I don't either. It's the only way Scorpio has a chance of moving a lot of units. All this talk of beast-like power is irrevalent when it can't even be used to offer new gameplay experiences.
I think MS should accept they've lost this gen and drag the Xbox One S for a couple more years while putting their efforts into a real 2020/1 X1 successor. Such a strategy has the benefits of ditching the tarnished Xbox One name and potentially getting a headstart on the PS5.
This Scorpio project is dumb because the console will be limited to being a machine that simply enhances games made for a 2013 platform (if what Ms is saying is true).
I don't think it will (have exclusives).
1) Spencer clearly said so.
2) It would split the userbase. Did you see how unhappy some people were about the PS4 Pro being announced (Collin being a good example)? If MS went the exclusive road (outside VR) for Scorpio, this x1000.
3) Sony will announce its PS5 within 2 years, specially if Scorpio is even moderately successful, thus starting a real new gen. The power debate will then shift.
4) What would be the incentive for devs to design on a super small install base? Even 1st parties have to be evaluated on market realities.
Imo the Scorpio exists because of the following reasons:
- HTPCs would start looking mighty attractive, playing the same games for diminishing costs but with much more power. A more powerful box, playing the same games but better, for a little more money makes sense (same reasonning for Pro)
- try to get some new/ existing buyers in search of "the total 4K package", basically purists/ early adopters.
- Because they knew Sony was doing a mid gen upgrade anyway, a staggered release with them gives them a chance to come up on top in the power debate (which died out a lot in the past 2 years, because we're well within a gen and now it's more about exclusive libraries available on the family of hardware).
Now, is MS eventually going away from generations? Probably, by shifting to HTPCs it might not even produce itself at that point.
But until then, they need the boost in exposure and "reset" provided by a new gen. And Scorpio, imo, ain't it. It is intended to keep them relevant with a powerful Win10 box (and specifically US/ UK).
Now is it possible they will have a legendary E3 with incredible looking 1st party exclusives both "old" (as in known to be coming this year/ expected: Forza 7, Sea of Thieves, State of Decay 2, Crackdown 3) and new (Halo 6, GeoW 5,something from Remedy...) and a few unexpected 3rd party temp exclusives, on top of a renewed interest in Japanese titles available, and a killer Scorpio presentation at $399 doing real 4K all around with a UHD player and all the bells and whistles...
Sure, anything's possible.
But at the same time a lot about their E3 is kinda known, and having only so many 1st party studios (some being franchise factories)... imo the big unknown is the price of the Scorpio (its hardware being known as a 4K30 box w/ 6TF). $399 will get people excited, and $499 or above will seriously deflate that.
On the sw side... I'm not sure what they can announce that's not known, or based on moneyhats like ROTTR was (which got people pissed). Maybe some og Xbox titles that have a cult following (Battletoads and Perfect Dark Zero seem primed).
Personally I was hoping for the return of Mechwarrior titles, but it looks like 3rd party indie devs already got that going on PC (which is great).