The console is sold at a loss initially & usually for some time after
The platform holder recoups the investment in hardware via its own first party game sales + services + the cut it takes from third parties that sell games / DLC
I don't normally do threads like this but I did want to provide some deeper thoughts on the below and why having a video game based on a real world war crime from the same people that received CIA funding isn't the best idea.
The core reason why I'm doing this thread is because:
1. It's clear the developers are marketing the game a certain way.
2. This is based on something that actually happened, a war crime no less. I don't have issues with shooter games in general ofc.
Firstly, It's important to acknowledge that the Iraq war was an illegal war, based on lies, a desire for regime change and control of resources in the region.
These were lies that people believed and still believe to this day.
- Ubisoft ranked second-leading publisher – with Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Watch Dogs: Legion, and Immortals Fenyx Rising all in the top 7 best sellers on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S
- Continuing transition to live service operations across all franchises
- Ubisoft is the top third-party publisher in 2020, with Just Dance 2020 the 8th best seller.
- More people playing and spending more post pandemic lockdown. December was biggest month ever for Ubi.
- Company has 40m MAU in the last quarter.
- AC Valhalla biggest AC game launch in history. 2nd best selling game on next gen consoles.
- Daily average users up 2x compared to Odyssey in the same timeframe.
- Valhalla biggest Ubi launch in terms of digital / add on spend.
Ok. Let's talk about why Xbox decided to announce that it would double the price of Xbox Live Gold (12m period) and then reversed that decision less than 24 hours later after strong backlash from fans.
Quick thread on the topic from me below:
If you've followed me in the past you know that I've talked a lot about Xbox is moving beyond the console and has a goal to offer multiple entry points into its ecosystem, with Game Pass being the main entry point into its software and services ecosystem.
This strategy makes a lot of sense on paper, but is proving difficult for Microsoft to execute in the short term.
The aim is to scale Game Pass as a service to reach the entire gaming audience via multiple console offerings, but also beyond console via PC & Mobile (Cloud) etc.
I was quoted in this @SCMPTech article about how Tencent invested in or acquired 31 video game related companies in 2020 and why this is 3x higher than the prior year.
I've put together a thread below with some additional thoughts too.
Tencent’s approach to M&A can be characterized as somewhat conservative, investing primarily in firms that have a proven hit.
Tencent historically has invested in roughly a dozen companies each year, and obviously there are many more investment opportunities than that.
As Tencent faces increasing competition in the market, primarily from large tech firms such as Bytedance and Alibaba in addition to mid size firms such as Lilith and MiHoYo, the company appears to be taking a less conservative approach to M&A.