Microsoft is certainly heading into E3 with confidence. We'll see if they have a message and reveal that justifies the hype around Scorpio. It's definitely metric tons more hype than Sony generated around the PS4 Pro.
This further convinces me that once the reveal is live, we will see Microsoft position Scorpio as a new generation console. Maybe the last generation, but one that will feature Scorpio and PC exclusive content sooner than we think. While I originally believed that Crackdown 3 would be a Scorpio exclusive, that really doesn't make sense. Even with a launch that sells out their entire supply, that's still not enough consoles to really support the game.
But maybe that is the point. Crackdown 3 is the only game I have seen that might mobilize XB1 and former 360 users that have jumped to the PS4 to embrace Scorpio as their primary console. And honestly, as popular as Crackdown was, that might still be asking a lot. Not releasing CD3 to the XB1 might alienate gamers instead of drawing them in, as it kind of undercuts part of what Microsoft's vision of generationless consoles.
But there has to be some point, just like in PC gaming, where devs feel free to develop for higher end hardware, leaving the old hardware behind. But it will take third party publishers willing to develop for Scorpio and PS4 Pro exclusively before a new generation is actually born. And Microsoft is hoping the 6 > 4 will turn the tables on where gamers mindshare resides.
I think the odds are, Microsoft is willing to consider Scorpio a soft launch, with Scorpio 2 ready to go the moment Sony announces the PS5, again trying to beat Sony in the power race. Will Sony adopt Microsoft's generationless consoles? Because the Scorpio 2 may be even more attractive as a console that just rolls every game you are playing onto the new platform, with maybe even better performance.
I have no idea if this is going to work out well for Microsoft, but as loyal Xbox gamer, I like that they seem to be doubling down on gaming consoles going forward.
