According to news on April 22, Microsoft Xbox has notified users via email, All Xbox free games that support multiplayer mode no longer require Xbox Live Gold membership, and are completely free.
In order to attract consumers, Microsoft Xbox, Sony PS, Nintendo Switch will provide some free games, some of which support multiplayer networking mode, and need to use the server of the host manufacturer. Considering the operating cost of the server, host manufacturers previously required users to open a membership in order to play with others online.
The Microsoft Xbox game library provides more than 50 free games, allowing users to play as much as they want. Now Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One have also added “find team” and “party” functions to help players find teammates. It is not difficult to see that Microsoft is optimizing the social functions of the host to increase user stickiness.
The price of graphics cards has doubled this year, causing more and more consumers to turn to game consoles. In the console market, Sony has always dominated Microsoft, and even with the PS console, it has become the world’s highest revenue game company by 2020. In order to further seize the Microsoft Xbox market, some time ago, Sony’s PS console free game network no longer needed members. Microsoft also responded quickly and also abolished the free-to-play online membership.
But this can only suspend Sony’s offensive, and cannot prevent the PS console from eating away at the Xbox market. VGChartz statistics show that As of September 2020, the global sales of PS4 series consoles have exceeded 110 million units, and the sales of Switches have reached 65.71 million units, while the Xbox One of the same generation has only 48.34 million units.
The biggest problem with Microsoft Xbox is that there are too few exclusive games, and many games on the platform have landed on PC and PS consoles. This phenomenon makes it unnecessary for users to buy Xbox for a small number of exclusive games. The PS console has many exclusive games, and even the “Uncharted Seas” series that represents Sony’s movie game aesthetics.
Exclusive games are Sony’s magic weapon to win, but Sony is killing chickens for short-term benefits. Recently, many of Sony’s exclusive masterpieces have landed on the PC, and the “God of War” series has also revealed the news that it will be ported to the PC, causing many netizens to be dissatisfied with Sony.
The abolition of the free-to-play membership system is the first step for Microsoft to sound the horn of counterattack. It is expected that Microsoft will spend a lot of money to develop exclusive games to further narrow the gap with Sony.
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