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[memoryman3]

It will.

And what is the financial incentive for that?

 

[gerth666]

If microsoft allows steam on this then they're even bigger morons then anyone could've ever imagined. The entire point of a console is to get people into your ecosystem so that you can sell them controllers, games, and use your storefront to make big profits because you're not having to give a cut to retailers and you're getting a 30% cut from third parties as well. Allowing steam on this would just mean that microsoft/xbox are going to tank their sales to the point that their would never be a profit on it and they'd lose billions of dollars.

I've said the same thing in the past.
Allowing other store's on your system just doesn't make sense.
If people are buying games from other storefronts how are you making money?

Unless the the rumours are true, and it's just a box running windows.
Then its not a console anymore and just a PC.
It's starting to look more and more that Microsoft are looking to become a full on third party publisher with a subscription service, and they're going to somehow migrate current Xbox accounts over.

 

[Three]

And what is the financial incentive for that?

To sell hardware probably. It's possibly going to be hilarious seeing all the xbox diehards now trying to defend a $700+ sticker price with bullshit about how it's different.

 

[ManaByte]

And what is the financial incentive for that?

Gives 40 million Steam users another device option to play on while getting them into the Xbox ecosystem. They’re doing a “Xbox Verified” certification the same as “Deck Verified” for games that can run in it just like the Steam Deck.

 

[Punished Miku]

I've said the same thing in the past.
Allowing other store's on your system just doesn't make sense.
If people are buying games from other storefronts how are you making money?

Unless the the rumours are true, and it's just a box running windows.
Then its not a console anymore and just a PC.
It's starting to look more and more that Microsoft are looking to become a full on third party publisher with a subscription service, and they're going to somehow migrate current Xbox accounts over.

It's really no different from Steam itself, or Epic. MS is the largest 3rd party publisher now, and they have a very compelling sub service. Their PC store offers developers 12% cut I think instead of 30%, and consumers will have options for "play anywhere" features, and rewards points. Most people will still use Steam that are already accustomed to Steam but this store will be pretty compelling for people with a large Xbox library that want to keep using rewards, Gamepass, and have access to cloud features or achievements.

No one on PC is blocked from using any of the stores. They just have to compete on their actual merits.

 

[ManaByte]

It's really no different from Steam itself, or Epic. MS is the largest 3rd party publisher now, and they have a very compelling sub service. Their PC store offers developers 12% cut I think instead of 30%, and consumers will have options for "play anywhere" features, and rewards points. Most people will still use Steam that are already accustomed to Steam but this store will be pretty compelling for people with a large Xbox library that want to keep using rewards, Gamepass, and have access to cloud features or achievements.

No one on PC is blocked from using any of the stores. They just have to compete on their actual merits.

Plus Gabe has strong ties to MS

 

[Fafalada]

If 'TV Friendly shell' refers primarily to hardware (rather than software) than MS is missing the point even worse than Michael Bay did with Pearl Harbor.
But then again that'd hardly be a first for them...

But meanwhile I will cling to the tiny hope that this is referring to a broad revamp of their software stack for useability and general user-experience. Maybe... just maybe... we actually get something that forces Steam to compete with someone other than themselves for a change.

 

[memoryman3]

Gives 40 million Steam users another device option to play on while getting them into the Xbox ecosystem. They’re doing a “Xbox Verified” certification the same as “Deck Verified” for games that can run in it just like the Steam Deck.

Only 4 million people have bought the Steam Deck, and the userbase mostly comprises of existing hardcore Steam users, people who want to pirate games and load them on emulators, and Redditors. No one new will be interested in an expensive Xbox console with no security and no guaranteed compatiblity, just a tiny number of people who are already on PC.

The Xbox Series consoles had no exclusives, and still shipped over 35 million units thanks in part to the Series S. People want cheap and powerful consoles that can run everything well enough. A hybrid PC just won’t do that.

Their strategy with multiplatform console games at least got them new users who would have never bought an Xbox console otherwise. A hybrid PC would see Xbox bleed users.

 

[gerth666]

It's really no different from Steam itself, or Epic. MS is the largest 3rd party publisher now, and they have a very compelling sub service. Their PC store offers developers 12% cut I think instead of 30%, and consumers will have options for "play anywhere" features, and rewards points. Most people will still use Steam that are already accustomed to Steam but this store will be pretty compelling for people with a large Xbox library that want to keep using rewards, Gamepass, and have access to cloud features or achievements.

No one on PC is blocked from using any of the stores. They just have to compete on their actual merits.

So you agree that it looks like they're going so make a pc box?

I don't think this sounds as lucrative as having a dedicated console.
I would bet if the 30 million or so Xbox customers had a choice, the majority would choose to buy from the other store's

 

[Punished Miku]

So you agree that it looks like they're going so make a pc box?

That's been the rumor since last February. PC box and handheld.

 

[onQ123]

And we are done here

 

[Topher]

Then you are in denial

 

[ManaByte]

And we are done here

No we’re not. When Jez says something negative about Xbox hes infallible, when he says something positive about Xbox he’s full of shit. So in this case we believe whatever he says.

 

[Astray]

No we’re not. When Jez says something negative about Xbox hes infallible,

How is he saying something negative here?

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

imagine arguing about Jez Corden. brawh. have a little dignity.

 

[gothmog]

It's pretty obvious they're pushing an SDK which has no real target and is instead an "everything is an xbox" ecosystem with gamepass/windows store. It's also why the gamepass versions of games are kind of shit too even on PC because devs are pushing versions on that SDK that differ from their main releases (on steam or elsewhere) and are usually behind in version number. Their SDK is just "no target" hardware like PC already.

Yeah it makes little sense. Why target this failed platform when you could target Sony, Nintendo, and the actual PC market.

 

[GHG]

No we’re not. When Jez says something negative about Xbox hes infallible, when he says something positive about Xbox he’s full of shit. So in this case we believe whatever he says.

So you'd view this direction as a negative?

Good to know.

 

[FrankWza]

To sell hardware probably. It's possibly going to be hilarious seeing all the xbox diehards now trying to defend a $700+ sticker price with bullshit about how it's different.

The only shot they have is to make it an insane value for the price. It has always been the easiest way to compete with PlayStation and they just never go that route since gen 1. That has always been their biggest mistake. Just make an insane price to power system. Even if you take a loss, it's an investment in your enticing people to your ecosystem. Luckily they can come here for ideas on how to build a PC that's better than the PS5 Pro for less than $850.

 

[ShaiKhulud1989]

No we’re not. When Jez says something negative about Xbox hes infallible, when he says something positive about Xbox he’s full of shit. So in this case we believe whatever he says.

He's not even inventing insides at this point, he's just speaking out loud the sanest way to preserve the hardware from MS' current perspective, that's all.

Ever since Xbox went third party it was doomed to become a PC sticker with Windows Big Picture pre-installed.

 

[twilo99]

Cool now let people upgrade the CPU/GPU if they so desire

 

[Topher]

Gives 40 million Steam users another device option to play on while getting them into the Xbox ecosystem. They’re doing a “Xbox Verified” certification the same as “Deck Verified” for games that can run in it just like the Steam Deck.

If that happens then it will be on an "Xbox" PC, not a closed console.

Plus Gabe has strong ties to MS

Being wrong about Xbox this gen doesn't equate to "strong ties to MS"

 

[GermanZepp]

If I can run steam I'm buying it.

 

[ManaByte]

If that happens then it will be on an "Xbox" PC, not a closed console.



Being wrong about Xbox this gen doesn't equate to "strong ties to MS"

He worked for MS.

 

[Ebrietas]

Slap an Xbox sticker on your PC and you already have this device.

 

[damidu]

a last ditch, half-ass, worst of both worlds experiment.
already dead before launch as expected from phil&co.
in 5 years current series numbers will be looked at as a huge success in retrospect

 

[S0ULZB0URNE]

I personally trust HeisenbergFX4 , if he says it's coming then it's coming (or at least his source has no reason to think it won't). But this feels very non-committal to me.

You can easily scrap an off-the-shelf parts order if there's no specific R&D happening for you there.

I would if it made sense which it doesn't.

Maybe that's why they would do it cause it makes no sense lol

 

[Dr.D00p]

Slap an Xbox sticker on your PC and you already have this device.

Not quite. It will no doubt be running a bespoke, locked down OS, highly customised & optimised for a console like experience.

This will just be a device to lock in the Gamepass audience. Turn it on, boot straight to Gamepass, start playing.

From a hardware perspective I can't see it being anything too exciting in terms of raw performance though.

Anyone who thinks they're going to get a box under the TV with 4090/5090 levels of performance for $500 in 2026/2027 are going to be disappointed.

 

[AzekZero]

Microsoft will just fully integrate Xbox into Windows 11, both to increase adoption rates of that software and also fend off Valve's SteamOS.

I don't look forward to migrating from W10 to W11.

 

[Topher]

He worked for MS.

Sure, 30 years ago. Since then he has done more to promote Linux gaming over Windows than anyone else that I can think of. You really think he is going to upend that work to have Steam in embedded in a closed console? The Steam community would go nuts. Nah....not happening.

 

[ManaByte]

Sure, 30 years ago. Since then he has done more to promote Linux gaming over Windows than anyone else that I can think of. You really think he is going to upend that work to have Steam in embedded in a closed console? The Steam community would go nuts. Nah....not happening.

The Steam community would go nuts because a different device can access Steam? Wow.

 

[Ebrietas]

Not quite. It will no doubt be running a bespoke, locked down OS, highly customised & optimised for a console like experience.

This will just be a device to lock in the Gamepass audience. Turn it on, boot straight to Gamepass, start playing.

From a hardware perspective I can't see it being anything too exciting in terms of raw performance though.

I’m sure there is a huge market for PC gamers who want to be locked to the MS store or to gamepass…

What is this hypothetical locked down Xbox “PC” doing that the current console is not? Who is buying it? And why are they not buying the console currently for sale?

 

[Topher]

The Steam community would go nuts because a different device can access Steam? Wow.

Eh.....not what I said, now is it? We are talking about Steam on a closed ecosystem console. That goes against everything Gabe Newell has been saying in advocating open platforms going back before the original steam machines.

 

[reinking]

Gives 40 million Steam users another device option to play on while getting them into the Xbox ecosystem. They’re doing a “Xbox Verified” certification the same as “Deck Verified” for games that can run in it just like the Steam Deck.

Do 40 million steam users want that? It would be one thing if MS/XB could come in with a lower cost way to get into Steam but this is most likely going to have a premium price tag. There will be cheaper and better options out there for Steam users. What MS needs is to bring their console gamers to Steam but I am not sure if that is going to work. I am willing to watch and see though.

The Steam community would go nuts because a different device can access Steam? Wow.

Maybe. We have seen the Steam community get upset when being forced to log into another eco system to launch a game.

 

[ManaByte]

Eh.....not what I said, now is it? We are talking about Steam on a closed ecosystem console. That goes against everything Gabe Newell has been saying in advocating open platforms going back before the original steam machines.

Allowing people to access Steam and buy things on Steam on an Xbox doesn’t affect Steam on PCs in any way.

But logging into your Steam account on the PS3 for Portal 2 was fine.

 

[ElCasual]

So we gonna get a "Steam TV".

 

[RCX]

Cool. Could be decent hardware upgrade for me at that stage.

Current PC parts market is horribly priced, GPU-wise

Still don't understand it though, how does it benefit MS to subsidize a box that people will just install steam on and buy their games there instead?

 

[Topher]

Allowing people to access Steam and buy things on Steam on an Xbox doesn’t affect Steam on PCs in any way.

I didn't say otherwise. I'm giving reasons why Steam on closed consoles won't happen.

 

[ManaByte]

I didn't say otherwise. I'm giving reasons why Steam on closed consoles won't happen.

But it kind of did on the PS3 where you used your Steam account for Portal 2.

 

[ManaByte]

Still don't understand it though, how does it benefit MS to subsidize a box that people will just install steam on and buy their games there instead?

“How does it benefit the biggest video game publisher in the world for people to buy their games?”

 

[Topher]

But it kind of did on the PS3 where you used your Steam account for Portal 2.

No, it didn't. Steam was never embedded on PS3 like what you are suggesting here. Account linking is not what we are talking about.

“How does it benefit the biggest video game publisher in the world for people to buy their games?”

You are getting incredibly bad at not reading what people are saying and making up some stupid bullshit that no one said.

 

[GHG]

But it kind of did on the PS3 where you used your Steam account for Portal 2.

Now you're just making shit up.

It was an optional login which granted you cross-buy privileges.

 

[Banjo64]

 

[rodrigolfp]

The Steam community would go nuts because a different device can access Steam? Wow.

Why is the point for MS to sell Xbox games on Steam and not on Xbox Store only???

 

[Branded]

You mean like... a console?

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

I didn't say otherwise. I'm giving reasons why Steam on closed consoles won't happen.

I haven't read all you guys back and forth but legit asking

You don't believe Steam will be accessible from a PC hybrid or just saying said machine would have to loosen restrictions?

Because I don't believe this particle machine will be that closed but this is 100% an actual guess

 

[RCX]

“How does it benefit the biggest video game publisher in the world for people to buy their games?”

The point of being a platform holder is to get that 20-30% rip from every sale of every game. Yours and every other publisher.

This strategy seems to indicate they'd lose that money from 3rd party sales, making their act of subsidizing the box an even bigger financial drain.

 

[reinking]

I didn't say otherwise. I'm giving reasons why Steam on closed consoles won't happen.

I am trying to figure out what is in it for MS/XB unless they can get a small commission on Steam sales through their console. I do not think adding Steam to a "PC-like" console is going to be a big draw for people that are not already part of the Xbox eco-system. I do not think this is going to be a system seller the way it is being implemented (if it is). If they could have pulled this off on a $500 console, I believe it would have been huge. Doing on what is expected to be a premium priced hybrid console isn't that big of a draw. Even the handheld would be competing with other Steam compatible handhelds (including Steam Deck 2). Like I said earlier, I am willing to watch and see. If they have a decent looking hybrid and it is not too overly priced, I will buy one myself. I just think this could backfire and dilute the Xbox brand even more...

 

[newtypepilot]

MS is desperate and has zero idea what they are doing, so they are just throwing shit on the wall to see what sticks. However, even it sticks, it's still shit on a wall.

 

[ManaByte]

The point of being a platform holder is to get that 20-30% rip from every sale of every game. Yours and every other publisher.

This strategy seems to indicate they'd lose that money from 3rd party sales, making their act of subsidizing the box an even bigger financial drain.

People haven’t been paying attention.

Phil Spencer wants Epic Games Store and others on Xbox consoles

More stores mean more sales!

www.polygon.com

“Yes,” said Spencer. “[Consider] our history as the Windows company. Nobody would blink twice if I said, ‘Hey, when you’re using a PC, you get to decide the type of experience you have [by picking where to buy games]. There’s real value in that.” Spencer believes console players would benefit from that freedom too — and so would console makers like Microsoft.

Spencer explained how, in the past, console makers would typically subsidize the cost of expensive hardware, knowing that a portion of every dollar spent on games for the platform over the years would eventually make it back to the console maker. Then, in time, the console maker would recoup the subsidy — and hopefully more.

But, Spencer said, “Moore’s Law has slowed down. The price of the components of a console aren’t coming down as fast as they have in previous generations.” Worse, he explained, the console market isn’t growing, with more gamers moving to PC and handheld options. Now, the notion of subsidizing a console — and forcing players to purchase games through the official storefront to help recoup costs — might not make sense. The walls meant to lock people into consoles might be motivating them to stay out.

“[Subsidizing hardware] becomes more challenging in today’s world,” Spencer said. “And I will say, and this may seem too altruistic, I don’t know that it’s growing the industry. So I think, what are the barriers? What are the things that create friction in today’s world for creators and players? And how can we be part of opening up that model?”

 

[GloveSlap]

You can argue if this is a good idea or not, but this is the only option they have left beyond not doing any hardware at all.