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[IbizaPocholo]

Gearbox Software CEO Says Microsoft and Sony Have Never Been Competitors, In His Mind

Gearbox Software CEO Randy Pitchford says that in his mind, Microsoft and Sony 'have never been competitors.'

gamerant.com

The Gearbox Software CEO explained his stance in a series of tweets, characterizing Sony as a consumer electronics company and Microsoft as a software company, and that Sony should eventually "be happy" with Microsoft software running on PlayStation hardware. "Sony's like, 'They better not pull Call of Duty from our platform!' Microsoft's like, 'Bro - having our games on your platform is what we've been trying to do all along. I guess spending $2.5b on Minecraft wasn't enough to convince you?'" This is in reference to Microsoft acquiring Mojang years ago yet still releasing Minecraft on PlayStation platforms.

There is one problem with Pitchford's point, and that is not all of Xbox's acquisitions have been treated like Mojang. While Microsoft has opted to keep Minecraft on PlayStation platforms, it's not doing the same with The Elder Scrolls 6 or future Bethesda games. Microsoft has made it clear that it acquired Bethesda to gain console exclusives for Xbox as well as bolster its Xbox Game Pass lineup, meaning PlayStation will be missing out on some huge upcoming games like the upcoming Starfield, for example. And while Xbox has left the door open for future Call of Duty games to be multi-platform, it's also said that some Activision Blizzard games will be Xbox exclusives.

Pitchford believes that the ultimate goal for Xbox is to become a gaming OS without need for a physical "box." There may be something to this down the line, though it remains to be seen if Nintendo or Sony will ever allow Xbox Game Pass to run on their respective platforms.

 

[darrylgorn]

It was that infernal Nintendo this whole time!!!

 

[SJRB]

Shut up, Randy. Nobody cares.

 

[TheGodfather07]

Of course they are competitors. That's why Microsoft entered the space in the first place. To compete with Sony for the living room.

 

[iamvin22]

I don't think he's wrong about Ms ditching their box. Been saying this when I'd talk with Ms engineers couple years ago.

 

[Schmick]

I cannot imagine a time when there isn't a Xbox console.

 

[Cyberpunkd]

There is one problem with Pitchford's point

Yes, it's called Randy Pitchford. This guy should go the way of Peter Molyneux.

 

[Dr Bass]

The very reason Xbox exists is because of Sony. Bill Gates thought the very idea of Xbox was insulting to his work. This is well documented. And then of course we have MS pulling Starfield from their platform.

AR12Gaming

AR12Gaming

ar12gaming.com

His statement doesn't hold up to two seconds of scrutiny.

 

[remember_spinal]

Why is he speaking like sony and microsoft are two people living in a blue house and a greenhouse across the street from each other?

 

[Mibu no ookami]

If you've ever needed more evidence that just because someone has a title/position doesn't make them informed or intelligent.

Does Microsoft want to exist outside of boxes? Yeah, that's obvious, does that mean they aren't competing with Sony? No, it doesn't.

Microsoft can't exist outside of boxes if boxes continue to dominate the sphere, which is exactly why Microsoft has not one but two boxes dedicated to competing within the sphere.

And Sony certainly doesn't want Microsoft's software on its boxes, which while they may profit on, the lion share of profit comes from licensing of software titles.

What an idiot.

 

[Jaguar Victory]

I don't think he's wrong about Ms ditching their box. Been saying this when I'd talk with Ms engineers couple years ago.

I guess that's why they created one of the hottest consumer electronic devices of last holiday that is still 100% sold out today. That's why they have a million different controller variations and accessories available for sale including a god damned fridge. You're right, what MS really wants to do is relinquish that walled garden XBOX store money and pay Sony 15-30% tax for the right to appear on their device. SMH.. armchair strategists need to chill.

 

[Adam_802]

Randy is dumbass.

 

[SlimySnake]

Bro, ever heard of MS buying Zenimax just to keep Starfield, Elder Scrolls and Fallout off of PS?

 

[Fare thee well]

Oh god... Randy.

But true, I enjoy both companies. I see them as complementary gaming experiences; but then again I'm not a dirt poor teenager anymore

 

[Interfectum]

 

[Dick Jones]

At least he's consistent.

 

[IntentionalPun]

Except, you know.. Starfield.. and other statements.

MS wants exclusives, the idea they don't is idiotic.

They are also open to having some products on Playstation, and some on Switch.

We won't know what decisions they make, until they are made. For all we know eventually a Minecraft product will be exclusive as well.

 

[Honey Bunny]

Yeh that sounds like something he'd say lmao

 

[Mr Hyde]

 

[Lucifers Beard]

Ah they let him out again did they and gave him access to Twitter? Randy says a bunch of things and usually it’s bollocks. Take this no differently.

 

[yurinka]

Randy is right. MS moved away their focus from Xbox while ago, they did understand that weren't able to compete in the console market, so moved instead their focus to go full multiplatform instead, to also cover the other consoles, PC and mobile.

Sony and Nintendo always welcome to work with big 3rd party publishers, so it isn't/won't be any different with MS.

I think MS will keep the purchased top IPs as multiplatform, and from these acquired teams only their new IPs will be Xbox (some of them timed) console exclusive.

I think eventually in the future MS will drop making Xbox hardware and will move to a full 3rd party approach instead (including that even stuff like Halo or Gears will be on PS and Nintendo platforms), while using GP as their platform which won't be available on PS or Nintendo consoles.

I think we'll see PS6 and PS7, Switch 2 and Switch 3. And after that both Nintendo and Sony will move to their own full multiplatform online platforms, that will compete against the ones from Apple, Google, Tencent, Amazon and Facebook. I think once Gaben decides to retire he'll sell Valve to some giant so at that point Steam will be absorved by one of these companies and will have been morphed/merged into their PC game store.

 

[Zok310]

Someone guid this guy to his bed, help him take off his slippers, give him some water and his meds and put him to sleep, it's 3pm he needs to nap.

 

[nowhat]

I'm not surprised. I don't think much, if anything, will fit in his mind.

 

[RoadHazard]

That's dumb as hell. Sony (at least the PlayStation division) makes MUCH more money from subscriptions and MTX than selling hardware. They would not "be happy" just selling consoles while MS makes all the money from the software running on them.

 

[MonarchJT]

I don't think he's wrong about Ms ditching their box. Been saying this when I'd talk with Ms engineers couple years ago.

everyone is going to ditch their boxes Sony and Ms 100% sure at least..but theyll do at the same time

 

[Cyberpunkd]

I think MS will keep the purchased top IPs as multiplatform

Yes, Xbox / PC. Let's not joke around, majority of people with a gaming PC do not have a PS5 or will play multiplats on PC. Microsoft figured this out way before Sony.

 

[VolticArchangel]

Dude probably thought the same thing when he ran away with Sega's Aliens: Colonial Marines money to create Borderlands.

 

[yurinka]

Yes, Xbox / PC. Let's not joke around, majority of people with a gaming PC do not have a PS5 or will play multiplats on PC. Microsoft figured this out way before Sony.

Nah, I think that as they said in places like the SEC filing and previously did with Mojang and Zenimax, with ABK they will continue supporting on PS and Nintendo with the purchased top IPs (being CoD one of them) that already where there before the acquisition by continue publishing there their next console games, dlcs and updates.

I think only new IPs from these top teams plus smaller ones that already were on PS/Switch from teams like Obsidian or Ninja Theory will go (in some cases timed) console exclusive.

 

[IntentionalPun]

FWIW while Pitchford is a jackass, people should really look into the details of the aftermath of the Gearbox / Aliens fiasco.

They were both sued, and Gearbox managed to get themselves dropped from the suit after several arguments including that they apparently spent their own money finishing the game, contrary to the idea it was spent elsewhere.

It was a mismanaged / underfunded project. It was demo'd in a BS way for sure, but the whole "they stole money" thing seems more urban legend than anything else.

 

[oldergamer]

Gearbox Software CEO Says Microsoft and Sony Have Never Been Competitors, In His Mind

Gearbox Software CEO Randy Pitchford says that in his mind, Microsoft and Sony 'have never been competitors.'

gamerant.com

The Gearbox Software CEO explained his stance in a series of tweets, characterizing Sony as a consumer electronics company and Microsoft as a software company, and that Sony should eventually "be happy" with Microsoft software running on PlayStation hardware. "Sony's like, 'They better not pull Call of Duty from our platform!' Microsoft's like, 'Bro - having our games on your platform is what we've been trying to do all along. I guess spending $2.5b on Minecraft wasn't enough to convince you?'" This is in reference to Microsoft acquiring Mojang years ago yet still releasing Minecraft on PlayStation platforms.

There is one problem with Pitchford's point, and that is not all of Xbox's acquisitions have been treated like Mojang. While Microsoft has opted to keep Minecraft on PlayStation platforms, it's not doing the same with The Elder Scrolls 6 or future Bethesda games. Microsoft has made it clear that it acquired Bethesda to gain console exclusives for Xbox as well as bolster its Xbox Game Pass lineup, meaning PlayStation will be missing out on some huge upcoming games like the upcoming Starfield, for example. And while Xbox has left the door open for future Call of Duty games to be multi-platform, it's also said that some Activision Blizzard games will be Xbox exclusives.

Pitchford believes that the ultimate goal for Xbox is to become a gaming OS without need for a physical "box." There may be something to this down the line, though it remains to be seen if Nintendo or Sony will ever allow Xbox Game Pass to run on their respective platforms.

He's not wrong. they publicly stated they wanted gamepass on PlayStation in the past. However it is kinda odd that Nintendo and MS get along pretty well. MS even published blue dragon games on the DS. Sony and Nintendo I think will always hate each other ( going back to the Sony Snes CD rom addon ). Nintendo screwing them is the reason they got into the console market.

 

[IntentionalPun]

He's not wrong. they publicly stated they wanted gamepass on PlayStation in the past. However it is kinda odd that Nintendo and MS get along pretty well. MS even published blue dragon games on the DS. Sony and Nintendo I think will always hate each other ( going back to the Sony Snes CD rom addon ). Nintendo screwing them is the reason they got into the console market.

I'd be weary of anything related to MS saying they want GamePass on Playstation because:

- They know it will never happen, and Spencer said as much
- Those statements give them a big out with regulators "well our competitors won't let our product on their devices, not our fault"

At this point I have my doubts MS even wants Gamepass on any platform where they'd have to share revenue.

 

[Captain Toad]

I cannot imagine a time when there isn't a Xbox console.

I can, but only when they can get GamePass on everything and Sony won't allow that anytime soon.

But, Microsoft honestly doesn't care much about Xbox. They care about GamePass.

Just like Netflix isn't trying to sell you hardware. They are happy to let other people make hardware, put Netflix on that hardware and collect monthly subscriptions from all those people.

 

[Lukaku's First Touch]

Wasn't this guy a pedo? something with a usb stick with child porn on it?

 

[IntentionalPun]

Wasn't this guy a pedo? something with a usb stick with child porn on it?

nah it had a typical porn with the word "teen" in the title, which is like half the porn on the internet

But that story is fucking hilarious; he left a USB stick w/ porn and company documents at a fucking Medieval Times weird restaurant/watch people joust place from the movie Cable Guy lol

Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament

Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament is a fun family dinner theater themed as a royal banquet and tournament of jousting, sword fighting, and games of skill.

www.medievaltimes.com

 

[Ezekiel_]

Microsoft wants that walled garden too. They just haven't been able to yet.

If they succeed, no Microsoft game will be available outside their payed subscription, not even legacy games, not even through Steam. Everything will be cloud-based.

We are headed in a post-ownership world — that's their endgame. It's the only reason to spend billions on publishers, and they for sure are hoping it's a zero-sum game against their competitors.

 

[MrA]

At least he's consistent.

I was about to say randy pitchford says a lot of things, but not a lot worth listening too, well there's a good list

 

[Clear]

Hmmm. Seems like people's memories are pretty fucking short. MS seemed plenty competitive-minded to me back in the 360 days with everyone else.

 

[Neofire]

He's delusional if he truly thinks that.

 

[[Sigma]]

Randy has CTE.

 

[Chiggs]

The responses in this thread are classic. Nothing unites a gaming forum like the universally-reviled Randy Pitchford.

Oh Randy....

 

[Kittehkraken]

I will forever hate Randy until he releases the original Duke Nukem Forever.

 

[Fbh]

Is the playstation branch of Sony really a consumer electronics company?
Wouldn't that require the "consumer electronics" (aka the Playstation) to be the main source of revenue? As opposed to 90%+ of the money coming from software and services?

 

[Gavon West]

Of course they are competitors. That's why Microsoft entered the space in the first place. To compete with Sony for the living room.

Lol. No. When one can spend 70 billion like it's nothing and the other company can't, there is no competition for the company that's cash fluid as Microsoft. Thems just the facts.

 

[Kokoloko85]

I can, but only when they can get GamePass on everything and Sony won't allow that anytime soon.

But, Microsoft honestly doesn't care much about Xbox. They care about GamePass.

Just like Netflix isn't trying to sell you hardware. They are happy to let other people make hardware, put Netflix on that hardware and collect monthly subscriptions from all those people.

If MS want gamepass on Playstation and Nintendo, Im sure neither would mind if it was just 1st party titles.
3rd party titles mean they will lose 3rd party sales on their own stores

 

[FrankWza]

What about the boogeyman?

 

[BlueHawk357]

Xbox only competition is Stadia
PS5 only competition is the Ouya
Switch only competition is iPhone

 

[TintoConCasera]

Fuck off Randy.

I will forever hate Randy until he releases the original Duke Nukem Forever.

Hey, at least we are able to play the new episode on EDuke... It's something.

 

[Leyasu]

Randy is full of shit. Why didn't they just pull out of hardware at the end of last gen if they were going multi?

 

[Warnen]

Me neither Randy, me neither…

 

[zeorhymer]

Randy is a moron. He's salty his company didn't get bought out.