I have no idea if this is accurate. But, if true, maybe it's about more than the money they make from games. In the past, MS's thinking was seemingly that they could sacrifice Xbox consoles as a gaming platform. But nowadays, they have more reason to be concerned about Windows maintaining dominance as a consumer platform. Given Xbox seems to be becoming Windows, it would be reasonable as a Windows protection strategy for MS to want more people on Xbox/Windows.
It's easier to switch away from Windows if you use PlayStation, Switch, or other platforms for your gaming.
@cragis0001 I agree the Steam Machine is likely to be niche (if it exists) and that Xbox probably won't reach PS5/6 levels (probably much less).
But if PC sales really only add 2% to revenue (with single-player only being some of that), it doesn't take much to hurt total profit. My guesses could always be wrong. And in the longer term (post-RAMageddon), I imagine the Steam hardware and ecosystem becomes more of a threat if they can really give it the quality of a console. I know it's silly to think Sony is thinking long term lately, but maybe this time?
Also PC ports are not free to make, both just by themselves, and in the opportunity cost of working on a single-player PC port instead of the PC version of a live service game. Sure, they could do both, if they were willing to keep enough people employed. How's that going?
The line I kept hearing was that PC is a pretty separate market, and so shipping PC software doesn't notably reduce the number of PS consoles sold. While that might have been true before, it seems a lot less true once Steam Machines exist and Xboxes are also PCs.
@get2sammyb Right now, the only things that are really visible about a new console generation are the downsides:
lots more money (for the console, maybe for the games)
companies that barely bother optimizing for the newest console, much less the older one (see MGS3 running at 60fps only on the Switch 2, not the Switch 1)
if trends continue, even longer dev cycles
Sentiment might change if people see actual positives of a PS6. And no, Cerny's recent presentation with AMD does not count.
OTOH, being told that other people will have this much nicer thing that they can't because they need to save money doesn't feel good either.
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Re: Gamers Still Pick Consoles for Exclusives, New Data Finds
For anyone doubting the source of the data, here's Mat Piscatella himself: https://bsky.app/profile/matpiscatella.bsky.social/post/3mkqfien2hc2s
If anything, I find the 8% drop more interesting, though I'm not sure how much of that is just survey noise.
Re: Rumour: Xbox Debating Whether to Make Its Games Exclusive Again
I have no idea if this is accurate. But, if true, maybe it's about more than the money they make from games. In the past, MS's thinking was seemingly that they could sacrifice Xbox consoles as a gaming platform. But nowadays, they have more reason to be concerned about Windows maintaining dominance as a consumer platform. Given Xbox seems to be becoming Windows, it would be reasonable as a Windows protection strategy for MS to want more people on Xbox/Windows.
It's easier to switch away from Windows if you use PlayStation, Switch, or other platforms for your gaming.
Re: Sony Quietly Decided to Scale Back PC Ports Last Year, Insider Claims
@cragis0001 I agree the Steam Machine is likely to be niche (if it exists) and that Xbox probably won't reach PS5/6 levels (probably much less).
But if PC sales really only add 2% to revenue (with single-player only being some of that), it doesn't take much to hurt total profit. My guesses could always be wrong. And in the longer term (post-RAMageddon), I imagine the Steam hardware and ecosystem becomes more of a threat if they can really give it the quality of a console. I know it's silly to think Sony is thinking long term lately, but maybe this time?
Also PC ports are not free to make, both just by themselves, and in the opportunity cost of working on a single-player PC port instead of the PC version of a live service game. Sure, they could do both, if they were willing to keep enough people employed. How's that going?
Re: Sony Quietly Decided to Scale Back PC Ports Last Year, Insider Claims
The line I kept hearing was that PC is a pretty separate market, and so shipping PC software doesn't notably reduce the number of PS consoles sold. While that might have been true before, it seems a lot less true once Steam Machines exist and Xboxes are also PCs.
Re: Opinion: The Euphoric Reaction to PS6's Rumoured Delay Really Confuses Me
@get2sammyb
Right now, the only things that are really visible about a new console generation are the downsides:
Sentiment might change if people see actual positives of a PS6. And no, Cerny's recent presentation with AMD does not count.
OTOH, being told that other people will have this much nicer thing that they can't because they need to save money doesn't feel good either.
Re: Metal Gear Solid Delta's Dismal PS5 Pro Support Could Use a Rethink
@get2sammyb FYI, it's spelled "Virtuos". I believe they've done good ports in the past, so I had to check if this was actually someone else.
Re: Xbox U-Turn the First Step Towards Gamers Rejecting $80 Games
I assume the vast, vast majority of people are paying $50 for Mario Kart (the price difference of the bundle), not $80.