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[GHG]

And I believe that's where the point of contention was and still is. Not everyone believed that's exactly what Microsoft's plan was going to be like upon execution.

And since it didn't happen, we'll never know for sure.

Don't do this. It was all out there in black and white for everyone to see.

Regardless, one only has to look at their history to be able to guess how it all would have panned out.

 

[PoweredByHentai]

Actually, I think we're mostly in agreement.

I believe that your argument was about Microsoft's messaging being unclear.

My argument was that Microsoft's messaging sounded either confused or outright hostile. Certain topics stopped being unclear and started sounding dishonest when the buck-passing started.

There is a difference between being unclear, being confused, being dishonest, and being hostile. At no point in the lead up to the Xbone's 180s was the messaging ever "unclear".

 

[Pathfinder]

I believe that your argument was about Microsoft's messaging being unclear.

My argument was that Microsoft's messaging sounded either confused or outright hostile. Certain topics stopped being unclear and started sounding dishonest when the buck-passing started.

There is a difference between being unclear, being confused, being dishonest, and being hostile. At no point in the lead up to the Xbone's 180s was the messaging ever "unclear".

"Muddled" was the term I used, as I feel it is a more-than-appropriate description.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

I believe that your argument was about Microsoft's messaging being unclear.

My argument was that Microsoft's messaging sounded either confused or outright hostile. Certain topics stopped being unclear and started sounding dishonest when the buck-passing started.

There is a difference between being unclear, being confused, being dishonest, and being hostile. At no point in the lead up to the Xbone's 180s was the messaging ever "unclear".

I would argue that MS's arrogance, outright contempt for customers, and pure greed were absolutely clear in the run-up to the Bone 180's.

And let's face it, MS didn't actually change when they made the 180's. They backtracked on everything only after consumers revolted. Realistically it's only recently with Ballmer's departure and Nadella taking over that I feel there is a chance that MS's corporate culture may actually change. Gates needs to keep his hands off too while Nadella tries to enact meaningful reform at MS.

 

[Occam]

you mean this?

http://news.xbox.com/2013/05/qa

Thank you, that's the same I found before asking but not what I was looking for; I think there was a page with more details which specifically mentioned mandatory check-ins in 24 hour intervals. The qa above is rather tame.

 

[Bastables]

I remember something of that nature as well, Google probably has a cache of it somewhere.

But with all their 180's and uncertainty at the time, I'd hardly call that definite.



I believe that was it, yes. Note how the "always on" detail had already been adjusted due to public scrutiny.

Pulling a 180 degree turn implicitly means you know your original course/heading direction. It's not uncertain when you have to turn right around.

 

[Pathfinder]

Realistically it's only recently with Ballmer's departure and Nadella taking over that I feel there is a chance that MS's corporate culture may actually change. Gates needs to keep his hands off too while Nadella tries to enact meaningful reform at MS.

I honestly don't know how effective one person will be at changing the corporate culture of a megacorp that is generally seen as ruthless by the public, but it will be interesting to see what develops in the next five or so years.

 

[Aquamarine]

Thank you, that's the same I found before asking but not what I was looking for; I think there was a page with more details which specifically mentioned mandatory check-ins in 24 hour intervals. The qa above is rather tame.

what about this?

http://news.xbox.com/2013/06/connected

http://news.xbox.com/2013/06/license

http://news.xbox.com/2013/06/privacy

 

[PoweredByHentai]

"Muddled" was the term I used, as I feel it is a more-than-appropriate description.

I feel that "muddled" only describes one part of problem. "Dishonesty" and "hostility" also factored equally.

Dishonesty being related to consumer privacy and Mehdi trying to sell advertisers on the Xbone's Kinect data under the NUads moniker.

Hostility having to do with completely disregarding public concerns as highlighted by Adam "Why Would I Live There?" Orth, Major Nelson mouthing off Angry Joe, and Mattrick's tone-deaf recommendation to submarine crews, both of which happened at E3.

 

[Coulomb_Barrier]

You would never have imagined before the gen started and before MS's nefarious plans that just over a year after launch, the PS4 would sell around double the Xbone, with the consoles being around the same price. It's just crazy that the gap is going to widen in 2015 looking at the launch schedule and possible moves being played by Sony.

 

[Pathfinder]

I feel that "muddled" only describes one part of problem. "Dishonesty" and "hostility" also factored equally.

Dishonesty being related to consumer privacy and Mehdi trying to sell advertisers on the Xbone's Kinect data under the NUads moniker.

Hostility having to do with completely disregarding public concerns as highlighted by Adam "Why Would I Live There?" Orth, Major Nelson mouthing off Angry Joe, and Mattrick's tone-deaf recommendation to submarine crews, both of which happened at E3.

I can't argue with that. Those are good points.

 

[FuturusX]

"Muddled" was the term I used, as I feel it is a more-than-appropriate description.

I agree it was all a big misunderstanding. Big bad Sony stoked the fires of rage in the mindless consumers and now our glorious all digital future is ruined. Thanks Sony.

 

[GHG]

You would never have imagined before the gen started and before MS's nefarious plans that just over a year after launch, the PS4 would sell around double the Xbone, with the consoles being around the same price. It's just crazy that the gap is going to widen in 2015 looking at the launch schedule and possible moves being played by Sony.

They are still suffering from their initial announcements IMO.

There are some people that still think that Kinect is mandatory and that you can't play/trade used games.

"In a broader set of community, people don't pay attention to a lot of the details"

Oh the irony. Live by the sword, die by the sword.

 

[PoweredByHentai]

I would argue that MS's arrogance, outright contempt for customers, and pure greed were absolutely clear in the run-up to the Bone 180's.

I absolutely agree.

And let's face it, MS didn't actually change when they made the 180's. They backtracked on everything only after consumers revolted. Realistically it's only recently with Ballmer's departure and Nadella taking over that I feel there is a chance that MS's corporate culture may actually change. Gates needs to keep his hands off too while Nadella tries to enact meaningful reform at MS.

I honestly doubt the sincerity of MS's backtracking, especially when you have this nugget of joy:

http://www.joystiq.com/2013/11/08/penello-people-just-werent-ready-for-all-digital-xbox-one/
Penello said Microsoft hasn't given up on a fully digital future. "We just think that's the way the future's gonna go," he said. "We may have been right. What we were wrong about was that it's just too soon. People just weren't ready to make that leap right away."

I also doubt that the corporate culture could be reformed that quickly. MS would need to fire a whole bunch of executives, directors, and middle managers before anything would change.

 

[FuturusX]

Remember this?

http://kotaku.com/xbox-one-does-require-internet-connection-cant-play-o-509164109

Kotaku: If I’m playing a single player game, do I have to be online at least once per hour or something like that? Or can I go weeks and weeks?

Harrison: I believe it’s 24 hours.

Kotaku: I’d have to connect online once every day.

Harrison: Correct.

So the system is built to work even if your Internet connection goes down, but you still have to be connected at least once a day to use it, according to Harrison. We're not sure exactly what would happen if you don't connect once per day—and that timeframe could change—but this doesn't sound good for anyone who was hoping to use Xbox One without an Internet connection.

Update: Sounds like things are a mess over at Microsoft. Now they're telling Polygon that Harrison's comments illustrate a "potential scenario."

"While Phil [Harrison] discussed many potential scenarios around games on Xbox One, today we have only confirmed that we designed Xbox One to enable our customers to trade in and resell games at retail," a Microsoft rep said. "There have been reports of a specific time period — those were discussions of potential scenarios, but we have not confirmed any details today, nor will we be."

Now imagine if this had actually shipped to consumers and then during Xmas with the DDOS attacks.....hmmmm

EDIT: What happened to Phil anyway...he's still at MS but not a peep?

 

[slavesnyder]

I honestly doubt the sincerity of MS's backtracking, especially when you have this nugget of joy:

http://www.joystiq.com/2013/11/08/pe...ital-xbox-one/
Penello said Microsoft hasn't given up on a fully digital future. "We just think that's the way the future's gonna go," he said. "We may have been right. What we were wrong about was that it's just too soon. People just weren't ready to make that leap right away."

Whenever I read that the future is digital I want to hit someone. As if DVDs or Bluerays were analogue...
Apart from that: Is there a doubt that the future will be more and more download-dominated? The problem is only that the terms are still to be negotiated between corporations and consumers. and it is good that microsoft is not the only one to offer a concept...

 

[PoweredByHentai]

Remember this?

http://kotaku.com/xbox-one-does-require-internet-connection-cant-play-o-509164109



Now imagine if this had actually shipped to consumers and then during Xmas with the DDOS attacks.....hmmmm

I kind of feel that Phil Harrison is kind of under-appreciated as an executive. He was pretty much the only Microsoft executive who was giving straight answers when none of the others could or would. =/

Whenever I read that the future is digital I want to hit someone. As if DVDs or Bluerays were analogue...
Apart from that: Is there a doubt that the future will be more and more download-dominated? The problem is only that the terms are still to be negotiated between corporations and consumers. and it is good that microsoft is not the only one to offer a concept...

I see digital economies (commerce and consumption conducted via broadband/internet) as being a complimentary aspect of our times. Certain industries will definitely be sidelined whereas other industries will remain unaffected. The issue with such digital economies is that they are entirely reliant on a working and serviceable broadband infrastructure. As long as such broadband infrastructures aren't available, digital economies will not supplant the existing industries.

Providing consumers with reasonable options is always good. Removing options in the face of legitimate concerns is just asking for a riot.

 

[Pathfinder]

Now imagine if this had actually shipped to consumers and then during Xmas with the DDOS attacks.....hmmmm

EDIT: What happened to Phil anyway...he's still at MS but not a peep?

From the way he was talking, likely someone above told him to hush. He was kind of making things worse.

 

[Nightengale]

Harrison really only pops up when Europe is in the spotlight.

We should see him more this year, I think, with RARE likely announcing their next game and Lionhead shows more of Legends.

 

[FuturusX]

I kind of feel that Phil Harrison is kind of under-appreciated as an executive. He was pretty much the only Microsoft executive who was giving straight answers when none of the others could or would. =/

I think back to that time...It was like viewing the aftermath of a terrible accident. The hits just kept on coming. The DRM issues..no used games...the clouds...esram...499... mandatory kinect...80s VHS motif...

You have to say from where they started they have done quite nicely really. 10 million units (If that's where they are at) is a hell of a salvage operation.

 

[crinale]

http://www.famitsu.com/news/201501/08069212.html

Chinese market release got postponed.

The new date is TBA.

 

[Hydrargyrus]

http://www.famitsu.com/news/201501/08069212.html

Chinese market release got postponed.

How much time?

(page blocked in my work...)

 

[Raist]

http://www.famitsu.com/news/201501/08069212.html

Chinese market release got postponed.

To any date in particular? The only numbers I can see are 11th Jan, which I assume was the planned launch date.

 

[bombshell]

How much time?

(page blocked in my work...)

To any date in particular? The only numbers I can see are 11th Jan, which I assume was the planned launch date.

Google translate says: "Undecided Release Date after postponement."

 

[PoweredByHentai]

I think back to that time...It was like viewing the aftermath of a terrible accident. The hits just kept on coming. The DRM issues..no used games...the clouds...esram...499... mandatory kinect...80s VHS motif...

You have to say from where they started they have done quite nicely really. 10 million units (If that's where they are at) is a hell of a salvage operation.

It looked more like a deliberate train wreck than an accident. As if Microsoft wanted to steamroll everyone with the sheer weight of their freight train and were summarily destroyed because they ignored all the signal lights warning of an oncoming freight train that was much larger than Microsoft's train.

 

[Coulomb_Barrier]

I think back to that time...It was like viewing the aftermath of a terrible accident. The hits just kept on coming. The DRM issues..no used games...the clouds...esram...499... mandatory kinect...80s VHS motif...

You have to say from where they started they have done quite nicely really. 10 million units (If that's where they are at) is a hell of a salvage operation.

I don't agree. You forget the literal billions of investment they have pumped into the console through marketing, development (controller alone cost $100m), partnerships ($300m NFL deal), etc.

9-10m sales worldwide after more than a year on sale for a multi-billion dollar product is a hopelessly poor return by any standard.

By comparison, Sony have sold 18.5m PS4s whilst spending a great deal less.

 

[FinalD]

How much time?

(page blocked in my work...)

It's probably not blocked, you just have to copy/paste the link. Famitsu doesn't like NeoGAF as a referrer or something.

 

[Melchiah]

I work with a bunch of ex-Microsoft people (here in Seattle). The common thing I hear is that Microsoft has no respect for their customers. In fact, a Windows user is not a customer, they are a user. Their customers are the OEMs like HP and Dell. Users are the idiots who don't know how to use Microsoft's sophisticated software. That's the attitude that's perpetuated in Redmond.

That's the Windows/Office side. I don't know many people who were in gaming so the attitude may be different being gamers are the actual customers but after the stunt they tried to pull at E3 2013 it's clear that their loyalties are for their publishers not the gamers. But, hey, Phil rocked a State of Decay tee. Gamer.

I do agree with you on your criticisms of Microsoft's approach to competition. I have no respect for a company that tries to solve every problem by thrown a mountain of cash at it.

I feel that "muddled" only describes one part of problem. "Dishonesty" and "hostility" also factored equally.

Dishonesty being related to consumer privacy and Mehdi trying to sell advertisers on the Xbone's Kinect data under the NUads moniker.

Hostility having to do with completely disregarding public concerns as highlighted by Adam "Why Would I Live There?" Orth, Major Nelson mouthing off Angry Joe, and Mattrick's tone-deaf recommendation to submarine crews, both of which happened at E3.

That's exactly how it seemed with the XB1 as well; the advertisers are the real customers, the gamers the users, or a product that's sold to the customer.

 

[Unknown One]

...a nd that's okay so far. I guess even sony would love to get rid of the used games market and earn more money.
the difference is sony knew that taking measures to eliminate the used games will backfire hard. and in a crazy mixture of understanding the business and maybe even respect for their consumers they let it be.

I bet all three manufacturers would love that, but only one acted or tried to. It's always about the money, always follow the money. To me it was pretty transparent.

 

[PoweredByHentai]

I don't agree. You forget the literal billions of investment they have pumped into the console through marketing, development (controller alone cost $100m), partnerships ($300m NFL deal), etc.

9-10m sales worldwide after more than a year on sale for a multi-billion dollar product is a hopelessly poor return by any standard.

By comparison, Sony have sold 18.5m PS4s whilst spending a great deal less.

How much was the MS-FIFA deal? I seem to recall some absurd partnership that MS did for half a billion bucks. Was that supposed to be for FIFA or NFL or both?

 

[Hydrargyrus]

It's probably not blocked, you just have to copy/paste the link. Famitsu doesn't like NeoGAF as a referrer or something.

No, it's blocked. All that is listed as "games", "porn", "adult content" and stuff like that is blocked xD

 

[Melchiah]

I honestly doubt the sincerity of MS's backtracking, especially when you have this nugget of joy:

http://www.joystiq.com/2013/11/08/penello-people-just-werent-ready-for-all-digital-xbox-one/

Penello said Microsoft hasn't given up on a fully digital future. "We just think that's the way the future's gonna go," he said. "We may have been right. What we were wrong about was that it's just too soon. People just weren't ready to make that leap right away."

I also doubt that the corporate culture could be reformed that quickly. MS would need to fire a whole bunch of executives, directors, and middle managers before anything would change.

Yeah, that implies there hasn't been a real turn within the company, and that they're planning to reintroduce their much-maligned original vision at some point in the future. The next time they'll just be damn sure to do the introduction in a better (and sneakier) way.

 

[FuturusX]

I don't agree. You forget the literal billions of investment they have pumped into the console through marketing, development (controller alone cost $100m), partnerships ($300m NFL deal), etc.

9-10m sales worldwide after more than a year on sale for a multi-billion dollar product is a hopelessly poor return by any standard.

By comparison, Sony have sold 18.5m PS4s whilst spending a great deal less.

I don't disagree at all. Under the framework of the initial plan yes it's a failure. But with such a poor initial product reveal, I expected a much stronger rejection in the market place. In that respect they have exceeded where I thought they might be.

 

[Coulomb_Barrier]

How much was the MS-FIFA deal? I seem to recall some absurd partnership that MS did for half a billion bucks. Was that supposed to be for FIFA or NFL or both?

Iirc the $300m was for NFL deal alone, didn't even know they had another with FIFA.

But wasn't the marketing budget for launch something like $500m?

They are good at pissing their money down the drain it seems. I'm not impressed though, it's unsustainable.

 

[krypt0nian]

My favorite current gen happening was watching the original xbox one plan being collectively rejected and shoved back into the hole it spawned from by the vast vocal and activated majority of the gaming consumer base. It wasn't just Digital Future, it was base and foul profits at the expense of consumer self-advocacy. And it turned me from an 360 active evangelist to someone who still cannot recommend the xbox one.

I still plan on getting an xbox one (and yes a WiiU) at the very end of generation when the pickings will be cheap, and all single player exclusives firesaled.

So these WW numbers and the ongoing mindshare and trends please me. This gen was decided at reveal.

 

[jelly]

EDIT: What happened to Phil anyway...he's still at MS but not a peep?

Agent Harrison "Everything is going according to plan."

 

[PoweredByHentai]

That's exactly how it seemed with the XB1 as well; the advertisers are the real customers, the gamers the users, or a product that's sold to the customer.

I believe that the prevailing line of thought at Microsoft is that their customers are "enterprise". I believe this is because the Office division has always been the largest breadwinner within Microsoft. The Servers/Azure division becoming the 2nd largest breadwinner within Microsoft and the fact that Nadella is from the Server group only serves to drive the whole "enterprise client" part home.

Yeah, that implies there hasn't been a real turn within the company, and that they're planning to reintroduce their much-maligned original vision at some point in the future. The next time they'll just be damn sure to do the introduction in a better (and sneakier) way.

I honestly don't know what to think of Ballmer's final act at Microsoft, which was to re-org the whole Microsoft hierarchy from divisions to roles. Previously, if anyone wanted a promotion/raise, they just transfer to a similar position within another division, but this re-org effectively shuts that down.

In many ways, it stratifies the whole organization even though there's more centralization of roles and responsibilities.

My favorite current gen happening was watching the original xbox one plan being collectively rejected and shoved back into the hole it spawned from by the vast vocal and activated majority of the gaming consumer base. It wasn't just Digital Future, it was base and foul profits at the expense of consumer self-advocacy. And it turned me from an 360 active evangelist to someone who still cannot recommend the xbox one.

I still plan on getting an xbox one (and yes a WiiU) at the very end of generation when the pickings will be cheap, and all single player exclusives firesaled.

So these WW numbers and the ongoing mindshare and trends please me. This gen was decided at reveal.

I think this generation was pretty much decided at E3 2013. Screw-ups at the single-largest/most-important shouting platform for the games industry have a pretty lasting effect on products that have yet to launch. It is one thing if the audience in attendance were only video games journalists, but the mainstream journalists were also in attendance. That is usually a PR podium that you don't want to piss away. =/

 

[sobaka770]

I think back to that time...It was like viewing the aftermath of a terrible accident. The hits just kept on coming. The DRM issues..no used games...the clouds...esram...499... mandatory kinect...80s VHS motif...

You have to say from where they started they have done quite nicely really. 10 million units (If that's where they are at) is a hell of a salvage operation.

But at what cost?

They've sold less units that was foreseen(my opinion, but I'm thinking they weren't expecting to lost 8-9 million to Sony, so a 4 million deficit), but invested much more in marketing, discounts, dropped Kinekt...

They maybe salvaged "unit sales" somewhat, but there is no way they are satisfied with the bottom line right now.

 

[jelly]

How much was the MS-FIFA deal? I seem to recall some absurd partnership that MS did for half a billion bucks. Was that supposed to be for FIFA or NFL or both?

The NFL one was the TV app, Surface use instead of iPads for the NFL. That was the 500 million deal.

The EA one was apparently 1 billion, Titanfall, FIFA ultimate, Plants versus Zombies Garden Warfare, Battlefield DLC, Madden. Not sure about that sum of money but they had a partnership for sure that I imagine EA won't be too willing to sign again.

 

[PoweredByHentai]

The NFL one was the TV app, Surface use instead of iPads for the NFL. That was the 500 million deal.

The EA one was apparently 1 billion, Titanfall, FIFA ultimate, Plants versus Zombies Garden Warfare, Battlefield DLC, Madden. Not sure about that sum of money but they had a partnership for sure that I imagine EA won't be too willing to sign again.

I'd wager that EA would still be willing to sign partnerships with Microsoft, for the right price.

 

[EGM1966]

I don't disagree at all. Under the framework of the initial plan yes it's a failure. But with such a poor initial product reveal, I expected a much stronger rejection in the market place. In that respect they have exceeded where I thought they might be.

They have clawed back US and UK to an extent to be fair. It took throwing Kinect under the bus and going all out with deals and working their asses off on the OS and SDK but I agree Spencer and current team have at least averted the total disaster looming before they began their program of 180s.

 

[driver116]

Are any multiplatform developers going to start making PS4 exclusives without some deal from Sony?

It makes no sense regardless of sales, as both consoles have near identical architecture.

 

[Bitch Pudding]

The 180s saved them somewhat is US and UK but most everywhere else decided their message sounded unclear and faintly suspicious and passed.

Yes, but at what price! It cost them their USP. That beeing an All-in-One Entertainment system and Kinect beeing a real differentiator. After all that 180s the One is basically reduced to a(nother) gaming station with strong multimedia features. But thats no USP these days, its predecessor was capabel of that as well.

Even worse, the One has to carry on all those legacy issues, like e.g. dedicated resources for Kinect.

The PS4 in the other hand was designed and communicated (!) as a (strong) gaming device from the very beginning. Maybe that's what the market actually wanted.

 

[RedAssedApe]

still laugh when i think about xbone family sharing

fun times in 2013

 

[Joni]

It makes no sense regardless of sales, as both consoles have near identical architecture.

It actually starts making sense if the sales are lopsided enough. You can see it in Japan where so many games are de facto exclusives, despite them being made by Japanese developers and having Xbox versions overseas. The cost of localizing is higher than the potential. The sales do have to be very lopsided to reach that point but if we had been in that situation, the almost identical architecture wouldn't help.

 

[boredandlazy]

still laugh when i think about xbone family sharing

fun times in 2013

Laughing at family sharing? Or laughing at the people that really believed 10 people would be able to play a single purchased copy of a game?

 

[Rixa]

To put it into perspective...

The PS4 is having a tough time in Japan, we all know that..but in December, it sold 37 thousand units. That's right. That they are near XB1's LTD for one month is absolutely mind boggling

I would like to correct that info littlebit about PS4 sales in Japan Dec 2014.
Technically youre right PS4 did sold 37k in December 2014. But it did sold far more in December, selling total 128859 consoles in 28 days.

This is Media Create sales list from week 52/2014

Famitsu
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|System | This Week  | Last Week  | Last Year  |     YTD    |  Last YTD  |     LTD     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 3DS # |    218.351 |    218.412 |    208.893 |  3.153.045 |  4.931.509 |  17.847.056 |
|  WIU  |     48.927 |     36.397 |     79.174 |    604.856 |    880.088 |   2.123.283 |
| PSV # |     40.525 |     29.657 |     75.207 |  1.147.938 |  1.197.980 |   3.423.077 |
|  PS4  |     30.145 |     21.657 |            |    925.570 |            |     925.570 |
|  PS3  |     10.142 |      7.847 |     27.020 |    450.034 |    824.167 |  10.018.534 |
|  XB1  |        815 |      1.761 |            |     45.958 |            |      45.958 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|  ALL  |    348.905 |    315.731 |    403.259 |  6.411.205 |  8.367.073 |  54.075.775 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4 Weeks of december 2014 (1-28.12.14 / Famitsu).

|System | This Week  | Last Week  | Last Year  |     YTD    |  Last YTD  |     LTD     |
Week 49
|  PS4  |     13.040 |     12.073 |            |    809.751 |            |     809.751 |
Week 50
|  PS4  |     64.017 |     13.040 |            |    873.768 |            |     873.768 |
Week 51
|  PS4  |     21.657 |     64.017 |            |    895.425 |            |     895.425 |
Week 52
|  PS4  |     30.145 |     21.657 |            |    925.570 |            |     925.570 |

 

[jelly]

I'd wager that EA would still be willing to sign partnerships with Microsoft, for the right price.

It would be a much higher price now with the PS4 success. Microsoft can't keep going all out, they'll never get their investment back, it's whether it's worth backing it long term when they could get a return.

Some people made a good point, Microsoft have spent ridiculous amounts of money for the return they've got whereas Sony picking their battles and not going anywhere near the same level, have done remarkably well. The finances for Xbox must look so bad. Microsoft are probably looking long term for sunshine and roses.

 

[RedAssedApe]

Laughing at family sharing? Or laughing at the people that really believed 10 people would be able to play a single purchased copy of a game?

latter

 

[AnthonypUK]

I don't agree. You forget the literal billions of investment they have pumped into the console through marketing, development (controller alone cost $100m), partnerships ($300m NFL deal), etc.

9-10m sales worldwide after more than a year on sale for a multi-billion dollar product is a hopelessly poor return by any standard.

By comparison, Sony have sold 18.5m PS4s whilst spending a great deal less.

Kinect 2.0 R&D? thats another massive blackhole there, has to be bigger then both of those.


Gears of War franchise purchase cant have come cheap too.