Microsoft is moving the Xbox Console platform to the Cloud, will Sony follow suit or will they focus on console sales?

12Danny123 · Nov 15, 2019

More Opportunities for Players around the World to get involved

Since beginning the preview, we've been sending out waves of invites to registered gamers, and today, we're sending out additional invites so more people can experience Project xCloud. We will continue inviting more and more players over the course of the preview, so if you have not already registered, you can sign up here.

We will also bring Project xCloud Preview to more markets beginning in 2020, such as Canada, India, Japan, and Western Europe. Expanding to additional markets over time is an important step in our journey to delight the 2 billion gamers in the world. We'll have more details to share soon on when and how to register.

What's ahead?
We believe that Project xCloud is a key component that will help us achieve our dream of gaming for everyone, everywhere in true Xbox style by…

Partnering with the world's best: Content developers/publishers, silicon designers, hardware manufacturers, mobile operators, distributors, and many others.
Doing it in the way that requires no work for the developers: The over 3,500 games on Xbox One today & 1,900 games currently in development are already working on xCloud.
Bringing along your friends, your achievements, your saved game, and your progression so that you don't have to start over.
Combining our strengths in Content, Community, and Cloud with YOU, the gamer, at the center.

We believe in the freedom to play and the freedom to choose. In 2020 we will enable gamers to stream from the cloud Xbox games that they already own or will purchase. We will also add game streaming from the cloud to Xbox Game Pass. Gamers will be free to discover, choose, and play their favorite games anywhere and everywhere.

X019: Expanding Project xCloud with More Games, More Ways to Play, and More Players

Microsoft has announced at X019 that 1,900 Xbox games in development will automatically support XCloud, these are games that are traditional $60 games being able to work on XCloud and XCloud will also support all Game Pass games. I think it pretty much means that Microsoft has transitioned the Xbox platform to the cloud. This is similar Stadia, where it supports traditional purchases and subscriptions like Uplay. This means that purchases that happen on the Xbox platform will work on Mobile, tablets, Smart TVs Consoles etc. However MS will still sell consoles, but it's clear that Consoles sales doesn't mean much anymore and it shows.

The questions is whether Sony will also follow suit and transition the PS platform away from consoles and into the cloud. Yes this would be it sacrifice Console sales. But Sony has historically been a conservative company, so they might no move the PS platform to the Cloud as aggressively as Microsoft.

Minilla · Nov 15, 2019

Well, doubt it. I think your massively overestimating the number of folks that want to play non free to play, and especially AAA games, on a phone or small screen device.

Shpeshal Nick · Nov 15, 2019

Microsoft will still make consoles. They just won't care how many they sell.

Gamer17 · Nov 15, 2019

As a traditional gamer I m not a fan so I hope not . I rather focus be on local hardware and amazing software . But I could see some might like it

Daouzin · Nov 15, 2019

Is this just a press release copy pasta?

I think streaming services and subscriptions are the way of the future, but I think Xbox is a generation too early. People rejected the XONE philosophies and I think this is less in that direction, but still in that direction, except MS has earned goodwill with Games Pass being a killer deal so far.

I'm subscribed to Games Pass, but find myself more interested in Sony Exclusives and the Switch's portability factor. Aside from Smash, my Switch is a portable device. Personally, I've always been more interested in owning my games, but it seems like Sony's already following suit by lowering the price of PSNOW.

I think Sony will do what it should do and is focusing on its next console and the success of it's physical console. I imagine halfway through the next generation it will be doing what MS is doing now.

MS is doing some great stuff and is laying down a foundation for some cool services at price points that work for us as consumers. However, I think the PlayStation brand will benefit from it the most by the end of the next-gen. That's just my gut impression.

Jaypah · Nov 15, 2019

I don't expect them to any time soon since their hardware and software sell very well in a more traditional sense. If it takes off and cloud is the one true future they will still be fine because of the appeal and market strength of their brand. They should be able to pivot and keep a majority of their consumers if need be. Granted I'm no analyst or fortune teller.

12Danny123 · Nov 15, 2019

Minilla said:
Well, doubt it. I think your massively overestimating the number of folks that want to play non free to play, and especially AAA games, on a phone or small screen device.

The size of the device doesn't necessarily mean anything. It's the idea that you're able to play digital bought Xbox games and Game Pass games on Low end PCs, Tablets, Smart TVs, basically anything that has a screen.

It's a platform that is not bound by specs of a device. I think there's massive potential for this for game companies, developers and Microsoft.

gofreak · Nov 15, 2019

It's hard to know for sure at this point.

Sony's focus is not console sales though - it's software sales ultimately. They're interested in consoles to the extent that they cut a path to the user's future attention and software spending i.e. when you buy a PS you're more likely to buy your games on PS going forward. If the relationship between those two things broke down, Sony wouldn't care at all about console sales - in and of themselves they are a low margin, high effort product. If they can maintain that relationship - and keeping games 'off' the cloud is a successful part of that - they'll be happy as larry, but they may not have much choice.

I would note that at its corporate strategy day, Sony mentioned 'new entitlement models' as a bullet point for future PSNow development. That invites speculation on what that could mean, and might be relevant to this discussion.

Raide · Nov 15, 2019

They are not moving to the cloud, they are just offering a wide variety of ways to play the games you want to. I am sure Xcloud will get bigger and bigger due to Game Pass but I can still see MS making consoles for the foreseeable future. More options are great!

Xando · Nov 15, 2019

Shpeshal Ed said:
Microsoft will still make consoles. They just won't care how many they sell.

This.

Services is where the money is at.

Typhon · Nov 15, 2019

Sony thrives on single player AAA games. A cloud based system would be suicide for them.

TheBrokenMan · Nov 15, 2019

Microsoft will still do console and cloud side-by-side. If they can release Xbox one and pc games alongside each other this gen, they can do the former too easily and continue the latter too.

Next gen is gonna be interesting for sure.

TheYanger · Nov 15, 2019

Typhon said:
Sony thrives on single player games. A cloud based system would be suicide for them.

Not sure what you think the cloud has to do with multiplayer or not. It's like you've been so trained to scoff at anything 'other' that you have no idea what the actual terms mean.

The cloud removes the barrier of being strapped to a multi hundred dollar box at the tv. they still offer the box for people that want the 'true' experience.

Not sure why people try to fear monger and pretend otherwise.

It is ONLY a positive that I can play Halo infinite at home on my pc, visit my cousin and play on their xbox, and then bust it out on my phone and have some fun on a road trip or whatever.

The majority of game pass games are single player.

Fatmanp · Nov 15, 2019

Typhon said:
Sony thrives on single player AAA games. A cloud based system would be suicide for them.

Surely it would be the total opposite? Single player games are the only ones that would cope with the latency issues opposed to the multiplayer live service games.

T002 Tyrant · Nov 15, 2019

I hope they do, traditional consoles as a concept are pointless now. PCs and hybrid consoles should really be the only hardware solution in the future.

People argue about performance and visual quality with artifacts. But PC's provide that kind of hardware solutions, and online is free.

Hybrids like the Switch try to balance that with some sacrifice to the visuals with the trade off that you don't need to have an internet connection.

Xando · Nov 15, 2019

Typhon said:
Sony thrives on single player AAA games. A cloud based system would be suicide for them.

Single player AAA games and cloud based systems don't interfere with each other.

What MS is doing is giving people options. I can play on my console, switch to my PC and play on my phone when i'm traveling.

As someone traveling on average 3 days a week i wish sony would give me those options.

plow · Nov 15, 2019

Streaming and XCloud will be big in the following years perhasp only in the US. ROTW don't care or have the right Hardware to make it work perfectly.

And since the US isn't Sonys main market, i don't think they need to do much.

12Danny123 · Nov 15, 2019

plow said:
Streaming and XCloud will be big in the following years perhasp only in the US. ROTW don't care or have the right Hardware to make it work perfectly.

And since the US isn't Sonys main market, i don't think they need to do much.

Microsoft targetting India, Western Europe and Japan and Canada. India is a massive market and MS already has a Cloud presence there, so there's tones of opportunity.

Jegriva · Nov 15, 2019

Xando said:
This.

Services is where the money is at.

MS already was proved right about not investing in the blu ray format: it hasn't still made Sony profitable after a decade, and probably never will.

"But what if Sony didn't put 6 billion dollars into the format??"
We'd be using HD-DVD.

Gundam · Nov 15, 2019

nothings being moved anywhere

plow · Nov 15, 2019

12Danny123 said:
Microsoft targetting India, Western Europe and Japan and Canada. India is a massive market and MS already has a Cloud presence there, so there's tones of opportunity.

I live in Germany. Trust me, MS can target what they want here as long as the infrastructure is as shit as it is right now, you won't see many people trying to stream Games here.

Gamer17 · Nov 15, 2019

I pivot ur question . Service based offerings is MS core . Why does Sony have to pivot their strategy to follow MS when they r core is hardware and entertainment?why does Sony " HAVE to "follow MS? Each will have their own audience .

12Danny123 · Nov 15, 2019

plow said:
I live in Germany. Trust me, MS can target what they want here as long as the infrastructure is as shit as it is right now, you won't see many people trying to stream Games here.

The only way to get around that is by working with carriers, something that Microsoft is at least starting to do. Azure is has a big presence in Germany. Sony hasn't worked with carriers at all, hence why PS Now is shit when on the road.

Xando · Nov 15, 2019

Gamer17 said:
I pivot ur question . Service based offerings is MS core . Why does Sony have to pivot their strategy to follow MS when they r core is hardware and entertainment?why does Sony " HAVE to "follow MS? Each will have their own audience .

They don't have to but as they're a company they want to make money and you make much more money selling services than building consoles which have traditionally are small margin.

Mass_Pincup · Nov 15, 2019

Xando said:
Single player AAA games and cloud based systems don't interfere with each other.

What MS is doing is giving people options. I can play on my console, switch to my PC and play on my phone when i'm traveling.

As someone traveling on average 3 days a week i wish sony would give me those options.

They already do?

Xando · Nov 15, 2019

Mass_Pincup said:
They already do?

News to me. Where can i buy Horizon on PC?

PixelatedDonut · Nov 15, 2019

Wait why is streaming going to work now? Every other thread it seems like everyone had a 500mb cap and dsl internet.

12Danny123 · Nov 15, 2019

Mass_Pincup said:
They already do?

Sony isn't letting you bring your traditional purchased games to play anywhere.

metalgear89 · Nov 15, 2019

They just dropped the price of psnow and have added much more popular games to the service. They have a different strategy and don't need to follow the unsustainable path that ms taking.

Jade1962 · Nov 15, 2019

Are these all available to stream from your Xbox or actually available to buy and stream independent of owning a Xbox? Because it would seem odd that they are actually available to stream and be sold without an Xbox but not all gamepass games will be available right away on xcloud.

12Danny123 · Nov 15, 2019

metalgear89 said:
They just dropped the price of psnow and have added much more popular games to the service. They have a different strategy and don't need to follow the unsustainable path that ms taking.

There's nothing unsustainable about it. What are you talking about?

Gamer17 · Nov 15, 2019

Xando said:
They don't have to but as they're a company they want to make money and you make much more money selling services than building consoles which have traditionally are small margin.

Tell that to Netflix and Spotify. Both huge services yet doing ok to bad . Nothing is guruanteed and we don't even know how Ms doing as they r not disclosing any numbers

Mass_Pincup · Nov 15, 2019

Xando said:
News to me. Where can i buy Horizon on PC?

That's not what you were saying in your post. You can play Horizon on your PS4, switch on your PC and continue on your phone through Remote Play.

plow · Nov 15, 2019

12Danny123 said:
The only way to get around that is by working with carriers, something that Microsoft is at least starting to do. Azure is has a big presence in Germany. Sony hasn't worked with carriers at all, hence why PS Now is shit when on the road.

I don't understand what MS or Sony have to do with the shit Internet we have in germany? I don't think MS will invest billions of Euros to install glass fiber in germany.

degauss · Nov 15, 2019

"PC Game Pass is already affecting my purchasing decision on Steam, is this Microsoft's end goal?"

"Microsoft is moving the Xbox Console platform to the Cloud, will Sony follow suit or will they focus on console sales?"

"And Just Like That, Microsoft Showed How Weak Stadia's Offering Is With Their Project xCloud Announcements"

"People who got GamePass for Gears 5 in September. Did you renew?"

"Xbox will have almost 1 XGS game released per month in 2020"

"Xbox Game Pass |OT| Game Pass and Chill"

Loving all these gamepads threads on the first page, if you want to discuss it more, just make a new thread!

Madmackem · Nov 15, 2019

Still another two gens of local hardware imho so Sony has plenty of time.

Deleted member 18951 · Nov 15, 2019

degauss said:
"PC Game Pass is already affecting my purchasing decision on Steam, is this Microsoft's end goal?"

"Microsoft is moving the Xbox Console platform to the Cloud, will Sony follow suit or will they focus on console sales?"

"And Just Like That, Microsoft Showed How Weak Stadia's Offering Is With Their Project xCloud Announcements"

"People who got GamePass for Gears 5 in September. Did you renew?"

"Xbox will have almost 1 XGS game released per month in 2020"

"Xbox Game Pass |OT| Game Pass and Chill"

Loving all these gamepads threads on the first page, if you want to discuss it more, just make a new thread!

Thanks for adding to the Game Pass discussion;)

Xando · Nov 15, 2019

Mass_Pincup said:
That's not what you were saying in your post. You can play Horizon on your PS4, switch on your PC and continue on your phone through Remote Play.

I can only remote play when i have the game installed and my PS4 is available to connect to. I often switch to PC or Mobile while my wife plays on our PS4 or watches netflix on it so remote play doesn't really work in that situation.

I don't want to stream from my console or PC. I could do that since forever.

Shpeshal Nick · Nov 15, 2019

Xando said:
This.

Services is where the money is at.

I mean, Microsoft has been making Windows since the 80s but only just started going all in on their own hardware.

Microsoft are going all in on hardware. Xbox consoles aren't going anywhere.

S I C K O · Nov 15, 2019

Could end up being the next 'iphone' or the next 'kinect'.

But Sony needs to react either way.

Hoo-doo · Nov 15, 2019

12Danny123 said:
There's nothing unsustainable about it. What are you talking about?

You haven't been paying attention to the Gamepass discussion? Dumping your AAA flagships on a service for little to no money is thought to be unsustainable as it's currently cannibalizing retail sales in a big way. Microsoft is aiming for the long game though, but we'll just have to wait whether the traditional 'AAA' game has a place on a service like it over more numerous lower budget games with GAAS potential.

12Danny123 · Nov 15, 2019

Hoo-doo said:
You haven't been paying attention to the Gamepass discussion? Dumping your AAA flagships on a service for little to no money is thought to be unsustainable as it's currently cannibalizing retail sales in a big way. Microsoft is aiming for the long game though, but we'll just have to wait whether the traditional 'AAA' game has a place on a service like it over more numerous lower budget games with GAAS potential.

Except this discussion isn't about Game Pass...... XCloud supports Game Pass and digital Xbox purchases.

MickZan · Nov 15, 2019

Microsoft is moving there slowly. They even said so themselves. This coming gen will be all about the Scarlett and during that gen we'll see how the balance will fare. I'm still not convinced in cloud gaming, at least not till good internet is readily available everywhere. My guess is well have two more gens with an actualy box before cloud becomes the standard. Until then it will be a great option for those that want it and it will grow slow and steady.

Hoo-doo · Nov 15, 2019

12Danny123 said:
Except this discussion isn't about Game Pass...... XCloud supports Game Pass and digital Xbox purchases.

Great, but that's what the poster meant with an 'unsustainable' direction.

ArkhamFantasy · Nov 15, 2019

I mean, eventually sure.

But all this talk about game streaming is being led solely by the companies themselves and not from actual market demand.

Xando · Nov 15, 2019

Gamer17 said:
Tell that to Netflix and Spotify. Both huge services yet doing ok to bad . Nothing is guruanteed and we don't even know how Ms doing as they r not disclosing any numbers

Why are you comparing Xcloud to streaming flatrates? The Service features full game purchases IIRC.

12Danny123 · Nov 15, 2019

Daouzin said:
Is this just a press release copy pasta?

I think streaming services and subscriptions are the way of the future, but I think Xbox is a generation too early. People rejected the XONE philosophies and I think this is less in that direction, but still in that direction, except MS has earned goodwill with Games Pass being a killer deal so far.

I'm subscribed to Games Pass, but find myself more interested in Sony Exclusives and the Switch's portability factor. Aside from Smash, my Switch is a portable device. Personally, I've always been more interested in owning my games, but it seems like Sony's already following suit by lowering the price of PSNOW.

I think Sony will do what it should do and is focusing on its next console and the success of it's physical console. I imagine halfway through the next generation it will be doing what MS is doing now.

MS is doing some great stuff and is laying down a foundation for some cool services at price points that work for us as consumers. However, I think the PlayStation brand will benefit from it the most by the end of the next-gen. That's just my gut impression.

The reason why imo Microsoft is making moves now is when it becomes mainstream, they would already have a massive library of digital purchase games and games from Game Pass. If they were to start 1 gen late, their library would be much much smaller to start with when Cloud gaming becomes mainstream.

If Sony started moving PS Platform to the Cloud by the end of next gen. It would have been too late since they won't have a big enough library when Cloud gaming becomes mainstream.

Doctor_Thomas · Nov 15, 2019

Moving to the Cloud and Streaming is always online DRM in a different form.

I'll never understand it. I'm too old.

Shpeshal Nick · Nov 15, 2019

Mass_Pincup said:
They already do?

Not quite.

Remote Play doesn't work on 4G and PSNow isn't your library

ArkhamFantasy · Nov 15, 2019

12Danny123 said:
The reason why imo Microsoft is making moves now is when it becomes mainstream, they would already have a massive library of digital purchase games and games from Game Pass. If they were to start 1 gen late, their library would be much much smaller to start with when Cloud gaming becomes mainstream.

If Sony started moving PS Platform to the Cloud by the end of next gen. It would have been too late since they won't have a big enough library when Cloud gaming becomes mainstream.

I'm confused, Sony's been putting their games on their cloud service for the entire generation and will continue to do so.

Microsoft is moving the Xbox Console platform to the Cloud, will Sony follow suit or will they focus on console sales?

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