MasterCornholio
Member
Didn't know Regulators are forcing Xbox to release Bethesda.
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Sony Wants To Grow PlayStation By Making Xbox Smaller, Phil Spencer Says
- Thread starter Solidsnake_1
- Start date
- News Cringe
Banjo64
cumsessed
Xbox’s inception and reason for existence;
"'What about Sony?' and he says, 'Sony is slowly invading the living room with a processor here software there, they could be a threat to Microsoft.'"
Gates and Ballmer stared at each other. "Yeah," Gates said. "What about Sony?"
Gates turned to the Xbox team and promised to give them everything they needed to create their console, Windows or no Windows. Ballmer echoed the chairman's vow.
"And I turn to Robbie and say, 'That was the weirdest meeting I've ever been in,'" Fries said.
"'What about Sony?' and he says, 'Sony is slowly invading the living room with a processor here software there, they could be a threat to Microsoft.'"
Gates and Ballmer stared at each other. "Yeah," Gates said. "What about Sony?"
Gates turned to the Xbox team and promised to give them everything they needed to create their console, Windows or no Windows. Ballmer echoed the chairman's vow.
"And I turn to Robbie and say, 'That was the weirdest meeting I've ever been in,'" Fries said.
akimbo009
Gold Member
This out of context.
The quote is effectively that Sony only cares about the console space and since consoles are basically capped at 200M devices that Sony can only grow by reducing their competition versus expanding into new markets like mobile, cloud, subscription, other devices.
Which isn't untrue - but this whole thing has been a shit show for both these companies and it's been embarrassing all around.
The quote is effectively that Sony only cares about the console space and since consoles are basically capped at 200M devices that Sony can only grow by reducing their competition versus expanding into new markets like mobile, cloud, subscription, other devices.
Which isn't untrue - but this whole thing has been a shit show for both these companies and it's been embarrassing all around.
HerjansEagleFeeder
Gold Member
Small xbox syndrome. Everybody knows someone who has it.
HeisenbergFX4
Gold Member
Making Xbox smaller how?
Not allowing MS to buy Activision?
Stopping MS actually releasing great games?
I am a fan of team green but this is an ignorant take
Not allowing MS to buy Activision?
Stopping MS actually releasing great games?
I am a fan of team green but this is an ignorant take
LordOfChaos
Member
Obviosuly Microsoft wants to buy Activision to grow PlayStation in contrast, and the 10 year deal offered which ends midway through next gen is nothing to think about, they're doing this for the good of humanity and not to grow Xbox over PlayStation.
He's literally just describing competition isn't he. It's not always zero sum, but each wants to have an edge.
He's literally just describing competition isn't he. It's not always zero sum, but each wants to have an edge.
At the end of the day say what you want but Sony and Nintendo have exclusives from devs who they funded and grew from the ground up. TLOU, GOW, Zelda and Mario were exclusives from day one. Microsoft is trying to use their big bucks to take hugely successful multi platform devs and keep them for himself. The shame is that Microsoft used to grow things like Halo, Forza Horizon and they were the first to really push online multiplayer but these days they just want to use their money to take away a huge seller from the competition.
I am not saying that Sony is some perfect force for good because they are another corporation that wants to make money but for Phil to play the victim now is absurd.
I am not saying that Sony is some perfect force for good because they are another corporation that wants to make money but for Phil to play the victim now is absurd.
nowhat
Member
For the record, not trying to incite any console wars here. Competition is always great and we need multiple major players in the game for that to happen.
But really, maybe a rebranding wouldn't be a bad idea? Xbox is... nebulous. The consoles follow a naming convention that makes zero sense. Having a Windows app that seems to get forcefully installed every time I update my VM, that's called Xbox but still isn't, is kinda confusing. The streaming service is X... but not box.
So how about, just scrap all that and come up with some kind of cohesive branding/naming scheme that's suitable for all of MS's ambitions (Console/PC/Cloud)? At the moment it's all over the place.
(...and as for the topic at hand - company tries to belittle competition, news at 11)
Loxus
Member
I'm starting to wonder if this is the reason Microsoft is trying to get COD under their portfolio.
PlayStation plans to release "more than 10" live service games by March 2026, a feat that will be helped by its acquisition of Bungie.
Without this acquisition Microsoft doesn't stand a change sadly.
I now see what they meant by competition.
Bethesda for Single player competition.
Activision for Multiplayer competition.
phaedrus
Member
Gangsta
Mibu no ookami
Demoted Member® Pro™
The Activision acquisition was announced before the Bungie acquisition
LordCBH
Member
Haven’t they maintained (so far) that the real end game of this purchase is King for Mobile representation? King alone pulls in a fuck ton of money
Nope they only tried to money hat every zenimax game. Same thing just different capital layout lease vs purchase. Xbox gamers have lost far more games from major studios the last few years and in the next few years from Sony’s trying to content starve Microsoft out of the market. No high life is not the same as a SE game lol.
Klosshufvud
Member
MS can bypass that disadvantage by allowing day 1 PC ports. This is something that Sony doesn't like to do. By offering PC/Xbox, suddenly you have a larger install base than Playstation. So these types of deals are absolutely still viable for Microsoft if they're willing to let PC in on the share day 1 aswell.
Sony is no position to buy any of those studios you mentioned. Valve is also privately owned and not for sale.
Loxus
Member
Are you sure?
Cause all they've been talking about is COD deals.
LordCBH
Member
In relation to Sony at least, yeah COD is king. But overall the true prize is the money printer that is King. Especially to a company with actual zero presence in mobile.
DJ12
Member
I like how he reiterates it's not financially a good idea to remove CoD from Playstation.
Now where have I heard/read something similar that before........
The man should just shut up.
Why not just buy King from Activision.
Of course we know the reason is, because that's total bullshit and they want the power of CoD in the console space, but you know, lets dish out more misleading statements to the press that their actions disprove.
Now where have I heard/read something similar that before........
The man should just shut up.
I have a solution, no one gives a shit if MS want to buy King.
Why not just buy King from Activision.
Of course we know the reason is, because that's total bullshit and they want the power of CoD in the console space, but you know, lets dish out more misleading statements to the press that their actions disprove.
Loxus
Member
You think Companies just wake up one morning and announce their buying another company?
These acquisition attempts happen behind closed doors before coming to light.
Also, Sony was planning about expanding multiplayer before Bungie acquisition.
Lucifers Beard
Member
It’s kind of contradicting when the idea is to buy out a major publisher and eventually remove the biggest games of all time from the competition.
The more time goes on the more it just seems like he wants to acquire as many publishers as possible to generate money. Not that Microsoft give a shit I’m sure, as long as they are making money!
Phil - Grow some bollocks and start giving those studios you already have some proper deadlines. You can’t make money unless they are actually releasing games.
The more time goes on the more it just seems like he wants to acquire as many publishers as possible to generate money. Not that Microsoft give a shit I’m sure, as long as they are making money!
Phil - Grow some bollocks and start giving those studios you already have some proper deadlines. You can’t make money unless they are actually releasing games.
Iced Arcade
Member
man he talks too fucking much.
Mibu no ookami
Demoted Member® Pro™
The difference there is that while your software might sell more, you're losing out on 3rd party royalties sales because your ecosystem is diminished.
At the end of the day Sony wants its royalties and no matter how many games they sell themselves, its royalties are going to be far more.
They literally make 30% of each game sold without ANY of the development or marketing costs.... think about that.
Mibu no ookami
Demoted Member® Pro™
Not getting your point... do you think Microsoft woke up one morning and decided to buy Activision?
You made it sound like Microsoft bought activision to keep up competition with Sony due to their purchase of Bungie, that just isn't accurate.
Loxus
Member
I don't think so either.
Microsoft could very well plan to buy both Bethesda and Activision in the same meeting.
BaneIsPain
Member
trying to understand Phil's logic.
gothmog
Gold Member
I'm not sure if this is Phil alone, but I get this feeling that Xbox loves to fixate on things to the detriment of other burning issues in their ecosystem.
First it was hardware. They let Xbox One basically languish while they chased the power crown. Now that they have that crown and the pressure's off you realize that the only reason it was even a thing was because Xbox was so vocal about their obsession with it.
Now it's acquisitions. They have the studios but instead of focusing on trying to get 4-6 studios out of 20+ they already have to deliver one game in a given year they would rather buy more studios.
I would say that it's a Phil problem but I have a strong suspicion that this is just Microsoft's culture of control shining through the lens of gaming. Nadella can sing the praises that this is a different Microsoft all day, but it feels similar to the old school control need MS has.
First it was hardware. They let Xbox One basically languish while they chased the power crown. Now that they have that crown and the pressure's off you realize that the only reason it was even a thing was because Xbox was so vocal about their obsession with it.
Now it's acquisitions. They have the studios but instead of focusing on trying to get 4-6 studios out of 20+ they already have to deliver one game in a given year they would rather buy more studios.
I would say that it's a Phil problem but I have a strong suspicion that this is just Microsoft's culture of control shining through the lens of gaming. Nadella can sing the praises that this is a different Microsoft all day, but it feels similar to the old school control need MS has.
ANIMAL1975
Member
And just like that,
Phil wins the 'whining bitch of the year' award in one tackle.
Phil wins the 'whining bitch of the year' award in one tackle.
Knightime_X
Member
How many PS games are on Xbox vs Xbox games on playstation.
Mega games like Minecraft are allowed on PS, but...
Mega games like Minecraft are allowed on PS, but...
Benniewise de Clown
Banned
Honestly, I think MS' best option would be to become a 3rd party publisher.
Right now, they're gambling on extremely unpredictable 'markets' with GamePass and their shift towards mobile, when there are millions of gamers on Nintendo and Playstation they could reach if they would become 3rd party.
Sure, there is some overlap, but Nintendo and Playstation are dominating.
It makes no sense to keep pouring money into a bottomless pit.
Xbox is struggling in their last strongholds (US/UK) and we even got NPD numbers showing PS5 is doing better than Series X/S in their Xbox strongest market (US), despite Xbox sales and PS5 supply issues.
I think this gen is their transitional phase and Spencer is supposed to supervise the transition.
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adamsapple
Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
BlitzerRadic
Member
LOL this dude is a clown. MS wants to spend 70B to buy Activision. But not for their games! Its for some other reason.
Alan Silvestro
Member
So Xbox Series XSmall version coming soon?
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ARK1391
Member
I really hate his whole "we want gamers to have more options" PR phrase. The only option to play the games from the companies Microsoft has purchased so far, it to play them on Microsoft devices. Which is what everyone has been doing the whole time.
Yes PC is a Microsoft device, you play those gamepass games on a Windows PC. Linux has to stream via cloud, and they aren't on Mac.
So basically more options is, any Microsoft product. Which is fine, that's what companies do. That's why Sony doesn't want this merger to happen because they want people to buy their consoles. It's the same thing Phil. Stop trying to sell it as something else.
Yes PC is a Microsoft device, you play those gamepass games on a Windows PC. Linux has to stream via cloud, and they aren't on Mac.
So basically more options is, any Microsoft product. Which is fine, that's what companies do. That's why Sony doesn't want this merger to happen because they want people to buy their consoles. It's the same thing Phil. Stop trying to sell it as something else.
chromhound
Member
reinking
Gold Member
People seem to forget that Microsoft started out with PC games, not consoles. Sony has always been a console company since entering the market.
DForce
NaughtyDog Defense Force
"There has really only been one major opposer to the deal"
It doesn't hurt other major publishers because it also benefits them that there's less competition on the market.
"The way they grow is by making Xbox smaller"
Microsoft wants to acquire as many publishers to make PS Smaller.
"They don't put their games into a subscription when they launch their game"
Phil knows they'll lose money. Xbox wouldn't do it if they had the same budget as Sony.
"They're starting to think about mobile as I see from the outside, just reading some of the moves they're doing."
They've been doing this for years.
"The largest console maker in the world is raising an objection about one franchise that we've said will continue to ship on the platform."
Only for 10 years.
Neofire
Member
You got that right. Dude is just throwing anything to the wall to see if it sticks. Sony been in this business way before MS thought about a console. MS just wants everyone to hop on their subscription/cloud future where they control all the IPs and whatever else they can buy.
bentanchorbolt
Banned
I mean, yeah. If Sony or MS could snap their fingers and it would diminish the competition to the point where it benefited them greatly, they would.
Foilz
Banned
Sony goes hardcore to keep games off other platforms. There were multiple at the game awards alone. So yes, I agree with what Phil said but it's also part of the business. That's why I have no -issue with Ms trying to buy out Activision to bolster their services. Sony wants people on their box, MS wants people on their software, they know the future holds no place for a 500+ box. Sony made the deal to keep cod and others off gamepass.
DJ12
Member
The sad thing is its already resonating with the usual clowns.
Crispy Gamer
Member
Stunning statement smh I can't stand that dude man he's the single reason why my Xbox doesn't have the exclusives it deserves he doesn't know how to manage studios and he constantly is on a freaking PR campaign it's obvious to me he doesn't know what it takes to build/manage studios and to see a project through. Everyone gives Sony shit for timed exclusivity because it sucks but guess what it's "timed" and they both do it but what Sony doesn't do is buy publishers and withhold games then claim they are just doing it to give more choice to consumers lol Microsoft's messaging is the worst I wish they would go away completely and just release games we don't need to hear them speak anymore because it's only making things worse. They are so arrogant to feel as if they deserve to be on top without putting in the actual work . What have you actually learned from coming in last place every generation Phil? Nintendo has screwed up a lot (Wii U) and the market punished them by not buying the product but they learned and are better off . PlayStation screwed up badly (PS3) so they learned by building up their first party since they lost so much third party support that generation. Microsoft have had decades to build up first party studios so since they couldn't do it at the scale to beat Sony they've decided to just go scorched earth by buying up whole publishers to ensure they can't fail again so they'll never have to learn anything because all they'll do is throw money at the problem. In summation Microsoft have contributed the most into making Xbox smaller not Sony but it doesn't matter anymore because they just want to be too big to fail and they'll get their way.
Snake29
Banned
All the games you name are new and are not "taken away" from any other platform. Its not so hard to name upcoming Xbox timed exclusives.
Valheim, STALKER 2, ExoMecha, ARK 2, High on Life, Warhammer Darktide, Replaced, The last Case of benedict Fox, Contraband and a lot more.
I see no PS fan constantly cyring about Xboxs list of timed exclusive game. The Story about KOTOR is known, they need financial backing otherwise the game was never developed.
alabtrosMyster
Member
You can be free as long as you do exactly as I say.
Bend over you'll be feeling freedom inside you soon enough.
Unknown?
Member
Big whoop, a year or less of exclusivity isn't the same thing. All of the Zenimax moneyhats were small new IPs. They didn't try to moneyhat the next Elder Scrolls.
All you lost was a few months to a year.
SLB1904
Banned
Destiny
StealthGoblin
Banned
I said permanently for a reason and your whole post completely missed the point. If you change the framing of the statement made then of course you can argue a different point.
My original point still stands. Through throwing money about for acquisitions, Microsoft are the only platform who have taken established series away from other gamers permanently. That’s shitty, and counter to the image of being for everyone that they like to portray.
If Sony start doing the same shit then you’ll see me spouting off against them too. When I originally read the Bungie headline when it flashed up on my phone I got quite annoyed until I became pleasantly surprised with what Sony and Bungie agreed. Even better when their new output will be MP too.
When put up against Microsoft’s purchase of Ninja Theory and Zenimax, it’s really refreshing.