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[Skifi28]

Yes you call a business update to talk about the "vision of the future of XBox" just to say hey guys a few legacy titles and GAAS are coming over….

Sure…ok.

If Phil straight up announced xbox games coming to PS he would be eaten alive so:

1)Spread crazy rumours about the death of Xbox, hardware etc. they don't deny for a week.
2)Appear as the saviour of Xbox when you announce it's only a few games and everyone happily accepts it being relieved it's not worse.
3) Win some kind of award (optional step).

4D chess baby.

 

[Nydius]

Gonna laugh my ass off if this ends up being a big nothingburger next week

I'm laughing my ass off right now that you believe this is a "nothingburger" after 2 weeks of constant rumors and the fact that instead of denying them outright Phil posted some PR trash that ripped open the wound for another week.

 

[Zheph]

Yeah amazing marketing by MS

It works so well that there are people rushing to GameStop to sell the console before its value tanks to zero....

6D Chess

 

[ByWatterson]

LOL

Sorry to break it to you: you are either first party or third party on consoles...

You can't be both

Completely agree. This is all going in one direction, whether it takes a week, a month, or five years. They'll try to do both and it won't work.

 

[JohnnyFootball]

I think that's actually the one the core issues xbox is facing so much of thier "Hardcore" audience is just there because they hate playstation. A lot of the arguments from them not what they could lose but how much worse sony will be talking about 1000 dollar playstations or how xbox was the only company keeping playstation from destroying the industry. I find it fascinating.

Many of them would rather see Playstation lose, than Xbox win.

"I don't care what happens. Playstation has to lose"

 

[Cyber_hunter026]

I'm laughing my ass off right now that you believe this is a "nothingburger" after 2 weeks of constant rumors and the fact that instead of denying them outright Phil posted some PR trash that ripped open the wound for another week.

Free marketing, and publicity. I can easily seeing Microsoft doing it for those two reasons and more. again, it's gonna be stuff like hi-fi rush, starfield, Indiana jones etc. I think Jeff plub and most of the Xbox influencers were getting mixed information.

 

[Killjoy-NL]

If Phil straight up announced xbox games coming to PS he would be eaten alive so:

1)Spread crazy rumours about the death of Xbox, hardware etc. they don't deny for a week.
2)Appear as the saviour of Xbox when you announce it's only a few games and everyone happily accepts it being relieved it's not worse.
3) Win some kind of award (optional step).

4D chess baby.

I remember the last time Phil Spencer was the saviour of Xbox:

"Wait til next year"

"Wait til next year"

"Wait til next year"

"Cerny was right, but we got more Tflops"

- Series Launch, no games

- Halo => dud

- Red Fall => dud

- Starfield => dud

- Hellblade 2 => download only, short game

- sales flatlining

- GamePass => dud

*insert genius marketing* => "xbox 3rd party", "exit hardware", "next-gen 2026, entering handheld market"

4D chess indeed.

 

[AV]

again, it's gonna be stuff like hi-fi rush, starfield, Indiana jones etc.

... What does "stuff like" even mean in this scenario? They're all first party titles, one's a niche B-game, one was supposed to be their biggest game ever that died on its ass, one's not gonna be out for years and nobody knows how well it'll do. They're all very different.

 

[Kenneth Haight]

Even if it's only back catalogue and select exclusive games, it is still a massive L for the brand and a sign that they are not competitive in the market. If they were doing well commercially and critically then people would buy their hardware and software but because they are giving away games for so cheap with gamepass it was clearly unsustainable. I still believe this won't be the floodgates opening fully, but merely prepping people for the inevitable bad news which it will be.

It looks terrible from a PR standpoint and again highlights their utter incompetent management running the business.

 

[IlGialloMondadori]

Free marketing, and publicity. I can easily seeing Microsoft doing it for those two reasons and more. again, it's gonna be stuff like hi-fi rush, starfield, Indiana jones etc. I think Jeff plub and most of the Xbox influencers were getting mixed information.

What amazing marketing and publicity to make your company and your fans look like a clown car.

 

[LordCBH]

I remember the last Phil Spencer was the saviour of Xbox:

"Wait til next year"

"Wait til next year"

"Wait til next year"

"Cerny was right, but we got more Tflops"

- Series Launch, no games

- Halo => dud

- Red Fall => dud

- Starfield => dud

- Hellblade 2 => download only, short game

- sales flatlining

- GamePass => dud

*insert genius marketing* => "xbox 3rd party", "exit hardware", "next-gen 2026, entering handheld market"

4D chess indeed.

Hey man just you wait. When those PS peasants get a taste of Halo Infinite they'll come crawling to the Xbox Series Z in 2028 for Halo Infinite +1. They're OBVIOUSLY playing the long game here.

 

[Cyber_hunter026]

... What does "stuff like" even mean in this scenario? They're all first party titles, one's a niche B-game, one was supposed to be their biggest game ever that died on its ass, one's not gonna be out for years and nobody knows how well it'll do. They're all very different.

Most of the rumored titles have been zenimax/microsoft published games. that's what I meant by stuff like.

 

[Killjoy-NL]

Hey man just you wait. When those PS peasants get a taste of Halo Infinite they'll come crawling to the Xbox Series Z in 2028 for Halo Infinite +1. They're OBVIOUSLY playing the long game here.

 

[Cyber_hunter026]

What amazing marketing and publicity to make your company and your fans look like a clown car.

Oh I completely agree. It's dumb as hell and it's poor communication on Phil's ends

 

[AV]

Most of the rumored titles have been zenimax/microsoft published games. that's what I meant by stuff like.

As in, they're going to arbitrarily limit it and keep Actiblizz games exclusive? Why? The whole plan with Starfield was for it to be this big, important exclusive until it wasn't. If they're pivoting like this after Starfield didn't hit, there's no way they don't do the same with Actiblizz games, surely. Especially when those franchises already existed on Playstation for so long.

 

[HeWhoWalks]

Gonna laugh my ass off if this ends up being a big nothingburger next week

It's like some of you are really telling yourselves this for comfort. The NothingBurger boat sailed already. This is clearly more than that.

The "death of Xbox"? No. Their games hitting other platforms? 100%.

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

Xbox introducing their husband to their boyfriend next week

 

[JohnnyFootball]

Gonna laugh my ass off if this ends up being a big nothingburger next week

If it was a nothing burger, please explain why Phil didn't say so.

 

[Cyber_hunter026]

As in, they're going to arbitrarily limit it and keep Actiblizz games exclusive? Why? The whole plan with Starfield was for it to be this big, important exclusive until it wasn't. If they're pivoting like this after Starfield didn't hit, there's no way they don't do the same with Actiblizz games, surely. Especially when those franchises already existed on Playstation for so long.

Activision Blizzard games are on the table too imo. That's not what was I saying. what I was saying is in regards to gears or halo, or any of their big tentpole franchises are the only ones 50/50 at this point. that I'm not sure is gonna hit other consoles for now.

 

[NickFire]

I double down it was all marketing. They will have the atention of all fans from all brands next week. New series full digital. The announce of next gen for 2026. A few old games on switch and ps. Maybe a change on gamepass model. This will let they buy more publishers and later take these games out of other platforms and they let people know what they have and maybe buy a xbox or play at cloud. It is a smart move.

Entirely possible they tested the waters and haven't even finalized what they will port, if anything. No matter what though, I stand by my belief that responding to these rumors with a wait until next week statement would be extremely foolish if the rumors weren't true. Getting free press / attention is good at times, and bad at times. Said free press / interest can sell games to a captivated new audience. Free press / interest in whether they are going 3rd party (or worse) will not sell consoles though. It will just put a little voice in the back of some purchasers minds when deciding where to invest 500-800 on a console, extra controller, and a couple games.

On the possibility of announcing specific new hardware for 2026, well, that would be very interesting indeed. IMO, seems very unlikely beyond a cloud streaming puck (etc) though. Announcing a full blown console this far out could sink the Series line even in territories where its doing best. They can't afford to accelerate market share losses in the age of digital libraries if they plan to stay in the high end console market.

 

[Dibils2k]

would playstation want this? if people on PS start loving xbox games or get pulled into online games like Gears of war... in future what stops MS from going exclusive again and potentially bringing across those PS players

 

[JohnnyFootball]

It's like some of you are really telling yourselves this for comfort. The NothingBurger boat sailed already. This is clearly more than that.

The "death of Xbox"? No. Their games hitting other platforms? 100%.

While this is the logical conclusion. Don't put it past Microsoft to completely fuck up and reverse course whether it makes financial sense to do so.

 

[Fess]

Yeah I agree with you, I think it does more damage than it's helping but I could see that being the reasoning behind the silence from their perspective. Maybe save Phils inbox and to take edge off the inevitable shit storm coming their way or something.

I really don't understand their thinking, it's so weird to announce that they will announce something while the whole Xbox community on social is on fire. I guess they think the fans will go through the 5 stages of grief and accept the changes. But this cut is deep and I just think the anger will increase.
But oh well nobody would want to listen to an old guy shouting at clouds so whatever it is what it is. I'm out. Now I hope Valve steamroll the whole industry, no pun intended.

 

[Solidus_T]

Just seen that Klobrille's reee post. Xbox's problem is that they've given these yokels a platform and now they think they're relevant. If they don't go third party the next logical step for M$ will be to sell or shutter the division.

This is pretty much what I was thinking during this entire ordeal. On one hand, it shows the type of people MS used to foster and develop their community of influencers - these are the types of people Greenberg had lunch with and featured on their podcasts. That bearded crying guy I shared yesterday threatened to run a kid over, all over Xbox!
But ultimately, Phil and co don't really give a shit about these people and used them while they could for fanboy wars. Now that they are shifting, we see that it's all about getting money for Microsoft, and they can and will discard these types of shills. I said this before on here, but I believe Phil is laughing at the meltdowns behind his Xbox PS5.

 

[xiskza]

Jim Ryan right now

 

[ByWatterson]

would playstation want this? if people on PS start loving xbox games or get pulled into online games like Gears of war... in future what stops MS from going exclusive again and potentially bringing across those PS players

I mean I love my Series X as a piece of kit, but for the most part, I'm there for Halo and Age of Empires. I would love, love, LOVE to have a Platinum Trophy in the Master Chief Collection.

So yes, I want this.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

would playstation want this? if people on PS start loving xbox games or get pulled into online games like Gears of war... in future what stops MS from going exclusive again and potentially bringing across those PS players

yeah, that ain't happening

 

[Stooky]

After 18 months of intense scrutiny over the ABK deal which resulted in a lot of concessions (some of which may have led to the very situation they're in now), and is still technically in litigation with the FTC, they won't be buying up any more studios anytime soon.

There's also the fact they have yet to see a significant return on investment from either the Zenimax or ABK acquisitions. Those acquisitions need to become profitable to MGS before they'll start considering other purchases. It'll be years before they try another purchase, if ever, given the regulatory history of Microsoft.

if they get out of hardware and go full 3rd party then they will definitely buy more studios.

 

[Sethbacca]

A rock with the shape of Jim Ryan's head and wearing his glasses could have conquered this "beast".

As it turns out the "beast" was self conquering. Jim merely needed to exist.

 

[Varteras]

I wanna give a more thorough answer to this. Don't want you thinking this slipped. It just requires a far more thorough answer than i've had time to formulate.

Of course. Please take your time and answer when you can.

 

[MisterXDTV]

would playstation want this? if people on PS start loving xbox games or get pulled into online games like Gears of war... in future what stops MS from going exclusive again and potentially bringing across those PS players

They won't allow MS games on the PS Store without a full commitment (for YEARS) to go third party....

Sony is not stupid, unlike Microsoft

 

[SEGAvangelist]

Xbox introducing their husband to their boyfriend next week

Probably the best description of events I've seen.

 

[ADiTAR]

Maybe lack of marketing? But the thing is that - both Playstation and Nintendo - are kinda default platforms for games. Like Switch is the default handheld, and Playstation is the default home console. It is hard to beat "defaults". Like see Steam for example - EGS tried hard with free games and so on, but even then it failed to do a dent in Steam's marketshare as people did not even bother to install a new launcher (or buy anything there), which does not even require buying anything. And now you are talking about Xbox - which is entirely different ecosystem with friend lists, purchases, digital libraries and so on.

None of this relates to hardware.

 

[DJ12]

Oh I completely agree. It's dumb as hell and it's poor communication on Phil's ends

I have a bit of sympathy for Big Phil here, he wouldn't have expect Greenberg (who most people seem to think it was) to go crying to the shills about the plan.

 

[foamdino]

I think the OEM thing could be their handheld and I think the next box is an expensive Zen 5 console

This is exactly what I think - go after the newly formed handheld pc market - MS version of steamdeck but with platform lockin so MS get all the revenue from the game sales. Also the only time they've been somewhat competitive with Sony in the home console arena is when they launched early. Nextbox is going to be earlier than PS6 by 18months-2 years.

It will be essentially off-the-shelf bits (again) and any "customisations" will be only there to serve DirectX x.y.z APIs (as they've always done in the past).

It will be a jump above the PS5 pro, but coming in early will mean the PS6 will be a gen ahead - in some ways it'll be really nice for hw speculation threads as we'll have them back to back, like going from watching the Euros to watching the World Cup only 2 years later!

The other option is that they choose to do a streaming stick style of thing and push hw into the data centre - I think we're 1 gen too early for that to really work, but they've been working on some of the underlying tech for this for a while so I can see that ramping up - maybe they think it'll be ready in 25-26 <shrug>

 

[twilo99]

If some employees's salaries were based on sales/revenue and there was a bonus structure in place, yeah, that's a problem…

 

[Alebrije]

It was a question of time

 

[jroc74]

I've always questioned this line of thinking. Why do they need to win anywhere in order to be a market participant?

Most companies enter and participate in a particular market because they truly believe they have something unique/positive to offer their consumers that doesn't already exist elsewhere. "winning" is often a consequence of continued excellence, not the primary goal.

But I guess that's the reason Xbox lacks an identity as things currently stand. They've been dragged all over the place if you look at the directions they've taken since the mid 360 era.

They went from chasing Sony, to chasing Nintendo, to chasing apple/Netflix/amazon, back to chasing Sony. It's insane. I don't understand how you can operate a business with that degree of paranoia.

Maybe one day MS and some of their fans will realize this.

Its like chasing the power crown, at all costs. I would not be shocked if the handheld thing is true...and the home console sku is some crazy high priced machine. If that happens....ppl worrying about a $700 PS6 ...lol.

 

[Romulus]

What was wrong with xbox's strategy in the 360 era? They were quickly becoming a contender. I know some of that was because the ps3 was a steaming pile of bad decisions, but still.

They went from 24 million sold with OG xbox to 80+ million with 360. Then suddenly decided, fuck this, games aren't important, TV is! Kinect is the future!

What the fuck was that all about? It was a collective wtf from gamers across the world but MS execs were looking us in the face and dead serious. And even after all the backlash they went through with it.

It's almost like someone hired trolls to run the business in the ground around 2011 or so.

 

[Arsic]

I would love if he comes next week with this obvious multi plat announced but also throws in his resignation/retirement.

Man would set the world on fire then walk away from the flame laughing like a hyena.

 

[jm89]

The shill scripts have dropped

"Wait for next week" is the motto.

 

[Astray]

The shill scripts have dropped

"Wait for next week" is the motto.

Yep lol.

Interesting to see some ppl here changing tune as well.

 

[XXL]

Xbox introducing their husband to their boyfriend next week

More like this

 

[MisterXDTV]

The shill scripts have dropped

"Wait for next week" is the motto.

Usually it was

- "Wait for E3"
- "Wait for next year"
- "Wait for next gen"

Next week is an upgrade

 

[foamdino]

I'd like to point out that Phil tweeted that there will be a business update.

I read that as something that could significantly impact Microsoft stock.

If nothing was happening at all -> twitter denial (simple)
If one or two games going multi-plat -> official announcement/blog post

The fact that this is a "business update" suggests a significant restructuring/change of strategy. I may be *way off* but I think it's a big enough change that it would cause market movements for the stock and as such they'll have to be careful how they put the presentation together and double check that there are no stock sales by execs occurring right now (or they'll be hammered for insider trading). I'm thinking that's the reason for the week long delay - they need the time to get the ducks in a row as it's actually quite a big thing.

(and yeah of course they will message it in the most positive way they can)

The damage has been caused because it leaked *before* everything was ready.

 

[JohnnyFootball]

would playstation want this? if people on PS start loving xbox games or get pulled into online games like Gears of war... in future what stops MS from going exclusive again and potentially bringing across those PS players

If Phil straight up announced xbox games coming to PS he would be eaten alive so:

1)Spread crazy rumours about the death of Xbox, hardware etc. they don't deny for a week.
2)Appear as the saviour of Xbox when you announce it's only a few games and everyone happily accepts it being relieved it's not worse.
3) Win some kind of award (optional step).

4D chess baby.

Please explain to me how such a move would.
1. Increase Gamepass subscribers
2. Convince people to buy an Xbox when literally nothing has worked.
3. Have faith in the brand.

4D chess indeed.

 

[DJ12]

I'd like to point out that Phil tweeted that there will be a business update.

I read that as something that could significantly impact Microsoft stock.

If nothing was happening at all -> twitter denial (simple)
If one or two games going multi-plat -> official announcement/blog post

The fact that this is a "business update" suggests a significant restructuring/change of strategy. I may be *way off* but I think it's a big enough change that it would cause market movements for the stock and as such they'll have to be careful how they put the presentation together and double check that there are no stock sales by execs occurring right now (or they'll be hammered for insider trading). I'm thinking that's the reason for the week long delay - they need the time to get the ducks in a row as it's actually quite a big thing.

(and yeah of course they will message it in the most positive way they can)

The damage has been caused because it leaked *before* everything was ready.

Well going multiplatform would make a significant positive impact as shareholders want xbox to die

 

[TGO]

TGO please create a hype train going full speed on a broken track with fire and explosions on the other side Get me a first-class ticket as well, please

I don't like making fun of things like this
But.....

Spoiler

 

[TastyPastry]

can someone get me up to date? last thing i've heard is that some twitter xbros got dm's from a source they trust that "things will not be so bad" or something like that and xbox is winning actually, is there any truth to that? microsoft isn't actually going third party or it will just be hi fi rush going multiplat and not much else?

 

[digoutyoursoul]

it's gone from "Wait till E3" to " Wait till next week". I'll say one thing for those shameless self indulgent fuckers, at least the wait won't be as long.