MS/Xbox games will only be played through Game Pass? No more $ 60/$ 70 games? No more purchases? Can you see this happening?

No. Some people like to own/keep their games.

It hasn't happen for books, music and movies, I am not sure why folks think it would happen with games. 😑

@lundy86_4: Are those a dying breed? I'm guessing most are okay with non traditional ownership or non at all with f2p pc scene and mobile gaming but then again, those are different models (but they're all vying for gaming time).

Might be a better idea for gamers in the future. But is it that big of a money maker for Microsoft? If so,Sony,Nintendo,etc ....will follow suit?

No, because somehow people feel that buying more than two of these games at brand new MSRP prices each year is better than using the service for same price or less, so if MS stands to benefit from this stubbornness then that's fine, locking it behind a service would just give consumers less options.

MS would need better leverage first if they were ever to try this successfully, and that means creating IPs that have that draw. Right now they are just trying to grow the influence of their ecosystem first. If there were a road map to such a scenario we are many years away.

Then again, I could see something like exclusive early access to a hyped IP through the service, no doubt. But as a general design of the platform, less likely.

I can see physical games becoming obsolete. But I think the full price version of games will stay. It's more incentive to use gamepass imo because of price/value.

That makes no sense from a business standpoint. The revenue potential is far higher with retail and digital sales. Subscription money is split up in far too many smaller chunks. It would make more sense to put year+ old games in GamePass and build on the dlc/microtransaction opportunities.

This and I'm one of them. I just consider GP to be a rental service for the games I'll try out before I purchase it to my gaming collection.

I sure hope not.

It would be silly to get rid of individual game sales as it is an alternative revenue that is not directly competing with their subscription service. Some people don't care for subscriptions and some will spend more on direct purchases than what they will make from them on Game Pass. Game Pass already has enough incentive based on value. No need to force people into it.

If they did that, then they can take a long walk off of a short pier.

Well the good news is that 98% of MS big exclusives flopped, so buying them is kinda of pointless.

And yet you still find yourself secretly playing these flopped games. 😂

The one thing that would worry me about Phil's speech is this:

"the partnership is really about delivering exclusive games that "ship on platforms where [Xbox] Game Pass exists."

My belief is with the likes of Google Stadia, Microsoft would like to get away from the console and physical software market as it is harder to make money from it. They, along with Sony, want to end the practice of second hand sales.

I have posited this before and I would not be surprised to see Elder Scrolls 6 as a Gamepass Exclusive. Have GP or do not play the game. It will intriguing to see how they do sell it to MS customers.

Also from his speech I think Microsoft will make another attempt at getting GP on Playstation and will use these games as the lure. All that is stopping this is Sony. How PS5 does without the new Bethesda games will decide whether they will make a deal with MS - like they have with the cloud gaming.

Gamepass only will be the ultimate deal breaker. I am not looking to play games like I watch Netflix. I play one or two at a time, at my leisure. And well.. ownership.

Despite the fact that nothing indicated the removal of games being purchasable we have folks concerned about games being purchasable. There is money to be made in both solutions. If you like buying games, you buy it and if you prefer subbing to games you sub. What is driving this notion that it needs to be one or the other?

I don't know the entire Netflix scene eventhough we have a sub but aren't there some Netflix "exclusives"? I'm surprised that Stranger Things has Blu-Ray and DVD so you're probably right.

@lamprey263: I guess that would be more likely to happen.

Big timed exclusives for Game Pass ONLY initially but still allow them to become fully purchasable after the hype has slowed down. Maybe a year or two after release.

No

Netflix, has many exclusives and is almost a pure streaming service. I don't anticipate gaming going purely in that direction. Maybe, eventually but I don't see that happening anytime soon.

I have said this on SW for years and will continue to say it. Physical media will become obsolete. It is not if, it is when.

I’m going to go with a “Hell no!” It’s a revolving service so why would someone not make their game able to be purchased separately.

@Pedro: I think the eventuality of it is quite likely but you're right, it won't be in the near future.

I think so too.

Wow.

Back in full circle?

This was the history of mmos.

Subscription based to f2p.

Not sure if big there are big mmos today that are still sub based and if they're viable.

Only revolving for non MS games. 😮

@Pedro: Ah ok. Didn’t notice that in topic. Still going with the “Hell no!” because I really just don’t see them doing that. Still going be plenty of people wanting to buy games.

Even when the industry moves away from physical games, you'll still be able to purchase them digitally. So I don't see games ever being GP exclusive.

lol no. When there are allot of collectors and physical media supporters in the console gaming industry.

@Archangel3371: Was thinking that the idea from subscription based software like recent AntiVirus, Creative Software, Office Software. Some of the big ones have moved into subscription based when it was previously one time purchasable at $40-$100-$ 1000+.

F2P games are also a factor where you don't really own the game. F2Ps are probably the biggest thing in gaming. Somewhat a form of non ownership imo.

There could also still be mmos which are subscription based and actually has been there in the early eras of mmos but maybe this is a dying business model? I'm not sure.

Considering all of those, it's not that hard to imagine such a scenario, even if the above are almost too tangential.

I don't think it's that much of a longshot to see major Microsoft Exclusives to be only locked in Game Pass as a big product attraction into the service.

Although someone here mentioned that maybe they'll only do it for some time. I'd assume something like the first year will only be Game Pass exclusive but will have a typical purchasable release after. Might have quite a backlash though.

@Pedro: We are discussing possibilities about the future of the gaming industry (which is more interesting to me than frame rates or resolutions or teraflops)

I think that physical media in games will disappear by the end of the decade if not sooner. Ownership is also a looser concept these days - a growing number of people will rather subscribe to things like Netflix or Spotify than buy physical media.

Unlikely, not with the current change cycle anyways.

@rzxv04: I just don’t see that happening myself.

Gaming is not Anti-Virus, Creative Software or Office Software (they are allowing the purchasing of the software again).

Free to play games are almost solely multiplayer games. These games by their design require network access and ownership has been the same as it has always been for the past two decades in which the game is a dud without a server.

The two subscription based MMOs that come to mind is WOW and Final Fantasy XIV.

I do think it is a longshot to think that Microsoft exclusives would be locked to GamePass. Someone who prefers to buy games are not going to be converted because of exclusives. The current model caters for all three types of gamers, the ones who buys, the one who subscribes and the ones who do both. I have seen no compelling arguments or evidence to show that this is inevitability or likelihood.

With the exception of Netflix, the option to buy is still present for all the streaming services. These services are exceptionally reliant on the perception of value and this value is based on new content. The new content isn't undervalued because it is available for purchase. The value is maintained but it would lose value to the service over time. Removing the ability to purchase amputates a portion of revenue from sales which the greatest return per product can be had because there is revenue generated from streaming and from purchases. Physical purchases may eventually disappear but the ability to purchase entertainment, is highly unlikely.

That's fair. Office allows purchase again? All I know is the $ 100 / year sub at its cheapest. If you see a nice deal please lmk.

LOL Wow still has subs? thought it was all F2P. I guess sub based is still alive after all these years.

As someone who no longer collects games and able to access most of what I like, I don't think it's impossible but yes, unlikely in the near future.

That's fair. I personally no longer pay for games myself and was wondering if more of that will bleed into the masses and more sub models for gaming.

It definitely isn't impossible but these companies win on both fronts with subs and purchases. If there was one that would negatively affect the other is subs. Subs makes purchases on the consumer side generally not as attractive and because of this I don't see these companies saying no to gamers willing to pay. Unlike Office and other productivity software, it is just one item that you are being forced to pay towards for life versus a system where new games are continuously being released.

@Pedro: Last sentence is a strong argument and afaik, gaming sales are only increasing as time goes by but I don't know if it's increasing alongside the entire gaming population which is subjective.

Aren't we always breaking sales records as of late, not just sub types?

Don't know if boomer bejeweled f2per types should be included. Don't think so but I wonder if corporate boardrooms throw those in.

Where else can I watch The Mandalorian?

We will eventually phase out physical copies of games, but this won't be until we phase out consoles all together and streaming becomes the norm. Until then, if you choose to buy a physical copy rather than downloading it from Game Pass, that's more money for Microsoft.

Maybe here.

And that's another surprise to me.

@Pedro: that's not an official release.........and all the reviews are for phone cases?!

Are you serious dude?

So I'll ask you again, where else can I watch The Mandalorian without illegal activity haha.

@rzxv04: It's not a real DVD set. He either didn't look or just doesn't care since I broke his argument.

I did a search and that is what came it. Not complicated at all. Now, take the opportunity to re-read what I stated. Something might click. 😉

@Star67: What the hell is that listing then? Weird comments. Shouldn't amazon be taking it down? Are those captain jakd?