Support NeoGAF

[IbizaPocholo]

Xbox criticised for ‘creating a confusing mess’ with Series S | VGC

Research firm claims Microsoft’s dual-console strategy has led to “consumer confusion”…

www.videogameschronicle.com

That’s according to a highly critical report from market research firm DFC Intelligence, which predicts that PlayStation 5 will benefit from “consumer confusion” around the Xbox Series X and Series S this Christmas.

However, DFC said in a note published following the reveal that it expects to two opposing strategies of the consoles to cause confusion among consumer groups.

“The Project Lockhart, now Xbox Series S maneuver, smacks of a last minute Hail Mary by Microsoft to appeal to consumers on price,” it said.

“Unfortunately, Microsoft has created a confusing mess. They let leaks take over the official story and right now the professionals are confused, it is hard to imagine what consumers are thinking.

“Microsoft was pitching the Xbox Series X as the most powerful system ever and all of the sudden there is what appears to be a neutered option at a lower price,” it continued.

“Consumer confusion is not a good thing for Microsoft in this case. Consumers now have the choice to pay $300 for a second class system or however much more for the full product (expectations are Xbox Series X may be $500). That strategy can work for an Apple iPhone but a video game console is different.”

Later in the note DFC said it believed that Microsoft’s long term strategy of pushing Game Pass and cloud streaming wasn’t ideal for pushing a high-end console.

It claimed the Series X announcement “confirms how Microsoft, in its focus on a long-term digital strategy, has really given Sony and the PlayStation 5 a big advantage when it comes to hardware sales”.

Regardless, DFC said it expects all hardware to sellout in 2020 due to likely supply constraints. “Microsoft may be able to manufacture more Xbox Series S units,” It said. “In theory this could give Xbox a larger initial installed base.

“Unfortunately, everything else is clearly in favour of the PlayStation 5. Microsoft lost control of the media message and it is looking like PS5 will be the system for those that want to play exciting new games.”

DFC previously said it expects PlayStation 5 to outsell Xbox Series X by a significant margin. “Sony has big advantages that include better marketing and distribution, a larger built-in audience, and of course exclusive games,” it said.

Remedy dev shares concern about Xbox Series S

Xbox Series S may become a headache for developers, as it creates yet more targets for games to hit.

www.vg247.com

 

[Kagey K]

It’s funny how they can keep track of all these genders, but get confused over a couple letters.

 

[Night.Ninja]

 

[sinnergy]

Millions of phones with yz6, s7, s7bac, IPhone 8, 8plus , E.

But this is a problem people are funny .

 

[Bernd Lauert]

Man, the $299 price point really has Sony bois shook.

 

[ultrazilla]

Why don't MS just release a fucking system with every letter of the alphabet and be done with it.

 

[turtlepowa]

Wow so much fud today

 

[Captain Hero]

I mean I said it before .. XSS with half of the power will kill that 12TF machine I mean both machine will get the same games ( optimized for nextgen ) so why bother buying a $499 machine while only can get almost the same thing on a $299 ?

If Sony announce DE with a $399 .. its going to be like E3 2013

 

[Zoro7]

Millions of phones with yz6, s7, s7bac, IPhone 8, 8plus , E.

But this is a problem people are funny .

I remember people were confused when the iPhone 8 and iPhone X dropped around the same time. Not everyone is as tech savvy as us. Christmas will be a fun time.

 

[AphexTwunt]

So much CONCERN.

 

[Bogroll]

Surely they have got a dev box for it but some of the quotes come across as if they haven't even used the box.

 

[Abriael_GN]

The alphabet is so confusing.

Also, funny to see the crap sites cherry-picking the 2-3 developers that "share concerns" for clickbait.

Guess those people who balk at the idea to have to optimize for two different systems that differ only in RAM and GPU would scream in terror at the thought of having to optimize for hundreds of different combinations like PC devs had to do for the past... two decades or so?

 

[LeftThumbstick]

I’ve not seen a single person be it YouTube, Twitter or other say they are confused by Xbox and the names.

You see a different name, a different design and a different price point.

 

[jaysius]

Remedy, the guys that couldn't fucking optimize Control for either machine, and it's still a bit of a mess on consoles.

Quantum Break was a fucking shit show at launch, still has optimization issues across most Xbox Skus, what was there excuse there? They released QB when there was only ONE Xbox One Sku.

Alan Wake games were amazing, but boy did they run poorly!

I think Max Payne 1 or 2 were probably the last games they released that ran smoothly.

 

[JLB]

xbox console bad

 

[jaysius]

So much CONCERN.

Sweet fuck stop this shit now.

Kid's found themselves a new no-effort ad hominem they think wins any argument, but just makes them look like the no-effort trolls they are, who ever jerked out this phrase needs to get lost in a time portal and run down their mother's leg onto the sheets.

 

[Kagey K]

Sweet fuck stop this shit now.

Kid's found themselves a new no-effort ad hominem they think wins any argument, but just makes them look like the no-effort trolls they are, who ever jerked out this phrase needs to get lost in a time portal and run down their mother's leg onto the sheets.

When a giant portion of the users respond with, “No matter what MS does I will never buy thier console”

What would you call that?

They have no intention of ever purchasing the product they are talking about and going out of thier way to shit on it.

If it isn’t Concern? Then what is it?

You hate it, so let’s give it a new word.

 

[jigglet]

You hate it, so let’s give it a new word.

Suggestion:

Much worry.

 

[jaysius]

When a giant portion of the users respond with, “No matter what MS does I will never buy thier console”

What would you call that?

They have no intention of ever purchasing the product they are talking about and going out of thier way to shit on it.

If it isn’t Concern? Then what is it?

You hate it, so let’s give it a new word.

Well what you're describing is someone with 0 buy in giving an opinion that doesn't matter at all because of the lack of buy in. Windows Shopppers? It's easily called "Drive by trolling".
I don't know concern isn't the right word, even used sarcastically, there's no concern here, concern indicates some form of buy in on the opinion. It's simply lazy trolls feeling like they need an ego boost by shitting on the opposing party. They believe that putting that opinion out there will somehow sway people, instead of finding an actual angle that might be worth expressing, again this thought is from their ego, thinking that THEIR decision matters so much that people will follow it because they've lazily stated it.

 

[Kagey K]

Well what you're describing is someone with 0 buy in giving an opinion that doesn't matter at all because of the lack of buy in. Windows Shopppers? I don't know concern isn't the right word, even used sarcastically, there's no concern here, concern indicates some form of buy in on the opinion. It's simply lazy trolls feeling like they need an ego boost by shitting on the opposing party.

I can agree with that, if they just walked by like it didn’t happen.

Instead they go everywhere voicing their displeasure about what they saw, which makes it?

 

[Ar¢tos]

I don't get MS fixation with the letters X and S. They already have 2 consoles using those letters, why not pick 2 other letters for the new ones? 20+ options, plus combinations.

 

[jigglet]

I don't get MS fixation with the letters X and S. They already have 2 consoles using those letters, why not pick 2 other letters for the new ones? 20+ options, plus combinations.

Current gen will be forgotten fast.

I remember all the concern at the start of this gen about how long it would take before they would drop the last gen and that evaporated pretty quickly. They were forgotten within 6-9 months.

 

[jaysius]

I can agree with that, if they just walked by like it didn’t happen.

Instead they go everywhere voicing their displeasure about what they saw, which makes it?

Again though, it's not real concern it's the ego trip thinking that simply because they're posting it with NOTHING backing it up, it will make waves for supporters of the idea just because that troll's ego is so huge.

 

[ZywyPL]

So let's get this straight - having two differently named SKUs, Series S and X is confusing, but having two SKUs named PS5 is not confusing? Im confused...

 

[HarryKS]

They could have just fucking named it xbox 4. Overcomplicated.

 

[Kagey K]

Again though, it's not real concern it's the ego trip thinking that simply because they're posting it with NOTHING backing it up, it will make waves for supporters of the idea just because that troll's ego is so huge.

That’s why I suggested it’s something more than a window shopping, I’m waiting for you to come up with the better word.


If it’s not Window shopping and it’s not concern what is it?

Im ready to run with it, if I agree to whatever you come up with.

 

[jigglet]

So let's get this straight - having two differently named SKUs, Series S and X is confusing, but having two SKUs named PS5 is not confusing? Im confused...

Honestly even the Wii U wasn't that confusing, it was just how Nintendo downplayed the console, only ever putting the spotlight on the controller, and were completely idiotic about how they marketed it.

None of these names are particularly difficult. The moment Apple decided to just call the new iPad #3 "iPad" about 7 years ago, this should have proven that with the right messaging, most names are perfectly fine.

 

[Ar¢tos]

So let's get this straight - having two differently named SKUs, Series S and X is confusing, but having two SKUs named PS5 is not confusing? Im confused...

2? You mean 4... (X1S/XSS, X1X/XSX)
There is no confusion to make between ps5 and ps5 digital.
While telling the apart the differences between X and S based on the name alone is much harder for those that don't know.

 

[Calverz]

Its really not a big deal. And in what way does sony have an advantage in “distribution”???
Clickbait article.

 

[The Cockatrice]

Of course a Remedy dev would say that. They don't know how to optimize their own games. Look at Control, Quantrum Break. Both run like shit especially at anything above 1080p. I wouldn't worry about the consoles.

 

[longdi]

Admittedly i do have hearing problem differentiating people pronouncing Series 'X' and 'S'.

Would have prefer MS use a different letter than 'S'.

Perhaps Series Veee or Eeee, or Ceee for 'cheap'

 

[Ar¢tos]

Its really not a big deal. And in what way does sony have an advantage in “distribution”???
Clickbait article.

How many electronic devices does Sony make, distributes and sells all over the world in comparison with Microsoft?
That's probably what they mean, Sony might have access to more distribution channels or higher priority, although I'm not sure how relevant that will be for supply constrained consoles in the middle of a pandemic.

 

[MISTER INVEIGLER]

It’s funny how they can keep track of all these genders, but get confused over a couple letters.

To be fair LGBT is easier to remember than xxboxonexboxonesxboxseriessxboxseriesvxboxseriesx

 

[Kagey K]

To be fair LGBT is easier to remember than xxboxonexboxonesxboxseriessxboxseriesvxboxseriesx

Except it’s not just LBGTQ anymore there are some new letters and some ++++

 

[cireza]

So many articles that are totally biased towards Sony, scary !

 

[pqueue]

Remedy have become Sony shills the last year or so.

 

[danielJackson]

It’s funny how they can keep track of all these genders, but get confused over a couple letters.

Millions of phones with yz6, s7, s7bac, IPhone 8, 8plus , E.

But this is a problem people are funny .

The alphabet is so confusing.

Also, funny to see the crap sites cherry-picking the 2-3 developers that "share concerns" for clickbait.

Guess those people who balk at the idea to have to optimize for two different systems that differ only in RAM and GPU would scream in terror at the thought of having to optimize for hundreds of different combinations like PC devs had to do for the past... two decades or so?

Now this sounds like "damage control" Sony folks were accused of

Naming: you really think that average joe have any idea what specs his phone have? No, they just buy some random one that looks good+fits their budget. And phones vs consoles is different world anyway

Also I find it out amusing how people use this "lol different pc combinations work"

When it actually have always meant:

PCs with best specs never archieve their true potential, because games have to work on slow average systems too, and cap between slow - best is too big to use both perfectly.

S vs X it just means that games are optimized to run on S, and X gets higher res + some minor stuff.

Only X on the market = devs could do whatever they want, no need to care about slow system limits. So X only games could archieve higher Fidelity.

X specs are now wasted in 4k/60fps if/when devs dont have talent/time/budget to make two different versions.

And no, it is not as simple as PC games

Try to optimize 1440p/30fps X game into S = enjoy your 720p game on 2021

 

[Kagey K]

Now this sounds like "damage control" Sony folks were accused of

Naming: you really think that average joe have any idea what specs his phone have? No, they just buy some random one that looks good+fits their budget. And phones vs consoles is different world anyway

Also I find it out amusing how people use this "lol different pc combinations work"

When it actually have always meant:

PCs with best specs never archieve their true potential, because games have to work on slow average systems too, and cap between slow - best is too big to use both perfectly.

S vs X it just means that games are optimized to run on S, and X gets higher res + some minor stuff.

Only X on the market = devs could do whatever they want, no need to care about slow system limits. So X only games could archieve higher Fidelity.

X specs are now wasted in 4k/60fps if/when devs dont have talent/time/budget to make two different versions.

And no, it is not as simple as PC games

Try to optimize 1440p/30fps X game into S = enjoy your 720p game

I had wondered about you previously, but this about assures me.

 

[Redlight]

What? There are two Xboxes? So confusing.

I'd better buy one (of the two) PS5s.

 

[Redlight]

Remedy have become Sony shills the last year or so.

I get the feeling that an announcement is pending.

 

[TheGreatWhiteShark]

What I am really concerned for,
is for those readers of this article
that read it, and shake their heads in agreement and go:
"Heck! S=X=S=X bloody microsoft you are confusing the hell out of me! Now I have a headache because of you and your brain-melting freakin' naming strategy"

 

[killatopak]

I kinda get it. I mean Wii U happened after all.

If there’s one thing you don’t underestimate it’s people’s stupidity.

 

[Calverz]

Remedy have become Sony shills the last year or so.

Just as well now they are irrelevant unless they make alan wake 2 lol

 

[Naibel]

If this brand & naming convention is a confusing mess for them, what about Nintendo's naming policy with the Wii U and the 3DS family ?

Complainers gonna complain, Xbox's brand strategy with their Series X/S is very much fine.

 

[Jon Neu]

Admittedly i do have hearing problem differentiating people pronouncing Series 'X' and 'S'.

Would have prefer MS use a different letter than 'S'.

Perhaps Series Veee or Eeee, or Ceee for 'cheap'

They should have used Series Reee.

Because it fucking makes some people Reee really hard.

 

[Panajev2001a]

So many articles that are totally biased towards Sony, scary !

Hey... they may even be true... impossible I know .

 

[carlosrox]

Just like retards thought Wii U was "confusing"?

Series X and S, it's not rocket science.

 

[Aladin]

Developers want supercomputers as consoles, so they can sit on their lazy azzes all day.

 

[tryDEATH]

Check out iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone 11, iPhone SE, and iPhone XR.

You google Iphone and the first link has this in the description. Yes, you read that right they are simultaneously adverting 5 devices, yet Xbox's two are a huge problem.

 

[John254]

After Nintendo DS, 3DS, DS Lite, DSi XL, New Nintendo 2DS XL, New Nintendo 3DS XL, New Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo 2DS, Nintendo 3DS XL I’m sure consumers will be okay