Report: Xbox Game Pass Subscription Outperforms The Competition Through Downloads & Cloud Streaming
Entertaining the direction the industry is heading can easily be acquired from what players are paying for. While games directly is the answer, it is the means in which games are accessed. Rather than individually purchasing titles, digital versions and subscriptions are becoming increasingly popular. Among the handful of prominent services, Xbox Game Pass is evident to be leading this model. Despite the shortcoming of Xbox last console generation with the Xbox One, Microsoft did leave on a strong note with its video game library subscription heading in the Xbox Series lifespan. Previously this January, Microsoft confirmed more than 25 million users are actively subscribed to Xbox Game Pass to some degree. Additionally, 2021 was said to provide more than $6,000 worth of titles in that year alone to users for the subscription. In a new report from Ampere Analysis, it is revealed that Xbox Game Pass is strongly leading in this field compared to competitors like PlayStation Now, Apple Arcade, and Google Play Pass. San Francisco Financial Times corresponder Dave Lee provided a slide from Ampere Analysis on the topic via Twitter: Xbox Game Pass (all versions) had 60% share of the total Western market in 2021. Microsoft’s dominance of the games content subscription opportunity is driven to a large extent by its catalogue strategy and its inclusion of all new first-party releases and increasing amounts of third-party ‘day one’ releases,” Ampere Analysis’ Pier Harding-Rolls writes. “The release schedule of Xbox Game Studios coupled with increasing amounts of new third-party releases will drive growth of Game Pass in 2022. Eventually, we’ll get one or more big third-party franchise releases going straight into Game Pass; we could see that happen this year.” The report also acknowledges the rumored PlayStation ‘Spartacus’ service as well. Similarly to Xbox Game Pass, this new unannounced subscription is to be a direct answer to Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass. With a structure more alike Nintendo Switch Online, new tiers are said to be added with increased benefits. Currently, PlayStation Now is said to be only welcoming over 3.2 million users despite the 2:1 user base comparing Xbox One hardware sales to PlayStation 4. While service such as Xbox Game Pass is certainly illustrated to front capital ahead of results – much like the video game industry as a whole – Microsoft is said to be strategic with its spending. In a previous interview, Xbox Gaming CEO Phil Spencer explained that the firm is not simply “burning money” for the service. You can read the full report by heading here. Are you surprised by the outcome so far for Xbox Game Pass? Source: Ampere Analysis
Deliver Us the Moon, World War Z: Aftermath, Chicken Police – Paint it RED! & More Headlines Stadia Plus April 2022 Free Games
In the realm of all things Stadia, the video game cloud streaming division over at Google continues to deliver on enticing releases for its Stadia Plus subscription service each month. This past month we witnessed such with the welcoming of Adam Wolfe, Darksiders Genesis, Darkwood, Dawn of the Monsters, and Race with Ryan Road Trip Deluxe Edition then. Additionally, Stadia is also branching out to provide more support for its broad users moving forward. In one report from The Verge, it is said Google plans to implement native Stadia for Samsung displays later on in 2022. The same story also reveals Nvidia has the same intentions for its in-house GeForce Now service as well. Recently Google returned with its latest lineup of games regarding Stadia Pro for the month of April 2022. You can read the full list below: City Legends: The Curse of the Crimson Shadow Chicken Police – Paint it RED! Deliver Us The Moon World War Z: Aftermath Ys IX: Monstrum Nox Noted, there are also three games departing from Stadia Plus at the start of April with Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA, Moonlighter, DreamWorks Spirit Lucky’s Big Adventure, and Crayta: Premium Edition. For fans of Deliver Us The Moon, developer KeokeN Interactive revealed a sequel is on the way, Deliver Us Mars, for most major platforms. Elsewhere, Business Insider reported that Google’s incentive for Stadia is losing its foundation. In the story, it is claimed that the tech giant is now eyeing a new ‘Google Stream’ project leaving Stadia on the side whilst its core technology is being hollowed for the new initiative. You can read the full report by heading here. Are you excited for the new games coming to Stadia Pro for April 2022? Source: Google
KeokeN Interactive Reveals Deliver Us Mars
For fans of Deliver Us The Moon, developer KeokeN Interactive has a treat for you. On Thursday, the game studio announced that an official sequel – Deliver Us Mars – is in development. Announced for Xbox, PlayStation, and PC, the follow-up is said to bring the core elements that brought light to the first game to an entirely new world. “Deliver Us Mars, the sequel to Deliver Us The Moon from award winning-developer KeokeN Interactive and Frontier Foundry is a brand-new narrative-rich adventure that takes everything you love about Deliver Us The Moon, and rockets the experience to another planet, the firm wrote in the announcement post. You can watch the reveal trailer for Deliver Us Mars in the video below: “Set 10 years after the Fortuna mission, Deliver Us Mars promises a best-in-class narrative experience. After a crash-landing, join a mysterious new protagonist as they embark on a high-stakes adventure throughout the harsh landscape of Mars. Whilst Mars can be unforgiving, you won’t be totally alone out there – a familiar sight to Deliver Us fans, the ASE drone, returns to assist you in your journey.” The overview continues, “Prepare for brain-teasing puzzles as you navigate the various environments within the adventure – you’ll need your wits about you to solve some of the most challenging conundrums in the series to date. Traversing the planet is no easy feat either – make use of your climbing axes and all of your strength to rise to new heights “Immerse yourself on the Red Planet like never before. The world of Deliver Us Mars has been handcrafted from the ground up to deliver an awe-inspiring visual experience. Through a combination of Unreal Engine 4, motion capture technology, and jaw-dropping Ray Tracing*, you’ll forget which planet you’re really on.” Are you excited for Deliver Us Mars? Deliver Us Mars is listed for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC. Source: KeokeN Interactive
Halo Television Series Breaks New Records For Paramount+ With Premiere Streaming Viewership Meeting New Milestone
Exploring some of the new major hits that arrive to streaming platforms these past few months, the same response is expected over at Paramount+ for the Halo Television Series. Premature to the airing of Episode One for the TV show, Paramount went on to confirm that a second season has already been renewed for the Halo Television Series. From the trailers issued prior to the show’s airing, fans grew excited on the television adaptation of Xbox’s most iconic IP. Firstly, voice actor Jen Taylor is to reprise her role for Cortana as reported more than a year ago. Additionally, Paramount did confirm that Master Chief will unmask himself sometime throughout the series from Showtime. In a new report from Deadline, it is revealed that the Halo Television Series is the most-viewed premiere on Paramount+ to date. The debut for the TV series overtakes 1883 which released back in December this past year. A statement from Paramount+ Chief Programming Officer Tanya Giles reads the following: “Bringing Halo to life as a streaming series has been one of the most rewarding efforts for Paramount+ to date and we could not be more thrilled at the massive fan response to the series’ debut. Along with our phenomenal partners at Showtime, 343 Industries and Amblin Television, we cannot wait for fans to experience more of this incredible universe.” Similarly, HBO Max faced a similar fate last year with the film release of Mortal Kombat. Aside from other major hits such as King Kong Vs. Godzilla, The Suicide Squad, and The Matrix Resurrections, the video game film is the most streamed release its first weekend. Additionally, Warner Media also stated the movie’s debut to be a “top asset” for the firm moving forward. Recently, fans grew worrisome on what direction the Halo Television Series will head. From Variety, a quote from showrunner Steven Kane shared the firm did not use the games as the primer for the TV adaptation. But in a response on Twitter, Kane clarified Showtime adamantly referenced from 343 Industries to form the Silver Timeline. You can read the full report by heading here. Are you surprised by the record-breaking airing of Halo Television Series? Source: Deadline
Halo Television Series Showrunner Responds To Recent Report As Readers Take His Statement Out Of Context
As many can gather from the headlines this past weekend, Showtime’s Halo Television Series is now streaming the first episode over on Paramount+. More excitingly is that the new TV show can be watched for free if you’re an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriber. Visiting the perks sections of the service will reveal a 30-day trial for the service is ready to redeem! Additionally, more excitement is already propped for the game as Paramount previously confirmed that a second season has already been greenlit for the television series ahead of the airing for the inaugural release. More interesting is what Showtime confirmed elsewhere. Unlike in the games, the studio shared that Master Chief himself will remove his helmet somewhere in the series which left fans concerned with the show. Ultimately the show’s debut left reception as a mixed bag with fans supporting the Silver Timeline whilst other demanded a 1:1 adaptation of the first game. Ahead of this Thursday’s airing, Variety did a story speaking with Halo Television Show showrunner Steven Kane where he stated that Showtime did not use the game for the basis of the Silver Timeline. However, Kane went on to respond that the statement has been taken out of context by answering to the headline on Twitter clarifying that him and his team visited 343 Industries religiously to craft together the storyline. [SPOILERS] If you missed Season 1 Episode 1 – ‘Contact’, skip ahead. Other mixed feelings from the first airing were the decision to unmask Spartan-117. In responding to one fan on the matter, Halo Infinite Head of Creative Joe Staten responded that the decision is one he viewed to be necessary for the show whilst still satisfying what the series’ protagonist meant to him. “I felt that moment was great. Because everyone’s Master Chief is different. That’s the show’s Chief. My Chief is unique,” Staten explained. “He’s me, when I play. That’s what makes Master Chief great. He’s not one person. He’s a hero for all of us, but he’s different for every one of us.” While taboo to fans of the game, it is evident in the written literature for Halo canon that Master Chief takes his iconic Mark IV helmet off. Similarly, Kane also gave a similar depiction when speaking to Variety then. “He’s everybody, right? He’s you, he’s me, he’s a 6-year-old girl, he’s a 15-year-old person in a different country. Whoever plays the game is him.” Do you agree with Kane’s choices for the Halo Television Series so far?
