Curves are coming for the video game industry, and especially for Xbox. In the last few hours, many rumors have been appearing around the Microsoft gaming division, to such an extent that Phil Spencer has had to announce that they will announce new developments in the company's strategy next week. But, what new strategy is Xbox considering?
About the name change
In recent hours, rumors and confusing information have appeared about a possible name change within the Xbox platform. On the one hand, through what seemed like a typographical error, the GameStop chain through a post on Twitter referred to Xbox Game Pass as Microsoft Game Pass, which raised a tremendous stir among those who already began to predict the disappearance of the term Xbox.
Luckily for the users of the platform, Jez Corden has confirmed that it was nothing more than a typographical error and that the platform will continue to be Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass, also indicating that no changes are expected in this regard.
Just to put the fire out before everyone starts screaming.
I am told Gamestop just came up with "Microsoft Game Pass" themselves.
The brand is still Xbox Game Pass / PC Game Pass with no planned changes. https://t.co/qN7gpa8cil
- Jez (@JezCorden) February 7, 2024
This collides directly with another rumor that directly assures that Microsoft will completely change its gaming branch to delete the word Xbox and rename it Microsoft Gaming. This change, in addition to erasing the identity that has been representing thousands of players around the world for so many years, would give way to a more corporate image that may not fit the sector it is aimed at.
Satya Nadella to rebrand Xbox to Microsoft Gaming. The brand that we've known for 24 years is outta there. Satya believes in a anywhere and everywhere approach when it comes other than gaming and cloud. Stay tuned for next week's Microsoft Business Event, hosted by Satya. -rumor pic.twitter.com/u7M3jtF9Yl
— Jaydub (@JayDubcity16) February 7, 2024
At the moment everything is up in the air, and we will not be clear until next week when Phil Spencer puts his cards on the table and says what exactly is happening.
Goodbye to exclusives
The problem is that there would still be more to cut in this whole matter, since another issue will be the publication of exclusive games on other platforms. And this movement does seem to be more viable, since Microsoft's strategy would be to bring its own games to PlayStation and Nintendo, therefore being able to exist Gears of War on PS5 If it were the case.
This is mainly what has set the networks on fire, since Xbox users would not tolerate such rudeness. And the reason for having an Xbox would stop making sense after the most important games also had versions for the competition.
Lack of vision could take its toll
It is still early to evaluate Microsoft's decision (it is not yet official), but if such a big change were to occur it would greatly affect users, who have been constantly beaten on many occasions with wrong decisions (remember Kinect, the DRM of games or the ring of death).
That is Xbox's main problem, the absence of a clear future vision where the interest of users is taken care of and not looking at so many business objectives. But who would have thought that a company like Microsoft would seek to make money from its business, right?