Un peu de Contexte : Xbox ferme des studios, y'a-t-il un pilote dans l'avion ?

Ex Serv
9 May 202413:37

Summary

TLDRThe video script discusses the recent closure of four game studios by Microsoft, which historically belonged to Bethesda. It raises concerns about the future of video gaming at Microsoft and questions the company's strategy. The closure aligns with Xbox's shift in focus towards high-impact games, which are known franchises and sequels, as a response to the industry's crisis. The studios closed include Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, and Alpha Dog Games, while Roundhouse Games will be integrated into existing teams. This move contradicts Microsoft's acquisition promises to Bethesda in 2020. The video also addresses Xbox's Game Pass strategy, which relies on a constant addition of new content to satisfy subscribers. Microsoft's past investments in game development and studio acquisitions are critiqued, as the company now faces challenges in converting these investments into quality content. The speaker expresses skepticism about the management's ability to navigate the complexities of overseeing numerous studios and the impact on employee morale and the Game Pass service. The summary concludes by highlighting the pressure on upcoming game releases and the need for a clear direction for Xbox's gaming strategy.

Takeaways

  • 📉 Microsoft has closed 4 studios historically belonging to Bethesda, reflecting challenges in the gaming industry and raising questions about the future of Microsoft's gaming strategy.
  • 🎼 Xbox is shifting its focus towards high-impact games, which are known franchises and sequels, as a response to the crisis in the gaming industry.
  • 🔄 The closed studios include Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, and Alpha Dog Games, which are known for titles like Prey, Redfall, and Mighty Doom, respectively.
  • 📚 Roundhouse Games will be integrated into the teams working on The Elder Scrolls Online, highlighting a strategic realignment within Microsoft's gaming division.
  • 💰 Microsoft's acquisition of Bethesda in 2020 was meant to provide more resources and support to Bethesda's teams, but recent developments have contradicted this promise.
  • 🚀 Xbox has been pursuing a unique strategy with Game Pass since 2017, offering a vast catalog of games for a monthly subscription fee, including day-one releases.
  • 💾 The Game Pass model requires significant investment to reach a critical mass of subscribers, and Microsoft has been investing heavily in content creation and studio acquisitions to support this.
  • 📉 Despite the investment, there has been a reduction in the amount spent on securing game exclusivity and a decrease in studio acquisitions since 2022.
  • đŸ€” The closure of successful studios like Tango Gameworks, which developed the well-received Hi-Fi Rush, contradicts the overall strategy of adding content to the Game Pass.
  • 📈 The number of Game Pass subscribers seems to be stagnating or even declining, suggesting that the service needs a continuous influx of new, high-quality games to retain and attract users.
  • ⏳ The pressure is on for upcoming games like Avowed from Obsidian and the potential release of Fable, as they are expected to contribute significantly to the success of the Game Pass service.

Q & A

  • Why did Microsoft close 4 studios historically belonging to Bethesda?

    -Microsoft closed the studios as part of a strategic shift to prioritize high-impact games, which are known franchises, sequels, and the like. This move is a response to the struggling gaming industry, aiming to focus on surefire values instead of risking original games.

  • What was the original promise when Microsoft acquired Bethesda in 2020?

    -At the time of the acquisition, Microsoft promised that Bethesda would remain in charge of its internal projects with no changes, but the acquisition was meant to bring more resources and support to Bethesda's teams.

  • How does the closure of these studios align with Xbox's Game Pass strategy?

    -The closure seems to contradict the Game Pass strategy, which relies on a constant addition of new content to satisfy subscribers and attract new ones. High-impact games and original content from various studios are key to the success of the Game Pass model.

  • What is the Game Pass and why is it central to Xbox's strategy?

    -Game Pass is a subscription service where users pay a monthly fee for access to a vast catalog of games, including Xbox's day-one titles. It's a unique concept that has been the centerpiece of Xbox's strategy for the past seven years, aiming to provide an unbeatable offer for users.

  • What is the challenge Xbox faces with its Game Pass service?

    -Xbox faces the challenge of continuously adding new content to keep subscribers satisfied and attract new ones. This requires significant investment and the management of a large number of studios to produce high-quality games.

  • Why did Xbox stop signing large checks for game exclusivity and buying studios?

    -Xbox has apparently reduced its spending and stopped buying studios since January 2024. This shift may be due to the complexity of managing a large number of studios and the need to consolidate resources and focus on a more streamlined content creation strategy.

  • What was the reaction to the closure of Tango Gameworks, known for Hi-Fi Rush?

    -The closure of Tango Gameworks was surprising and contradictory to Xbox's overall strategy, as Hi-Fi Rush was considered a success and a good example of the type of content needed for the Game Pass.

  • What did Matt Booty, head of Xbox Game Studios, say about the studio closures?

    -Matt Booty indicated that the resources of the studios were too spread out and that leaders within the division felt understaffed. This has raised questions about the management's decisions and the direction of Xbox's gaming strategy.

  • What is the concern regarding the future direction of Xbox's Game Pass?

    -The concern is that Xbox is not fully converting its studio acquisitions into high-quality content for the Game Pass. There is a need for continuous investment until reaching a critical mass of subscriptions, and a clear direction is necessary to avoid stagnation.

  • What is the current state of Xbox's Game Pass subscription numbers?

    -While not official, a chart shared in the GameDiscoverCo newsletter suggests that the number of Game Pass subscribers appears to be declining, which is a worrying sign for the sustainability of the service.

  • What type of games does Xbox need to focus on for the Game Pass to succeed?

    -Xbox needs to focus on developing games like Hi-Fi Rush—successes that are not costly to develop but provide high value to the Game Pass catalog. High-cost, long-development games like The Elder Scrolls 6 or Call of Duty may not be suitable for the current Game Pass model.

  • What is the paradox facing the Game Pass service?

    -The paradox is that while the Game Pass needs a continuous flow of new games to feed its content, Xbox is parting ways with smaller studios that can create such content, instead favoring larger ones that may not align with the Game Pass's economic model.

Outlines

00:00

📉 Microsoft's Studio Closures and the Future of Xbox Gaming

The video discusses the recent closure of four Microsoft-owned studios, historically linked to Bethesda, and raises concerns about the direction of Xbox gaming. It mentions an internal email leaked to IGN, which indicates that Xbox is refocusing on high-impact games, known franchises, and sequels. The closed studios include Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, and Alpha Dog Games, while Roundhouse Games will be integrated into existing teams working on 'The Elder Scrolls Online.' The host questions Microsoft's strategy, especially considering their Game Pass subscription model, which relies on a continuous influx of new content to attract and retain subscribers. The video also touches on the financial investment required to sustain such a model and the challenges of managing a large number of acquired studios.

05:05

đŸ€” Contradictions in Xbox's Strategy and Studio Management

This paragraph delves into the contradictions within Xbox's approach to content creation and studio management. Despite the closure of studios, the host emphasizes the need for continuous content addition to the Game Pass service. It discusses the complexity of managing numerous studios acquired by Xbox and the subsequent reduction in financial investment and layoffs, particularly within Activision Blizzard. The video highlights the importance of maintaining investment to reach a critical mass of subscribers and the reliance on both third-party game deals and owned studios for exclusive content. It also mentions the mixed outcomes of games like 'Redfall' and 'Hi-Fi Rush,' questioning the decision to close studios despite their contributions to the Game Pass catalog.

10:08

🚀 The Game Pass Paradox and the Challenges of Content Creation

The final paragraph addresses the paradox facing the Game Pass service, which requires a steady stream of new games to maintain subscriber interest while also supporting long-term 'game as a service' titles. The video suggests that Xbox's strategy of integrating expensive, high-profile games like 'The Elder Scrolls 6' and 'Call of Duty' into the Game Pass at launch may not be financially viable or align with the service's economic model. It also questions the leadership at Xbox, particularly Phil Spencer, and the overall direction the company is taking with its gaming division. The host anticipates further news and insights into Microsoft's gaming future in the coming months and concludes by emphasizing the significance of these developments for the industry.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Xbox

Xbox is a video gaming brand created and owned by Microsoft. It is central to the video's theme as it discusses Microsoft's recent decisions to close several game development studios and the implications for Xbox's Game Pass strategy. The brand is mentioned repeatedly throughout the script in the context of its business strategy and the gaming industry's current state.

💡Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass is a subscription service from Microsoft for use with its Xbox and Windows products, offering access to a large library of games. The concept is integral to the video as it discusses the financial and strategic risks Microsoft is taking with this service, including the need for continuous new content to satisfy subscribers.

💡Studio Closures

The closure of game development studios is a significant topic in the video. It refers to Microsoft's decision to shut down several studios, including Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, and Alpha Dog Games, which are historically tied to Bethesda. These closures are seen as contradictory to the company's overall strategy and have raised concerns about the future of content creation for Xbox.

💡Bethesda

Bethesda is a video game publisher known for its successful game franchises. Microsoft's acquisition of Bethesda in 2020 is mentioned, highlighting the initial promise of support and resources for the company's internal projects. However, the subsequent studio closures and changes in strategy have cast doubt on this commitment.

💡Game Development

The process of creating video games is a key concept in the video. It discusses the challenges of developing high-quality games, including the need for time, experience, and financial investment. The video also touches on the risks associated with creating original games versus relying on known franchises.

💡Hi-Fi Rush

Hi-Fi Rush is a game developed by Tango Gameworks, which was well-received but whose studio was still closed by Microsoft. The game serves as an example in the video of the type of content that is successful on the Game Pass but contrasts with the decision to close the studio, indicating a potential misalignment in Microsoft's strategy.

💡Activision Blizzard

Activision Blizzard is a major video game holding company that was acquired by Microsoft for $68 billion. The acquisition is discussed in the context of Microsoft's strategy to bolster its content offerings for Game Pass. However, the video raises questions about the wisdom of this investment given the subsequent studio closures and layoffs.

💡Matt Booty

Matt Booty is the head of Bethesda Game Studios and is mentioned in the context of his statements regarding the studio closures. His comments reflect the broader narrative of the video, which questions the management and strategic direction of Xbox under the current leadership.

💡

💡Game Industry Crisis

The video refers to a crisis in the video game industry, which is affecting major players like Xbox. The crisis is characterized by financial challenges and the need for companies to make tough decisions about their portfolios, which in Microsoft's case has led to studio closures and a shift in focus towards established game franchises.

💡Content Strategy

Content strategy is a central theme in the video, as it discusses Microsoft's approach to providing new and engaging content for its Game Pass subscribers. The strategy involves a balance between investing in original content and relying on known properties, with the video suggesting that Microsoft's recent decisions may not align with a sustainable long-term content strategy.

💡E3

E3, or the Electronic Entertainment Expo, is an annual event where the video game industry showcases new technology and releases. The video mentions the upcoming E3 announcements as a potential source of insight into Microsoft's future plans for Xbox and its gaming portfolio.

Highlights

Microsoft is closing 4 studios historically belonging to Bethesda, raising questions about the future of video gaming at Microsoft.

Xbox is shifting its focus towards high-impact games, which are known licenses, sequels, and the like.

The decision to close studios and integrate one into an existing team is a response to the crisis in the video game industry.

Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, and Alpha Dog Games are among the studios closed by Microsoft.

Roundhouse Games will be integrated into teams working on The Elder Scrolls Online.

Bethesda was acquired by Microsoft in 2020 with the promise of remaining in charge of internal projects.

Xbox has been pursuing a unique strategy with Game Pass since 2017, which revolves around a subscription model.

Xbox's Game Pass strategy is a high-risk bet that requires massive investment before reaching a critical mass of subscriptions.

Xbox has been facing the challenge of constantly adding new content to satisfy subscribers and attract new ones.

Microsoft has been signing deals with third-party studios and acquiring studios to fill the Game Pass catalog.

Since 2022, Microsoft has reduced its investments and ceased buying studios outright.

In January 2024, it was announced that 1900 employees would be laid off, primarily within Activision Blizzard.

The closure of Tango Gameworks, despite the success of Hi-Fi Rush, contradicts the overall strategy.

Matt Booty, head of Xbox Game Studios, indicated that studio resources were too thinly spread and leadership felt understaffed.

Xbox is grappling with the complexity of managing many studios and is realizing fewer might be necessary.

The lack of clear direction for Game Pass is concerning, as it requires full commitment and continuous investment.

Xbox needs to maintain investments until it reaches a critical mass of subscriptions; otherwise, the service may stagnate.

Creating good video games requires not just money but also time, experience, some failures, and a lot of trust.

Bethesda's Starfield and Redfall's performance, along with the closure of successful studios, raises questions about Xbox's strategy.

Xbox faces pressure to convert its studio acquisitions into quality content, which is a source of concern.

The future of Xbox in video gaming is not trivial, and the company's actions will be closely watched in the coming months.

Transcripts

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Et salut à tous ! C’est ExServ, je ne pensais pas qu’on se retrouverait aussi vite pour

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Un peu de Contexte, mais voilà, les actualités se suivent et se ressemblent, aprÚs Take

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2, Sony, Embracer et tant d’autres, c’est au tour de Microsoft de fermer 4 studios appartenant

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historiquement Ă  Bethesda.

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Ce n’est plus un secret, l’industrie du JV va mal et Xbox n’a pas de totem d’immunitĂ©,

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nĂ©anmoins cela soulĂšve un tas de questions sur l’avenir du jeu vidĂ©o chez Microsoft

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et pour ma part ma question c’est : y’a-t-il un pilote dans l’avion ? Je sais, c’est

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une rĂ©f de vieux mais Xbox semble naviguer Ă  vue et c’est particuliĂšrement inquiĂ©tant,

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on en parle avec Un peu de Contexte.

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Le premier truc à savoir c’est l’info à l’origine de tout ça, vous le savez

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sans doute déjà mais une source anonyme a partagé au site IGN un email interne, que

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le site a publié in extenso.

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On y apprend que Xbox souhaite remettre la priorité sur des jeux à fort impact, comprenez

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des licences connues, suites et autres.

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J’en parlais il y a peu, c’est une des rĂ©ponses possibles Ă  la crise, on se replie

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sur des valeurs sûres plutÎt que de risquer de sortir des jeux originaux.

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Dans cette optique, Microsoft dĂ©cide donc de fermer 3 studios et d’intĂ©grer un 4e

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Ă  une Ă©quipe existante.

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Les studios fermĂ©s sont Arkane Austin que l’on connaĂźt pour Prey ou Redfall, Tango

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Gameworks à l’origine de Hi-Fi Rush ou Ghostwire Tokyo et enfin alpha dog games à

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l’origine du jeu mobile Mighty Doom.

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L’autre studio Roundhouse games va ĂȘtre intĂ©grĂ© aux Ă©quipes qui travaillent sur

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the elder scrolls online.

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Ces studios sont historiquement liĂ©es Ă  Bethesda, dont Microsoft Ă  fait l’acquisition

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en 2020.

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Comme c’était il y a plusieurs annĂ©es, rappelons nous des dĂ©clarations officielles

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au moment du rachat, Bethesda allait rester en charge des projets internes, rien n’allait

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changer mais qu’en gros ce rachat Ă©tait lĂ  pour apporter plus de ressources et de

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soutien aux Ă©quipes de Bethesda.

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De retour en 2024, il n’a pas fallu longtemps pour que tout ça vole en Ă©clat et c’est

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pour ça que je dis que c’est particuliĂšrement inquiĂ©tant car Xbox n’est pas n’importe

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qui, c’est un ogre engagĂ© depuis 2017 dans une stratĂ©gie unique avec le Game Pass.

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C’est lĂ  que tout se joue, j’en ai dĂ©jĂ  parlĂ© Ă  plusieurs reprises sur la chaĂźne

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mais en trÚs résumé, la stratégie de Xbox tourne depuis 7 ans exclusivement autour de

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cet abonnement.

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Il s’agit d’un concept unique, on paie chaque mois une fraction du prix d’un jeu

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neuf et en Ă©change, on a accĂšs Ă  un immense catalogue de jeux dont les jeux Xbox en day

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one.

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Pour vous et moi, c’est une offre imbattable et pour Microsoft c’est un pari absolument

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dingue que personne Ă  part eux ne peut se permettre.

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Vu que je parle d’avion dans mon titre, pour faire dĂ©coller un tel engin il faut

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y investir des sommes colossales avant d’atteindre la masse critique d’abonnements Ă  mĂȘme

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d’inverser la vapeur et ne surtout pas s’arrĂȘter en cours de route sous peine de dĂ©crocher.

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J’ai mĂȘme du mal Ă  imaginer Ă  quel point Xbox investi Ă  fonds perdus depuis 7 ans.

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A l’époque on parlait du Netflix du jeu vidĂ©o et pour cause, Xbox se retrouve avec

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le mĂȘme problĂšme que toutes ces plateformes de streaming, c’est-Ă -dire l’ajout constant

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de nouveau contenu afin de satisfaire les abonnĂ©s et continuer d’en attirer de nouveaux.

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Toutes ces plateformes font face Ă  ce truc qui consiste Ă  dĂ©penser Ă©normĂ©ment d’argent

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pour en gagner.

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Il n’y a rien de surprenant Ă  cela, en 2017 Xbox n’a pas suffisamment d’équipes

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pour crĂ©er ce fameux contenu et alimenter sa plateforme, dans ce cas lĂ  rien n’est

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plus simple : on signe des tonnes de jeux tiers et on achĂšte des studios qui vont remplir

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le catalogue.

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C’est en gros les deux volets du Game Pass, d’un cĂŽtĂ© des deals avec des studios en

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Ă©change d’une exclusivitĂ© temporaire ou dĂ©finitive de leurs jeux et de l’autre,

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l’achat de studios comme Mojang, Ninja Theory, Obsidian et bien sĂ»r Bethesda ou encore Activision

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Blizzard, pour rappel, cette derniÚre acquisition a été réalisée pour 68 milliards de dollars.

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Pendant des années, Xbox signe des chÚques aux montants énormes et finance une partie

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des jeux en Ă©change d’une exclusivitĂ©, depuis 2 ans c’est fini et les sommes ont

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été réduites.

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Pendant des annĂ©es, Xbox achĂšte des studios Ă  tour de bras mais c’est fini, dĂšs janvier

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2024 on apprenait que 1900 personnes allaient ĂȘtre virĂ©es, essentiellement au sein d’Activision

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Blizzard.

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Là, avec ces fermetures, c’est encore des centaines de personnes qui se retrouvent sans

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emploi et mĂȘme s’il est facile dire que Redfall ait Ă©tĂ© un Ă©chec, ça reste une

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dĂ©cision qui va Ă  l’encontre de la stratĂ©gie globale.

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Encore une fois, le but c’est d’ajouter du contenu et si Xbox ferme un studio au premier

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obstacle, bosser pour eux va ĂȘtre un enfer.

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LĂ  en plus, ils ont aussi fermĂ© un studio qui n’a pas connu un Ă©chec avec Hi-Fi Rush,

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le jeu était salué par un tas de gens chez Xbox comme un grand succÚs et le jeu est

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de fait un bon exemple de ce qu’il faut au game pass.

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C’est pas moi qui le dit, c’est le responsable de la division contenu de Bethesda qui l’a

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dit aux salariés de Xbox


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UN JOUR aprÚs avoir fermé le studio Tango Gameworks.

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Si vous n’ĂȘtes pas dĂ©jĂ  en train de vous arracher les cheveux, c’est pas fini, pour

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Bloomberg, Jason Schreier nous propose un compte rendu du discours de Matt Booty et

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voici en gros la traduction.

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“En parlant des fermetures de maniùre plus large, Matt Booty indique que les ressources

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des studios sont trop étalées, comme du beurre de cacahuÚte sur une tartine et que

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les dirigeants au sein de la division se sentaient en sous effectif”.

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Mais dans ce cas là, pourquoi virer des gens si c’est pour se plaindre aprùs qu’on

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est en sous effectif ?

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C’est vraiment dingue cet article, en gros Xbox est en train de rĂ©aliser qu’acheter

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un tas de studios ça rend la gestion de tous ces studios trùs complexe et qu’il en faudrait

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moins.

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Vraiment, je fais des efforts colossaux pour ne pas ĂȘtre vulgaire car un tel manque de

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bon sens et de vision est alarmant dans une boite aussi Ă©norme que Microsoft.

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Imaginez-vous travailler pour eux là aujourd’hui, votre boüte s’est probablement faite racheter

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il y a quelques mois ou annĂ©es et vos nouveaux patrons disent tout et son contraire d’un

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jour à l’autre.

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Que vous sortiez un bon jeu ou un flop, vous pouvez de toute maniĂšre vous faire virer

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du jour au lendemain, mĂȘme si vous bossez pour une des plus grosses boites au monde.

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Et pour ne rien arranger, vous n’apprendrez la nouvelle que grñce à un tweet ou un leak

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d’un email interne sans avoir le temps d’accuser le coup et de prĂ©voir la suite.

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Il n’y a aucune direction claire donnĂ©e au Game Pass, qui n’est pas un service dans

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lequel Xbox peut s’investir Ă  moitiĂ©, c’est All In ou rien ce genre de plateforme

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j’insiste.

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Les investissements doivent se maintenir jusqu’à cette masse critique dont je parlais en intro,

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sans ça le nombre d’abonnements risque de stagner, voire de ralentir et c’est le

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début de la fin.

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Car pour redonner une impulsion Ă  ce service ne se fera pas juste avec des promotions sur

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le tarif de l'abonnement, il faut des jeux et pour faire des jeux vous savez quoi, il

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faut des studios.

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Pour info, j’utilise lĂ  un graphique partagĂ© dans la newsletter GameDiscoverCo de Simon

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Carless que je vous recommande, le graphique n’a rien d’officiel mais en s’appuyant

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sur diffĂ©rentes donnĂ©es, le nombre d’abonnĂ©s Game Pass semble dĂ©crocher.

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Au-delà de ça, le fait est que Xbox n’arrive pas à convertir ses achats de studios en

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contenu de qualitĂ© et c’est encore une source d’inquiĂ©tude.

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Faire un bon jeu vidĂ©o ne demande pas juste beaucoup d’argent, ça prend du temps, de

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l’expĂ©rience, quelques Ă©checs et beaucoup de confiance, autant d’aspects que Microsoft

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a promis en 2020 à Bethesda avant de finalement changer d’avis 4 ans aprùs.

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C’est pour ça que je me demande ce qu’il se passe chez Xbox, car il ne suffit pas d’acheter

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des studios pour avoir comme par magie des super jeux.

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On l’a vu, Bethesda n’a pas totalement convaincu avec Starfield, Redfall s’est

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plantĂ©, Hi-Fi Rush a marchĂ© mais on ferme quand mĂȘme le studio
 et donc la patate

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chaude des responsabilités continue de changer de main.

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D’ici quelques temps, on aura le regard tournĂ© vers Obsidian avec Avowed censĂ© arrivĂ©

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cet autonome, j’imagine qu’en juin on en saura plus sur Fable et d’autres projets.

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C’est horrible comme pression sur ces Ă©quipes, individuellement elles ne pourront pas ĂȘtre

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responsables du succĂšs ou non du game pass, il faudra un tas de jeux pour que le truc

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décolle durablement et si Xbox ferme un studio au premier échec, il sont en train de couper

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la branche sur laquelle ils sont assis.

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Et il n’y a pas de technique secrùte, on sait qu’ils discutent d’ajouter Call of

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Duty au Game Pass mais ça serait une catastrophe pour Activision et cela aurait probablement

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des consĂ©quences graves dans toute l’industrie.

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J’entends par lĂ  que ces gros jeux ultra coĂ»teux n’ont pas leur place dans le game

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pass actuel, ni mĂȘme dans un hypothĂ©tique game pass avec des centaines de millions d’abonnĂ©s.

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Ce qu’il faut au service, Xbox le sait, ce sont des jeux comme Hi-Fi Rush, des succùs

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peu coûteux à développer.

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The Elder Scrolls 6 ça va prendre des annĂ©es Ă  arriver et l’intĂ©grer en day one au

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game pass signifie qu’il sera trùs difficile pour Bethesda de rentrer dans ses frais par

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exemple.

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C’est pareil avec Call of Duty, j’ose espĂ©rer que Xbox n’a pas rachetĂ© 68 milliards

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Activision pour se tirer une Ă©norme balle dans le pied.

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La logique de leur cĂŽtĂ© s’appuie sur le fait qu’il s’agit d’un jeu service,

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comme Diablo 4 par exemple qui vient d’arriver dans le game pass.

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L’idĂ©e c’est de donner aux gens l’accĂšs au jeu pour pas cher avec l'abonnement avant

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de leur vendre des trucs pour maintenir leur intĂ©rĂȘt et leur engagement.

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Sauf que c’est le serpent qui se mord la queue, on le sait les jeux services n’aiment

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pas la concurrence et si des gens jouent Ă  tel ou tel jeu depuis des mois, ajouter de

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nouveaux jeux au catalogue tout en essayant de les retenir sur le jeu service revient

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à les tirer dans deux directions opposées.

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En l’état, le game pass est face Ă  un paradoxe dont il sera difficile de sortir.

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Il manque des jeux pour alimenter le contenu et Xbox se sépare des petits studios capables

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de faire ça au profit des grosses boites qui ne font pas du tout des jeux compatibles

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avec ce modĂšle Ă©conomique.

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Aussi, encore une fois, je m’interroge sur ce qu’il passe dans la cabine de pilotage

play11:59

chez Xbox et mĂȘme si j’ai dit ça sur le ton de la blague, il y a bien un pilote dans

play12:02

l’avion qui s’appelle Phil Spencer et j’ai du mal à imaginer qu’il soit encore

play12:07

à sa place d’ici quelques mois.

play12:08

Aprùs tout, c’est lui et les dirigeants de Xbox qui sont les vrais responsables de

play12:12

tout ce bazar, pas les gens qui font des jeux.

play12:15

Pourquoi avoir achetĂ© Activision pour 68 milliards si c’est pour virer des gens quelques

play12:19

mois aprÚs et fermer des studios, tout en justifiant cette stratégie avec la pire excuse

play12:25

possible, Ă  savoir que c’est trop difficile de gĂ©rer autant de studios.

play12:29

Bien sĂ»r, changer de patron aujourd’hui est difficile pour Xbox, on est Ă  un mois

play12:34

à peine des annonces du non E3 et remplacer Spencer en ce moment ne ferait qu’ajouter

play12:39

de la confusion Ă  la confusion.

play12:43

Ceci dit, ça ne serait qu’une mauvaise idĂ©e de plus, ils ne semblent plus Ă  ça

play12:48

prĂȘt chez Microsoft.

play12:49

J’arrive Ă  la fin de cet Ă©pisode, il s’agit plus d’un traitement Ă  chaud de l’actualitĂ©

play12:56

qui diffĂšre un peu de l’objectif initial de l’émission Un peu de Contexte mais ça

play13:02

me semble malgrĂ© tout important d’indiquer que ce qu’il se passe chez Xbox n’est

play13:14

pas anodin.

play13:15

D’ici un mois on aura plein de nouvelles annonces de jeux et on en saura un peu plus

play13:21

sur la maniÚre dont Microsoft envisage son avenir dans le jeu vidéo, on en reparlera

play13:31

Ă  ce moment lĂ .

play13:32

Merci de m’avoir Ă©coutĂ©, Ă  la prochaine.

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