Xbox Might be Cooked
0 up · 0 down · 0 ratings
Promos
Use code LTT25 and get $20 off Hetzner Object Storage at htznr.li
Check out vessi.com to enter Vessi's October giveaway for a chance to win over $6,000 in prizes! You can also enjoy 20% off at checkout for this month only using our link! Giveaway Details: 7 Prizes. 7 Winners. Over $6,000 in Prizes Ends Oct 31, 2025 Enter your email for a chance to win, no purchase necessary Microsoft's recent 50% Game Pass price hike has gamers furious, yet their gaming division revenue is at an all-time high. This video explores the baffling contradictions in Xbox's strategy: raising prices while claiming profitability, promising new Xbox hardware while pivoting to mobile. We delve into the decline of Xbox consoles, the impact of studio closures, and the shift towards services. Is Microsoft abandoning dedicated hardware for a Windows-centric, multi-platform future? Despite the self-inflicted wounds, Xbox is making more money than ever. We discuss the "enshittification" of Game Pass, the value proposition for gamers, and the hope for a future focused on great games, not just quarterly growth. What's on the (Forza) horizon, and see if Xbox can rise like a (Marcus) Phoenix from the ashes of this blunder. Discuss on the forum: linustechtips.com Buy an Asus ROG Xbox Ally: geni.us Buy an Asus ROG Xbox Ally X: geni.us Buy an Xbox Series X: geni.us Buy a PlayStation 5 Slim: geni.us Buy a PlayStation 5 Pro: geni.us Buy a Nintendo Switch 2: geni.us ► GET OUR MERCH: lttstore.com ► GET EXCLUSIVE CONTENT ON FLOATPLANE: lmg.gg ► GET A VPN: piavpn.com ► SPONSORS, AFFILIATES, AND PARTNERS: lmg.gg Purchases made through some store links may provide some compensation to Linus Media Group. Affiliate links powered in part by affilimate.com Linus Sebastian is an investor in Framework Computer, Inc CHAPTERS --------------------------------------------------- 0:00 - Intro 1:57 Sponsor Spot 2:14 What Xbox has done RIGHT 4:01 More Xboxes? 5:25 Why this is different 7:06 Windows… WINDOWS? 10:27 So is XBOX really dying? 11:21 - Sponsor Spot 12:15 - Outro
The video opens by highlighting Microsoft’s recent move to raise the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate by 50%, noting the immediate backlash from a broad array of stakeholders including fans, partners, and press. The host contrasts the company’s seemingly contradictory messages,profits and growth on one hand, but price increases and staffing cuts on the other,arguing that Xbox is undergoing a strategic shift that deprioritizes single‑hardware excellence in favor of services and software ecosystems. He emphasizes how Game Pass has historically delivered strong value by providing access to many titles for a single subscription, while acknowledging that the hardware angle remains solid yet is increasingly treated as secondary. The discussion also touches on broader market dynamics, such as studio closures, the promise of new hardware, and the push to expand the Windows and mobile footprint as a core part of the future. By the end of the segment, the speaker frames the question as whether Microsoft is moving toward a Windows‑centric, multi‑platform future, potentially at the expense of traditional console identity. He closes the section by reflecting on the paradox of record gaming division revenue despite visible consumer dissatisfaction and a shrinking hardware market share. The takeaway is that Xbox profitability is not tied to one monolithic strategy, but to a complex blend of services, platform expansion, and selective hardware initiatives. The host signals that the coming sections will unpack which elements are working, which are failing, and what that means for the next generation of gaming from Xbox and its competitors.
Topics · gaming industry · consumer technology · video games · business strategy
Questions answered
- Why did Xbox raise Game Pass prices and how has the market reacted?
- Xbox raised Game Pass prices by 50%, drawing widespread backlash from gamers, partners, and the press due to concerns about value and accessibility.
- What is the perceived strategic shift for Xbox management?
- The video argues that Microsoft is shifting focus from solely hardware to services, multi‑platform presence, and Windows integration, while still promising hardware and mobility projects.
- Is there evidence that Xbox is abandoning dedicated hardware in favor of software and services?
- Yes, the discussion points to increased service emphasis, a growing reliance on Game Pass for revenue, and questions about sustaining profitability without strong first‑party hardware sales.