250°

Microsoft Needs To Get Real

"Gamer-rider.com writes: I really dislike feeding into rumors, but I'll take the bait anyways since Yusuf Mehdi himself said the Xbox 360 is changing from being a gaming console, to an "entertainment console," something synonymous with Sony and the PlayStation brand. The rumors are that the next Xbox will be heavily influenced by apps and non-gaming related things, and that's all good because I'm sure there's a market for it. But for a bit of perspective, Sony and the PlayStation brand did something similar, but they did so in an era when Smart TVs, Smart Phones, and Tablets and many other gadgets simply didn't exist. Nowadays, we have TVs with built-in wifi receivers that can stream Netflix, check out Facebook, Twitter, etc. In my opinion, I think there exists the danger of very quickly becoming irrelevant when you alienate your core audience by focusing on offering things that are more easily accessible elsewhere."

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gamer-rider.com
4088d ago Replies(9)
dangert124088d ago

I am not keen on Microsoft, but what they are doing seems to be working for them.

JoySticksFTW4087d ago

I don't disagree, but it seems to be working for them short term.

Like MS only catered to the hardcore gamers short term for two straight generations.

I bought a 360 for Mistwalker games, Dead Rising, Crackdown, GeOW, and Mass Effect. And except for Gears, those titles either dried up (MW), went south (CD2), or went multiplat.

Now 360 gamers are left wondering if they'll be supported short-term to be pushed aside for Kinect and entertainment focus when 720 launches.

Even reputable sites like neogaf are already debating whether their 360 gamers will jump over to PS4 next gen, mostly due to Sony's track record of continuously providing content for the hardcore gamer and now PS+. And if the PS4 design leaks are to be believed, it seems designed more towards gaming than extras.

Me, I probably won't get either system day one anyways. I still have too many games in my backlog from this gen, so I'll probably get both eventually during sales or price cuts. But honestly, it's going to be hard if not impossible to hold back.

stragomccloud4087d ago (Edited 4087d ago )

MW didn't dry up. Microsoft cancelled the last game under the 3 game contract, neither party really wanted to finish the game anyway, so MW abandoned ship for Nintendo and made "Last Story" an amazing game~

By the way, Microsoft also brought down Ensemble studios. That was a sad story. After years and years of working under Microsoft, Ensemble was dropped before their final game(Halo Wars) was even released.

DigitalSmoke4087d ago ShowReplies(3)
Tei7774087d ago (Edited 4087d ago )

lol, as little as microsoft has done to deliver exclusive support to the 360. Its still been very much alive. Exclusives only matter to those who need to validate their console purchase.. If you have a 360 and are enjoying the likes of Dishourned, Ac3, COD, Battlefield, Skyrim, Bioshock... essentially everything other then sony 1st party titles why does it matter?

For me personally the annoyance is in the fact that the 360s 1st party line up was so strong from 2007-2009. I assume many people bought the system expecting this to continue...

Also I'm sure many sony fanboys brag of exclusives they don't even play lol

Cupid_Viper_34087d ago

@Tei777

I'm sorry but you seem to contradict yourself in that post there.

First you said: " Exclusives only matter to those who need to validate their console purchase"

Then you said: "For me personally the annoyance is in the fact that the 360s 1st party line up was so strong from 2007-2009. I assume many people bought the system expecting this to continue... "

I think that's the whole point to buying a product over the next. Why should I buy GLAD garbage bags over the other ones on the market even though they all carry garbages. Because GLAD garbage bags are stronger, and I don't ever want to have to be picking up garbage with my bare hands from the floor while taking it out.

I believe that it is pointless for me to buy an xbox 360 if I already own a PS3 if all I'm going to play is the multi platform games. That money would be put to better use by buying games with for the PS3.

Tei7774087d ago

Haha, let me not contradict myself this time!

What I ultimately mean is that if you're enjoying you're 360, why does it matter how many exclusives it has? All that matters is that it has the games you want to play. If those games lay on another system (the last of us), then yeah sure you may regret your purchase. I mainly just trying to get at the point that people sometimes like to brag about exclusives regardless of whether they're going to buy them or not. If all you're favourite franchises are multiplatform (GTA/COD/elderscrolls/Assasins creed- sales suggest this is the case for many) then exclusives are merely a cherry on the top.

The latter point I made is a bit confused. Its only really valid if you're a 360 owner, who bought a 360 over a ps3 to play games like the original Bioshock or Mass effect which were 360 exclusive at one point. Now they're multiplatform you may feel cheated. If you don't care about microsofts other franchises (halo/gears/fable), then maybe you will look back in hindsight and wish you bought a pS3 instead and picked up Bioshock+mass effect when they were latter ported.

grayfoxx8814087d ago

"Exclusives only matter to those who need to validate their console purchase."

That's a pretty ignorant comment. I, like many others, bought a 360 because of Halo 3. It was a great game with awesome multiplayer, that's why it sold so well. Some exclusive games matter because they truly are great games. Get your head out of your ass.

Tei7774087d ago (Edited 4087d ago )

I didn't mean it like that. If say you're really into Halo + a few multiplatform titles and nothing the ps3 has to offer then it really doesn't matter that microsoft rarely supports the 360 in exclusive content. I was just trying to make the point that exclusives for the sake exclusives doesn't amount to much. It all just comes to down to being able to play games you like, their exclusivity doesn't make them better.

The PS3 has had an abysmal year of 1st party titles. Around 10 were released in 2012 and they all flopped. Not trying to hate on ps3 (its actually my prefered console), just using it as an example. The 360 has tons of amazing games on it and still coming out for it, they're just not exclusives. RIP articles like this are ridiculously over the top lol

mcstorm4087d ago

I love this fan boy rants. How many exclusives did the ps3 have in its first few years compared to the 360?

At the end of the day people should buy what they like not what everyone else says they should buy. I have a surface as it offers me more than what an iPad or android tablet dose but I don't go around telling other people they should not get an android or iPad because it works better for me.

Its all about choice people. If you all spent less time going on about what you don't like in life you might enjoy the things you do enjoy in life a little more.

ILive4087d ago (Edited 4087d ago )

You are still a tool regardless, tei777. Ask yourself this: will it make any f**king sense if two consoles are in the market to only offer multiplats? Exclusives are meant to seperate the consoles, followed by the features. My friend that is only a 360 owner has nothing to look forward too after dead space 3. He does not want gears judgement because he is still content with 3. From now and perhaps till september, he has nothing to play. None of the multiplats coming between then interests him. Many 360 owners are likely in the same state, while ps3 owners got ni no kuni in jan, will get god of war in march, and last of us in june.

jetlian4087d ago

exclusives only matter at the beginning.Once you buy a system you have it theres nothing more you have to do. If your friend only wanted those games he's screwed but its not costing him more than his original investment.

Whos says said 360 owners want ni no kuni,Gow,tlou either? The number of the exclusives doesn't make a difference either way. their could be a ps3 only owner that want gears.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4087d ago
Kevlar0094087d ago

With more people using Live for Videos and Music than online games, I don't think MS wants to go back into just the gaming business. They see more money in marketing Xbox as your one stop destination for your entertainment needs. Games will certainly be a part of it, but don't expect a "games first" policy, look to see less exclusives compared to PS4, or WiiU.

I'm interested in games first so I'm fairly certain I will pass on the next Xbox (if my assumptions hold true)

G20WLY4087d ago

Really sorry, I disagreed by accident. I think you're spot on.

Looking at games (and isn't that why we're all here?!) it has to be Playstation for me next gen. With the smart TVs getting ever smarter and TV outs for tablet PCs, Microsoft is playing a dangerous game with the Xbox brand, I think.

Some argue that PS has too many exclusives, but if that gives gamers a choice and they keep coming regardless, that has to be a good thing, right? I don't want only one or two AAA exclusives a year and have to choose between macho 3rd person or macho 1st person shooter - it's not enough. There's a massive gap in the spectrum, with that at one end and kiddies Kinect games at the other.

For me, it's games first and entertainment features are a secondary bonus; not the other way around! And it'll be the same for me next gen.

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280°

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
darthv721d 7h 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.

solideagle17h ago

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

Sonic188115h ago

I thought darthv72 and Obscure_Observer already work for Microsoft 🤔

dveio14h ago

MS: "Xbox services and content without AB up 1%, with AB up 62%. Hardware down 31%. In total a loss of 350 mill."

darthv72: "Seems about right."

MS: "Excuse m ..."

darthv72: "I don't hardly play on my consoles directly."

MS:

Lightning7710h ago

What he said was facts. How he plays games is no concern of you. Don't get too mad about it.

Cacabunga17h 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.

darthv723h ago

to you it may seem like the minority... but your bubble is shrinking because more and more are following suit. convenience is a hell of a drug and its also why physical sales only amount to 30% of overall game sales. times are changing, you either get with them or you get left behind.

shinoff218316h ago

But that's been ms for years. When things aren't going their way they try to change the way things are said. For instance console sales are down, they stop telling how many sold instead telling us how many hours spent in halo or headshots. So it makes sense console sales down just say people are playing on more devices then previous. What they won't say is how many xbox players jumped ship to ps5.

Cacabunga15h ago

Hardware sales are so bad that Sony and Nintendo are blowing the sales off the water with their hardware.

If Xbox are losers, others aren’t..
Xbox already tried everything with Xbox live then subscriptions went down so much that they had to find something else. Their fans subscribed then reached saturation rather quickly.

Hardware and exclusive games is where it’s at! Keep gamers excited, announce decent software and people will support you

itsmebryan11h ago

@shin
Well keep it simple Sony 's operating income is down 26% and Microsoft's is up 32%. No MS spin there, just facts. 😉
Cheers

S2Killinit4h ago

MS is after diminishing consoles as a medium. They want to destroy this market because they couldnt win. MS’s vision is to dissolve console gaming.

romulus2310h ago

Odd that a company that touts you dont need the hardware to play is already touting another console in the works.

darthv7210h ago

They are not reliant on the HW but still want to maintain a presence (no matter how small) is a good thing. It shows commitment to the craft. It reminds me of SNK and how they made games for their own hardware (Neo Geo) while also making them for others because they knew there was a market to do so. They knew they would sell more to others but also sell to their own niche fan base.

TheEroica3h ago(Edited 3h ago)

Perfectly reasonable post down voted by insecure corporation friendly folk.... But not gamers. Real gamer want accessibility and ease of acquisition for all.... Company shills are the only ones still telling us that hardware locking people from games is good for us.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 3h ago
purple10120h ago

Xbox hardware revenue tanks to lowest point of Xbox Series generation

Profchaos19h ago

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

DOMination-9h ago

In the last two years they've started exiting the consumer market altogether. All of the newest Surface products are business models only. They can't seem to work out what they want to do with it.

XBManiac19h ago

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

SimpleDad18h ago(Edited 18h 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.

purple10118h ago

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

Microsoft: "why's that"

Activision: "to carry yo' weak ass'

Profchaos17h ago(Edited 17h 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

Kornholic16h ago

So basically PS and PC gamers' money is keeping Xbox on life support.

MrDead9h ago

The only growth MS will get out of the console industry is if it supports it's rivals platforms. Xbox is a pointless machine now. I can see them on a big push for live next, and they won't give up on trying to buy Steam.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 9h ago
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150°

Sony Patents To Prevent You From In-Game Harassment By Reading Your Emotions

A new patent recently published by Sony wants to gather biometric data of gamers to track whether one is being harassed using AI tools.

Profchaos1d 20h ago (Edited 1d 20h ago )

I hope this is one of those patents that never comes to fruition.

I already dislike the fact you can pay a significant amount for a online service buy associated games and content on said service and get banned from that service over potentially a misunderstanding the bans are already handed out for flimsy reasons

I'd rather see money invested in a ban that simply removes the offensive players ability to communicate with unknown players allow them to continue party chats with friends but not with Joe blow on cod.

exputers1d 16h ago

Agreed. Blizzard recently banned a college Overwatch 2 player who's dependent for saying "shit." Pretty harsh.

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

How rediculas really. You can't say a word that's allowed in most PG films and prime time TV but the game is based around killing the enemy team using guns, explosives etc.

It's just backwards.

just_looken1d 3h ago

What your talking about is called block list

In 2006 a spaceship dropped of the playstation 3/xbox 360 i say that that generation was the last great gen with game functions/tech that has yet to comeback

Anyhow the playstation 3 if you block listed a id they could not talk to you in chatroom with either text or voice. But that was pre mind fucked 2018 when people were more human than sheep.

But hey gta 6 is coming out billion dollar budget without a single player custom character creator and without singeplayer coop off/online something saints row 1-3 had on the xbox 360.

z2g1d 12h ago

Take my social security and bank account numbers too! Here’s a picture of my wife and our address.

phoenixwing1d 12h ago

Cmon where's the pictures of your children. Don't hold out on them.

H91d 12h ago

At this rate I feel Sony will eventually sell a room to play games in it where they can monitor your every breath

jambola1d 8h ago

I genuinely get a bit worried sometimes when a friend says something that could be offensive In a party
Because I have no trouble believing some bans would happen when in a private party for saying something wrong

SegaSaturn6691d 11h ago

I want them to censor erotic content by measuring my groin temperature so i dont get too distracted while playing black ops 2.

Popsicle1d 11h ago

Terrible idea. Not only do I not consent to providing my biometric data, the potential for mishandling biometric data is almost a certainty. Positive stress and negative stress can produce similar changes in biometrics. Interpreting the precise emotion a person is feeling is not only invasive but could be easily misconstrued. I hope this never comes to fruition.

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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
Hereandthere2d ago

Microsoft should have left them stay 3rd party

GamerRN2d ago

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

Barlos1d 22h ago

Yeah, they're also jobless.

GamerRN1d 15h ago

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

peppeaccardo1d 17h ago

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

ChasterMies1d 13h 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.

PassNextquestion2d ago (Edited 2d 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

blacktiger2d ago

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

Mr Logic1d 11h ago

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

Crows901d 10h ago

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

blacktiger7h ago

You own nothing snd be happy. I'm sure you heard that

Profchaos2d ago (Edited 2d 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

Tacoboto2d ago

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

Profchaos2d ago

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

Yi-Long1d 23h ago

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

XiNatsuDragnel2d ago

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

Profchaos2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

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

TheColbertinator2d ago

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

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