Summary
Highlights
The video starts with the speaker expressing sadness over the current state of Xbox, citing a 'death by a thousand cuts' due to small but impactful decisions. These decisions, viewed over the last 18 months to two years, are causing irreparable damage to the brand according to the speaker.
The recent Game Pass price increase to $30 is discussed, highlighting that while the service has value, the current offerings (like a back catalog of Ubisoft and EA titles) are considered 'filler' and not enough to justify the increased cost for many users. The speaker notes that this price point significantly impacts family budgets, leading many to cancel their subscriptions.
The discussion expands beyond Game Pass to other problematic decisions made by Xbox in the last 12-18 months. These include promotional advertisements appearing directly on the Xbox console dashboard, two price increases for the Xbox Series X (making it $800), and the push towards high-priced PC and handheld devices like the Xbox ROG Ally X at $1,000.
Xbox's attempt to introduce $80 games, exemplified by The Outer Worlds 2 (though later walked back), is seen as an inevitable future. The video also touches on massive layoffs across Xbox studios, which the speaker believes negatively impacts company morale, despite Xbox's public-facing optimism.
The speaker criticizes Xbox's current approach, suggesting it has become just another business unit for Microsoft, focused solely on maximizing profit. This shift means prioritizing per-customer spending and revenue generation over customer loyalty and the human element of gaming.
The video concludes by urging unhappy customers to 'speak with their wallet' by canceling subscriptions or seeking alternative gaming platforms. While the speaker wishes for Xbox to return to its former state, they acknowledge that the company's current focus on profit margins, rather than the human aspect of gaming, indicates a potentially irreparable change. The next 18 months are seen as critical in determining Xbox's future.