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Xbox expands its leadership team with more hires

RickMasters said:
Funny how somebody can post common sense like this and it's always the weirdos like Demigod that come along spamming laughing emojis.


That PlayStation look aid got em going coo-coo.
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Oh no not the laughing emojis especially devastating to the psyche get a grip dude. If you are worried about people giving you a laughing emoji you've already left reality.
 
CentralScrutinizer said:
I think this is a sign of the reality of AI. All the people that were in AI at Microsoft are jumping to XBOX probably because they know the grim reaper is coming for the AI division.

We just had that finance article about japanese investors ditching AI and jump back into video game industry stocks like Bandai and Nintendo. Maybe something like that is happening internally at Microsoft? I think the writing is on the wall in regards to AI profitability and growth factors and these execs see it also.
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God I hope so! NEXT-GEN could see a new spark if true.
 
Tobimacoss said:
How many studios does Valve have? Do they create massive amounts of First/2nd party content?

A Steam Machine weaker than a PS5, that can't run most of the multiplayer or top 20 Console games isn't really good competition.
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So why do you believe Valve are making it then?
 
Xbox doing all these little meaningless moves that do nothing but help Twitter warriors sleep at night.

How about they bring back Perfect Dark if they want to prove a point.
 
begotten said:
Xbox doing all these little meaningless moves that do nothing but help Twitter warriors sleep at night.
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Meaningless? They've just about changed out the entire C suite. Thats significant and we haven't even begun to see what that means. They will be constrained by where they are in the product cycle, but outside the APU design they pretty much have free reign in implementing changes. The real question lies in what the marching orders were for Asha.
 
Topher said:


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The pandering begins...

MS obviously has some clause where the second you gain a position of leadership you must become an insufferable waffling fool on the internet to create some sort of parasocial relationship with "fans"

Just be an exec, get off social media, shut up and do your work.
 
StueyDuck said:
The pandering begins...

MS obviously has some clause where the second you gain a position of leadership you must become an insufferable waffling fool on the internet to create some sort of parasocial relationship with "fans"

Just be an exec, get off social media, shut up and do your work.
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Do you work in this industry, or any professional business environment because this is what it is like at EVERY company ever and it is awful. Linked in, social media, its constant with updates of

"Im excited to share......."

Its just how it is and not exclusive to MS or Xbox. I hate it too!
 
VolticArchangel said:
I mean, Asha is from an AI background as well, and so far she has made mostly right moves.

I'm willing give him a chance until he pivots to slop/crashes out.
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Mostly? I don't think anyone expected her to reduce Gamepass as quickly as she did, also unless they delay some games we are looking at the best first party output the entire generation. Obviously that's not down to her but the far better messaging from Xbox is! and on that front she's not put a foot wrong. The showcase in June could be a turning point for Xbox for the better.
 
CentralScrutinizer said:
Those high quality games then motivate 3rd parties to do better so they can outcompete the first party exclusives, thus resulting in better games for all of us.
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Third parties compete against each other for the same market already, first party games are not much of a motivation for them, and third party games are already way better than first party anyway. It won't change a thing on that regard.
 
cireza said:
Third parties compete against each other for the same market already, first party games are not much of a motivation for them, and third party games are already way better than first party anyway. It won't change a thing on that regard.
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Raising the standards impacts everybody in a positive way.

The problem is that XBOX right now don't have the talent to do so. just like Sony, Ubisoft and everyone else suffering from the same creative bankruptcy.
 
Negotiator101 said:
What are you talking about?
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Good question. For a department that has 25 (im rouding up) years and its purely tech (it's a gaming company after all), having a external CTO (and it's a department, so a CTO has very little leverage and power, let's be honest) it's a sign that the company (C-Levels) does not trust that a internal employee has right qualifications... it's VERY telling IMHO. That and the fact that Asha (liar that she is, and she is, i won't forget how like chose to be publicly shown) is choosing her mates (mates as in 'her friends', of course, absolute zero innuendo here!) feels more like a 'let's reap the benefits when MS get tired of this shit and close everything). I already saw that (middle manager protecting another middle manager, and it was ridiculous).
 
PauloRoberto said:
Good question. For a department that has 25 (im rouding up) years and its purely tech (it's a gaming company after all), having a external CTO (and it's a department, so a CTO has very little leverage and power, let's be honest) it's a sign that the company (C-Levels) does not trust that a internal employee has right qualifications... it's VERY telling IMHO. That and the fact that Asha (liar that she is, and she is, i won't forget how like chose to be publicly shown) is choosing her mates (mates as in 'her friends', of course, absolute zero innuendo here!) feels more like a 'let's reap the benefits when MS get tired of this shit and close everything). I already saw that (middle manager protecting another middle manager, and it was ridiculous).
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this comes across as unhinged. Fresh blood is what is needed to make considerable change when a company needs a shake up. That is what Asha is doing. Getting fresh minds with fresh ideas to look at Xbox. It is EXACTLY what more or less everyone has been asking for.
 
DR3AM said:
Too many Ws for XBOX lately
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G4D56DpVsnQiTJrl.jpg
 
duck_sauce said:
I think we need exactly that. a healthy plattform competition.
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A healthy platform competition would mean "no exclusives" at all. I dont need more walled gardens with exclusive shit. I just dont see how this does anything positive for games at all. You just restrict the reach/success of games...thats all. 🤷‍♂️
 
DenchDeckard said:
Do you work in this industry, or any professional business environment because this is what it is like at EVERY company ever and it is awful. Linked in, social media, its constant with updates of

"Im excited to share......."

Its just how it is and not exclusive to MS or Xbox. I hate it too!
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Nah....not like Xbox executives. There are a number of celebrity level CEOs, but we are talking about a group of sub-CEO executives at Xbox that are worshipped by its fanbase and Microsoft absolutely panders to it.
 
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cireza said:
Third parties compete against each other for the same market already, first party games are not much of a motivation for them, and third party games are already way better than first party anyway. It won't change a thing on that regard.
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Hard disagree but I respect the dissent.
cireza said:
I don't think so for third parties. They are already at a high standard because they don't have the choice.
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Ubisoft never would've even tried to improve The Crew franchise for the last entry if Forza Horizon wasn't there kicking their teeth in in regards to quality. Thats a first party game forcing a third party to do better for any type of recognition. And this was before Forza because "third party" so you can't make the excuse of thats third party influencing third party.

PauloRoberto said:
Good question. For a department that has 25 (im rouding up) years and its purely tech (it's a gaming company after all), having a external CTO (and it's a department, so a CTO has very little leverage and power, let's be honest) it's a sign that the company (C-Levels) does not trust that a internal employee has right qualifications... it's VERY telling IMHO. That and the fact that Asha (liar that she is, and she is, i won't forget how like chose to be publicly shown) is choosing her mates (mates as in 'her friends', of course, absolute zero innuendo here!) feels more like a 'let's reap the benefits when MS get tired of this shit and close everything). I already saw that (middle manager protecting another middle manager, and it was ridiculous).
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Or the Xbox brand has shit the bed so bad that they have no choice but to fire the people responsible (Phil and Sarah) and bring in outsiders to push a new vision. If they would've promoted people in-house, I bet you'd be the first to laugh about "something soemthing failing upwards lost company lol" or something like that.
 
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CentralScrutinizer said:
Forza Horizon
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I think this is maybe the only relevant example out of all Microsoft games though. First party games are more about selling hardware than trying to be excellent or super creative. It is more about delivering that comfort food your customers expect.

Third parties though can't really play it safe because at any moment another third party releases a better game on all the exact same platforms.
 
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CentralScrutinizer said:
Or the Xbox brand has shit the bed so bad that they have no choice but to fire the people responsible (Phil and Sarah) and bring in outsiders to push a new vision. If they would've promoted people in-house, I bet you'd be the first to laugh about "something soemthing failing upwards lost company lol" or something like that.
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Basically we are agreeing on this take... but even for a paper c-level (cmon, CTO of a department is a c-level only on paper) to bring someone from outside shows that xbox as a brand is doomed (doomed = ms wont give it another 25 years to fix all the problems)
 
PauloRoberto said:
Good question. For a department that has 25 (im rouding up) years and its purely tech (it's a gaming company after all), having a external CTO (and it's a department, so a CTO has very little leverage and power, let's be honest) it's a sign that the company (C-Levels) does not trust that a internal employee has right qualifications... it's VERY telling IMHO. That and the fact that Asha (liar that she is, and she is, i won't forget how like chose to be publicly shown) is choosing her mates (mates as in 'her friends', of course, absolute zero innuendo here!) feels more like a 'let's reap the benefits when MS get tired of this shit and close everything). I already saw that (middle manager protecting another middle manager, and it was ridiculous).
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Seems like these two arent cutting it, or just purely a do nothing jobs for the boys thing.

"Microsoft's current Xbox hardware chief, Roanne Sones, used to lead Microsoft's Windows OEM efforts, which given the Xbox Ally and Xbox Meta Quest, should give you some idea about Microsoft's thinking with regards to hardware."


And then the known liar and bullshit artist "VP of Next gen" Jason Ronald.
 
He seems like a smart guy, but it's funny MS transferred someone else from AI while Matt Booty still stands.

I think they are still chasing the "magic formula", sort of like game management as a fast food franchise. Deploy a system that makes money when you follow the book. The employees and even studio management are replaceable because someone else can always follow the same formula. Their focus is on finding this magic formula to set in motion. Anyone can dump shake mix into a machine, and put up a window poster mailed from HQ.

Creativity is a subjective X-factor that can't be bottled up and distributed. They are actively looking for a way to escape the shackles of irreplaceable creative people, not least of all because they have no idea how to lead them and hate having to. It isn't compatible with the company culture. The amount of money, time and anguish they are willing to endure looking for this solution is staggering. I expect more AI appointees.
 
mckmas8808 said:
So why do you believe Valve are making it then?
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Cause Valve has too much money which they can invest in anything they like even if it's basically money down the drain.
There is some synergy with their s/w endeavors in improving Linux for couch gaming (mainly the standardization of gamepad support on Linux) but it's not really a necessity.
 
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