written by Rhett Quiban
The Xbox Game Showcase was just revealed a few weeks ago. Since that fruitful day, the main discussions and praises have more been pointed towards Xbox Game Pass rather than Microsoft’s new upcoming console. This change in directive affects Microsoft’s Xbox division as a whole, whether this shift was intentional or not. On top of that, it also removes them from the traditional console race.
Xbox Game Pass Becoming Microsoft’s Focal Point
While the marketing for Playstation 5 is pointed directly to the console itself, Microsoft has been putting Xbox Game Pass in the spotlight instead of its console. On their Xbox Games Showcase, every single game that was showcased is pinned to become available on Game Pass once it gets released. The showcase itself was selling the Xbox Game Pass, not the Xbox Series X. Or at least, it sure felt that way.
While Microsoft has been promoting the Xbox Series X as the most powerful console to date, we have yet to see this in action. The games we were shown were showcased in-engine via PC. We believe this is due to Microsoft not being fully committed to the power argument yet, and the gameplay we were shown during the showcase is a testament to that. They are, however, committed to their leveraging of the number of games associated across their eco-system.
Most 1st party Microsoft Studio games are required to be playable across the Xbox console platforms (Xbox One, Xbox One S, Xbox One X, and Xbox Series X). The concern here means that games playable across each platform will ultimately be gimped or held back from reaching their full production potential for the Xbox Series X. This already seems to be the case with Halo Infinite, based on the campaign gameplay reveal. Moreover, this gives people a reason to purchase a different console, or opt for a powerful PC, instead of buying the Xbox Series X once it gets released.
Project xCloud
Project xCloud is Microsoft’s upcoming game streaming service. This new service will become freely available to its Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. This serviceable streaming platform will allow players to play games across multiple platforms, including your mobile devices.
The formation of this cloud gaming service carries a further emphasis on their new direction of play, not solely relying on a console as the only point of play. You are essentially given the liberty to take your pick on which platform to play on, and Microsoft simply presents the games to you.
This kind of service is a win for gamers, don’t get me wrong. To be given the option to play on a platform you prefer (so long as they’re compatible with Microsoft’s service) is convenience and consideration at its finest. Such liberty, if done well, is what’s missing in other platforms.
Be that as it may, promoting these services just months before the release of a new console merits questions. Is Microsoft not confident in its new console? Or are they simply confident in it enough that they feel safe in marketing their other services instead of the capabilities of their hardware?
Microsoft’s Biggest Upcoming Game May Become a Game as a Service
Halo Infinite may become a GAAS or Game as a Service for the next 10 years if Microsoft and developer 343 Industries’ narrative positioning of the game is to be believed.
Halo Infinite studio head Chris Lee said in an interview, “Halo Infinite is the start of our platform for the future. We want Infinite to grow over time, versus going to those numbered titles and having all that segmentation that we had before.” He added, “It’s really about creating Halo Infinite as the start of the next ten years for Halo and then building that as we go with our fans and community.”
Adding further hint that Infinite may be a GaaS is what Kiki Wolfkill, executive producer at 343 Industries, said at a design conference last year. “We have to be able to change content quickly,” Wolfkill stated. “ We can’t afford to wait three years every time we drop a new product and have it be a black box because the games kids are playing are changing every week.”
It seems Halo Infinite is going to take a step in a different direction. While 343 Industries hasn’t made an official announcement regarding this yet, the hints and statements made so far seem to indicate Halo using the GaaS model.
With all of these said, Microsoft seems to be paying no mind to the console race anymore. As far as Microsoft is concerned, consoles are nothing more than a portal by which to offer games, and the more the better (Xbox One, Xbox One 2, Xbox One X, Xbox Series X, Windows 10, and Project X Cloud.)
This should make gamers happy, but who knows if it will make the Xbox Series X a successful console. I guess, for now, we will just have to wait and see.