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I wonder if they are moving to a subscription model because players hate the Windows store and basically refuse to use it instead of Steam when purchasing games

I wonder if they are moving to a subscription model because players hate the Windows store and basically refuse to use it instead of Steam when purchasing games. Having failed at running a store I wonder if they've decided plan b is running a rental service.

013a 6y ago
Well if nothing else, it makes people use their new React Native Xbox app, which is quite possibly the worst windows application Microsoft has ever produced (and they've produced a lot of very bad ones).
iruoy 6y ago
I think the Microsoft store is pretty good actually. I got 6 months of game pass for PC and didn't encounter any problems.
- staticman2 6y ago
  When it works it's fine but sometimes the window store breaks and you basically have to reinstall Windows- in whole or in part- to get it running again. It also is designed to prevent modding and doesn't work with Steam Link for remote play even though normal non-steam games work with Steam Link just fine.
  - mikewhy 6y ago
    GloSC[1] will get you steam controller mapping / streaming for UWP apps (and more, but I've never had an issue ie adding UPlay games as non-steam games). Here's Minecraft Dungeons running on iOS via Steam Remote Play that I just recorded[2]. Also, Windows Store / GamePass doesn't stop modding, as Crusader King 3 proves. [1]: https://alia5.github.io/GloSC/ https://alia5.github.io/GloSC/ [2]: https://imgur.com/a/Zwz9yvV https://imgur.com/a/Zwz9yvV
    - staticman2 6y ago
      Thanks. I tried to get a hardware Steam Link working with Gamepass games and failed, I either tried with that App or some other one I forget but ultimately I got it working by installing Moonlight on the Steam Link instead and essentially using it like a remote desktop. I've read reports of Windows Store overwriting mod files, either this is a game by game problem or maybe it's solved. I do know a year or two ago the Window Store refused to open on a Windows PC of mine so it's a real problem and there's no way to easily reinstall the windows store if it occurs. Whether Microsoft has solved these issues by now I don't know. I think I eventually got the windows store back with a Windows update.
cuban-frisbee 6y ago
The total market for AAA games right now is probably in the region of 250 to 300 million people if you look at the install base of xbox, playstation and pc. With gamepass being on pc, xbox and cloud they could potentially capture a substantial part of that market and even expand it due to the low barrier of entry of xcloud or their rent to own scheme. They have 15 million subscribers now which is about 2 billion in revenue depending on the composition of their subscribers. They grew 50% in just 6 months. The potential for gamepass is therefore vast compared to traditional boxed products. If they capture 50% of the current market, thats 20 billion. That would be similar to netflix in size.

013a 6y ago

Well if nothing else, it makes people use their new React Native Xbox app, which is quite possibly the worst windows application Microsoft has ever produced (and they've produced a lot of very bad ones).

iruoy 6y ago

I think the Microsoft store is pretty good actually. I got 6 months of game pass for PC and didn't encounter any problems.

staticman2 6y ago
When it works it's fine but sometimes the window store breaks and you basically have to reinstall Windows- in whole or in part- to get it running again. It also is designed to prevent modding and doesn't work with Steam Link for remote play even though normal non-steam games work with Steam Link just fine.
- mikewhy 6y ago
  GloSC[1] will get you steam controller mapping / streaming for UWP apps (and more, but I've never had an issue ie adding UPlay games as non-steam games). Here's Minecraft Dungeons running on iOS via Steam Remote Play that I just recorded[2]. Also, Windows Store / GamePass doesn't stop modding, as Crusader King 3 proves. [1]: https://alia5.github.io/GloSC/ https://alia5.github.io/GloSC/ [2]: https://imgur.com/a/Zwz9yvV https://imgur.com/a/Zwz9yvV
  - staticman2 6y ago
    Thanks. I tried to get a hardware Steam Link working with Gamepass games and failed, I either tried with that App or some other one I forget but ultimately I got it working by installing Moonlight on the Steam Link instead and essentially using it like a remote desktop. I've read reports of Windows Store overwriting mod files, either this is a game by game problem or maybe it's solved. I do know a year or two ago the Window Store refused to open on a Windows PC of mine so it's a real problem and there's no way to easily reinstall the windows store if it occurs. Whether Microsoft has solved these issues by now I don't know. I think I eventually got the windows store back with a Windows update.

cuban-frisbee 6y ago

The total market for AAA games right now is probably in the region of 250 to 300 million people if you look at the install base of xbox, playstation and pc. With gamepass being on pc, xbox and cloud they could potentially capture a substantial part of that market and even expand it due to the low barrier of entry of xcloud or their rent to own scheme. They have 15 million subscribers now which is about 2 billion in revenue depending on the composition of their subscribers. They grew 50% in just 6 months. The potential for gamepass is therefore vast compared to traditional boxed products. If they capture 50% of the current market, thats 20 billion. That would be similar to netflix in size.