Buy Xbox and then either subscribe to gamepass ultimate or buy the game and then subscribe to gamepass core (just renamed XBL gold) to play online. Its still dumb that you have to pay to play online but you still have the option to outright buy any MS published games.
Now those online services are supported by digital sales, like on PC storefronts. Digital makes up the majority of console purchases now too, but they still continue to charge for online, so it’s no wonder PC market share grew in the interim.
Not quite.
Buy Xbox and then either subscribe to gamepass ultimate or buy the game and then subscribe to gamepass core (just renamed XBL gold) to play online. Its still dumb that you have to pay to play online but you still have the option to outright buy any MS published games.
The point of paying to play online is to pay for the features and infrastructure to support it.
Otherwise you end up with PS2 Online or Nintendo WFC. Both rampant with horrible lag and cheaters.
Steam exists
Now those online services are supported by digital sales, like on PC storefronts. Digital makes up the majority of console purchases now too, but they still continue to charge for online, so it’s no wonder PC market share grew in the interim.