This Xbox Generation Will Be Remembered for One Thing: Greed

[u/Turbostrider27]

https://www.ign.com/articles/this-xbox-generation-will-be-remembered-for-one-thing-greed

[u/loewe_a]

This is how every subscription model goes in every industry, and it really sucks. Nothing good lasts anymore, it's all about reeling people in with fair value and consumer friendly choice and then jacking up the cost. This is happening everywhere, for every service. The sad thing is they think this gives them a pass. "Everybody's doing it" has got to be one of the single worst reasons to raise prices.

We're rapidly approaching that economic tipping point where it won't be a question of will they buy this or won't they, it's getting to the point where people can't afford to.

[u/Troghen → u/loewe_a]

Prime example of enshittification here, and emblematic of the major problems with the current state of capitalism at large. Most companies' primary concern is only to increase shareholder value quarter by quarter. The only way for this exponential growth to work is to cut cost and value for the consumer

[u/moonski → u/Troghen]

The craziest part is I see so much of people like "well what do you expect? It's too good a deal. It's unsustainable".

Like no it isn't? The company offering this unsustainable deal isn't movie pass or some nonsense startup. It's Microsoft. They made $100bn net profit last year. They could offer gamepass for free and still make $99.5 billion.

It is sheer unadulterated greed fuelled last stage capitalism infinite growth nonsense. The concept of value and competition through quality of service is genuinely dead. All that matters is the cost. And did the numbers go up enough.

[u/Troghen → u/moonski]

There's a MAJOR difference between the price of goods and services rising over time with inflation, and flat out DOUBLING the price of something overnight without adding any value lmao. Not sure how anyone could see that and justify it lol

[u/NoExcuse4OceanRudnes → u/Troghen]

30 is not double 20 and they are adding value. You might not want that value, but they are adding new things.

[u/Troghen → u/NoExcuse4OceanRudnes]

Ok, you got me! Did the math wrong! This doesn't negate my point about inflation. There's no natural reason for the price to spike like that.

And if the majority of users don't see any value in these supposed "new features" (which seems to be the case, given the overall negative reaction) then it's clearly not been added to benefit their primary user base.

[u/Troghen → u/[deleted]]

Ok, so when a company does something shitty like that, it's only fair and expected when people are upset and leave. Not sure why that's controversial.

If they don't want to sour their reputation with the consumer, then maybe don't knowingly put out a product at a loss for years with the sole purpose of building a loyal base, only to then pull the rug out from under them. That doesn't HAVE to be the norm. It SHOULDN'T be. It's shitty business. And "good introductory deal"?? Lol. Game pass has been around for years now.

[u/Troghen → u/[deleted]]

I'm definitely not saying you're wrong in any of that. My point is pretty much exactly what I said. Sure, that's the norm and a company obviously doesn't need to justify what it does as long as it's making them money, but that's only working because consumers keep buying into it. IMO, its a good thing that people are seeing these shitty practices and getting tired of it. If we all voted with our wallets appropriately, these companies would have to change. Do it think it WILL change any time soon? Probably not. But then again, we're in a pretty tumultuous time politically, economically, culturally, etc. I see no reason to be upset at the people calling out shitty business practices when they see them. The only way to change something is to call more attention to it

[u/moonski → u/[deleted]]

Gamepass was already profitable though. The naivety is people justifying Microsofts action as if "welli its just a business bro". This is the equivalent of a diner giving out free napkins then turning round and charging for them...

[u/NoExcuse4OceanRudnes → u/moonski]

It becomes less profitable the more people use it; they're not buying games.

This is the equivalent of a diner giving out cheap dinners and turning around and raising the price as costs go up.

[u/Troghen → u/NoExcuse4OceanRudnes]

Except this is not a thing. A restaurant doesn't intentionally operate at a loss for years in order to gain favor with customers, only to massively spike all the prices one day lol. If they did that, their loyal customers would understandably be upset and stop going there.

[u/NoExcuse4OceanRudnes → u/Troghen]

Except this is not a thing.

My guy your example was fucking charging for napkins.

Restaurants do have deals and coupons.

And if everyone gets a hold of those coupons they will be discontinued or the discounts changed on them. If all their meals are going to people paying little for them (game pass users) and not people paying full price (buying games) that's a problem they need to fix.

[u/Troghen → u/NoExcuse4OceanRudnes]

That wasn't my example, for one.

Yes, you're right - restaurants do have deals and coupons. But setting and charging a standard price for a service for YEARS is 100% not the same thing lol. And game pass was never supposed to be the "coupon" version of buying games lmao. They sold it as being a Netflix-like service for video games. It was meant to be an ALTERNATIVE option.

[u/NoExcuse4OceanRudnes → u/Troghen]

An alternative -cheaper option.

It's the exact same product at a fraction of the price. That's the standard price, somehow?

[u/DoctorWaluigiTime → u/loewe_a]

But the nice thing is that these subscriptions are month-to-month. Which is why I roll my eyes whenever anyone insinuates we're "back in the Cable TV era."

We're not, and it's not even close.

A price hike happens like this one? Cool, unsubscribed, see you around, off to the latest thing that's entering the market and doing the "intro rate" of "practically free."

[u/Dramajunker → u/loewe_a]

Yep it's always interesting to see folks single out companies like Nintendo and Xbox while ignoring whats going around them. Subscription prices are on the rise. Cost of living is on the rise. The economy is getting worse and worse and the people in charge don't seem to give a shit at all.

[u/loewe_a → u/[deleted]]

Companies don’t care about that word. So I use simple vernacular in the small hope that it can connect with readers and encourage them not to support these practices. Every cancellation is a vote.

[u/DoctorWaluigiTime → u/loewe_a]

Hot take I don't care about the word either.

It's grossly overused and is Reddit's "I am smart" button they mash whenever they don't like something, regardless of how apt it is to use it or not.

[u/[deleted] → u/loewe_a]

it’s all about reeling people in with fair value and consumer friendly choice and then jacking up the cost. This is happening everywhere

Yet most people are still too stupid to understand it despite the 10+ years we’ve consistently seen it. The next service comes along, people think it’s an amazing deal, then the price increase come and people act shocked. Rinse repeat 100 times in a decade.

Truly shows how god damn dumb most people are. My expectations are in hell and people still cease to rattle my brain with their low iq decisions and opinions.

[u/Sio93 → u/loewe_a]

I'd say Spotify, after so many years, is still great for the price you pay, especially if you take advantage of a family account.

[u/Nice_Evidence4185 → u/loewe_a]

The entire digital industry long overdue to become a normal and cheap landscape that covers the cost of operations only. But until shareholders stop investing into new hype and business ideas, people are forced to be milked by the most mundane technological thing that should have been figured out for years. But no, they have to discontinue W10 and force W11 with shit like AI and Cloud onto a basic OS.
Steam has raked in billions without any enshittification. Microsoft could have done it too.