230°

Podcast Unlocked Episode 102: Smarticulate

IGN - Editors explore the latest in Xbox news, including an exec out the door, headset adapters, and Kinect's new features.

dedicatedtogamers3948d ago (Edited 3948d ago )

I know the canned answer is "LOL jumping out of the sinking ship amirite?"

But a more realistic reason is that Microsoft is currently undergoing a massive reorg and the Xbox division is likely getting split between two divisions or at least tucked deeper into a larger division.

Mattrick once reported directly to Ballmer. After the reorg, the new Xbox boss will likely have one or two bosses between him/her and Ballmer. Maybe he didn't want to deal with that.

Lovable3948d ago

LOL jumping out of the sinking ship amirite?

pompombrum3948d ago (Edited 3948d ago )

I think the more logical answer being that he was the scapegoat in the xbox 180. Someone's head had to roll after that shambolic unveiling and embarrassing backtrack. Who knows and who cares though, he's gone and is now working for a company I have no interest nor need to have an interest in.. it's a win win situation as an Xbox gamer.

Aaroncls73948d ago

I agree he was the scapegoat MS needed to initialize the facelift of the Xbone.

We can only assume, of course; but either Matrick was smart enough to immediately look for a back up plan, or he had an offer already, or MS gave him the chance to be honorable discharged.

Either way, I don't think all the wrong things about the Xbone's deplorable reveal and subsequent fails were entirely the responsability of Don Matrick.

In fact, what MS really revealed was a lack of real connection to the modern consumer mindset; and a scary, tyrannical ambition.

PFFT3948d ago

Sinking......nope not really.

MariaHelFutura3948d ago (Edited 3948d ago )

Because the Xbox One is going to fail to outsell the Playstation for a 3rd time in a row. They needed someone to blame and Don is perfect candidate because he has a been a PR nightmare. They're getting crushed by the media, online polls, preorders, pricing and specs comparisons. Things aren't looking good, considering they could even outsell the PS3 w/ a year head start, crazy advertising budgets and the media backing them.

dedicatedtogamers3948d ago

To be fair, Microsoft aims to beat Apple and Google to the punch. They're not necessarily competing with Sony or Nintendo.

NihonjinChick3948d ago (Edited 3948d ago )

Do you think Microsoft can actually compete with Google?

Omran3948d ago

if they are not compete with
sony and nintendo why they made
a console ?!

mcstorm3948d ago

@IncredibleGamerChick Microsoft walk all over Google in every area but Mobile and Search and Youtube.

What I find funny is people seem to forget sony had a slow start with the PS3 and if MS have one with the xbox one then it is not over they can turn things around just like sony did plus I am not expecting the PS3 and xbox one to have massive sales like the Wii did when they come out as times have changes since then and the 360 and PS3 are still selling well with big name games like BF, COD, Fifa, GT ect.

dedicatedtogamers3948d ago

@ mcstorm

"people seem to forget sony had a slow start with the PS3 and if MS have one with the xbox one then it is not over they can turn things around"

Sure, they CAN turn things around, but it's a different situation. You can't say "PS3 had a slow start too" as if that means - automatically - XBox One can recover. PS3's recover took years of devoted effort from Sony plus several price cuts.

tehpees33948d ago

"They're not necessarily competing with Sony or Nintendo."

Xbox is a game console so they are competing with Sony and Nintendo first and foremost. If they forget that then gamers will jump out and never look back.

Saksoy3948d ago

lol that's like, M.City saying they are not competing with M.United for the EPL title.

Enigma_20993948d ago (Edited 3948d ago )

@dedicatedtogamers

... so they are in the gaming business because?

3948d ago
+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 3948d ago
MariaHelFutura3948d ago (Edited 3948d ago )

Don was the head of the Xbox division. But I agree, they would have actually beat them (once) for it to considered a competition.

http://i.imgur.com/amn36.gi...

Kanzes3948d ago (Edited 3948d ago )

Xbox One is like the PS3 back then, high prices and the whole internet hates it. But, that doesn't stop PS3 to become successful like right now.

NatureOfLogic3948d ago

The Xbox brand doesn't have as much pull as the Playstation brand. Name me one Xbox that has sold 100m. I can name two Playstations and soon maybe three. Xbox original failed. No Playstation console has ever failed. Xbox is simply not on the same level of successful recognition as the Playstation. When MS smokes the competition twice like Sony did, then we can consider them possibly making a comeback after a bad start, until then, I don't think the Xbox name is strong enough now.

Kanzes3948d ago (Edited 3948d ago )

^so you're saying that the PlayStation 3 is saved by merely because the PlayStation "brand"?

I think brand is not the problem, the problem is the quality of exclusivity and services..

PS3 is become more and more successful when games like Uncharted 2 and MGS4 are released only on PS3, and with the help of PS+ feature too.

NatureOfLogic3948d ago (Edited 3948d ago )

@ Kanzes, OK..... My point still stands, which is, MS has yet to prove themselves. If we go by MS's track record, we can all clearly see where MS is headed when comes to exclusives. They simply can't compete with Sony by buying third party timed exclusives and content. They tried it last gen and still failed to out sale their competition. From E3 it's clear that they're taking the same approach with the X1 and no one is impressed. So why go this same route? Everyone comparing PS3 bad start to Xbox one is just wrong. PS2 dominated, Xbox 360 not even close, and even with the one year headstart, Playstation 3 has sold more at faster rate than Xbox 360. With PS3 out selling Xbox 360, It shows that Xbox is not strong enough to withstand a bad start like Sony's Playstation. Lets not forget that PS3 also introduced blu-ray.

dedicatedtogamers3948d ago

That's a (mostly) false equivalence.

PS3 was the follow-up to the two highest-selling consoles of all time. Xbox One is not.

PS3 had a high price but a lot of goodwill. PS2 was still loved and games were still coming out for it. Not so when it comes to the 360 for a lot of people.

And lastly, Sony had to fight for YEARS to win back consumer trust and respect. Will Microsoft invest the same amount of effort and dedication when they've proven they only stick to gaming in the short-term?

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3948d ago
fermcr3948d ago

Sales only matter for fanboys, bragging rights. What matters to companies is ... did it make money?

Microsoft made quite a lot of money with the X360, in spite of the RROD debacle.

Sony had heavy losses with the PS3.

devwan3948d ago

Microsoft's xbox division is still $3bn in the red over the last 10 years, it hasn't made money, it has haemorrhaged it.

http://www.neowin.net/news/...

Their current idea is to make a box that will appeal well beyond the console gamer crowd, but trouble is they're even failing to hit the spot there and that part has to be in place for the rest to follow. Oh dear...

ThatCanadianGuy5143948d ago

Where do you keep pulling these random bits of imaginary information from?

MS is not making money from xbox.It's their least profitable division by far."Microsoft makes more than 75% of its profits from Windows and Office. Less than 25% comes from its vaunted servers and tools. And Microsoft makes nothing from its xBox/Kinect entertainment division, while losing vast sums in its on-line division (negative $350M-$750M/quarter)."
http://www.forbes.com/sites...

Not only that but they've lost 3 billion in the last 10 years because of it. http://www.neowin.net/news/...

No wonder investors want them out of the gaming biz.

warewolfSS3948d ago

Your a sad dude. You tirelessly go into every single thread that had to do with Microsoft and repeat the same, tired mantra of better graphics, sad Microsoft, pr nightmare, no games , inferior hardware, no exclusives. ALL for a company who could care less about you. Grow up kid. I'm getting both consoles DAY 1, and if you are to than awesome.

Kanzes3948d ago

It's like they're paying for him lol

5eriously3948d ago

Just how is the Xbox360 outselling the PS3. Once an fanboi always an idiot I presume.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 3948d ago
maniac763948d ago (Edited 3948d ago )

Cause ms is gy...doh
Edit lmao

EXVirtual3948d ago

I'm pretty sure this Zynga deal was considered for a while but the bad PR probably influenced his decision. Really, I don't think the Xbox is competing with Sony and Nintendo. I think they're trying to beat Apple and Google. They wouldn't win in either situation though.

Show all comments (51)
150°

Microsoft’s Surface and Xbox hardware revenues take a big hit in Q3

Microsoft just posted the third quarter of its 2024 fiscal financial results. The software maker made $61.9 billion in revenue and a net income of $21.9 billion during Q3. Revenue is up 17 percent, and net income has increased by 20 percent.

Read Full Story >>
theverge.com
darthv7213h ago

Xbox content + services up 62% while hardware down 31%... seems about right with the way they tout you don't need the hardware to play. People can play on their phones or smart tv or other means. I don't hardly play on my consoles directly since getting devices like the logitech g-cloud and ps portal. Which is to also say I have been playing more digital than physical because of these devices.

solideagle53m ago

you should apply in MS PR team buddy, I think you will do a great job in my humble opinion :)

Cacabunga20m ago

I can tell people like you are an absolute minority..

If service is up means their fans and fanboys accepted this model and subscribed to it. The near future you will see a big decline because the service is saturated.

purple1013h ago

Xbox hardware revenue tanks to lowest point of Xbox Series generation

Profchaos2h ago

I'm not surprised surface is struggling they aren't relevant anymore

XBManiac1h ago

Too expensive hardware when others offer the same or more for less? Good work, Green Team.

SimpleDad1h ago(Edited 1h ago)

"Despite some early successes for Xbox games on rival platforms, Xbox hardware is down by a massive 31 percent this quarter."
"Without Activision Blizzard, Microsoft’s overall gaming revenue would have actually declined this quarter."
"Xbox content and services would have only been up a single percent without Activision Blizzard..."
"It looks like next quarter is going to be a similar story for gaming at Microsoft, too."

That is crazy... so A/B/K is carrying the whole Xbox gaming.
Oh and Microsoft will be fine. Windows, Office and Cloud are growing with each pc purchase.

purple1011h ago

Activision: "we gonna need a bigger rucksack/backpack please"

Microsoft: "why's that"

Activision: "to carry yo' weak ass'

Profchaos52m ago(Edited 50m ago)

Top brass have also wanted to start seeing returns on the 100 billion they have put into various Xbox related moves so seeing more multiplatform games is highly likely especially from abk

It's basically saying that PlayStation is the reason Xbox is afloat right now thinks to Ps5 versions of COD

Show all comments (10)
300°

Microsoft Seemingly Closes Bethesda France

As part of its plans to cut 1,900 jobs, Microsoft has reportedly shut down operations at Bethesda France, letting go roughly 15 people

Read Full Story >>
insider-gaming.com
Hereandthere1d 10h ago

Microsoft should have left them stay 3rd party

GamerRN1d 7h ago

If they are let go, they can be whatever they want. They ARE 3rd party now... 🤦

Barlos1d 5h ago

Yeah, they're also jobless.

GamerRN22h ago

They can form a company if they want, they are just as jobless as if "Microsoft had left them as 3rd party".

peppeaccardo1d ago

"MIcrosoft leaves Bethesda do what they know how to do best" ... close! Oh the irony ....
(Citation from a week old article)

ChasterMies20h ago

I think Microsoft and other game publishers are letting people go because they think ai will replace them. Doesn’t matter how much profit they make. They were always going to be let go.

PassNextquestion1d 10h ago (Edited 1d 9h ago )

Bethesda France was made up of roughly 15 people... they couldn't of being doing much

Bethesda France mainly did publishing and marketing within the region

blacktiger1d 7h ago

that's a shame for you to say that, i'm sure Elite loves hearing what you just said.

Mr Logic18h ago

What a stupid thing to say. The elites give 0 fucks what we say on an obscure website in the comments section.

Crows9017h ago

You can always reach out and give them jobs at your company man. Don't wait

Profchaos1d 10h ago (Edited 1d 9h ago )

Bethesda France focused on publishing and marketing in the region. And 15 people lost their jobs as part of the closure.

I wonder if this is part of Microsoft's strategy to abandoned physical media or possibly gamepass advertising makes their roles redundant you don't need to market a game as hard when the majority of players get the game as part of a sub which already promoted upcoming games

Tacoboto1d 9h ago

It's France too, there's a high likelihood only 1-2 people on the team even had an Xbox.

Profchaos1d 9h ago

Possibly guven all the leaks we know the Xbox brand is really struggling in the region.

Yi-Long1d 6h ago

Well, if your consoles and games are barely found in any stores any more, of course you're gonna struggle finding consumers ...

XiNatsuDragnel1d 8h ago

Tbh Microsoft I think Bethesda being 3rd party same with Activision would probably more competitive than thus scenario imo

Profchaos1d 7h ago (Edited 1d 7h ago )

I think it would have been better for all parties really especially gamers

TheColbertinator1d 7h ago

The recently purchased Activision French offices might take over all the licensing and marketing for Microsoft in France from now on.

Show all comments (21)
280°

Xbox's Preservation Step Sets A Much-Needed Example, Especially For Nintendo

Hanzla from eXputer inquires: "If Xbox can care about preserving its games and legacy, what exactly is wrong with Nintendo, trying to kill game preservation single-handedly?"

purple10112d ago

Ahh yes the good old game preservation of saving all your games to a removable hhd on the Xbox 360, taking it round your mates house, setting up multiple tvs to
Be met with “save data corrupted, please re download”

Or how about removing 360 games
From the store
, download them now or else, and, better hope to god that save data doesn’t corrupt, or it’s lost for ever

Nice one ☝️

Zeref11d ago

It's better than what Nintendo and Playstation is doing. It might not be perfect but at least they are TRYING. Unlike the others.

DarXyde11d ago

Trying? Take off the blinders for a moment, mate.

1. A failure to preserve games is just that: a failure to preserve games. Don't try to sugarcoat it: NO ONE is doing it properly. Better than awful is nothing to write home about.

2. At the time of this comment, isn't it the case that you need an internet connection to play Xbox games even if you buy physical discs that are hardly in circulation anymore? I don't have a Series X and I can't verify, but I think that is correct. I'm fairly certain you can at least play PS5 games at version 1.0 (not much of a win really when many games require day one patches). I think Microsoft's all digital, licensing approach is by far more aggressive than anyone else's. They really try to push you to game pass where you lose your entire library by umm.... Skipping a month of payments.

I don't think anyone is doing it right whatsoever. Don't get me started on Nintendo, who goes after anyone looking to preserve their games better than they ever would with extreme litigation.

Don't be a simp for any of these companies. Get it together.

PhillyDonJawn11d ago (Edited 11d ago )

@DarX never speak on Xbox again. You lost all credibility with your internet connection comment. Smh you have 0 clue and misinformed yet speaking on something you don't no squat about.

Einhander197211d ago

What has Sony done exactly? You guys keep deflecting to Sony but I am not actually seeing any results, and ai am certain nothing that you can come up with even comes close to what Microsoft has done and what they have tried and failed to do, like tie all your disks to your account on xbone.

Microsoft removed their whole indie section when they moved to the xbone because they were going to only allow games on the service that came from a publisher, id@xbox started after xbone launched and it only exists because Sony embraced indie and Microsoft was forced to cancel their plans and reverse course.

And every single game that was part of games for windows live including disk games (I have gta 4 on disk that won't work) so hundreds of games that use that DRM no longer work unless the company themselves patched it out which of course very few did.

MrBaskerville11d ago

Not trying. Tried. they killed of the backcomp program years ago. They set something up again, but sounds like it's more of an attempt to save the current library on whatever they are planning next. With luck they save everything and more, but let's see. I could see them killing off parts of the OG xbox and 360 libraries. Can't imagine that they would allow us to play Forza 5-7 in the future.

With that said, I do like what they've done and really wish they could have done more.

shinoff218311d ago

Zeref

So killing off physical media is trying what exactly. Ms don't really give a fk if you think they do your kidding yourself.

Profchaos11d ago

They are not trying this team is established for forward compatability the team is. It interested in preserving Xbox or 360 games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 11d ago
isarai12d ago

Is that why Hellblade 2 is digital only?

Zeref11d ago

Just because it's digital only doesn't mean you can't preserve it. Just put it on an external and you have the exact same functionality of what a disc does.

MrNinosan11d ago

Guess you're trolling, but if you actually think that's how it works, I'd recommend buying some braincells.

mkis00711d ago (Edited 11d ago )

Volitile vs nonvolitile data. A disc will not corrupt either. A drive can be corrupted.

Einhander197212d ago

This is just a scammy PR move to distract from the fact they are going digital only and trying to push streaming and subscriptions only.

No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft.

Without discs there is no preservation, preservation can't be done by the rights holders it can only be done by the consumers, anything else is a lie.

12d ago Replies(3)
Einhander197212d ago

Anyone remember xblig which Microsoft removed their whole 360 indie section removing hundreds of games from people?

12d ago
12d ago
Zeref11d ago

Do you know you can put your games on an external and preserve them that way? There are no benefits to discs. ZERO. Idk why some of you are still obsessed with them.

DarXyde11d ago

Because games like Persona 5 exist. It's STILL V1.00. On Playstation, that's a win because 1.00 is installed on the disc—no need to download anything.

If a game does not require any updates, it's all on the disc.

Extremely low bar in the modern era, of course. It's not much of a win by any stretch.

But for now, physical media does have a purpose, at least on Playstation.

Einhander197211d ago

That is factually not how game licensing works, try plugging your hard drive into someone else xbox, It's not going to work, and it won't work if the licensing servers ever go down.

Einhander197211d ago

Anyone remember games for windows live.

I have around a dozen games, some on Steam itself that will not work because Microsoft shut off the licensing servers.

BehindTheRows11d ago (Edited 11d ago )

I do. I STILL have games (Gears of War being the big one) I cannot access because Games for Windows LIVE is total garbage and no one has held Microsoft accountable.

Zeref11d ago (Edited 11d ago )

You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership.

Chevalier11d ago

"You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership."

Damn how many times do people got to explain your idiocy to you? You can take a copy of Persona 5 like someone used as an example and play that game on ANY console WITHOUT logging in which means I can lend the game to a friend without internet and they can play my game. Can you lend your hard drive to anyone without logging in for them to play? NOPE. That is a huge difference and if you think otherwise then sorry you're an idiot.

Tacoboto11d ago

"No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft."

Ubisoft is literally erasing games people bought from their libraries... My PS1-3 discs are useless on modern hardware. Nintendo's re-published and resold almost their entire Wii U library, and the eShop is completely dead with no BC mechanism in the Switch software. Microsoft publishes everything they make today day one on Steam and Xbox/Windows. Sony only brings to PC the titles they think you might want some years later and Nintendo won't even design a functional long-lasting joystick.

You're absolutely trolling and not serious if you think Microsoft today is the worst offender.

shinoff218311d ago

Yay steam

Not everyone fks with computers though. The disc is still the best way as a console player. Period.

Tacoboto11d ago

How do Sony and Nintendo feel about these discs from 2001-2013?

Don't be stupid, you know Xbox is the best at this today.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 11d ago
Hofstaderman12d ago

Nobody wants this. Sales or the lack of it in the case of XBOX is very telling. I wonder how the adorably all digital series X will fare. Adorably dismal perhaps?

crazyCoconuts11d ago

Only time will tell, but for from someone like me suspecting that Xbox is trying to gracefully exit the console market, that "forward compatibility" team is trying to get Xbox games playing on Windows PCs. I mean, it's nice that they're not planning on exiting with a "enjoy your games while the hardware still works" message, so that's nice. They still have a brand to protect via Microsoft so probably feel obligated to have a better exit strategy.

Xeofate11d ago (Edited 11d ago )

That is not their plan, their plan is to transfer users accounts to the cloud.

Phil Spencer himself said as much a few months back, plans could have changed but I think people are reading way too much into one statement where Phil said he would allow Epic on xbox because he wants to be able to sell xbox games directly on other platforms. Aka, instead of selling Sea of Thives through PSN he wants to have an xbox store to sell his games on PlayStation without giving PlayStation any money.

Again, it's extremely unlikely that Phil plans to put PC on xbox and licensing would prevent them from just giving out other publishers games purchased on xbox copies of thier games on PC, Microsoft does not own their games.

crazyCoconuts10d ago

The thing that doesn't align with the cloud strategy is the giving up on exclusives. You'd still need strong exclusives for cloud streaming - it's still a "platform" , just with a lower upfront hardware investment. I feel like they've learned what PS learned with PSNow long ago. We're not ready to stream games and it's only gonna lose them money to try at this point

FinalFantasyFanatic11d ago

I would love that, I'd buy up some of the Xbox games if they could run on PC, like the Rare Replay, Lost Odyssey and Dead or Alive Ultimate, probably a pipe dream though.

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