Xbox Leaks (Microsoft aims to buy Nintendo & Valve, Game Pass needs 100 million by 2027/30 or Microsoft will exit Gaming, Seemingly came close to buying Sega)

[Letenko]

4 hours ago, HusKy said:

 

The all digital future MS is pushing for is everything but adorable. 🤯

Imagine wanting to actually own your games. What a preposterous idea.

[DARKKRAKEN666]

I wonder how much this will accelerate digital only AAA games on PlayStation.

[Teh_DDgamez]

Those leaks are crazy, i mean they really show that even for a company standard they are literally evil. They emerge evil even amongst the evil companies. Also while to me all seems wishful thinking (c'mon Japan would allow nintendo to be brought by m? and no way with gabe still in the company steam would go to m) the real crazy thing that stand out to me is that they are litterally throwing billions of dollars but instead of you know trying to win with good games/trying to make the hobby better their plan is to buy the competition, that is crazy to me. No need to destroy competition, make goods games worth buying and xbox will sell simple as that. 

[TrophyChief]

PlayStation can be in a unique position to capitalize and position themselves advantageously on this news. Let's see what their vision and overall strategy will be as time goes on.

[cy1999aek_maik]

They should buy valve, nintendo, warner bros and sega so they can finally be in a position to compete with playstation and their money hatting final fantasy exclusivity! 🤣

[AlchemistWer]

...Ah?

[SelectiveGamer]

So... what about Microsoft not wanting to be a monopoly xbots?

 

Utter BS and ridiculous. They are also trying to fast track the 'all digital' future which I also don't like but I'll just leave this here before flame wars start again between physical vs digital I guess.

 

The point is... xbots are never going to see clarity here in this regard even when it's plastered right on the wall like this.

 

At the end of the day... I don't care about any of these franchises and I still won't buy an Xbox. Nothing on the platform interests me in the slightest and I can just wait for it to go to Nintendo platforms in worst case scenarios (or be forced to skip them if that doesn't happen in the absolute worst case scenario for future Crash and Spyro games)

 

What I care about is the Microsoft hypocrisy. Phil literally said Xbox wouldn't have a mid-gen refresh. Now there's going to be a mid-gen refresh. 🤡

 

Anyone who doesn't think Sony/PlayStation will respond to the ABK situation is fooling themselves. They absolutely will and I expect them too at this point. Especially after this.

 

How? Well that I don't know. Initially I thought it would be Square-Enix but they are hard U-turning on PlayStation exclusivity now and having their own hypocrisy moment currently. This is still a possibility though.

 

My best guesses now for Sony/PlayStation response is either Konami, FromSoft (or whoever owns them), Ubisoft, or maybe Take Two? Look I don't know okay? But they are going to respond in some form or another. If not before the end of this year then next year for sure.

 

This is all your getting out of me for this thread

[Rozalia1]

I've edited the OP to add the below and also make the title more about the big stuff. Hardware stuff remains in the OP of course in case you're interested.

 

Spoiler

 

Wow.

 

 

The level of delusion appears to be at the point that he actually believes his own lies. We've also heard this talk of Google/Amazon being the 'real competition', but this is some aggressive talk. Bragging about hurting Google with the ZeniMax buy out, something they had their astroturfing agents all covering up. For those unaware Google got involved and made this claim. Microsoft's agents were all out there saying that Google was just incompetent, that Microsoft had nothing to do with it, so forth. Here we have the head of Xbox straight up boasting about their buyout killing a competing platform.

 

EDIT: Added the gamepass estimations. Bit late, but important and adds to the gamepass related part that was already present.

 

Spoiler

 

Keep in mind that the above is estimations from Microsoft. These deals weren't ultimately done day 1, with them coming later (cheaper). Baldur's Gate is interesting because if they hadn't had the whole Series S issue they may well have been able to get the game Day 1 on gamepass for 5 million. Now? The price has gone up significantly. Speaking of prices going up, this information being out there is a disaster for Microsoft. Ubisoft for example can now see that what they likely believed to be a good amount, pales in comparison to what EA gets. Gamepass is already very likely a money pit, and it'll only become a bigger one as everyone will now start asking for more money.

 

Further EDIT:

 

Spoiler

 

Wow. If they're at 25 million then in essentially 3 years as we're largely through the year already, they'll need to gain 25 million subscribers every year. Even if they full timeline is given of 2030, that is still a massive ask. You can see why they want Call of Duty. Why they want Nintendo. Why they want Valve. They sort of massive additions are the only real hope they appear to have to reach these massive numbers.

 

 

 

2 hours ago, SelectiveGamer said:

So... what about Microsoft not wanting to be a monopoly xbots?

 

Utter BS and ridiculous. They are also trying to fast track the 'all digital' future which I also don't like but I'll just leave this here before flame wars start again between physical vs digital I guess.

 

The point is... xbots are never going to see clarity here in this regard even when it's plastered right on the wall like this.

 

At the end of the day... I don't care about any of these franchises and I still won't buy an Xbox. Nothing on the platform interests me in the slightest and I can just wait for it to go to Nintendo platforms in worst case scenarios (or be forced to skip them if that doesn't happen in the absolute worst case scenario for future Crash and Spyro games)

 

What I care about is the Microsoft hypocrisy. Phil literally said Xbox wouldn't have a mid-gen refresh. Now there's going to be a mid-gen refresh. 🤡

 

Anyone who doesn't think Sony/PlayStation will respond to the ABK situation is fooling themselves. They absolutely will and I expect them too at this point. Especially after this.

 

How? Well that I don't know. Initially I thought it would be Square-Enix but they are hard U-turning on PlayStation exclusivity now and having their own hypocrisy moment currently. This is still a possibility though.

 

My best guesses now for Sony/PlayStation response is either Konami, FromSoft (or whoever owns them), Ubisoft, or maybe Take Two? Look I don't know okay? But they are going to respond in some form or another. If not before the end of this year then next year for sure.

 

This is all your getting out of me for this thread

 

You aren't going to get clarity out of bots, shills, and mad warriors. Microsoft has purposely cultivated their base, what is left of it anyway, to reject reason and defend the brand at any cost. Just listen to that large amount of influencers they have, far more than Xbox should have considering their size compared to Sony/Nintendo, and amount of lies they put out is incredible. Some are just lying, but others like Spencer are so deep that they actually believe their own lies.

---

For some added levity I have moved over Spencer's speech to a game setting.

 

*Samus reaches Floor 24 of the XTube. Spencer-X is in the centre of the room looking away. He turns around to face Samus.*

 

Samus: Spencer! Nintendoland is being ravaged by your Xbots. Why are you attacking everyone?

 

Spencer-X: We got to totally think differently today. We need to drive engagement, that is the oxygen for our service and business growth. Engagement comes through content. As we drive engagement the content becomes more valuable. We are actually the better owner for ANY game IP than any OTHER publisher on the planet right now as we can drive engagement through retail and subscription which leads to higher revenue.

 

Samus: What? This is why you've hurt and killed so many?

 

Spencer-X: I want to keep that lead and actually extend it so our investment in studios, as you've seen, has increased. I want to make it clear to GOOGLE, to AMAZON, that you are NOT!!! going to catch us in gaming. And one of the reasons sited internally at Google for them divesting of the first party was OUR ZeniMax Acquisition... I just want to put us out of reach...

 

Samus: You'll save us from Google and Amazon... by killing everyone? You've gone completely mad. Your evil ambition ends here!

 

*Spencer-X mutates and reveals his true form, beginning the final boss fight of Metroid Monopoly*

Edited September 20, 2023 by Rozalia1

[MidnightDragon]

Didn't see if anyone mentioned this, but Phil pulled what they did when their plans for Sony were revealed: It's old and things have changed. 

 

https://www.purexbox.com/news/2023/09/phil-spencer-issues-statement-in-response-to-massive-xbox-leak

 

If you believe that, have an igloo in Death Valley for sale. 

[ZitMeatloaf]

Always appreciate the detailed information and breakdowns from @Rozalia1.

 

Just a few musings from me. Microsoft entering the gaming space has felt wrong from the very beginning. Their monopolistic aspirations in everything they do have been obvious since the damn 90's... when the OG Xbox was scheduled to launch at the same time as the GameCube, something about it felt like they absolutely intended to threaten anybody who dared to exist in any industry they fancied joining. I never wanted an Xbox, but I received one as a gift... played it a bit, but nowhere near as much as my PS2 and GC.

 

My only other participation with the Xbox universe have been 3 free months of GamePass for PC that came with my laptop (another way MS bloats their GamePass subscriber numbers), and using an Xbox controller with my laptop for no other reason than it syncs the easiest. Even those mild contributions feel icky now - I'll never redeem another free PC GamePass subscription and when my controller dies one day, it'll be 8bitdo moving forward (their Switch controllers are superb, also sync with PC easily, and their latest pro-style controller uses Hall effect sticks. Served me very well for 160+ hours of Tears of the Kingdom).

 

Anyway, my gut instinct has always been to not feed MS. This latest ordeal is proof positive that sometimes our guts are right.

[majob]

51 minutes ago, MidnightDragon said:

Didn't see if anyone mentioned this, but Phil pulled what they did when their plans for Sony were revealed: It's old and things have changed. 

 

https://www.purexbox.com/news/2023/09/phil-spencer-issues-statement-in-response-to-massive-xbox-leak

 

If you believe that, have an igloo in Death Valley for sale. 

The annoying part are the fanboys crying "Phil is just doing his job"

[ninja-star95]

The fact they think they can buy off Nintendo means they're either royally stupid (and crazy) or they're getting big heads about this whole acquisition shit. They tried back in the early 00s (iirc) and that didn't work. Obviously wouldn't now smh. Phil Spencer needs to go to bed or something because he talking crazy. 

[ZenaxPure]

2 hours ago, Rozalia1 said:

  Reveal hidden contents

 

Wow. If they're at 25 million then in essentially 3 years as we're largely through the year already, they'll need to gain 25 million subscribers every year. Even if they full timeline is given of 2030, that is still a massive ask. You can see why they want Call of Duty. Why they want Nintendo. Why they want Valve. They sort of massive additions are the only real hope they appear to have to reach these massive numbers.

Good gravy man. I just don't understand putting all your eggs in one basket like this. If you make or fund (via third party deals) actual good video games people want to play the rest will figure itself out. That is exactly what Sony and Nintendo do and it's what MS did in their most successful years (the first half of the 360 generation.) Instead Phil is like trying to completely re-program the system while putting 0 safeguards in place in case it fails.

 

But even if we just pretend for a moment this plan is fine, it can't work without some quality control. In one of these emails he straight up admits they had no big exclusive game for 16 months and they need to do better, and then proceeds to say he is hopeful Redfall will be the next big thing. Like dang man, did he even bother playing the game before it came out? (Mostly rhetorical as the answer is not really, iirc they said their internal reviews for the game were in the 7/10 range which is just insanity.)

 

It's a shame too cause I don't want Xbox to die or anything, Sony needs competition, now more than ever.

[BlindMango]

So they're planning on taking the Mac trash can design that everyone made fun of, and pretty much make an Xbox in that design?  Wait, what?

 

Also Microsoft wanting to buy out entire competing platforms like Nintendo and Steam is wild 

 

Edited September 20, 2023 by BlindMango

[Infected Elite]

14 minutes ago, BlindMango said:

 

Also Microsoft wanting to buy out entire competing platforms like Nintendo and Steam is wild 

 

if you had the power and money to buy out competition, would you? i sure would. 

[Ashande]

14 minutes ago, BlindMango said:

So they're planning on taking the Mac trash can design that everyone made fun of, and pretty much make an Xbox in that design?  Wait, what?

 

Also Microsoft wanting to buy out entire competing platforms like Nintendo and Steam is wild 

 

 

That’s what Microsoft and its fans seem best at. Ridicule something for an extended period of time, then when they think no one is looking or has forgotten, swipe it and act like it’s the best thing since sliced bread. For other recent examples, scan Xbox-centric Tweets/blogs for quotes about Stray, Deathloop, Ghostwire or Final Fantasy XIV before they revealed Xbox versions.

[boaly2008]

14 minutes ago, ZenaxPure said:

Good gravy man. I just don't understand putting all your eggs in one basket like this. If you make or fund (via third party deals) actual good video games people want to play the rest will figure itself out. That is exactly what Sony and Nintendo do and it's what MS did in their most successful years (the first half of the 360 generation.) Instead Phil is like trying to completely re-program the system while putting 0 safeguards in place in case it fails.

Phil straight up told everyone he doesnt believe that would work for their market goals. Theyre committed to the strategy because they view it as the only viable path to what they want which is a pseudo-monopoly on distribution. Theyre not in the business to just sell some games, maybe some hardware, and make a tidy profit every quarter.

[Dangisuckatgamin]

I mean it wouldn't shock me none if they did. Honestly I'd like to see all the companies just combine. But if they don't keep trophies around I'm probably done tbh. I haven't really been intrigued by anything new anyway to get excited over gaming. 

[BlindMango]

30 minutes ago, Infected Elite said:

if you had the power and money to buy out competition, would you? i sure would. 

 

I guess it just depends on the situation. I fully understand their desire to buy out large publishers and developers, but buying out entire game platforms is just strange to me. I can't even really think of a comparable analogy to be honest - maybe T-Mobile buying Sprint? Plus competition is always a good thing, it forces companies innovate and it's better for everyone to be honest. If Microsoft just bought everyone out, they'd just feel no need to try anything innovative because they wouldn't need to. However, the fact that they think Valve or Nintendo would even agree to it is bizarre, or that they would expect any positive reception from gamers (I realize Microsoft doesn't care about this lol). I would say a buyout like that would be blocked too, but nothing like that ever gets blocked these days lol

 

Edited September 20, 2023 by BlindMango

[Dry]

Adorable?

 

The fuck kind of console revision is this? Looks to me like an Xcylinder, not an Xbox!

 

Well, that’s enough refrigerator memes (chimney jokes can stay however).

Edited September 20, 2023 by Dry

[ZenaxPure]

18 minutes ago, boaly2008 said:

Phil straight up told everyone he doesnt believe that would work for their market goals. Theyre committed to the strategy because they view it as the only viable path to what they want which is a pseudo-monopoly on distribution. Theyre not in the business to just sell some games, maybe some hardware, and make a tidy profit every quarter.

Oh I am aware, I just don't agree with him lol. 

[Infected Elite]

20 minutes ago, BlindMango said:

 

I guess it just depends on the situation. I fully understand their desire to buy out large publishers and developers, but buying out entire game platforms is just strange to me. I can't even really think of a comparable analogy to be honest - maybe T-Mobile buying Sprint? Plus competition is always a good thing, it forces companies innovate and it's better for everyone to be honest. If Microsoft just bought everyone out, they'd just feel no need to try anything innovative because they wouldn't need to. However, the fact that they think Valve or Nintendo would even agree to it is bizarre, or that they would expect any positive reception from gamers (knowing they don't care about this). I would say a buyout like that would be blocked too, but nothing like that ever gets blocked these days lol

 

True to an extent. BUT it could also drive an up and comer to be the hot new thing and a new competition that listens to fans. It is all a case by case thing though really.

Normally buyouts happen more frequently when there are bug enough financial losses that it makes more sense to be bought by someone than just go bankrupt

[squaresoft4ever7]

https://youtu.be/H6M1OF_E0IA?si=2HsXjSVo8Pmu_Ngx

[RadiantFlamberge]

Microsoft to buy out Nintendo? I laughed for about 3 seconds, then I cringed. Spencer's ego is so big... how big is it? So big it could cause a total solar eclipse any day. Monaco would get hit by a blizzard before Nintendo would sell. If Nintendo has a price, it's probably more than M$ or anyone else is willing to pay.

 

Though Valve selling may be a tiny bit less unlikely, I can't see it happening either. They make a considerable cut from games sold on the Steam platform. If they sould to M$, I think they would kiss goodbye part of their 30% cut.

 

My answer to buying a new Xbox has been, and remains... NO. Most present gen Xbox titles are also on PC. They should start getting some timed exclusives on the Xfridge/Xdustbin. Xdustbin? Yes, it represents the trashcan that M$ wants to throw physical games into. How fitting of a design.

 

Then again, let M$ ditch gaming. Nix on Xbox and XGP.

[Z1MZUM]

Rozalia, another compliment to yourself as I'd read this here first many hours before the YT videos started to appear. I think people would agree that you are clearly a valued member here.

 

Sounding like a broken record here though clearly Phil and his associates are mentally insane. Imagine the impact? As an example, there are enough people who want Kotick gone, I don't mean retired, I mean gone permanently. These morons have no idea how serious and passionate the gaming community is, Not the casuals who pay for all the microtransactions but actual gamers.