Xbox first party line-up is no threat to PlayStation say industry analysts

[mgftp]

...

Amid the ongoing Activision buyout, new research backs Microsoft’s claims that it will even the playing field against Sony.

Microsoft would like you to believe that it’s an industry underdog, in its efforts to buy Activision Blizzard, while Sony attempts to prove the opposite and convince regulators to block the acquisition.

Underdogs typically don’t have £50 billion to spend on major acquisitions such as this but a key talking point surrounding the whole affair is whether a Microsoft owned Activision will actively harm competition or not.

It’s still going to be a while until the situation is resolved but one market research and consulting firm is of the belief that, as it stands, Microsoft’s line-up of games poses little threat to Sony.

While Microsoft plans to launch exclusives like Minecraft Legends and Forza Motorsport within the first half of 2023, it’s biggest titles are May’s Redfall and September’s Starfield. Both of which come courtesy of Bethesda, which Microsoft bought in 2020.

By comparison, Sony’s line-up of first party exclusives is shockingly slim, consisting of just Spider-Man 2, which is believed to be launching in September – the same month as Starfield.

DFC Intelligence’s research states that of the top 200 upcoming games (covering releases up through 2024), Xbox has the advantage with 26 Xbox-only titles while Sony has 22 PlayStation-only titles (this obviously includes third party games).

DFC, however, believes that even Starfield will do little to sway people into buying an Xbox Series X/S over a PlayStation 5, and that it’s ‘not enough to chop into the PlayStation market share.’

‘These titles have been anticipated for some time and presumably have been factored into purchase decisions,’ it writes. ‘On the contrary, if a title like Starfield does not meet expectations it could hurt Xbox Series X/S sales.’

That second point is undoubtedly something Microsoft and Bethesda are aware of. Following Starfield’s initial delay out of 2022, it was reported that this was to avoid it being another Cyberpunk 2077, suggesting the game would’ve been so buggy and broken that launching it in November would have been a liability.

DFC also highlights how there’s not really a need to invest in Xbox hardware either, thanks to the Game Pass service being available on PC. Ironic considering it’s one of Microsoft’s chief selling points.

Game Pass also keeps missing financial targets and Microsoft recently admitted that it harms traditional game sales.

DFC concludes by positing that the Activision acquisition could ‘go a long way toward balancing the competitive landscape’ and it falling through would put Microsoft’s position in the gaming industry in jeopardy.

Don’t be surprised if this research gets picked up by Microsoft to help its case in getting approval for the acquisition. At the moment, multiple regulators worldwide have given it the thumbs up, but the UK’s Competition and Market’s Authority (CMA), the European Commission, and the US’s Federal Trade Commission (FTC) are far more sceptical about it.

Microsoft has submitted multiple compromises and concessions, although it drew the line at the CMA’s suggestion that it can have Activision as long as it sells off the Call Of Duty franchise.

[CalmWind]

Xbox can go rot in a hole somewhere

I will never forgive them for their smug attitude with the "always online" console like 10 yrs ago, they tried to screw over gamers everywhere, and Sony came to the rescue and made them backtrack on that crap


When gamers complained, Xbox officials told us to deal with it and all that. That **** is unforgivable for at least a generation.


though I say all this as someone who no longer games much anymore on consoles, no time.

[mgftp]

Xbox can go rot in a hole somewhere

I will never forgive them for their smug attitude with the "always online" console like 10 yrs ago, they tried to screw over gamers everywhere, and Sony came to the rescue and made them backtrack on that crap


When gamers complained, Xbox officials told us to deal with it and all that. That **** is unforgivable for at least a generation.


though I say all this as someone who no longer games much anymore on consoles, no time.

I had both PS3 and 360, was on my 360 way more but what you mention is the moment I just switched to PS almost exclusively. That Xboner launch MS tried to turn their gaming division into something that would let MS take over your living room, and videogames were clearly not even the priority any longer. Allocating hardware power to the Kinect over gaming, achievements for watching TV, JLoL. Xbox lost it's way so badly back then and they are still paying for it today, having to spend a fortune to gobble up studios in hopes to get a software lineup that can once again compete.

[phaginator]

Xbox can go rot in a hole somewhere

I will never forgive them for their smug attitude with the "always online" console like 10 yrs ago, they tried to screw over gamers everywhere, and Sony came to the rescue and made them backtrack on that crap


When gamers complained, Xbox officials told us to deal with it and all that. That **** is unforgivable for at least a generation.


though I say all this as someone who no longer games much anymore on consoles, no time.

Based.

Never forget.

It was also Xbox that started with charging money for online gaming.

[JayJ350]

Xbox can go rot in a hole somewhere

I will never forgive them for their smug attitude with the "always online" console like 10 yrs ago, they tried to screw over gamers everywhere, and Sony came to the rescue and made them backtrack on that crap


When gamers complained, Xbox officials told us to deal with it and all that. That **** is unforgivable for at least a generation.


though I say all this as someone who no longer games much anymore on consoles, no time.

Yet Sony today: "you can't play GT7 offline, it's online-only"

Ubisoft today: "you can't play most of our games offline, they are online-only"

Activision today: "you can't play 90% of COD offline, it's online-only"

Turns out "live services" became a popular concept after Xbox quickly dropped it. In fact Xbox never actually implemented any of that chit, but those companies HAVE implemented it, and there's more. Heck Street Fighter V was essentially an online-only game for a long time back when it was exclusive to Sony.

[JayJ350]

It was also Xbox that started with charging money for online gaming.

Yet Sony today: "we have 3 TIERS of PS+ subscriptions! Online backups are EXCLUSIVE to paid subscribers!"

[phaginator]

Yet Sony today: "we have 3 TIERS of PS+ subscriptions! Online backups are EXCLUSIVE to paid subscribers!"

"Bu..bu today!"

Xbox started all bad trends, stop defending MS.

And PS+ actually gives good "free" games every month

[JayJ350]

"Bu..bu today!"

Xbox started all bad trends, stop defending MS.

And PS+ actually gives good "free" games every month

Games are exclusive to paid subscribers and unplayable without an active subscription - "IT'S FREE, PRAISE SONY" - sonycels

Free games you get from Xbox Live Gold are yours to keep even if you no longer have an active subscription - "OH MY GOD THEY'RE RIPPING EVERYBODY OFF" - sonycels

Sony was free to do things differently and better, but they decided to stoop below and double down harder on everything sonycels claim to be so outraged by.

If you want services that are actually free, you should be sticking with something like Steam.

[ViolentZ]

Xbox can go rot in a hole somewhere

I will never forgive them for their smug attitude with the "always online" console like 10 yrs ago, they tried to screw over gamers everywhere, and Sony came to the rescue and made them backtrack on that crap


When gamers complained, Xbox officials told us to deal with it and all that. That **** is unforgivable for at least a generation.


though I say all this as someone who no longer games much anymore on consoles, no time.

newsflash boomer, discs are outdated. stop being a partypooper and get along the technology train. ur dragging us down

[ViolentZ]

Based.

Never forget.

It was also Xbox that started with charging money for online gaming.

what kind of garbage fake reasoning is this ?

if xbox 'started it for charging online pay', are they forcing nintendo and sony to charge as well ? No, they can choose for themselves to charge for internet, so nintendo and sony are equally **** to microsoft (in ur own logics)

[ScramFranklin]

NEVER FORGIVE NEVER FORGET why we are fighting this war

[JayJ350]

what kind of garbage fake reasoning is this ?

if xbox 'started it for charging online pay', are they forcing nintendo and sony to charge as well ? No, they can choose for themselves to charge for internet, so nintendo and sony are equally **** to microsoft (in ur own logics)

You're talking to sonycels. They aren't known for being logical or reasonable.

[bongowongo]

Xbox can go rot in a hole somewhere

I will never forgive them for their smug attitude with the "always online" console like 10 yrs ago, they tried to screw over gamers everywhere, and Sony came to the rescue and made them backtrack on that crap


When gamers complained, Xbox officials told us to deal with it and all that. That **** is unforgivable for at least a generation.


though I say all this as someone who no longer games much anymore on consoles, no time.

But that was by a different CEO? and not the current one.


If we want to go down that route of never forgiving and forgetting, then all we have to do is go back to 2006 and Kaz Hirai saying that real gamers will pick up a second job just to be able to buy the $599 PS3.





The only thing we cant forgive MS is for constantly relying on Halo, Gears, Forza and making us wait for new ips and games that they've promised us since 2013

"It's Coming!!" - Phil Spencer.

[freeburn]

To be fair if you're complaining about crappy industry practices you wouldn't own a console at all. Consoles days of being consumer friendly are long gone.

Xbox did have a retarded attitude, but they were completely right and everything is always online now anyways. Everyone was outraged and thought it was crazy but here we are.

[JayJ350]

To be fair if you're complaining about crappy industry practices you wouldn't own a console at all. Consoles days of being consumer friendly are long gone.

Xbox did have a retarded attitude, but they were completely right and everything is always online now anyways. Everyone was outraged and thought it was crazy but here we are.

Their entire attitude on display is proof of how retarded most gamers have become these days. They basically have no real standards, and just push nonsense on a basis of personal and journalistic biases.

It reminds me of the news and politics.

[Coal Man]

Phil Spencer after the Bethesda aquisition:

"This deal was not done to take games away from another player base like that. Nowhere in the documentation that we put together was: ‘How do we keep other players from playing these games?’ We want more people to be able to play games, not fewer people to be able to go play games."

[JayJ350]

Phil Spencer after the Bethesda aquisition:

"This deal was not done to take games away from another player base like that. Nowhere in the documentation that we put together was: ‘How do we keep other players from playing these games?’ We want more people to be able to play games, not fewer people to be able to go play games."

Lol @ sonycels still crying about this and the Activision deal

Lol @ saying something is no threat only to throw a tantrum over it

[phaginator]

what kind of garbage fake reasoning is this ?

if xbox 'started it for charging online pay', are they forcing nintendo and sony to charge as well ? No, they can choose for themselves to charge for internet, so nintendo and sony are equally **** to microsoft (in ur own logics)

Sure they became equally sh*t in that regard.

Just saying MS started the bullsh*t, quite sad how Xcels try to downplay this fact.

[Coal Man]

Lol @ sonycels still crying about this and the Activision deal

Lol @ saying something is no threat only to throw a tantrum over it

Not throwing a tantrum, I have by far the better console. I'm just saying that lying so blatantly to the fans is of strange look

[JayJ350]

Not throwing a tantrum, I have by far the better console. I'm just saying that lying so blatantly to the fans is of strange look

Didn't Sony claim they wouldn't be able to compete if the Activision deal goes through?

[CalmWind]

Yet Sony today: "you can't play GT7 offline, it's online-only"

Ubisoft today: "you can't play most of our games offline, they are online-only"

Activision today: "you can't play 90% of COD offline, it's online-only"

Turns out "live services" became a popular concept after Xbox quickly dropped it. In fact Xbox never actually implemented any of that chit, but those companies HAVE implemented it, and there's more. Heck Street Fighter V was essentially an online-only game for a long time back when it was exclusive to Sony.

Gran Turismo 7 has several game modes you can play while offline.

But you can't do the online stuff unless you're connected to their servers, which makes sense no?


XBOX was a whole different thing. Their entire console forced ALL games, even single player games, to be online or it would not work. And then the USED GAMES policy they tried to do.


Sony made them backtrack on all of it. You guys don't understand how big that was for gaming. Based Japanese.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWSIFh8ICaA

[CalmWind]

Xbox did have a retarded attitude, but they were completely right and everything is always online now anyways. Everyone was outraged and thought it was crazy but here we are.

you're not understanding.

The xbone would refuse to play any game if you didn't stay connected to the internet. Even single player games. Your console would essentially be bricked if you traveled with it or your internet went down. That is not "always online" of today, which is mostly multiplayer games. You can play God of War offline just fine today, again, thanks to Sony for refusing to go down that road with microsoft.

For example, "always online" Is Red Dead Online, because it's multiplayer services and world. But now imagine, the single player campaign of Red Dead Redemption 2 is also forbidden to play unless you are connected online. That is what Xbox tried to do.



And then the used games policy. Xbox tried to make it so you could never again loan your game to a friend, or take your disc to a friend's house to play, or whatever. They wanted to enact crazy DRM stuff. Sony once again refused and let things stay the way they are.


You take it for granted, but if Sony had simply gone along with microsoft, consoles today would be very different.

[JayJ350]

Gran Turismo 7 has several game modes you can play while offline.

Bro, the game barely works offline. I know because I have played it offline, and you are SEVERELY limited in what you can do. Basically just some arcade races and time trials. You can't even buy or modify any cars, heck you can't even manage or save anything either really. It's basically like playing a demo by that point. By most measures, the game requires an online connection in order to enjoy about 99% of what it has to offer. Even COD offers a more complete experience offline these days.

It isn't even just me saying this either, just look at what the community has had to say on the topic, it's an infamous drawback with the game that has been heavily covered.

[CalmWind]

Bro, the game barely works offline. I know because I have played it offline, and you are SEVERELY limited in what you can do. Basically just some arcade races and time trials. You can't even buy or modify any cars, heck you can't even manage or save anything either really. It's basically like playing a demo by that point. By most measures, the game requires an online connection in order to enjoy about 99% of what it has to offer. Even COD offers a more complete experience offline these days.

Okay, but that's specific to GT7 right. Sony didn't brick the PS5 so NOTHING will work unless it's connected. You can still go play God of War offline or whatever.


Big difference to what those *******s at Microsoft tried to do. They tried to brick the console and NOTHING would work on it unless you connected.


I remember being pissed at this because back then, I was living out of hotels due to my job sending me on weeks/months long projects from coast to coast USA. I would pack my console in my luggage amidst my clothes, so I could play after work in my hotel room when I was tired. I would try to ask my office for hotels with really good WiFi but that crap was hit or miss, even in high end hotels.

Many times WiFi isn't very strong because hotels have crappy hotspot locations or whatever reason. I could never play NBA 2k in most hotels because of this.

I survived playing Red Dead Redemption 2 single player back then and other single player games.

Do you understand how crappy it would be to brick my console and not let me play because of internet connection after a long day at work

nah bro, Microsoft tried to ruin gamers. Maybe I'll forgive them by next generation.

[JayJ350]

you're not understanding.

The xbone would refuse to play any game if you didn't stay connected to the internet. Even single player games. Your console would essentially be bricked if you traveled with it or your internet went down. That is not "always online" of today, which is mostly multiplayer games. You can play God of War offline just fine today, again, thanks to Sony for refusing to go down that road with microsoft.

For example, "always online" Is Red Dead Online, because it's multiplayer services and world. But now imagine, the single player campaign of Red Dead Redemption 2 is also forbidden to play unless you are connected online. That is what Xbox tried to do.



And then the used games policy. Xbox tried to make it so you could never again loan your game to a friend, or take your disc to a friend's house to play, or whatever. They wanted to enact crazy DRM stuff. Sony once again refused and let things stay the way they are.


You take it for granted, but if Sony had simply gone along with microsoft, consoles today would be very different.

Except Microsoft never actually did that, the guy who came up with that idea got fired, and then Sony started selling live service games.

[JayJ350]

Okay, but that's specific to GT7 right. Sony didn't brick the PS5 so NOTHING will work unless it's connected. You can still go play God of War offline or whatever.


Big difference to what those *******s at Microsoft tried to do. They tried to brick the console and NOTHING would work on it unless you connected.

All you got is being outraged at some stupid idea someone had over a decade ago. Get a life.

[CalmWind]

Except Microsoft never actually did that, the guy who came up with that idea got fired, and then Sony started selling live service games.

Aww you're a liar. It wasn't just Adam Orth.


Don Mattrick told gamers at the time, "If you don't like it, stick with the 360"

It was a company wide middle finger to gamers. Gaming would have changed forever, but Sony literally forced them to backtrack.


EDIT : I had to google his exact quote.

"We have a product for people who aren't able to get some form of connectivity; it's called Xbox 360."


the smugness on all of them back then, just lol.

[phaginator]

Aww you're a liar.

Don Mattrick told gamers at the time, "If you don't like it, stick with the 360"

It was a company wide middle finger to gamers. Gaming would have changed forever, but Sony literally forced them to backtrack.

Based, never forget what MS wanted to push on the gaming community.

Again sad certain Xcels are trying to downplay the negative influence MS had on the industry...

[Coal Man]

Man, Jay360 getting pulverized today. Time to log off, hopefully you can still function while being offline.

[taskmob]

Didn't Sony claim they wouldn't be able to compete if the Activision deal goes through?

According to sonycels, they don't need COD, they have the superior fps Killzone. By that logic, SONY IS LYING AND LYING IS BAD!!!

Imagine bringing in morality as it actually matters when talking about billion dollar corporations. They're grasping for straws at this point.