Microsoft blown away by profitability of anime slot machine, wants to have its own

Microsoft is reportedly looking for its own massive live service success story to break into the big money Chinese market. Inspired by the ridiculous financial success of Genshin Impact, it looks like we’re slowly inching toward the great era of gacha gaming. A great move for Microsoft in a business sense, but terrible news for those who have shied away from aggressive monetization.

All this comes from Reuterswhose sources claim that “Microsoft Corp is sourcing Chinese video game content to emulate Sony Group Corp’s success with Genshin Impact.” The article goes on to state that according to their sources, Microsoft was scouting the region for developers they could work with. with, offering substantial amounts of money to enter China’s development industry.

Let’s break this down. Microsoft’s desire to get its share of the incredibly lucrative Chinese pie is obvious and understandable, and Genshin Impact’s huge success both in that region and abroad is almost too lofty a prospect to ignore. For a mega-corporation. That, coupled with the industry-wide push towards the live service and Xbox Game Pass’s lack of a big gacha title, justify this march towards anime-inspired slots money.

For those of us still a little grossed out by gacha monetization, this isn’t exactly great news. Yes, Genshin Impact is a good game. A great game even! Featuring fun open world exploration and level depth that has you going back and experimenting with your characters elemental affinity. However, it is a great game coupled with a great slot machine. The fact that it attracts so much money is impressive, but so are the revenue figures for a casino. It’s a game of chance in brilliant packaging.

Is there any hope that whatever Microsoft is thinking doesn’t include gacha monetization? Maybe. Game Pass could be the actual product it intends to sell in Chinese markets, exchanging the huge waves of revenue earned from those pulling the lever in hopes of their favorite rare character or weapon for an entrenched base of Chinese users paying a subscription. monthly for free games. .

I, for one, have a dark fascination for what a Microsoft-exclusive gacha title could throw at the world. While it sounds like the company would just throw mounds of cash at a Chinese developer, the popularity of Halo Infinite’s cat-eared helmet might just be the start… Anime Master Chief, Forza Motorsport cars full of V-tubers and guys cute, Twink Marcus Fenix ​​. I mean, if Sony brought Alloy into Genshin, why not? Go crazy if you’re going to do it.

As mentioned in the Reuters article, Genshin Impact has made Sony a lot of money. As the only console with the game present, it’s safe to expect a lot of investment and deals between Microsoft and Chinese developers. The console wars may be back, with the growing population of China’s gaming industry as the battlefield.

For more Genshin Impact items, check out our Genshin Impact v3.2 update breakdown, release date, and more, as well as our Genshin Impact free codes page.