I've very much enjoyed being on Xbox this year. More than ever. Just like I did last year. Recent Xbox "buzz" has really felt like people just... want to belive it's failing. Whether it's because Xbox isn't playing by the traditional rules or that it's actually growing into quite the beast. And then online there's just a positive ongoing loop reaction that makes it seem like the doom and gloom holds water when it doesn't. As someone whose been here since the 360 golden days... yeah I don't want to go back. Previously I HAD to get a Playstation because basically every major JRPG was a PS exclusive or otherwise not on Xbox. That isn't the case anymore. Previously I've had to choose between devices and buy games multiple times. With Xbox Playanywhere that isn't the case anymore. I'm having a lot of fun hopping on my Xbox library in the bed with my legion go and streaming casual games I don't want to download. And playing some games on the go on my phone with touch like Path of the Goddess and freaking Yakuza (Like a Dragon) which play wonderfully.
On Call of Duty, I'd say my concern was that Xbox would pull in ABK and it'd benefit Microsoft way way more than it did Xbox. And I mean, yeah it's definitely doing more for Microsoft as a whole than Xbox as a platform, but that Xbox and COD are benefiting a lot as well is really fantastic too. This was called an investment so it's nice to see that growth is on the horizon. This is the biggest COD release and a record number of game pass subs with insane user engagement from console users. It really makes it look like there was purpose to the acquisition and they didn't just pull in more revenue, but they bought an asset that can help accelerate growth plans. I'll also say I think this was a REALLY good time for COD to join Game Pass. Like if it came during a dry year like 2022 then there'd be a question of how to retain subscribers and get them to spend more in other games. But on top of COD's Microtransaction machine, Xbox is deliver MS flight Sim, Stalker 2, and Indiana Jones on GP back to back. That actually shows great promise in keeping COD subs locked in and playing more games (and Xbox only needs them to stay subscribed for half a year (or less) before they paid more than COD cost to purchase alone).
I think we all wanted Xbox to hit this stride in 2020, but all things considered that was unlikely. I mean they just finished purchasing and building up internal studios. Xbox Game Studios as an entity only came into existence in 2019 (when they rebranded) and game development takes a few years. But now we're past those few years and Xbox also built up more in the meantime with Zenimax and ABK now first party and they continued to do a lot of work to have more third party support than ever. The platform is stronger than it's ever been and leading the industry. The concern I have left is in overall management and user experience. Xbox built up its first party content offering, now it REALLY needs to build a stronger user experience and community. We need more community features on Xbox and the PC Xbox App, the Xbox overall needs an overall, better marketing overall, expanded regional support, a better user experience across all platforms, improved storefront, and so much more.
Xbox is headed in the right direction and I definitely think new hardware (potentially starting the next wave early and breaking away from PS as well) would be perfect. If they keep headed in the right direction and investing in Xbox as a platform AND an ecosystem then they'll continue to reap more rewards than ever.
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