400°

Always Online Would Be the Least of Our Problems With the Next Xbox

SuperPhillip Central writes, "Things have been a bit messy with the Microsoft camp. If you're reading this site, you know doubt heard or read about it. A creative director for Microsoft's gaming division spoke out on Twitter, defending the idea of a console that is always online. That means that an Internet connection is always required to use the system's services and features. Well, unfortunately, Mr. Adam Orth said his comments in an incredibly rude and disrespectful manner. This not only insulted gamers, but even Xbox fans are up in arms. You can see an example of Mr. Orth's tweeting below. Now, we are in the stage of damage control for Microsoft.

While an always online next Xbox would be a bad thing to us, it's not the worst thing that we can think of that Microsoft could do with their third console. Here are four troublesome and worrying things Microsoft may have for the so-called "Nextbox.""

Read Full Story >>
superphillipcentral.com
StrongMan4031d ago

Great read. The author is right, MS have a lot more problems with the next Xbox leaks of always requiring an Internet connection to play games even offline. Your silence is only hurting you, MS. Your employees are defending the always online thing so that pretty much confirms it's true.

lastofgen4031d ago (Edited 4031d ago )

"Your employees are defending the always online thing .."

correction: one employee.

edit: for those who disagreed with me, is my statement incorrect or are you just disagreeing with me for the heck of it?

sengoku4031d ago Show
iGAM3R-VIII4031d ago (Edited 4031d ago )

@lasyofgen #DealWithIt #ItsTrue #AdamOrth #MS #Why lol

@StongMan I have to agree with you, this article really states some problems that are true. MS really do have to change their direction by E3 but I doubt they can do that in that amount of time.

amiga-man4031d ago

I have no doubt the always online is true, after the huge outcry M$ may be having second thoughts and are back peddling as we speak, if not especially if the other rumours are true as well, M$ really are taking the pee out of it's users.

All that and you are still charged for online, it's a joke but it's not even funny anymore.

chukamachine4031d ago

You can put lipstick on a pig, yes it's still a pig. But a hot pig.

lastofgen4031d ago

ok...so 18 people who disagreed with me believe that one employee = employees.

I see what this community is turning into...

thechosenone4031d ago

For those who may have missed it, another confirmation of MS going the always on route.

"Developer on Xbox 720 always-online: "All I can say is be sure to pay your ISP bills"

http://n4g.com/news/1225967...

user76939584030d ago

what about the troolls employers who are in n4g and any other gaming webpages?
who are defending it? I bet m$ pays them to do so.

silenius4030d ago

all this articles about the next xbox to be gone...
I'm tired of them, and clearly in the end, they don't say anything new.
People... either wait and see what MS has to offer to show in E3, OR stop flaming on that f**king "unanounced" corpse of the Next Xbox.

Suddenly everybody has "an inside source" that knows EVERYTHING! and suddenly everybody has an opinion on something THAT IS NOT EVEN OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED!

Seriously though, N4G starts to look more like a site in which 2 fanatic religious groups are trying So hard to prove that their religion is the only and rightful one...

GuyBanks4030d ago

@lastofgen You can't just assume that he is the ONLY employee in all of MS that supports the idea. The reason you believe that is because he's the only one that has come out and said something about it.

IK IR Y IP T4030d ago

they are disagreeing with you because it has to do with microsoft atleast when u support microsoft that money goes back into the us economy unlike the sony who's money goes straight overseas no wonderthey love there dumb lil fanboys...

nosferatuzodd4030d ago

what about the troolls employers who are in n4g and any other gaming webpages?
who are defending it? I bet m$ pays them to do so.
AraK
Zodd the immortal said its not impossible it does happen look! they paid this guy 134million that's million folks to discredit Google with the scroogle add Microsoft is a very cut throat company i know if they cant win they'll do anything Sony better watch it if Microsoft cant have their way..

like i said the only thing xboxlive do that PSN don't is cross media chat that's it i have both and that's the only thing my Xbox friends can talk to me about when we have a discussion

Gaming1014030d ago (Edited 4030d ago )

What are you delusional? Devs have come out and said that "You better pay your ISP bills". If you can't understand from all the evidence that you always need to be online, from the mountain of evidence in front of you, you're a typical delusional fanboy living in a bubble with your hands over your ears screaming "LALALALALALALALA"

And for those of you delusional enough to think that Msoft pays internet trolls, they have bigger things on their minds. Internet trolls are just that - saps with nothing better to do, who will fanboy it up for free.

BattleAxe4030d ago (Edited 4030d ago )

I totally agree with the author of this article.

1. The idea of a console that is always online is a bad idea.

2. Blocked used games are a bad idea.

3. Let's talk about their extensive lineup of compelling first-party exclusives, or lack thereof. Between Halo and Forza, that's pretty much all that excites some people, myself included.

4. Then there's Kinect which is turning the XBOX brand into a casual games machine.

5. Microsoft's attitude with Xbox Live, I'm sorry, but having to have a subscription to play online with your friends is total garbage. Microsoft essentially became so arrogant that they raised the cost of their service from $50 per year to $60 per year. That's for the privilege of playing with your friends, various chat services, Netflix and YouTube (both free on other platforms).

S2Killinit4030d ago

I disagreed with you even though I agree that it is the first time that at least I, hear an MS employee defending the decision for 'always online'. Honestly though, I think the main reason why I disagreed with you is because you are (rightfully in this case) defending a company that seems to be taking the industry in a direction that just somehow doesn't sit right with me. I feel that MS's decisions are part of a bigger picture that I'm not quite certain I look forward to. I donno you are entitled to your opinion but thats just me.

Ritsujun4030d ago

It could be the last 'next' box for Microtendo. =)

+ Show (12) more repliesLast reply 4030d ago
whoyouwit044031d ago

Nothing is confirmed until Microsoft them selve come out and say's it, You are just hoping with all your Sony heart that it is true.

iGAM3R-VIII4031d ago

The fact a MS employee said it, you still think that it isn't true. That's like an police employee saying on twitter someone killed a guy and you don't believe it because you want the chief policeman to say it in piblic.

Saigon4031d ago (Edited 4031d ago )

@whoyouwit04

It has nothing to do with being a Sony fanboy...but it has everything to do with being a gamer...

I totally agreed with your statement until the last bit. You are right it is not confirmed, but creditable sources such as Edge Online and sad to say Kotaku are coming out with information that usually is spot on. That is the reason for the hoopla. It has nothing to do with fanboyism...

My biggest issue is that this strategy is more aimed at the casual gaming market versus the hardcore gamers. The sad part about it is that no one has recognized that yet. Everyone is complaining about the concept without looking at the true meaning or intentions behind the move.

lastofgen4031d ago

@igam3r
the employee was merely expressing his opinion.
and always online could mean anything. most likely, it's something akin to sony's sleep mode or never again having to sit through "connecting to xbox live" again because it always remains connected to xbox live even when you turn it off.

you can hold me to my word. I am 100% confident that the always online requirement is false and ms has nothing like it planned.

and when all the rumors are conflicting and never really correctly align, you should realize that something is up with the sources, which are most likely fake.

amiga-man4031d ago

No but I am pretty sure most xbox owners are hoping with all of their heart that it isn't true,

If it is are you seriously going to defend it?

xxLuckyStrike4030d ago (Edited 4030d ago )

If true Microsoft almost certainly are back-pedaling due to consumer outrage over said rumors. GOOD BUSINESS PRACTICE WOULD NEVER ALIENATE ANY POSSIBLE CONSUMER LET ALONE MILLIONS . IT WOULD ONLY FIND MORE WAYS TO KEEP CURRENT CONSUMERS SATISFIED. AND BUILD ON TO ADD MORE CONSUMERS!!

And personally I would never buy a console that doesn't work as a stand alone gaming device. See it's my option if I so choose to get online for multiplayer or movies!!! It's my decision if I want to loan my game to a buddy. I paid for it!!! I should be able to do what I choose.

*I'm not going to pay $400 for a console with restrictions, requirements, fees, and or devices I deem unnecessary.

The way it sounds is pretty ugly!!

*Kinect Required
*Always online Required
* DRM required
*Block used games

What's wrong with the current business model in place? Why not continue to Build on it!! Don't restrict it.

Gamers/world aren't ready for the all digital console. Always online so you can always update monitor. And MS is/was considering forcing the issue down our throats upcoming gen. NO WAY!!! Maybe when Xbox 4 and PS5 come out that may be. Better make sure you get there first!!!

This rant was based solely on rumors and means absolutely nothing
*

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4030d ago
fermcr4031d ago (Edited 4031d ago )

"Always Online Would Be the Least of Our Problems With the Next Xbox"

OUR problems !!! ???

If rumors are true, then it's not going to be OUR problems. The problems belong to the people that purchase the next Xbox.

iGAM3R-VIII4031d ago

I would say Microsofts instead of Ours, it makes more sense too

Saigon4031d ago

Bubbles, you are so right...if we as gamers or should I say casuals buy into this, it is OUR problem...

Jakens4030d ago

I still think that this is OUR problem. This doesn't affect you? Yes, sadly it does.

rainslacker4030d ago

I wish that were true. However MS has become a force within the gaming industry. Whatever they do has the potential of becoming a norm for gaming, and if this type of thing gains momentum and sees positive results for the company, it could soon become every gamers problem as the other console providers take notice.

I know it seems everyone that wants to turn a blind eye wants to call those in the Sony camp against the idea a fan boy, but I can look at the situation realistically and see beyond just one or two years how this may affect me, and other gamers, as well as developers. I don't speak out on this issue(or others like it from any console maker) because of console preference, I do so because I'm a consumer, and I like having at the very least the illusion of choice in my game purchases.

There are some issues that are simply bigger than console preference. And the console wars should stay out of it. It only makes the debate less effective because it becomes to easy to discredit those who have perfectly valid reasons for not liking the idea.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4030d ago
Peppino74031d ago

I do believe the rumored blocking used games would be the worst of the 2.

Freedomland4030d ago

Problems?
Hmmmmmmm! that's why they are choked and lost for words.

ceed9114030d ago

I am sure this very credible news site and your opinion has sealed that this is fact, and has nothing to do with the fanboys on n4g.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 4030d ago
MikeMyers4031d ago

Yes they are. Three main issues stand out that will kill the next Xbox.

1. It will require a constant connection at all times to run games.

2. It will block used games.

3. Too much emphasis on Kinect.

4031d ago Replies(1)
swishersweets200314031d ago

Microsoft. The ship that started sinking before it left port.

ThatCanadianGuy5144031d ago

They lost their first gen.
Came in dead last in their 2nd attempt
And they seem to be in for a rocky start nextgen.

Just stop already with the shameful xbox nonsense microsoft.Come back to PC gaming, where you should of stayed.

whoyouwit044031d ago

No sony is dead last this gen, nowhere ever did read or hear them officially come out and said they out sold Microsoft. The only time they said anything close to that was when Jack Trenton said something like, we sold just as many as them, PROBABLY more. Not his exact quote, but close enough. Anyways, if they really out sold the 360 there wouldn't be a probably He would've just came out and said it, and gloated when he when he did. Show me where you have undisputed proof that the PS3 actually out sold the 360, and I'm not talking about some bullshit IDC numbers. I want a direct quote from sony them selves saying yes they have out sold the 360 with no probably nowhere in the quote. Probably is not a definitive yes.

wantonGamer4031d ago

@whoyouwit04

Oh but it's definitive enough for you to say they absolutely haven't outsold the 360 !? And even to claim Sony is dead last ? Why don't you look it up yourself, it was a pretty big deal some time ago.

Lifebanisher4031d ago

You mean microsoft go back to pc software your windows 8 is not selling and your money grabbing pay 2 play online console could have the same fate.

S2Killinit4030d ago

@ whoyouwit04
you say you want proof that Sony outsold MS but your own knowledge about which company had sold more up to this point was the same statistics that you whole irrelevant or insufficient. Sony had outsold MS for a while now, you can see it in the numbers. It would be a stupid idea for Sony to come out and gloat about having sold more units because (due to many other reasons I can think of) that could result in a response from MS that is bad for both companies (as in a economically disparate move on MS's part) for example, dropping the cost of Xbox significantly in order to save face. Not to mention that it would put Sony in the same position where many people criticized them for being 'arrogant'. well Sony is not going to make that mistake just as MS didn't make that mistake when they were ahead.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4030d ago
Cam9774031d ago (Edited 4031d ago )

Even if it does flop MS won't be affected, they're stupidly wealthy.
Damn...

It may however make them leave the console market for years.

StrawHatPatriot4030d ago

It's they're wealthy, but it doesn't help that Windows Phone is flopping, Windows 8 has a very slow adoption rate and mixed reviews, and Bing hasn't caught on as much as Micrsoft would hope.

Show all comments (97)
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?"

purple1015d 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 ☝️

Zeref5d 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.

DarXyde4d 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.

PhillyDonJawn4d ago (Edited 4d 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.

Einhander19724d 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.

MrBaskerville4d 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.

shinoff21834d 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.

Profchaos4d 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 4d ago
isarai5d ago

Is that why Hellblade 2 is digital only?

Zeref5d 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.

MrNinosan4d ago

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

mkis0074d ago (Edited 4d ago )

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

Einhander19725d 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.

5d ago Replies(3)
Einhander19725d ago

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

5d ago
5d ago
Zeref5d 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.

DarXyde4d 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.

Einhander19724d 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.

Einhander19724d 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.

BehindTheRows4d ago (Edited 4d 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.

Zeref4d ago (Edited 4d 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.

Chevalier4d 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.

Tacoboto4d 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.

shinoff21834d ago

Yay steam

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

Tacoboto4d 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 4d ago
Hofstaderman5d 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?

crazyCoconuts4d 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.

Xeofate4d ago (Edited 4d 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.

crazyCoconuts3d 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

FinalFantasyFanatic4d 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.

Show all comments (43)
370°

Could Xbox Soon Become The Next Dreamcast?

Microsoft's future in the video game space is murky right now, so let's break it all down.

Read Full Story >>
thegamer.com
ApocalypseShadow17d ago (Edited 17d ago )

Not anytime soon. But they're on that path.

One thing not mentioned in the article is Microsoft's money bags. If Sega had Microsoft's money, they would have still been around as a hardware manufacturer. Xbox as a platform only survives because of the money bags. They can continue making consoles for the core and port to PC.

The multiplatform strategy is only the result of arrogance and misguided leadership that blew up in their face. They thought gamers would jump on Xbox in droves if they knew that many of their favorite games would be only on Xbox. But that's not happening at all. Sales didn't increase. They decreased. Why? Because the dumb asses thought giving away these expensively made games in a cheap service would also turn the tide.

Gamers on other platforms are willing to buy quality. They don't need to be handed nearly free games in a service that aren't even finished and sometimes average in their development. Gamers buy Nintendo games. They buy Sony games. Microsoft groomed their base to not buy games. Even the quality ones. It has always been their plan to go digital. But most gamers still like single player gaming. Still like physical releases.

Microsoft's problem has always been that they don't produce high quality games at the same output as Nintendo and Sony. Actually, they should be producing quite a lot more because they're worth over 2 TRILLION. How they don't have more is ridiculous and no excuse. Buying publishers to take away from competition only backfired. Because it still takes millions of dollars to continue to make those games from the publishers they snatched. Their only choice was to crawl back to their competitors to help sustain those developers because Nintendo and Sony platforms were the ones buying games.

Am I sorry for Microsoft? Hell no! They deserved last place for putting in the least effort. They deserved the fallout for buying up the industry and didn't make a single blip on the radar against their competitors where they now need those same gamers they took away games from to support them. Part of it may have been to cash in on their competition. But the result is the slow death of their platform. They may go 3rd party. They may keep making hardware. I don't give a shit about them to worry about it. I only give a shit about the destructive nature of their industry moves that only negatively affect gamers. They could sell and drop out of the industry and I wouldn't blink. Probably laugh. But not blink. They deserve whatever comes to them. At least Sega put in the effort when it came to games. They just had poor leadership. Microsoft has poor leadership and barely makes memorable games. That's a killer combination. And not in a good way.

Cacabunga17d ago

That would be an insult to Dreamcast.. it had a crazy line up of legendary critically acclaimed games.

Crows9017d ago

I was thinking the same. Dreamcast had incredible games in such a short amount of time. It was truly exceptional.

darthv7216d ago

...and yet all those great games were not enough to sway people from the looming release of the PS2 at the time. Sony just has that kind of brand loyalty.

Cacabunga16d ago

Darth

I do not agree.. Sony had even better games thanks to an unprecedented 3rd party support..
DC had amazing lineup but 90% were arcade games..

88316d ago

@darth:
And Sony showed off "The Emotion Engine" and their real time demos that made everyone think they would miss out on REAL next gen 128bit magic if they jumped in before PS2s polygon pushing monster (and early lack of anti-aliasing with a healthy heap of shimmer + DVD playback) stepped up. PS2 was a fantastic system though with amazing games.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 16d ago
blacktiger17d ago

That's not true. Just because Microsoft has the money doesn't mean Microsoft can allow xbox to bleed entire Microsoft money. It doesn't work like they. Also SEC will be watching and investor won't allow it. Lot of reasons why Microsoft can not continue even if they wanted to. SEC regulations is expensive.

fr0sty17d ago (Edited 17d ago )

Exactly this... Microsoft is a publicly traded company, mostly owned by their shareholders (Approximately 59.24% of the company's stock is owned by Institutional Investors, 7.73% is owned by Insiders and 33.03% is owned by Public Companies and Individual Investors.). Their shareholders call the shots on the business decisions, and their shareholders want one thing and one thing only, for their stock price to go up. Losses do not make stock prices go up... so if the division continually posts losses on hardware, but shows profits on software and services (which has been the case with Xbox its entire lifespan, for over 20 years now), the shareholders are going to grow impatient and demand they stop making hardware and focus on the only thing that has ever made them money, software and services.

When Microsoft bought Blizzard and Activision for almost 100 billion, I knew that was the nail in the coffin for Xbox as a console... as the shareholders were going to expect a quick return on that investment, and when it didn't materialize, they were going to be out for blood... out to force Xbox to sell those games on as many consoles as possible, "and while you're at it, sell those first party exclusives that aren't selling well on other consoles as well... hell, just stop making consoles and sell games."

If there is another Xbox console generation, it will definitely be the last, but I doubt there even will be one at this point. I think the Xbox division planning on it just in case, but I don't think the project has been greenlit from Microsoft itself. The rumors that they have not yet even secured the chips needed from the chip fabrication facilities ties into this.

shinoff218317d ago

While I usually agree with you . Alot of what was said can just also be asked before any of that.

How long will the shareholders wait? It doesn't appear long at all

Babadook716d ago

I think I get your point. Like just because MS has money does not mean they are content to throw it away on a dying ecosystem. Xbox has to be profitable or “what’s the point?”

ifinitygamer17d ago

Money bags, yes, but are we ignoring that Xbox actually makes a profit on games and GamePass? Hardware is often a loss leader, and they're probably making profit 4 years into the life cycle, but games and services revenue have been very profitable while other parts of Microsoft's business is struggling. Say what you will about the quality of those games, of course, but this is kind of a reverse Dreamcast situation, where the console was dragging down the company and put it at risk of shuttering entirely. Killing that console saved the business and allowed it to continue to make games on multiple platforms. In this case, the service is very profitable, as are the games, and they're also double-dipping into Multiplatform to extend this further, while their hardware is just sort of what they believe to be the best for gamers and their own titles (whether that is the case or not...)

fr0sty16d ago (Edited 16d ago )

The issue is, they aren't selling enough hardware to make their exclusives profitable, and now that they've bought half the gaming publisher/dev industry, they have no choice but to go third party to make a profit... and that is making their shareholders take a real close look at their hardware division under the microscope... why keep making the hardware if the software is all that is making them money, and they continually, generation after generation come in dead last with hardware sales?

Look at a game like Spiderman 2... if it had been an Xbox exclusive, with the amount it cost to develop, it would have been a huge failure... simply not enough consoles out there to sell it on. They would have been lucky to break even.

ifinitygamer16d ago

@fr0sty agreed completely, which is why they're hedging by releasing other games to multiplatform, plus they have PC to make up for the difference in a lot of ways, which is why their games are not complete money pits. It brings up the question of whether or not those exclusives would drive sales of consoles, though. Let's say Spiderman 2 was an Xbox exclusive, it would certainly have pushed console sales, though who's to say how much is anyone's guess.

fr0sty16d ago

That's why you can't rely on just one exclusive, Sony has always delivered on a wide range of solid exclusives, even this generation (even if they haven't been strong on the first party exclusives, they've made up for it with third party). They don't rely on just one "system seller", they have a portfolio of them.

16d ago
JBlaze22616d ago

ApocalypseShadow To be honest Sony has more of a chance to go 3rd party because like you said Microsoft has money, Sony does not. Sony does not have games, Only games they have come from 3rd party. Sony has been losing money for years and you. Saying Microsoft has been putting the least effort just proves you have no idea what's been going on. All Sony has done is repeat and recycle, never innovating or doing something new. All Sony has is brand loyalty nothing else and it shows.

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LG_Fox_Brazil17d ago

Not sure about that. It's been two decades and I still think about Power Stone, Shenmue, Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Seaman and others, but I'm not sure I'll remember Xbox Series X/S games in a few years from now... Maybe I'll remember about the franchises that the Xbox brand spawned, but I don't believe that the Xbox Series lives up to the late Dreamcast or even to the Xbox name itself. I do have great memories about the 360 with Blue Dragon, Gears 2 and Lost Odyssey though

isarai17d ago

Nah, sega actually makes good games

Becuzisaid17d ago

No, Dreamcast was ahead of it's time and most still have very fond memories of it that had one. It also had some good games on it even in it's short lifespan. Xbox has none of these qualities.

Profchaos17d ago

I remember it coming out at the time in a really bad place they hit the market before the PS2 but it was during this transitional time when Sony was promoting the power of the PS2 and so many of the Dreamcast games were awesome but often third parties simply ported the PS1 version increased resolution and performance but rarely fully utilise the capabilities of the console.

I think in the end bad marketing done it in and like the GameCube so many people are fond of it now but at the time it was looked at in the lense of the day and it didn't stack up.

Personally I miss Sega in hardware they took risks that many companies won't

Becuzisaid17d ago

I never owned it, and got the PS2 right when it launched. But there were certain games it had that I was always jealous of that I didn't have access to - Sonic adventure, crazy taxi, power Stone, code Veronica, shenmue, skies of Arcadia. I always thought it was a really cool machine though. I've never heard a bad thing about it though from those that had it.

FinalFantasyFanatic16d ago

I only ever saw one Dreamcast, and that was one my friend owned, pity I never got to play it, I wonder what games he had for it?

It would be nice if some of those games got ported to modern systems.

Profchaos17d ago

Oh man sonic adventure on the Dreamcast made me so jealous as a huge sonic fan on the mega drive who also moved to PlayStation 2 I never got the chance to play it back in the day either. The Dreamcast in Australia where I am was always relegated to the smallest corner of EB Games it was kind of a strong first indicator that things were not going well at the time.

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Microsoft Rewards app on Xbox and weekly streaks to be killed off soon

Microsoft has announced the Microsoft Rewards app on Xbox will be discontinued in April and has confirmed that weekly streaks will also be coming to an end.

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