Xbox One – Has Microsoft Already Won the US Market?

Liam Pritchard of Brash Games writes "Honestly, I think Microsoft may have just wrapped up the biggest gaming audience in the world. A heady claim indeed, but given what I’ve just seen, not an unwarranted one. Despite the lack of clarity concerning online requirements and second hand game sales, to your average Joe American, Microsoft have just knocked it out of the park".

[Prcko]

Hmm
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V...

[adorie]

If they don't get rid of the DRM and deliver quality games, it's gonna win garbage of the year.

I don't think our great sheep nation is THAT bad to where this would dominate if the things Microsoft has in place are to go forward, but maybe I am giving people too much credit? I hope not.

[Freeball]

You are giving people too much credit.

[HammadTheBeast]

The only reason it might not is because everyone already has cable tv in the US, most are giving it up for Internet TV anyways.

[NatureOfLogic]

I'll say this for those hoping for a last second E3 change.

Personally, I don't see them going back on their used games policies without a massive delay. Lets look at this realistically. If they make last minute changes to allow you play used games they would have to change so much. They would have get rid of mandatory installs which would greatly alter their current plans. I think they would probably even have to revise the entire console.

[legionsoup]

I get every system, and most games. I've got over 500 current gen games, a Vita with over 30 physical games, the WiiU...all of it. The Xbox One, I'm honestly not interested in right now.

[Computersaysno]

This twitter poll says otherwise. Actually the poll is kinda embarrassing. Its an overwhelming result.

http://uk.gamespot.com/twit...

[MikeMyers]

I'm sure people on here thought Kinect was going to fail and Vita was going to do very well.

Nobody knows what the average consumer is going to buy. Every year we hear a storm of people saying don't buy Call of Duty, yet what's the number one franchise year after year on the Xbox and Playstation?

[maxgamehard]

My only reaction to that question is

http://i.imgur.com/MPKTf.gi...

Are they serious, how many people are going to support a machine that doesn't charges for used games and makes kinect mandatory.

http://sphotos-a.ak.fbcdn.n...

[ArchangelMike]

No chance. Americans aren't that gullible... are they?

Wait don't answer that question. :)

[stuna1]

Yes some of us are! Someone could polish ##it! And there would be someone who would want it because it's shiny!

On another note, people are about to see Microsofts money at work! In the course of just over 24 hours, we have went from Microsofts biggest blunder to, Microsoft wins next generation of gaming!?

Odd me thinks.

[Retroman]

article title should read : "SONY HAS WON US MARKET AFTER MS CONFERENCE"

[I_am_Batman]

Right now it doesn't look like they'll win anything.
http://uk.gamespot.com/twit...

[saint_seya]

there is a guy spamming xbox there.. LULz sad...

[imdaboss1]

only in america ms can pull this crap..whoever buy the xboxone can suck it .ms is anti gamer.. tv tv tv xbox go home and die

[GameCents]

Yes. It has One.

[Kratos_1986]

is the US market that dumb ?

[Minato-Namikaze]

never ask a question you dont really want to know the answer to, lol.

[Raf1k1]

lol wise words from the fourth.

[Brazz]

US... maybe,they are very "US Centric", and sure they have good arguments for USA market...
Majority of World market... no, just no... Buy something that is "Multi task divice" that will nly work at 80% because i'm not in USA is just ... Potatoes > http://blogs.mcall.com/.a/6...

[sinjonezp]

Perfect question! The US market is that dumb!.. Honestly, I do not see this box winning anything because consumers are very aware of details, specs, etc. Microsoft faces a serious uphill battle because recent reports have shown (wish I had the link) that over 4 million people in the last few years have ditched there tv's completely; going with tablets and laptops for viewing solutions. Not to mention that cable companies have already provided DVR, hd box solutions - along with smart tvs, where does Microsoft fit? Additionally the clarity if the box is the jack of all wonders yet every interview with Microsoft reps seems to show me that they don't even know what the box is defined as. Along with the fees associated with second hand sells, always having to connect, having a weaker system compared to the PS4, and required Kinect functionality, this article is very bold indeed. I play Xbox360 all the time, but this...this product really needs to go back to the drawing board.

[Aceman18]

as an american i can tell you yes with great regret. we put bush in office twice (even though in didnt vote for him)

so i can easily see my fellow americans making this successful :( even though this is anti-consumer in my eyes.

[SexyGamerDude]

Doesn't have my vote. Too many restrictions on the gamer.

[SpiralTear]

Does "your average Joe American" have a good, unhindered internet connection at all times?

[FunkMacNasty]

Umm.. no. I don't appreciate this article making Americans all seem like a bunch of complete mind-numbed consumer sheep. I live in the US and everyone here is disgusted with the XboxOne reveal.

We know a Turd when we see one...

[ApolloTheBoss]

Indeed. Believe in the power of Word of Mouth. Even if M$ get's a good start at the beginning it won't last very long.

[2pacalypsenow]

well obama did get re elected so.......

[Imalwaysright]

Well Obama inherited Bush's mess so.....

[YourGreatUncle]

That's not a fair comparison considering it was between Obama and Romney. It was a lose lose situation.

[sarcastoid]

I don't think so. I can't see a good price point for the US market with this thing. I think a lot of core gamers see through their fluff and I think the mass audience they seek isn't going to shell out hundreds of dollars for an easier way to hit the input button on their remote. I could be wrong, though.

[Jek_Porkins]

Well they showed some cool stuff, NFL, Soccer and Madden and COD, they're getting COD stuff early, and might be the only place to play COD on dedicated servers. Hard to say for sure, I mean there is a lot of negative press around here, but when you watch the local news or read the newspaper it's all positive.

I could see Microsoft really surprising people with a price point of $299, it's clear they used cost effective parts, and the new Kinect doesn't have any motorized parts, 8 gigs of DDR3 retail is like $40, so it could have mass appeal, if you throw in the fact that it'll have 90% of the same games as the PS4, it could end up doing well.

[FunkMacNasty]

Did you just say "CoD" and "Dedicated servers"?

hehe... that's a good one.

[Jek_Porkins]

Did you not read the Wired article? Microsoft has 300 thousand servers ready for Xbox One, all games on the next Xbox will be supported by these.

[TKCMuzzer]

@Jek_Porkins
It doesn't mean they will use dedicated servers for individual games. If every Xbox one is connected to the internet doing all that TV/bing/internet/fantasy crap then they will need all those servers to cope with so many people accessing Xbox live all the time.
offering dedicated servers for games is a different thing, I mean by rights anyone who pays to pay online should already be getting dedicated servers for their games, otherwise what are they paying for.......now there's a question..........

[TKCMuzzer]

It's not the fact that it will end up doing well, the whole problem is will it do well for gamers? Microsoft may have 15 games to release (mainly by one studio) but how long will that last? When they have sold 40 million boxes will they just start to concentrate on revenue streams? Of course they will, they have already test run it with the 360, loads of games to start, then tail off as income comes from Live and TV rubbish.
I have a cable/sky box, it does all I want. I want my gaming to be separate, it's a hobby. I want to take my console upstairs or round to my parents at Christmas, that's what console gaming is about, I don't want it permanently stuck under my TV. They are blurring the divide, I don't want gaming to become for the casual TV watcher, that will just encourage shovel ware..........
This time its not about sales....it's about the gamers who got Microsoft where they are in the gaming industry, it's them they will ultimately let down.

[Jek_Porkins]

This is in reply to your comment above, I hate to rain on your hate parade, but Wired reports every Xbox One game will use dedicated servers.

http://www.wired.com/gadget...

Enjoy the read!

[Sky_Walker]

Price point will play a huge part of the XB1 successes in the US and WW market - if the XB1 does launch at $299.99 and the PS4 at 499.99 this is the 360 vs the PS3 all over again...from what I have seen so far I will be getting a PS4 but if history has thought us anything is to never underestimate MS as they can sell ice to an Eskimo.

One thing that might help with XB1 low price is that MS crafted there own silicon instead of relying on 3rd parties and MS has deep pockets to take a loss so they can get the XB1 in people homes.

http://www.engadget.com/201...

"In the consumer space, to control your destiny, you can't just rely on commodity components. You have to be able to make your own silicon. It helps with performance; it helps with the cost; it helps make your product smaller; it helps you create your own IP (always a good thing). I'll argue you're a lot more flexible -- you're not relying on somebody else's schedule; you make your own. So we're obviously heading that way. The stuff we've done over the last 13, 14 years is one example of that within Microsoft. And you're gonna see more and more of that, is my guess, as you go forward."

[DarkZane]

Except the PS4 won't be 499$, in fact, it will probably be 399$. Same for the Xone, it will be 399$, not 299$.

[Flyingdog670]

No... just no...
I asked all my friends what they thought about the XBOX One (Stupid name) and first of all, they didn't even know what it was. Once i explained it and told them all the details... the first thing they said was "Wow, that sounds terrible". The others who did know and watched the event had the same opinion as mine, the console is garbage, and the event was garbage. All this sports and Kinect is all a HUGE gimmick. Honestly Jek, you have to be a REALLY blind XBOX fanboy to be defending this console, by defending this console, your also saying that you support DRM, paying a fee for used games, more restrictions, and less freedom. Jek, open your eyes, the XBOX One is going to be one of the worst things to happen to gaming.

[solidworm]

The writer thinks all Americans are dumb...he may be right.

[Sky_Walker]

I am American and I find your comment offensive.

As much as you may hate Americans I just want you to know that we dont hate you and hope you feel good about your self.

[militant07]

The reason he said that, because what Microsoft showed can be seen as cool stuffs in an American eye and that Microsoft could potentially sells a lot because of that and since the US is the biggest market.

[DigitallyAfflicted]

Bolocks. Maybe live sports fans, NOT GAMERS!!!

[Kal853]

"Won the US market?! Surely you can't be serious."
"I am serious. And don't call me Shirley."

[InTheLab]

This dude is commenting on the US market from the UK. Clearly thinks "average American gamer" can't read and has no access to the internet...in which case, proves his theory is incorrect. The Xbone is all over social media and places like Yahoo and no one but the die hards are pleased.

[xamtheking]

If I had the money, I'd buy the Xbox One to watch TV and the PS4 to game on

[TKCMuzzer]

The Xbox one is a pass through, you will still need a cable/Sky box to plug into it or a receiver to get the TV you want. Technically you would be buying a box to control your cable box. Trouble is, a lot of these cable boxes come with something called a remote, it changes your tv channels without having to speak or wave your hands in the air, it's quite genius when you think about it.

[xamtheking]

Yeah but changing channels with your voice is cool

[Tomonobu Itagaki]

I'm afraid some people were right when they said Microsoft's goal is to compete against Apple TV and Google TV, and not against PS4 and Wii U.

Clearly, their Xbox Reveal conference felt like "Look at our Microsoft TV, how cool it is to be a living remote. Oh, and it makes games too !", not like "This is a gaming console, what's coming next to our previous one with additional features".

Yes, E3 will be all about games, because gamers will be the first to buy an expensive piece of hardware, but be sure Microsoft's focus on TV and VOD is only beginning.

Most of those features aren't available in Japan and Europe, and certainly never will be (well, maybe in UK, some day...) so Xbox One is clearly geared for the US mass market, and not the world's gaming market.

[StockpileTom]

As far as motion controlling TV goes it is also competing against this...

http://www.thinkgeek.com/pr...

[Seraphemz]

Gamers arent going to like this. But I think that average people might buy into the hype.

Microsoft is going to advertise this like crazy and it will be on all the tv shows, showing how you can control your TV with your voice...oh, and play games.
Its a shame. Microsoft doesnt really care about gamers anymore..they just want sales. Either to gamers or non gamers...it doesnt really matter to them. the sales do.

[brave27heart]

That may be the case but if you screw over core gamers for a casual audience...well...just ask Nintendo how thats working out for them.

The core gamer market isnt going away. Not only that you cant underestimate how loud a voice we have and how much damage word of mouth can do to your reputation and your sales. You'd be wise not to screw us over.

[Sky_Walker]

I understand what your saying but Nintendo's situation is totally different because they released a very weak console that 3rd parties developers dont want to make games for.

The XB1 is almost on par with the PS4 specs and some games are coming and if MS does go through with this crazy plan of making used game redundant then 3rd party developers will be happy because this means more revenue for them and less for game stop.

I have made my choice regardless of what games MS shows at E3 and will be buying a PS4 but no one should underestimate MS because everyone had them dead with the 360 but some how they manged to triple there fan base and make people pay $60 to play online.

For all we know MS contacted all the big names like UBI,Konami, Capcom, Take Two, Square Enix, EA, Activison and agreed with this crazy plan to end used game sales.

[MadMen]

Naturally

[pr0t0typeknuckles]

i wouldnt be surprised,xbox is only dominant in the us, anyway.

[WhatchaTalkinBout]

how the hell would it already win the us market ?... americans fall for these stunts that mircosoft are going to do, then they are stupid... to control what we do with our media that we bought, and console that we bought and tell us what we should be aloud to do with it ? like really ?... if i bought a game i have ever right to let my friends use it!!..or how i see fit...con artist !!!

[Pillsbury1]

I think they called it Xbox one because only one person will buy it.

[ceballos77mx]

What about the price of Live, I have a feeling that with all those servers and their own TV series the fees will go up.

[R_A_LEE20]

So am i right to assume that the only real competitive console market in this up coming generation is going to be between Sony and Nintendo.

The way things are looking, its going to be like the late 90s, early
00s all over again with the Xbox One being the next Dreamcast and Sony & Nintendo left in the aftermath.

Saying that this would be a great opportunity for Sega to make a console comeback.

[Sharius]

i don;t know, maybe, these 'merica can be weird sometime

[tiffac008]

Plausible since some consumers are easiy swayed with a good commercial and could look pass the important issues surrounding a product.

[rainslacker]

Anyone find it ironic that a UK website and author is assuming he understands the US market well enough to be able to say if MS has won us over?

Seriously his reason was "Fantasy Football".

OK, fantasy football is big over here. But is it big enough to warrant a new expensive console when there are hundreds of apps on mobile, smart TV's, and computers do the exact same thing.

Hate to break it to the author, but the US is comprised of a lot more than crazy people who only watch football and sports. We are diverse. We are proud. We are cheap.