This is David Pierce, editor-at-large at The Verge. Nilay is off this week for a much-deserved break. So I’m filling in for him, and the Decoder team thought this would be a good opportunity to switch gears a little bit from the political apocalypse beat and talk about something completely different. So today we’re diving into the video game industry and discussing a particular set of very thorny problems facing Microsoft and its Xbox division.

I invited Ash Parrish, The Verge’s video game reporter, to discuss the issues facing Xbox, Microsoft’s big ambitions with its Game Pass subscription service, and why the game industry hasn’t had its Netflix or Spotify moment yet.

Links:

Xbox continues its push beyond consoles with new ad campaign | Verge
The next Xbox is going to be very different | Verge
2025 looks like a great year for Xbox | Verge
Microsoft prepares to take Xbox everywhere | Verge
Microsoft and Google are fighting over the future of Xbox | Verge
Microsoft was the No.1 games publisher in the world last month | VGC
Xbox games in Game Pass ‘can lose 80% of premium sales’ | VGC
Phil Spencer: No ‘red lines’ over Xbox games coming to Switch, PlayStation | Eurogamer
Microsoft’s Xbox turmoil isn’t slowing down | Verge
Microsoft says Game Pass is profitable as subscription growth slows | Verge

Credits:

Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Our producers are Kate Cox and Nick Statt. Our editor is Ursa Wright.

The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder.

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Why gaming never had its Netflix moment