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Phillip Wesley Spencer The 3rd: "Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 are too similar"..."I want us to innovate and make hardware the differentiator."

gokurho

Member

Summary by Deepseek

  1. Strategic Advantage of Xbox Series S
    Phil Spencer sees the Xbox Series S as a key differentiator in the console market. Its lower price and accessibility allow Microsoft to reach a broader audience, especially attracting new and casual gamers. This strategic positioning strengthens Xbox’s presence in an increasingly competitive industry.
  2. Emphasis on Hardware Innovation
    Spencer believes hardware innovation is crucial for Xbox’s success. Instead of merely competing on raw performance, Microsoft aims to develop unique hardware solutions that redefine gaming experiences and distinguish Xbox from its rivals.
  3. Targeting a Wider Audience
    The Xbox Series S is designed for gamers who prioritize affordability over top-tier graphics. By providing an accessible entry point to next-generation gaming, Microsoft expands its market beyond core gamers and attracts casual players who may not have considered a high-end console.
  4. Balancing Performance and Cost
    Although less powerful than the Series X, Spencer argues that the Series S still offers a strong gaming experience. By optimizing performance while keeping costs down, Microsoft ensures that next-gen gaming remains accessible to more people.
  5. Impact of the Parity Clause
    The parity clause requires that all Xbox games run on both Series X and Series S. While this maintains consistency across platforms, it presents challenges for developers, who must optimize their games for the lower-spec hardware. Microsoft acknowledges these difficulties and is committed to working with developers to streamline the process.
  6. Possibility of a Handheld Xbox
    Spencer hints at the potential for a handheld Xbox, leveraging Microsoft’s expertise in low-power hardware. As cloud gaming technology advances, a portable Xbox device could emerge as a viable option, expanding the Xbox ecosystem beyond traditional consoles.
  7. Long-Term Strategy and Future Vision
    Xbox’s long-term strategy involves diversifying hardware offerings while enhancing cloud gaming integration. By maintaining multiple entry points—ranging from high-performance consoles to cloud-based gaming and potentially handheld devices—Microsoft aims to create a flexible, inclusive gaming ecosystem.

Overall Assessment

Phil Spencer’s statements reflect Microsoft’s commitment to innovation, accessibility, and long-term growth in the gaming industry. The Xbox Series S plays a vital role in this strategy, making next-gen gaming more affordable while maintaining Xbox’s competitive edge. By expanding its hardware lineup and investing in cloud gaming, Microsoft positions itself as a forward-thinking player in the evolving gaming landscape.
When asked if Microsoft would ever consider dropping the "parity clause," Spencer described how the Xbox Series S spec "maps pretty well" to lower-power battery-bound devices like the Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and Nintendo Switch 2.

"In a way, I think about it in almost exactly the opposite way. With the rise of handheld PCs and the Nintendo Switch 2 — as developers we're building on more device specs from lower power devices, battery powered devices, all the way to things that plug into the wall. I actually think we have a real advantage, because we've been targeting the [Xbox Series S] for quite a while," Spencer explained. "I think that helps us. Frankly, the scalability of engines today allows [games] to scale from ray-trace enabled multi-thousand dollar graphics cards on desktop, all the way through to a battery-powered handheld device. So, for me, [Xbox Series] S has been helpful in our portfolio."
Microsoft has been working to reduce its reliance on the Xbox hardware ecosystem in recent years. Microsoft has begun shipping games on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch, but has also been growing out its own Xbox cloud and PC operation too. When asked why someone should buy an Xbox console in that universe, Spencer emphasized that he wants to return to hardware innovation as the key differentiator between platforms.

"I want us to innovate and make hardware the differentiator. We've got into this space where the differentiation on the hardware has gone down, and it's really been 'locked games' that have become the identity of the hardware. I love when I see handhelds, when I see unique things that hardware manufacturers do. I want our hardware to compete on power, and on innovation. So let's have our platform continue to innovate with services and the hardware work that we're doing — whether it's controller, power, or mobility."
innovation scare quotes GIF
 

Cakeboxer

Gold Member
What about a device that contains an array of microphones, an active-sensing depth camera using structured light, a color camera and is intended to be used as a controller-free game controller, tracking the body or bodies of one or more players in its field of view? And it should be bundled with every console.

Now that would be something!
 
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//DEVIL//

Member
Here comes the Xbox switch

And no. I am not joking. This is exactly what they are doing. And lined up with their vision of Xbox anywhere.
 
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Bojanglez

The Amiga Brotherhood
I think the problem was the XBone and S|X were too similar. As much as people (often disingenuously) kept misunderstanding Sony's "we believe in generations" comment, Sony did differentiate the PS5 from the PS4 by making significant differences in areas such as the controller and OS, this can't be said for Xbox, all they did was make a more powerful box and the S is was hardly any different from the OneX and the X was only really improved graphic fidelity.
 
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FingerBang

Member
I agree with them, and I wish they returned to the first Xbox, making it a PC-like machine.

But, more important, make that fucking Windows for games. No bloat or limited features; Steam OS-like, and sell it for a reasonable price. Make it go into standby and turn on in a few seconds like the Xbox does. Make it integrate well with the MS store and Game Pass, but offer all the other stores to be on it. If not, we can access desktop mode and do it ourselves. Make it easy for me to start a game on the big box/PC and continue on my handheld PC.

You're the goddamn software company. Make it happen. You don't need the most potent box: Users can make their own.

A bit ironic after all "the world's most powerful console" marketing.
Power means nothing without good software. Xbox has had the most powerful console on the market for 7 years, which didn't help them in any way.

A crappy mobile chip powers the Switch, and Nintendo had to postpone their newer console because it just wouldn't stop selling.
 

Edellus

Member
"Summary by Deepseek"

Oh please no. This applies to ChatGPT and all the other generative LLMs as well. Just don't. If people can't be bothered to read the article, they can't be bothered to read an AI summary either.
That doesn't make sense. If anything, people are way more likely to engage in something that requires less time and effort than the other way around.

Having a summary is not something new. Scientific papers, for instance, have abstracts, which very purpose is to let the reader know what the paper is about before reading the entirety of it.

I don't get this kind of comment. The AI summary is disclosed and it's optional to read. Also, I rather people to get the gist of something rather than none at all. I'm having a hard time in finding another point to your comment besides trying to come off as a literacy elitist.
 
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nowhat

Member
That doesn't make sense. If anything, people are way more likely to engage in something that requires less time and effort than the other way around.

Having a summary is not something new. Scientific papers, for instance, have abstracts, which very purpose is to let the reader know what the paper is about before reading the entirety of it.

I don't get this kind of comment. The AI summary is disclosed and it's optional to read. Also, I rather people to get the gist of something rather than none at all. I'm having a hard time in finding another point to your comment besides trying to come off as a literacy elitist.
Scientific papers have a summary for sure. Written by the actual scientists who wrote the paper, to give an insight to their research.

AI summaries can be downright inadequate, or misleading even. AI, in its current incarnation, fucking sucks. LLMs are meant to be "helpful". Which is, when people ask retarded questions, they'll come up with retarded answers, just to accommodate. LLMs "hallucinate" more than me in my early 20s, and I used to take acid multiple times per week.
 

gokurho

Member
"Summary by Deepseek"

Oh please no. This applies to ChatGPT and all the other generative LLMs as well. Just don't. If people can't be bothered to read the article, they can't be bothered to read an AI summary either.
I understand your point—AI summaries might not be for everyone. However, they can be helpful for people who are short on time or want a quick overview before diving into the full article. It’s just another tool, not a replacement for reading in depth.
 

Radical_3d

Member
Don’t forget that our reliable insider, HeisenbergFX4 (how do you even quote in this forum), said that MS wanted the 1.000$ Xbox for 2025 to align with GTA6, but ultimately was postponed to 2026. A few weeks ago we got the Xbox Prime for 2026 roumor. Brace yourself for impact.
9ic3hs.jpg
 

nowhat

Member
I understand your point—AI summaries might not be for everyone. However, they can be helpful for people who are short on time or want a quick overview before diving into the full article. It’s just another tool, not a replacement for reading in depth.
The AI response overlooks the fact that AI summaries can be, and often are, woefully inadequate and often misleading.
 

RCX

Member
"everyones just using the same weapons and its no fun anymore. We want to change things up by attaching lasers to elephants, they'll never see it coming and our victory will be certain"

Mussolini, 1944
 

nowhat

Member
Unlike people?
Not unlike people, but unlike LLMs, people are more apt at recognizing their mistakes and correcting them later on.

The whole current AI fad is just that, a fad. I think it is evident given how much NVidia stock has tanked since there became a possibility that perhaps we don't need so many GPUs for the same fluff.
 

saintjules

Gold Member

SaintALia

Member
I'm guessing 'innovation' here means- various devices on which you can play on and partnerships to allow that, so handheld type stuff, maybe phone collabs, various Xbox branded hardware, including just streaming hardware.

Basically anything that means reducing actual hardware spend in R&D and manufacturing(and pawning that off on collaborators), while trying to extend the Xbox brand across as much hardware as possible, maximising profits for software.
 
Xbox One 2.0 with Kinect 3.0 incoming where all your games, tv and apps are readily at your disposal. Marc Whitten will be brought back to be the architect. DX12 and Cloud Power will be the differentiating factors that actually make a difference this time as well as throwing in not just 32 but 64 mb of blazing fast ESRAM. Mattrick will see this somewhere and wish he was able to be a part of this Xbox Revolution as well lol.
 

jm89

Member
"Summary by Deepseek"

Oh please no. This applies to ChatGPT and all the other generative LLMs as well. Just don't. If people can't be bothered to read the article, they can't be bothered to read an AI summary either.
Not gonna lie, AI summaries have made reading some articles more bearable due to the sheer amount of padding writers put in to get to the point.

Funnily enough that padding might be due to AI.
 
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