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[pixelation]

Is this statement somehow intended to negate the fact that PS4 will outsell Xbox One until September at least, where in some bizarre reality, game consoles are only bought in the Fall season?

That's not even dangerous levels of optimism, that's absurd.

It didn't stop PS4 from gaining a gigantic lead over Xbox One right from launch all the way up to Gamescom 2014.

You have to accept some time or another that the console is being devalued, and to an extent, tainted by the constant promotions as everyone will just keep on waiting, thus, further lowering sales relative to PS4 - it just shows right now, PS4 is ranked 5th in Amazon charts, and Xbox One is 57th. That's not even sad, that's pathetic.

There are more chargers for the Dualshock 4 controller being sold than there are Xbox Ones.

Even if a miracle happened and Xbox One overtook PS4 by December 2015, the gap will once again be closed in favour of PS4 when it outsells it again for 9 months straight.

$299 is a great price for consumers, but do you really think that the overall corporation is thrilled that their console is racking up losses yet still not beating the competition - becoming a giant financial sinkhole with no real results.

Yeah, let's cut it again and incur even more losses, because, we like burning money.

Good post. Now it's your turn BG... GO!

Edit: Never mind Bgamer already fired back.

 

[StrongBlackVine]

Even at 1 million, that's damn close for that point in the gen.

It will be a stalemate in the US as long as Xbox stays priced far enough below PS4. Worldwide it is already over though. So it's not really close.

 

[Bgamer90]

again: what value does 'top spot in n.a.' really have right now, when your main competitor's breathing down your neck, & dominating in every other territory world-wide. do you believe it's feasible for ms to market a game console which only really sells well in one territory?

Well, their current position and game sales in NA is helping them continue on having very solid game support. Positive it would it be even better if they moved to the top spot here (as they are currently #2). Not sure why that's somehow strange to bring up.

________________

People used to discuss and speculate about a platform’s “defining year.” Now they’re speculating about a platform’s “defining three month period from October to December.”

It's moving the goalposts.

How? The OP was talking about how solid the Xbox One's lineup is for this Holiday season. If he/she didn't bring up the Xbox One having a "defining year" in the past (which seems a bit impossible considering the console isn't even two years old yet) then how is it moving the goalposts?

 

[UraMallas]

It will be a stalemate in the US as long as Xbox stays priced far enough below PS4. Worldwide it is already over though. So it's not really close.

A stalemate is fine. I'm happy. I live in NA and that's also what this thread is about.

Heh, I'm going to stop now. This is reminding me of the discussions I had about the Wii U's name and the possibility of the Xbox One doing better than the PS4 in NA during last year's Holiday season. We're just going in circles -- bringing up topics that are outside what I strictly referring to.

Bolded is ringing true for me, too.

 

[N.Domixis]

??? -- No. I'm not negating anything.

It's to simply say that console sales during the last four months of the year are usually higher than the first eight months of the year and therefore cause a bigger impact for gaps. I mean heck, just look at late last year. Xbox One sold more than 1.2 million during a single month. That's about five times what it did last month (Feb. 2015) if I remember correctly.



??? -- Never said it did as my post was referring to the months after Gamescom.



Putting way too much emphasis on Amazon sales here.



Not sure how anyone can say this this early. We don't know how much both consoles will be in early 2016 and neither do we know what games will be releasing during that period.



No. Of course not. That was never my point though. My point was simply why I think the system still has the possibility of being #1 here. Not about them losing money on cutting price.

Heh, I'm going to stop now. This is reminding me of the discussions I had about the Wii U's name and the possibility of the Xbox One doing better than the PS4 in NA during last year's Holiday season. We're just going in circles -- bringing up topics that are outside what I strictly referring to.

Ps4 pricecut will have probably already happened. The gap in 2016 will be even bigger. 299-350? Ps4 bundled with Uncarted 4 and Lat of us?

 

[UraMallas]

Ps4 pricecut will have probably already happened. The gap in 2016 will be even bigger. 299-350? Ps4 bundled with Uncarted 4 and Lat of us?

Now that's a whole handful of assuming and speculation.

 

[arevin01]

Xbox will win by a landslide this time around. No UC or Zelda to compete with.

 

[gtj1092]

Well, their current position and game sales in NA is helping them continue on having very solid game support. Positive it would it be even better if they moved to the top spot here (as they are currently #2). Not sure why that's somehow strange to bring up.

________________





How? The OP was talking about how solid the Xbox One's lineup is for this Holiday season. If he/she didn't bring up the Xbox One having a "defining year" in the past (which seems a bit impossible considering the console isn't even two years old yet) then how is it moving the goalposts?

How would their game support be even better? You think they would get exclusives just for being tied in or barely winning in the U.S.

 

[N.Domixis]

Now that's a whole handful of assuming and speculation.

There has to be a price cut there is no way ps4 is still 400 in 2016.

 

[UraMallas]

How would their game support be even better? You think they would get exclusives just for being tied in or barely winning in the U.S.

He didn't say anything about exclusives. You think PS4 will get exclusives because they are ahead by 1 million consoles in NA by the end of year 2? It's a hallow argument.

 

[LowEndTorque]

How? The OP was talking about how solid the Xbox One's lineup is for this Holiday season. If he/she didn't bring up the Xbox One having a "defining year" in the past (which seems a bit impossible considering the console isn't even two years old yet) then how is it moving the goalposts?

Are you asking me or 2thepoint? Because if you’re asking me, I didn’t say anything about moving goal posts, only whether people are now drinking the preseason kool aid.

 

[Juanfp]

There has to be a price cut there is no way ps4 is still 400 in 2016.

It depends, is the ps4 sales keep increasing they don't a price cut, its better to maximize profits, except if by that time they release a slim model

 

[UraMallas]

Are you asking me or 2thepoint? Because if you’re asking me, I didn’t say anything about moving goal posts, only whether people are now drinking the preseason kool aid.

Then explain you point, exactly. I already asked you to elaborate.

 

[Bgamer90]

Ps4 pricecut will have probably already happened. The gap in 2016 will be even bigger. 299-350? Ps4 bundled with Uncarted 4 and Lat of us?

Maybe. Don't know yet. Like I said before, the gap in NA is pretty small to the point in which major moves that happen here near the end of the year can definitely have a big impact on both consoles (PS4 and Xbox One) in 2016.

__________________

How would their game support be even better? You think they would get exclusives just for being tied in or barely winning in the U.S.

Not taking about (true) exclusives really. Simply talking about game support in general. For example, it might make it easier to have another Madden bundle in the future as that game sells the most in NA (for obvious reasons).

 

[LowEndTorque]

Then explain you point, exactly. I already asked you to elaborate.

And I already answered you.

 

[N.Domixis]

Basically, the reason I am skeptical of xbox ever taking the lead back is that ps4 has yet to have a single permanent price drop and continues to win and ms continues to only care about the last two months. If they spread that strategy during the whole year then probably.

 

[UraMallas]

And I already answered you.

Then what were you trying to bring up as a point?

 

[Bgamer90]

Basically, the reason I am skeptical of xbox ever taking the lead back is that ps4 has yet to have a single permanent price drop.

And that's fine/makes sense. (Still referring to just NA right?)

...And ms continues to only care about the last two months. If they spread that strategy during the whole year then probably.

Well that's the thing -- you are saying this based on 2014. We don't know if MS will have major games outside of November/December yet (e.g.: Halo 5 in September) or how things will be in 2016 when this current gen of gaming really starts to pick up with games that won't be on last gen systems.

There may be a bigger spread of games in 2016; Could see it happening if Quantum Break gets delayed. Don't know yet though.

 

[Biker19]

Microsoft's biggest issue, IMO, is that the XB1 is perceived to be a lesser value than the PS4. Some gamers might agree with that sentiment, some might feel they are equal, and some might even feel XB1 is superior (depending on features, exclusives, and tastes that are relevant, not on sheer spec sheets). NPD results indicate that the only conditions that XB1 triumphs over PS4 so far are when Sony literally doesn't have any PS4 on store shelves, or when MS is "giving away the store" by not only noticeably undercutting Sony's price, but giving away significant free games. That strategy carried MS through the holiday season, but it's not a winning strategy in the long term and it certainly isn't financially responsible. I am not personally of the belief that Microsoft will continue to subsidize the console to that extent if it's not pushing them towards the #1 position. Expenses have to be justified and if it's not moving them out of the #2 spot, it's money that could be better spent on other things.

Is this statement somehow intended to negate the fact that PS4 will outsell Xbox One until September at least, where in some bizarre reality, game consoles are only bought in the Fall season?

That's not even dangerous levels of optimism, that's absurd.

It didn't stop PS4 from gaining a gigantic lead over Xbox One right from launch all the way up to Gamescom 2014.

You have to accept some time or another that the console is being devalued, and to an extent, tainted by the constant promotions as everyone will just keep on waiting, thus, further lowering sales relative to PS4 - it just shows right now, PS4 is ranked 5th in Amazon charts, and Xbox One is 57th. That's not even sad, that's pathetic.

There are more chargers for the Dualshock 4 controller being sold than there are Xbox Ones.

Even if a miracle happened and Xbox One overtook PS4 by December 2015, the gap will once again be closed in favour of PS4 when it outsells it again for 9 months straight.

$299 is a great price for consumers, but do you really think that the overall corporation is thrilled that their console is racking up losses yet still not beating the competition - becoming a giant financial sinkhole with no real results.

Yeah, let's cut it again and incur even more losses, because, we like burning money.

Exactly. What Microsoft's currently doing isn't exactly doing them any favors in the long run, because they're showing consumers that they're desperate by constantly doing what they're doing with deals, price cuts, etc. & by mostly relying on the last 2 months of the year just to bail themselves out of a jam.

That's not smart strategy, & it won't work for them every single year.

 

[Florida_Man_5000]

I don't think that this will be MS's defining year, that will be next year when Crackdown and Scalebound comes out. The games this year are good but they are going up against one of the best third party seasons ever with Battlefront, the Division, BLOPs, Rainbow 6(?), a Bioware game(?), and more. They will get overshadowed.

Edit: And don't forget Bethesda

 

[pixelation]

I don't think that this will be MS's defining year, that will be next year when Crackdown and Scalebound comes out. The games this year are good but they are going up against one of the best third party seasons ever with Battlefront, the Division, BLOPs, Rainbow 6(?), a Bioware game(?), and more. They will get overshadowed.

Edit: And don't forget Bethesda

You think Crackdown and Scalebound will be system movers?, I have a hard time believing that... guess we'll see.

 

[gtj1092]

He didn't say anything about exclusives. You think PS4 will get exclusives because they are ahead by 1 million consoles in NA by the end of year 2? It's a hallow argument.

He said their game support would be even better. What else would that mean besides exclusives? No I don't think Ps4 will get exclusives for having a 1 million or 5 million lead in NA that's why I questioned his belief that X1 would get more support by being in the lead in NA despite being nearly 10 million units behind in the world.

You do realize that pretty much the same games are popular in Europe as in the U.S. right. Publishers aren't going to separate the sales and only look at NA.

Edit: bgamer clarified what he meant. Either way don't agree those bundles have nothing to do with console sales and are merely negotiated. Highest bidder gets the bundle.

 

[EhoaVash]

Only game on x1 that interest me is scalebound but that looks more like a 2016 title lol

Never been a halo fan. Only exposure was just 1 match of halo 2 multiplayer.

The rest no interest at all.

 

[UraMallas]

He said their game support would be even better. What else would that mean besides exclusives? No I don't think Ps4 will get exclusives for having a 1 million or 5 million lead in NA that's why I questioned his belief that X1 would get more support by being in the lead in NA despite being nearly 10 million units behind in the world.

You do realize that pretty much the same games are popular in Europe as in the U.S. right. Publishers aren't going to separate the sales and only look at NA.

I would imagine he meant that Sony would not be getting any exclusives by default.

I didn't realize that last point. That, to me, just tells me that Xbox One doing good in NA means Xbox One owners in Europe will get more games. Is that the point you were trying to make?

 

[Lord Malachite]

Exactly. What Microsoft's currently doing isn't exactly doing them any favors in the long run, because they're showing consumers that they're desperate by constantly doing what they're doing with deals, price cuts, etc. & by mostly relying on the last 2 months of the year just to bail themselves out of a jam.

That's not smart strategy, & it won't work for them every single year.

Indeed, this is a prime example of "Just because we can do something doesn't mean we should." Microsoft has deep pockets, they certainly can subsidize their box with price cuts and software until the veritable cows come home. But as I stated earlier, if it's not going to lift them out of second place into first, it seems like a tremendous waste of capital. The PS4 routinely outperformed the XB1 throughout 2014 and only in the Nov-Dec holiday sales did XB1 finally outsell it. But it hardly means anything to MS more than a talking point for those two months. Even by winning the Nov & Dec NPDs, it's not as though the PS4 stopped selling during those months. PS4 still sold incredibly well during the holidays. Those holiday sales combined with its significant lead all year long still continue to make it pull away from its competitor in North America. And outside of North America the battle has already been decided. The bottom line is that Microsoft may have plenty of money to spend. But the XB1's fate is more or less decided and while they should by no means abandon the platform, it isn't worth it to continuously take a loss on the thing. They should instead build more value by spending the money on games, content, and features.

 

[pixelation]

Indeed, this is a prime example of "Just because we can do something doesn't mean we should." Microsoft has deep pockets, they certainly can subsidize their box with price cuts and software until the veritable cows come home. But as I stated earlier, if it's not going to lift them out of second place into first, it seems like a tremendous waste of capital. The PS4 routinely outperformed the XB1 throughout 2014 and only in the Nov-Dec holiday sales did XB1 finally outsell it. But it hardly means anything to MS more than a talking point for those two months. Even by winning the Nov & Dec NPDs, it's not as though the PS4 stopped selling during those months. PS4 still sold incredibly well during the holidays. Those holiday sales combined with its significant lead all year long still continue to make it pull away from its competitor in North America. And outside of North America the battle has already been decided. The bottom line is that Microsoft may have plenty of money to spend. But the XB1's fate is more or less decided and while they should by no means abandon the platform, it isn't worth it to continuously take a loss on the thing. They should instead build more value by spending the money on games, content, and features.

Good post.

 

[UraMallas]

Indeed, this is a prime example of "Just because we can do something doesn't mean we should." Microsoft has deep pockets, they certainly can subsidize their box with price cuts and software until the veritable cows come home. But as I stated earlier, if it's not going to lift them out of second place into first, it seems like a tremendous waste of capital. The PS4 routinely outperformed the XB1 throughout 2014 and only in the Nov-Dec holiday sales did XB1 finally outsell it. But it hardly means anything to MS more than a talking point for those two months. Even by winning the Nov & Dec NPDs, it's not as though the PS4 stopped selling during those months. PS4 still sold incredibly well during the holidays. Those holiday sales combined with its significant lead all year long still continue to make it pull away from its competitor in North America. And outside of North America the battle has already been decided. The bottom line is that Microsoft may have plenty of money to spend. But the XB1's fate is more or less decided and while they should by no means abandon the platform, it isn't worth it to continuously take a loss on the thing. They should instead build more value by spending the money on games, content, and features.

Which is exactly what they are doing. Microsoft is a big company. They can 'spend' money in both ways.

 

[Chris1]

Indeed, this is a prime example of "Just because we can do something doesn't mean we should." Microsoft has deep pockets, they certainly can subsidize their box with price cuts and software until the veritable cows come home. But as I stated earlier, if it's not going to lift them out of second place into first, it seems like a tremendous waste of capital. The PS4 routinely outperformed the XB1 throughout 2014 and only in the Nov-Dec holiday sales did XB1 finally outsell it. But it hardly means anything to MS more than a talking point for those two months. Even by winning the Nov & Dec NPDs, it's not as though the PS4 stopped selling during those months. PS4 still sold incredibly well during the holidays. Those holiday sales combined with its significant lead all year long still continue to make it pull away from its competitor in North America. And outside of North America the battle has already been decided. The bottom line is that Microsoft may have plenty of money to spend. But the XB1's fate is more or less decided and while they should by no means abandon the platform, it isn't worth it to continuously take a loss on the thing. They should instead build more value by spending the money on games, content, and features.

Why not do both?

I don't particularly care for the price cuts since I already have my XB1 (Plus, I'm UK where we haven't really gotten any price cut ), but if MS wants to lose money on consoles then I say go for it, from where I'm standing, that money isn't being took out of games, content or features as we're still getting plenty of those and even 2016 looks solid games wise too. Until we stop getting those there's no need to panic really, and if anything, MS will be doubling down even harder on exclusives and such to make up for the hardware differences instead of slacking off like last gen. So if MS wants to lose money on getting consoles into peoples homes when it's clearly not effecting me as a gamer then I say go for it.. It's not my money they're spending and clearly MS has enough of it to go to waste.

The XB1 can still catch up and outsell the PS4 in America, I don't know why you make it sound like they're doomed just because they didn't catch up last year. There's still a lot of people on the 360 that they need to persuade into jumping onto the XB1 over PS4, just look at November's NPD where 360 CoD outsold both PS4 and XB1 despite the huge discounts on XB1 that month.

Outside of America and possible UK the Xbox has no chance, but MS doesn't care about those countries anyway, hell, they hardly even care about the UK and that's it's second strongest region. They will never win over the rest of Europe, if they didn't for the 360, they sure as hell aren't going to for the XB1.

 

[Rurunaki]

Which is exactly what they are doing. Microsoft is a big company. They can 'spend' money in both ways.

Microsoft should just gollow Nintendo's lead. Focus on a brand new console. Hopefully this time, they won't sit on their laurels, eating donuts, watching Sony's stream mocking them and being caught off guard.


Edit: I also think Halo 5 won't move as much console as people think. Those on the fence who wanted xb1 and Halo would've already bought the MCC bundle.

 

[rokkerkory]

Microsoft should just gollow Nintendo's lead. Focus on a brand new console. Hopefully this time, they won't sit on their laurels, eating donuts, watching Sony's stream mocking them and being caught off guard.


Edit: I also think Halo 5 won't move as much console as people think. Those on the fence who wanted xb1 and Halo would've already bought the MCC bundle.

People still don't believe in a series Halo game? LOL

Every Halo series (H1-4) game have sold gangbusters.

 

[Bgamer90]

He said their game support would be even better. What else would that mean besides exclusives? No I don't think Ps4 will get exclusives for having a 1 million or 5 million lead in NA that's why I questioned his belief that X1 would get more support by being in the lead in NA despite being nearly 10 million units behind in the world.

You do realize that pretty much the same games are popular in Europe as in the U.S. right. Publishers aren't going to separate the sales and only look at NA.

Edit: bgamer clarified what he meant. Either way don't agree those bundles have nothing to do with console sales and are merely negotiated. Highest bidder gets the bundle.

But I would imagine a company would have to pay more based on how much they are further behind.

Either way, I didn't mean just bundles or things in the overall "list wars". I just simply meant game support overall (games, bundles, deals, etc.). Less of a chance to lose game support if a console is in the top spot in NA.

 

[Rurunaki]

People still don't believe in a series Halo game? LOL

Every Halo series (H1-4) game have sold gangbusters.

I know it will sell gangbusters, what I'm saying is that will it move consoles? Those who wanted Halo already jumped at the chance when MCC came out.

 

[Bgamer90]

I know it will sell gangbusters, what I'm saying is that will it move consoles? Those who wanted Halo already jumped at the chance when MCC came out.

They did? So no Halo fans held back due to the collection's major issues or simply due to the fact the collection had old games?

 

[Rurunaki]

They did? So no Halo fans held back due to the collection's major issues or simply due to the fact the collection had old games?

I would believe so. Will you call yourself a fan of Halo and not buy MCC? The reviews did not mention the issues on the initial release. It was fan feedback that made the shit hit the fan.

 

[...Scatter...]

I know it will sell gangbusters, what I'm saying is that will it move consoles? Those who wanted Halo already jumped at the chance when MCC came out.

I don't think that's the case. Also, I believe many PS4 only peeps who love games will join the fray. I have everything personally and I'm not sure what people have against MS having a strong holiday season? Why does that bug people?

It's not a war, this discussion is about how well The XBO will do this holiday because of a strong lineup, not about what that means for the PS4. Can't both consoles be successful?

 

[...Scatter...]

I would believe so. Will you call yourself a fan of Halo and not buy MCC? The reviews did not mention the issues on the initial release. It was fan feedback that made the shit hit the fan.

Not everyone wants to rebuy games they already own. Some folks are out for new experiences. Plus Halo 5 will have some great marketing if the past is any indication.

 

[pixelation]

I don't think that's the case. Also, I believe many PS4 only peeps who love games will join the fray. I have everything personally and I'm not sure what people have against MS having a strong holiday season? Why does that bug people?

It's not a war, this discussion is about how well The XBO will do this holiday because of a strong lineup, not about what that means for the PS4. Can't both consoles be successful?

Who has something against MS?, what makes you think that?. Also it's kind of impossible to leave the PS4 out of the thread when you think about the topic, being it's biggest competition and all... they're linked together like it or not.

 

[...Scatter...]

Who has something against MS?, what makes you think that?. Also it's kind of impossible to leave the PS4 out of the thread when you think about the topic, being it's biggest competition and all... they're linked together like it or not.

That part was more for the entire thread than for you personally. Didn't mean to direct your way.

 

[RBK]

These kind of threads seem to always go in circles.

Almost like a chest bumping competition.

 

[Pez]

Xbox One has already lost the race, but this holiday will be good for them because of Halo 5.

After that, let's just hope they get their first-party stable in order.

 

[kevin1025]

Their push in marketing for third party games might be as aggressive as ever this year, to fill in the gaps. Pushing to make them look exclusive when really they're not, making deals for extra content first on Xbox, maybe even locking down another game besides Tomb Raider. They were the king of third party games last generation, that might be a viable strategy to try again and close the gap. If you get the conversation to turn away from performance and resolution differences and more on making the Xbox One the best place to play (which is their slogan, after all) third party games, that can certainly define a season for them.

 

[cakely]

Have you seen the figures for titanfall and horizon 2 for 360? Its barely worth talking about, those games dont really match x1 versions in scope and experience, with all that I'd hardly say TR is being shared, and is seen as a next gen title on x1 only.

Ok, cool.

Except, "Rise of the Tomb Raider" is a multi-platform game, also out for the Xbox 360, so the Xbox One doesn't have that game "all to itself".

 

[UraMallas]

Just spit ballin' here...

The other consoles not having a 'big' game in Q4 might work in a different way for Xbox, too. What about pushing Halo 5 up to Sep. like Halo 3 because of the great 3rd-party lineups that are about the same on both consoles? Halo in September, Forza 6 in October, Fable spin-off and Tomb Raider in November. Combine that with the third-party lineups that will be across both systems that looks pretty good. Into next year; Quantum Break, a possible Gears Collection, Crackdown and whatever Rare revival franchise is in the works. That's a good first half to 2016. Forza Horizon 3 and Gears 4 to end the year.

Throw in niche titles like Scalebound and Phantom Dust that I'm not for certain on how far along they are; they might fall anywhere from a surprise release late Summer 2015 to sometime in 2016.

Did I just List Wars?

Fuck...

 

[StrongBlackVine]

Their push in marketing for third party games might be as aggressive as ever this year, to fill in the gaps. Pushing to make them look exclusive when really they're not, making deals for extra content first on Xbox, maybe even locking down another game besides Tomb Raider. They were the king of third party games last generation, that might be a viable strategy to try again and close the gap. If you get the conversation to turn away from performance and resolution differences and more on making the Xbox One the best place to play (which is their slogan, after all) third party games, that can certainly define a season for them.

PS4 has already been established as the place to play multiplats. Performance will always be a topic and important. Sony has also pulled some very strategic moves with 3rd parties in securing Bloodborne as exclusive and Street Fighter 5 as a "console exclusive." Persona 5 is another one that could prove to be big. As their lead grows I expect to see more of these deals, especially with Japanese developers.

The best move for Xbox would be producing more exclusives(not timed or DLC deals), but their lack of studios will make that difficult or impossible.

 

[Juanfp]

PS4 has already been established as the place to play multiplats. Performance will always be a topic and important. Sony has also pulled some very strategic moves with 3rd parties in securing Bloodborne as exclusive and Street Fighter 5 as a "console exclusive." Persona 5 is another one that could prove to be big. As their lead grows I expect to see more of these deals, especially with Japanese developers.

The best move for Xbox would be producing more exclusives(not timed or DLC deals), but their lack of studios will make that difficult or impossible.

I don't think that make more exclusive can be impossible, they can always work with outside studios.

 

[kevin1025]

PS4 has already been established as the place to play multiplats. Performance will always be a topic and important. Sony has also pulled some very strategic moves with 3rd parties in securing Bloodborne as exclusive and Street Fighter 5 as a "console exclusive." Persona 5 is another one that could prove to be big. As their lead grows I expect to see more of these deals, especially with Japanese developers.

The best move for Xbox would be producing more exclusives(not timed or DLC deals), but their lack of studios will make that difficult or impossible.

That's true, PS4 has taken over that area this generation. It's just strange how the shift happened and that Microsoft more or less let the shift happen without keeping the Xbox platform be seen as number one. I'm sure they will be trying to gain it back, but like you mentioned, PS4 has already established that and it's likely a lost battle.

I keep forgetting that Sony has far more studios under its belt, too, compared to Microsoft's.

 

[Lord Malachite]

Why not do both?

I don't particularly care for the price cuts since I already have my XB1 (Plus, I'm UK where we haven't really gotten any price cut ), but if MS wants to lose money on consoles then I say go for it, from where I'm standing, that money isn't being took out of games, content or features as we're still getting plenty of those and even 2016 looks solid games wise too. Until we stop getting those there's no need to panic really, and if anything, MS will be doubling down even harder on exclusives and such to make up for the hardware differences instead of slacking off like last gen. So if MS wants to lose money on getting consoles into peoples homes when it's clearly not effecting me as a gamer then I say go for it.. It's not my money they're spending and clearly MS has enough of it to go to waste.

The XB1 can still catch up and outsell the PS4 in America, I don't know why you make it sound like they're doomed just because they didn't catch up last year. There's still a lot of people on the 360 that they need to persuade into jumping onto the XB1 over PS4, just look at November's NPD where 360 CoD outsold both PS4 and XB1 despite the huge discounts on XB1 that month.

Outside of America and possible UK the Xbox has no chance, but MS doesn't care about those countries anyway, hell, they hardly even care about the UK and that's it's second strongest region. They will never win over the rest of Europe, if they didn't for the 360, they sure as hell aren't going to for the XB1.

But how much money is Microsoft willing to spend on a video game console? If they're both selling it at a loss and giving away free games to entice people to buy it, that's a significant risk on their part that the sale will be profitable to them in the long term. Even if the buyer is a hardcore gamer, it will still take some software and service sales to break even. My point regarding all of this is that I can't imagine the shareholders at Microsoft will allow loss leader sales of that level to be ongoing if it isn't reversing the tide and moving them towards overtaking the PS4, at least in North America.

This doesn't mean that the XB1 is a non-starter, that it's a loser, that they might as well just give up and go home. Sony didn't do this in the darkest days of the PS3, there's no reason MS should in their situation, which is a lot less grave than Sony's once was. My point is that spending tons of money to boost sales and still having to settle for #2, it just seems like poor business planning. It's not as though the console is stillborn and publishers are threatening to pull support. The system has already won the battle to remain relevant and whether you love it, hate it, or feel meh about it, it's here to stay.

What Microsoft should spend all of its money on, IMO, is making it the system that as a gamer, you can't ignore. They've been great at adding features, and they have some significant games in development. They need to keep at this. Even if the PS4 remains #1 throughout the generation, which seems rather likely even in NA, the XB1 can still be that system that gamers have to have for exclusives. There were 360 gamers last gen who acquired PS3s later in the generation for the exclusive titles, and the XB1 can similarly do this and end up having a real resurgence in the long term.

 

[Bgamer90]

But how much money is Microsoft willing to spend on a video game console? If they're both selling it at a loss and giving away free games to entice people to buy it, that's a significant risk on their part that the sale will be profitable to them in the long term. Even if the buyer is a hardcore gamer, it will still take some software and service sales to break even. My point regarding all of this is that I can't imagine the shareholders at Microsoft will allow loss leader sales of that level to be ongoing if it isn't reversing the tide and moving them towards overtaking the PS4, at least in North America.

This doesn't mean that the XB1 is a non-starter, that it's a loser, that they might as well just give up and go home. Sony didn't do this in the darkest days of the PS3, there's no reason MS should in their situation, which is a lot less grave than Sony's once was. My point is that spending tons of money to boost sales and still having to settle for #2, it just seems like poor business planning. It's not as though the console is stillborn and publishers are threatening to pull support. The system has already won the battle to remain relevant and whether you love it, hate it, or feel meh about it, it's here to stay.

What Microsoft should spend all of its money on, IMO, is making it the system that as a gamer, you can't ignore. They've been great at adding features, and they have some significant games in development. They need to keep at this. Even if the PS4 remains #1 throughout the generation, which seems rather likely even in NA, the XB1 can still be that system that gamers have to have for exclusives. There were 360 gamers last gen who acquired PS3s later in the generation for the exclusive titles, and the XB1 can similarly do this and end up having a real resurgence in the long term.

Good post. I definitely think that MS will focus more on core gaming exclusives during the second half of this gen in comparison to the second half of last gen due to the Xbox One's position in power.

Game exclusives are what helped the PS2 sell to people after it was known that the Xbox was more powerful. Same was true for the PS3 in terms of its position for multiplats vs. the 360. Xbox One needs to do the same. It might be harder for MS though since this is the first gen in which the Xbox console doesn't have the best multiplats; Not familiar with this position like Sony is.

Games that are on Xbox One that aren't on the PS4 (like Forza) was the main reason why I got the Xbox One first instead of the PS4 even though I knew their positions in power. Definitely think they can have the same effect on others who still haven't made the jump to current gen yet if they focus on gaming even more from here on out.

 

[tattooed_dwarf]

I don't think MS can on any way stop snowball effect which great sales of PS4 have started, more time goes by, more people have mindset that "everyone I know have PS4, so I get it too so I have friends to play with". They can only try their best to reduce the growth of that said gap. Concentrating on great exclusives could be way to keep them more relevant.

 

[Bgamer90]

I don't think MS can on any way stop snowball effect which great sales of PS4 have started, more tome goes ny, more people have mindset that "everyone I know have PS4, so I get it too so I have friends to play with". They can only try their best to reduce the growth of that said gap. Concentrating on great exclusives could be way to keep them more relevant.

Well as I said before, this is going to play a role in them focusing on North America since NA is really the only big territory in which things are pretty evenly split in terms of "I'm getting what my friends have". There's not an unanimous console here like there was last gen with 360 vs. PS3.

It's a done deal for most territories outside of NA though -- PS4 is the "console my friends have".