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- Despite a bad start to the current console generation, Xbox has slowly started to catch up and is ending 2024 on a good note.
- Activision’s merger paid off well for Xbox, as Game Pass is finally profitable since the launch of Black Ops 6.
- If Xbox plays its cards correctly, it is only set to win more victories with the next console launches and future first-party games.
Ever since 2013, Xbox has experienced many ups and downs. While the gaming giant was expected to bounce back with the current console generation, the Xbox Series X|S didn’t turn out to be special for the majority of players.
The start of the console generation was rough, and over the past couple of years, Xbox has seen many controversial changes, which even caused panic in the internal team. However, the tough decisions have finally started to pay off for them.
The second half of 2024 proved to be a huge success for them, and it was just the start of a new era for the brand. Xbox has finally moved past competing with PlayStation and decided to build a proper brand.
Why It Matters: Xbox fans have been waiting for this moment for over a decade now, with PlayStation taking the console lead meanwhile. However, Xbox has finally gotten up on its feet, which will only make the gaming environment even more exciting in the future.
Microsoft’s Acquisition Of Activision Blizzard Finally Paid Off
The gaming industry was in turmoil between 2022 and 2023 after Microsoft and Activision announced a merger. Naturally, the merger raised a lot of criticism from gamers and obstacles from regulators; some even tried to stop it.
Despite all odds, Microsoft emerged victorious, and the $69 billion merger finally succeeded. Combining the earlier Bethesda acquisition, Microsoft spent a whopping $100 billion on acquisitions and wanted more out of Xbox.
Still, Xbox’s financial earnings weren’t looking quite good, but that was just a matter of time. This wasn’t until Call of Duty Black Ops 6’s release, which was the biggest the franchise had ever seen. Xbox has now also become a lead platform for Call of Duty.
Most of the game’s success is attributed to Game Pass since more than 50% of PC players were on Game Pass. Despite that, the game sold well on Steam, too. It’s safe to assume that the addition of Call of Duty has finally made Game Pass beyond profitable, and Microsoft is certainly pleased with Xbox.
Xbox Finally Has A Decent First-Party Catalog
One of the reasons why PlayStation took yet another victory over Xbox at the start of this generation was the first-party catalog. Xbox barely had any games to compete with the likes of Spider-Man Miles Morales, and God of War Ragnarok. Even their biggest launch, Halo Infinite, was quite underwhelming.
However, these setbacks were only temporary, and Xbox has finally started to catch up. Indiana Jones And The Great Circle was a massive victory for the gaming giant, and it has silenced critics who have complained that the platform lacks cinematic games.
With no major Sony release this year, Xbox took the spotlight with the showcase earlier this year. Sony’s only major upcoming release is Marvel’s Wolverine, and the game’s development has not exactly gone smoothly.
Meanwhile, Xbox’s lineup is pretty much stacked for the next couple of years with releases like Fable, Avowed, Outer Worlds 2, OD, Elder Scrolls 6, and more. Xbox has finally built a decent first-party catalog, which will certainly cause a shift in the competition.
Beyond 2024
The majority of fans were displeased with Xbox’s decision not to release a mid-gen refresh this time around, and they said that Xbox Series X is already their mid-gen refresh console.
However, with the underwhelming launch of PS5 Pro, an expensive console with the lackluster hardware power to actually provide a major gaming output difference, many thought that Xbox really took the right path.
The bigger news is that Xbox is fully focused on launching the next-gen consoles, which are expected to arrive in 2026, 2 years earlier than the typical hardware lifecycle. They’re also expected to launch a handheld console for the first time.
If Xbox plays its cards correctly, we can expect a huge impact on the gaming industry, and it all relies on the next-gen console releases. Right now, I’m seeing a somewhat similar pattern to the Xbox 360 release era, and hopefully, the gaming giant will enjoy a similar success akin to that time period.
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[News Reporter]
Shaheer is currently pursuing a Business degree while also working as a part-time Content Writer. With his deep passion for both writing and video games, he has seamlessly transitioned into a role as a Journalist. Over the past two years, Shaheer has contributed as a freelancer to various websites and landed positions on acclaimed platforms like Gamerant. Currently, his role at Tech4gamers is as a Features Writer, but he also covers News occasionally. Shaheer’s favorite gaming franchises are Assassin’s Creed and the God of War series.
Get In Touch: shaheer@tech4gamers.com
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