Xbox, one of the leading players in the gaming industry, has recently found itself at the center of a possible storm of disappointment and speculation.
Over the past few days, a series of reports has left fans wondering about the future of their beloved Xbox ecosystem. From service shutdowns to price increases, gamers have been met with a barrage of bad news.
Xbox Live Gold and the Game Pass Conundrum
Rumors are swirling that Xbox Live Gold, the service that allows multiplayer gaming and offers a selection of free games, may be in jeopardy.
The Sun reports that with the introduction of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which includes Xbox Live Gold, fans speculate that Xbox Live Gold may be fully integrated into this more expensive tier.
This move would leave Xbox Game Pass for Console users without the ability to play games online, raising concerns among players.
Alternatively, Xbox Live Gold could remain a standalone service but cease to offer Games with Gold, a decision that would undoubtedly disappoint subscribers.
Xbox Sales Figures Revealed
While Xbox Series X and Series S consoles have seen significant success, with over 21 million units sold since their launch (leaked data shared by @IdleSloth84_), however, it pales in comparison to the sales numbers achieved by rivals Sony and Nintendo.
Microsoft's reluctance to disclose sales figures for its consoles for a long time has raised eyebrows and led to speculations that the company prefers to highlight its Xbox Live and Game Pass subscriptions instead.
The Xbox Series X and Series S still have a long way to go to catch up to the impressive sales numbers of their predecessor, the Xbox One, which sold 58 million units during its lifetime.
In case you missed it, the company also just discontinued its £1 ($1) Xbox Game Pass offer and raised the price of the Xbox Game Pass and the Xbox Series X.
The Uncertain Fate of Xbox Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass, a popular subscription service that offers a vast library of games, is also causing some concern among gamers.
The removal of games from the service is a regular occurrence, but the recent announcement of the departure of three games in July 2023, including the critically acclaimed Spelunky 2, sure left subscribers disappointed.
While Microsoft usually provides advanced notice of removals, it still raises questions about the long-term availability of beloved titles on the platform.
However, Xbox Game Pass continues to add new games regularly, providing a glimmer of hope for players seeking fresh experiences.
In Other News
Microsoft's popular sandbox game, Minecraft, has generated more revenue from Nintendo and PlayStation platforms than from its own Xbox console.
Tim Stuart, Xbox's CFO, revealed this information during the company's defense of its attempt to acquire Activision-Blizzard.
Minecraft is one of the industry's most influential and successful games, with over 238 million copies sold and a vast user base.
Stay posted here at Tech Times.
Related Article: Microsoft Says Minecraft Generated More Revenue From Nintendo, PlayStation Than Xbox
