Microsoft unifying PC/XB1 platforms, Phil implies Xbox moving to incremental upgrades

What I don't understand with this logic is why would anyone buy a Xbox. It breaks everything that makes consoles desirable over a gaming PC, namely convenience and the security that that hardware will last you at least 3-4 years with new games done with that hardware specs in mind. When you break this comfort zone for console owners and even your exclusives aren't exclusives anymore, what's keeping people from just buying a PC? Besides, something like this just flat out didn't work for Sega so you even have a history of this strategy failing.

Maybe I'm overreacting to PR stuff and maybe I'm stupid, but I just don't see how this shit would fly.
 
Microsoft's big competitor is not Sony anymore, instead, now it has to deal with Google and Apple.

Microsoft needs to sell PCs (Windows), therefore it will use AAA games as a huge leverage against Google's and Apple's ecosystems that don't have them (not even close).

Games sell machines and I can clearly see that consumers, the new generations in particular, will take this "exclusive range of big games" into account before buying a computer.
 
vcc said:
This is PR spin for the post diaster. The XB1 was the disaster, they lost the internal influence and resources to continue and this is their 'exit' out of the console industry while assuring their fans they're 'winning' and expanding rather then exiting and shrinking.

It will likely mean the PS5 will come when it comes, and will be less competitive power and price wise which sucks. MS will put out a few token PC boxes then never mention it again.
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I certainly hope not, especially since Sony is the only traditional console maker left in this market!

As for MS, their new CEO made it clear soon after he was elected that there would a unification of platforms happening with the launch of Windows 10, so what likely happened is that XB1's missteps this gen have simply sped up the unification process. This PC approach likely would have happened anyways, but possibly much later in the gen or maybe even at the start of next gen.
 
Helznicht said:
Actually I upgraded my sons PC that had a 3gz Quad Core with a GTX 970. BLOPS3 ran anywhere from 30-50 FPS med-high-ish settings multiplayer (similar to the console versions). I have recently upgraded his MB, RAM and CPU to an i5 3.5 ghz and it now runs 100-150 fps, all on the same GTX 970. Don't discredit the memory architecture also, which the consoles actually excel at.
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GTX970?No chance the XboxOne will perform on same level. I guess the old CPU and RAM were bottlenecking your GTX970, but I don't get your argument. Are you saying that you doubled the fps with those upgrades? Are you expecting similar results with Xbox component upgrades for let's say 100$? I mean, it looks like you have paid 250-300$ for PC component upgrades that support your son's GFX way better.
Or to counter the argument, are the PS4's 50% power advantage keeping people from buying XboxOnes? No, the numbers sometimes mean nothing. Will the console market explode just because MS release consoles/upgrades every 3 years so that games look/run slightly (from mainstream perspective) better.
 
orochi91 said:
I certainly hope not, especially since Sony is the only traditional console maker left in this market!

As for MS, their new CEO made it clear soon after he was elected that there would a unification of platforms happening with the launch of Windows 10, so what likely happened is that XB1's missteps this gen have simply sped up the unification process. This PC approach likely would have happened anyways, but possibly much later in the gen or maybe even at the start of next gen.
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That is what it looks like unless Nintendo takes a different business angle or another competitor comes.
 
Hmm I don't really like the idea of hardware being upgraded every few years, but if they actually had 3 different types of consoles and varied the price I would be interested. Like a entry level one, a mid tier, and a powerful one. Would play the same games, but the higher you go the more resolution and FPS you would get out of them. I don't even know if this is viable though.
 
vcc said:
That is what they're doing and covering their retreat with PR spin. This is the announcement of the end of their console push and basically the loss of influence of the xbox group. They are now being put to push the w10 store and if that flops Phil and all the xbox people will either be shuffled into other groups or be fired.

So now it all rests on the w10 store. There will not be a XB2, like I said before. The writing has been on the wall for this since launch.

The PC market is so fundamentally different that the spin is talking directly contrary to reality. The same reason the steam boxes wont' take off is the same reaosn any xbox PC hybrids won't. They have to be massive value to attract that market but to do so it would have to be locked down which repels that market. So fundamentally the plan lots of folks here supporting MS imagines is failure by design. It's not a new plan, it is a exit.

They no longer have the favor of the people in charge so they are now onboarding for the w10 store. Xbox is dead.
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hoPFKfS.gif
 
I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see a new console from Microsoft again. They seem very intent in creating a unique ecosystem for PC gamers. I think this ecosystem is significantly worse than others like steam but it's good to know that Xbox One exclusives and future Microsoft exclusives will be available for us PC gamers.
 
Zedox said:
hoPFKfS.gif
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We'[ve had this talk before. I called this to you weeks ago. Let me conditionally predict more future.

If the w10 store doesn't over take steam, everyone at xbox shuffled or let go. The remainder of MS Studios becomes third party.

This is very clearly, MS exiting from the console market. This is very clearly Xbox dropping so many pegs down the corporate ladder that they are now the lackeys to a group that hasn't really done anything yet.

Sorry Zedox.
 
vcc said:
They failed at what they're trying to do now twice before. (GFWL, W8 Store). They are gambling and using the gamble to cover their retreat.
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But they never fully committed in either of those scenarios. This is the first time I see them going all in with this stuff.
 
Disaster Nebraska said:
At a minimum, Microsoft is moving away from the traditional console model. I think we all can agree on that.
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Exactly. That's why the bottles pop in Japan. MS announced this move way to early. Who with a right mind would buy a non-upgrade-able XBOX One right now, with exclusive games being available in PC on top of that?
 
vcc said:
We'[ve had this talk before. I called this to you weeks ago. Let me conditionally predict more future.

If the w10 store doesn't over take steam, everyone at xbox shuffled or let go. The remainder of MS Studios becomes third party.

This is very clearly, MS exiting from the console market. This is very clearly Xbox dropping so many pegs down the corporate ladder that they are now the lackeys to a group that hasn't really done anything yet.

Sorry Zedox.
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You do realize that the win 10 store is not only games right? It's a general store for all types of computer applications. It's not even the same as Steam. The only thing that they have in common is that they both sell games with reviews from users.
 
Yeah, I can't really see how Microsoft can pull this off without either a) winding up with Sega 32x levels of consumer confusion and lack of sales, or b) outsourcing the Xbox brand to OEMs, effectively marking the end of their involvement in consoles and attempting to enter the boutique PC market. Frankly, I can see b being as successful as the Steam Machine initiative (which is to say: not at all).

I'm going to call this PR spin aimed at the PC market and assume nothing comes of it.
 
Vigilant Walrus said:
I'm not saying this new bold move will be a success, but it is a new step in a different direction, and it is more than a little weird to see so much hostility towards this concept, when you can just keep buying sony/nintendo and keep on the same old trajectory.
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Microsoft is one of the three pillars keeping consoles relevant to the gaming industry. This move marks an abstraction of the whole concept of a console, and brings into question the need for yet another annual or bi-annual iterative device when we already have PCs and phones to deal with.
 
vcc said:
We'[ve had this talk before. I called this to you weeks ago. Let me conditionally predict more future.

If the w10 store doesn't over take steam, everyone at xbox shuffled or let go. The remainder of MS Studios becomes third party.

This is very clearly, MS exiting from the console market. This is very clearly Xbox dropping so many pegs down the corporate ladder that they are now the lackeys to a group that hasn't really done anything yet.

Sorry Zedox.
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"Hey guys, we didn't take over Steam. Go fuck off."

Lol please. If MS exits the console space, they will move everything to Windows. Xbox is their gaming brand. They won't get rid of it.
 
Vigilant Walrus said:
Yo do know that you're summing up new ideas that try that break away from doing the same old, as a failure? It's always telling when people respond to things they don't know with skepticism. It's never "wait and see", "it might work- let's see what happens". It's just going straight for the doomsday hyperbole while riding on that the only thing that works is how it has been done before.

I'm not saying this new bold move will be a success, but it is a new step in a different direction, and it is more than a little weird to see so much hostility towards this concept, when you can just keep buying sony/nintendo and keep on the same old trajectory.
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It's always the same people fanning the flames..

Remember when they introduced the broadband requirement for OG Xbox? Remember when they brought HDs to their consoles in 360 era, my gut says this is a smart move for a market that is resistant to change. Phil is dead right about one thing, PC is constantly growing and innovating on the hardware front. As someone prefers the couch, I've asked myself many times what if I could upgrade the console hardware without the need to open the box.
 
etta said:
It's vcc.
I don't think I've seen them say a single positive or neutral thing about Xbox.
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As I said there will be no XB2 (XB10). The writing was on the wall.

Really, I called this way way way back when the XB group was shuffled and their board was raising a fuss about even being in this business.

The stuff phil is saying contradicts how the market works. Basically need MS to drastically reshape how consumers behave to make any of it true. Which is unlikely.

The trajectory of everything is MS will bet big on the w10 store. If it isn't a massive success they will quietly exit and never mention it again.
 
Bitch Pudding said:
Exactly. That's why the bottles pop in Japan. MS announced this move way to early. Who with a right mind would buy a non-upgrade-able XBOX One right now, with exclusive games being available in PC on top of that?
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So whoever is buying one from now one is an idiot.
Ok.

Wow, today has sure been something.
 
Lionel Richie said:
What I don't understand with this logic is why would anyone buy a Xbox. It breaks everything that makes consoles desirable over a gaming PC, namely convenience and the security that that hardware will last you at least 3-4 years with new games done with that hardware specs in mind. When you break this comfort zone for console owners and even your exclusives aren't exclusives anymore, what's keeping people from just buying a PC? Besides, something like this just flat out didn't work for Sega so you even have a history of this strategy failing.

Maybe I'm overreacting to PR stuff and maybe I'm stupid, but I just don't see how this shit would fly.
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I would buy an Xbox for it's superior media streaming features to virtually any other device on the market, and Oneguide. The games are just a bonus for me. It is still more plug and play than my rig hooked up to my tv as well. Also physical media is nice. I literally have an both an Xbox and a 970 rig hooked up to my PC, and I'll typically buy the Xbox exclusive even if it's on pc because I can't resell pc games after I beat them, and I like having the cases and discs while I have them. I realize this may be irrational to many, but it's my life lol.

Also, for playing on TV 30 fps doesn't really bother me, and the visual differences versus the Xbox version of an exclusive game hasn't been so drastic that it feels crazy not to be playing on PC (rotr, gears, assuming quantum break, ryse). Rotr and ryse look as good as most pc games imo. When the PC version is drastically superior obviously I go that route (fo4, witcher 3, etc.)
 
vcc said:
We'[ve had this talk before. I called this to you weeks ago. Let me conditionally predict more future.

If the w10 store doesn't over take steam, everyone at xbox shuffled or let go. The remainder of MS Studios becomes third party.

This is very clearly, MS exiting from the console market. This is very clearly Xbox dropping so many pegs down the corporate ladder that they are now the lackeys to a group that hasn't really done anything yet.

Sorry Zedox.
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This is MS changing the playing field. Going x86 was obviously taking them, and Sony for that matter, in this direction.
 
Welfare said:
"Hey guys, we didn't take over Steam. Go fuck off."

Lol please. If MS exits the console space, they will move everything to Windows. Xbox is their gaming brand. They won't get rid of it.
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It was on the cusp of being it's own division pre-XB1. Now they are a group under the devices division. And now they are under the w10 folks. The CEO said as much their focus is now on services and business. How does the XB fit there? Only under pushing the w10 store service. They have already been demoted if W10 store fails there will be further loss.
 
People buy new iPhones, iPads all the time...how would they get confused at this concept (if MS just released a more powerful Xbox One every 2 years or so?) That's just ridiculous. People from varying age ranges understand that concept but gamers, who are usually ahead of the curve will get confused? Seriously. You know what. I'm out. Yall are way too crazy for me.
 
vcc said:
As I said there will be no XB2 (XB10). The writing was on the wall.

Really, I called this way way way back when the XB group was shuffled and their board was raising a fuss about even being in this business.

The stuff phil is saying contradicts how the market works. Basically need MS to drastically reshape how consumers behave to make any of it true. Which is unlikely.

The trajectory of everything is MS will bet big on the w10 store. If it isn't a massive success they will quietly exit and never mention it again.
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Someone grab the tweet phil posted that there will absolutely be another xbox. lol
Also someone grab that info about the Surface team and Xbox. :P
 
Bitch Pudding said:
Exactly. That's why the bottles pop in Japan. MS announced this move way to early. Who with a right mind would buy a non-upgrade-able XBOX One right now, with exclusive games being available in PC on top of that?
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The average consumer who doesn't care about PC gaming and likely has no idea about, or interest in, today's news?
 
Zedox said:
People buy new iPhones, iPads all the time...how would they get confused at this concept (if MS just released a more powerful Xbox One every 2 years or so?) That's just ridiculous. People from varying age ranges understand that concept but gamers, who are usually ahead of the curve will get confused? Seriously. You know what. I'm out. Yall are way too crazy for me.
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It is not the confusion imho But the console market still has to prove to be a good fit for this kind of update purchase attitude
 
etta said:
So whoever is buying one from now one is an idiot.
Ok.

Wow, today has sure been something.
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Well, that's what you said. I say that people who don't shit money will ask themselves if they still want to buy a console without exclusive games and which was just announced to be replaced by a new concept (<> successor!) in the forseeable future.

SPDIF said:
The average consumer who doesn't care about PC gaming and likely has no idea about, or interest in, today's news?
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Yeah, that's the kind of customer MS had in mind when they tried their DRM / always online stunt.
 
E3 this year is going to be biblical around here.

So. What happens if Sony announces they're doing a PS4 revision? Will the internet literally melt?
 
Aostia said:
Isn't nintendo going to release a new dedicated gaming device like, officially?
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If anything, I can see Nintendo doubling down on their next handheld platform since that's their #1 market, supplemented by their entry into the mobile market (smartphones).

Their next home console is a mystery, as it will need to be both powerful and have 3rd party support in order to be a viable platform, something Nintendo hasn't accomplished in more than a decade.
 
Zedox said:
You do realize that the win 10 store is not only games right? It's a general store for all types of computer applications. It's not even the same as Steam. The only thing that they have in common is that they both sell games with reviews from users.
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Actually steam sells a bunch of non game software too too (mostly game related)

It is their biggest competitor with their potential audience. They realize the key feature of Windows boxes that keep their customers is games. It's why they rolled Xbox support to the W10 store instead.

If it was about just home computing; they'd lose to tablets and smart phones. They know many folks have home Windows PC's for gaming. Non Gamers who want a full computer at home tend to get Macs.
 
BruceLeeRoy said:
But they will still have access to all the best franchises except now you can choose the best ecosystem for yourself. Its a bit of a win/win to me.
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And Nintendo will still keep doing games on regular systems. Win/win too.

I'm talking more about the mindset, can't explain that exactly.
 
CosmicQueso said:
E3 this year is going to be biblical around here.

So. What happens if Sony announces they're doing a PS4 revision? Will the internet literally melt?
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A Slim version or PS4 2.0 with improved hardware?

If it's the latter, then yea, people will be pissed.

Constant/frequent hardware upgrades are the antithesis of console gaming.
 
Aostia said:
It is not the confusion imho But the console market still has to prove to be a good fit for this kind of update purchase attitude
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And how do you good sir think that attitude would change without someone actually doing the change? People are willing to upgrade phones, tablets, smartwatches, (shit hardwcore people upgrade their laptops/pcs) yearly or bi-annually...so now that consoles does it, it has to prove it? Consoles are very close (shit, they are basically PCs) to those products, so using that same model makes sense. I do see where you are coming from...but I think the "doom and gloom" look at it is pretty crazy.
 
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