thicc_girls_are_teh_best
Member
So "Wait 'till next E3" has become a meme at this point WRT the Xbox brand, but it's fair to say that amid a tepid 2019 presentation and a 2020 July event that did more to show off GamePass than their marquee next-gen console (the somewhat ho-hum and even janky-in-places visuals of Halo Infinite didn't help), going into the first full year of the new cycle Microsoft actually has to make their E3 presentation count. With Sony already having gained plenty of momentum and getting quality 1P content out for PS5 even amid COVID (including not only Rift Apart coming in June, but a just-announced State of Play for Horizon: Forbidden West on May 27th with 14 minutes of gameplay), and Nintendo stirring up interest with a possible Switch Pro let alone new releases in some of their marquee IP, 2021's E3 is not the time for Phil Spencer to go "I'm more excited for what we didn't show".
The truth is, this E3 will be a turning point, one way or another. Microsoft needs to convince people outside of the Xbox ecosystem that their platform ecosystem is worth both their money and time, and there's only one way to truly do that: content. Not just any content, either; the common complaint with a lot of people not already in the Xbox ecosystem is that there's been very little shown from Microsoft or partnered developers that "looks and feels" next-gen, and can't already be had elsewhere, i.e PlayStation. Unfortunately, this is a bitter truth; while Microsoft's system has been enjoying an increased lead with more multiplatform titles, it's not the kind of lead that creates a definitive drive for most to invest in the platform or ecosystem. Meanwhile, their other advantages are with FPS boosts and in some cases, resolution boosts, in older games, the issue there being...they're older games. If people outside of the ecosystem want to be stimulated, they need to see some impressive stuff from NEW titles, that can't be had anywhere else but in the Xbox ecosystem.
So with that said, here is a following of what I think Microsoft needs to do this E3 in order to have a truly impressive show not just for the Xbox fanbase but for all gamers in general. I have broken this up into two tiers, the first being things that ABSOLUTELY need to happen, the second being things that will be nice to have but aren't mandatory (IMHO) to have a stellar show. You'll probably see a very common theme between the tiers here
. I fear that if Microsoft cannot deliver the vast majority of what's in Tier 1, and offers nothing of equivalent to make up for them, then they will effectively harm future growth of the brand. Not just Xbox consoles, but also GamePass and Xcloud, too. Ultimately great hardware and services mean nothing if stimulating new content is not there to draw people in, and given Microsoft's size and position in the industry, it's not unbecoming to expect them to provide some things that can compete with the best from Sony and Nintendo. Or better to say, present and message that content much more effectively, give it that TLC to wax among the media and gamers, and treat the games you know will best show off your ecosystem with an intimate attention.
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[TIER 1]
[TIER 2]
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I don't think most of what's being asked here is too much; the games I'd like gameplay for are literally scheduled for 2021 or early 2022 at the very latest. Sony has and continues to show excellent gameplay for upcoming releases this year alone like Rift Apart and Forbidden West on the 27th; Microsoft should be able to do similar with some of the titles they showed off/revealed last year of all things.
There is no need for more acquisitions ATM; they need to at least get some games out from the studios they've actually acquired so far to start showing people real results with those purchases and investments, otherwise yet more acquisitions could come off as the equivalent of being a patent troll. This event needs to prioritize what can be done for the Series X, as that is the aspect of the Xbox ecosystem the majority are genuinely interested in seeing more from, what it can do etc. plus that's the one Microsoft built up their earlier messaging going into the new gen with. It wasn't Series S, it wasn't GamePass and it wasn't Xcloud: it was the Series X reveal and for the next couple of years it will continue to be the Series X that most defines the brand.
If their E3 does well and gives Series X its boost, then those other things will naturally benefit in relation to it. However, if Microsoft's E3 is majority focused on yet more CG trailers for games years away, or mediocre 1P gameplay reveals, or a perception of flooding the focus on GamePass with smaller indies and inclusion of months/years-old games that players outside the Xbox ecosystem will have most likely already played....then Microsoft's gaming ambitions may be in serious trouble. And it's not like Sony and Nintendo will stand still; Sony may or may not have their own E3-style event this year, but if they do more similar to what they will with Forbidden West gameplay on the 27th, can get their other 1P (Forbidden West, GoW etc.) out this year and do some big reveals of new 1P IP and 3P exclusives (like the rumored FF Souls-like, MGS Remake etc.), they run the greatest chance of relegating Xbox to a literal footnote in mindshare going forward.
What do you guys think Microsoft needs to do this E3 in order to make inroads with the masses outside of the Xbox ecosystem?
The truth is, this E3 will be a turning point, one way or another. Microsoft needs to convince people outside of the Xbox ecosystem that their platform ecosystem is worth both their money and time, and there's only one way to truly do that: content. Not just any content, either; the common complaint with a lot of people not already in the Xbox ecosystem is that there's been very little shown from Microsoft or partnered developers that "looks and feels" next-gen, and can't already be had elsewhere, i.e PlayStation. Unfortunately, this is a bitter truth; while Microsoft's system has been enjoying an increased lead with more multiplatform titles, it's not the kind of lead that creates a definitive drive for most to invest in the platform or ecosystem. Meanwhile, their other advantages are with FPS boosts and in some cases, resolution boosts, in older games, the issue there being...they're older games. If people outside of the ecosystem want to be stimulated, they need to see some impressive stuff from NEW titles, that can't be had anywhere else but in the Xbox ecosystem.
So with that said, here is a following of what I think Microsoft needs to do this E3 in order to have a truly impressive show not just for the Xbox fanbase but for all gamers in general. I have broken this up into two tiers, the first being things that ABSOLUTELY need to happen, the second being things that will be nice to have but aren't mandatory (IMHO) to have a stellar show. You'll probably see a very common theme between the tiers here
. I fear that if Microsoft cannot deliver the vast majority of what's in Tier 1, and offers nothing of equivalent to make up for them, then they will effectively harm future growth of the brand. Not just Xbox consoles, but also GamePass and Xcloud, too. Ultimately great hardware and services mean nothing if stimulating new content is not there to draw people in, and given Microsoft's size and position in the industry, it's not unbecoming to expect them to provide some things that can compete with the best from Sony and Nintendo. Or better to say, present and message that content much more effectively, give it that TLC to wax among the media and gamers, and treat the games you know will best show off your ecosystem with an intimate attention.---------------
[TIER 1]
>Visually impressive gameplay for Halo Infinite
>Gameplay for Starfield (at least a little bit, even if mostly CG trailer)
>Gameplay for Bright Memory Infinite (~5 minutes raw; 2021 release so no excuses)
>Gameplay for Scorn (same as BMI IIRC)
>Gameplay for The Gunk (same)
>Gameplay for Exo Mecha (same)
>Gameplay for Forza Horizon 5 (CG reveal trailer & maybe 1-2 minutes of gameplay)
>Gameplay for FS 2020 (~5 minutes gameplay, show off new content and modes)
>At least one major Western 3P AAA console exclusive for release 2021/Q1 2022, GamePass or not
>At least one major Japanese 3P AAA console exclusive for release 2021/Q1 2022, GamePass or not
>At least one major surprise for gaming community (i.e maybe funding or timed exclusivity for
Black Myth: Wukong or Project EVE, etc.)
[TIER 2]
>Teaser for Kojima Productions project (just a logo is good enough; save rest for TGS)
>Gameplay for Ark 2 single-player campaign
>Any Nintendo partnership (i.e Master Chief in Smash Bros. (most likely) or Banjo-Kazooie 3 for Xbox
Series & Switch (less likely but not completely ruled out)
>Some announcements of new system/GamePass/Xcloud QoL features, peripherals etc.
>Some game announcements for GamePass (including Battlefield 6 if that is actually happening)
>Substantive update on at least a few 1P games (Project Mara, Everwild etc. at least two of them)
>Announcement of maybe a couple longer-term 3P partnerships WRT co-funding software dev for
ecosystem exclusives (full or timed)(at least one Western dev/pub, one Japanese dev/pub, i.e
Team Asobo, Sega, SNK etc.)
>Any GamePass service partnership (i.e Ubisoft UPlay, etc.)
>Trailer reveal/tease for a new 1P AAA IP to close the show
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I don't think most of what's being asked here is too much; the games I'd like gameplay for are literally scheduled for 2021 or early 2022 at the very latest. Sony has and continues to show excellent gameplay for upcoming releases this year alone like Rift Apart and Forbidden West on the 27th; Microsoft should be able to do similar with some of the titles they showed off/revealed last year of all things.
There is no need for more acquisitions ATM; they need to at least get some games out from the studios they've actually acquired so far to start showing people real results with those purchases and investments, otherwise yet more acquisitions could come off as the equivalent of being a patent troll. This event needs to prioritize what can be done for the Series X, as that is the aspect of the Xbox ecosystem the majority are genuinely interested in seeing more from, what it can do etc. plus that's the one Microsoft built up their earlier messaging going into the new gen with. It wasn't Series S, it wasn't GamePass and it wasn't Xcloud: it was the Series X reveal and for the next couple of years it will continue to be the Series X that most defines the brand.
If their E3 does well and gives Series X its boost, then those other things will naturally benefit in relation to it. However, if Microsoft's E3 is majority focused on yet more CG trailers for games years away, or mediocre 1P gameplay reveals, or a perception of flooding the focus on GamePass with smaller indies and inclusion of months/years-old games that players outside the Xbox ecosystem will have most likely already played....then Microsoft's gaming ambitions may be in serious trouble. And it's not like Sony and Nintendo will stand still; Sony may or may not have their own E3-style event this year, but if they do more similar to what they will with Forbidden West gameplay on the 27th, can get their other 1P (Forbidden West, GoW etc.) out this year and do some big reveals of new 1P IP and 3P exclusives (like the rumored FF Souls-like, MGS Remake etc.), they run the greatest chance of relegating Xbox to a literal footnote in mindshare going forward.
What do you guys think Microsoft needs to do this E3 in order to make inroads with the masses outside of the Xbox ecosystem?
