It has nothing to do with balls. The problem here is that Xbox fans think Phil owes them something as if they were lifetime friends. As long as an Xbox consumer will consider future Xbox hardware and/or GamePass subscriptions by not saying anything "official," why would he eschew that revenue? Again because you think he's a friend and a friend wouldn't do you dirty?
What alternate universe do some of you live in where there are hordes of Xbox fans who somehow need this official concrete statement from MS before they’ll believe or understand that Xbox games are going to other consoles?
Xbox wants to have its cake and it eat too. It will gouge core Xbox fans as long as they're willing to pay to "stay in the fight."
Oh never mind I see, you’re looking at this entirely from a mindless warrior mentality. “Stay in the fight”. You’re more emotional about this than the biggest Xbox fan would be
Just look at how Microsoft treats Xbox fans there are two segments of GamePass: Console and PC. PC GamePass gets everything cheaper than console GamePass. Why? Because they're more valuable to them.
Of course console customers are more valuable to MS than PC customers. The console customers are locked to the Xbox ecosystem. A PC customer is not. PC users have long enjoyed perks over console users regardless of which publishers game they are playing, even Sony. Do you have to pay for a PS+ subscription to play Helldivers 2 on PC? No, but you do on PS5. Why? Because Sony can do that on their own ecosystem. What you are describing here is simply the way the industry works and it isn’t exclusive to Xbox.
It's an inverse relationship. They sell you a console at a loss, they need to recoup that money and once you're locked in, you're far more likely to pay whatever price they want.
It’s an inverse relationship with any product you buy regardless of industry, when you’re then locked into one ecosystem. It works this way for Nintendo and Sony and Apple and Tesla etc etc.
That's why they've quietly discontinued the XSX disc version. They feel like anyone who buys and grows their digital library now even if they were on the edge of leaving will stay if they can play those games on future hardware or platforms.
Woah, the disc SX is discontinued? Do you have a link? I still see them at stores. Also, again here you’re describing simple human nature. Yes, if you have a large digital library on something, you’re going to try to keep it. This applies to everyone.
People have invested 20+ years into Xbox, so they're running this sunken cost fallacy. They'll keep digging themselves deeper into the hole rather than simply realize, Xbox isn't the future of gaming.
Xbox doesn’t need to be the “future of gaming” for people to enjoy using the products.
I can tell you from experience that I stayed way too long with BlackBerry
The big difference though between me staying on phones I shouldn't is that most applications are free. There might be a handful of apps I'd have to repurchase if I really cared to, but investing in games is different. Your digital library or even physical library are going to be completely useless unless you're prepared to spend top dollar to stay in the ecosystem, while they continue to jack up prices for GamePass to recoup from a lack of software sales.
Another point you’re trying to make here that applies to everything in every market. If I buy a lot of digital movies or music on a service and then decide another is better, well my existing library is stuck somewhere else. Xbox isn’t unique here.
Also of course GamePass is going to go up in price again, just like every other sub service around.
Anyone locking themselves in to a platform with zero exclusive titles while not getting PlayStation's exclusive titles while also paying more money for the hardware is a complete rube.
Good thing there aren’t any PlayStation exclusives so far this gen that are high enough quality to matter. The only one is Returnal and it’s on PC.
And going by your logic, anyone who buys a PS5 console is a “rube”. The only civilized console gamers in your view are Nintendo consumers
