Xbox's 'Buy Two, Get One Free' Sale Contains Really Random Selection Of Games

Complete rip off

Why are Xbox not doing anything to counteract the deals for consoles I’ve just for PS5 disc with COD for £409.99.
Where are the series x deals, doesn’t have to a COD bundle.
How about series x with Starfield for £409.99.
Even Nintendo are doing ok ish bundle deals.

Sometimes I really think Microsoft don’t give a dam about console sales and are letting the competition just steam roller over them.

They have no idea, that selling a console could sell a game pass, brings someone else into the Xbox eco system. Promotes momentum and free word and mouth advertising etc.

I’ve never seen a business before letting out a vibe of we don’t care about consoles much anymore.
Sadly they are wrong, because as we know game pass on consoles is their biggest selling area of game pass by a long way.
They need to fight for consoles and take from the competition else they just gonna fall by the way side as a brand.
They need make games that the general public want, not games they think the general public want and of course to extremely high quality, promote their series consoles.
For a business they really seem to behave in a weird way, with far too much cash to waste.

And just to add they have created the best console in the series x and also its system features.
I really don’t know why they bothered sometimes.

@Dan1283 I said the exact same thing.
None of em on sale either 😂

SONY are just getting rid of old stock before the Slim comes to Europe. Yes frustrating but if like me you got both machines the PS5 will just collect dust. Don't forget you will need PS Plus to play COD online so that's another £60 for the uninitiated

@OldGamer999 Let's see what Black Friday brings.

@TheAshCohen09
I hope you are right I wanna see Xbox fight for every console and game pass. The activision deal is done and the supposed reason for Xbox being quiet.
So let’s see the action now Microsoft let’s see the console and gamepass deals beating the competition, let’s see the advertising, let’s see the series x get some limelight, let’s go kick some competition arse, let’s see if Microsoft really want sell consoles and gain Xbox brand momentum and inject some team green in the general publics veins.

What's even better is half of them are on sale outside of this "buy 2 get a 3rd". But inside this they're charging full price.

And on quite a few of them you can get three for less than what doing this is.

Honestly a complete joke of a sale. Better off going to Games top and doing one of their 3 for 2.

@InterceptorAlpha I think as well games are just a rip off digitally compared to buying disk games the price goes down pretty quick and you can shop around unlike digital

Just bring orange box back out to buy these deals are terrible!

@Dan1283 that's a very good point. I still remmeber getting Elden Ring, on disc, for $49.99 the day it came out.

They day consoles go all digital I'll have to abandon the because Steam is the only place you get good digital deals.

@InterceptorAlpha it's going be terrible when it's goes all digital for us gamers we are at the mercy of publishers setting prices unless something changes drastically that is? I don't buy into Microsofts rubbish about going all digital

Target has their buy 2 get 1 sale going now too if you're in the states. Most games seem to be included like diablo 4, RE4, hogwarts, etc.

@InterceptorAlpha

They day consoles go all digital I'll have to abandon the because Steam is the only place you get good digital deals.

My opinion? Do it. Since moving to PC last year, I'm playing just as many games as I used to, but I've never spent so little on games. Between the various digital marketplaces (Steam, Epic, GOG, Xbox, etc) and key-selling websites (Humble, Green Man Gaming, Fanatical, CDKeys, etc), there's constantly tons of bargains to be had on digital games.

@Dan1283 Yea. Steam is fantastic for things like this. Though I do worry what direction Valve will go when Gaben finally passes away. Thankfully plenty of other storefronts there too so you're not strictly locked to one, as you are on consoles. Unless you use key vendors online.

@Markatron84 I'm already PC gamer first and foremost. Started on the C64. And PC proper since DOS and the likes of WarCraft Orc and Humans. Still pining for a Command & Conquer revival. But I know it'll never be free he same after Westwood was shuttered. Best place for VR as well.

I just buy consoles as accessories to it. Though I will admit, when it comes ot streaming on Twitch and TikTok, I do stream console most. Not sure why. I'd just be dipping out of consoles. Or at least Microsoft's ecosystem. Nintendo still seems fire.

I normally pick up Sony after prices cuts due to being burned by them on the PS2, Vita, and PS4. But they're used for exclusives only, and never PSN. Gundam Breaker 3 is probably my most played PS4 game. 😂

@OldGamer999 So Cod MW3 is free in the disc Ps5 bundle and they save £70 on the console as well.
That's a pretty good deal and I'd imagine that it will fly off the shelves.

@OldGamer999 Yo chill your old ass out buddy. Xbox will have a bundle for Holiday, a Series X with Star Field and the console wrap could very well be a extremely popular bundle. Why dont you wait till Black Friday before crying like you know exactly what Xbox is doing this holiday

@Stoned_Patrol
Not crying buddy just want them get on now and push those sales etc.
But I will say one thing as I do every year, Xbox needs to do deals though out the year.
Xbox is not just for Black Friday.
Next year I hope they will start doing something special for COD weekend, because that is one sale PlayStation seriously gain over with their bundle deals.

@MrMagic
Yep it will, that’s my point no good Xbox sitting back like always. They need to match them and get moving and get their console sales act together.
No good Phil whining about not matching Sony or Nintendo console wise if you gonna nothing about it and sit back and die.
Have some back bone and fight to win 🥇
Console sales are extremely important and the sooner Microsoft realise this and get on it the better.

@OldGamer999 sadly phil has a mission to kill off the xbox console. he is doing it slowly but surely. next gen xbox is gonna be a hybrid series s hardware/streaming diskless console and when the time is right xbox will go 100% streaming. the netflix of gaming(i want no part of)

or if they don't see this working out they will go 3rd party and publish for the other gaming platforms. this will make all the digital games we bought for xbox over the years, gone when series consoles break/die off.

@rustyduck
I hope you are definitely wrong but I don’t disagree with your comments.
As every month passes I get more convinced that you maybe right in roughly that form and time you suggested.
Not sure why they want to do that as Xbox consoles have more game pass subscriptions than pc & streaming devices put together and plus about another 25% on top.
To that means it’s the loyal Xbox console base that are holding game pass up really.
Trouble is if they go to far and don’t make top end AAA games if you future is correct then they won’t even sell games or streaming without a console.

@OldGamer999 It's not about shifting Consoles so much - its more about Game Pass and whilst Xbox may well be the only consoles to offer Game Pass - which not only offers 'great' First Party games day/date, you get a lot of 3rd party games too.

Consoles offer a certain gaming tier experience - The Series S being a lower tier than a Series X, and the benefits of being a powerful hardware for its price but if they can get you to play games on your XB1S/X via Cloud or whatever other devices you may have on 'Game Pass Ultimate', that's just as good as a Console sale.

Then you have all those 'PC' based gamers, whether primarily 'Steam' or not, they have access to Game Pass. A rise in hand held portable PC gaming devices - like RoG Ally (slightly more than a Series X in Price) maybe more suited to some gamers and PC gamers now won't buy a Series S/X to play 'exclusives' they can't on PC anymore. People have FAR MORE CHOICE.

So console sales and trying to be 'number 1' in that one area is ridiculous when MS are much more interested in maximising their Xbox Ecosystem which includes, but is NOT limited to the Console. They would Take 5 Game Pass Subscribers over 1 Console sale - if you 'buy' a Console to become a Game Pass Subscriber - Great - but you are no more a 'Customer' to MS than those on PC who subscribe and play their games on Microsoft Windows - their PC customers too btw...

MS know that they are the ONLY console offering Game Pass and that people looking for a Great Console experience will still consider Xbox and maybe think that they'll save money in the long run by not paying for so many games, instead playing games on Game Pass - especially now ABK is confirmed - its the long game too - not the short term...

@OldGamer999 funny thing is i remember when og xbox came out they where anti pc. they didn't even want to have k/m support. i remember a guy holding up the xbox controller and saying "there isn't anything wrong with this".

also pc gamers felt left out with devs making xbox only games, no pc versions. "its the future" they said. i was just starting pc gaming lmao! i switch back to consoles not long after. now i feel like xbox is trying to push me into pc gaming. good lord, what wrong with ms?

best case i can hope for is xbox goes 3rd party and their games are published on playstation AS DOWNLOADED GAMES. i'll go there. other wise i would have to choose between streaming xbox games on a stick or going through building a gaming pc which i dread. assuming publishers allow games to be downloaded at all.

and streaming games as option, thats assuming fiber internet ever comes to my are and assuming i can afford it.

what a mess.

@BAMozzy
But Microsoft’s own data shows what I said.
Xbox consoles have more GP subscribers than PC & All other devices put together plus about 25%.
Without Xbox consoles Game pass would be dead on arrival.
Without consoles there would no Xbox.
I’m not saying don’t do all the other stuff and try to create a bigger Xbox eco system but keep pushing and selling consoles and have some back gone and fight the console competition.
Xbox consoles are holding up game pass by millions more subscribers than anything else as I mentioned above.
If they lose Xbox consoles Xbox will lose everything as outside of Xbox loyal console owners there are next to nothing game pass subscriptions and that shows me there is not much interest.

@BAMozzy
And no one is gonna tell me that if Xbox had sold as many series consoles as say PS5 or even Switch in the future that would not massively increase console GP subscriptions, create momentum in brand and further even more sales of GP elsewhere.
And Phil and team would be lighting the cigars and telling the world.
They have got themselves in a rut and are not to sure what to do apart from buy other companies.
Activision buyout will hardly do anything for Xbox consoles or GP.
The other two know what they are doing and know how to move forward and lead the way.
And you know what so did Xbox in the 360 days brand momentum, advertise and create sensational generation leading games, sell loads of consoles sell loads of game pass and then in parallel push the ecosystem to PC and other devices through game sales and GP.
Don’t rule out the power of the console because as we can see it isn’t working, Xbox as a brand is no further forward than at the start of this generation, console sales are less and GP is stagnant and Microsoft are not that happy.

I want them fighting for consoles and game pass and the eco system and game pass on PC and other devices. And to be massively successful and continue to lead and lead in the console market. Without all of the above coming together they will not succeed.

Honestly I'd say it's safer to wait until an actual sale. Odds are you'll be paying more this way.

@OldGamer999 Completely agree. Recent estimates put game pass subscribers at around 30 million. There are around 58 million Xbox One sales, and Series S|X sales are estimated at around the 21 million mark. Granted many of the Series S|X sales will be people upgrading from Xbox One but I'd guess that a high percentage of these users will be game pass subscribers, which would not suggest that there are many subscribers on PC at all.
In addition to this Phil Spencer also stated during the ABK saga that only a small percentage of game pass subscribers have even tried cloud gaming. Also that they only see cloud gaming as an accessory to gaming and not that they expect people to use it as their primary means of gaming.
All this leads to console still being their most significant market by far.

@Kevw2006
Absolutely correct, the truth came out during the Activision buyout and the charts and graphs.
Now we know and know really what a rut Microsoft have Xbox in.
Microsoft with Xbox are trying to sell gamers and the general public what Microsoft want and not what the masses want to buy, sales and those charts and graphs show this and how well the other two are doing show this as they are selling millions of what the masses want to the masses.

@OldGamer999 Again - focusing on the WRONG thing. Yes Consoles may well be the cheapest way into Game Pass for a LOT of gamers because Cloud doesn't give them the ability to play 'every' game and no 'offline' option, but its still only an 'option'.

Game Pass is available on EVERY platform - bar Switch/Playstation. Basically that means EVERY one of those platforms is a way into the Xbox ecosystem - whereas to get into Sony or Nintendo ecosystems, they are only their Console hardware. If you want to play Spider-Man 2 or Wolverine the day they release, its ONLY on Playstation. Want to play Starfield or Forza? It might ONLY release on Series S/X and PC, but can be played on an XB1S/X, mobiles, tablets, laptops, TV's etc via Cloud. Might not be the best way to play for some gamers, but the best way to play for their 'budget'. However, ALL those who choose to play via ANY method other than Series S/X are still part of the 'Xbox' ecosystem. Cloud is the cheapest way in with the 'largest' ceiling for Microsoft to gain 'players'. Console may sell and reach 80m+ but with Cloud and PC too, they can reach every gamer - including those gamers who prefer the Plug and play Console experience too with their Series hardware.

As stated, if you have or prefer to game on PC, then you NEVER need to buy an Xbox again. A PC and Playstation 5 for example would give you access to EVERY Xbox and Playstation Exclusive. It doesn't 'need' to be a Series S/X 'beater' PC either - a RoG Ally/Steam Deck may well suit the 'Gamer' better as they play a LOT on the go.

Point is - Sony/Nintendo rely heavily on their Console sales to grow their Ecosystem - sell 10m, they have 10m users. With MS, if they only sell 5m consoles, they could have another 10m on Cloud and PC for example so have the 'bigger' ecosystem despite lower 'Console' sales.

As I said, you don't 'need' a Series S/X for Game Pass - even those on XB1S, they can still play Starfield, Forza etc with Game Pass Ultimate instead of being forced to Upgrade and then pay £70 each to play these games before Christmas...

So what if PS5 reaches 100m sales and Series S/X may only be at 'half' that number - MS can still 'reach' more Gamers, still sell Game Pass Subs to more players etc because they are NOT limited to 'just' the Console...

@BAMozzy
Correct they can reach more gamers with gamepass, but they are not gaining many subscribers compared to the console base.
Console subscribers more than PC and other devices together plus about 25%.
Without Xbox consoles GP subs would be tiny.

So basically GP outside of Xbox consoles if not that popular really.

So the issue is Microsoft’s GP product isn’t want gamers and general public really want or are buying, apart from the main Xbox console group.

That is why I keep saying if your biggest subscribers to game pass are the Xbox console group by a large margin, sell more Xbox consoles and you can sell more game pass.

@OldGamer999 Game Pass too is JUST one way of accessing Xbox games - again NOT dependent on Hardware. Even if you DON'T want to subscribe for your games, you still don't NEED a Series console as those games are still 'SOLD' on PC/Steam.

Steam Deck gamers for example don't 'need' a Series S/X and whether Game Pass is available or not (easily) through that hardware, they can still play Forza/Starfield etc. Same with anyone that buys a Handheld PC or own a Gaming Laptop/PC.

Game Pass is part of the Xbox ecosystem too - but NOT the entire ecosystem. Some on Xbox won't Subscribe above Core tier for Online access - prefer to 'buy' the Games they want - just like those on PC may choose. Those are still in the 'ecosystem' to.

MS also stated that 'growth' on Console of Game Pass has stagnated and not everyone who buys 'Xbox' Consoles will buy Game Pass too. But you are still focussing on 'parts' of the Ecosystem - not the 'whole'.

They don't 'need' to sell Series S/X to sell games or Subscriptions - Sony/Nintendo do. I don't need a Series S/X at all to have Game Pass Ultimate or play games like Starfield, Forza etc. Even if they reduced the price to £400, it may not be worth it - not when you have 3080ti+ Gaming PC's that beat what a Series X can offer. There are more and more devices coming out now that make it easy/cheap to get into the Xbox ecosystem that all 'compete' with Series S/X. My RoG Ally for example is an 'alternative' option to a Series S/X - especially with GPU docks to help boost Graphics/performance on a 4k Display and much more versatile/portable.

Xbox Consoles are much more a choice, an option - but its NOT the entire Xbox ecosystem and hasn't been since MS changed their attitude and stopped running Xbox as a separate 'side' project and neglected their Microsoft Customers on PC - that 'change' has resulted in MS buying Studios because they are NOT dependent on the Sales of Consoles - just like they don't need to sell 'Surface' PC's to get Windows into peoples hands, they don't need to sell Console to get Xbox into gamers hands...

@BAMozzy
I am focusing on the whole, but the whole not including Xbox consoles do not have many GP subscribers, considering the size of the whole user base outside of Xbox consoles.

It’s the Xbox consoles with a much smaller user base than the all the others added together where game pass is being sold the most, than all the others combined plus 25%.

So that tells me that the whole not including Xbox consoles are not that interested in game pass and subscription uptake is poor. Considering the whole not including Xbox consoles must be in the billions of potential GP subscriptions.

What that really tells us outside of the Xbox console gang GP to the rest of the whole is not really wanted or selling piss poor.

So if you make a big effort as well to increase your biggest by far GP subscription base the Xbox consoles, then you will increase your GP subscription base.

The fact Microsoft are ignoring their own statistical data is just pure dumb.
Yes attack the whole but attack you biggest GP subscribed area and sell more Xbox consoles.

@OldGamer999 Sony can sell all the consoles they want it's great for shareholders but not much else. They have released just ONE First Party game this year that lasts for about 15 hours which is pathetic.

Sony put the price of PS Plus tiers up by a ridiculous amount and give bugger all in return, those cheapskates are 'still" making people pay for a subscription just to get cloud storage on the PS5.

As for Full Digital games and subscriptions, Microsoft allow you to buy from 3rd party you are not forced to buy from their store like you are with cheapskate Sony. Microsoft even all you to convert Live/Core for 3for2, Sony of course give Nothing like that.

Microsoft are going games First hardware second, they are going to have another big lineup for 2024 and also have all the Activision games for Gamepass etc, I suspect they will soon start cutting the price of the hardware now they are in a great position with the software.

@Sifi
Don’t care what Sony or Nintendo are actually doing I just used their sales for reference as they are in the same business.
My point is Xbox keep going on about GP which I have, but their biggest GP sales are on Xbox consoles more than all other devices put together plus about 25%. So if that is your biggest GP amount of subscribers then make more effort to sell Xbox consoles and you will get more GP subscriptions as it is by far Xbox biggest GP membership is on consoles by millions and millions.
Hopefully they understand this and cut some amazing console deals like Sony and Nintendo have already released for example in the UK
PS5 disc edition with COD £409
Series x only £460
Xbox are not gonna sell many consoles with that Sony deal about.