Nextbox: More Popular than PS4

...and that's what Microsoft wants.

The old adage: "No publicity is bad publicity" rings true for Microsoft as a result of the latest round of rumours regarding the next Xbox requiring an internet connection in order to play.

Microsoft, without having spent a dime on a flashy presentation (or actual technology), have gotten the entire gaming world talking about the successor to the Xbox 360. Someone in Microsoft's marketing department is going to be getting a big raise real soon... The recent bad press stems from rumours of the next Xbox being "always online". In the aftermath of Sims 3, it's no wonder Microsoft have caused a s***storm over this recent rumour.

Evidence of this s***storm can be seen on the main page of N4G and the N4G forums. At the time of writing, all 5 hottest stories are regarding the next Xbox. On the forums, it's the same situation. All this talk and we don't even know if another Xbox even exists. Obviously, after the huge pre-announcement backlash, Microsoft will not be fully committing to "always online". I see two potential scenarios:

1) They reveal the Xbox as NOT requiring online connectivity.

2) They reveal that the next Xbox will have some modified form of "always online", but it will be different than what rumours suggest.

In both option 1 and 2, Microsoft is the good guy for not requiring online connectivity, when compared to the rumours. They are the heroes for not following the what appears to be new industry standard. Additionally and more importantly, they can build on this momentum with an Xbox reveal which will drive the Xbox hype to levels definitely not seen so far with the PS4.

And that's what it is all about. Microsoft want the limelight for themselves. By letting these rumours go without confirming or denying, the hype continues to center around the Xbox and moves away from the PS4. N4G, though a small sample, proves this. Remember that ZERO is actually known about the next Xbox since NOTHING is known about it. All of this is rumour.

When Microsoft does announce the next Xbox (if they do?), N4G will explode. This is what they want. We on N4G are sheeps of marketing. Because of this, I cannot wait for an announcement so the end of the "rumours" and "leaks" can finally stop.

[dedicatedtogamers]

I already pointed out this possibility a while ago because it does seem like something Microsoft would do. They are a marketing company, not a software company nor a hardware company. Neither their software nor hardware have ever been top of the line, but their marketing has always been top-notch.

And it is for that very reason why I'll be ignoring the NextBox. Heck, I made that decision years ago. Microsoft has never been in this industry to advance gaming or expand gaming or to evolve the medium. They've always been in it so that they can capture marketshare, expand their brand, and rake in the profits from any angle they can.

[aviator189]

ms is a marketing company??
no, that title goes to apple.

and you've got to be blind to ignore all the terrible marketing campaigns ms has done in the past. the few bright spots are the marketing they do right. And you honestly don't think windows 7 is quality work along with their comprehensive tool-set that is office suite??

[dedicatedtogamers]

Windows 7 is Vista 2.0. Vista was essentially a paid beta that Microsoft used to create Windows 7.

People can defend Microsoft all they want. As the blog pointed out, I do have a hunch that Microsoft is pulling the strings behind all this nonsense and they'll pop out from behind the curtain and go "hey guys! It's not always online!" The thing is, I value a certain amount of honesty and/or transparency from a company, and that's why I avoid Microsoft products when I can help it. It's also why, for example, I get pissed at Sony for announcing remote play between Vita and PS4 when they first announced "the future of remote play" for the PSP and PS3 several years ago. It's also why, for example, I get pissed at Nintendo for bait-and-switching people on the WiiU, saying that a ton of 3rd-party devs are making games for the system prior to launch when nowadays 3rd party devs are fleeing from the system.

[rainslacker]

The difference being is that they didn't make Vista to be crap. Vista had some issues, but it wasn't as bad as most people made it out to be. MS also never downplayed Vista, it was the media who said it was crap. MS did everything in their power to change that perception, ultimately requiring them to just release a new OS, which was just Vista with a service pack.

MS just has a history of making some bad OS's, and occasionally they come out with an amazing one(XP, 7)...OK they've come out with an amazing one twice.

At no point was MS like..."hey...lets make Vista crap so people will buy the next iteration of Windows". That is a flawed marketing strategy, as it only turns consumers off from the product, and at the time, MS was starting to get a LOT of competition from Apple in the PC market.

The same is true here. Sony is coming out strong, and all it's press has been overwhelmingly positive on all fronts. It makes no sense whatsoever to downplay your own product in the media, just to make it look better later. The cost does not outweigh the gains, and it is a huge risk considering the circumstances.

There is sense in trying to stop the momentum of of the PS4 press right now, but there is no sense in doing it in such a way that just turns off perspective buyers off from their own when there is another system due at the same time which is looking a lot better.

[HammadTheBeast]

Nope. They're looking like the bad ones, while PS4 and Wii U (somewhat) soak up the positivity. This MS guy f***ed up. Bad.

[Godmars290]

One of two things are going to come of this current mess:
- Either: MS refutes on always online and everyone moves on. Those interested in the Xbox3 go back to being interested in the console. No actual harm done.

- Or: MS confirms it. Those currently pissed and threatening to jump ship might actually jump ship.

Beyond that there's a slight chance the industry will observe the likely coming blunder. Not do DRM themselves.

There is no overall benefit from what's happening. There is no Machiavellian plot going on here, there is only either potential damage control, or an iceberg.

[one-two]

You're only considering the two extremes. When it comes to rumors, the truth usually ends up somewhere in the middle.

Maybe there will be some sort of online DRM, but not for 100% of games. This would be like what Sony announced for the PS4 when they said that DRM will be left up to each individual publisher.

Or, the console could be designed for "always on", but it may not be implemented at first. MS & other publishers could play wait-and-see, and see how the market develops. If piracy and used games are harming them, they could start an online authentication program when they deem necessary.

There could also be scenarios that nobody has thought of yet. There's a lot of middle ground between the two extremes you mention. The phrase "always on" could have many different meanings, and despite the rumors, it's very likely that there are still important details that are known only to a few insiders.

[Godmars290]

That's because in this situation there are only two "extremes" - one mildly positive, one severely negative. This is either brushed aside and forgotten, or its a confirmed issue many are saying will stop them from buying the system.

And its impossible to say its anything in between when considering consoles w/o any online connection whatsoever. If such kind of conformation is required, then those consoles wont play games. Period.

[MrBeatdown]

Brilliant strategy. Lower expectations so that we can all be impressed when it's revealed that it's actually on par with what we expect from any game console.

I think Burger King tried that strategy once. They had their employees get on Twitter to talk up the great taste of dog meat, only to impress and amaze us all when they revealed their newest burger would contain 100% grade A beef.

I bought 19 burgers. Because, hey, it ain't dog meat!

Flawless strategy.

[one-two]

If it keeps people's attention away from McDonald's and Wendy's, then it is a good strategy.

[MrBeatdown]

Indeed. That's what's so brilliant about it.

Only fools cruise along on good publicity.

The smart ones drag their name through the mud and dazzle us by showing they are just as good when all is said and done. Sure, the destination may be the same as the competition's, but the pointless tarnishing of one's own brand name is where the real money is made.

Burger King's "It's still beef!" campaign did wonders for the brand. Everybody stopped going to McDonald's and Wendy's when they realized that Burger King offered the same thing.

[Leviathan]

Sorry, MrBeatdown. I disagreed prematurely. I now realize your extensive /s.

[Parapraxis]

MrBeatdown rocks.
That was brilliant man.

[jimbobwahey]

Yeah. The theory that any publicity is good publicity doesn't ring true in many situations, this being one of them. If anybody honestly, seriously thinks that Microsoft would deliberately instigate this then they're utter fools.

Microsoft has suffered because of this news, and a lot of people will have already written-off the next Xbox in their minds. Will these people be waiting around for Microsoft to jump out and shout "Surprise! Fooled you!" or whatever? No, their interest in Microsoft's next console has been crushed and they won't be hanging around to excitedly watch their E3 show.

It's the same as with any product, if people hear a lot of constant and worrying negativity about it, their interest is killed. Now sure, some of those people might be swayed later on down the road, but it's an extraordinarily tough uphill battle for whatever company is trying to sell the product.

In cases like this, no publicity is vastly preferable to bad publicity.

I can just imagine NeverEnding1989 trying to sell a car or something, spreading news around social media networks about how it catches fire and explodes after so many miles, basking in all the publicity that he's earned. Then he ends up scratching his head in confusion once it goes on sale and nobody buys the thing.

[smashcrashbash]

Okay first of all I would like to point out that that 'no publicity is bad publicity' only works with people not electronics. If someone announces that they are going to do something that you will not like they immediately look down on you with glares saying 'That better not be true'. And if it isn't they will say 'Oh ho.You are lucky it isn't true or you would be in deep $hit'. That is neither hype nor popularity.It's like someone saying your restaurant might have rats and everyone is talking about the potential fact that your restaurant may have rats.Because people are talking about your potential rats that doesn't make your restaurant more popular then the rest. If they find out you have no rats people will be watching you cautiously not running to eat from your restaurant more.

The people who run around saying how brilliant the silence is are just spinning this in panic and fear how Microsoft could potentially shoot themselves in the foot and ostracize everyone.NO ONE thought the negative things about the PS4 were good publicity. It was an excuse to laugh and point and jeer about how stupid Sony is to make such errors and how they will lose the next gen race and eve when they said it wasn't true people went to get lengths to try and prove that it still was true or say that it will be probably true later on in the console's life. That was NOT seen as good publicity or Sony's silence as being clever but rather as a fact that it must all be true.I am not saying that some of this stuff might not be true or might be an exaggeration but stop trying to make it look like a good thing.

[sdplisken]

$$$$$$$ is all microsoft cares about

[Qrphe]

Sony and Nintendo is money all they care about as well; that's what corporations do.

[ZodTheRipper]

But you can make money in a lot of different ways. Microsoft is doing it by fooling their customers, Sony and Nintendo are doing it primarily by making quality exclusives.

[Qrphe]

If that's the case, one could equally say Sony has fooled their fanbase with online passes and PS2 classics while Nintendo keeps on releasing the same games every gen and has awful digital games policies.
Microsoft hasn't fooled anybody. Their customers are willing to pay for Live and play multiplats over everything the PS3 and Wii/Wii U offer because that is what they want to game on: an Xbox.
Just because one may not enjoy that does not mean nobody will.

[jessupj]

Nope sorry. Sony cares about money, yes, but they also care about the games industry and pushing it forward.

It's blatantly obvious, a retarded, blind, drunk monkey could see it, so I won't waste time trying to convince you.

Enjoy your always online console and the same 2-3 ips every few years.

[jimbobwahey]

A blog attempting to portray the next Xbox in a positive light ends up with a comment section talking about how much better the PS4 is?

Oh dear, Microsoft really is in trouble. Between the negative publicity and overwhelming public favor for the PS4, they're going to have a real struggle on their hands.

[PS4isKing_82]

Indeed you are right sir. I sense a great disturbance in the force and it has a 4 at the end of it. Microsoft is in big trouble.

[ZodTheRipper]

They lost the next-gen war in this gen already.
Charging for online gaming and the lack of good exclusive titles is unbearable for a console aimed at the core gamer audience. It took just like forever for people to notice it.

[Cocozero]

I agree 100% MS's silence it keeps the spotlight on them, no publicity is bad publicity. Everyone wants to know about the 720 while the PS4 is already forgotten.

When they announce it this site will crash for sure.

[Aceman18]

what planet are you from? i already made up my mind not to get Microsoft next console, but the PS4 will be day one.

there is nothing they can do now to get me to purchase their next console especially with all the bad press.

[TKCMuzzer]

I'm not sure you would make a good business man. The 720 is in the spotlight mainly because all current 360 owners are desperate for Microsoft to allay their fears of their next console.
This is their own fan base desperate for the rumours not to be true not about a new fan base waiting with excitement. Instead of trying to entice customers Microsoft are stuck in the position of trying to keep the ones they already have, that's not good business.
I've already made a decision based on the last 12 months and their complete lack of silence.
Sony's decision to commit and show where their going has more than likely caught Microsoft off guard and has left Microsoft in a defensive position they probably were not prepared for, hence why all these rumours make it look like a bit of a mess.

[EffectO]

I bet everybody and their dog will watch MS conference.

200 million youtube views minimum

[jessupj]

I have no intention of getting the next xbox. However, I'm very interested in whether the rumors are true.

But I probably won't watch their conference.

I'll just watch a youtube video later on if they conform the rumors and the audience starts boo-ing them.

[TKCMuzzer]

Or you could pay for Live and watch it on your 360.......hold on you mean these things are free else where......

(This is my main reason for flogging my 360, so I'm no fan boy, just know when I'm being done)

[Gamer-40]

I think, this big hate for new Xbox, the end huge backlash.

I wait Ps4, but this situations, ridiculous overhyped on N4G.
Ps4 the God, Ps4 the best, Ps4 amazing, Ps4 the perfect, Ps4 the future..etc.
Always: WiiU doomed has no games, New Xbox flop and shit only Kinect..etc..

Once again, maybe a huge backlash incoming.

[Ashlen]

No, just no.

Microsoft is not as clever as people seem to think. None of this is some reverse marketing pissing people off only so they can change at that last minute. That is crazy it's like a conspiracy theory.

The truth is Microsoft fails all the time and there marketing does NOT sell products for them.

The only thing Microsoft sells successfully is Windows and Office. And both of those products only sell because they have become the business standard and business HAS to have them.

Virtually everything else they sell has some of the lowest sell though rates in the industry including versions of Windows aka Vista and Windows 8.

As for hardware know anyone who has a Zune? How about a Windows phone? Or the Windows tablet?

No to all three huh, that's because they all failed. The only thing Microsoft has reliably sold is a some versions of Windows and Office.

[DragonKnight]

Dude, the 360 is sitting at approx. 80 million consoles sold. I'd say that that's a success. Especially considering the original Xbox didn't even make it to 30 million.

[Ashlen]

Whats your point? Did you understand what I was saying? Because all I am saying is it's crazy to think this is some kind of marketing strategy.

Also in the end Xbox sold the least of the three consoles last gen.

[DragonKnight]

"The truth is Microsoft fails all the time and there marketing does NOT sell products for them.

The only thing Microsoft sells successfully is Windows and Office. And both of those products only sell because they have become the business standard and business HAS to have them."

That's my point. The 360 proves that wrong.

[Ashlen]

So what do you have to say about Vista, Windows 8, the first Xbox, Zune, Windows Phone and Windows Tablet?

Products which they spent billions in advertising on but failed?

[DragonKnight]

I say you're ignoring that you said Microsoft fails at everything they do. I proved that they don't. What do you say to the fact that you claimed Microsoft are endless failures and the only reason they are successful is because Windows is needed? Does the Xbox 360 not exist to you?

[Ashlen]

That's not what I said at all.

I said the whole always online fiasco wasn't a marketing strategy. I then used examples to show how Microsoft advertising department had not brought success in many instances.

I'm sorry you were confused.

[DragonKnight]

Don't try to shift what you said to mean something else. You said...

"The truth is Microsoft fails all the time and there marketing does NOT sell products for them."

That isn't "the whole always online fiasco isn't a marketing strategy" that's "Microsoft fails."

Then...

"The only thing Microsoft sells successfully is Windows and Office."

Lie that has nothing to do with marketing.

"Virtually everything else they sell has some of the lowest sell though rates in the industry including versions of Windows aka Vista and Windows 8."

Lie that has nothing to do with marketing.

"The only thing Microsoft has reliably sold is a some versions of Windows and Office."

Lie that has nothing to do with marketing.

Your entire post was a lie and had only one sentence even mention that it isn't some kind of reverse marketing strategy. Your whole post was saying that Microsoft hasn't been successful at selling anything other than Windows and Office and that's a lie, you also didn't say "because their marketing sucks" or even implied that their failure was at marketing. You were trying to say that Microsoft can't sell anything, I called you out, so now you're trying to switch it to "I didn't mean they don't sell anything, I mean that this isn't a marketing strategy."

If you're going to lie, fine, but at least stick by your own lies.

[Parapraxis]

It's rare I see people make blog posts with such an incredible amount of delusion.

Loyalty is one thing, but trying to twist the reality around you in such a manner as to make it seem as though not only is Microsoft NOT making making mistakes, but that they are actually employing some "genius" marketing strategy that in the end would be revealed to the public, who would in turn embrace their "genius"....now that is astounding!

They will not be embraced by customers if they reveal no always-on console or a "modified" version of always-on. They well be saving their own asses, that is all. The way this has been handled up until now has already made many loyal xbox fans reconsider getting the next xbox.

This level of self delusion is cult-like, and it is not healthy. MS is not some infallible deity who always knows best (no company is).

...SEEK HELP!

[rainslacker]

Well...we've all seen how well N4G users embrace trolls. /s

I agree. I would be very offended if MS took this route because the start of this controversy was extremely offensive towards the consumer. That is not genius, it's just mean. That's why I'm sure this isn't some genius marketing ploy.

They could maybe turn it around in their favor, but it's not good publicity right now no matter how one tries to spin it.

[sway_z]

Let's keep this in perspective. Microsoft have not announced anything. All these rumours are pointless until MS either confirm or debunk.

I am primarily a PS3 user (own 360 also), and I cannot see how MS would release a feature such as 'always online' that nobody wants. MS would be killing themselves for sure.

So let's not blow the bugle just yet....I suspect MS will let publishers decide on DRM/Online persistence.

I am still undecided as to which next gen console I'll be getting. Next gen will be a single console ownership for me...whether that's on Sony or Microsoft depends on E3.

[Hicken]

Is it possible to have complete strangers committed?

You and a few others need professional help.

[StreetsofRage]

A blog with 44 comments? I think he more than proved his point. I tried to find a recent blog about the ps4 with 44 comments and nothing. In fact, most ps4 blogs have very lil activity.

Point proven!

The mystery is always more interesting than the known.

[rainslacker]

Guess this is as good a place as everywhere else to ask this.

When in the history of marketing has any company ever trolled it's target market with an extremely negative rumor, and then used that to turn the tide by looking like the "hero" when they finally announce it. On top of that, when has that ever worked? At this point I'll even settle for one instance where something extremely negative was leaked, and the company was able to turn it to their advantage.

I swear it's like people think MS is this divine intellect, and can't accept that they just just had some bad luck this time. This publicity is not good for MS. Nothing about this situation from a business stand point is good. Nothing about it from a consumer stand point is good. Stop being some loyal fan, and use some common sense, because if this is the best MS can come up with to deliver an amazing announcement, then they have really fallen hard. MS may be a lot of things, but they are good marketers. This is not good marketing.

If indeed they were doing what your suggest, I wouldn't buy the Xbox on the very principle that they trolled us with all this negative crap, or that they would do so in such an offensive and negative way.

Sony trolled us by saying they wouldn't announce first. But that is a good instance of trolling. It was like..."OK, no big deal. They don't feel the need to respond to MS, and they will announce when ready. We can wait".

This kind of troll(which I don't believe it is) is just pathetic, and should outrage Xbox fans more than the actual rumor. It's like "Oh F**K. IS THIS TRUE. Screw that, I'm not getting an Xbox now. We know this is true based on all this other evidence. MS can kiss my a**".

Some are willing to wait for confirmation, but obviously there is a very different vibe to this kind of troll than the way Sony did it.

Edit: I'd also like to ask. What would all you saying this is some brilliant move by MS, or say wait and see, find out everything we've heard is true. Would you be so willing to defend them then? Do you have any thoughts on the actual topic, or do you just want to play defense.

[OmniSlashPT]

Hum, it's strange. Because PS4's rumours were good rumours. Change in control design, new social features, share options etc... But somehow all MS rumours are bad, always on, block used games, kinect 2.0...that's not publicity or marketing, that's just awful, especially because they havent even announced the damn console. We know the PS4 exists and its concept and the attitude Sony has towards players and devs. But the new Xbox? A mystery, a 'box' full of rumours and false hopes (and hypocrite creative directors lol).