> That could threaten Microsoft's hold on PC gaming
Sure. But so what. PC gaming is a very small market that Microsoft don't actually care much about. Well, they have a Windows store that sells games, a Windows xbox app and PC game pass, and they put a bit of effort here and there, but not really. Microsoft doesn't really care about your Windows license key either. They could have made pirating much harder, but the fact that you can find Windows activator on their own GitHub says that Microsoft thinks it's a waste of time to do anything about it.
Most of Windows installations come from OEM and enterprises. Everything else is a marginal error. They also can't sell (much) more licenses just as they want, because pretty much it's tied to PC sales that's more about whether people are buying devices.
Which is why they are stuffing ads everywhere in Windows. It sucks for users, but is a good (short sighted) business strategy -- you can only earn so much money from license, but you can earn infinite money from ads.
> PC gaming is a very small market... and PC game pass
I think you're very much wrong. The game pass market is said to have ~30 million users. Having them be able to play on PC is probably quite important as not everyone can afford an extra Xbox if they already have a computer.
Your argument is not very convincing unless you can show numbers of people who have an Game Pass Ultimate subscription and use it for PC gaming.
> not everyone can afford an extra Xbox if they already have a computer
Gaming PCs are much, much more expensive than consoles at same performance. Most people have consoles and no gaming PC. In markets where that's not the case (e.g. China), game pass and Xbox in general happen to be also less relevant -- if they get a console, they'll get a PS5.
Every teen wants a gaming PC because all their favorite streamers and YouTubers play on PC. It's not 2010 anymore. Walk into any big box store and there's pre built gaming PCs of various price bracket. Even Costco has like 5 different models right near the entrance.
You've literally provided the evidence that Microsoft cares about PC gaming in your original post.
> That could threaten Microsoft's hold on PC gaming
Sure. But so what. PC gaming is a very small market that Microsoft don't actually care much about. Well, they have a Windows store that sells games, a Windows xbox app and PC game pass, and they put a bit of effort here and there, but not really. Microsoft doesn't really care about your Windows license key either. They could have made pirating much harder, but the fact that you can find Windows activator on their own GitHub says that Microsoft thinks it's a waste of time to do anything about it.
(In fact, Windows license is free on handheld gaming devices. So Microsoft doesn't earn any money anyway. https://windowsreport.com/windows-10-9-remains-free-oems-ann...)
Most of Windows installations come from OEM and enterprises. Everything else is a marginal error. They also can't sell (much) more licenses just as they want, because pretty much it's tied to PC sales that's more about whether people are buying devices.
Which is why they are stuffing ads everywhere in Windows. It sucks for users, but is a good (short sighted) business strategy -- you can only earn so much money from license, but you can earn infinite money from ads.
Seems hard for people to understand this.