AJS News- Call of Duty BO7 to BLAME for XBOX Price Hikes?, Starbreeze Cancels D&D Game, COD No SBMM?

Quick Overview

The Angry Joe Show cast expresses strong disapproval of Microsoft's recent business decisions, particularly the $300 million loss attributed to Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 being on Game Pass, arguing that such moves negatively impact consumers and developers, leading to price hikes and cancellations like Starbreeze's D&D game.

Key Points: Microsoft reportedly lost $300 million in lost sales due to Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 launching on Game Pass, according to reports discussed by the hosts. The hosts criticize Microsoft's strategy, suggesting it encourages anti-consumer behavior like recent price hikes for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (from $12 to $20) and layoffs. Starbreeze canceled its cooperative D&D game to focus resources on building Payday 3 into a 'modern live-engagement game,' a move the hosts seem critical of. The hosts express frustration that consumers who buy games outright (like Call of Duty) subsidize the service for Game Pass subscribers. They note that many developers and studios acquired by Microsoft (like Activision Blizzard and potentially Bethesda/Zenimax) are reportedly seeing negative internal consequences, such as layoffs. The video features gameplay clips from various titles available on Game Pass, including Diablo IV, Astro, and others, contrasting them with the corporate news. The hosts conclude that Microsoft's focus on Game Pass revenue consolidation is detrimental to the industry and consumers.

Context: This segment from The Angry Joe Show features hosts Joe, Alex, and another guest reacting to recent video game industry news, primarily focusing on the financial implications of subscription services like Xbox Game Pass and recent corporate actions by major publishers like Microsoft and Activision Blizzard. The discussion centers on how these business strategies might negatively affect game quality, pricing, and developer stability.

Detailed Analysis

The segment begins with the hosts reviewing news items, heavily criticizing Microsoft's strategy concerning Xbox Game Pass and the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 on the service, which reports suggest cost Microsoft $300 million in lost retail sales (01:58). They argue that the subscription model devalues the outright purchase of games, pointing out the recent price increase of Game Pass Ultimate to $20/month. The hosts also cover Starbreeze's decision to cancel its cooperative D&D game to focus solely on Payday 3, suggesting this move is a result of corporate pressure or poor strategy (01:34). They further detail the fallout from the Activision Blizzard acquisition, noting reports that layoffs followed the merger and that Microsoft is prioritizing Game Pass revenue over individual game sales, forcing developers to create content that serves the subscription service (08:18). The hosts express frustration that consumers who buy games outright are essentially funding these corporate maneuvers, leading to poor business practices like increased microtransactions and rushed releases. They conclude that this trend is unsustainable and negatively impacts both gamers and developers, urging consumers to support games they truly value by purchasing them separately if possible.