330°

The Xbox One Reminds Me of the Failed PlayStation X

"The Xbox One may be taking cue's fro m the likes of Google TV, and Apple TV; but, it also may be taking cue's fro m the long-forgotten, and failed PlayStation X (or, PSX.) And with the Xbox Ones" heavy-sided focus on being an "all-in-one-entertainment " device, certainly, some concessions have been made. Microsoft's recent revelations -- the console manufacturer; 0;not the software conglomerate -- have been called into question. Some speculate if tactics employed for its third-generation: Xbox One are, indeed, "Smart...Glass."

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coupdegracecdg.com
Clarence3966d ago

Like I said M$ copies everything.

theWB273966d ago

Can you name one company who doesn't build off the ideas of others??? Please do..

Godmars2903966d ago

There's copying something, then there's copying something then directly and aggressively trying to take over the market position of the thing copied. Like MS has tried to do with the iPhone and iPod, and programs like Photoshop.

Worse is that most times, MS doesn't build off anything. They either make an exact or inferior product. Think the only exception to that "rule" was the Zune with its share ability.

Regardless, with the XB1 we get an example of what MS considers "innovation".

PSVita3966d ago

Sure didn't hear that when Knect was compared to the Eyetoy because apparently "its so original"...

Clarence3966d ago

Your right every company takes something from 1 another. M$ on the other hand out right copies or tries to buy innovation.

scofios3966d ago (Edited 3966d ago )

The playstation X was the first thing that came to my mind after the xbox one reveal.
Even Nintendo had something like that with the gamecube Q . both failed .
I Don't Know. Maybe M$ Can Pull It Off with their advertising.
Like they did with (eyetoy)kinect .

kennyg37393966d ago (Edited 3966d ago )

PlayStation copy Xbox Live. All big companies copy each other, that just nature of the business.

theWB273966d ago (Edited 3966d ago )

@Godsmars920
There's copying something, then there's copying something then directly and aggressively trying to take over the market position of the thing copied. Like MS has tried to do with the iPhone and iPod, and programs like Photoshop.

You kidding me? Apple is worse than Micro with their practices. They design their products to ONLY work with Apple products, have you seen the things they've sued other companies over? They build an inferior product and overcharge...bad example. Micro are saints compared to that company. If you have 45 billion on hand in the US(145 billion estimated overall), no debts as does Apple, that means they aggressively took over the market. They didn't pat other companies on the shoulder and ask them to kindly move out the way.

Clarence3966d ago

Socom came out first
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/w...

SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs is a tactical third-person shooter video game developed by Zipper Interactive and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. It is an exclusive title for the PlayStation 2. SOCOM was released on August 27, 2002, and it is one of the earliest titles for PS2's online service in North America.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/w...
Xbox live was launch November 2002

See alot of people don't know about this but Sony's online service was not called PSN back then. You had to have dial up and a modem to play online.

Playstation didn't copy live. It was the other way around.

kennyg37393966d ago

@clarnce I'm not talking about who went online first i'm pretty sure that goes to PC or Sega Dreamcast. I'm talking about the whole infrastructure of Xbox live.

Studio-YaMi3966d ago (Edited 3966d ago )

You said that if it was about going online,then PC or the DreamCast takes it,well .. "Steam" came out in 2003.

And basically,Xbox Live and PSN are the same as Steam.

But regarding consoles,yes .. PSN copied XboxLive I guess.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3966d ago
Elwenil3966d ago

I find it funny that "coupdegracecdg.com" is located in Bellevue, WA and the site was registered on May 3rd, 2013. Can anyone tell me what company comes to mind in Bellevue, WA?

DlocDaBudSmoka3966d ago

ohhh pick me I know. lol. I know u mean Microsoft, but theyre in Redmond,Wa. but I get the point u are getting at.

Elwenil3966d ago

They also have an office in Bellevue.

Microsoft Corporation
205 108th Ave NE #400
Bellevue, WA 98004

Tr10wn3966d ago

Because Sony is original right? Move? Wii remote? is a business is normal...

HammadTheBeast3966d ago

Move tech was announced back in 2002.

Tr10wn3966d ago

Where did you get that info? can't find it anywhere, the only thing somewhat similar is the 3D wand they were experimenting on 2003 with the eyetoy, Move was announce on E3 2009 so i dont know what you are talking about.

Fanboyism>Facts in this site i don't know why i even bother.

ShaunCameron3966d ago

@ HammadTheBeast

And Sega had motion controls in 2000.

rainslacker3966d ago

And Nintendo had motion controls all the way back in 1989.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

Crappy motion controls, but motion controls none-the-less.

Really though, who cares who copied who?

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3966d ago
SonyPS43966d ago

Well to be honest Sony has done the same with MS. Their trophy system is their Achievements system. Not to say it's a bad thing because Trophies are by far superior to Achievements. The entire PSN is also hugely influenced by XBL. Without XBL Sony wouldn't have been so aggressive with implementing online play features.

Companies copy all the time. Even Innovative Nintendo is guilty of the same thing (Wii U pro controller for example).

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 3966d ago
theWB273966d ago (Edited 3966d ago )

A device will fail if it's not in demand...all in one devices weren't in demand then and they are now. I know it was mentioned in the article but that means ALOT. Even bigger factor to it all, gaming was a far more niche hobby than it is now

The sides are too divided now...I dont agree with a few things Micro is doing(mainly the 24 hour check in even though I have internet) I still think they'd have to do more for the Xbox to actually fail.

zerocrossing3966d ago (Edited 3966d ago )

I don't agree with anything MS are doing... and honestly I'm one who always likes to try and play "devils advocate" but I can't this time, I just can't.

There is literally no way to defend MS's actions, the Xbone is "restrictive" and "intrusive" You want to plug in and play games? sorry need to install them 1st, you have spotty Internet? sorry you need to be online so we can verify you aren't a criminal every 24 hours, you want to game off line? sorry no can do, how else can we check if you actually own/paid for the game?

Honestly, I refuse to have anything to do with such a anti consumer product, the Xbone needs to fail hard to prevent others from following suit, because if it succeeds I weep for the future of gaming...

Rainstorm813966d ago

I am usually never against any gaming device regardless of my preference... but this device is dangerous to gaming as we know it.

Its like we are witnessing Skynet going online and the more support it gets the stronger it gets.....If this system becomes widely popular next gen just may be the final console generation.

Belking3966d ago

You really have no Idea what's happening to the industry right now. There is something out there that is hurting the industry and it's not the xbox-one. It's places like gamestop who rob customers and developers making a profit off of someone else's work.

theWB273966d ago

The one thing I don't do around here is defend Microsoft. But to each his own...I know the pitfalls of buying the XboxOne and I'm choosing to get one, along with the PS4. People can disagree and anti-consumer this and that. The things that they restrict, I already don't do. If my internet goes out, I'll play my PS4, or plug in my 360 or PS3. All I'm saying is, I'll live.

Honestly, the hackers and illegal downloaders( I contributed) helped to make Micro take these draconian steps.

It's not just Micro...alot of publishers were pushing for the kind of control over used games and piracy that Micro has given them. It's w/e...if this were altering my life I'd have a bigger stance but as it stands, I have more important, pertinent things to worry about.

zerocrossing3966d ago (Edited 3966d ago )

@Belking

Honesty? do you understand what you're saying?

Of course Gamestop make a profit off of someone else's work... so do bookstores, car dealers, music stores and comic book/manga shops, should they all get closed down because they profit off of the original creator? no! because they are a sales outlet that helps generate "sales"

Gamestop may be a bad example of a game retailer, but most are forced to sell second hand games primarily because they earn such a pittance from the sale of a new game, the reason why that is, is because publishers take huge cut, if you need to blame someone blame publishers, don't forget that they also profit off of the developers, the original creators.

SonyPS43966d ago

This console is defeating the purpose of a console: plug and play, and convenience. PC gaming is way more plug and play and convenient than this XOne on paper.

I really hope the people that do plan on buying the XOne really enjoys their system and games, but I fear video games in its entire will be changing for the worse, again.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 3966d ago
NatureOfLogic3966d ago

@ theWB27

You want to make it very known that you're clueless and buying a Xbox one? Good for you, be a sheep. MS is targeting people like you. People who will try to ignore all of the negative and just bend over and take whatever they throw at them.

theWB273966d ago

Cool story bro...actually Im pretty informed. Well informed actually. I choose to do as I please. I have other devices that are more intrusive than this. The apps you have on your cell phone, are more intrusive than this. Did you know even though you turn the GPS off on your phone, you can still be tracked? Your credit/debit card can be tracked as soon as you make your next purchase. Everytime you go to the ATM, you're recorded.

Cameras are everywhere here in Cali taking pics, how do you know they don't take pics all the time? The cable company knows EXACTLY what shows you watch. Your social security could be being used by some unknown person.

You're a sheep in everyday life buddy...grow the f up. Seriously...we are being recorded and tracked EVERYWHERE. Get off the high horse...better yet you should just drop the grid and grow your own food where there are no power lines.

NatureOfLogic3966d ago (Edited 3966d ago )

@ theWB27

So because you feel like we're already being monitored and tracked in everyday life, that It's ok to just give up our rights so they can expand upon their agenda to monitor us? You make no sense. You're obviously very vocal and aware of the situation and have formed your own opinion on the subject of being monitored. To be aware of these things and not be concerned, Is asking for a future you'll surely regret. Don't ignore what is happening. The "oh well, It was happening anyway" attitude is the reason It's attempted in the first place. You may not care about you rights, but at least be considerate to those around you that do.

baodeus3966d ago

@kingElixir

"You may not care about you RIGHTS, but at least be considerate to those around you that do."

this is what I have been hearing a lot but i'm confuse as to what rights are you guys referring to? Care to clarify the rights that being violated?

ACEMANWISE3966d ago

There seems to be a conflict between their actions and their claimed intent of their actions.

Their "harmless" stance doesn't seem to justify any alternative purpose for the implementation of these things. It's like they drew a weapon, pointed it at me, and said...

"Don't worry! I'll never fire! I'll just cock it, that's all."

So naturally I can't think of a reasonable purpose outside of just shooting me. Are they adjusting their sights? No. Did I catch them in the act and now they are pointing out that a crime hasn't occurred yet cause they didn't pull the trigger...and no intent can be proven? Possible.

"Our intent is to point it, for nonshooting-related reasons."

So maybe it makes more sense to get as close as you can and keep it there. Justify the existence of pointing it and ask gamers not to generalize things. Removing it is not your main concern...making people accept it as harmless is.

They will wait until you forget, and they will try again later.

MysticStrummer3966d ago

Someone had the theory that they'll wait until the install base is big enough, then start their new policies after people are invested.

It's hard to discount much of anything when big business is involved.

ACEMANWISE3966d ago (Edited 3966d ago )

I have come to the same theory. They will leverage your account against their policies. The greater the investment the greater the leverage to enforce their will.

Morpheuzpr3966d ago

The problem here is that you would be buying a product that's not actually yours. If I buy a console I should be able to do what ever the flock I want with it since I PAID for it. If that's modding it, painting it or throwing it from the Empire State Building it's my property period. Pirating games is illegal but modding the console isn't. So they decided to put us on a leash because legally they can't control what people do with their consoles.

ACEMANWISE3966d ago

All they have to do is create a system that doesn't effect the consumer. For collectors like me they could have announced some sort of DRM release system for the end of this generation so that I do real backups enforced by my own account and password. Instead my purchases die when the servers end and that's unacceptable to me.

They could have kept online for the games they shut down by releasing their system and implementing a peer to peer server. Instead they keep their service as the only means to do anything.

To me it's their service that is driving the cost up for this industry. Instead of making the consoles become the online system they create servers to act as a middleman to what already be achieved without it. It's like a third server for nothing. Then they need all sorts of paid staff to maintain them, on top of electricity costs, and an update system that never ends and in most cases doesn't really improve anything. It's like they are there to update in response to everyone else's update.

I used to believe that consoles would implement the good in what updates, online gaming, and digital can do for us. Yet it has become clear they created this system to keep a service going.

Neko_Mega3966d ago

The PSX didn't really fail, what was bad about it is the price and the fact it wasn't out worldwide.

I think Japan was the only one that got it, I be more happy to own it then the old PS2 and thats because it is a PS2 with a good size hard drive.

rainslacker3966d ago

Sony made a follow up with the PlayTV. It was moderately successful, and still supported by Sony to this day. It actually does a lot of the things that the X1 does now, minus the Kinect I guess.

It's not really lighting the tech world on fire though. MS does have some savvy marketing, so maybe they can make it more mainstream. Most endeavors into this area of entertainment by Apple, Google, Sony, Samsung, etc aren't really something you hear about people needing in their lives. MS marketing could change that. Think the biggest issue is that the X1 isn't actually a cable box or DVR from what I understand. All it really offers is an overlay feature, a few more apps, and the ability to play games.

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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 ☝️

Zeref4d 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?

Zeref4d 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
Zeref4d 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
Hofstaderman4d 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.

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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?”

ifinitygamer16d 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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