Over the last couple of weeks, a rumor popped up that caused quite a stir. According to YouTuber “NateTheHate” it was reported that Hi-Fi Rush would be making its way to the Nintendo Switch. This rumor perpetuated over the last couple of weeks, mainly from a datamine of specific shirts for Hi-Fi Rush matching the Nintendo Switch platform and PlayStation platform. In other words, the game would become fully multiplatform. While a confusing idea, companies like PlayStation develop MLB The Show every year for Xbox, their own consoles and the Nintendo Switch. So, it is not too far-fetched of an idea.
But according to numerous reports from various outlets, such as XboxEra, and The Verge. Even a product manager from Zenimax, AgentDeli on Twitter. There is going to be more than just Hi-Fi Rush appearing on other platforms. Game’s such as Starfield, and even the recently showcased Indiana Jones and The Great Circle will be appearing on PlayStation, and the Nintendo Switch. This batch of reports and speculation has basically taken the internet by storm.
So much so that earlier yesterday Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft Gaming, even responded to the news:
We're listening and we hear you. We've been planning a business update event for next week, where we look forward to sharing more details with you about our vision for the future of Xbox. Stay tuned.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) February 5, 2024
There were people who believed that these were just rumors. But the statement from Phil reads more like a confirmation as opposed to denying anything. Obviously, I am not someone in the know at Microsoft, I am just a customer. But I sincerely believe this move has way more negatives than positives. However, let us start with the obvious.
What Does This Do for Xbox?
According to content creator Timdog, who was on a podcast on Sunday talking about what he had heard. He stated the following in a tweet from Idlesloth:
(FYI) @XcloudTimdog explains why Microsoft made this decision to go third-party
– Tim has heard that Call of Duty may not be coming to game pass.
– Hardware sales have not met the projected sales and the CFO got spooked.
– In the last three months of last year, they had consoles… pic.twitter.com/ImxdBNIeh7— Idle Sloth💙💛 (@IdleSloth84_) February 5, 2024
Part of what Timdog said that really stuck out to me were these points:
They said the hardware is dead, and they are seeing declines in hardware year over year. Game pass is unsustainable; the market they have is not enough to offset the cost. Tim heard from someone at Microsoft that you may not like Xbox when they get Activision. They want ROI.
To be as fair as I can possibly be, this will not get them the return on investment or even intrigue in console sales. As someone who began to listen to Microsoft’s messaging for Xbox closer as time went along over the last few years. The moment you began putting your first party games on PC Day and date? Was the moment that the Xbox One’s sales declined tremendously. This problem still persists with the Xbox Series consoles. Where the only people who could be excited for them were people who did not leave to PC following that change in strategy.
Xbox Game Pass is a great service and became the main draw for a while. Considering they wanted to have an exciting reason to own an Xbox and support the ecosystem they have. However, it is still also offered on PC and the promise of first-party game’s day and date in the service is not so exciting when the release cadence is not consistent. 2022 only had two small Xbox first-party games, and when it came time to come back up and excite people again they did. With Hi-Fi Rush being shadow dropped and earning critical acclaim and praise from everyone who played it. The streak began anew, and it broke almost immediately with the absolutely disastrous launch of Redfall.
When the image of your company cannot be trusted by inconsistent launch schedules and inconsistent quality control? What type of customer would buy your hardware? Or trust your software even on PC?
When Everyone Plays…
What return on investment is going to be gained by further destroying your ecosystem? It has happened twice over already. By releasing games on PC, and any fully brand-associated content is too inconsistent to be trusted? Sure, you can gain a small burst of sales from Hi-Fi Rush and Starfield on other consoles. But where does that leave the Xbox itself? Where does that leave the Microsoft store? These are parts of your ecosystem built on a foundation of third-party companies. Some of which only just started fully supporting the Xbox console again, such as Sega, and Square Enix.
Third parties are equally important to your first-party games. But if you port your games over to other consoles, you will not only lose further appeal, but you will also drive existing customers to other consoles only. In a world where PlayStation can secure various third-party console exclusive titles, such as Final Fantasy 7 Remake, and Rebirth. As well as Genshin Impact and for a time, Fall Guys. Players on Xbox and even PC needed content to circumvent missing out on that content. If both Starfield and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth are offered to the same customer on the same platform. Why would they not pick that platform if they are interested?
This as a result would shrink your existing loyal following and just not bother with any exciting new consoles, or ways to play. As such third parties would drop support altogether as well due to even fewer customers. People are comfortable enough sitting on a couch and playing their games normally. The less hardware they own, the happier they are. But this also brings up another troubling thought down the road.
We All Lose, Xbox
As previously mentioned, if this starts, there is no turning back. Barely anyone trusts Microsoft and Xbox due to the problems they have as a platform, let alone a publisher. So, if and when you port games to other consoles, you cannot suddenly say “We won’t do it again” if it does not work sales-wise. No one will take you at your word and eventually, this causes the Xbox platform to dissipate similar to the Sega consoles. This would then create a void in the existing console market we have not seen for two decades. As such, it would lead to less competition towards PlayStation itself.
Back in 2006, PlayStation Tried Selling the PlayStation 3 for $599, Which Equates to $900 today.
PlayStation has already become very complacent in the space, from creative bankruptcy fueling numerous pointless remakes and remasters. To releasing a horribly unimaginative tablet that only serves one function with console game streaming at an exorbitant price. PlayStation has also begun raising their console price even further in other countries. This is all a result of the Xbox brand failing to win the mind share they keep aiming to do so. But if the Xbox console went away, what could PlayStation start doing as a platform as a result?
Would it be even higher prices? Their games recently in worse states than they already do? No one can know or say for certain. But if the Xbox console dissipates by further destroying its meaning of existence, and there is no going back from it? What harm would come to the general console gaming community?
I’m Tired
I originally gamed on PC, mostly through MMOs such as World of Warcraft until around 2011. Then I picked up my first console with my own money, and that was the Xbox 360. I only wanted to play Halo and revisit the Fable series. But over time I discovered so many new and interesting experiences over the 10+ years I invested in the platform. Halo has been horribly mistreated as a franchise in both forms of entertainment it exists on. While the new Fable is still a ways out. Will I even need an Xbox to play that game in the console space? Only time will tell.
But if the morally bankrupt decision is to begin killing your platform even further when people like me kept things going. Then there will be no going back on it, and the potential harm to me, and the console gaming community will be your fault, Microsoft.
Thanks for the memories, Xbox.
