490°

Microsoft Said to Adopt AMD Chips for Next Xbox Console - Bloomberg

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) will use an Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) processor in its next Xbox game console as it seeks to cut the cost of building machines and get developers to create more titles, people with knowledge of the matter said. AMD surged the most in almost two years.

The Xbox will use an AMD system-on-a-chip that combines powerful “Jaguar” central processing units with graphics chips, said one of the people, who sought anonymity because the plans aren’t public. The shift to the so-called x86 format ubiquitous in modern personal computers means Microsoft will drop the Power PC technology designed by International Business Machines Corp. (IBM), and game discs made for the current Xbox 360 won’t be compatible.

Read Full Story >>
bloomberg.com
Pandamobile4025d ago

Poor Nvidia, they're only swimming in the cash that rolls in from desktop and mobile GPU divisions, lol.

If AMD hadn't scored all of the console deals, they'd be in a world of hurt, whereas the only thing that Nvidia misses out on is a bit of extra profit.

BitbyDeath4025d ago (Edited 4025d ago )

They must be hurting a bit considering all the crying they did a week or two ago.

jukins4025d ago

haha they're not "rolling" in the cash. they're high end graphics cards are a niche market believe it or not. and as for the mobile gpu division haha samsung/qualcom say hi. nvidia, while stable for now, has been on a downhill roll for the past few years just like amd, just not as bad.

nvidia really isnt in a place where they can "miss extra profit" as you say. they're projections have fallen short quarter after quarter for a few years. I dont know any chip maker who wouldnt want to potentially sell upwards of 150+million chips along with the branding that comes with powering consoles.

SilentNegotiator4025d ago (Edited 4025d ago )

Yeah, Nvidia doesn't care about missing out on profit just because it's a little more thin than they tried to demand.

/s

Seriously, convinced yourself yet? No company loses 3 massive business partners and goes "lol, who cares?" like some of their fans.

Pandamobile4025d ago

They didn't "lose", they opted out.

Personally, I'm glad they did considering that could have been one of the final nails in AMD's coffin. Poor bastards lost over a billion dollars last year.

iamgoatman4025d ago

Get with the times Panda! It's now cool to hate Nvidia, and remember a couple of statements, although stating the obvious but still no less true, now constitutes as "crying" or being "butthurt". You know how the sheep on this site work.

M-M4025d ago

@Pandamobile

Talk about missing the point.

SilentNegotiator4025d ago (Edited 4025d ago )

"They didn't "lose", they opted out"

They couldn't negotiate a deal to continue with 3 major clients. The completely fell out of the game console industry.

That is a loss, regardless of whether they claim to have been the ones to decide to not finalize a deal. They broke up with me, I broke up with them...doesn't matter, you lost a partner.

N4g_null4025d ago

The 8 gig ram design is done already. Ms only has to pay for it. Sony may have signed a deal for it to not come out on the pc side but they may have forgotten about the Xbox. Only amd has a patient on the design which is why they are pushing HSA and not Sony.

nix4025d ago

i think i've seen it all... Nvidia and AMD fanboyz. like really????? O:

Pandamobile4024d ago

Nobody here gave two craps about Nvidia and AMD until it was announced that AMD would produce the PS4's APU, and then Nvidia said the PS4's APU was comparable to a mid-range PC CPU or something.

Somehow N4G interprets that as Nvidia "crying".

Saigon4024d ago

Well, there it goes...its official. Now the other issue I saw was in the first paragraph, or was it the second. We all speculated whether or not the Next Xbox would be compatible with the previous and it looks like its not. Both Next Generation Consoles look to start from scratch. Man this is going to be interesting, when the rest of the gaming world finds out about this. Can't wait for E3.

nukeitall4024d ago (Edited 4024d ago )

There is a reason why Nvidia operates at a profit, while AMD is well close to being un-investable!

I love consoles, but reality is that Nvidia has closely chosen it's business wisely. After 7-years and only $500 million on the PS3 for nvidia, that is hardly enough to put skilled engineers on the task, when they could be building that $500 million profit *yearly* product.

I know all you "fans" don't want to hear that, because it hurts your feelings, but AMD is in this, because AMD *needs* the business, not because they necessarily wants it.

geassdanny4024d ago

Expect more cry baby news from Nvidia soon!

SephirothX214024d ago (Edited 4024d ago )

AMD are over 100 million in debt whereas Nvidia is booming.

http://www.bit-tech.net/new...

Yeah they're butthurt all right.

givemeshelter4024d ago (Edited 4024d ago )

Actually Nvidia has won very little Mobile GPU contracts with the Tegra 3. If they did not score the design win for the Nexus 7, they pretty much would have been non existent in the mobile realm. The majority of the mobile devices rocking the Tegra Line of GPU's is minimal and those phones sold less the most. Here's hoping the Tegra 4 meets expectations in sales and performance unlike the Tegra 2, and Tegra 3 SOC that failed to wow in performance.
Saying that, Nvidia is doing extremely well financially compared to AMD.
It's just their Mobile Solutions are real mediocre for Tablets and Phones.
Tegra 4 I am hoping kicks ass

ProjectVulcan4024d ago (Edited 4024d ago )

Nvidia is a very profitable company with cash reserves, AMD is a company teetering on major debt and struggling to find revenues against harsh competition from Intel and Nvidia.

Nvidia record profit and growth year on year: http://www.bit-tech.net/new...

http://www.technologytell.c...

AMD cashflow problems and downrating of debt by ratings companies.

I am quite sure Nvidia wouldn't mind creating a part for a console if the price was right. But knowing their current situation and AMD's I don't know why anyone would think Nvidia are in any trouble missing out on a console contract.

AMD need it badly, even on wafer thin margins.

Dee_914024d ago (Edited 4024d ago )

@Pandamobile
I just went PC/ Laptop shopping (browsing)while I was out.
60% had Amd Hardware 35% had intel hardware give or take. I saw 1 with nvidia out of 3 stores.Walmart Best Buy & Staples.I think your talking out your rear end sir.
Either that or they are rolling in old money because right now I cant find a Laptop or PC ( in store ) with nvidia hardware if I tried.
If your not selling well overrall then sell a little more than average ofcourse your gonna see profits.Same for AMD just vice versa.

ProjectVulcan4024d ago

Nvidia's markets are more desktop parts with OEMs and they have grown because of their mobile penetration and workstation business. Not to mention Nvidia landing major supercomputer contracts for hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of Teslas at a time. http://www.anandtech.com/sh... Like this recently for example.

But anyway, more about the consoles-

The leaks since like November last year had the next xbox down as the same CPU inside PS4, a Jaguar 8 core, but with a lesser GPU (2/3 the performance of PS4) and some additional coprocessor bits and pieces thrown in.

PS4 would be quite a bit more powerful if this is really true.

sikbeta4024d ago

Look at that reply, you really invested on Nvidia stocks, nevermind you sure are one of those elitists who pay 1000 US a month to change teh graphicz cardz, dat rig yo! XD

O-T

Thanks for the info we all know for Months already e_e

RumbleFish4024d ago

Nvidia can't be so poor, they get lots of my money every year because their GPUs really rock my house! ;)

Gamer19824024d ago

Nvidia make a LOT of money these days from graphics chips in mobile phones more than graphics cards. Consoles would have been a massive coup for them but it wasn't to be. AMD will be happy for this move.

Ritsujun4024d ago

That's why nVitch's so mad.

hiredhelp4024d ago

AMD did loose alot of money last year but mainly from there Processor market.
Unlike Nvidia AMD has been around alot longer and handles alot more than GPU chips oh btw the GPU was the strongest in sales I beleave to there CPUs because of Intel.
I think AMD gonna start to shine again, backing all consoles Nintendo Microsoft and Sony is only gonna be very profitable while still doing what they do best video cards baby.

+ Show (21) more repliesLast reply 4024d ago
zeal0us4025d ago

Nvidia have itself to blame.

N4g_null4025d ago

For profits in the pc market.

sikbeta4024d ago

Nvidia is rich as s#*t, the hell are you talking about!? you do realise there are people out there paying ONE THOUSAND US DOLLARS for the latest graphic card? ... gotta impress the other nerds on the interwebz lol

B-radical4025d ago

This just in.......17hrs ago

Dan ‏@superDaE 17h
@listens2music Xbox Next will most likely have backwards compatibility.

ILive4025d ago

Dude, give it up already.

NYC_Gamer4025d ago

AMD needed these console deals a lot more..AMD is on the slide and taking beatings from both Intel[cpu] and Nvidia[gpu] in the market..

shutUpAndTakeMyMoney4025d ago (Edited 4025d ago )

You do realize Nvidia only made 500 million over 7 years with ps3? Nvidia made 1.2 billion in feb 2013 .
http://articles.marketwatch...

poor Nvidia indeed.

I am pretty sure they will beat 500 million this year in profit.

The worst cpu company making the best console nice..

Why is it that sony comes to Nvidia and nvidia says kick rock then they go amd and u say poor Nvidia?

How does this make sense?

"Nvidia turned down chance to build PS4 components"
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/r...

No lie though this will help amd not go out of business.
http://www.tomshardware.com...

@jukins
Also high end gpus are not only for games. Ever heard of movies? super computers? finding a cure for cancer? Science? Medical field? Yeah they dominate these fields.. Video games is not all there is they are doing a lot and my not want to make a tablet chip for ps4 so amd makes a tablet chips for ps4. Now brag about the tablet console.

Still getting ps4 though. Just sayin I think Nvidia will be ok like they have been for the past years.

Sony going for #1 again and amd going for #2 again.

WUTCHUGUNNADO4025d ago (Edited 4025d ago )

Bad news for physx support though... most likely to remain a tacked on extra considering Havok will most likely take off on the AMD consoles. Not to mention console ports would be heavily optimized for AMD products with the usual devs marketing Nvidia on PC which would require a $500-$1000 GPU to max out. Not to say Nvidia would have any problems considering their on the ball when it comes to driver support but usually all the games marketing Nvidia require their top of the line equipment in order to max it out on release.

B-radical4025d ago

Physx would of been able to add alot of extras to gameplay if nvidia did support one of the consoles but like you said i think nvidia will do just find i myself am waiting for 700 series am currently running a 560 ti figure ill wait every 2 gen

OlgerO4025d ago

Yeah those poor Nvidia executives with their million dollar salaries, it seems they might not get their bonus this year. Im weeping for those poor souls.

Blaze9294024d ago

Nvidia is far from poor and will continue to flourish...let us all not pretend like the company hasn't been the juggernaut company it has been for these past 10 years.

Welshy4024d ago

Nvidia vs AMD.

The new tedious and unnecessary fanboy war to tide us over until the NextBox is announced...

Irishguy954024d ago (Edited 4024d ago )

It's hardly new/

Console fans have only found out about it and joined Amd because Nvidia didn't want a crappy business deal with Sony

Edit - Yes Welsh, I lie on the side that doesn't lie with fanboys.

Welshy4024d ago

I'd say it more played second fiddle to the PS3 vs 360 loyalists and it's only come to light because there is no other Xbox to fight the PS4 at the moment.

And as i said, it's not needed (the PC or Console "wars").

And it's pretty clear to see even from my neutral angle what side of the fence you sit and why you only have 1 bubble =)

Gorilla_Killa_X4024d ago

@Irish
Let's act like console makers don't put out anything for companies to bid on like most other companies do. Sony turned down Nvdia's bid not the other way around.

imchuckbass4024d ago

Even if there were 4 consoles using AMD chips, AMD's earnings still wouldn't touch Nvidia's

Console chips are very cheap parts compared to what Nvidia sells for supercomputers

AMD are in crisis (stock price has been plummeting badly since last year), they needed these contracts, and I'm glad they got them, because competition is good. But be under no illusion, Nvidia are by far still the market leader.

TXIDarkAvenger4024d ago

It's not poor Nvidia.

Obviously MS would go AMD, its a no-brainer. Nvidia is proven to be better but AMD is a lot cheaper. MS and Sony don't want expensive consoles like last gen with the 360 and PS3. Nvidia is literally rolling in cash, this doesn't effect them much.

fermcr4024d ago (Edited 4024d ago )

Yes, poor Nvidia. /s

They make graphics cards from low end to high end PC's, laptop graphics, motherboard chipsets, smartphone chipsets (Tegra) that sell millions and millions every year...

They have revenues in the order of billions every year...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

Yes, you are absolutely right... poor Nvidia. /s

People should really put something in their head... Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo didn't go with AMD CPU/GPU because they are better, but because they were cheaper.

+ Show (8) more repliesLast reply 4024d ago
nick3094025d ago

I guess thats why nvidia decided to release project shield

theDECAY4025d ago

Seems a little gimicky to me.

IcicleTrepan4025d ago

This is because they are trying to push their TEGRA chipset for mobile. From what I understand the TEGRA line is doing quite well.

geassdanny4024d ago

Tegra chips, providing your advanced mobile gaming needs whilst you on the crapper.

chukamachine4024d ago (Edited 4024d ago )

Project fail.

Waste of time imo.

As for 720/PS4.

What has the games you want!

Services are everywhere now, The smart TV's have them and there are more coming.

Theo11304025d ago

So if the next xbox has 8gigs of Gddr5 ram, it will basically be the same system as the ps4.

omi25p4025d ago (Edited 4025d ago )

Yeah the 720 will still be cheaper.

kneon4025d ago

The 720 likely will be cheaper because it has to be to appeal to their target market. But as all the signs point to it having at least a simple Kinect built in they will have to cut some corners somewhere.

It's unlikely that the 720 will have more horsepower than the PS4, it just doesn't make sense for them to do that.

geassdanny4024d ago Show
GraveLord4025d ago

That's impossible. The entire system was already designed around the limitations of DDR3 memory.

Using GDDR5 memory is a MAJOR change that would require redesigning the entire motherboard. Could they do it? YES, but they won't because it means huge launch delay.

GribbleGrunger4025d ago (Edited 4025d ago )

It entirely depends on what changes Microsoft and Sony have asked AMD to make to their GPUs and how that power is used by the console. As for this article ... I'd say it could be true that MS are not too worried about what Sony have to offer because it's looking more and more likely that MS are going for a different market. I'll wager that once the initial launch is over, you'll see far more exclusive titles from Sony than even in THIS generation. Expect a Windows 8, Kinect driven TV set-top box that plays multiplatform games; whilst the PS4 will be foremost a gaming console that ALSO offers multimedia capabilities.

M-M4025d ago

More or less, but it's highly unlikely that the next Xbox will have GDDR5 ram(based on rumors).

GamersRulz4025d ago

No, because the GPU in PS4 is more capable than the rumored X720 GPU

PS4 1.84Tflops VS Xbox720 1.24Tflops GPU.

So basically:

PS4 CPU = X720 CPU

PS4 GPU >> X720 GPU

PS4 RAM >> X720 RAM

PS4 is a monster really.

iamgoatman4024d ago

And you know the specs of the next Xbox's GPU, how exactly?

Oh that's right, you don't.

"PS4 is a monster really."

It really isn't. Previous generations of consoles have been able to go toe to toe with then high end PC hardware, if only for a very brief time. But when the PS4 and likely the next Xbox release, they'll already be behind. Hell, their specs are comparable to mid-range hardware TODAY, let alone 7-8 months from now.

And before anyone pipes in with 'but the optimization!' remember the 8800GT. Released soon after the current gen of consoles, and despite 6 years of optimizing and simply getting used to the hardware, they've not produced anything that GPU couldn't produce at even higher levels of fidelity. To put it into perspective, we've had that level of hardware difference around since last year.

The PS4's hardware is of course a nice step up to the ancient stuff we've been stuck with for so many years, but it's hardly "monstrous".

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4024d ago
4025d ago Replies(6)
Martywren4025d ago

I hope MS dont forget there hardcore fanbase, im looking forward too hearing wat MS going too reveal.

Show all comments (116)
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?"

purple1012d 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 ☝️

Zeref1d 15h 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.

DarXyde1d 14h 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.

PhillyDonJawn1d 14h ago (Edited 1d 14h 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.

Einhander19721d 13h 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.

MrBaskerville1d 12h 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.

shinoff21831d 4h 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.

Profchaos1d 3h 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 1d 3h ago
isarai2d ago

Is that why Hellblade 2 is digital only?

Zeref1d 15h 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.

MrNinosan1d 15h ago

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

mkis00719h ago(Edited 19h ago)

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

Einhander19722d 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.

2d ago Replies(3)
Einhander19722d ago

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

2d ago
1d 21h ago
Zeref1d 15h 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.

DarXyde1d 14h 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.

Einhander19721d 14h 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.

Einhander19721d 13h 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.

BehindTheRows1d 13h ago (Edited 1d 13h 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.

Zeref1d 12h ago (Edited 1d 12h 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.

Chevalier1d 10h 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.

Tacoboto1d 12h 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.

shinoff21831d 4h ago

Yay steam

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

Tacoboto1d 2h 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 1d 2h ago
Hofstaderman1d 17h 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?

crazyCoconuts1d 12h 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.

Xeofate1d 9h ago (Edited 1d 9h 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.

crazyCoconuts14h 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

FinalFantasyFanatic22h 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
ApocalypseShadow14d ago (Edited 14d 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.

Cacabunga14d ago

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

Crows9014d ago

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

darthv7213d 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.

Cacabunga13d 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..

88313d 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 13d ago
blacktiger13d 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.

fr0sty13d ago (Edited 13d 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.

shinoff218313d 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

Babadook713d 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?”

ifinitygamer13d 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...)

fr0sty13d ago (Edited 13d 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.

ifinitygamer13d 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.

fr0sty13d 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.

13d ago
JBlaze22613d 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_Brazil14d 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

isarai14d ago

Nah, sega actually makes good games

Becuzisaid14d 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.

Profchaos14d 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

Becuzisaid14d 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.

FinalFantasyFanatic13d 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.

Profchaos14d 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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