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[ShutterMunster]

http://the-optional.com/2016/03/16/...osoft-plans-to-turn-the-xbox-into-the-iphone/

There has been a lot of discussion around Microsoft's future plans for the Xbox platform since Phil Spencer's speech at the Spring briefing. Microsoft is attempting to merge the Xbox and PC, yet again, and this time they seek to disrupt the console generational cycle as well.

One thing seems clear, Spencer wants the Xbox to evolve quicker. The iPhone model has proven successful for smartphones, but could it work for games? If Microsoft could sell you a new Xbox every year, you bet your ass they would, so how will they do it? What marketing tactics would they need to employ to make it successful? And if they were successful, would Sony have to do the same?

Can consumers be expected to upgrade their luxury play things every two years or so? It depends on Microsoft’s rollout strategy. There needs to be definitive cycles, a predictable product launch approach that telegraphs to consumers what they can expect from the next upgrade. The reason the S-cycle iPhone is so compelling is because it comes loaded with new features. It’s the new iPhone that actually does something new. The numbered cycle iPhone will look new, but the S-cycle feels new.

If Microsoft decides to go down iterative upgrade path, Sony is in a precarious position. Do they join Microsoft or do they cede the performance game to their competitor? Developers will have a large say in their decision. If programmers are using engines that scale easily across a diverse chipset games will look noticeably better on Xbox machines. This will be enough to impact the narrative around the two machines and if the chatter gets too loud Sony may buckle. But selling consumers on a better performing Xbox seems just as tough as selling them on VR, at least the latter delivers a radically new experience for consumers to enjoy.

What would sell you on a new Xbox every year (or two)? Do you want your consoles to evolve at the same pace your cellphones do? Do you think VR will breathe new life into an aging Playstation platform? LET'S DISCUSS, GAF!

 

[InsaneTiger]

Perhaps, but I don't see a new Xbox every year. I do see Xbox and PlayStation becoming a service.

Think beyond the box.

 

[Toki767]

Are new games going to be 99 cents on a yearly Xbox refresh too?

 

[KurtSloane]

You might need to evolve faster, there was a thread on this already.

 

[NoblesseOblige]

Microsoft doesn't have the "we're different" feeling that Apple did at the start of its empire.

 

[NCR Redslayer]

Didn't the Xbox Live indie Arcade get shutdown?

 

[wapplew]

Sure, if game development shorten to 6 month.

 

[hydrophilic attack]

No. The IPhone has widespread appeal outside of America.

 

[Strangelove77]

No, tons of people outside the US like the iPhone.

 

[Hoo-doo]

The iPhone is a wildly popular and internationally successful product that is essential to many people's everyday lives.

The Xbox, well... It's none of these things. But that shouldn't stop them from trying.

 

[neurosyphilis]

Xbox brand doesn't have worldwide appeal like iPhone or a PlayStation.

 

[Star Falcon]

Do we really need more silicon waste?

I suppose it's something that could happen, especially if it wants to be on par with PCs which are regularly upgraded. Though I think that "Xbox" is more likely to become a Virtual Platform.

 

[CheDominik]

It always baffles me that people are rushing out to get tne newest IPhone(including a terrible contract) when all they are using is facebook and whatsapp. What's the point other than being fashionable?

So no, until the Xbox becomes a fashion item that model is going to fail.

 

[Guevara]

No, I don't think people want to buy a new console every year (or even every 2nd year).

 

[Caronte]

No. The IPhone has widespread appeal outside of America.

 

[EvilAlPacino]

Didn't the Xbox Live indie Arcade get shutdown?

They just merged all games together, no distinction between the an indie game or AAA game.

 

[ShutterMunster]

Sure, if game development shorten to 6 month.

If game engines and APIs make it easy to scale and optimize across a variety of hardware setups...

 

[Ric Flair]

Technically speaking it's possible, PC games can be played on a vast array of system setups. What worries me is the idea of a console being completely obsolete 2 years after release. If certain features of games/ games themselves get tied to certain console generations then I'm out. If it's like PC gaming where the new generation of xbox gets prettier graphics/ better specs / new features, I'm all in on that.

 

[neurosyphilis]

It always baffles me that people are rushing out to get tne newest IPhone(including a terrible contract) when all they are using is facebook and whatsapp. What's the point other than being fashionable?

So no, until the Xbox becomes a fashion item that model is going to fail.

No one gets contracts anymore. The major carries don't offer them anymore. It's either pay full up front or do a down payment and finance the rest.

 

[Jawmuncher]

No, I don't think people want to buy a new console every year (or even every 2nd year).

The plan i'm guessing would be to make console's upgradeable. Like the N64 expansion pass back in the day. So they wouldn't lock out older consoles not upgrading, but they would pay though their performance. The problem is how could you exactly offer that without just basically selling a computer to everyone at that point.

 

[Dabanton]

I'd be up for a two year refresh on upgradable hardware. That brings it's own problems though.

These current consoles are already creaking on certain genres. Throw in a subscription model that allows upgrades and I'm sure the general public would be a bit more open to this.

 

[Kurdel]

Subsidize that bitch and watch the 2 year console cycle take off.

 

[chillybright]

I understand what you mean, op. But wtf is the title?

 

[3rdamention]

No, tons of people outside the US like the iPhone.

Ice Cold!





Honestly, after Phil Spencer teased the future of Xbox could include add ons, upgrades, etc, it seems this idea is gaining traction as if this is a conclusion. This is not set in stone, and I feel the Xbox's future will be on PC, which people do buy add ons, upgrades etc.


I do not believe we are going to see some type of Frankenstein console with add ons, plug ins, upgrades etc. ONe where people are buying parts for or replacing every two years. It is going to be a PC.

 

[Jonnax]

Asking £40 a year for online service is a big ask.
The average consumer is not going pay monthly for a console to play FIFA and Call of Duty on.

 

[CheDominik]

No one gets contracts anymore. The major carries don't offer them anymore. It's either pay full up front or do a down payment and finance the rest.

In Europe they do with an additional monthly fee for the phone as well. I just don't get it. Bought the IPhone 5s and plan to keep it for a number of years.

 

[Blanquito]

If Microsoft could sell you a new Xbox every year, you bet your ass they would, so how will they do it?

But would they really want to do this? Remember, they generally do not make any money on the hardware, unlike Apple. In fact, they generally lose money on every Xbox sold, so what would be the purpose of selling new hardware each year that plays the same games as the older hardware, and costs you more and more money to actually sell it? Unless these iterative Xboxes are suddenly going to cost a couple hundred dollars more.

Sure, if game development shorten to 6 month.

Yeah, that's a big hurdle too.

 

[jond76]

From everything I've heard Spencer say it's mainly sounds like they want to avoid a 360 scenario where its sticking around for 8-9 years while great new progress in tech is out and available.

8-9 years is an eternity for consumer tech. Sounds like they just want to able to refresh when it makes sense.

It also helps that the plan is to be forward/back compatible from now on too.

 

[Neuromancer]

MS has had a hard time convincing most people to buy a single Xbox One. I wish them luck in convincing them to buy a new system every couple of years.

 

[EvilAlPacino]

I hope MS plans for the Xbox succeeds and silence all the nay-sayers.

 

[ShutterMunster]

No one gets contracts anymore. The major carries don't offer them anymore. It's either pay full up front or do a down payment and finance the rest.

Do you think Microsoft would ever subsidize the cost of an Xbox? It was a suggested thought earlier when they were making their TV push. This idea that you could finance an Xbox through your cable provider. I feel like Garnett Lee may have mentioned something similar years ago.

I understand what you mean, op. But wtf is the title?

Placeholder that I forgot to fix... I'm terrible with titles.

You might need to evolve faster, there was a thread on this already.

Perhaps if you read beyond the title you would have noticed I'm looking to have a different conversation. But hey, stay mad, bruh! No hard feelings.

 

[Pejo]

I'm done buying Microsoft Consoles. The original Xbox had some great exclusives and was a fun system. The 360 had terrible hardware failures and a complete abandoning of first party support. The X1 has become redundant with a good gaming PC.

I just see it further going downhill. I'll just refresh my graphics card every few years and call it a day.

 

[JinjoUnchained]

It always baffles me that people are rushing out to get tne newest IPhone(including a terrible contract) when all they are using is facebook and whatsapp. What's the point other than being fashionable?

So no, until the Xbox becomes a fashion item that model is going to fail.

Built in obsolescence. After 1-2 years, your iPhone can't handle the latest OS, for which apps are optimized. So your phone runs like shit when trying to run something basic like your personal banking app. Not saying that people don't get upgrade fever, but they really hold your toes to the fire either way.

 

[ShutterMunster]

Built in obsolescence. After 1-2 years, your iPhone can't handle the latest OS, for which apps are optimized. So your phone runs like shit when trying to run something basic like your personal banking app. Not saying that people don't get upgrade fever, but they really hold your toes to the fire either way.

This isn't exactly accurate. My iPhone 4S hasn't turned into a paperweight. It obviously doesn't handle like my iPhone 6s, but it's okay. I see plenty of people on iPhone 4s and 5's during my daily commute.

 

[icespide]

people buy a new smartphone every year because for most people it's the single most important and most used device in their life. Even small incremental improvements make it worth upgrading.

A video game console is not that, there's certainly a small chunk of people that would buy every iteration but not enough for it to be a huge success.

 

[etta]

It won't be every year, nor every two.

 

[leeh]

The only way I see this working if it moves to a subscription model which provides you XBL, 1st party games and the consoles after every refresh.

 

[jelly]

They messed up the Xbox One and don't want to be stuck plateauing through the generation for the next 5 years so they'll release a new console to get things right but without cutting Xbox One off. They'll likely match Sony when the PS5 releases. Anything beyond that is nonsense like yearly, bi-yearly new releases. Market conditions, how receptive consumers are, tech advances or lack there of for a cheap box do matter.

 

[jtb]

that's their hope, obviously.

more iPad than iPhone, I'd imagine, but still.

 

[Doffen]

If Microsoft want Xbox to become like the iPhone they need to fix their shit in Europe. If not they'll end up like HTC.

 

[DOWN]

Xbox is super nonessential so no

 

[tiredheadcrab]

I doubt this will be every 2 years. More like 3-4 years. It will be a refresh similar to what the iphone does. New hardware features and new Windows OS features. New hardware is always exciting!

 

[Rymuth]

Iphones arent just about games, you know. They're a status symbol of sorts. Why do you think the newest iteration always sells so quickly? People want to show off.

No, tons of people outside the US like the iPhone.

I said goddamn

 

[wapplew]

If Microsoft want Xbox to become like the iPhone they need to fix their shit in Europe. If not they'll end up like HTC.

Or Xperia.

 

[jelly]

If Microsoft want Xbox to become like the iPhone they need to fix their shit in Europe. If not they'll end up like HTC.

Xbox with Windows 10 but you can't make the language different to the region. It's bloody Windows!

 

[KurtSloane]

DPerhaps if you read beyond the title you would have noticed I'm looking to have a different conversation. But hey, stay mad, bruh! No hard feelings.

Oh I did, this idea of the refreshing the hardware sku every 1-2 years was discussed.

Also I was taking the piss, but hey stay sensitive bruh or whatever.

 

[LordBaztion]

I expect MS to eventually let third party manufacturers make their W10 Xboxes under certain especifications and centralized marketing.
Also I expect the game console model to eventually turn into W10, Android and iOS consoles, and Nintendo. Sony will provide games via PSnow.

 

[Vol5]

You can't apply the same methology to games consoles. Devs takes years to develop an engine...do you think it would be valuable to keep creating more iterations of the same engine for different hardware for the same game. It's a stupid proposition.

 

[etta]

You can't apply the same methology to games consoles. Devs takes years to develop an engine...do you think it would be valuable to keep creating more iterations of the same engine for different hardware for the same game. It's a stupid proposition.

What?
This would work exactly like it does on PC, you can play one game on a variety of setups.
The only issue to this is developers would need extra time and budget to optimize, like they do on PC. If Microsoft helps them or incentivizes them to do it, then all's well.

 

[ShutterMunster]

people buy a new smartphone every year because for most people it's the single most important and most used device in their life. Even small incremental improvements make it worth upgrading.

A video game console is not that, there's certainly a small chunk of people that would buy every iteration but not enough for it to be a huge success.

I think you're right. A smartphone feels so crucial to every day life for us now. This will be a tough sell for Microsoft. They kind of have to talk about this at E3 or before it though, don't they?

They've put it out there that they're mulling this kind of change over, do you buy an Xbox now or wait and see?

Is there any way for them to sell this concept to the mainstream?