Phil Spencer: Xbox All Access Will be Critical for the Launch of the Xbox Series X - News
by William D'Angelo , posted on 01 July 2020 / 2,469 Views
Microsoft has done some trial runs for its Xbox All Access payment program starting in 2018. It is a payment plan similar to cell phones where over the course of a period of time, usually two years, you pay off the phone and pay for the data.
Head of Xbox Phil Spencer during the Game Lab Live keynote today discussed the importance of Xbox All Access for the launch of the Xbox Series X this holiday season and the entire generation.
"Xbox All Access is going to be critical to both our launch for Xbox Series X as well as just the overall generation," Spencer said.
"The response that we've seen where we've tested All Access has been great, but as you said, it's been limited in terms of the market. So you're going to see a much broader market and retailer support for All Access. And as you said, it matches a model customers use for many other devices they buy. And if you have services attached to those devices that people love, it just becomes an easier way to bring a great product to customers."
"We should also understand the global economic situation we're going to see this year," Spencer added. "We're seeing it today. And I think having more pricing options for consumers is frankly just a thoughtful thing for us as industry to think about."
Spencer was also asked about what kind of experiences he expects that will highlight the power of the Xbox Series X.
"This is always a difficult question because I know people are looking for the one, two or three tech that only show up on a certain platform or is only made possible on a certain platform," Spencer said. "And I think it's just a matter of degrees. It has been for a while.
"I think we're at a point now -- with immersion, with the tools we have and the compute capability -- that the deltas will be smaller from a visual impact, or that feature X was never possible before and now it is. And that might sound depressing to some, but what I would say is the advantage side of what I'm seeing now is really the immersive nature of the content that's getting created."
"We're able to get to almost lifelike graphics today, even on current gen in certain instances," Spencer added. "But when you take that and you mix it with a very high frame rate, solid frame rate, very little latency in input, and the ability for game storytellers to really push the emotion and the story they're trying to get through their game, through the screen, through the controller and into you? That is something I'm feeling in the games now that is a dramatic step up.
"I don't know that it goes from X to Y in terms of feature capability, but definitely in terms of the feeling of immersion in the content that's being created right now, I think we're going to come to a really great future where stories will have even more feeling and impact."
The Xbox Series X will launch in Holiday 2020.
Thanks GamesIndustry.
A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel dedicated to gaming Let's Plays and tutorials. You can contact the author at wdangelo@vgchartz.com or on Twitter @TrunksWD.
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Aside from mortgages and car payments I avoid monthly payment plans at all cost now. I buy my phone straight out and I got more than enough monthly bills that I rather not have another one added to the list, especially if its a non-essential monthly bill.
I think this is really gonna make some headway for people who really want the next gen but with the pandemic playing on most people’s finances this is really gonna help. I for one can’t wait for this as at first lock down didn’t really effect me but now I see the finical Impact it has had on my finances I would be stupid to fork out 4-500 dollars at the end of the year for a console but for 30 a month n it comes with live it then becomes a no brainier n with my phone contract coming to an end in July my phone is in perfect condition so a sim only will do for me
This wouldn't be a bad deal at $32 a month for a Series X + Gamepass Ultimate. Gamepass Ultimate should cost $9.99 per month if you get a yearly subscription card discounted on Black Friday. So that leaves the rest of the $32 a month to fund the Series X console.
I guess I could spout the whole "more options is good" line but I personally don't want to see consoles become subsidized like cell phones are now. At the same time, I know consoles will more than likely just get more and more expensive each passing generation so maybe it's needed to keep console gaming accessible to the majority of people.
It does allow consoles to be sold at a higher price with better hardware as people can afford it on a plan.
If I could pay without interest for a PS5 with a 5 year PS+ I would do it. Expect Xbox Access do well and Sony tries out.
Not so sure it will do well. What happens when people stop paying? That’s the issue. People will sign up just to get the Xbox then stop paying.
Not so sure it will do well. What happens when people stop paying? That’s the issue. People will sign up just to get the Xbox then stop paying.
In Brazil we are used to monthly payment in credit card or similar. You are basically signing a contract.
Yep same here. Except in the US people will sign the contract and then stop making the payments but keeping the device. Very common here.
I believe in USA the law would make it easier for companies to default the customer and request payment than in Brazil. And sure they would need some kind of guarantee, sure MS will think of something, perhaps the console won't work at all without being connect to subscription service (just the ones bought trough all access and only for the period of that purchase, or perhaps it needs a monthly check to keep working).
It wont be easy for them to get their money here. It wont even be worth it cause the console cost so little it would cost more for them to go after these people for the money. The only thing they could do is what you suggested link the console to the persons monthly payments. They also need to create a database where you can verify an xbox serial number so people dont purchase used xboxs that still have monthly payments attached.
Can't they tie it to credit card so all payments are guaranteed by the credit card operator and they are the ones that deal with default as it already happens? I know that besides the interest itself, credit card limits and price this could be very easily be implemented in Brazil since almost everything here is bought on 12-24 monthly payments.
