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[RetroGamingUK]

It already happened way before that.

Xbox took a nosedive during the second half of X360 when games slowed down. It was their best shot to get ahead of Playstation and despite 18 months head start, lower price and solid output during the first half of the gen, they still messed up.

At the time it really felt like Xbox was the future.

I got one in 2006 with Gears of War and whenever friends (who weren't hugely into gaming) asked me which console to get I'd always say 360.

Looking back those early 360 years were just a blip.

 

[Killjoy-NL]

At the time it really felt like Xbox was the future.

I got one in 2006 with Gears of War and whenever friends (who weren't hugely into gaming) asked me which console to get I'd always say 360.

Looking back those early 360 years were just a blip.

It sure was very competitive at the time.

But as games output (and exclusives) were slowing down on X360, they also started focusing on Kinect.
What's interesting about that is that iirc the company behind the tech initially approached Nintendo, who weren't interested.
They then went to Sony, who also weren't interested (and they already had EyeToy).
So just the fact that MS was third choice, focusing on tech their competitors didn't want, was a red flag as well.

 

[freakhead]

So be EA not Xbox.

 

[RetroGamingUK]

It sure was very competitive at the time.

But as games output (and exclusives) were slowing down on X360, they also started focusing on Kinect.
What's interesting about that is that iirc the company behind the tech initially approached Nintendo, who weren't interested.
They then went to Sony, who also weren't interested (and they already had EyeToy).
So just the fact that MS was third choice, focusing on tech their competitors didn't want, was a red flag as well.

Yeah the pivot to Kinect made no sense, every E3 show since 2010 just became tedious with all that stuff.

I think what Sony do different (and why they're so successful) is that when they see a potential technological threat on the horizon they dip their toe in, be that…

- motion controls
- subscriptions
- streaming
- VR

…so that if they really do take off they're in a position to capitalise and not be usurped by an incumbent competitor. However they keep their focus on what has made them successful for 30 years.

Microsoft, on the other hand, just panic and completely change their business around these things to their detriment…

- Kinect
- Gamepass
- Xbox everywhere

…they're just flailing around now and their customers have moved elsewhere.

 

[Nydius]

It already happened way before that.

Xbox took a nosedive during the second half of X360 when games slowed down. It was their best shot to get ahead of Playstation and despite 18 months head start, lower price and solid output during the first half of the gen, they still messed up.

Yep. It was a combination of slowing output and Microsoft deciding to try and chase the damn Wii market with Kinect and Avatars and waggle control bullshit vaporware. To be fair, Sony tried that shit too, but Microsoft really spent a ton on Kinect, not to mention how much they spent in development resources for Rare to become their Kinect Bitch™ studio, pumping out mediocre sports titles and "New Xbox Interface" updates.

Edit: Beaten, but I'm just gonna leave it.

 

[RetroGamingUK]

Yep. It was a combination of slowing output and Microsoft deciding to try and chase the damn Wii market with Kinect and Avatars and waggle control bullshit vaporware. To be fair, Sony tried that shit too, but Microsoft really spent a ton on Kinect, not to mention how much they spent in development resources for Rare to become their Kinect Bitch™ studio, pumping out mediocre sports titles and "New Xbox Interface" updates.

Edit: Beaten, but I'm just gonna leave it.

Going from blades to THIS was just depressing…

…if I wanted my console to resemble a fucking toy I'd have bought a Wii.

 

[Nydius]

Going from blades to THIS was just depressing…

…if I wanted my console to resemble a fucking toy I'd have bought a Wii.

Completely and totally agree. And then they changed it again to bring it in line with Metro UI: flat squares everywhere, and a good 80% of the main screen turned into god damned advertising. The 2011 and 2014 Xbox 360 UI changes were indicative of a brand that was losing its direction.

 

[PlayStaytion]

Tend to agree. Microsoft's strategy seems to be making "Xbox" everything and nothing at the same time. Keyword is "seems" as we really don't have a good understanding of what Microsoft is even doing, but the tiny tidbits of information that accompany announcements for Rog Xbox Ally and AMD partnerships really are not helping. Speculation is everywhere and theories are all over the place.

Do we have the real Mike here? cause I felt his aura closer to Gaf than other sites many times.

 

[bighugeguns]

Give the Xbox consoles keyboard + mouse support and Steam integration, let kids jam CS2 and Dota on these things.

 

[Paasei]

It's the new Sega and maybe with all that MS money they can attract and give freedom to proper talent starting new studio's/projects and allow for more innovation.

 

[djjinx2]

The weird obsession on Gaf with Xbox is legendary.

Can you elaborate on what you mean please?
I mean a gaming forum discusses a gaming platform seems pretty normal to me?

If Xbox is having a last hail Mary console to save itself, then they will need CLEAR messaging AND timed exclusives (with CLEAR messaging)

Say all first party games are going to be 6 months timed exclusives and straight to GP, with alot more day 1 exclusive GP content to come.

BUT, they won't. They will transition as many customers as they can to PC and cloud whilst keeping their backlogs alive in some form to avoid a huge shit storm.

Such a shame poor poor leadership has fucked up so much. They were doing better with NO exclusives before they spent 100 billion FFS. MS played themselves.

 

[Hudo]

It's hard for me to take someone who didn't do jack shit to fix WarCraft 3 Reforged and who presided over Overwatch 2 seriously. His tenure as CEO of Blizzard was disappointing, to put it nicely.

 

[Jibran#one]

They just don't understand the basic fundamentals
Like when u buy a phone what do you expect the first thing it should do?
Make a phone call
When someone buys a console they want great exclusive games that they can't get anywhere.
They keep on doing everything since Xbox one except the most basic fundamentals thing.
Why the fuck should I buy a next gen Xbox when you will also be releasing ur games on PC and ps6.
It's like these dumb bastards don't even have common sense.
This is from someone who owns a series x and I'm never buying an xbox if there is any after this

 

[Topher]

The weird obsession on Gaf with Xbox is legendary.

 

[Kumomeme]

its not that they dont has vision of what they want to be but these vision often not hold long due to they too eager want to chase trend in hope for quick domination success even if it end up contradict/butchered their own at same time. another problem i seen that might contribute to this is that they act like a bussiness suite mindset foremost than a creative videogames division. this what separate Xbox with SIE or Nintendo. in these past few years for example their biggest pitch or branding focus is mostly about their bussiness model or approach than about, gaming product.

they often stated to has stance that favoured to players. however what they preach never represent what they truly believe or needed as most of them is merely online PR war against their competitor. they not even hesitate to U-turn later.

but, the one of biggest culprit is certain type of their fans who evangelize everything they do and said, than voice against it up when necessary. this let some of higher up didnt bother to get down of their high horses especially when some of them more prefer for their image appearance than their work result. this cycle been repeating atleast for 2 generations. sometimes it is like politicians. talk and talk what people want to hear. then the people trust everything. get betrayed. next election, vote them again.

 

[Klayzer]

Only praise is allowed. Criticism, not so much.