The thing that I find sad is that Microsoft is actually the one company that has the finances to take more risks than Sony and Nintendo when it comes to IPs that bomb.
Ok, lemme explain before you all start hammering me:
We have Sunset Overdrive, yes? That game bombed. If (and I stress IF) the executives in MS could see the value in the IP and push for a sequel, I'm pretty sure with better advertising and improved gameplay features the 2nd game could come out a winner or (miracle of miracles) another system seller. It's not like MS is strapped for cash. (Of course, whether the $$$ gets allocated to the gaming division is an entirely different question)
The problem (at least to me) is that MS seems really really really terrified of failure. They'd rather moneyhat tomb raider than make their own IP that they could own themselves. I mean, nobody gets it right the first time right? Everyone falls flat on their face once in a while and needs to pick themselves up (Windows 8 -> 8.1). But I'm not seeing this in the way MS approaches their gaming IPs. If the first game bombs, it's 'goodbye forever'. Then what if the game succeeds? Milk the fucker for all its worth till there's nothing left to squeeze out.
For all I know, the corporate culture in MS could be fueling this 'I must not ever fail' mentality. It's just sad.