Evaluating In-Game Purchase Pricing of Baldur’s Gate 3 within the Microsoft Micro-Software Email: A Mere Five Million Dollars

There are internal documents from the FTC vs Microsoft case that consist of emails exchanged among the Xbox management team in May 2022. These emails discuss the evaluation of the prices for various popular games to be offered in the Xbox Game Pass. It should be noted that these prices are estimates provided by Microsoft and not the actual prices.

In one of these emails, Phil Spencer expresses his concern that the delay of the game Starfield has resulted in a lack of flagship games for Game Pass. As a result, customers in 2022 may have to purchase rights to games from other studios to fill this void. Some of the games mentioned in this email are:

– Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, estimated at $300 million
– Suicide Squad, estimated at $250 million
– Mortal Kombat 1, estimated at $250 million
– Assassin’s Creed Mirage, estimated at $100 million
– Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, estimated at $35 million
– Gotham Knights, estimated at $50 million
– Dying Light 2, estimated at $50 million
– Baldur’s Gate 3, estimated at $5 million

In the case of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, which is an ambitious game developed by EA with an estimated price tag of $300 million, Sarah Bond, another Microsoft executive, believes it is not a worthwhile investment (fortunately, no deal was made).

On the flip side, Baldur’s Gate 3, priced at only $5 million, has already proven that its low estimation was inaccurate, as the game has achieved great success.

Michael Douse, the head of distribution at Larian Studios, the creator of Baldur’s Gate 3, commented on Twitter that it wasn’t just Microsoft who underestimated the game. Everyone else evaluated it similarly, including their previous game, Divinity: Original Sin 2, which was also undervalued.

TLDR: Internal documents from the FTC vs Microsoft case reveal email discussions among the Xbox management team about evaluating game prices for Xbox Game Pass. The delay of Starfield led to a lack of flagship games, potentially requiring customers to purchase games from other studios. Games mentioned include Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Suicide Squad, Mortal Kombat 1, Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, Gotham Knights, Dying Light 2, and Baldur’s Gate 3. The high price estimation for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor was deemed unworthy, while the underestimated Baldur’s Gate 3 turned out to be a success.