Microsoft Snubs Xbox Cloud Gaming for Avowed, Favoring NVIDIA GeForce Now Instead!

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Yesterday saw the debut of Avowed during its early access phase, receiving mostly favorable feedback. This new RPG hails from Obsidian Entertainment, creators of hits like Fallout: New Vegas and Pillars of Eternity. At launch, it became available exclusively on Xbox and Steam, offering a premium early access period due to the year being 2025. The early access fee for Avowed is an extra $10 before its Xbox Game Pass release next week. This move aims to generate additional revenue for Microsoft to compensate for potential sales lost to their Netflix-like gaming subscription service.

However, if you’re one who desires early access and also holds the pricier Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, I regret to inform you that Microsoft is declining your request at this time.

Avowed” is a role-playing game where you play from the first-person view, set within the universe of Pillars of Eternity. It’s known for Obsidian’s unique style of gameplay that involves choices and consequences through a branching storyline, allowing players to express themselves through their playstyle, and offering a vast world that’s enjoyable to explore. Since its gameplay fits well with Xbox Cloud Gaming, it seems like a good idea to partner with them, but Microsoft appears to have different thoughts on this matter.

It turns out that yesterday, users on Twitter started asking me when Avowed early access would become available on Xbox Cloud Gaming. Puzzlingly, it appears that Avowed won’t be accessible on Xbox Cloud Gaming until next week, regardless of whether you have the premium access edition.

Microsoft could potentially provide a corporate rationale for this situation, yet it’s questionable whether such an explanation would stand up against the fact that the early access period is also offered on a competing cloud service, NVIDIA GeForce Now.

Currently, I’m not implying that Microsoft deliberately chose NVIDIA GeForce Now over Xbox Cloud Gaming for Avowed due to underhanded reasons. Instead, it appears that the inconsistency in their gaming services is a bothersome and regrettably common occurrence. This is why the “This is an Xbox” campaign was disheartening to witness unfold, as it showcased features like Xbox Play Anywhere and Xbox Cloud Gaming, neither of which I would describe as being fully developed or polished.

Microsoft has enabled the playability of “purchase and own” games on Xbox Cloud Gaming, raising hopes for the release of Avowed on this platform. Since the system accommodates DLC privileges for premium edition extras, it seems unlikely that technical problems are responsible. There’s speculation that regulatory issues might be at play, considering the UK CMA made Microsoft surrender rights to Activision Blizzard’s cloud games to Ubisoft earlier. However, I haven’t found any indication yet that Obsidian titles were part of that ruling, though I am looking into it further.

We’ve contacted Microsoft to find out why the early access phase of Avowed includes NVIDIA GeForce Now but not Xbox Cloud Gaming, and to learn more about their policies regarding the growing number of games offering “advanced access” premium passes in relation to cloud gaming services.

Microsoft has everything it needs to develop something extraordinary across its various platforms. The option to purchase Avowed on numerous platforms, transfer save files anywhere, and play virtually on any device is a clear sign of an impressive Xbox gaming future. However, I believe that perfecting these specific aspects should be Microsoft’s top priority.

It seems unfair and inappropriate to handle your most dedicated customers like this, those who invested in early access and also subscribed to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. In my opinion, Microsoft should have done a much better job delivering on their promises.

Regardless, we’ll keep you updated on Microsoft’s intended actions to resolve this issue promptly, should there be any.

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2025-02-14 19:39