HeisenbergFX4
Gold Member
I for sure don't understand this way of thinking
Give me more games to play, not less
In fact MS games this gen (for me) have far outclassed Sony games so far in quality
Are Microsoft quitting the console hardware market?
- Thread starter RetroGamingUK
- Start date
Give me more games to play, not less
In fact MS games this gen (for me) have far outclassed Sony games so far in quality
RetroGamingUK
Member
Good understanding of how the subsidised console business works there.
Without a user base of 80+ million and the game sales that go with it it's difficult to make the big profits necessary to make the business sustainable.
Sony and Nintendo have regularly had generations where they've sold 100+ million consoles, Microsoft have never come close to this.
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Holammer
Member
Xbox turning into a semi-open platform with windows 11/12 running underneath (ring0 locked down) and a console like shell. Like a Steam Deck would be a good way of bowing out from the console race and changing it.
With an open Xbox console on the market legislators in Europe and America will eventually have to step in and demand Sony and Nintendo open their hardware for third-party payment integration and app stores like they did with Apple. It's clearly (unambiguously so even) in the consumers best interest as users will enjoy perks free cloud saves and multiplayer with games purchased on EGS and Steam when there is competition on the Xbox.
Call it the great console reset. Want to play Call of Duty on your PS6? Install the Xbox Store.
With an open Xbox console on the market legislators in Europe and America will eventually have to step in and demand Sony and Nintendo open their hardware for third-party payment integration and app stores like they did with Apple. It's clearly (unambiguously so even) in the consumers best interest as users will enjoy perks free cloud saves and multiplayer with games purchased on EGS and Steam when there is competition on the Xbox.
Call it the great console reset. Want to play Call of Duty on your PS6? Install the Xbox Store.
Humdinger
Gold Member
What would the point of lying be in this situation, though?
I think it's important to distinguish between lying - a conscious, deliberate attempt to deceive - and changing plans. I can see arguing that MS may change their plans midcourse and decide not to issue next-gen hardware. Plans can change.
But it's another thing to say he is deliberately lying about having next-gen hardware in the works. I don't see how that benefits him or MS at all. To prop up Xbox fans hopes, just to have them dashed in a couple of years? "Ha ha, I tricked you"? That makes no sense.
Orbital2060
Member
Shaki12345
Banned
No. They can try again with a new concept. Microsoft has so much money. Gaming is only a small aspect of their business.
RetroGamingUK
Member
Unfortunately it's too late, Microsoft already own these studios.
As we've seen from the likes of MS and EA though, rather than sell off studios that are surplus to requirements they prefer to close down household names for seemingly no reason whatsoever.
8BiTw0LF
Consoomer
There will be many "Xboxes" next generation. Microsoft will certify Asus and others to make yearly revisions of "Xboxes". Microsoft want the hardware manufacturers to compete, so they can focus on software. They never were really that great in the hardware space, so makes sense.
analog_future
Resident Crybaby
I think they're going to put their chips into creating a Windows based SteamOS competitor and then allow third parties to build the hardware. So they'll continue to have Xbox branded consoles and handhelds, but will no longer make console-specific hardware themselves.
Kvally
Member
So you got nothing. Got it. Can you provide an official quote from Microsoft stating they are not doing a next gen console?
Astray
Member
Wasn't he talking up the handheld to the press mere months ago rofl?
What do you care what these execs say, what matters is what actually makes it to market.
And the frightening thing is, that's only a small selection of his unhinged posts about Xbox.
RetroGamingUK
Member
If they did that there's be no need for this thread.
Little Chicken
Banned
Xbox is the future of gaming
twilo99
Member
As far as consoles are concerned the current hardware they do sell is top tier as far as quality.
Dr. Wilkinson
Member
I don't understand questions like this when they've repeatedly gone on record (recently) as being in full development of a Series X next-gen successor.
How do you reconcile that fact with your question?
Somethin's missin, for sure
bitbydeath
Member
This is from Phil who I swear is bi-polar, so take it or leave it.
XboxEra Interviews Phil Spencer
Phil Spencer sat down with the XboxEra Podcast crew to catch up with us and celebrate our 250th Episode. Here's a lengthy written version (edited for brevity) along with a standalone video for you to enjoy. #Xbox
xboxera.com
drganon
Member
Anyone who actually believes in Phil deserves to be disappointed.This is from Phil who I swear is bi-polar, so take it or leave it.
XboxEra Interviews Phil Spencer
Phil Spencer sat down with the XboxEra Podcast crew to catch up with us and celebrate our 250th Episode. Here's a lengthy written version (edited for brevity) along with a standalone video for you to enjoy. #Xbox
RG doesn't seem capable of being rational on this topic.
adamsapple
Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
Correct. And the Xbox PC will also be quietly taken off shelves within a year and not be replaced as they find out there is no demand for such a thing.
Topher
Identifies as young
I'd say everything we think we know, we don't really know anymore (if we ever did). Phil Spencer spent last year talking up handhelds quite a bit so now I think they very well could throw in the towel and quit hardware altogether. I honestly struggle to come up with a compelling reason why they would want to keep making hardware except for pride.
I'd say quantity definitely, but quality.....not so sure. Debatable, but ultimately subjective. Either way, I don't get why anyone would want the games to go away. Microsoft has a solid offering this go around. That's a good thing.
I'd say quantity definitely, but quality.....not so sure. Debatable, but ultimately subjective. Either way, I don't get why anyone would want the games to go away. Microsoft has a solid offering this go around. That's a good thing.
HeisenbergFX4
Gold Member
True its very subjective but outside of Astrobot personally I have enjoyed more games from MS than Sony so far in this gen
Topher
Identifies as young
Starfield and Avowed are probably my two favorite MS games this gen. Ratchet and Clank and Astro Bot from Sony. Eh.....you know, I could go either way really. Stark contrast from last gen where Sony dominated MS in games.
HeisenbergFX4
Gold Member
Those plus for me anyhow add in Forza Horizon 5 and even MS Flight Sim (which I know a lot of people don't love but I do) and personally I feel MS has had a decent generation so far
I can see myself playing more PS games this latter half of this generation though with Death Stranding 2 and Ghost of Yotei to name a couple.
Yeah and he helped with that strat putting Xbox games on PC day one
Humdinger
Gold Member
How about a place for hardcore Xbox fans, especially those who are in love with GP, to have a high-end next-gen option? And a place to access their game library? Wouldn't those be reasons to offer at least the hybrid model (although the market will be small)?
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Jaybe
Member
All the writing is on the wall that they are done with consoles. The Xbox Series X is actually great piece of hardware, but between not even competing with sales this last holiday season, the recent price increases globally, and of course becoming full third party, it sure looks like they are out. My guess is there are warring factions inside Microsoft and no one has commited to a decision that takes serious investment and this, slap an Xbox sticker notion, is a low investment option people agree with there.
Fess
Member
Valve has already been growing the Linux side and will launch their SteamOS line of devices ahead of Microsoft. You should google why SteamOS exist, then you'll understand why it might be risky to help them enter the living room.
Gamer_By_Proxy
Member
I think they are going through the motions for a next gen console just so word doesn't get out and kill any sales they have this gen. Then around the time ps6 is announced, MS will announce no new consoles.
DeltaPolarBear
Member
I distinctly remember several months ago, when it was confirmed that Xbox is porting all their games to PlayStation. That was an entire week of meltdowns. People knew what it meant.
So what is the point of this thread anyway? People have already accepted what was done. This is like being surprised that the British Queen had died, long after we already had her funeral. Yes, Xbox is being broken up, and it was decided a while back and we all talked about it. Trying to act like something unusual is happening now is just silly.
So what is the point of this thread anyway? People have already accepted what was done. This is like being surprised that the British Queen had died, long after we already had her funeral. Yes, Xbox is being broken up, and it was decided a while back and we all talked about it. Trying to act like something unusual is happening now is just silly.
Astray
Member
I think generally it's not a good idea to think of Sega and Microsoft as the exact same company in the exact same situation.
Sega was going bankrupt, they had no choice but to immediately pivot or die. Microsoft is not remotely in this kind of bind.
Sega had a sizeable install base but with no way to keep them spending on Sega product, meanwhile Microsoft has sold at least 30m units of Series consoles alone, they can keep monetizing that audience for subs, games and accessories for far longer than Sega ever dreamed of.
This is why I think Microsoft will keep going in some way or some form in hardware. They will not leave unless something drastic happens with the spending of those 30m console users.
What Microsoft wants is for Valve to have the majority of its business still conducted on Windows. If they just let them be and let them grow SteamOS as they see fit then Valve will eventually be in a position to start dictating terms or even driving non-Windows OS adoption.
Right now Valve's business is at best at a 90:10 split between Windows and SteamOS, Microsoft wants to keep it that way as long as possible, one way to do this is to "allow" Steam to start selling to the Xbox userbase directly.
Does this potentially torch Xbox? Probably yes, but it also keeps Valve reliant on being friendly to Microsoft in the medium and long-term.
Sega was going bankrupt, they had no choice but to immediately pivot or die. Microsoft is not remotely in this kind of bind.
Sega had a sizeable install base but with no way to keep them spending on Sega product, meanwhile Microsoft has sold at least 30m units of Series consoles alone, they can keep monetizing that audience for subs, games and accessories for far longer than Sega ever dreamed of.
This is why I think Microsoft will keep going in some way or some form in hardware. They will not leave unless something drastic happens with the spending of those 30m console users.
I know what SteamOS is rofl and I know it's coming to other devices. You're missing my point entirely.
What Microsoft wants is for Valve to have the majority of its business still conducted on Windows. If they just let them be and let them grow SteamOS as they see fit then Valve will eventually be in a position to start dictating terms or even driving non-Windows OS adoption.
Right now Valve's business is at best at a 90:10 split between Windows and SteamOS, Microsoft wants to keep it that way as long as possible, one way to do this is to "allow" Steam to start selling to the Xbox userbase directly.
Does this potentially torch Xbox? Probably yes, but it also keeps Valve reliant on being friendly to Microsoft in the medium and long-term.
Wow there is no Xbox Series X in stock in my town. The websites of the big box stores in the US don't seem to be showing stock either.
What's going on? Did I miss something?
I assume it's either tariff related (maybe a rush to buy some before they got hiked to $600 if that was even possible) or they are coming out with a typical mid-cycle revision that helps get their costs down?
What's going on? Did I miss something?
I assume it's either tariff related (maybe a rush to buy some before they got hiked to $600 if that was even possible) or they are coming out with a typical mid-cycle revision that helps get their costs down?
Fess
Member
Ok I understand what you're saying. But I think it could easily backfire so Steam becomes more popular, then SteamOS devices is seen as better than the new Xbox with Steam or new UI in Windows with Steam, then the new Steam userbase swap out both their Xbox and Windows gaming PC to a SteamOS device, and Microsoft is standing there with a smaller markershare wondering what happened.
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Topher
Identifies as young
At this point, I'm becoming more inclined to play the games when they come to PC. Now that Steam is allowing full library sharing and my sons and I are enjoying playing games from each other's library, it makes more sense to buy them on Steam so we can all play them. I'll have to wait for the ports, but that's fine. Only getting one PS game a year that I'm actually interested in playing anyway.
I believe I saw where K KeplerL2 threw water on the the whole "hybrid" idea where a Xbox PC could play Xbox console games. I guess they could make an unsubsidized high end console. It would have limited appeal though much like PS5 Pro. Why not go the other way though? Focus on value. One of the problems with Xbox series is they are expensive to make. They have great build quality and an elaborate split mainboard design. Think if they went simpler, cheaper, less powerful and try to undercut PlayStation by $100 but not so as far behind in power as a XSS then that might be a good companion to Game Pass. But will that be enought to pull market share from PlayStation?
I don't know. It is just hard to imagine a scenario where Microsoft truly benefits from being in hardware. Perhaps it is time to just embrace being a publisher and not a platform owner.
DirtyBast8rd
Member
I really don't care if they do or don't. They are dead to me. A simple but effective technique i use with all companies that don't align with my quality standards and expectations.
Astray
Member
Rn SteamOS has 2 very big obstacles in its way:
- Nvidia driver support is just subpar, and Nvidia is like %90 of the PC market.
- Anticheat is a major issue on Linux. You go and check if EA FC or Madden or COD or Minecraft or Destiny 2 are playable on SteamOS and the answer is no. This is a very bad thing if Valve wants mainstream adoption because normies play these games all the time.
Both of these obstacles presumably won't be in Microsoft's way though. This is probably their last chance to strike back and try to confine Valve to the Windows ecosystem, otherwise they'll lose a huge chunk of their OS users just like they did when Apple became the defacto-choice for the graphic designer segment of the market.
Deputy Moonman
Member
No. Hard no. When people say xbox is finished the only way that actually happens is if Microsoft abandons consoles. People have been predicting the demise of xbox forever and somehow it's still around.
Congratulations you are the 1 millionth person to post this same thread.
Humdinger
Gold Member
Ah, ok. I didn't see that.
The nature of this rumored hybrid is fuzzy. In particular, I'm wondering how much of the console-like "ease of use" quality will it retain? I think that will be crucial in whether it serves a purpose or not. If it's just an Xbox-branded PC - if it doesn't offer anything more than a standard PC, and it comes with all the hassles of a PC - then why bother. What's the point? Just buy a PC.
On the other hand, if it retains a good portion of that "ease of use" factor, then it could have a purpose. It could appeal to a niche group of hardcore Xbox console owners who aren't interested in going full PC.
Yeah, that's what Sneakers was talking about, and that's what I have been assuming is underway. A non-subsidized console, with a high price, intentionally designed for a niche market (hardcore Xbox guys willing to pay a premium) and very limited sales expectations. Even though it would be a niche device, it would have a purpose. It would give hardcore Xbox guys a place to access their Xbox digital library and GP on a high-end piece of hardware.
I can see what you mean, but personally I think MS has given up on beating Sony in the traditional console space. I think they've folded up their tent and are looking for another place to make camp.
Yeah, maybe so. I think they have one more generation in them still, but we'll see how it plays out.
Syphon Filter
Member
xbox is a failure and nowhere near as successful as they were with 360. they have no identity.