280°

Microsoft Abandons Games as Focus: Adds Google to List of Next Gen Competitors

BigBoxGaming- "Microsoft is likely planning on using gamers to get their new “media features” into homes they otherwise wouldn’t have access to. The question gamers will have is, to what extent will the gaming experience we have become accustomed to with past Xboxs suffer, if at all, for the sake of this new focus."

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bigboxgaming.com
gabescow4045d ago

Brings up a good point that Microsoft and Sony have been offering lots of non-gaming features on their consoles for awhile now.

I am waiting to see if this is Microsoft's new -focus-. If it is, the gaming experience will suffer and they will lose ground this next gen.

Sony learned that lesson last gen and has been showing they are on the right track this time around. Not to say the PS3 was bad, Sony just gave up more than they needed too with their self inflicted bumps in the road.

HammadTheBeast4045d ago

I feel bad for Microsoft. They can't go up against Google. It'll **** them up. Just look at that fail that is Bing. And this just opens up a wide door for Sony and Nintendo for that Market share.

Army_of_Darkness4045d ago

This is what I'm predicting... subscription fee required as soon as you boot up your Xbox 720.
But on a brighter note, you have the ps4 as your alternative if you just want to play some good old fashion games;-)

JBSleek4045d ago

Microsoft has a 90% hold of the PC market. They are no little player.

Campy da Camper4045d ago (Edited 4045d ago )

I have never heard anyone ever say, "just Bing it." I hate ms commercials so much. They try so hard to be cool. That latest one for surface tablet with all those hipsters dancing around the table to McDonalds music is cringe worthy. Especially that guy doing the arm circle around his face. I hate that guy.

nukeitall4045d ago

Yet, MS is the only one able to gain slow, but gain marketshare from Google with Bing.

MS also went up against the monopoly that Playstation had with the PS2 and we know how that market got divided.

Look at the facts, look at the history and take off the fanboy glasses. MS' Xbox division know what the f' they are doing.

nveenio4045d ago

I also feel they're behind the "Scroogled" ads. Like we (they e-generation) care if Google tracks our internet usage in order to provide better content. They may be able to scare some older folks away from Google, but that generation is dying out. Microsoft is really stupid sometimes.

ShinMaster4044d ago (Edited 4044d ago )

This was Microsoft's plan all along, since they never intended to get into console gaming in the first place. The Xbox was just a way to infiltrate your living rooms. That's why they've been focusing on non-gaming related media apps.
At least with Sony focuses more on gaming with PlayStation.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 4044d ago
caleb47794045d ago

The new features could be how they justify their subscription next gen.

Parapraxis4045d ago (Edited 4045d ago )

I'm pretty sure that the PS4 is going to have all the features that were missing (cross game chat/party system/custom soundtrack for all games) from the PS3 with the PS4.
Aside from possibly having a few different apps than the PS4, I really find it hard to see how MS would justify charging for XBOX Live with the next XBOX.
But I suppose even when bested by PSN/PS+, hardcore XBOX fans will still cough up the dough and....deal with it.

RuleofOne343 4045d ago

hardcore XBOX fans will still cough up the dough , I know I will just cause I don't really like sony & have outgrown Nintendo.

FATALVISI0N4045d ago

@parapraxis
I love my Xbox 360 and weeks ago I'd say anyone is a fool to think the PS4 would surpass the Next Xbox. Until these last few days. But even tho the rumors give bad press, today I found on M$'s own blog that says Microsoft will "commit 100 percent of its focus on consumer TV strategy with Xbox."

I dont need the next xbox to give these features I'll never use. I'm a gamer, and I want a gaming console. So I disagree, not every Xbox fan will cough up the dough and deal with it! I'll deal with it by coughig up the dough and buy a PS4!!! And the Xbox gaming community I'm apart of the majority also feels the same.

(link to my quote from microsoft: http://blogs.technet.com/b/...

JeffGUNZ4045d ago

@ Parapraxis,

Man, I hate to break it to you but if you are eager for the cloud based features and Gaiki of the PS4, get ready to pay for it. All PSN+ did was test the waters of how a paid subscription would go for their users. Sony was taking a loss with each PS3 sold, they see a subscription based service a great add on of investment. Don't mistake what I am saying, I am confident we will see a "free" basic PSN version, but it will be stripped bare of all the cool stuff they have shown and will show off at E3. Sony is slowly transitioning to a paid subscription base and I am fine with that, as long as the product justifies the price.

Godmars2904045d ago (Edited 4045d ago )

So just have to wait and see how much of their focus remains on games. Then deal with it.

Belking4045d ago (Edited 4045d ago )

It's smart of them to keep an eye on Google. Look at what happened to sony when they ignored Samsung and Apple. Samsung has passed sony in the TV market and Apple killed them in the portable music player market. Now MS has stolen considerable marketshare from them in the US.

Godmars2904045d ago

Not really like they've ever ignored what Google was doing either. They bought into Yahoo, created Bing and even used Google to support Bing to their self-embarrassment.

Belking4045d ago

MS is very alive. They stumble here and there but they have huge sums of money to fall back on. It's sony that has one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel. They didn't change CEOs because they are doing well. If things don't improve for them in the next few years you will see them slowly turn to a only software in the gaming market which may not be a bad idea since no one profits off of hardware anyway.

Skips4045d ago (Edited 4045d ago )

But this is about their next gen console. Last time I checked, Google isn't or will not be entering the console gaming business.

So for Microsoft to list Google as a competitor for their NEXT GEN CONSOLE.

Means that whatever they'll push out will be more akin to a cable box/Google T.V. wannabe (As pretty much EVERY RUMOR OUT THERE HAS SUGGESTED) more than an actual machine meant for gaming.

Hence why "Microsoft Abandons Games as Focus".

@below

That was like what 7 years ago? Lol Back when the PS3 launched, it didn't have many exclusive games to push for so of course they would market what it's strength's were.

But when the exclusive games started coming in, around 2007/2008, Sony jumped right back into focusing on games. And for the past 5 years, they've pretty much done mostly that.

Hence why SONY'S NEXT GEN CONSOLE, will be MUCH MUCH more about games.

http://www.vg247.com/2013/0...
Sony: "PS4 is a gaming console at heart"

http://www.playstationlifes...
Sony: "We're all about the gamers"

And are you talking about Microsoft taking Sony's lead about wanting to make their console a multimedia device? Because Microsoft has been wanting to do that since day one. LMAO.

jimbobwahey4045d ago

With the PS3 Sony had a heavy focus on Blu-Ray movies and media content, before stretching out to trying to push 3D content etc quite heavily.

Did it mean that Sony abandoned games? Not at all. It looks like with the next Xbox, Microsoft is just following Sony's lead and thinking "Hey, we should probably start chasing down these features too".

I'm confused at how Sony can have such a heavy focus on non-gaming features and content and nobody bats an eyelid, but when Microsoft decides to do the same thing it's suddenly the worst thing ever?

AkatsukiPain4045d ago (Edited 4045d ago )

@jimbobwahey

There is a big difference with doing other things for your console like kinect, move, blu ray, etc etc. There is one thing to focus on another area but to have your focus all in that area & alienate the other half is never a good thing for any corporation.

While microsoft has been focusing more on casual gamers they have left out the core audience with no new games to offer for the past few years. Sony on the other hand has been doing a great job delivering new content to all its users not leaving any of them unhappy with tons of new content year after year.

RuleofOne343 4045d ago

*But this is about their next gen console. Last time I checked, Google isn't or will not be entering the console gaming business. * Neither was MS back in 1999- 2000 but look where their at now.

Skips4045d ago (Edited 4045d ago )

^^^

"Look where they're at now"

Their Xbox brand?

http://megagames.com/news/m...

Yup, I agree.

Anyways, back in 2000, people actually knew Microsoft were going to enter the console business. lmao. Not so with Google.

Why the hell WOULD Google want to enter the console business in the first place (to conquer the living room or whatever), when they already have Google T.V.?

Which will apparently be a rival to Microsoft's "Family Friendly Entertainment Center". <--- (Microsoft's words, not mine.)

Godmars2904045d ago

"Because Microsoft has been wanting to do that since day one."

Their defenders keep saying this, yet the 1st Xbox only played games out of the box whereas the PS2 played games and movies.

Yes MS later made a kit where hackers had converted their console's DVD drive, but that was too little too late.

Heck, maybe they actually had been thinking along those lines, but if they had like the DVD movie player kit, it was at added expense to consumers.

nosferatuzodd4045d ago (Edited 4045d ago )

That's Microsoft for ya greedy to the core
They want to do search engine
They want to do games Zune fail miserably
They want to do google tv now
They want to do iPad
They want to do phones
Jack of all trade and master of none because of their greed
Instead of focusing on one thing they want to do it all
Zodd the immortal

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 4045d ago
Software_Lover4045d ago

They haven't shown anything yet, games or media services. But I like how when media services rumors come out we get tons and tons of articles on that topic.

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70°

Microsoft Opening Xbox Mobile Game Store in July

The Xbox brand is expanding, as an Xbox mobile game store is opening this coming July where Microsoft will brings its "first-party portfolio."

Jin_Sakai1d 3h ago (Edited 1d 3h ago )

“Bond adds that they will start on the web”

This will go nowhere.

Nice knowing you Xbox. This is what happens when the house never gets cleaned.

MrDead1d 3h ago

The only this MS is expanding is the amount of feculence it sprays on everyone who just want to enjoy gaming and make games.

The best thing MS can do for the gaming industry is leave and never return.

XiNatsuDragnel1d 1h ago

Good luck with this even it might not succeed.

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190°

Microsoft once tried to nab LittleBigPlanet from Sony after a few drinks

It turns out that many moons ago, Microsoft once had its eye on the Sony published LittleBigPlanet series.

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eurogamer.net
XiNatsuDragnel1d 21h ago

Microsoft had a good idea but fumbled it again.

Cacabunga15h ago(Edited 15h ago)

Project Spark idea was decent but they quickly gave up ..
LBP was wonderful

ApocalypseShadow1d 9h ago

Microsoft in a nutshell. Always tried to poach Sony employees, games, 3rd party games and devices like the depth camera that was turned into Kinect but was running on PS2 before Xbox 360. Wouldn't be surprised they wanted LBP. Just like they worked behind the scenes pushing the MLB to bring Sony's baseball game to Xbox instead of making their own.
https://www.playstationlife...

They didn't spend years trying to develop their own baseball game. They wanted Sony's game.

They're scum.

Zachmo18214h ago

Microsoft didn't force MLB on Xbox. MLB gave Sony 2 options either go multiplat or risk losing the license.

Rynxie4h ago

And why do you think MLB said that? I believe Ms approached MLB.

ApocalypseShadow3h ago(Edited 3h ago)

Totally ridiculous comment.

The only exclusivity Sony had was to their own creation of The Show. Microsoft could have paid the MLB for the license just like Sony did and made their own baseball game.

Microsoft instead, groomed MLB for years in trying to poach Sony's game and bring it to Xbox. They're worth 3 TRILLION dollars. You think that's not enough money to make their own baseball game? Don't be delusional.

Microsoft spun it like they always do and told the media that they had to trust Sony with their hardware. After they put Sony in that position of not having a choice. Either go multiplatform or stop making one of their successful games. That's a no win scenario.

And what did Microsoft do? They didn't try to sell the game to the Xbox community. They put it on game pass to hurt Sony. Pushing the idea of why buy games that are $70 when you can play them in their cheap service for $10. It was a dirty tactic.

You fell for the Kool aid drink Microsoft served you instead of spitting it out. Hope it tasted good because you were fooled by Phil and the gang.

Notellin52m ago

"Microsoft instead, groomed MLB for years in trying to poach Sony's game and bring it to Xbox."

Take a nap, conspiracies are rotting your brain.

OtterX17h ago

"However, Healey said Media Molecule wouldn't have felt right doing that, adding it would have been "morally corrupt"."

Major kudos to Media Molecule for being an upright studio with principles.

Tody_za17h ago(Edited 16h ago)

Great, more stories like this please. Show the last of the zombies holding the line what we've been saying for years: Microsoft is anti competition, anti industry and has no interest in making games at all.

But hey, at least there's an Xbox Games Showcase to look forward to, right?

Inverno16h ago

Well considering SONY just killed the series, LBP would've been dead by now either way. Though MM probably wouldn't exist by now either, so I'm glad they stayed with SONY, hopefully they don't get shut down any time soon or ever honestly.

Inverno14h ago

They shut down the servers, that's millions of user created levels gone. That and dead are pretty much the same, it's also been years since 3 and they cancelled HUB soooo.

fsfsxii42m ago

They shutdown the servers because no one was playing, no one in the community cared about the user created levels so why keep them up? Wtf you guys would never succeed in running a business.

Show all comments (16)
60°

Game Studio Closures, Entertainment News, Disney, And More Skewedcast

The full Skewedcast crew back for this episode and Gareth, Justin, Michael, and JoeyZ at Skewed and Reviewed break down the latest entertainment news qith a focus at 40:00 on the Microsoft Studio Closures and how it impacts the game community and what can be done to help offset this negative trend.