190°

What Will Microsoft Learn From The Wii U And PS4?

The Wii U is on sale, the PlayStation 4 has been officially announced. Now all eyes turn to Microsoft, the last of the big three to premiere a new console.

decrypt4080d ago

Ultra Low end - low end, low cost hardware is the way to go for next gen.

CouldHaveYelledUiiW4080d ago

I kind of agree,

If Microsoft created a system that was more powerful than the WiiU but they sold it at a loss that made it cheaper than the WiiU-

They could leave Sony out in the Cold... for ports.

It would be less profitable to port to PS4 than the WiiU and XB720.

Sure, Sony would get PC ports but their has been a decrease in PC ports.
And Sony has great 2nd Party and 1st Party IPs but again that can only get you so far- esp if you are already selling systems at a loss.

But I have NO Sony-hate or Microsoft-hate. I love Nintendo, But I wish them All the Best.
E3!!!!!!!

SandWitch4080d ago

Wii U is also sold at a loss. That big-arse controller is probably not that cheap.

CouldHaveYelledUiiW4080d ago (Edited 4080d ago )

@GynGa

EDIT: I Agreed with you-
I was Not the one who pushed Disagree.

You are right-
And I was not saying otherwise.
(I can only conclude that you inferred this so due to Console Wars mantra "Nintendo never sell at a loss".)

I Said:

"If Microsoft created a system that was more powerful than the WiiU but they sold it-
- "at a loss>>>>>THAT MADE IT CHEAPER than the WiiU-"

Yes, WiiU is sold at a loss,
However, Sony and Microsoft can sell at a Bigger loss, more than Nintendo.
That's ALL that I am saying.

Selling at a loss has never (necessarily) been a bad thing-
In the Past,
Repeating that last Gen-Mantra was more about defending Nintendo in the face of unreasonable Trolls.

NewMonday4080d ago

after all the silly talk about no physical PS4 in the show, the internet will explode if MS don't show a box at their event.

Kingthrash3604080d ago

@newmonday
...or implode if the specs dont surpass of matchup. ..

wastedcells4080d ago

Honestly for the first time I'm not at all interested in what Microsoft has to say. I'm giving up on them. Even if they come out with a great launch game I'm not buying a 720 for years. Wait for a price drop and more than a couple good exclusives.

MikeMyers4079d ago

They need to look at all prior systems and how the public responded to them, including their own. What do consumers really want? Forums don't always show that.

dcbronco4079d ago

The Wii U is not sold at a loss.

http://gonintendo.com/?mode...

Nintendo doesn't do that. Plus the parts are all really old parts with modifications. That is never expensive. Anyone can go out and buy separate parts that would kill the Wii U. It's not like they have tried to push the envelope on technology for CPUs and GPUs.

CouldHaveYelledUiiW4079d ago

@Dcbronco
>I am very pro Nintendo but I want people to know the situation so that we/YOU, as fans will make an effort to buy more games.

Your link is to an article that came out before WiiU's launch April 2012.
This one is from November 2012:

http://www.joystiq.com/2012...

(Joystick's Source was Mercury News, here is the link:
http://www.mercurynews.com/...

"So says Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime, who in an interview with Mercury News played down how his company's latest system is selling for a loss at launch.

"The business model doesn't change dramatically," said Fils-Aime. "In that as soon as we get the consumer to buy one piece of software, then that entire transaction becomes profit positive. In the end, the business model is still to drive the install base of hardware, and then to drive a strong tie ratio with all of the other software and experiences for the consumer. And if we're able to do that, then we will create significant profit for the company."

Iwata later clarifies that it takes a little more that 1 game purchases but Reggie was not far-off.
So for the 1st time, Nintendo is selling at a loss, not much but they are doing it.

AGAIN, I have no problem with any system selling at a loss and Definitely no Problem with my Nintendo.
So, don't make me explaining the Truth to you (Dcbronco) as Nintendo bashing.

Donnieboi4079d ago

Wii U is not even a threat to either of them. Nobody is leaving Sony in the cold, even if 720 and Wii U are cheaper. Know why? Because hardcore gamers want hardcore games. Casuals have already moved onto phone games so the low price wont mean squat to them if they dont intend on buying home consoles anyway. But I hear that even many xbox and nintendo fans are coming over to Sony. Because Sony knows what REAL gamers want.

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 4079d ago
shutUpAndTakeMyMoney4080d ago

I think they are still thinking about the wii.

greenpowerz4079d ago

How to lose dominance after being dominant?

Oh I kid...

Outside_ofthe_Box4079d ago (Edited 4079d ago )

How can you learn to lose dominance when you were never dominant...? Oh I kid...

fsfsxii4079d ago

@greenpowerz
You just got owned, stop commenting now please

Blackdeath_6634079d ago

whats the point of a new console if the hardware is lowend? might aswell keep your 360 then if you want a low cost console.stupid comment. hardware needs to progress if MS dosent make a strong console it will hold the industry back and devs will be less keen to develop for a weak console. it holds the devs back on the things they accomplish it holds the technology back and everyone with it.

Stroke6664079d ago

it does not holddevs back, wat holds devs back is graphics whores asking for graphics graphics graphics and not game play. being able to lean on the crutch of the technology can't yet make my vision come to life mean while then releasing the same ol shit wit new shine when the tech is there is what holds them back. 8 bit games 16 bit games and so on didnt have the technology but made legendary shit people still play today. the graphics increase was more like a perk in those days not a necessary muse to be innovative and creative. dont get me wrong a lowend system would have to have a shitload of games that arte just purely crack to sell in todays market given all the graphics whores and society's fad addiction. but if the industry was brought back to when a game just simply had to be fun in order to sell then that would rock

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4079d ago
4080d ago Replies(2)
4080d ago
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MasterCornholio4080d ago

That developers are extremely happy with the way that the PS4 is designed. Which is why Microsoft should aim for a similar hardware design otherwise like with the PS3 and the 360 developers will have problems porting a game from one platform to the other.

Microsoft has to increase the speed of the ram to Match the PS4s otherwise developers will run into bandwidth issues which will bottleneck the system much like the unconventional ram configuration of the PS3.

Jek_Porkins4080d ago

One thing about the Xbox and Xbox 360 is that they were both easy hardware to work with, Microsoft is a software company at heart and this is the reason.

The next Xbox will obviously be close to PC so that it is easy to work on and code for. Since I believe 8 gigs of Ram is overkill and probably wont be used for years to come, it doesn't matter the speed of the Ram for the next Xbox. DDR5 isn't a ton faster than DDR3, if we are to believe that is what the next Xbox uses, they could switch it up since Sony came out and announced what they have.

While Microsoft couldn't change the chipset, they could easily swap memory with 10 months till launch.

Even Jack Tretton of Sony said they aren't finished with the end specs or design of the PS4, so we will just have to wait until Microsoft reveals what they have in April.

IcicleTrepan4080d ago

People forget most PC games don't get made without Microsoft Software.. from Windows to Direct X to Visual Studio.. they made it all. And if a developer knows how to make games on PC they can make games on Xbox they just have to port their code to use a bit different API for the various Xbox specific services etc. That's why they won so many 3rd parties over to do multiplat with them. Easy and cheap to release on Xbox 360 and I wouldn't expect anything less of the new Xbox.

Ju4080d ago (Edited 4080d ago )

The "Durango" leaks were quite specific ( http://www.eurogamer.net/ar... ) and taken from that report, pretty much everything what was said about the PS4 was accurate, I expect most of the next XBox design to be closest to true.

If so, however, this is a significant more complicated platform to work with. MS is a OS company and with that I'd expect them to hide most of that away from the developers; but I am curious to see, how they can actually hide away the fact that the RAM is paged and must be mapped into a linear space and EDRAM swapping can be invisible to the developer. At the same time, developers tend prefer to have access to the platform specifics and I would imagine that games pushing the envelope on the Durango would have custom code to max out EDRAM bandwidth.

But taking this into account, it will be significantly cheaper to develop for the PS4. Which gives you a linear bank of high speed memory - to make this clear - the total 8GB GDDR5 have the same bandwidth as the EDRAM in the Durango! No tricks with memory mapping, no tricks with swapping memory (texture tiling), no tricks to maximize EDRAM.

It will require devs to have proper tools to optimize textures on the Durango while on the PS4 you can simply drop them in. We'll see. But given the information we have, the situation is quite reversed. PS4 will be easier to develop for (and is faster). But who knows. We might get a surprise soon.

Qrphe4079d ago (Edited 4079d ago )

PS4 and 720 are pretty much the same system with different ram and gpu from the looks of it. 720 should be as easy to develop.
However, if the rumors are indeed true, the 720 will be visibly underpowered.

But let's remember that Microsoft has a policy that let's them reject a multiplat that looks considerably better than the competition (I wonder WHY they have it).

xursz4079d ago

So Microsoft would in theory make a weak system and force developers to downgrade my version so that Xbox's doesn't look like crap in comparison?

That's just bull. It's going to make people pissed if xbox 720 doesn't match or exceed PS4 in power.

BLAKHOODe4079d ago

@xursz

I don't think it'll matter. Sony put it's specs out there and depending on how you look at it, that could be favorable to Microsoft. The 720 doesn't have to be as powerful as the PS4, just as the 360 wasn't as powerful as the PS3. Game developers are going to cater to BOTH consoles regardless, just as they have this current gen. Microsoft could make a slightly weaker console, enabling them to charge LESS than Sony will charge for the PS4, which would be in their favor. Multi-platformed games would still be equal in a lot of ways. Sony would only be able to take advantage of the extra power with it's own exclusives, which is basically what happened with the PS3.

Show all comments (58)
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.

solideagle52m ago

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

Cacabunga19m 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'

Profchaos51m ago(Edited 49m 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 9h 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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