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[Astray]

Translation (lightly edited by me for clarity):

"Microsoft Considers ceasing Xbox console sales in the Middle East.

Also, its possible that we may not get a release of their next handheld device.

Their focus will be on PC Game Pass and accessories only."

I can say that this guy is the head of a major Arabic games publication whose reviews can be found on Metacritic (True Gaming).

He's definitely connected, and not someone who just makes things up.

 

[Unknown?]

Is this because they hate their woke values?

 

[Astray]

HeisenbergFX4 If the new handheld doesnt make it here, then it's hard to envision the powerful one coming here either.

 

[Astray]

Is this because they hate their woke values?

No. Playstation has had multiple games altered or banned by some countries, but they sell most games here just fine.

Xbox basically has no share in this region (MENA), we already had reports of a slashed marketing budget a month or two ago. This is pure cost cutting IMHO.

 

[Darkkahn]

The end is nigh!

 

[Mr.Phoenix]

Europe next?

 

[SweetTooth]

And nobody will notice

 

[MisterXDTV]

Everyone says how much Xbox is struggling, but their revenue is up? What am I missing?

Asset values can go up AND down. Ignoring the idea that your asset can decline in value can lead to faulty analysis and results. If Microsoft mismanages its subsidiaries, then it's very easy to see their values decline, just look at Disney and ask about the value of Marvel Entertainment today vs...

www.neogaf.com

What are we missing, guys??

 

[Thief1987]

Europe next?

Asia should be first

 

[Iced Arcade]

I'm pretty sure this was already known a bit ago and a topic... or maybe it was a different area.


Edit:

[The Verge] Microsoft may stop marketing of Xbox consoles in EMEA and focus only on Game Pass, Cloud, PC and Xbox Controllers​

 

[Mr.Phoenix]

Asia should be first

I can see why they wouldn't do that with asia... what kinda message would that be sending to Japanese or generally, Asian devs?

 

[SHA]

Is this because they hate their woke values?

%45 of Sony's share comes from that region alone, numbers maybe the cause.

 

[Astray]

I'm pretty sure this was already known a bit ago and a topic... or maybe it was a different area.


Edit:

[The Verge] Microsoft may stop marketing of Xbox consoles in EMEA and focus only on Game Pass, Cloud, PC and Xbox Controllers​

The new bit is that it might not only be marketing, they might not bring new devices anymore (already started with the new variants of existing consoles).

This also talks about the handheld not making it here too.

 

[Darkness_Arises]

And nobody will notice

This guy will notice, dunno about the rest of the region.

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

Explosive decision.

 

[Mr Moose]

Europe next?

Microsoft Could Stop Pushing Xbox Consoles In Europe, Other Regions

According to a new report, Microsoft could be changing how it markets the Xbox ecosystem throughout Europe and other regions.

insider-gaming.com

Probably.

 

[Hookshot]

They don't even focus on the historically strong UK anymore, Japan will probably be next to cease.

 

[XXL]

Microsoft Could Stop Pushing Xbox Consoles In Europe, Other Regions

According to a new report, Microsoft could be changing how it markets the Xbox ecosystem throughout Europe and other regions.

insider-gaming.com

Probably.

Xbox Ambassador Is Closing After 13 Years -- Here's Why And What Happens Next

Microsoft is closing the Xbox Ambassador program after more than a decade of operation.

www.gamespot.com

 

[Judge Magister]

 

[bundylove]

Microsoft has to go all in on gamepass and thirdparty.

They have good studios that make good games and they should focus on that.

They can still have dedicated hardware but i think their future will be streaming only on all tvs like netflix.

My samsung tv already has gamepass on it all i need is a controler so its already happening .

 

[Kacho]

We don’t hear much about that region. How popular is Xbox there? I can’t imagine very.

 

[akira__]

Every screen is a xbox, when everybody plays we all win.

 

[//DEVIL//]

Who is this banana ?

Anyone tweet something now it’s a Rumor ?

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

But.... why?

 

[simpatico]

An array of different performant GamePass Steamboxes can really work now. Would have been impossible in 360 era, but you could pretty easily make a PC gamepass box that would never have to boot to a Windows desktop if the user didn't want it to. Especially with microsoft's resources.

 

[SHA]

We don’t hear much about that region. How popular is Xbox there? I can’t imagine very.

Not much, around %5 compared to PlayStation.

 

[VolticArchangel]

It begins...

 

[adamsapple]

 

[Unknown Soldier]

Asia/Japan and Europe are next. Then UK. Finally North America

Soon Xbox will go the way of Zune, HD DVD, and Windows Phone

 

[Bernoulli]

 

[March Climber]

Is this because they hate their woke values?

 

[Badlucktroll]

why they now trying to take away xbox

 

[Dorfdad]

HeisenbergFX4 If the new handheld doesnt make it here, then it's hard to envision the powerful one coming here either.

Wait HeisenbergFX4 is there new rumors or news that the handheld version we heard about is possibly not going to be released? I thought if anything the console would be the sku skipped not the hybrid/ dock

 

[Moriarty1889]

Old news.

 

[RetroGamingUK]

Asia/Japan and Europe are next. Then UK. Finally North America

Soon Xbox will go the way of Zune, HD DVD, and Windows Phone

Will be sad to see, never considered buying one after numerous 360 RROD issues, but still it’s sad to see the lights going out.

 

[Dafegamer]

It's joever for Microsoft

 

[Astray]

Wait HeisenbergFX4 is there new rumors or news that the handheld version we heard about is possibly not going to be released? I thought if anything the console would be the sku skipped not the hybrid/ dock

The rumors of a new Xbox gen still persist.

I'm just talking about whether it comes to our shores or not.

 

[AyraSutoraifu]

 

[lughnasadh123]

Feel sorry for the kid getting a controller but no system on his birthday.

 

[Freelance Yakuza]

 

[semiconscious]

isn't this the same company considering stopping console sales, period?...

 

[Saturn Dragon]

Just release Gears E-day on PS5 and we're even.

 

[Quasicat]

Microsoft has to go all in on gamepass and thirdparty.

They have good studios that make good games and they should focus on that.

They can still have dedicated hardware but i think their future will be streaming only on all tvs like netflix.

My samsung tv already has gamepass on it all i need is a controler so its already happening .

Agreed. Due to the file size, I play MS Flight Sim completely in the cloud on my Xbox Series X…it runs pretty well on an Ethernet connection. I could easily see myself using the next generation handheld and playing the rest on a current gen console using the cloud.

 

[Brucey]

HeisenbergFX4 If the new handheld doesnt make it here, then it's hard to envision the powerful one coming here either.

Xbox One Tier 3 round two!

Tier 1:
Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Spain, United Kingdom, United States and New Zealand.

Tier 2:
Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland.

Middle East?

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

Wait HeisenbergFX4 is there new rumors or news that the handheld version we heard about is possibly not going to be released? I thought if anything the console would be the sku skipped not the hybrid/ dock

I was asked recently to full stop talking about their next move (not from anyone here) and everyone will get answers soon

 

[Ridicululzz]

Wow, so they're doing worse there than Japan?

 

[GHG]

Is this because they hate their woke values?

No, as someone who have lived in the region for over a decade now, it's because their localisation sucks in every aspect possible.

They thought they could literally come here and just google translate their American style marketing and products and that it would work, it's quite laughable really.

We don’t hear much about that region. How popular is Xbox there? I can’t imagine very.

Anecdotal, but a group chat of over 20 of us who get together for weekend shenanigans, just one person has an Xbox, and this is a group predominantly made up of western expats.

 

[Dorfdad]

I was asked recently to full stop talking about their next move (not from anyone here) and everyone will get answers soon

Understood. I just hope they really don't forgo the Hybrid its the smart move. a Portable 1080p 8 inch OLED with handheld that will play all the current games and allow an external Dock that support EGPU's / SSD enclosure and turn it into a home console. They don't need two different systems just one that can function as both.

 

[Heisenberg007]

Everyone says how much Xbox is struggling, but their revenue is up? What am I missing?

Asset values can go up AND down. Ignoring the idea that your asset can decline in value can lead to faulty analysis and results. If Microsoft mismanages its subsidiaries, then it's very easy to see their values decline, just look at Disney and ask about the value of Marvel Entertainment today vs...

www.neogaf.com

What are we missing, guys??

"Xbox." In the Middle East.

 

[pasterpl]

The whole EMEA territory is PlayStation and Nintendo, MS was never able to gain significant market share there, maybe excluding the UK (historically) so no really surprised with the decision - Maybe that it came so late.