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Andrew House surprised by timing of Project Scorpio announcement

rokkerkory

Member
MS is going with any press is good press. They have the headlines from h/w perspective for this E3.

Everyone already knows about the neo, might as well come out with it asap unless your specs are changing because of scorpio.
 

Dinjooh

Member
So unveiling at PSX release ~month later

Got it.

Smart, IMO.

But he has to understand why Xbox's plans are different than his. Xbox can't continue along with the Xbox One any longer.

They need to have a bigger vision and announce that vision so people buy into it sooner.

They're not gonna release their console just after the holidays.

It'll be announced at either Gamescom, PGW or their own conference and launched before the holiday season starts. October most likely.
 

Freeman

Banned
MS current strategy it to try and disrupt Sony. Sony is on cruise control tho, probably won't need to change anything.

I dunno if they'll launch it at the same time as the PSVR
Why not? Double down on the zeitgeist, use one to promote the other, save money by not having to advertise them separately.
 

OneUh8

Member
This now solidifies my prediction that they will do an announce and available now or within the next month type of announcement for Neo. It will either be Gamescom/PGW or PSX if they dropping it this year.
 

CCIE

Banned
Well, the biggest issue is MS just shot the sales of the S to pieces. Only the most hardcore of fans is going to buy both now. Most will just wait - it's only a year between the two machines. I was going to buy the S, but now I will just wait and see.

Which sucks for MS, because there is a good chance I will be seduced by the Neo instead and end up skipping on the Scorpio all together unless the NX is garbage. Zelda was amazing looking, and changed my original plans to wait for the Scorpio on Monday
 

Dinjooh

Member
First thing that came to my mind when I read what House said, but I'm sure it works as a different strategy for games.

I think there's a big difference between hardware and software announcement strategies.

With that said, I'd love if the industry moved towards a much shorter reveal-release window.
Fallout 4 was fantastic in that regard.
 

Elios83

Member
Of course it is surprising and it's a move that exposes them to a difficult situation until the product is launched.
Trying to keep selling a console already struggling after announcing that your next gen console is out next year is not easy.
And we're already seeing the confusing message ( exclusives/not exclusives, same games in 4K/developers can do whatever they want).
I think they thought that considering the XB1 situation it was worth it to try to build hype for the next product early but without having games or things to make people excited about besides a few key specs, it's not going to be easy.
Imo it was a wrong choice, I dind't expect them to announce the Scorpio this year. They could have waited for January or February.

MS took the risk so future Neo buyers might change their minds and wait for Scorpio.

A very risky strategy considering that people are focused on ''here and now'' and they'll soon seen actual Neo games running on the console (with Sony preparing contents to highlight the differences), while Microsoft won't have anything to show until next next year.
 

Sydle

Member
That's pretty much what I would say if I had been caught off guard by a competitors more powerful alternative that's making me rethink how to position my own offering.
 

CorrisD

badchoiceboobies
Yea they announced it a bit far out, Neo most likely being this year I assume made them press the button early which is why all we have is some cg and people talking and nothing else. Which is funny because Andrew House said himself when they confirmed it's existence that they didn't want to show it till they have something to show for it.

Microsoft has managed to confuse people again by saying one thing and meaning another, what they are doing again much like when they both announced our existing consoles is that they've given Sony learn from their mistakes.


We are surprised that you didn't show NEO. Scared of Scorpio?

Why would be surprised when they confirmed it exists and specifically said it wouldn't be there. I said it in the other topic but it seems pretty obvious Microsoft have decided to announce Scorpio so far out is because Sony are going to announce Neo and show it off and release it a few months later giving MS not a lot of time. MS have tried to get in first and give out bigger numbers, but at the same time they've confused people as to who Scorpio is for and what it does.

That's pretty much what I would say if I had been caught off guard by a competitors more powerful alternative that's making me rethink how to position my own offering.

You know these guys probably all know what is going on with each other before they officially announce stuff right? They are both using the same developers, the same hardware company, being made in the same countries usually by the same big companies. I imagine Sony know how to show Neo off now that MS have managed to say 10 different things and go back on them about Scorpio.
 

Mrbob

Member
MS took the risk so future Neo buyers might change their minds and wait for Scorpio.
I was thinking more along the lines ms us trying to stop people from buying PS4s. The one console that is actually selling worldwide. Don't think it'll work since software is ultimately more important than hardware.
 
Is what Microsoft did really that much different from what House did in confirming the Neo?

Announcing it loudly on stage as opposed to quitely in an interview? Quite different. Especially since Microsoft announce a new iteration of the One during the same conference
 

daveo42

Banned
MS is desparate, so stating they were working on Scorpio is like their last Ace in the hole. They want to reclaim the top stop in NA by showing they will have forward/backward compatibility with their titles and power superiority in the coming years. Not sure if it's the right decision since those in the know will more than likely wait for Scorpio than pick up an S, but it is a strategy they are betting on will work.

Now I'm super interested in Sony's repsonse outside of what has already been detailed.
 

jbug617

Banned
If you want Phil criticized Sony for showing games without a release window.
https://www.vg247.com/2016/06/15/xb...-doing-a-better-job-shipping-more-exclusives/
“When I look at this year, I’ll just take the E3 conferences… we showed four big games launching exclusively on Xbox One and Windows 10,” he began. “When I think about Gears, Forza Horizon, ReCore, Dead Rising 4 – all of those games are launching this year and they’ve been announced, there are dates next to them.”

“When I watch the other platforms, it’s not always clear to me when the games are shipping or how many of them are shipping this year.”
 
i wonder what peoples reactions will be if Sony takes awhile to reveal the console and it ends up being weaker than the Scorpio.
 
Doesn't seem like Microsoft has any clue what they want to do with the Scorpio. Phil is just throwing out random stuff and see what sticks, if these interviews are anything to go by.

What i expect Sony to do with Neo is just clear messaging no confusing double speak.
 
Is what Microsoft did really that much different from what House did in confirming the Neo?

Quite. One said we are working on something. The other pretty much said, this amazing thing is coming next year. Yea , we just announced a slim version of our current console, but you really want what we are releasing next fall.
 
Oh its obvious it was the right decision by Microsoft. They are dominating the news headlines. Sony executives are being asked to comment on it. Sonygaf is in full prevent defense trying to turn PR statements into messaging scandals. I think Beyonce said it best...

"You know you that b*tch when you cause all this conversation"
-Beyonce
This is real? This is real...

Meanwhile in real life, Phil is just confusing everyone with bad PR. Sonys conference is winning best of e3 across the web. Zelda is blowing up social media, and people are actually discussing games coming to PS.
 

DigSCCP

Member
I have a feeling for a long time now that the PS Neo will have a release date no one is expecting.
Releasing it at Holidays or announcing it before the holidays could hurt PS4 OG sales.
So my guess :
- Full announce at PSX - December
- Release along Horizon - February
Horizon is that kinda game that really can show what Neo is about.
Releasing it in a "non usual" date will give time to the mass audience understand that their PS4s still the same, that will receive the same games as the PS Neo and when the high sales times comes people will already undestand the new model business and then choose what fits better for them.
 

Servbot24

Banned
I was surprised as well. However given that MS doesn't seem too concerned about selling XBox's, I suppose it's somewhat harmless.
 

TheOfficeMut

Unconfirmed Member
Is what Microsoft did really that much different from what House did in confirming the Neo?

Ugh, yes? When you start to attempt to get into specifics about the console while obfuscating the message, you're fucking up. Simply stating the Neo exists cannot be interpreted any other way, as opposed to the answers we've been receiving regarding the Scorpio.
 

krang

Member
I was thinking more along the lines ms us trying to stop people from buying PS4s. The one console that is actually selling worldwide. Don't think it'll work since software is ultimately more important than hardware.

Exactly the point that MS were trying to make.
 

Elios83

Member
Is what Microsoft did really that much different from what House did in confirming the Neo?

Difference is that Neo is coming this year.
They just wanted to avoid disappointment at their E3 conference for Neo not being there and they were right.

I have a feeling for a long time now that the PS Neo will have a release date no one is expecting.
Releasing it at Holidays or announcing it before the holidays could hurt PS4 OG sales.
So my guess :
- Full announce at PSX - December
- Release along Horizon - February
Horizon is that kinda game that really can show what Neo is about.
Releasing it in a "non usual" date will give time to the mass audience understand that their PS4s still the same, that will receive the same games as the PS Neo and when the high sales times comes people will already undestand the new model business and then choose what fits better for them.

Neo will likely be announced in September.
Original PS4 will be price cutted to 299$, Neo introduced at 399$.
Their strategy is clear at this point.
 

Jakoo

Member
Sony is in a more comfortable position then Microsoft is right now--they can afford to take their time with releasing information and products.

Microsoft though, needs to do whatever it can to retain mindshare with it's console. The promise of the "most powerful console on the market" which will be fully backwards compatible with the XB1 will keep XB fans invested in their ecosystem looking forward instead of considering jumping ship to Sony's.
 
But to the potential consumer what actual difference does it make? Either way the casual audience is going to see that both companies are making more powerful consoles.

It makes all the difference. Microsoft basically killed any interest for a lot of people for the Xbox One S. They'll just wait for Scorpio. Sony has basically said "yeah, we have something. We don't know when, but the PS4 is still our main thing right now"
 
I think there's a big difference between hardware and software announcement strategies.

With that said, I'd love if the industry moved towards a much shorter reveal-release window.
Fallout 4 was fantastic in that regard.

Yes, the only thing that I like in Sony approach is that at least they show you the game in a funcional way but waiting for two years is quite a lot. Kojima's project is worst offender though but at least I knew beforehand that they had nothing so I bought the trailer for what it was, besides the man is insane in a good way.
 
In terms of exposure? Hell yea.

In terms of strategies, again - yes. Scorpio is 1½ year out, Neo is months away.

I don't think the exposure is really going to be that different. All this stuff ends up in news articles and Facebook trending links anyways.
 
I have a feeling for a long time now that the PS Neo will have a release date no one is expecting.
Releasing it at Holidays or announcing it before the holidays could hurt PS4 OG sales.
So my guess :
- Full announce at PSX - December
- Release along Horizon - February
Horizon is that kinda game that really can show what Neo is about.
Releasing it in a "non usual" date will give time to the mass audience understand that their PS4s still the same, that will receive the same games as the PS Neo and when the high sales times comes people will already undestand the new model business and then choose what fits better for them.


Wasn't there a couple other games that were recently delayed? Perhaps the delay was to get a NEO version up and running as a show case?!?
 
Well, if Sony are going to launch this new 4tflop console in the next few months as is heavily rumoured then in the course of time the MS E3 announcement might come good for them to limit the early adoption of Sony's new box. I don't think it's a mess for MS as of right now but not saying this is the correct way, both these machines could have problems. Getting the message out can take a few months to spread and could be good timing for when PS4 Neo has it's big launch. Most people out there will have some idea what's coming.
 

Boke1879

Member
According to IGN not so much. They were polling people whether they would buy an XBO now or wait for the Scorpio and 60%+ out of millions polled said they'd wait now

I doubt those "millions" of people are just gonna skip out on Gears, BF1, COD, etc.. just to wait a year and a half.
 
But to the potential consumer what actual difference does it make? Either way the casual audience is going to see that both companies are making more powerful consoles.

Yes, and people will probably be able to buy Sony's almost 12 months before Microsoft's.
That's a hell of a long time for the 'casual audience' to wait.
 
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