WC/Jez: Microsoft's ambitious new Xbox: Your entire Xbox console library, the full power of Windows PC gaming, and no multiplayer paywall

Will you buy the next Xbox hardware?


  • Total voters
    505
This is another point that some could be missing. How many people will buy an Xbox Magnus and then use it for "PC" purposes?
I'm about 99% sure that it won't be easy to use the thing for "PC purposes".
People expecting this h/w to just run your regular Windows don't really understand the model MS is pursuing.
This will likely still be a console with its own OS and own UI.
It just doesn't make any sense for MS to try and make a PC prebuilt - this market has close to negative margins as is, they won't be able to compete with huge OEMs on either price or margins.
So the h/w being closer to PC parts is fine - cuts down on R&D, allows for less platform specific optimizations needed, could potentially run a full Windows to allow running competitor's titles on the machine (for those who will care enough).
But the main s/w I'd still expect to be a console specific OS/SDKs.
 
If you had to pick a number for lifetime sales for the first party Magnus device at each potential price point, what would it be?

$799 - ? million
$999 - ? million
$1199 - ? million
$1499 - ? million
$1999 - ? million
> $1999 - ? million
Xbox Series sold 2M last year.
Likely around 1M (or less) this year given numerous stores around the world have either dropped them completely or severely reduced their stock in that time.

Who knows if there will even be a store presence for them by 2027, two years is a long time for Xbox with the current burning state it is in, and it's only going to continue getting worse, January is looming. 🔪

Shareholders will see it getting worse and continue to tear more shreds, who knows if Magnus will even be allowed to release once they're done, again, two years is a very long time.
 
You're going PC. Your new color is gold. Congratulations in advance.
imokay-yummy.gif
 
It's likely that the ability to customize, swap parts or run any software you wish will be traded off with being a simple box with console UI. Which is fine, until the price comes in. $1200-2k for a box destined to become dated with no way to limp it along with upgrades will only seem appealing to a niche. They know this which is why their success has been de-coupled from hardware with it. Wanna pay for a niche product? Great. Don't? Also great, that's why Halo is multiplat.
 
It's likely that the ability to customize, swap parts or run any software you wish will be traded off with being a simple box with console UI. Which is fine, until the price comes in. $1200-2k for a box destined to become dated with no way to limp it along with upgrades will only seem appealing to a niche. They know this which is why their success has been de-coupled from hardware with it. Wanna pay for a niche product? Great. Don't? Also great, that's why Halo is multiplat.
Pretty much. I could live with it, if it seems somewhat fair price wise and lasts at least 7 years. I spent $1000 already this gen on PS5 and Xbox together, and had PS+ for a while. For a very niche audience, it could be super cool.
 
Pretty much. I could live with it, if it seems somewhat fair price wise and lasts at least 7 years. I spent $1000 already this gen on PS5 and Xbox together, and had PS+ for a while. For a very niche audience, it could be super cool.
That's the question, would people spend more up front on a much higher powered system that you likely get a full generation out of vs those of us (like myself) who grab mid gen refreshes like the PS5 Pro because we want more power

I think the casuals will clearly say no but enthusiasts?

I dunno
 
That's the question, would people spend more up front on a much higher powered system that you likely get a full generation out of vs those of us (like myself) who grab mid gen refreshes like the PS5 Pro because we want more power

I think the casuals will clearly say no but enthusiasts?

I dunno

Depending on where I am with Xbox, I will end up doing both. I am viewing I the next Xbox purchase as a mini/TV PC more than I am a console. It seems like it will offer me more of what PC gaming on a TV does now. I can see this being a big deal for gaming enthusiasts but passing by the traditional console market. I am excited to see what MS offers but sad if it weakens the overall console market.
 
We are still arguing details that we do not know about yet. Sure, it will "do it all" but we have no idea how well. Is it really going to be a console experience?

Yeah, that's my question, too. MS doesn't have a great track record with regard to Windows or the Windows Store, and this is going to be all about Windows. They're promising a "curated" console-like experience, smooth as a baby's bottom, but it's easy to make promises, and it's easy to get excited about plans on paper. We'll see how smoothly the actual product functions.
 
That's the question, would people spend more up front on a much higher powered system that you likely get a full generation out of vs those of us (like myself) who grab mid gen refreshes like the PS5 Pro because we want more power

I think the casuals will clearly say no but enthusiasts?

I dunno

Therein lies the problem...casuals don't want that much expense/power, they want to get their foot in the door. Meanwhile enthusiasts don't want to spend big money on a PC with all its PCness stripped away. You're left with a niche enthusiast audience caught between both.

It's better for them to target a niche with hardware and serve that one segment they can profit on very well than targeting everyone and ending up underwater (just ask men in boxes)
 
I don't follow you, but I don't believe MS is they're trying to make out they're still losing up to $300 per Series X

You were talking about the hit MS was willing to lose on the console in the old days. They were losing $200-$300 per Xbox Series sold, not $50.
 
The removal of the online pay wall has my attention and the complete backwards compatibility. I want to see how Sony does in those two areas with the PS6.

Would it be strong enough to do native backwards compatibility with all the previous gen's? That'd be pretty awesome if they add that to the PS6.


So, a Sony and Nintendo market it is.

SEGA right now.... "Do we take another punt?"
They have a pretty big catalog these days. It's definitely tempting to get it if that hypothetical ever happened. (it probably won't, but hey?)

in retrospect could you imagine Sega would be like if they had the IP's they have now back during the Saturn and Dreamcast days?
 
Silicon prices could be the wildcard here. Assuming MS is willing to sell it as a loss. DRAM price hike this month is probably a sign of things to come with all the new demand. I'd be open minded to it if there was a true windows layer (just for modding / backward compatibility reasons).
 
The smart marketing move (if this thing is going to be expensive anyway) is to have it packaged with an Xbox branded mouse, keyboard and controller. If the message is that this is the only machine you need for gaming and productivity, the messaging should start with what they give you in the box. The marketing is easy, here are your controls for productivity, and here is your control for your leisure time. They will miss a great opportunity if they don't do this. Slam the message home immediately about what this device is and what it can do as opposed to just a console or just a standard PC.
I'm sure part of the plan is to get vendors to make officerly licensed mice, keyboards, and controllers for this thing. Although you should be able to use anything on the market.
Except it will be a "standard PC" what other thing can it be ?

I'm glad some of you are discovering PC gaming today but stop praising things that are not worth any praises.

I can already use my "productivity controller" which is called a "keyboard" and potentially a "mouse" (mice was cute though).

And when I'm done "productiving" I can use my leisure controller which is called a "controller" to play games.

People are not THAT dumb.
 
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