I need to make a small comment on that whole "where is the marketing" discussion". First and foremost, could we please not act like as if Xbox would market all their other games not named Crackdown 3 like crazy? They don't - especially not this gen. They don't spend that much budget on ads and I feel like I read this discussion prior to every Xbox exclusive release.
However you feel about it, the undeniable success of most of their exclusive games lately is proving that they seem to do something right.
I also don't kinda understand why you as a single and individual gamer would care so much about the marketing they do - or don't do. You know about the game. And you also know that a healthy playerbase for the months to come is basically guaranteed thanks to Game Pass alone. Even to this day I don't think people quite realize the impact - the positive impact Game Pass has on games. Especially when it comes to healthy player bases. Both State of Decay 2 as well as Sea of Thieves critically are mediocre games (obviously personally I don't agree, but just basing this of their reviews). Still, both these games did incredible numbers. These numbers weren't achieved because of the marketing by Xbox. They were achieved because Game Pass creates a snowball-effect. And hearing from your friends "hey, check this game out, it's fun and available for $10" is a statement that has multiple times the value compared to a 6/10 review on IGN for an individual purchase decision.
I stated this so often here already. I'm a huge fan of Crackdown and show a lot of passion for this franchise. But I can still ignore that and see the world more objectively. CD3 won't set the world on fire. It never had the intention to. But the game will do fine. It will probably even do more than just "fine". Just like the other Xbox exclusives, CD3 will be yet another pillar for Game Pass. It will drive a lot of people into trying Game Pass. Trying this eco system. And ultimately, trying CD3. And if you played a Crackdown game before you know that you need to play the game to even understand the fun and addiction. It's a game that just doesn't show that well. Hence why it's perfect for Game Pass.
I would make the bet that CD3 will get played by more than 4 Mio. gamers in 2019 - and with that becoming a more successful game than both CD1 and CD2 combined in a matter of just a few months.
I don't need to think about the hypothetical world in which Game Pass wouldn't exist. Because it does. And a game like CD3 will profit massively from it. Marketing is nice and all - but if the game is fun, the Xbox ecosystem allows the game to market itself.
However you feel about it, the undeniable success of most of their exclusive games lately is proving that they seem to do something right.
I also don't kinda understand why you as a single and individual gamer would care so much about the marketing they do - or don't do. You know about the game. And you also know that a healthy playerbase for the months to come is basically guaranteed thanks to Game Pass alone. Even to this day I don't think people quite realize the impact - the positive impact Game Pass has on games. Especially when it comes to healthy player bases. Both State of Decay 2 as well as Sea of Thieves critically are mediocre games (obviously personally I don't agree, but just basing this of their reviews). Still, both these games did incredible numbers. These numbers weren't achieved because of the marketing by Xbox. They were achieved because Game Pass creates a snowball-effect. And hearing from your friends "hey, check this game out, it's fun and available for $10" is a statement that has multiple times the value compared to a 6/10 review on IGN for an individual purchase decision.
I stated this so often here already. I'm a huge fan of Crackdown and show a lot of passion for this franchise. But I can still ignore that and see the world more objectively. CD3 won't set the world on fire. It never had the intention to. But the game will do fine. It will probably even do more than just "fine". Just like the other Xbox exclusives, CD3 will be yet another pillar for Game Pass. It will drive a lot of people into trying Game Pass. Trying this eco system. And ultimately, trying CD3. And if you played a Crackdown game before you know that you need to play the game to even understand the fun and addiction. It's a game that just doesn't show that well. Hence why it's perfect for Game Pass.
I would make the bet that CD3 will get played by more than 4 Mio. gamers in 2019 - and with that becoming a more successful game than both CD1 and CD2 combined in a matter of just a few months.
I don't need to think about the hypothetical world in which Game Pass wouldn't exist. Because it does. And a game like CD3 will profit massively from it. Marketing is nice and all - but if the game is fun, the Xbox ecosystem allows the game to market itself.
