware is the same, unlike those new Xbox where one of them is much less powerful than the other [pcmag.com]. Its CPU is slower, its GPU is weaker, it has less RAM and its SSD is half the size. The only thing that's exactly the same is the SSD speed and the controllers.
The names for the online services is also a major clusterfuck. It reminds me of "Street Fig
No wonder - these consoles are great (Score:1)
But please, dont get a Series S, the XSX is so much better value for the awesome power you get, just wait and save another 200 for full fat gaming!
Klew found (Score:3)
When it comes to "S", expect a gimped, crippled product. Same as Windows 10 "S".
I just hope M$ sticks with this naming convention so it's easy to identify what the inferior versions of their products are.
I noticed lately that stripped down/inferior versions of brands have extra wording in their name. Nice bit of doublethink there.
Doh (Score:1)
I've had every Xbox model since the 360. Everyone has worked fine till i got X Series X on launch day. Powered on then powered off immediately. Sad face, had to ship to MS since Best Buy has no stock, and they won't cross ship. Big sad face.
Yes the naming is ridiculously bad. Xbox one, Xbox one X, Xbox Series X. I can imagine soccer mom trying to remember the correct one at the store.
My opinion (Score:1)