RetroGamingUK
Member
That would take us back to the 2009 Project Natal dominated E3 conference
Only took 2 years for Don Mattrick’s trash vision to appear.
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Can Xbox make a comeback as a brand?
- Thread starter Mythoclast
- Start date
That would take us back to the 2009 Project Natal dominated E3 conference
Only took 2 years for Don Mattrick’s trash vision to appear.
Sorcerer
Member
Microsoft has a "loser mentality" by putting games on Sony and Nintendo platforms while they are still trying to sell you new variations of their hardware this holiday season. Plus, if you are a PC gamer, you don't need any of their hardware either.
It's just a confusing mess. As a consumer I have no idea where there headed, and I think Phil and Company are clueless as well
How can one be confident in Xbox anymore? It's make's one's head spin. If you like some of their games find a way to play them outside their specific hardware. Don't get involved in the eco-system.
It's just a confusing mess. As a consumer I have no idea where there headed, and I think Phil and Company are clueless as well
How can one be confident in Xbox anymore? It's make's one's head spin. If you like some of their games find a way to play them outside their specific hardware. Don't get involved in the eco-system.
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Iced Arcade
Member
Could they? Absolutely...will they? Doubt it.
Xbox is in the middle of an identity crisis with zero clue who they want to be.
Xbox is in the middle of an identity crisis with zero clue who they want to be.
Kacho
Gold Member
I'd argue that they know what they want to be (services), it's just the market is rejecting it.
mayham2199
Member
Ah yes MS knew all along and this is their real plan to dominate the gaming industry. I've seen this theory thrown around before it's hilarious how people can turn anything MS does into some sort of win.
ReBurn
Gold Member
I've felt since the decline started with Xbox One that as long as Xbox presents itself with Microsoft corporate branding and Microsoft Gaming is run by a Microsoft lifer that it's never going to recover the image it had during the 360 days. Microsoft is just not a brand that comes to mind when people think of fun and all you see when you see Xbox is Microsoft's stale corporate software company image.
Phil hiring Sarah Bond and making her head of Xbox hardware and ecosystem was a mistake because she's just not relatable to gamers. She's probably a very competent executive, but nothing that's come out of Xbox since she took over has been compelling. Adding sparkles to a Series X console? What even is that? I can't comment on Booty's role other than he just can't seem to get games out the door. He probably needs to go, too.
Microsoft Gaming and Xbox are going to need different leadership and a new image before Xbox can take off again. The Microsoft brand just overshadows and strangles anything cool about the Xbox brand.
Phil hiring Sarah Bond and making her head of Xbox hardware and ecosystem was a mistake because she's just not relatable to gamers. She's probably a very competent executive, but nothing that's come out of Xbox since she took over has been compelling. Adding sparkles to a Series X console? What even is that? I can't comment on Booty's role other than he just can't seem to get games out the door. He probably needs to go, too.
Microsoft Gaming and Xbox are going to need different leadership and a new image before Xbox can take off again. The Microsoft brand just overshadows and strangles anything cool about the Xbox brand.
NickFire
Member
I think MS has the resources to take a lot of hardware market share, but I’m very skeptical that they will be willing to take the financial hits probably needed to get there. I also think they have the ability to really expand their gaming software revenue and profits. But they still seem hamstrung by the hope of expanding hardware. No other way for me to explain why Starfield isn’t making bank on preorders right now,
Kacho
Gold Member
This is the sad truth unfortunately
Was this a limited edition console? I need context pls.
mayham2199
Member
I think MS was hoping Shattered Space was going to really fix the Starfield issues. That or they wanted to finish shattered space before they started working on the port.
ReBurn
Gold Member
Xbox Series X | Xbox
Discover the fastest, most powerful Xbox ever with the Xbox Series X.
www.xbox.com
The Galaxy black special edition
Killer8
Member
The narrative, pushed by Phil of all people, is that there isn't a world where Xbox can compete with a strong portfolio of exclusive games. I think it's a ridiculous notion that assumes they've even had a strong portfolio to judge the effectiveness of that strategy. The answer is that they haven't.
A lot of the studios they've bought up have produced dogshit and they've mismanaged the tent pole franchises like Halo and Forza Motorsport. There was a time a few years ago, before we had a better idea of what their studios were cooking, where it seemed like Xbox might become this unstoppable juggernaut. At least on paper (and the Klobrille produced PR graphics). It's just amazing how badly MS squandered their potential.
If Microsoft were actually releasing banger after 90+ MetaCritic banger, I think it would be a very different story this generation.
A lot of the studios they've bought up have produced dogshit and they've mismanaged the tent pole franchises like Halo and Forza Motorsport. There was a time a few years ago, before we had a better idea of what their studios were cooking, where it seemed like Xbox might become this unstoppable juggernaut. At least on paper (and the Klobrille produced PR graphics). It's just amazing how badly MS squandered their potential.
If Microsoft were actually releasing banger after 90+ MetaCritic banger, I think it would be a very different story this generation.
ExtendEmbraceExtinguish
Member
I am stating this because of the IPs/franchises that they have acquired. They know other pubs cant keep up. Notice Tim from epic statement regarding the industry, most games sold are franchises and even coceo of Sony on lack of ips( Pokémon/fortnite/lol/cod/minecraft/roblox ect) level.
mayham2199
Member
CEOs say all kinds of stuff they aren't infallible. Look at what's happening to Ubisoft right now their CEO clearly doesn't know what he's doing. MS predicted they would have 100 million subs in GP I think we all know that not only wont happen in 6 years it will never happen.
Look at how many IPs/franchise Embracer has and they are still struggling. Having a ton of IPs/Franchises is great but it doesn't mean anything if you can't put out games that people care about. If all it took to run the game industry is IPs/franchises that's what all the big companies would be chasing. The most important thing though is the store. Nintendo, PS, Steam are all considered at the peak of the industry and what do they all have in common? Are very popular store that every single game publisher in the world relies on to sell their product.
The only thing happening with MS right now is them pivoting from a strategy that didn't work to a strategy that isn't what they ultimately wanted but will at least keep them from losing massive amounts of money. We have emails from the CEO of MS in 2020 asking Phil Spencer about console sales and being concerned about getting to far behind. Are you telling me 4 years later MS doesn't care about that anymore and has suddenly found the secret to dominating the games industry? I doubt it.
Randall365
Member
It seems like they’ve given up - gaming on PCs is getting bigger two. Just sell windows and Office.
Saturn Dragon
Member
2001. Xbox (The Inception) did ok in a gen dominated by the godly and omnipotent PS2. Being first MS console hardware, not bad. Similar sales as Gamecube IIRC. Nice first entry, and kiiiinda soooort of gaining interest in European market. My experience with it is good, powerful and versatile system. Nowadays is also one of the most recommend consoles on the retro homebrew and emulators scene.
2005. Xbox 360. Their top console. Did very well because it was a weird gen with an extremely arrogant Sony releasing an expensive and complex PS3 hardware, many developers preferred to work on 360. Also first gen with whacky Nintendo doing whatever they wanted (still the Wii sold like recently baked bread). X360 still has lots of exclusive games. I like it as much as my PS3.
2013. Xbox One incident. Not much to talk about. I remember some friends buying One, One S and One X. They all enjoyed their consoles. Problem is Ps4 was like Ps2 back in 2001. Not much to do here.
*There was the Wii U incident here too, but rapidly corrected by the Nintendo masterminds with the Switch. See MS? This is a comeback.
2020. Xbox Series S-X Can we talk about the "SERIES S Incident" here?
So, if we're talking about a comeback, it's gonna depend a lot on: a failed Ps6 and Nintendo doing a Wii-like console (a trending fad, explosive start and rapidly dying)
2005. Xbox 360. Their top console. Did very well because it was a weird gen with an extremely arrogant Sony releasing an expensive and complex PS3 hardware, many developers preferred to work on 360. Also first gen with whacky Nintendo doing whatever they wanted (still the Wii sold like recently baked bread). X360 still has lots of exclusive games. I like it as much as my PS3.
2013. Xbox One incident. Not much to talk about. I remember some friends buying One, One S and One X. They all enjoyed their consoles. Problem is Ps4 was like Ps2 back in 2001. Not much to do here.
*There was the Wii U incident here too, but rapidly corrected by the Nintendo masterminds with the Switch. See MS? This is a comeback.
2020. Xbox Series S-X Can we talk about the "SERIES S Incident" here?
So, if we're talking about a comeback, it's gonna depend a lot on: a failed Ps6 and Nintendo doing a Wii-like console (a trending fad, explosive start and rapidly dying)
djjinx2
Member
So many bullshit posts like this.
Xbox players don't buy games so they go 3rd party
If any Xbox player has GamePass and buys a couple games a year I'm sure MS will be happy.
I sure as shit know as much about their "plan", but neither does anyone else. And to just keep saying Xbox owners don't buy games is pure tales from your ass.
I play Xbox. I buy games. I buy DLC.
Hell Xbox got me with Forza Motorsport Upgrade. CoD upgrade too.
I'm not even a fanboy. Just an average gamer. My son just bought £100 FIFA 25. My mates and their kids all bought Cod, Siege , FIFA etc etc.
Like a slow growing Hive mind things get regurgitated over and over which no one can bring receipts for
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djjinx2
Member
It is a strange one, they don't advertise for years now.
Maybe they do see PC as the future of gaming for MS. But then GamePass is cheaper and paid online not required so I just can't see how it benefits them leaving the console space. Surely they can't have put so much into GamePass to just bin it
Iced Arcade
Member
yup release a year early then release a pro model just after PS6 and keep it moving like that.
that would be smart though
djjinx2
Member
Sony put games on PC and Switch bro, do they have a loser mentality?
(Not a SonyToo, more that the market has changed, shrunk even so other revenue streams are needed for growth)
A confusing mess it is though. Their messaging with bringing a few games to PS has been horrible. A clear strategy is needed and the consumer needs to know. If they are going 3rd party with gamepass timed exclusivity I may still stick with them next gen.
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Kacho
Gold Member
Every bit of sales data we have shows the percentage of people buying software on the platform is miniscule compared to the rest. Phil Spencer has to make special trips to Japan and pay publishers to support their platform. Not to mention all the random games that skip Xbox. All evidence points to an ecosystem where users don't purchase software.So many bullshit posts like this.
Xbox players don't buy games so they go 3rd party
If any Xbox player has GamePass and buys a couple games a year I'm sure MS will be happy.
I sure as shit know as much about their "plan", but neither does anyone else. And to just keep saying Xbox owners don't buy games is pure tales from your ass.
I play Xbox. I buy games. I buy DLC.
Hell Xbox got me with Forza Motorsport Upgrade. CoD upgrade too.
I'm not even a fanboy. Just an average gamer. My son just bought £100 FIFA 25. My mates and his kids all bought Cod, Siege , FIFA etc etc.
Like a slow growing Hive mind things get regurgitated over and over which no one can bring receipts for
Anecdotally, this entire generation for Xbox fans can be summed up with one simple gif:
"Meh, I'll wait for X game to hit Game Pass. What a tremendous value." <--- and if it doesn't hit Game Pass, I'm sure they'll Game Fly the game instead. Super healthy fanbase.
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ExtendEmbraceExtinguish
Member
Never listen to CEO’s read between the lines ( Phil on Nintendo & helldivers 2) was pure business trolling the general public does not understand. We went from exotic hardware to x86; all consoles need bc due to ecosystems. The problem with this is exclusivity will eventually die unless competitors make games like Nintendo( FTC judge to Sony if Nintendo can do it why not you). Ubi ceo literally said msft was not a competitor look where they are now. Msft may have changed strategy but when Phil joined the board after Acti-bliz the writing is on the wall as to their goal. The fun is figuring out what happens next; as Sony needs some hit gaas titles or get buried in its own ecosystem while msft needs to sell consoles for gamepass. Take a good look at the top selling games for all platforms and mau titles. Notice how many games got a graphic improvement aka those are your top sellers on ps6/nextbox.
Shadowstar39
Member
Without gamepass I would of said possibly. Now I am not so sure.
I don't know, i'd rather own games than rent them.
Also Microsoft loses points for stopping their backwards compat program.
When I didn't have a xb1 or xbsx people were talking up their backwards compatibility.
I finally got a xbox (series x) last Xmas, and so many games are delisted or not for sale, or not compatible. Even their own games. Especially OG xbox games. Being someone who never had an xbox, and someone who has a broken ps3, this was annoying.
They have an opportunity now to capitalize on the market spot that has opened up. Non woke games, bro games, games that they used to promote. Stuff like Dead or Alive, western rpgs, etc..
They won't though. As much as I know Sony has fallen in a woke rut. Xbox is even worse. With their "No curves" initiative and their ugly ass fable main protagonist, grrrr.
Gamepass doesn't help either as the die hards don't buy games. I tried it for the free month and frankly I don't have time for all that and things go away. At least on ps+ those 3 games a month for standard online membership (not even talking about the top two tiers) you keep the games as long as you have membership. Shit I started ps+ when it started. I have games from over 14 years ago in my library from ps+
Honestly none of these companies are doing great with game preservation. Nintendo, ironically is the least woke. Microsoft can't seem to make good games anymore, even after buying up the competition.
Also I find it strange that this placed was littered with 1000s of pro gamepass shills to the point it got annoying last year. Where did they all go? lol
I don't know, i'd rather own games than rent them.
Also Microsoft loses points for stopping their backwards compat program.
When I didn't have a xb1 or xbsx people were talking up their backwards compatibility.
I finally got a xbox (series x) last Xmas, and so many games are delisted or not for sale, or not compatible. Even their own games. Especially OG xbox games. Being someone who never had an xbox, and someone who has a broken ps3, this was annoying.
They have an opportunity now to capitalize on the market spot that has opened up. Non woke games, bro games, games that they used to promote. Stuff like Dead or Alive, western rpgs, etc..
They won't though. As much as I know Sony has fallen in a woke rut. Xbox is even worse. With their "No curves" initiative and their ugly ass fable main protagonist, grrrr.
Gamepass doesn't help either as the die hards don't buy games. I tried it for the free month and frankly I don't have time for all that and things go away. At least on ps+ those 3 games a month for standard online membership (not even talking about the top two tiers) you keep the games as long as you have membership. Shit I started ps+ when it started. I have games from over 14 years ago in my library from ps+
Honestly none of these companies are doing great with game preservation. Nintendo, ironically is the least woke. Microsoft can't seem to make good games anymore, even after buying up the competition.
Also I find it strange that this placed was littered with 1000s of pro gamepass shills to the point it got annoying last year. Where did they all go? lol
Kacho
Gold Member
mayham2199
Member
Never listen to CEOs but you directly quoted CEOs?
Sure I do believe the writing was on the wall as to their goal because things changed from the moment the acquisition started to when it finished. They went from beating Sony in hardware sales to sales cratering in the EU and while we didn't know it at the time their Xbox revenue dropping YOY which I'm sure they were seeing on their end already.
Sony has issues it needs to work on but it's much more manageable. Spiderman 1 took far less money to make so at best Sony just has to cut down on the realism in their games and call it a day.
GHG
Member
Sony is not your friend, they tease you with new exclusives but that's it, sequels aren't their thing unless it breaks their target number, that's why they keep trying new things until they run out of ideas cause they are doing it for the money first, you don't see that with 3rd party games, if you care about collecting more games naturally you will care less about exclusives, that's what you see when you spend on the Xbox eco system.
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Astray
Member
The Activision deal got closed so now they're all re-assigned to the Windows Co-pilot ambassador program.
chromhound
Member
Next gen
HeWhoWalks
Gold Member
CuckMeister
Banned
I'm a white man with a big dick and i totaly trust these fine folks at microsoft to turn the tables anytime now.
HeWhoWalks
Gold Member
In fairness, Spider-Man is the one property they manage that calls for bigger budgets/higher production values, but I agree with your sentiment. At this point, they just need to get their release schedule in check, go a little easier on the pricing of their products, and stick to what works.
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Brigandier
Member
Yes absolutely, they need better leadership.
The guys that were in charge like Peter Moore in the 360 era they need people like him that listen to the market and it's fans both old and new.
Current Xbox management is hilariously bad.
The guys that were in charge like Peter Moore in the 360 era they need people like him that listen to the market and it's fans both old and new.
Current Xbox management is hilariously bad.
Unknown Soldier
Member
Activision Blizzard shareholders voted overwhelmingly in favor of the acquisition. The offer was at a premium of over 30% above the share price it was trading at during that time. I would have took the money and ran too lol
Jimmy_liv
Member
This.
Software sells.
Have a gen where they make exclusive AAA from the countless IPs they own and people would buy.
But they wont. They will try to fix a software issue with hardware and attempt to brute force results - it's the Microsoft way.
ExtendEmbraceExtinguish
Member
Unironically the most played games on Xbox are msft games aka paying msft to mainly play msft games.Every bit of sales data we have shows the percentage of people buying software on the platform is miniscule compared to the rest. Phil Spencer has to make special trips to Japan and pay publishers to support for their platform. Not to mention all the random games that skip Xbox. All evidence points to an ecosystem where users don't purchase software.
Anecdotally, this entire generation for Xbox fans can be summed up with one simple gif:
"Meh, I'll wait for X game to hit Game Pass. What a tremendous value." <--- and if it doesn't hit Game Pass, I'm sure they'll Game Fly the game instead. Super healthy fanbase.
Note; I stated read between the lines regarding ceos. Msft gaming rev is 10% less than Sony due mainly from the heavy lifting of actibliz which highlights how much it can earn once msft fully releases on both Nintendo & Sony consoles aka the full Xbox catalog. Sony reducing graphics would be a death kneel to its fanbase; although insomniac leaks stated the desire of doing AA over AAA.
LRKD
Member
I think this was the time they could've made a comeback, it wouldn't have been easy, but it could've been done with this generation. A good console, strong leader ship, fast game shipping out. But they f'd it up. Phil Spencer, and xbox leadership never had the balls to go in and crack the whip at 343i. I honestly think wokeness is the corereason xbox is failing as hard as it is. The people working at xbox studios are too focused on workplace drama, and company polotics to get any actual work done. While I do believe they *could* pull of a comeback in the future, I don't think the have the people, talent, or even the will or desire to ever see it happen. I think it's over for xbox as a console manufacture, and competetor to the PlayStation brand.
I would however love to be proven wrong. I want to see more and more console competition, not less. I wish I could snap my fingers, and tomorrow sega shows back up, and a couple new other console companies alongside them. Maybe a Russian one, there used to be some great eurojank devs in Russia.
I would however love to be proven wrong. I want to see more and more console competition, not less. I wish I could snap my fingers, and tomorrow sega shows back up, and a couple new other console companies alongside them. Maybe a Russian one, there used to be some great eurojank devs in Russia.
newtypepilot
Member
xbox as a brand wont go away but they are going to leave the hardware space.
SeanyQuest
Neo Member
No, they have painted themselves into a corner there is no getting out of. Console generations are no longer clean slates.
The only thing the Xbox fan has to be excited about is existing games coming to PlayStation so it boosts that games audience.
The only thing the Xbox fan has to be excited about is existing games coming to PlayStation so it boosts that games audience.
RetroGamingUK
Member
PS5 Shipped Almost 5x More Than Xbox Series X and S During Last Quarter, Analyst Reports - IGN
Sony shipped almost five times more PlayStation 5 units than Microsoft shipped Xbox Series X and S consoles during the last financial quarter, according to one analyst.
It’s all but gone
I’ve tried to get my head around it myself. Can they continue with generational consoles when going third party will result in a minuscule player base?
I’ve even argued in favour of it but I’ve seen enough counter arguments to understand why this won’t be the case.
The remaining years of this generation are going to be a bloodbath for series consoles.
Their next piece of hardware will be a PC with an “Xbox” logo slapped on the front and some backwards compatibility.
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Madserb2023
Member
They could if they wanted to. They have the money. It's the will they don't have. Microsoft is not a games company. If Nintendo's games division collapsed, that's 100% of the company gone. If PlayStation collapsed that's about 60% of Sony gone. For Microsoft, it's about 10%, Im fact they might make more profit if it collapsed. That makes all the difference.