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[LelouchZero]

Why do we suppose that they have to make a console? For 3 gens they've failed to be the "best" player in the game, and they don't seem to be getting better at it. They can just exit that space like they exited MP3 players and let others who are better at it handle it. Focus on growing a robust PC platform instead.

As a PC gamer primarily, I don't really care if they exit the console space. Honestly, I don't even care if they exit the PC space because they don't have a lot of exclusives and what they do have doesn't appeal to me at all, and the Windows store is terrible (along with the UWP philosophy).

Are people seriously still downplaying the Xbox 360? That console was incredible and stayed on-top of the PlayStation 3 throughout most of the generation. The 360 was able to compete with the successor to the best selling games console, it may not have been the 'best player' of the generation but what it accomplished was incredible to say the least, and this was their second attempt at home consoles, considering they barely grasped firm ground with the original Xbox due to the same best selling console competing with it.

Meanwhile Nintendo held the fort down with the Wii and nobody could contest them.

 

[Lifeline]

Focus on console if they wanna compete with PS4. Focus on PC if they wanna scale down to do a software publishing only.

 

[rainz]

Both.
I own both and like the option of playing whatever I feel like at the time. Being able to continue one game on both is epic..

I don't get how people feel they should "just stick to consoles" as it has no effect on them, except maybe that Microsoft sells more software therefore makes more money and makes more games hopefully by being on PC as well.
Would love to to see them get those old first party stuff reignited as well like Midtown Madness etc era..

 

[2blackcats]

Holy shit. What year is this?



Most multi-platform games run and look better on PC - if they are prioritizing consoles... then they're doing it wrong. the only making console gamers appear childish, is you three.

2017

But this is a year ago,

https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2016...the-pc-is-the-worlds-biggest-gaming-platform/

 

[ChronotriggerJM]

Why not both? Make the software for PC, and make a hardware box that can run it.

 

[Sydle]

Continue merging the two plus put more work into new Xbox/Win10 exclusives and make the Windows Store likeable.

 

[LukasTaves]

Halo and Gears were mind bendingly awesome when they launched.

Microsoft hasn't attempted to do anything as amazing since.

They did, they just didn't managed to find the same success.

Were it an early ps4 game for instance, titan fall would have exploded.

 

[Tyraniboah]

Despite what you see on GAF, people aren't forsaking the Xbox in droves now that their games are on PC.

If anything, their games being on PC can at least add some extra sales to the ones that may need it.

Pretty much this. I'm moving over to PC because I can play Xbone and PS4 games on it now, but I am the only one of my friends doing so. The rest all have and prefer consoles. Play Anywhere probably nets them more software sales than what they had before while losing little in the way of hardware sales. My Xbox One still has a spot in my entertainment stand as a jack of all trades machine though. I just won't be buying anything except play anywhere titles on it.

 

[Rizific]

keep pushing with pc so i wont have to bother buying any more of their consoles.

 

[RadioactiveLobster]

I hope they keep pushing PC.


I'm in the minority (at least I think I am) but I'm one of the customers that is not going to buy an Xbox. There is no game I care enough enough about to get one. Nor do I care to play a sub 1080p/sub 30 FPS controller experience.

It's the old argument you see for piracy from time to time, it's not a lost sale because I was never going to buy it anyways.

The recent push to PC means that I am actually interested in buying their games again (well, if they improve/ditch the Windows Store).

 

[Bgamer90]

Keeping games off of PC isn't going to greatly boost their console sales.

Console gamers care about good games -- regardless of if they are multiplatform, exclusive, first party, third party, etc.

Microsoft can make more money form people on multiple platforms than just one. Games like Forza Horizon 3 benefitted from being on PC and helped the series to gain more popularity.

 

[Lister]

2017

But this is a year ago,

https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2016...the-pc-is-the-worlds-biggest-gaming-platform/

What does this even have to do with what Corpekata said?

Do you believe there's this huge PC gaming market itching to buy a Xbox? Why haven't they done so already?

 

[Kayhan]

Microsoft should go PC exclusive.

Bring back Microsoft Flight Simulator!

 

[2blackcats]

They did, they just didn't managed to find the same success.

Were it an early ps4 game for instance, titan fall would have exploded.

I disagree that Microsoft put as much effort in to Titanfall or that it was anywhere near as ground breaking as those games.

 

[jdmonmou]

I sold my Xbox One so I hope they do continue Play Anywhere.

 

[jroc74]

Yea keep pushing PC.

Personally it helps my decision to finally build a PC come sooner.

If anything it gives them a Plan B if they decide to exit the console business.

 

[perfectsil]

Xbox platform gets bigger with Windows 10 store, bigger install base for MS to make money from. What's the negative side to this?

 

[blakep267]

They did, they just didn't managed to find the same success.

Were it an early ps4 game for instance, titan fall would have exploded.

titan fall actually did explode. it sold really well for a new IP that was skipping a major install base, it just didn't have the longevity or the player retention model that something like a Destiny had

 

[2blackcats]

What does this even have to do with what Corpekata said?

Do you believe there's this huge PC gaming market itching to buy a Xbox? Why haven't they done so already?

I was replying to what you said,

http://n4g.com/news/1984072/battlefield-1-sells-an-estimated-3-46m-units-first-week-at-retail

Another example.


I already said I think Microsoft should stick with the plan of developing for both.

 

[Pancake Mix]

They can continue to lack any exclusives for their consoles, but it further reduces their relevance, especially outside of North America.

It's not that interesting and I don't think Scorpio will sell very well. Sony has the traditional console market completely cornered outside of NA now and even there they are ahead.

 

[Htown]

I would honestly like Microsoft to ignore the PC as much as possible.

At least until they figure out how to put games out on the platform without also trying to introduce some kind of weird walled garden ecosystem that tries to console-ize PC gaming somehow.

 

[Gamezone]

Why shouldn't they push PC? Is it somehow hurting console gamers?

 

[Dinjoralo]

I would like for them to actually push on PC. What they have now, in terms of games, storefront, etc. is a complete disgrace.

 

[Beerman462]

Xbox should offer an entry level PC in the guise of Xbox.

 

[CuNi]

I hope for more console exclusives. Feels like i bought the box for nothing since all games get released on pc anyway.. Feels like a waste of money. Ps4 on the other hand at least has some interesting exclusives.

 

[Jeff Freecss]

Why not both? With Xbox cross play soon will become a thing, I really don't care where does people play their games as long as I can easily join an online-multiplayer game. And I bet Microsoft doesn't care either.

Edit: I imagine Microsoft have dreamed that one day PC gamers would have no choice but to praise them for the best Xbox branded game ever released on Windows 10. To be fair, it is quite impossible for the game lineup right now and gamers usually praise the studio when a game is good and bitch the publisher when a game is bad. But you never know. It is only a matter of chance.

 

[Jotaka]

The money they invest in xbox would be much more profitable if they invested in other area. It's not about if the xbox division is profitable or not...
The question is how much is profitable based in how much money they need to keep there. Imagine if they invest 1 dollar an get x1.2... but if they invested in other areas the return would be x2 or x3. Not worth in my book.

From gamer perspective what we would lose if MS go out of gaming division is just losing few franchises (1st party). The dev and publishers would focus in switch, ps4, 3ds, PC and mobile. Very distinct devices. Xbox is redundant in my opinion forcing gamers to spreed their investment/money thinner and in more devices that is needed. There would be more chances that the $400 would invested in software/games instead of redundant hardware so... the game market would grow, I think.

 

[Bizzquik]

Play Anywhere was always about the long game.

Two exciting third-party games are supporting it in 2017 - Resident Evil 7 and Middle-earth: Shadows of War. We don't know how much money changed hands to make that happen, but that's not the point.

We should remember that everything "Xbox" is now seen through the prism of how it helps Microsoft gaming - whose reason for being itself is to help with the Windows ecosystem. This is partly why Microsoft is happy to add to the Windows 10 gaming library by putting its formerly Xbox-exclusive franchises on Windows 10: to help with the OS' adoption and its continued usage by consumers. Direct income is not the gaming division's sole goal - or how its success is measured.

Let's see where this goes.

 

[epeternally]

The decision I want to make is them continuing to support PC as a first class citizen. The correct decision is to continue supporting PC with a 1-2 year Xbox exclusivity delay. As much as PC isn't really competing with Xbox, Microsoft are undoubtedly correct on that front, the image issue created by Xbox One not having real new exclusives is causing Microsoft a lot of problems; and Xbox One wasn't doing well from the start. I don't expect it to last.

 

[WillyFive]

They need to actually start with their PC stuff; the Windows 10 stuff so far has been a total mess.

 

[FinaruDensetsu]

Should a PC software company continue pushing PC? Yes.

 

[Sword Of Doom]

It's hard to say when we don't know what their plans are. From the outside, it's seems to me like Phil Spencer is fighting an uphill battle internally and one way to make MS support the brand is to make it a vehicle for bringing users into the Windows ecosystem. If that's the case, then console exclusivity doesn't help them

 

[Jubenhimer]

I think some people are misunderstanding what Microsoft is trying to do here. They're trying to make Xbox more of an agnostic platform rather than just a series of proprietary consoles. Something like their answer to Steam so-to-speak. With emphasis on the Xbox app for Windows 10, and Xbox Play Anywhere, Microsoft is trying to make Xbox more accessible and relevant to people today. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if the Scorpio is just a glorified Windows 10 product with a gaming focus. They're basically trying to fold the Xbox platform into Windows, making so that any Windows PC, Tablet, or TV box is an "Xbox". Don't be surprised if they slowly phase out the Xbox One and rebrand it as just "Xbox".

 

[odhiex]

It is good for everyone, but I think it would affect (negatively) to XBOX as a (console&#8203 brand.

Maybe that is what Microsoft wanted to do from the very beginning.

 

[Barzul]

Keep pushing PC. Playing Gears 4 PC - Xbox coop was a memorable experience and one I want more of.

 

[LordBaztion]

Consoles will eventually be phased out by PCs and the soonest MS establishes a killer service for PC the better. They should keep trying to bring Xbox like services to PCs.

 

[packy34]

If they plan to keep treating PC games like console games - ie locking down the exe/preventing mods, then I won't ever support their efforts on this platform. I would however like to see them do the logical thing and release their games in a traditional way on PC. It doesn't even have to be on Steam... just no UWP nonsense. Win32 or bust.

 

[BBboy20]

Windows is the future.

 

[12Dannu123]

TBH. It's very likely that Microsoft will have Scorpio as console PC hybrid that comes with a Mouse and keyboard and a also a controller out of the box.

This will effectively bring PC and Console together. Meaning you would be able to play UWP PC and Xbox games in one box. Meaning all games that is designed for the Scorpio will work on PC, with no code changes, BUT developers would support scaling down and up for resolutions and frame rate afterwards.

 

[-hadouken]

Should they? It's a moot point - it's the way it's going down. Messaging has been ramping up for a while now - Xbox is a brand/platform not a box.

 

[Shpeshal Nick]

The question is moot because Microsoft's CEO made it clear that he views the company as an integrated whole and that one of the things that means for gaming is not prioritizing their standalone hardware over their operating system. *shrug*

That doesn't explain them doubling down on hardware in almost all forms over the last couple of years. Things change.

 

[12Dannu123]

If they plan to keep treating PC games like console games - ie locking down the exe/preventing mods, then I won't ever support their efforts on this platform. I would however like to see them do the logical thing and release their games in a traditional way on PC. It doesn't even have to be on Steam... just no UWP nonsense. Win32 or bust.

Win32 is a dying programming language that no one beyond games develop for. It makes no sense to continue it. UWP is the future as it runs on multiple form factors and architectures.

If X86 we know today becomes irrelevant in the mainstream PC market, Win32 dies with it and UWP will replace it.

 

[Chill Penguin]

Xbox as a platform/service is where it's headed, and it's a great idea. The only problem...the games! Where's all the great MS published first party games? It's OK they're on PC too, there's not much console/pc overlap. But no one is going to choose an Xbox over a PS4 unless they come out with more compelling exclusives.

 

[Defuser]

They are doing it wrongly, they should be keeping first party exclusives exclusive to console while third party exclusives to Xbone and PC. Sony did this method right.

 

[watership]

The amount of times they've tried sell the division wouldn't surprise me if it finally happens.

The amount of times this is mentioned in forums you mean. I haven't read anything from any source that wasn't a 3rd party investor, who wanted to make money from a stock split. And its the same investors who want Microsoft to break up into office/windows and services. Or Google to sell off each part.

 

[GLAMr]

I don't have the time or money to justify buying an Xbone. However, I do like that they are allowing me to buy games on PC, and play with my friends on Xbox. I think once I built up a large cross-buy library with on-going Xbox compatibility, it would make me more inclined to buy an Xbox in future.

I think the PC focus may be a bit turbulent for now, but could pay dividends in the future.

 

[LukasTaves]

titan fall actually did explode. it sold really well for a new IP that was skipping a major install base, it just didn't have the longevity or the player retention model that something like a Destiny had

Even being optimistic I doubt it crossed the 2 million mark at launch. That's a solid launch but it's not exploding.

 

[packy34]

Win32 is a dying programming language that no one beyond games develop for. It makes no sense to continue it. UWP is the future as it runs on multiple form factors and architectures.

If X86 we know today becomes irrelevant in the mainstream PC market, Win32 dies with it and UWP will replace it.

Gamers will absolutely not subscribe to UWP. It's too restrictive and goes against the core concepts of what a PC is. If I can't tinker with MY software, if I have to exist in a walled garden, I want no part of it.

 

[2blackcats]

How far away from a(reasonably high end) PC is the Scorpio going to be?

I mean could they launch an Xbox app for PC that on boot up is the Xbox interface with all your xbox games available to play?

 

[LukasTaves]

BTW, they are already having some relative success, there are about 240 games already supporting play anywhere released or in development and in average pc purchases are corresponding to 15 to 20% of total game sales.

It is good for everyone, but I think it would affect (negatively) to XBOX as a (console&#8203 brand.

Maybe that is what Microsoft wanted to do from the very beginning.

I don't think so.

Imagine if instead of the windows store the shared marketplace was steam. Would that hurt Xbox or the tons of new games that aren't available on xbone right now would make it even stronger?