DFC: "The entire future of the Xbox business is in question"

Interactive entertainment research firm DFC has delivered a scathing verdict of Xbox One’s market chances in the wake of last weeks’ incredible events at E3.

In fact, it even goes as far as to question whether the scope of Xbox One’s PR failure to date could jeopardise Microsoft’s entire games operation.

[SilentGuard]

Not surprising, MS made a jack-of-all trades console but master of none. The price point alone will seriously hurt it, especially with the casuals, since casuals won't buy the most expensive console. Nobody at MS even seems to understand how their console works, we can never get a straight answer to anything. Confusing, headache inducing DRM and online restrictions combined with poor design choices show the PS4 to the more user friendly easier to understand console. MS truelly has made a mess of its Xbox brand and they better quickly fix it, even if it means postponing its release. The Wii U isn't selling well but a least Nintendo hasn't lost its core fan base. Without the support of the core Xbox fans, the One is DOA.

[6DEAD6END6]

This whole tv stuff that they are trying to pull with the Xbox One is not new the PSX(in Japan) tried it and so did the PS3 but no one took it seriously. I understand their version is all about multitasking but more and more people are trying to drop their cable service all together so its not going to do them any good. Plus we all know Sony will come out with an add on for the same function but it will be cheap and not forced. So M$ isnt doing themselve any good and thats not even adding all this drm used game rental crap that people are worried about. I just dont understand what they were thinking when they were desighning their box.

[abzdine]

that's good to hear!
they should adapt or gtfo the gaming industry. i advice them to start working on xbox2 from now!

PS2 is back
Greatness awaits
4>1

[user5575708]

they overcomplicated everything about their new console to the point where it seems they lost a huge chunk of their fan base.

at this point the hardcore aka the informed buyers will not deal with DRM and not having ownership of their purchases.

the casual will simply flock to the cheaper console thats is more accessible

their only buyers now are people who love new tech who will buy anything, fanboys who will lie to themselves and convince themselves that they need DRM(derpppp its the future), and the ignorant consumers who don't know what they're buying

right now they're only hope of doing well with the current policies lies in the ignorant uninformed buyers

[pompombrum]

What I think will be interesting is to see how the Microsoft bigwigs react to all the negativity.. like will it effect their marketing budget? I'd expect Microsoft to be throwing everything but the kitchen sink into the marketing but with all this backlash, they could be set to lose ridiculous amounts of money if they fail to convince the general public which at this point is looking quite likely.

[bicfitness]

Interesting to note (thank Neogaf for the digging), but DFC are the ones who wrote this scathing reprimand for Sony when they entered last gen with the PS3:

http://www.neogaf.com/forum...

And they were right on almost every point. Still, Sony turned it around, but we can all admit that it wasn't easy. These DFC guys are decent analysts.

[jmc8888]

It's basically impossible.

Kinect will spy and exploit you on day 1 as it will year 7.

PS4 is between 50 percent and 125 percent more powerful. The gap is massive.

Their DRM policies are absolutely bs and complete unnecessary for what they are doing. You gain nothing for giving up everything.

At least with PS3 the price would eventually come down, and unlike the Xbox One had a revolutionary new disc format that allowed for HD movies that alone cost twice as much as the unit.

If you wanted a blu-ray player you were paying $850-$1000.

So you could get a PS3 AND have a blu ray for far, far less.

You don't have that advantage for Xbox One. They aren't giving you anything but low specced crap that is the ultimate spy device to exploit you, meanwhile the console only works when it decides to let you.

Microsoft's problems aren't going to go away with time...they are only going to magnify.

[Hadoukameha]

If they want to stand a chance now, go back to the drawing board andvlaunch next year. Change everything from the shitty name the the strength and features of the console. There are so many issues facing the damn thing, it'd be a fool's errand to launch that mess any time, especially against the beastly PS4.

[Moonman]

They keep talking about this "future vision". All I see is a sinking ship.

[MysticStrummer]

Maybe the future vision is a tax write off.

[mcstorm]

@Moonman how do you see a Sinking ship. MS are the only company growing out of the big 3 in Apple, MS and Google.

MS are far from sinking and anyone who keeps an eye on the computing world knows this.

Microsoft are not the power they were but they are far from Sinking. As for the xbox side of things I again don't think it will be a flop plus no one knows what will happen. Look at the 3DS and PSV for example. Everyone on here was saying the PSV was going to walk all over the 3DS and that Nintendo were in trouble.

We need to wait and see what happens when both consoles have had 12 to 18 months on the market and people should know this on this site from the PS3 as sales were low when it 1st came out and as the gen went on picked up.

Its the same with the WiiU at the moment people thinking the WiiU will be a flop need to look at what drives Nintendo console sales and once games like Mario Kart, Zelda, Wii Fit ect are out Nintendo console sales will pickup to just like they did on the 3DS.

Im not hitting on the PS4 in any way as it looks an amazing console but so dose the Xbox One and I have a Wiiu already and know it is an amazing console to.

One thing we all know will happen is no one knows what will happen over the next 8 or so years as the technology market is a strange and always changing place.

[from the beach]

These guys should stick to frying chicken

[DragonKnight]

Lame joke is lame.

[from the beach]

I thought it was a pretty good Zinger..

[CalibriSerif]

KFC! lol it's DFC but I thought its funny

[Honest_gamer]

urban dictionary xbox one, this is golden

1) Micro$oft's newest gaming console. Side effects include: Kinect requirements, vomiting, diarrhea, required internet connectivity, upset stomach, acute homosexuality, paying to play used games, big brother watching you while you sleep, itching, loss of sleep, regret, DRM, suicidal thoughts, homicidal thoughts, homoerotic thoughts, mutations, loss of memory, guilt, shame, loss of social status, poverty, expired milk, rape, gender confusion, identity theft, pedophilia, the FBI at your door, Chris Hansen at your door, cancer all over, 25 years in jail, divorce, antisemitism, communism, herpes, failure in life, an inverted penis, autism, skynet, gonorrhea, daddy issues, irritable bowel syndrome, death, and squirrel AIDS. By purchasing this console, you are effectively signing a contract with Satan, Hitler, Cthulu, Nickelback, and Obama saying that you're a Jew and you hate babies and kittens.

2) Not the PS4. Which lets you trade games and doesn't dream about raping you while you sleep.

http://www.urbandictionary....

[DragonKnight]

Check out this one's 4th entry about Xbone.

http://www.urbandictionary....

[Serg]

I disagree, Skynet is more advanced and futuristic in every way.

This VCRbomination is not Skynet.

[Sadist3]

The PS4 does nothing innovative at all. It just plays games, and that's it. This isn't 1998 anymore, I want my gaming machines to do so much more. And with the inclusion of Skype, television, letting up to 10 other consoles access my library of games from the cloud, impulse trigger rumble, etc... That's my idea of a next gen console. Anyone who actually isn't bias can see that the Xbox one offers more features than the PS4, it's fact. This is supposed to be next gen, yet people want the same old capabilities of the previous gen. I want my gaming machines to do more than just play games, just like you want your smart phones to do more than just make phone calls.

[EasilyTheBest]

You put into words exactly how I feel. Once the TV adverts start if Microsoft does them right it could really help Microsoft out of their current spot.

[frelyler]

The problem with your stance is people who know about tech can get exactly what you are looking for, for a fraction of the cost. WiFi Blu-Ray players are around $100 dollars, which have access to everything the one will have, but you don't have to pay an extra fee to access it. Smart TV's have the motion stuff the one will have for a little more than the one, but you get a TV as a bonus. Most people I know want a console for one thing, to play games. Anyone who is smart knows how to get the features outside of gaming the one is offering and at a much cheaper price. Why would you want your console to do more than play games if it raises the price considerably for features you will use a small percentage of the time? Also, if you are going to use the features outside of gaming a large percentage of the time why would you spend $500 when you could spend $100 and get the same thing. Remember the one doesn't even have DVR capabilities. You sound like you should do some more research and become a smarter consumer.

[DragonKnight]

@Sadist3: You keep saying you want your "gaming" machines to do more. At that point, they are no longer gaming machines. You want a multimedia device to help you be lazy. You also don't know what the hell you're talking about.

Let the rest of the world, i.e. people who like money and rights, be over here playing PS4 while you're off in a corner in debt hoping the Xbox One's features will keep you warm at night.

[amiga-man]

I don't mind innovation and I see plenty in the PS4 from the much improved controller to geikai, share button etc.

What I do mind is being forced to have kinect, internet check in every 24 hrs and of course DRM which is an amazing innovation NOT, if your so blind to not see the facts staring you in the face there is no point debating with you, luckily most gamers xbox and PS are not prepared to hand over their rights to a greedy corporation to watch tv.

[airgangstarr]

the console is fine underpowered next to the ps4 but its fine the games are looking good its the morons running the show that are hammered.. imho if they didnt have all the restrictions they would have a great chance of bein head to head with sony i dont think theyll ever beat sony in sales they have to strong of a fan base but with the all the restrcitions they have no chance.. why even buy it until titan fall launches anyway an u can play that on 360 so why even bother at all

[jmc8888]

What innovation?

Skype on a console isn't innovation. TV on a console isn't innovation. It's also been done before.

So you don't know innovation.

Also you said anyone who isn't biased will think that way?

I guess that means I'm biased since I've been using Microsoft product for about 30 years.

Kinect is the best spy tech device that has ever been created, and Microsoft is well known to sell you down the river which Microsoft even admits, and you will be exploited via the Kinect. Thousands of corporations and gov'ts want that data, and Microsoft will give it to them.

Meanwhile you're also forgetting that PS4 is 50-125 percent more powerful and costs $100 less.

Also you forget that when Xbox One turns off its servers, your console will be useless no more than 24 hours later. Meanwhile an Atari 2600, hell lets go even further back and say the original Odyssey will still work, and every console since then...except Xbox One.

The Xbox One is the only console in history to have an expiration date. Oh sure others aren't supported, but software support isn't expiration of the console itself.

Just wait until your healthcare and life and car insurance goes up because of the data Xbox One gives them. Or you lose your job because Xbox gave your employer your data that proves you were playing Halo 5 right after it launches and you weren't actually sick.

There's so much room for abuse here, and abuse will happen, because its already happening.

The simple fact is, Xbox One isn't innovative in any way, except in the way it spies and restricts you.

You gain ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, for everything you give up.

Oh and people using the PS4 can play games with their friends that don't have the game either...and no DRM, no 24 hour check, and no spying. Plus those games will be better looking and you'll be able to play them for as long as the console lasts.

[jmac53]

This situation is a double edged sword. In one way, I want MS to succeed because it will push innovation and competition. On the other hand if they are too successful, it just reinforces their bad business practices and they think they can get away with it. I worry the casuals will buy into this but I think the $100 is much more important to them.

[sashimi]

M$ won't push innovation or competition, this is microsoft we're talking about. The only thing they'll bring is a monopoly and the end of the gaming industry as we know it. The quicker M$ exits the gaming industry the better it is long-term.

[Master of Unlocking]

Well dang, looks like things are turning sourer than I thought for M$.
Good riddance.

[oldassgamer]

What's the over under on how long before Mr. Mattrick gets the ax *cough*, I mean... resigns?