Question: would ms have shifted to reporting mau if they were leading in console sales like last gen? Do you really think they would have stopped talking numbers if they were winning?
They'd probably be doing both.
Anyone acting like MAU isn't a widely reported stat is flat out wrong.
pretty much this.
the change to MAU would've happend no matter what.
Xbox as the Home Console ist just a (big) part of Microsofts Gaming Division today.
Not the vast majority anymore.
Console only sales does not represent their PC gaming efforts and performance
Console only sales does not represent their Minecraft audience and performance
They probably would not have stopped to report hardware units - at least not this early, but they certainly would've added MAU and revenue
Sony, Nintendo and Japanese publisher are pretty much the only left, that still focus on the old metrics and business models.