As you may have heard, there are plans from Microsoft to bring every Xbox exclusive game to Game Pass from the day of release, making purchases from retailers completely obsolete. This Netflix-style strategy could see in the beginning of a fully digital gaming market, though retailers aren’t completely out of luck it seems.
This is according to NPD analyst Mat Piscatella, who stated that Microsoft still has enough incentive for retailers to stock Xbox products for now. In an interview with GamingBolt, Piscatella stated:
“I think this depends on the retailer. The console continues to sell well in the US, and Microsoft has been smart and aggressive in its pricing and promotional programs. Bringing PUBG to retail and seeing the success the retail version of that game has had suggests that they will find ways to ensure retail is involved and seeing return on its investment in retail space and inventory.”
In the future, Microsoft will have to look at what avenues they can take in order to not appease retailers as such, but working with them to continue carrying their products forward, particularly where hardware is concerned. There certainly seems to be a shift in where the gaming industry is going in terms of the consumer market, and it looks pretty bright for the digital side of things.
