Microsoft Announces Official Date & Time For 'Updates On The Xbox Business'

Podcast should be an interesting format. It kind of suggests a laid back discussion. It will be interesting to see what the pace is like. A business update event already sounded kind of boring not sure many fans will be glued to the screen over a long form podcast.

It could end up being like the rumors where people are getting their information from secondhand sources. People will be interpreting the podcast in their own way and may leave out some key context. If they aren't clear in the podcast messaging, it could be another ugly game of telephone.

I’ll have my popcorn ready to watch Microsoft botch public relations.

I'm not looking forward to this. Let's get it over with.

"This week" to Microsoft is never a Monday, always a Thursday or Friday. Lol.

Although it’s cool to finally know exactly when Microsoft will address all the rumours surrounding their future as a hardware platform, nothing is going to really change things moving forward unless the games that they are supposedly making available to PS5, namely Hi Fi Rush and Sea of Thieves sell exceptionally well on PlayStation.

I hope they will be direct and forthcoming whatever the news is; their fans deserve transparency.

And I’m saying this as someone that has never owned an Xbox console.

It's weird this is a podcast right?

Not a produced video, or even just Phil with his shelves.

A podcast is going to deliver "the future of Xbox"

All of these rumors are going to end up being a big "nothing burger". Things will change, as always, but still continue on in some shape or form. Change is normal, but even if xbox falls apart. It's just a hobby folks. There is more to life than video games.

The more and more I see and read about this makes me think it’s all a marketing ploy

From the Microsoft going a 100% third-party publisher and The Death and Funeral of Xbox rumours to the reality: next-gen console in the works and multiplatform approach as has always been the case since Xbox One. Every game will be available on Xbox and Windows PCs, some on other consoles and Game Pass will be available on everywhere it's possible. Now I feel like knowing if instead of Series S and X, we'll be getting a home console and a dockable handheld next generation. That would be perfect.

I feel like only the game reporting industry (made up of mostly non-gamers) is freaking out about all this. Like they are trying their best to gin me up... Seems like a lot of nothingburgers being delivered.

@Banjo- if they announce or even mention new console in any way, this early in lifespan of Series consoles, that would be basically waving the white flag and admitting defeat.
I don't see that happening. (Pro type of console I don't consider new)

@Cikajovazmaj They have already done it. Phil Spencer confirmed next-gen console plans during the ABK acquisition in court documents so nope, that doesn't mean The Death of Xbox either. He even estimated the launch year, 2028.

Will everyone that bashed Xbox for the last few weeks apologize after the podcast? Or will they scurry back under their rocks? I think everything will be just fine. They just bought a 70 billion dollar game publisher and people want them to tell us their business plans for the future. Got it.

@XboxistheBestBox Did you expect Monday at 12:01 a.m. for them to talk about it? They said next week (last week) and Thursday is within the time they said no?

The Xbox team will be the nervous ones. They don’t want another Xbox One moment.

@Halucigens

Will everyone that bashed Xbox for the last few weeks apologize after the podcast?

Another prediction: They won't admit anything nor apologise. They'll keep on hating/trolling whatever Microsoft does or say and whatever the topic. Reality is irrelevant. They'll likely be disappointed after hearing that Xbox is moving forward stronger than ever, because The Death of Xbox meme is a given for many.

Can we run a sweepie on what the inevitable "this thing on Phil Spencers shelf means x thing/franchise is coming to xbox" story will be, even in the midst of them shipping games to other platforms?? Hopefully get some ABK games on gamepass, Diablo here we go!

@Halucigens Seriously, it's Microsoft's product. They can do whatever they want with it. Why are so many people freaking out about all of this? I'm willing to bet it's feigned concern to feel important.

@CaptainCluck great profile picture, mate!

Podcast seems like an odd way to do this. In any case the timing sure seems to suggest a Direct announcing some Xbox 1st party games for Switch is why the Business Update has had to wait so long to happen.

Hopefully they don't beat around the bush and get right into it. Looking forward to seeing what they have to say

Dawn of the first day
72 hours remain

This has been a rough couple weeks… They should hire some outside consultants for feedback on how to clear this up. I recommend Larry Hyrb and for fun add Kit and Krysta.

Like the Super Bowl last night.
I hoping Taylor Swift shows up and grabs the headlines 😂

@FarmDog08 @Banjo- I think people just don't like Xbox and/or Microsoft. Either they don't know their history in games or their innovations and contributions to gaming. I also think a lot of it is just gaming and the culture that surrounds it. Easy to hate because it's changing. It's puzzling and I try to stay away from these hot button articles with rumors and speculation.

@Savage_Joe 😎

Is it watchable through the series X without having to go and download a streaming application?

"We're pleased to announce the Series SX Two (Xbox SXX), a remote play device for Xbox Game Pass for PC, the premier place to play Call of Duty. We will also announce at a later date a catalogue of Xbox Game Studios games which will be selected on a case by case basis to appear on PlayStation. Please continue to watch for exciting updates in the coming months."

I think that about summarizes my expectations given past Xbox communications strategies.

@Halucigens
In the UK Xbox grew massively and was very well liked during the Xbox360 and in most homes.

It’s was the Xbox one era and also Sony getting it right with PS4 Nintendo with the Switch that overall generally put Xbox in a bad light in the UK.

Even with Series x the Xbox is not getting any breaks. It’s because Xbox have ignored the much loved console market and almost zero general public advertising.
General public don’t give a dam about game pass.
They want PS5 with flashy graphics, COD and FIFA. And PS5 is the cool must have console.
General public want hybrid Switch and it can go anywhere and all those lovely Nintendo AAA first party games.

Basically and to summarise XBOX has no identity and thing it can get the general public on board with. They thought game pass would but it has not.

@Halucigens they keep making such stupid decisions and ruining once amazing groundbreaking franchises. Trying to be so diverse and have ended up pushing their core audience away.

@Halucigens I agree and I always appreciate your comments here and on NL 👍.

@OldGamer999 With due respect, I think you tend to extrapolate your perception 😁. If we look at the numbers, most people care about third-party games the most and not as much as you think about Sony's "AAAAAA" PS exclusives. Many people care about Nintendo, but not unconditionally; Wii U is a recent console, last-gen and a big failure (and I love it). Game Pass is the most successful premium subscription. Xbox has more active users than PS. PC trounced consoles in game sales last year.

Besides mobile, the most important market right now is PC and then consoles, but mostly third-party games, except Nintendo's great hits such as the Mario Kart 8 port, with an insane attach ratio of 50% on a gigantic user base. That's not normal, though. Think about it. Nintendo has sold the most with ports on weak hardware.

One of the consistently best-selling games on all platforms belongs to Microsoft since 2014 and another one since 2023. People play more Minecraft and Call of Duty than Spider-Man and The Last of Us, that is why Sony is porting their games to Windows. You might think that Sony's exclusives are considerably better than Microsoft's, but others might think that they are copy-paste interactive films with scripted gameplay. Knowing you a little bit, I think you really like highly-detailed graphics (Spider-Man, Forza Horizon), unless it's a Nintendo game, then you don't care about 20fps 476p graphics 😜.

@Tomato_Goose Thankyou sister goose!

Sounds good. The crazy people can't wait much longer.

This is going to be a PR disaster.

Expect nothing and you’ll never be disappointed. Normally true but Xbox usually still manage the disappointment.

I trust you guys will keep me informed on whatever they talk about, so I probably won't need to watch or listen.

@Banjo-
I cannot disagree with your reply as it is mostly fact.
The big question then is how come Sony and Nintendo shift so many consoles and games and are talked about more in general conversation like more popular than Xbox, that seems to be hidden away like a geeky dark side hobby?

It’s just to get your thoughts on why is this.

@Halucigens well its all but confirmed they are bringing 3 xbox exclusives to ps , if they sell and microsoft sees it makes more sense , more will follow , once people get use to an idea , its far easier to transition, I cant see anyone apologising, because they've kinda been right.

@Halucigens "Will everyone that bashed Xbox for the last few weeks apologize after the podcast?"

It depends will you if most of the rumors turn out to be true? Or will you scurry back under a rock? 🙂 It goes both ways. The best case scenario is that is just Hi-Fi and Sea of thieves, if is more than that then everyone was right to freak out.

@Widey85 if they make money they will do it more , it is ms after all

Microsoft Spam '24 just reminded me, I forgot that they'll also inevitably announce how AI will revolutionize gaming by automating our play with optimal inputs accelerating our game progression and reducing hand fatigue. It will also chose what games we'll want to play next and purchase them for us in advance. How could I forget the inevitable AI automation of our gaming?

Enemies will still get stuck on scenery, walk into walls, and stand in the middle of your hail of bullets though.

At least it's not a presentation by Bob from Accounting.

Now, maybe it's just me... but 'Updates On The Xbox Business' sounds a liiittle more serious than just announcing Sea of Thieves & Hi-Fi Rush going Multiplat.

@Banjo- I appreciate it. I got out of Nintendo Life comments and Push Square too. I hardly touch my switch and had a PlayStation 4. Both those fan bases are so polarized. I feel like Xbox community gets a lot more trolls. But the few users on Pure Xbox that I enjoy are genuine gamers whose opinions I enjoy. But I feel tiresome defending a trillion dollar company when I’m absolutely enjoying my gaming mostly from game pass.

@OldGamer999 First of all, thanks for replying nicely. Nintendo is shifting millions of copies. I wonder how much money they have earned since Switch launched, because many of them are ports and/or cheap to make. They have sold 60.58m of a Mario Kart port. Insane. Will their next console move as many copies as Switch? I don't think so, but they have been extremely lucky since 2017.

The best-selling PS5 game is Spider-Man 2 with 5m. There is no sales data about most PS5 and Series games, but we know that Minecraft, Call of Duty, GTA, FIFA/MADDEN... are the most repeated titles on the PS and Xbox selling charts around the world. All of them are third-party until recently. Do you know how many copies Final Fantasy XVI has sold on PS5 after being kept away from Xbox by Sony? 3m. Now it's coming to Windows.

53.85m PS5 consoles sold means that less than 10% of the PS5 owners have bought Spider-Man 2 and it's the best-selling PS5 exclusive. This may give you some perspective.

There are twice as many PS5 than Series S|X, but Xbox has the advantage that it shares ecosystem with PC because of the OS (Windows), Direct X and multiplatform engines (Unreal, Unity, proprietary engines...). Of course, engines run on PS5 as well, but no Windows nor Direct X means that Sony's PC ports are difficult to programme and struggle to run properly.

You are right. Nintendo and Sony have more discussions and threads about them and all the memes for years have been Xbox has no games, who wants an Xbox if you can buy a PC and so on, because Nintendo and Sony fans are more vocal, but 99.9% of the players on any platform don't take part. If you only paid attention to what's been discussed on the internet, you would believe that nobody likes Xbox and nobody plays on Xbox, but as I said, it has been reported that Xbox has more more active users and premium subscribers than PS, so that's not true. This can only mean that Xbox fans are quieter and spend more time playing than posting, while the blue and red are louder, in general 🤣. Also, there is a blue sectarianism as you can see on certain site that creates a parallel reality and narrative about the industry.

@Widey85 Indiana Jones might have a licensing hitch where Disney was only willing to offer timed exclusivity. Blade might have a similar problem. Supposedly, even Spiderman has a sales target on playstation that needs to be met to allow future titles to remain as exclusive. Otherwise, I agree. It is probably just smaller titles. Absolute worst case scenario, which I think is unlikely, big titles get a decent year+ of timed exclusivity.

The starfield rumor sounding like it was just a discussion that didn't pan out makes me think they are not going to do the biggest titles. Starfield would have been the one to do with a ps5 version partially developed pre-acquisition.

@Halucigens They are polarised, indeed. Here, the comments I enjoy are from the genuine Xbox or multiplatform users, whether you agree or not, you know they're being sincere because of their comments (not because of their profile pics) and that they have something meaningful or spontaneous to say. Others are just predictably negative whatever the topic and plain boring.

I hope in this podcast, they announce the ABK games coming on X date

@abe_hikura because it has to be a bit more official as they will also be presenting it to investors. Expect a lot of corporate talk.

@Banjo- just an fyi SM2 is probably quite a bit higher than 5m considering it hit that within 2 weeks. (Probably closer to 10m considering Xmas and things).

Your point still stands that it is a relatively small % of owners that bought it, but probably a fair bit higher than you are saying.

@Banjo-
Thank you for your reply, however it is a statistical reply.
Doesn’t say why you think that with the masses the general public, Sony & Nintendo in console world are far more popular and sort after.

I think it’s very good exposure advertising, then the notion of being seen as the best and existing friends and digital library’s, being trending with the trendy toy etc.
And also brand recognition and momentum and definitely word and mouth of the brand and consoles and games.
Remember we are on a gaming forum and it’s a massive hobby to us. But the general mass public no nothing of this and have zero exposure to this.
They just get playground talk and tv advertising and even displays in shops etc. even game charts maybe that don’t even show an Xbox exclusive game.
Also I think Sony and Nintendo have their respective places with the masses and their thing if you like, as where Xbox don’t really have theirs in console world.

Everyone says Xbox isn’t really about consoles, but Microsoft would give their right arm to 100 million plus Xbox ones or series s/x consoles.

Will be interesting to see what this Thursday brings. One side of me says it won’t be much just a few games going multiplatform and Xbox still making consoles.

The other part of me thinks Microsoft are massive and what’s the point of bothering with a low selling console and stop making them and go fully multiplatform all games day one and be the worlds biggest publisher and also push game pass on every single device and console. My business brain would say do that.
But we cannot forget game pass subscriptions are about 15 million on Xbox consoles and 15 million on all other devices which looks very low if you take the 15 million on Xbox consoles away.

@Widey85 It still doesn't make much sense. Pentiment and Hi-Fi Rush are not the type of games that sells a significant number of copies to the point that it is worth it to break Xbox exclusivity rule. Even if each sells 1-2 Million, what big affect will it have on the big black hole that the 68Billion ABK acquisition has made?
The only games that make sense to go multi-platform are ones that can sell a lot of copies and make a notable amount of money. But then, if you are porting Indiana Jones, Starfield and cough... cough .. Halo and Gears eventually, what is the unique offering of your own platform? How are your own internal devs making games that use the "Most Powerful Console" ?
I really struggle to see the point of this. I understand that they are damned if they do (breaking exclusivity and ruining future perspectives of the console) and damned if they don't (too many studios in lengthy dev-cycles, they are burning a lot of money and need to make more). The only right way of doing this is to create a separate sort of branding or publishing label like "Xbox Originals" or "Xbox Specials" whatever, that when a game is announced, that logo establishes whether it will eventually go multi-plat or not.

@PsBoxSwitchOwner I noticed that there is barely any information this generation about sales except for Nintendo games, perhaps because of the extraordinary success of Switch, I don't know.

@BacklogBrad You do well remembering about Blade and Indiana Jones being licenced by the film industry. They remember well that The Show is licenced by MLB but forget about Indiana Jones or Blade all the time 🤔.

@OldGamer999 Yes I did, ha ha, I said because Xbox users are much quieter and laid-back and I elaborated on that. Xbox One has decent and enjoyable exclusives. Series S|X has had some droughts but not worse than PS5. It's not just the fans, Xbox is underrated and underappreciated by the media and critics. I have read many comments and headlines about Sony and Nintendo games being superior and when you read the articles they don't have a clue about video games, they are just repeating common beliefs, personal preferences and whatever they have read elsewhere. Breath of the Wild AND Tears of the Kingdom are two of the most overrated games in history. Some of the reviews I have read about them are just ridiculous and I say this as a massive The Legend of Zelda fan. Are critics as generous when reviewing Xbox games as when they review Nintendo and Sony's games? That also has an impact on the perception of the brands. Sony and Nintendo games tend to be relatively overrated. Xbox games are more harshly analysed. Between fans being quieter and Xbox being treated unfairly you get this internet picture that shows a crumbling Xbox and where apparently everybody is playing PS exclusives.

@OldGamer999 IMO, lack of focus is the problem. Xbox used to create an identity around Halo and Gears and then do lots of great marketing with these franchises (images of Halo 3 marketing and bundles etc is still everywhere on the internet). Using a few tentpole franchises to dominate the mind space. During the Xbox One era, the prominence of "Xbox is just Halo/Gears/Forza" meant that Microsoft really went hard in going to other directions and IPs, instead of buying up all these RPG studios to make new IP, slightly obscure Indie and RPG (like Pentiment, HiFi Rush, Grounded), they could have made more games from Halo, Gears, Fable. Keeping the core audience engaged and brand identity alive. Instead the "big games" are now just a range of tiny indie games that never break a million copies anyway. They are not system sellers, they don't increase the GP subs or move consoles. They are mostly there to make a tiny bit of money and then perhaps win some awards.
I love indie/smaller games myself and Firewatch for example is one of my all-time favourite games. Alongside Soma. But the path to success of a console is AAA big blockbusters. Where Xbox only now is starting to deliver and here we are.

@Grumblevolcano I’ve been thinking since all this started that they were waiting for the Nintendo Direct. The past two or three Directs, Nintendo has had a shadow launch of a game. I’m wondering if Xbox is shadow launching Hi-Fi Rush on the Switch. There might be some sort of NDA they have with Nintendo where they couldn’t confirm anything. I’m not an insider. I can be totally wrong. It’s just my guess for legal reasons Microsoft couldn’t talk last week.

Cool, whatever they have planned. Can speculate what IPs they port or don't (there is a reason I don't care for most Hi Fi Rush physical yes, old games they won't port eh time to still go second hand market for them), what won't get book/tv show treatment. What gets revived probably nothing. What back compat of ABK, probably nothing.

Physical versions of games, no, ok, then no thanks.

What updates the games get/DLC more likely. What IPs we haven't seen yet. What console/business services side who knows. ID at Xbox games maybe? Or other stuff.

Anything is possible. Probably just more about the business I guess that's also likely it doesn't always have to be trailers.

Typical Phil showing his age again if it’s not hyping up indie games it’s making hype for nothing

I think they are just gonna be having a meeting over lunch and will be talking back and forth with their mouths full, trying to get out as much as they can before their luck break is over. That's why it's a podcast. Either that, or they are going to announce a partnership with Nintendo.

@Phantasystar77 I bet you a small body part that you are wrong.

@OldGamer999 very interesting dialogue you have brought up today. At work, nobody, and I mean, NOBODY, talks about Xbox games.

Bring it up in conversation and tumbleweed rolls through the room.

Mention PlayStation or Switch, and boom! Can’t get a word in edge ways.

Weird, but EXACTLY as you describe.

@PSme
And that makes a massive difference
Word and mouth free advertising.

Its at least nice to see that this is being hosted by Xbox gaming people and not corporate.
I've no idea what this announcement will bring, but I'm sure it won't be as bad as so many have predicted...

The fact that it's done in podcast format is interesting, to say the least. That plus the fact it's done by the Xbox team rather than corporate gives me hope that the rumors were vastly overblown.

As for what I'm hoping to see, I've been giving it a lot of thought over the past few days and I feel like the following outcome is something I could be happy with:

Xbox clearly announces they have NO intention of stepping out of the console market and that console production and sales will continue. CERTAIN games will be announced to be going multiplatform, but iconic Xbox franchises such as Halo and Gears will remain exclusive. Revenue generated from multiplatform sales will go to funding development of new exclusives titles, both new IP and revivals of dormant ones, as well as subsidizing Game Pass to keep subscription costs down, get more games on the service Day One, and keep them there longer.

If they want to announce a refresh of the Series S|X that's fine too. I just hope they don't announce a next-gen console. It feels like it's far too early in the gen for that, and announcing a next-gen system prematurely would kill off interest in the current console.

Who cares frankly. I play games since the 80’s and I’ve witnessed the death of Atari, Amiga, MSX, Sega…and despite nostalgia kicks in sometimes the truth is that video games and the hardware and everything around keep on improving. So sorry XBox nothing personal but you can die and be replaced by a younger smarter cuter sexier you. Thank you, next (yes I’ve just quoted Arianna Grande, kill me)

@Banjo- abit of a late reply, but as we were discussing it, PS are saying Spider-Man 2 has hit 10million sales.

@OldGamer999 Like a UK kid loving WWE and not wanting to admit it at school.

But in general I am looking forward to hear what they have to say, but then I seem to have a soft spot for Phil Spencer lol (I probably worded that wrong)

Not long to wait now roughly 26 hours to go.

How will this podcast work? Is it live ? Or is it recorded and then released at the times mentioned above