infinite halo
The much-hyped Microsoft came and went last week, and while there were some exciting games there, the overall reaction could have been better. Exciting games appeared, but they seemed to contradict Microsoft’s previous statements, and the most exciting came with no release dates or details. What was missing from the program was a graphic showcase, the kind of thing we are used to seeing at E3 (or in this case, not E3) just before the launch of a new console. Sony gave us that, even if it’s mainly for undated games in the form of Ratchet and Clank: A Rift Apart and Horizon: Forbidden West. But Microsoft’s next-gen big game was Halo Infnite, and it didn’t exactly surprise people with pictures.
Overall, I didn’t see the kind of boost for the Xbox Series X after the show that I saw for the PS5 after its show. But now that I think about it, I’m not sure this was a showcase for the Xbox X Series. I think it was a Game Pass showcase.
Sure, the Xbox Series X was on display here – it has to be that way, because it will be out in the fall. But while Xbox Series X is obviously a primary focus for the Xbox Division, it is not the only one, and perhaps not even the largest. Let’s see the promotional version of the showcase below:
Before the video mentions the X Series, talk about what I would say is Microsoft’s flagship product right now, and in the near future:
“5 new games from Xbox Game Studios. 9 Xbox Exclusives. All games launch the first day on Xbox Game Pass. “
That is perhaps the most salient fact about Halo Infinite’s launching. When the game comes out, it will launch in Game Pass along with all of Microsoft’s other proprietary titles. That’s one of the biggest games of fall, and it’s only $ 10 to play, along with dozens and dozens of other titles.
I feel like this is the crux of Microsoft’s strategy going forward, and that Xbox Series X is just one component of that strategy: right now it encompasses Xbox One and PC, but it gets much broader when compared to Series X, xCloud and the Lockhart Project is still rumored. And if you look at the storefront from a Game Pass perspective, it starts to look different: Not only are they a ton of exciting games, they’re games you can try with a $ 10 subscription, on the first day.
There are problems with the strategy, as we saw with the showcase. It doesn’t sizzle like the brilliant next-gen exclusives, and that’s why the PS5 showcase brought the heat a little harder. The argument in favor of Game Pass is more rooted in practicality than in the hype. But when it’s based on practicality, it’s still going strong: $ 10 a month for every game you can play, new and old, is a deeply compelling argument. You can achieve that with just two full-price retail releases, perhaps less if the games start to climb to $ 70.
When Microsoft first announced Game Pass, it was exciting but not tested. Over the years it has become much stronger, but it has not exactly eaten up the industry yet. It feels like a slow burn to me. Halo Infinite It will be a great coming-of-age moment, and the xCloud integration will be another. What’s next is just as exciting: The gradual fruits of Microsoft’s studio acquisition spree, with titles like Fable, Declared, psychonauts 2 and everything else the company showed last week.
The exhibit didn’t exactly convince me to buy an Xbox Series X. As an owner of a PC with similar specs, I don’t care much, and that’s part of Microsoft’s strategy. However, I’d say the showcase made the already strong Game Pass storyline even stronger.
The game is going through a change right now. We will not see it at the launch of new consoles, which I think will more or less resemble what we are used to when autumn arrives. But ultimately, I think Microsoft’s decision to focus on Game Pass, even if it means compromise elsewhere, represents a solid long-term bet.
