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[Machina]

A very interesting discussion about the current state of the Xbox brand and how it relates to hardware and MS future. It's a pretty long segment but I encourage you to watch all of it before responding. Context is King.

Damiani in particular was pretty scathing in his assessment of where they're at with Xbox. Kyle Bosman is predictably a little more measured/nuanced in his rebuttals but to be honest, I find myself more on Damiani's side of the fence on this one. I think people are continuing to underestimate how much of a catastrophe the debut of the Xbox One itself was to the brands image. Following an era where 360 dominated the landscape, along comes the Xbox One with all of its disastrous little anti consumer quirks then Sony plays up that notion, with the DRM side of things especially and just lets it snowball. The rest is history.

It's obvious to everyone now that this false start has been especially prevalent in 2017. MS have just had their clocks cleaned this year by both Sony and Nintendo, and you have to wonder what their top dogs over there are really thinking at the moment. The XOX does come across to me as one last ditch effort to at the very least stay within arms reach of Sony, but you can't help but have your doubts.

 

[Sad Affleck]

I think people are continuing to underestimate how much of a catastrophe the debut of the Xbox One itself was to the brands image.

I disagree. I think people overestimate that damage. The console audience has shown that it doesn't hesitate to switch sides when someone else offers a better product. For much of its lifecycle Xbox 360 was a better product than PS3. PS4 is a better product than XB1. If XB2 proves to be a better product than PS5 then most people will buy that.

 

[jelly]

I disagree. I think people overestimate that damage. The console audience has shown that it doesn't hesitate to switch sides when someone else offers a better product. For much of its lifecycle Xbox 360 was a better product than PS3. PS4 is a better product than XB1. If XB2 proves to be a better product than PS5 then most people will buy that.

Yeah, I don't think there is much loyalty. The 360 had enough of a digital foot print but that didn't stop people from switching. PS2 to 36, 360 to PS3 as well.

I do however think it would be interesting if Sony or Microsoft didn't balls up in some way next gen and Microsoft had more games, what would happen?

 

[wapplew]

I still inclined to believe MS first party "issue" in 2017 simply the fallout of rushed announcement at E3 2014, it's not the sign of MS new direction or anything.
It's a chain of unfortunate events for their 2014 projects, which leave a big hole this year. We'll see the full picture next year when they announce project they started in 2015.
Also, I disagree with Damiani on MS getting out of hardware business. MS want closed eco-system where all transactions go through Xbox live, they can't have that on PC, Xbox hardware is crucial.

PS. The look on their face when they try to think what have MS released in 2017, hehe. L&R

 

[DeaconKnowledge]

I disagree. I think people overestimate that damage. The console audience has shown that it doesn't hesitate to switch sides when someone else offers a better product. For much of its lifecycle Xbox 360 was a better product than PS3. PS4 is a better product than XB1. If XB2 proves to be a better product than PS5 then most people will buy that.

MS' current attitude virtually guarantees that won't happen though. With the XBONE Microsoft has grown a reputation for near nonexistent 1st party supportand we are a long way from they halcyon days when MS was content to outright pay for exclusive content from developers. Simply put, exclusives drive sales. Shy of a drastic change in their current philosophy (or a complete collapse by Sony) MS will never have comparably selling hardware again. That is, IF they even bother to release another console after the XBONE.

 

[RedSparrows]

MS' current attitude virtually guarantees that won't happen though. With the XBONE Microsoft has grown a reputation for near nonexistent 1st party supportand we are a long way from they halcyon days when MS was content to outright pay for exclusive content from developers. Simply put, exclusives drive sales. Shy of a drastic change in their current philosophy (or a complete collapse by Sony) MS will never have comparably selling hardware again. That is, IF they even bother to release another console after the XBONE.

Exclusives drive some sales. Other things also drive sales, imo: Fifa on the platform you're used to, for example. Exclusive game sales are always a minority, sometimes not even significant, of an install-base. No doubt they play a part in mindshare and draw of an ecosystem, but you can't be cheering Nier's sales and then pretend it's anything but a relatively small % of PS4 owners who play it, for example.

 

[Fox Mulder]

MS lost the generation with the launch of the xb1.

They lost the third party crown for stuff like CoD, Destiny, and even indie titles to the ps4. The xb1 versions of third party games aren't as good as the ps4. Halo and Gears of War are down. New exclusives like Sunset Overdrive and Quantum Break failed. They had to cancel titles they were leaning on to make an impact. Who the hell knows what Crackdown ends up being.

I still love the little things like the elite controller and backwards compatibility though. I just prefer the Xbox and the X will give me better versions of the games I play. I'll never cared to bother with PC gaming either.

 

[Bits N Pieces]

Easy Allies is not where I would go for an informed 'hot take' on all things Xbox.

 

[Nightengale]

I still inclined to believe MS first party "issue" in 2017 simply the fallout of rushed announcement at E3 2014, it's not the sign of MS new direction or anything.
It's a chain of unfortunate events for their 2014 projects, which leave a big hole this year. We'll see the full picture next year when they announce project they started in 2015.

Even as someone who's super critical of Xbox first-party, I find the 'gloom and doom' due to Crackdown's delay specifically a bit funny. The quantity of games promised by MS to be releasing on the platform hasn't changed, all it has to make their spring line-up more dense.

Is there a problem in terms of the quantity of games Xbox has been releasing/announcing in general? Yes, there is. Does Crackdown's delay mean anything in the grand scheme of it? Not really.

 

[fabricated backlash]

I disagree. I think people overestimate that damage. The console audience has shown that it doesn't hesitate to switch sides when someone else offers a better product. For much of its lifecycle Xbox 360 was a better product than PS3. PS4 is a better product than XB1. If XB2 proves to be a better product than PS5 then most people will buy that.

I mean that's essentially how Sony even took the market leader position from Nintendo in the first place with the PS1 and 2. People switch platform whenever there is a marked advantage in one.
The real loyal fanboys aren't that huge of an audience when all is said and done.

 

[z0m3le]

The Xbox 1 launched $100 more expensive than the PS4 and was an inferior gaming product. Microsoft doesn't have a country willing to support it that doesn't care about it's competitor that is as productive as Japan, so Xbox has no upperhand to play outside of Microsoft's bankrolling of it's own exclusives, which it has failed to do. The Microsoft CEO wanted to get rid of Xbox division but has instead just ignored it and not given the division the same resources 360 enjoyed last generation.

 

[Goalus]

A very interesting discussion about the current state of the Xbox brand and how it relates to hardware and MS future. It's a pretty long segment but I encourage you to watch all of it before responding. Context is King.

Damiani in particular was pretty scathing in his assessment of where they're at with Xbox. Kyle Bosman is predictably a little more measured/nuanced in his rebuttals but to be honest, I find myself more on Damiani's side of the fence on this one. I think people are continuing to underestimate how much of a catastrophe the debut of the Xbox One itself was to the brands image. Following an era where 360 dominated the landscape, along comes the Xbox One with all of its disastrous little anti consumer quirks then Sony plays up that notion, with the DRM side of things especially and just lets it snowball. The rest is history.

It's obvious to everyone now that this false start has been especially prevalent in 2017. MS have just had their clocks cleaned this year by both Sony and Nintendo, and you have to wonder what their top dogs over there are really thinking at the moment. The XOX does come across to me as one last ditch effort to at the very least stay within arms reach of Sony, but you can't help but have your doubts.

Can't watch it right now, but based on your summary it seems to be a cringefest.

Will watch it later and be prepared to feel embarassed despite being the only person in the room.

 

[bitbydeath]

I disagree. I think people overestimate that damage. The console audience has shown that it doesn't hesitate to switch sides when someone else offers a better product. For much of its lifecycle Xbox 360 was a better product than PS3. PS4 is a better product than XB1. If XB2 proves to be a better product than PS5 then most people will buy that.

360 was still largely carried by the US, people often forget that PS3 still outsold it YOY upon its release.

 

[GHG]

Easy Allies is not where I would go for an informed 'hot take' on all things Xbox.

Where would you go then? Not Eurogamer either I take it?

It's just a discussion/opinion piece as you'd get elsewhere from other journalists in the industry.

 

[SMOK3Y]

360 was still largely carried by the US, people often forget that PS3 still outsold it YOY upon its release.

Yup people (Americans) seem to forget this

 

[Sad Affleck]

Simply put, exclusives drive sales.

I don't think they do, at least not during the time period that determines the winner of the generation. Launch exclusives are almost always crap, PS4 certainly didn't take the lead in sales because of Killzone and Knack. Exclusives are important to maintain and increase the lead, not to create it. Most people buy consoles for GTA, Madden, FIFA and Call of Duty first.

360 was still largely carried by the US, people often forget that PS3 still outsold it YOY upon its release.

True, but it's the biggest market and the whole industry's development focus has shifted from Japan to the US.

 

[le.phat]

Exclusives drive some sales. Other things also drive sales, imo: Fifa on the platform you're used to, for example. Exclusive game sales are always a minority, sometimes not even significant, of an install-base. No doubt they play a part in mindshare and draw of an ecosystem, but you can't be cheering Nier's sales and then pretend it's anything but a relatively small % of PS4 owners who play it, for example.

Exclusives drive brand perception, loyalty, and buy-in first an foremost. After all, it were Halo and Gears that solidified the Xbox brand with gamers, not the hardware running on it. Exclusives might not drive sales, but if all of your games are playable elsewhere, then you are indeed dependent on the fickle nature of gamers. Sony and Nintendo have a loyal fanbase that will always stick with the brand because some of their most loved franchises are exclusive to the brand. Have enough franchises and you have a solid core of users who will serve as early adaptors, whatever product you launch. Focus on hardware, and you're only as good as Moore's law allows you to be. This is why Xbox is in such a pickle.

 

[Bits N Pieces]

Where would you go then? Not Eurogamer either I take it?

It's just a discussion/opinion piece as you'd get elsewhere from other journalists in the industry.

There's loads of places (thats the benefit of the internet!) that will have educated and informed opinions on Xbox, Gaming..... whatever. Eurogamer being one of them.

Tabletop Adventures is still great fun and ill watch reviews of games Im interested in that EA do but to get insight and discussion around Xbox? That's a firm no.

 

[Kolibri]

Frame Trap is the best series on that channel. Just three hours of game chat. Perfect background video.

 

[xabbott]

Damiani is way off. He would have laughed at similar predictions that Nintendo received during Wii U. He also over thinks the PC ports. If PC gamers bought the majority of the titles there even the PS4 would struggle.

 

[blakep267]

I still inclined to believe MS first party "issue" in 2017 simply the fallout of rushed announcement at E3 2014, it's not the sign of MS new direction or anything.
It's a chain of unfortunate events for their 2014 projects, which leave a big hole this year. We'll see the full picture next year when they announce project they started in 2015.
Also, I disagree with Damiani on MS getting out of hardware business. MS want closed eco-system where all transactions go through Xbox live, they can't have that on PC, Xbox hardware is crucial.

PS. The look on their face when they try to think what have MS released in 2017, hehe. L&R

I don't know about rushed. I think it's more of poor decisions and bad luck. Ok theory we would've had scaleboind, FAble legends and crackdown this year. 2 were cancelled and the other was delayed to repolosh the game. Poor choices of green lighting certsin games and the development of working out

 

[deriks]

I don't know if is a Microsoft problem or a matter of bad luck. Xbox is turning itself in a Wii U, but with third-party games.

The shame is because they're selling fine, but eventually people will notice that they're releasing a exclusive good game once a year, and they're gonna stop supporting.

 

[Primethius]

Easy Allies is not where I would go for an informed 'hot take' on all things Xbox.

I'm guessing you didn't even listen to the segment?

 

[GHG]

There's loads of places (thats the benefit of the internet!) that will have educated and informed opinions on Xbox, Gaming..... whatever. Eurogamer being one of them.

Tabletop Adventures is still great fun and ill watch reviews of games Im interested in that EA do but to get insight and discussion around Xbox? That's a firm no.

Fair enough but your original comment doesn't add anything to the discussion. All it reads as is deflection in a "their opinions are not relevant" kind of way. I don't understand the point of it, especially considering the fact that you are not even watching (or going to watch) it.

It's just 3 guys having a chat about the crackdown delay, the Xbox one X and the current state of Xbox from a first party perspective.

 

[watdaeff4]

A very interesting discussion about the current state of the Xbox brand and how it relates to hardware and MS future. It's a pretty long segment but I encourage you to watch all of it before responding. Context is King.

Damiani in particular was pretty scathing in his assessment of where they're at with Xbox. Kyle Bosman is predictably a little more measured/nuanced in his rebuttals but to be honest, I find myself more on Damiani's side of the fence on this one. I think people are continuing to underestimate how much of a catastrophe the debut of the Xbox One itself was to the brands image. Following an era where 360 dominated the landscape, along comes the Xbox One with all of its disastrous little anti consumer quirks then Sony plays up that notion, with the DRM side of things especially and just lets it snowball. The rest is history.

It's obvious to everyone now that this false start has been especially prevalent in 2017. MS have just had their clocks cleaned this year by both Sony and Nintendo, and you have to wonder what their top dogs over there are really thinking at the moment. The XOX does come across to me as one last ditch effort to at the very least stay within arms reach of Sony, but you can't help but have your doubts.

It isn't. It wasn't designed for the masses. They have also always said this from the get-go that it's for the enthusiast/hardcore crowd.

 

[UrbanRats]

I disagree. I think people overestimate that damage. The console audience has shown that it doesn't hesitate to switch sides when someone else offers a better product. For much of its lifecycle Xbox 360 was a better product than PS3. PS4 is a better product than XB1. If XB2 proves to be a better product than PS5 then most people will buy that.

Usually that switch happens at the start of a generation though.

If you bought a ps4, and are paying ps+ to play online, and most of your friends are on ps4, it'd take a massive amount of work to get you to switch product.
On a generational shift though, things are reset a bit, so it's easier to get your foot in the door.

 

[Diprosalic]

It isn't. It wasn't designed for the masses. They have also always said this from the get-go that it's for the enthusiast/hardcore crowd.

why do you need a niche premium product when your mass market product is not setting the world on fire? it also looks like they spent quite a bit more on R&D and marketing than Sony did for theirs which has a much much heigher sales potential.

 

[Sad Affleck]

Usually that switch happens at the start of a generation though.

If you bought a ps4, and are paying ps+ to play online, and most of your friends are on ps4, it'd take a massive amount of work to get you to switch product.
On a generational shift though, things are reset a bit, so it's easier to get your foot in the door.

Correct, that's why X1X is not going to affect the course of this generation.

 

[RSchmitz]

I think Microsoft does a terrible job in playing the underdog.
Usually people are eager to cheer for the losing guy but Microsoft usually comes out as arrogant even though they have little to show.
Hard to make a comeback that way.

 

[Poster#1]

Exclusives drive some sales. Other things also drive sales, imo: Fifa on the platform you're used to, for example. Exclusive game sales are always a minority, sometimes not even significant, of an install-base. No doubt they play a part in mindshare and draw of an ecosystem, but you can't be cheering Nier's sales and then pretend it's anything but a relatively small % of PS4 owners who play it, for example.

Halo single-handedly carried OG Xbox. I disagree that exclusives don't matter.

 

[Bluenoser]

MS lost the generation with the launch of the xb1.

They lost the third party crown for stuff like CoD, Destiny, and even indie titles to the ps4. The xb1 versions of third party games aren't as good as the ps4. Halo and Gears of War are down. New exclusives like Sunset Overdrive and Quantum Break failed. They had to cancel titles they were leaning on to make an impact. Who the hell knows what Crackdown ends up being.

I still love the little things like the elite controller and backwards compatibility though. I just prefer the Xbox and the X will give me better versions of the games I play. I'll never cared to bother with PC gaming either.

They got crushed because of the bad launch. They would have lost the gen regardless though, due to Sony's global sales. If they came out strong, it would have been closer though, and they would likely be leading in NA.

 

[grimmiq]

I don't see anything wrong with the delay for Crackdown 3, if that launched and was crap, that IP was likely going to be dead and buried.

Realistically, when are people expecting the PS5? My prediction for a while now has been a tease at PSX 2018, reveal at E3 2019, release at PSX2019. If Microsoft's only strategy is to rely on their console being the most powerful, 1-2 years doesn't seem like enough time in that position. I wouldn't be surprised if people held off buying a PS4 Pro simply because "Xbox is announcing a new console soon", I see that being a thing just 1 year into this new console's life.

I hope I'm wrong, but I think Microsoft would be better off pushing the Xbox One S, sticking to console generations and starting fresh alongside Sony's new console while investing in new games.

 

[Xiofire]

I don't know if is a Microsoft problem or a matter of bad luck. Xbox is turning itself in a Wii U, but with third-party games.

The shame is because they're selling fine, but eventually people will notice that they're releasing a exclusive good game once a year, and they're gonna stop supporting.

I think it's a mix of both, but more on Microsoft.

Microsoft are, as an overall, pushing more to a services based model for Windows/Office/Enterprise software, with a sort of niche boutique hardware department pushing the Surface line of products. Xbox as a division doesn't fit into this mold, and I think it's been ascertained that Xbox has never been profitable for Microsoft since it's creation.

As such, I think what we are seeing is the remaining projects that Microsoft funded for Xbox at the start of this console life cycle dry up as they are given less money to keep things alive and kicking. This dry spell really feels like the latter part of the 360's lifespan, where the Xbox division were given less and less budget to keep things rolling and to make ends meet until the Xbox One launched. I distinctly remember a very large lack of first party titles from MS in that time period.

Is this foreshadowing MS winding down Xbox and killing it off? Maybe. But it also could be a stop gap while MS push an Xbox Two ready for 2019? Give titles enough time to cook until that time and really come out the gates strong?

 

[Bits N Pieces]

I'm guessing you didn't even listen to the segment?

Fair enough but your original comment doesn't add anything to the discussion. All it reads as is deflection in a "their opinions are not relevant" kind of way. I don't understand the point of it, especially considering the fact that you are not even watching (or going to watch) it.

It's just 3 guys having a chat about the crackdown delay, the Xbox one X and the current state of Xbox from a first party perspective.

Correct. I'm not going to listen to it and I dont feel that I have too. If you want to get informed opnions on Nintendo, Sony, JRPG's etc then I think that Easy Allies would be one of the first places you would go - for Microsoft and Xbox, not so much.

Im more trying to counter the inevitable posts that are sure to follow this thread by stating they wouldnt be my first, second or twentieth port of call to get insight into whats happening with all things Xbox.

 

[rakkadakka]

Halo single-handedly carried OG Xbox. I disagree that exclusives don't matter.

They matter but the amount they matter is debatable.

Honestly I could see a world where raw power plus pubg does a number of great things for MS.

Could be wrong on that as well, it's great that we will have an experiment on that this fall with real numbers as a result.

 

[Kill3r7]

Halo single-handedly carried OG Xbox. I disagree that exclusives don't matter.

Unquestionably. Although OG Xbox had a lot of interesting exclusives due to many PC developers releasing games for it and also throwing money around. They basically got all the Bioware and Bethesda goodness at the time. Additionally, they benefited from lower development costs. This momentum carried over to the 360 with Gears, Mass Effect, plus indies as well. This gen the playing field has really evened out and the HD Twins are very similar outside of exclusives. Losing COD and Destiny marketing deals hurt them immensely. Those games still sell well on the X1 on the back of the 360 and XBL but MS has to feel the pressure at this point.

 

[xabbott]

why do you need a niche premium product when your mass market product is not setting the world on fire? it also looks like they spent quite a bit more on R&D and marketing than Sony did for theirs which has a much much heigher sales potential.

I think the XB1 was made for two reasons. One, they wanted to be known as the more powerful hardware. Two, keep that core fan/audience. Give them a reason to stick with you. Especially with the PS4 Pro on the market.

It, however, was not meant to "save" the Xbox or "win" NPDs from now on and beat Sony.

 

[wapplew]

why do you need a niche premium product when your mass market product is not setting the world on fire? it also looks like they spent quite a bit more on R&D and marketing than Sony did for theirs which has a much much heigher sales potential.

It also a reboot of Xbox brand. They want you to associate power with Xbox again.
One X also keep their core users from leaving their eco system, which is more devastating to the brand than their mass market product not setting the world on fire.

 

[RulkezX]

I disagree. I think people overestimate that damage. The console audience has shown that it doesn't hesitate to switch sides when someone else offers a better product. For much of its lifecycle Xbox 360 was a better product than PS3. PS4 is a better product than XB1. If XB2 proves to be a better product than PS5 then most people will buy that.

PS3 outsold 360 , did it not ?

There wasn't a great deal of "switching sides" , just 2 compelling products last gen.

 

[ViciousDS]

Halo single-handedly carried OG Xbox. I disagree that exclusives don't matter.

Halo 1&2 were basically the only reasons I bought the OG Xbox

Halo 3 and gears of war were the only reasons initially I bought a 360

Xbox One I initially bought because of sunset overdrive and quantum break


Exclusives do sell consoles easily.

What people overestimate is the well it's on PC who needs the console crowd. When you can pay $250 now or $500 for a massive fidielity increase compared to new computer parts every 3-5 years you just don't care about the PC landscape.

It's a Box, you buy it and you know you are going to get the best value in gaming out of it. All games run the same and the experiences are all the same, shared with your friends. Everyone's on equal footing.

This gen was lost in the beginning clear as day, we know this. Microsofts launch lineup was far more stacked than sonys was. In fact NBA 2k14 and resogun ended up being the only reasons I initially played my PS4 at launch. Watch dogs had been delayed, drive club didn't come out till the following year, that initial 6-7 months with a PS4 was actually quite barren. Xbox didn't fair any better but the only reason it flopped was because of its initial DRM policies and price.


The X is to make current hardcore fans happy with playing the games at their best on the current console while Microsoft plan for the launch of the next full fledged generation. The biggest issue with the hardcore Xbox fans is that they played on subpar specs for 4 years and Sony managed to widen the gap even if for a small year more.


This is more of a, here's something now......we understand we fucked up hardcore and are hopefully working on IPs for next year and beyond.

Microsoft this gen has had more bad luck with IPs then I have ever seen. Cuphead has taken a long time, below......where ever the fuck that game is, scalebound, killing black tusks project, phantom dust, yes it's been a bad gen for them.

I'm hoping we get an E3 next year packed with games and nothing but releases of games within the next 8 months of the shoeing Bethesda style

 

[Acquiescence]

I don't think they do, at least not during the time period that determines the winner of the generation. Launch exclusives are almost always crap, PS4 certainly didn't take the lead in sales because of Killzone and Knack. Exclusives are important to maintain and increase the lead, not to create it. Most people buy consoles for GTA, Madden, FIFA and Call of Duty first.

And yet it was largely due to knuckling down on exclusives that enabled the PS3 to eventually lead over the 360 in sales.

 

[suddenlyissoon]

I've had every PlayStation and Xbox but I've always enjoyed my Xbox more, probably due to XBL. That being said, MS got their ass handed to them with this generation. I still blame Mattrick for it and I think Spencer is their best hope to move forward.

I see the X1X as a way to half step PlayStation. Sony will almost certainly try to start the next generation and I think the X1X will put MS in a unique position to not have to fire back immediately with another new console in the way they always have. Instead, they might be able to wait a year or so and build a stronger box. This counter step might be their only way forward.

I hope both will fight on. Hell, I wish Sega was still around to keep the console battles strong. I have no doubt that Sony (or MS) if left to fight alone would have no desire or reason to even move to a new system for a number of years.

 

[hydrophilic attack]

Where would you go then? Not Eurogamer either I take it?

jez corden's twitter

 

[hank_tree]

I've had every PlayStation and Xbox but I've always enjoyed my Xbox more, probably due to XBL. That being said, MS got their ass handed to them with this generation. I still blame Mattrick for it and I think Spencer is their best hope to move forward.

I see the X1X as a way to half step PlayStation. Sony will almost certainly try to start the next generation and I think the X1X will put MS in a unique position to not have to fire back immediately with another new console in the way they always have. Instead, they might be able to wait a year or so and build a stronger box. This counter step might be their only way forward.

I hope both will fight on. Hell, I wish Sega was still around to keep the console battles strong. I have no doubt that Sony (or MS) if left to fight alone would have no desire or reason to even move to a new system for a number of years.

MS would have to be crazy to not have their new console available whenever the PS5 launches.

If they build a better machine they can get people to swap over from PS in the same way a lot of people moved from 360 to PS4.

 

[Aklamarth]

The discussion is a bit moronic, the whole "buy Valve" for 5 billion thing, WTF ?

 

[SpotAnime]

It isn't. It wasn't designed for the masses. They have also always said this from the get-go that it's for the enthusiast/hardcore crowd.

It also a reboot of Xbox brand. They want you to associate power with Xbox again.
One X also keep their core users from leaving their eco system, which is more devastating to the brand than their mass market product not seeking the world on fire.

I hate that first argument. No offense meant but that's really used in defense of Microsoft and the Xbox rather than fact. They say it's a premium product publicly, but the balance sheets would show they need to move product more than they are today to pay for R&D alone, in the least to keep the division from hemorrhaging money.

The latter is only half of the story. They need to keep the existing revenue streams in tact by retaining consumers in their ecosystem (XBL, Gamepass), but they also need to expand that market (to what extent I'm not sure) to bring in/counter those who are leaving with additional revenue. They need the consumer base to expand, not tighten. With the Xbox One X they need to bite a little into both the PS4 market, as well as the PC market. The Xbox One X is this venn diagram that is being positioned across all three (current Xbox owners, PS4 Pro and PC markets). Don't kid yourself they only need current Xbox owners to upgrade to stay afloat.

The next year might look good because they have all those new hardware sales and XBL subs on the books, but they need both to have staying power to stay profitable.

 

[Pantz]

I think there's a general underestimation of people out there who own 4K TV's and don't even own a computer/gaming computer.

 

[ron_bato]

Giving it a download now. Ben and Kyle are two of my favorites and are pretty knowledgeable about the industry. Should be an interesting listen.

 

[Wensih]

Honestly, I've almost forgotten about the original console plans. It took me a second to think back and go, "Oh yeah, that happened. Boy that was dumb." This isn't to say I wouldn't be strongly against the idea if it resurfaced although Ithink it's had a soft launch this generation with the 60GB day one patches and multiple games needing a internet connection to have any meaningful experience. The latter I know was bound to happen as technology progressed. While physical ownership still exists, companies have still managed to find away to make the internet a gate for user experiences.

But the main issue I have with the "Xbox brand" is that it's not branding anything. Outside of some early titles (Rare Collection and Sunset Overdrive) there's nothing on it that distinguishes itself from PC or PS4. It's redundant.

 

[FUNKNOWN iXi]

If you want to get informed opnions on Nintendo, Sony, JRPG's etc then I think that Easy Allies would be one of the first places you would go - for Microsoft and Xbox, not so much.

Xbox fans that are deep in that ecosystem are rare in games media, and that's a shame. I love EZA's content, but yeah they don't really have an "Xbox guy."

This should have been your first post to avoid confusion and with less condescension lol.