Despite anger and resentment from many long-term fans, over constant price increases, a reader explains why he’s not given up on Microsoft or Xbox just yet.
Microsoft. They haven’t done much right in 25 years, but they have tried new and innovative ideas, from subscriptions to streaming to their online services. I’ve played games in many ways since the ZX Spectrum, with its cassette loading and failures; including blowing into the NES cartridges; the Red Ring of Death on the Xbox 360; and now huge installs and day one patches.
However, there was always a common factor… I played a large range of games, often trading, lending with friends or just outright selling them on. So back to Microsoft and, by extension, Xbox. Am I a fanboy? I would say no, but you may disagree. I love an Achievement and this all started for me with the Xbox 360; we all know it was the lead console at the time, oh how things change.
Along comes the Xbox One, then the Xbox Series X/S, but I wanted to continue my Gamescore and keep my profile, so another day one console purchase. I’ve played all the PlayStation exclusives – Spider-Man, Horizon Zero Dawn, Uncharted, God Of War, Ghost Of Tushima – I will always pick up a PlayStation at the end of a gen to consume what I missed at the time.
Now I would say I love a day one purchase, fear of missing out if you like, but as said about buying a PlayStation at the end of the gen, that’s not strictly true. So onto my next point: Game Pass. For me it was excellent, with a large variety of games. I’ve always liked variety in my gaming diet and £8 a month, what? Count me in! The price rises but the quality goes up, who would of thought Call Of Duty day one? Don’t really bother with Call Of Duty these days but that’s just me, there’s plenty more.
Quater of a hundred pounds a month now (personally I use the Xbox Live to Ultimate conversion, which will be running out at the start of next year and gawd knows what will happen then). That’s just shocking, but there are caveats. For instance, isn’t there a 1,000 V-Bucks per month for Fortnite as a perk/incentive? No idea how much a 1,000 V-Bucks actually costs myself, but there’s that. Plus, it seems the rewards on the reward scheme have changed, for the better for once, with the Ultimate tier seeing an increase in rewards, which brings me to the next point, Microsoft Rewards.
I’ve said on these pages many times how those daily rewards have helped me buy my games for a fraction of their RRP. I love a day one purchase, unless it’s the end of a gen and I can gobble up what I missed at a fraction of the cost, but that point’s for later. At £70 per game and not a lot of choice on where to get said purchases, the rewards have been a godsend.
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Now, Game Pass might be a little goldmine, but not everything is there day one. Assassin’s Creed, Star Wars Outlaws, Silent Hill f… so when your rewards mount up to 35, 40, 60 quid and you can buy a brand new game for 35, 20, even a tenner – depending on the amount saved – again, another godsend! All digital of course, which I don’t really like. Where will these games be in 20 years when I want to show the (fictional) grandkids what gramps used to play? Who knows!
But it’s really the only way to get most games now and even though you can buy physical, if you look around, I can’t spend rewards on a physical purchase and with prices knocking on 70 and beyond, I want to recoup some of my outlay if I’m paying that amount of cash. If GAME, Chips, Electronic Boutique, or Grainger were still around, and trades were still a good deal, then sure, that’s how I’ve always played a multitude of games over the last 35-40 years. But they’re not and all that’s left is CeX, which used to be good, but now, without competition, it’s awful.
For example, I’ll take a game that cost £70 six months ago and they’ll offer me 18 quid cash or say 23 to spend in store. The game I have my eye on is over two years old and is priced second-hand for £45… not happening, Marketplace and eBay are even worse. Message: ‘Take a tenner, mate’? No, it cost 70 quid three month ago, eff off! Deals can be had, of course. When I got a PlayStation 4 at the end of the last gen I got both God Of War and Ghost Of Tushima physical for less than £25, brand new and sealed from Argos.
So, in conclusion, the way I consume my games, with lots of variety and expensive day one purchases, it means Microsoft, Xbox, Game Pass, and their rewards suit me and the way I play… for now at least!
Thanks for reading.
By reader big boy bent
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