It looks like Microsoft is fresh out of ideas on how to peddle its struggling Xbox One platform in a market dominated by the competition.
Nintendo appears to be in the lead with the remarkable success of its Switch hybrid game system. Sony is a close second with it's PlayStation 4 home console.
Industry analysts already figured out the problem with the Xbox platform. Just like the doomed Wii U, Microsoft does not have first-party exclusives that can attract gamers. Now, it could use another help as it re-bundles Bluehole Studio's PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) with the Xbox One S.
Phenomenal Popularity Equals Sales
In a similar move, the Redmond-based firm made last year with its Xbox One X, a free copy of PUBG is expected to encourage a few gamers to who want to try out the open-world survival shooter. It is one of the biggest hits currently played by millions of PC gamers.
However, just recently, Fortnite by Epic Games seems to be on track to overtake its position on the charts as its availability on more platforms means a larger number of players.
Double Deals
Microsoft wants customers to have more options when it comes to the Xbox platform, hence, the decision to offer a promotional deal with a free PUBG copy as an incentive.
The same Xbox One X bundle will be available this month. There is also a similar deal for the Xbox One S. Both consoles come with a 1TB internal memory. The X is capable of 4K visual output for both gaming and multimedia, while the S is only compatible with the latter.
Both packages will include a full-game download of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, a 1-month Xbox Game Pass trial and a 1-month Xbox Live Gold trial for online multiplayer matches. However, the deal is only available from Feb. 18 to March 4.
Retailers Express Concern Over Xbox Game Pass
Last month, Microsoft revealed the changes it made to how the Xbox Game Pass works. Earlier this month, retailers reportedly voiced out their complaints regarding the company's decision to make first-party games available to subscribers on the retail launch date.
This prompted small retailers to declare that they will no longer offer Microsoft products in their stores. Meanwhile, the company did not seem to be affected and confidently claimed that other partners and retailers are amenable to the changes.
Sailing The Seas
Besides PUBG, Microsoft is about to launch one of its highly-anticipated first-party games next month. Sea of Thieves is an Xbox-exclusive title developed by Rare that offers open-world adventures across the open seas. A recent article showcased its system requirements, which hinted that it could run even on older PCs.
