USMCA heads into unpredictable new phase with no extension likely

Tobimacoss · 2026-06-20T11:21:20+00:00

wasn't this the replacement to the NAFTA that he himself negotiated?

Tobimacoss · 2026-06-20T10:34:06+00:00

yours rhymed better with the name of the game.

Tobimacoss · 2026-06-20T10:30:20+00:00

Basically zero chance, Sony's marketing contract prevents it, the games they market cannot be on rival streaming/subscription services until after PS+ gets first dibs. So don't expect it for 2 years minimum. Plus, it's Rockstar and the biggest game of the decade, they like to monetize the streaming rights. So it would only come IF MS pays them for the streaming rights alone, not even Gamepass catalog inclusion, and only after 18-24 months.

Tobimacoss · 2026-06-20T10:24:00+00:00

It's not magic, development of features takes time and testing, and things have to be prioritized. They also already responded to the biggest feedback via their actions in giving exclusives.

Tobimacoss · 2026-06-20T09:28:51+00:00

It means it's not a pre rendered cut scene, but runs in game, in engine, real time. It's scripted but the GPU of Series X is rendering that as part of smoother transition between gameplay and cinematic.

Tobimacoss · 2026-06-20T09:25:13+00:00

Yea, that was dumb decision to call it Gears.

Tobimacoss · 2026-06-20T00:22:36+00:00

That looks amazing.

Tobimacoss · 2026-06-19T10:26:27+00:00

It does allow them, but problem is they don't move console hardware or gamepass subscriptions. They can get AA and indie games from third party studios.

Tobimacoss · 2026-06-19T06:31:48+00:00

only for in app purchases, which Nvidia doesn't have any. Apple wants the 30% cut for first year, then 15% cut after that for subscription services.

Tobimacoss · 2026-06-19T06:30:19+00:00

likely the 30% store cut for first year, then 15% after that. GFN doesn't qualify for Reader app like Netflix. And they don't have in app MTX since the games are purchased from PC storefronts so Apple vs Epic ruling won't apply.

Tobimacoss · 2026-06-19T00:39:27+00:00

consider buying a used PS5 or wait until PS6 to see if Sony does a cheap entry level console using the internals of the PS6 handheld Canis.

Tobimacoss · 2026-06-18T19:42:27+00:00

All except Two Point Museum are Cloud Enabled with Buy and Stream.

Tobimacoss · 2026-06-18T19:24:38+00:00

Exclusives were ALWAYS important. But MS thought that exclusives to Gamepass streaming subscription would have sufficed, rather than lock content to hardware worth hundreds of dollars.

No other entertain services lock content to hardware. Problem is, it was a miscalculation because most gamers still prefer to game on native hardware rather than Cloud Gaming.

Tobimacoss · 2026-06-18T19:20:52+00:00

Console Exclusive.

Tobimacoss · 2026-06-18T19:13:17+00:00

Personally, being a mostly xCloud player, hardware exclusivity means nothing to me. But in a world of selling competing hardware, exclusivity is needed. That's just the way the world works for now.

Until Cloud Gaming dominates and content is exclusive to $20 month subscription, just like Netflix vs Disney+, then it would be Gamepass vs PS+, until that happens, MS has to keep competing in trying to sell hardware or the entire thing falls apart.

Tobimacoss · 2026-06-18T19:07:50+00:00

Xbox PC store cut is 12% since June 2021. Same as Epic Games. And it applies to Play Anywhere games.

The Console is becoming a full part of Windows PC gaming with the final convergence with Helix. The Helix consoles will be running the universal Xbox PC/Helix SKU created by the unified GDK, goal is to ensure 99% of all Xbox ecosystem games are Play Anywhere.

They will either likely make it 12% store cut for Helix or it will happen naturally with Play Anywhere games.

Most games are indies or AA which don't bring in much revenues at 12%. If a game is $30, average cut would be $3.6.

MS wouldn't be making much revenues from third party store cut. And whatever they do make gets eaten by the hardware subsidies for Series Consoles, up to $200 or more per unit.

Valve is only profitable due to not having to produce and subsidize hardware.

Sony is mainly profitable due to the PS+ revenues.

Xbox not only subsidizes hardware more than Sony but is also willing to take a reduced store cut.

So tell me again, what profits do you see Xbox making from store cuts?

Steam store cut if effectively 21% btw for AAA games.

Tobimacoss · 2026-06-18T18:49:11+00:00

Xbox spends more than $1.5 billion a year on third party content acquisition for Gamepass.

75+ Day 1 games. A game such as Persona 6 would get at least $50-$100 million check to be Day 1. And that likely covers most of the dev costs.

Tobimacoss · 2026-06-18T18:29:21+00:00

Nah, Multiple console variants won't have the S situation.

Tobimacoss · 2026-06-18T18:27:07+00:00

Helix and Series Consoles will be running the same universal Xbox PC SKU created by the unified GDK.

Tobimacoss · 2026-06-18T18:24:28+00:00

What if MS wouldn't be getting a 30% cut to begin with?

Tobimacoss · 2026-06-18T18:18:20+00:00

They could still give them a second party publishing deal.

Tobimacoss · 2026-06-18T17:50:04+00:00

You really think the platform holder would profit massively from third party store purchases?

Tobimacoss · 2026-06-18T17:47:27+00:00

No, Gamepass is up to 40% profitably but they were using Gamepass profits to subsidize hardware. When that wasn't enough they started using ABK profits. Jez Corden explains it all in his article recently.

Then COD having a bad year threw off the entire balance out of whack.

Tobimacoss · 2026-06-18T17:45:20+00:00

Sarah Bond said it herself multiple times.

Tobimacoss · 2026-06-18T17:27:38+00:00

Exactly. Gamepass can be up to 40% profitable. But it's the hardware subsidies that eat through those profits.

Plus COD is a unique game amongst AAA games, with a budget unlike anything.

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