1080°

Phil Spencer disagrees with Michael Pachter

Phil Spencer, director of Xbox, talked about the price of Xbox Scorpio and the affirmation of the analyst, Michael Pachter , who in recent days said that Microsoft will commit suicide if you put the console more than the $ 399 price. Honcho recognized that the device, scheduled to debut in a year, will be more expensive than the Xbox One S because it is a product for high - end consumers, but denied that Microsoft's success depends only on that decision or that product only .

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Kingthrash3603131d ago (Edited 3131d ago )

So it's gunna cost more than $399?
Good luck with that phil.
I normally don't agree with pachter...but I think he is right on this.
Well the way he kept saying premium title and that it will be priced higher than the xbox s Which is what 299 at the lowest. ..you really think ms will jump from 1TB to 6 for 100 bucks more...with a bluray player new cpu/gpu higher ram...production costs...and the extra to make a profit from? Please bro, read between the lines here. If it costs 399.99 that will be cool for all that you get...but this is ms we are talking about. They released an underpowered console for 100$ more than the more power ps4....you really think they are gunna put more power into the scorpio and not make it cost you? ....here's hoping it's 399.99.....but my question to you is if its 499.99 or 599.99.....wold patcher be wrong? Will people flock to buy it? Would you buy that?

christocolus3131d ago (Edited 3129d ago )

"So it's gunna cost more than $399?"

Lol. Did you just pull that out of thin air? Nowhere in that interview does he state that it'll be above $399. He only says it will be priced higher than the Xbox One S and the standard Xbox One S bundle costs $299 and comes bundled with a game.

@Errorist

You ain't MS and until they announce the price, no one here can say what it will cost..and this interview obviously said nothing about that. Just that it will be priced higher than the Xbox One S. Anything outside this is pure speculation. The console will be out in another 12 months.There is plenty of time for MS to come up with a good price and so you know the standard XBS bundle costs $299 not $349

Errorist763131d ago

Are you kidding me?! The X1S 1TB is 349,- and the Scorpio is supposed to be 4 times as fast...do you really think it's gonna cost 399,-?!

GtR35olution3131d ago

I strongly believe the xbox one scorpio will cost $500 or $600 but not less than 500. The scorpio is suppose to have 12gbs of ram with a new cpu and gpu which wont be cheap.

Automatic793131d ago Show
OpieWinston3131d ago Show
blitz06233131d ago

Honestly it's difficult to tell, given how fast the tech moves. But if you look at it from the PS4 pro's perspective, the PS4 came out 3 years ago at 399.99. The Pro is about 2.2x more powerful and priced the same but 3 years later. The Scorpio will be around 1.5x more powerful, but a year later so a reasonable price is around 449.99 to 499.99

ger23963131d ago

So why not announce the price now? Priced higher than Xbox 1 s, which one 500 gb or the 1 to?

Kokyu3131d ago

@blitz

The Pro doesnt have anything new really in terms of tech but 5.0 wifi an hdmi 2.0 the rest is upclocked original Ps4 tech; gpu. Cpu and ram are all the same just up clocked.

The scorpio on the other hand is adding 4 more gigs of ram and a bigger GPU with 2tb hard drive I think 600$ is most likely the actual price.

mark_parch3131d ago

you have to remember it is still 12 months away. ps4 pro will probably be around $350 by then. I predict $450 for scorpio which seems reasonable to me

GrontB3131d ago

No more than 599 but with those specs and targeting native 4k it wouldn't go below 499. I can hardly do 4k with my Gtx 980ti. I'd say 499 is the lowest they could/would go but we will see.

darthv723131d ago

$399-499 for the basic model and $499-599 for the super deluxe model. That is... if they make a super deluxe model

CYCLEGAMER3131d ago

I don't think some of you people realize that the Scorpio doesn't come out until next year. By then the xb1 s will be at a lower price point and the parts for the scorpio will be much cheaper to produce than they are today.

freshslicepizza3131d ago

The Xbox One S starts at $299 with at least one game bundled. Scorpio will be at least $399 is my guess. If Microsoft can prove there is a substantial upgrade over the Pro then they can get away with it being higher than $400.

If Scorpio ends up more than $499 it will cater to only the higher end crowd like those who bought an elite controller. We also have to remember the PS3 sold rather well at $599 so let's stop acting like it's doomed if it's higher than $399.

The PS4 pro mainly upgraded just its GPU, Scorpio will get an all around upgrade. But again Microsoft will have to show actual substance over it and not just specs.

itsmebryan3131d ago

He pulled it out his a$$. Smh

curtis923131d ago

With Phil's response, yes, it will be more than $399. This was Phil's way of explaining WHY it'll be more than $399 without saying it will be more than $399.

Ashlen3131d ago

Of course its going to be more than $399. You can look at what all the parts they are talking about costs assume there will be cheaper when bought in bulk and there is still no way this thing can come in at $399.

A 6 TB GPU is 400, plus you have to factor in RAM the CPU a Motherboard Hard Drive and all the other bits like PSU case the plugs a controller ect. Even with bulk discounts there is no way all of that is coming in at the same price as a GPU alone.

Even as $499 it's unlikely that it will be sold at a profit.

Kurdishcurse3130d ago (Edited 3130d ago )

scorpio is allegedly able to run native 4k. if you think itll cost 400 then you are delusional. other than that, the graphics cards alone that can handle native 4k cost double or even triple a current gen console. expect scorpio to cost, at the very minimum, 1200$. this is IF it does native 4k in all or most of its games.

lalalala3130d ago

@christoculus - You need to read between the lines. If he disagrees with Pachter on the price, then it's going to be more expensive. It's a very safe assumption, because they did the same thing with the always online stuff before Xbox One launch.

Sounds like it will be at least $449, probably $499 if they follow the Xbox One's initial launch price which Phil thought was a brilliant price until he basically got no applause at the announcement. I seriously doubt it will be more than that.

ShadowKnight3130d ago

@Moldybread

When Sony sold the PS3 for $600 it was a disaster for the company and they learn their lesson from that.

BizarroUltraman3130d ago

The low end sku will cost $399, with the high end model at $449-499. And yes, I would still buy at those prices anything above that and Im out thil price drop. Good day.

DarkZane3130d ago

@christocolus

No he didn't pull that out of thin air. If Pachter says it's suicide to price it above 399.99 and Phil Spencer argues with him, then it's pretty obvious it's gonna be above that otherwise he would not argue.

Also, he did say Xbox 360 BC would not need software wizardry like on the Xbox One and Xbox One S and it would work flawlessly. Even if the Scorpio is more powerful, that's not gonna be possible unless they put the Xbox 360 architecture like Sony did to get PS2 games to run on 20/60GB PS3. Remember how expensive the PS3 was at launch? This was mainly due for that, because even with a blu-ray, if you took out the PS2 architecture, Sony could have shaven off 100$ minimum, probably more.

Spencer did say that it was gonna be a high product, so expect to pay more than 399.99$ for it. Also, if they believe they can make native 4K gaming work at 30fps with 6 teraflops, they're in for a surprise. 6 teraflops isn't enough for native 4K, even 1440p would struggle with this.

yomfweeee3130d ago

He posed it as a question, so no he didn't pull it out of thin air. It is a completely valid question. As others have said, there is no way this can be $399 unless MS takes a huge loss on it... which I don't think they will do. Specifically based on what Spencer said in the interview... they consider it a premium product compare to their existing products... so obviously it is going to sell for more.

+ Show (19) more repliesLast reply 3130d ago
ShadowKnight3131d ago (Edited 3131d ago )

True Native 4K 60fps console for $399??🤔 I have to see it to believe it😅 I really wanna know what GPU and CPU they'll be using from AMD. I wonder if the Scorpio will have two gpus in crossfire configuration? If it's $399 Microsoft will lose money and profit on every console they sell. Not a win win situation imo. If they want to keep losing money it's on them.

Gazondaily3131d ago

Yeah I agree. Such a beastly specced console can't be that cheap. No way.

Utalkin2me3131d ago

@Septic

Where are you getting your info for specs? I would like to read up on it. Cause i have yet to find full specs of the console.

Razrye23131d ago

Yeah septic let's see a link to these specs. Also xbox one and the Scorpio have to play the same games. There will be no Scorpio exclusive games. Making the extra power redundant.

Braveheart_NZ3131d ago (Edited 3131d ago )

The rumor is that the Scorpio will be using the new AMD Vega for graphics and an AMD Zen processor when both technologies get released next year, well before the release of Xbox Scorpio. Obviously those two technologies will be in a Vega + Zen SoC ( APU ). The links are posted if you want to read about the tech and both look very promising on delivering a lot of graphical and processing power. http://wccftech.com/amd-veg...
http://wccftech.com/amd-zen...

Christopher3131d ago (Edited 3131d ago )

***Where are you getting your info for specs?***

Just logical reasoning. @ShadowKnight mentioned "True Native 4k 60fps console" and to reach that, it would need to be a beastly console. Much more than what we have now. And it's not just GPU, it would need a much upgrade CPU as well. Remember, the requirements for doing 4k60fps on PC continues to increase as does the technology surrounding our medium. To think that consoles can come in at low 4k60fps gaming from 5 years ago and be okay going forward is ridiculous. We're going to be missing out on so much by doing that.

***Also xbox one and the Scorpio have to play the same games. There will be no Scorpio exclusive games. Making the extra power redundant.***

What? How is extra power redundant? If you want extra power, you get it. Just because you don't need it doesn't make it redundant. A PC gamer can build a godly machine and play games at ridiculous specs if they want, or they can build a mid-range or even a low-range PC. It all depends on what they prioritize, price or performance/looks. The Scorpio and Pro are doing just that. None of that makes any machine redundant, only an option.

freshslicepizza3131d ago

On the Pro it is a bit redundant if Sony is throttling the system back to make sure the games run like they do on the regular PS4. The Xbox One S had shown a different direction where that slight boost is there without an update by developers.

Plus it is unwise to compare specs with the PC. A closed system can do a lot more with less. Look at what the regular PS4 has done with its parts. Look at what Microsoft and the team that made forza horizon 3 and what they were able to do.

Mystogan3131d ago

If its a Zen CPU with a Vega GPU. 500-600 will be well worth it.

ChristopherJack3131d ago

PlayStation 1 & 2 built their success on selling at a loss & making it all back on licensing.

Kiwi663131d ago (Edited 3131d ago )

If its around the $399 price range that is a good deal for what you get

Utalkin2me3131d ago

Again all rumors and blah blah blah. Nobody again has evidence of exactly what the console is. Soon as someone can post evidence of that, then get out of here with that bs stuff of rumors and such.

Christopher3131d ago

***On the Pro it is a bit redundant if Sony is throttling the system back to make sure the games run like they do on the regular PS4.***

That would be up to the developers, not Sony. Sony doesn't demand developers do this.

***Plus it is unwise to compare specs with the PC. ***

It would be even more unwise to ignore them as they have set a precedent of when people were capable of 4k on PC as well as what technology has come along since the release of the current consoles that have been implemented and widely used on PCs. Let alone the metrics of what is capable of 4k and what isn't as far as measurement of system capabilities. Optimization is a great thing, current systems are proof of that, but that doesn't suddenly mean you're going to get native 4k games that are going to meet the visual/quality expectations of what we have now with 1080p. Kind of the same way PSVR is an eye opener to what happens when you are the cheaper PSVR option with a weaker-then-the-normal-VR-PC behind it. You can hope, but to act as if it's a certainty when technology isn't pointing in that direction...

cyclindk3130d ago

If you could play any PC game on it, I would consider it. Otherwise it's potential for failure would be too risky to invest in it.

3130d ago
FITSniper3130d ago

Console hardware sales have typically been loss leaders for a few years before the company starts to break even. The terrible state of the global economy is what changed that.

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Bigpappy3131d ago

Even at $499 it would sell well. What you are getting at that price point would be easily worth it for 6tf, 12G, RAM and supper high bandwidth .

S2Killinit3131d ago

yeah I don't know about that.

Obscure_Observer3131d ago (Edited 3131d ago )

@S2Killinit

Yeah you know. Ps3 was a 600 bucks worth machine at release against the Xbox 360 costing 200 bucks less and showing no superior performance on games whatsoever despise all that it manages to sell quite well.

If the Scorpio manages to deliver superior experiences and performance over the Pro and the Switch at 500 plus bucks price tag, you can bet your @$$ it will sale. ;)

3130d ago
MRMagoo1233130d ago

@obscure

it's sell not sale for a start. Your whole point is invalid anyway considering the ps3 was Sony and Sony sells always has MS on the other hand is not liked by most of the world.

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GUTZnPAPERCUTZ3131d ago

Scorpio has some serious power advantages compared to PS4 Pro... 12gb 320+gb/sec GDDR5 compared to 8gb 208gb/sec GDDR5, 6TFLOP GPU compared to a 4.2TFLOP GPU and most likely an 8 core ZEN CPU compared to a slightly over clocked PS4/X1 Jaguar CPU. I would bet it would be $450 or $500, no more and no less.

ShadowKnight3131d ago (Edited 3129d ago )

If it's $450 with tax it will still be almost $500 dollars in US 🤔 😅

S2Killinit3131d ago (Edited 3131d ago )

if people thought the jump from 1.3/1.8TFLP to Pro's 4.2TFLP was not a big deal, they will feel even less enthused about the Scorpio's power bump compared to the Pro.

Obscure_Observer3131d ago

@S2Killinit

"if people thought the jump from 1.3/1.8TFLP to Pro's 4.2TFLP was not a big deal, they will feel even less enthused about the Scorpio's power bump compared to the Pro."

Only in your world. The Pro is 2.5 more powerfull than the OG Ps4! It´s powerfull machine gimped by the OG Ps4´s parity clause. Studios starting developing for the OG Ps4 then enhance Ps4 games for the Pro. Sad but true. The soon devs start developing PS4 games with the Pro as the primary platform THEN will see the real power of the Pro.

Same applies to the Scorpio. ;)

GUTZnPAPERCUTZ3131d ago

The RAM difference alone screams 4k... GPU is not everything, most Console exclusive owners don't realize everything that goes into making games run the best with the hardware presented. CPU and RAM is a huge bottleneck for frame rate and 4k textures on the pro... The NEW CPU and Higher Bandwidth/More RAM will allow for this to become a reality, with PS4 pro running some games at native 4k and 30fps we should see Scorpio achieve the same graphical fidelity while running a native 4k frame and 60fps with out an issue!

BizarroUltraman3130d ago

@Shadow,

And the PS4 Pro was $425 after taxes for me. So whats your point. Im sure it will be just as or more expensive in your neck of the woods.

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BossBattle3131d ago (Edited 3131d ago )

The Scorpio will be worth it for it's targeted consumers. It's for the same audience that would buy an elite controller for $150.

Razrye23130d ago

The Scorpio is no good without decent games. Which it sorely lacks

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3131d ago
Trekster_Gamer3131d ago

King thrash speaks trash film at eleven

LastCenturyRob3131d ago

Kingthrash.... Even if it comes out at $499, that will be a steal for what you are getting under the hood. If that is too much there is the X1s which is a great system for the price.

3131d ago Replies(1)
Obscure_Observer3131d ago (Edited 3131d ago )

@Kingthrash360

"So it's gunna cost more than $399?"

Yes. It´s a PREMIUM console after all. But you know already knew this don´t you? ;) The funniest part about it? YOU GONNA PAY FOR IT!!!

So just stop pretending you´re concerned about the Scorpio´s future. ;)

trainsgofast3131d ago (Edited 3131d ago )

If MS paid 1.5B to AMD that puts you at next year at a cost of $400 - $500.
Without R&D on a new controller.

XXanderXX3130d ago

Think deal was more like 3 billion

3130d ago
XanderZane3130d ago (Edited 3130d ago )

The price of the Xbox One Slims will be lower by the time the Scorpio is released. The 2TB XB1 S will most likely be $350 by then. All those consoles will drop down at least $50. Scorpio will most likely be between 399.99 - 499.99

@Gaming_Cousin
It won't be $600. That would be suicide. That would be almost twice the price of the competition. If they released it today, yes, it probably would be $550 or $600, but it's a year away.

game4funz3130d ago

Xbox one s came out at 299$

#facts

Fantasticzig3130d ago

My prediction is that Xbox is just replacing the Steambox model, and there will ultimately be different tiers of Xbox for different graphics optimizations. If so, they could have models that cost thousands and basically market them as Surface PCs with an Xbox virtual console. Who knows.

Mrveryodd3130d ago

I paid 2 times that for a ps3 a decade ago so no I dont agree that it is dead out the gate , I will buy it no problem

noksucow733130d ago

I'd buy it at 499, but not over that. If it's over that I'll wait for a price drop. If it's what they say it is, with the specs and all, then I'd get it for 499. My Sega saturn cost me that much at launch. Lol

Deeke3130d ago

If Project Scorpio is able to hit native 4K and true 4K at 60FPS, it'll need to tap AMD's new hardware, including Vega and Zen. Polaris won't be strong enough to hit native 4K.

So...if this is true, it absolutely will be more than $399. Microsoft has already said that the console will be priced at a premium.

That being said, I disagree with Pachter. I think a lot of us do. He's not very succinct, and honestly I don't see how he still has his job. He can't properly explain specifications, can't explain basic things about the games industry very well.

daBUSHwhaka3130d ago

$450 for a PS3 at launch didn't stop sales so why would this be any different..

MRMagoo1233130d ago

cos this isn't Sony it's Microsoft only the usa likes them

nowitzki20043130d ago

I dont see it costing less than $499.

3130d ago
trooper_3130d ago

Can't see this being any less than $499+.

LordMaim3130d ago

@Moldy: Literally in every interview Spencer has given on Project Scorpio, he has repeated the messaging "Premium Price", to set the correct expectations. He is laying the groundwork for people not to get sticker shock on the PS3 level of pricing that a 6TF console is going to carry at launch.

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ArchangelMike3131d ago

When corporate heads use phrases like " higher-end", or "premium" you immediately know that they are trying to justify why the product they are holding is going to be more expensive than it needs to be.

3131d ago Replies(2)
ArchangelMike3131d ago

To honest I don't think anyone was expecting the price of the PS4Pro to be $399. It'll be hard to beat though.

rdgneoz33131d ago

And MS wasn't expecting the PS4 to release as soon as it did (with a lower price the the xbone) and the Pro as well. Sony keeps throwing them for loops.

If it's more than $399, it'll be hard for MS sales wise. When the PS3 released at it's original price, people criticized it in comparison to the 360. And at that time, it was also the only console with built in wifi and a blu ray player. With the 1 year lead and lower price, it took the PS3 a while to catch up in sales.

starchild3131d ago

I did. In multiple comments I predicted $399 would be the price of the Pro.

I also predict the Scorpio will cost somewhere between $399 and $499.

Mystogan3131d ago (Edited 3131d ago )

Its a premium product because it wont replace the xbox one s. Its made to sit alongside it. Just like the Elite Controller.

If its a Zen CPU with a Vega GPU. 500-600 will be well worth it.

cyber_daemonx3131d ago

@rook, yeah and its only $399. You need to hope scorpio hits the same price bracket or it'll go the same way as the bone. You really think UHD blue ray is gonna make a difference. Fat chance.

TruM06073131d ago

Well when I look at what the pro offers and then look at it's price to me it looks about right. For 399 u r basically getting the poor mans upgrade. With to me the only toutable upgrade being the 4.2 tflops of power which will help it to run better looking games at a upscale 4K image and some older and less demanding games at native 4K. Everything else is basically the same as the old PS4. With Scorpio ms is looking to bring u a console that will look to bring u the performance of a high end thousands of dollars pc to yr living room and that's accourding to Arron Greenberg not me they have a interview of him saying that in another article here on n4g. So with a performance jump like that I would say that's a premium product and I'm looking to spend around 500 to 600 on this thing if it is cheaper that would be nice but I don't think much more than that since Phil already said it would b reasonably price as far as consoles go.

blackout3131d ago

Dude your in EVERY ARTICLE. This site must be your life.

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corroios3131d ago

Spencer, just say the price...Afraid are you?

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Gazondaily3131d ago

Let them show the console first...

Utalkin2me3131d ago

You act like it's already out, roflmao. Link me to where you are getting your full specs from, that you keep claiming about.

Gazondaily3131d ago

What full spec? It's running 6TF no? Or do you think it will be a lie?

On paper, it looks like a beastly console. Based on whatever little we know. VR support with third party peripherals, supposedly native 4k on first party titles and being approximately 43% more powerful than the Pro. Forty three percent. That's pretty mad no? Or do you think it would happen?

Utalkin2me3131d ago

@Septic

Again, i will embarass you one more time. Link me to your paper that youre getting your specs from. We dont want rumors or assumptions.

game4funz3130d ago

Don't worry septic. Some people here don't watch e3 and are badly informed.

Gazondaily3130d ago

@Utalkin2me

You're only embarrassing yourself. Is or is the Scorpio not 6TF? You guys are pretending that the Scorpio won't even exist next year. Let's see your hilarious u turn in Digital Foundry articles next year. That will be fun 😆

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Bahamut3131d ago

@R0-okie_4_President

You're 12 years old, I take it?

starchild3131d ago

He doesn't act differently than many people on N4G. I see so many people calling out Rookie but most of them are just as bad or worse.

Kryptix3130d ago

Didn't know there were other N4G users who make 30 accounts in one month like Rookie. Now, that's on another level of pathetic than your typical fanboy spinners.

3130d ago
spicelicka3131d ago

Um pretty sure they have policies regarding what to reveal when. I don't think you understand how business works.

Auron3131d ago

Why should he? its a year away and tech goes down in price so fast and im sure the scorpio isnt even near the production stage so there is no point.

MyDietEqualsGames3131d ago (Edited 3131d ago )

They probably don't even have a solid spec yet. Also, these companies almost never display a price unless it's along side a reveal.

Obscure_Observer3131d ago

@corroios

Are you anxious? Why would him tell the price and lose all the E3´s spootlight while giving competition the edge?

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40°

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 devs praise games like Space Marine 2 for "lowering the barrier"

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 developers discuss the huge success of Space Marine 2 and its effect on the series as a whole.

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videogamer.com
180°

Phil Spencer Teases 2026 As A "Really Special Year" For Xbox

2026 will mark the 25th anniversary of Xbox, and Phil Spencer has teased it as a "really special year" for the games division.

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twistedvoxel.com
TheEroica3h ago(Edited 3h ago)

You got downvotes by pathetic gamers for feeling hopeful about good games coming out next year. Imagine how small your brain must be to downvote someone excited for future gaming joy? It is pretty neat to see people's world view blow up in front of them as they realize Microsoft has put themselves in a driver's seat that Sony hasn't been able to touch all generation.... What's even more pathetic is the same people downvoting you are the same people wishlisting Microsoft games on their ps5s 😂

P_Bomb1h ago

“Imagine how small your brain must be to downvote someone excited for future gaming joy?”

My dude your post history shits on EVERYTHING. You never have a good thing to say about anything lol! 🤣

derek1h ago

Yep we'll see, they have alot releasing next year.

OtterX7h ago

Always with the "next year..."! 😂

neutralgamer19926h ago

I don't know they have delivered this year and even last year. And they have a lot more content in the pipeline right now than anyone else. We can't just keep hating on MS

Indiana Jones
South of midnight
Avowed
Flight simulator
Hell Blade 2
Minecraft update
Gears of war reloaded
Indian Jones:expansion
Gears E day
Clockwork revolution
Fable
Doom the dark ages
The outer worlds 2
Grounded 2
Call of duty

OtterX6h ago

How many of those titles were just buyouts of companies that were going about making their games anyways? *Throws cash - "Oh look what we made!"

dveio5h ago(Edited 5h ago)

This list, that's been posted again, and again, and again in every single topic like this, contains almost nothing, literally almost nothing from Microsoft's own creational thoughtprocess.

It's a bunch of former 3rd party IPs.

Now even slowly returning to Playstation in some cases like Indiana, Hellblade, probably Starfield soon too, after they were made exclusively to Xbox on purpose.

Due to Microsoft's lack for own IP material except Halo & Forza. Which, the lack of, was the sole reason for all of it to happen in the first place anyway. Please don't pretend it wasn't.

And just look at all the games that come from Obsidian alone.

You really think Obsidian wasn't already working on Avowed and South of Midnight even without Microsoft buying Zenimax?

Microsoft delivered nothing but cheques.

OtterX5h ago(Edited 5h ago)

@dveio THIS. Lol, this dude thinks Call of Duty wouldn't exist without Microsoft! smh 😂

neutralgamer19925h ago(Edited 5h ago)

Common narrative I see often — that Microsoft shouldn’t get credit for the games its studios release because they “just bought them.” But this viewpoint ignores key context and sets a double standard that other platform holders aren’t held to

No one is saying these games wouldn't exist at all without Microsoft. But let’s not pretend that having a trillion-dollar company backing a studio doesn’t make a massive difference. Obsidian never had AAA funding before the Xbox acquisition. Pillars of Eternity was crowdfunded, and their resources were always stretched thin. Now they’re working on Avowed, with proper support behind it.

Ninja Theory’s Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice was made by around 20 people, using borrowed equipment and doing mocap in a boardroom. It was a passion project held together by tape and willpower. Today, Hellblade II exists because they were given resources, time, and freedom — something many developers don’t get unless they’re owned by a company that believes in their vision.

ZeniMax (Bethesda’s parent company) was in real financial trouble before the Microsoft acquisition. Reports and insider accounts have pointed out how much they needed a cash infusion. And while some people want to write off Xbox’s ownership of Bethesda titles, they forget the alternative could have meant layoffs or even closures.

The same goes for Activision Blizzard. Would you really prefer the company to stay under Bobby Kotick, after all the documented workplace misconduct and toxic leadership issues? Say what you want about Microsoft, but their acquisition brought accountability and change to a company that desperately needed it.

At the same time, Xbox gets hated on for doing what every major company does. Sony bought Housemarque, Bluepoint, Insomniac — but no one says Spider-Man 2 “doesn’t count” because of that. Why does Xbox get treated differently for acquiring struggling or undervalued developers and giving them a chance to thrive?

And the idea that Xbox locks games away is outdated. They're pushing cross-platform releases, cloud gaming, Game Pass, and backward compatibility more than any other platform holder. They're not forcing all studios into live service. If anything, their upcoming lineup is less GAAS-heavy and more focused on narrative and creativity — Avowed, South of Midnight, Clockwork Revolution, Fable, Perfect Dark, Towerborne, and others show real variety.

Whether people like it or not, Xbox is now the biggest publisher in the industry and owns the most gaming IPs. But what matters more is how they treat their studios. Most of these teams were previously stuck making AA games with limited scope — now they’re getting the tools and support to aim higher.

So when people say “Microsoft didn’t make those games,” they’re missing the point. It’s not about who started the studio — it’s about who enabled them to do their best work. You don’t have to love Xbox to admit they’ve helped a lot of developers and are taking a player-first approach.

Instead of writing off everything they do, maybe try recognizing the good they’re doing for both devs and gamers. At the end of the day, we should want more studios to succeed — no matter who owns them

BeHunted4h ago

I'm surprised Clockwork Revolution (BioShock meets Dishonored) isn't getting more media attention. The game looks interesting and reminds me of the old RPG games.

anast4h ago

The only good game on that list is Flight sim. The rest are either average or will be average. It's not a good look for MS.

TheEroica3h ago

My god.... Look how many comments are upset about microsoft's successes... 😂 This may be my new favorite thread. Not one gamer saying thanks for all the goodness coming their way, just bitter anger and downvoting the very games they themselves will purchase throughout 2026.... Sony really worked you guys over this generation.... Condolences.

DivineHand1252h ago

@neutralgamer1992 You said what needed to be said.

I have heard for years from older gamers that fanboys are the biggest issue with any fanbase. They will defend or gloss over negative news as long as the correct logo is on the box and they bash the competing platform no matter how much good they are trying to bring.

Right now their advocacy for PlayStation is elevating that platform so high that Sony no longer believes they need to do anything to satisfy their loyal fanbase like they did in the PS4 days.

I just hope most of them will eventually start advocating for themselves and encourage others to do the same. No one should blindly support one platform because these companies do not care about anything other than profit.

neutralgamer19922h ago

Hunted

And first proper game done by the studio with proper AAA budget and saying it will be released when ready

Anast

I believe we went through this before that you are objectively wrong. Meta critic, user reviews, game sales. In Playstation top 10 best selling games were 5 from Microsoft studios

Otter

No this dude is saying so many other studios wouldn't be thriving without MS money and people would be getting abused physically and mentally with Bobby kotick and his side kicks

Also maybe look up how the original founder of Bethesda and zenimax was kicked out of his own company by his best friend lawyer. So that was always a shady place and had been struggling financially before MS paid a premium of almost 7 billion

Eroica

I use to be a die hard Playstation fan and now I only have a Pc. I see how these fans are so toxic. They just can't handle any positive news regarding Xbox. When the best selling games on playstation are Xbox titles. Look at Forza horizon being best seller and that's years old game by MS. I guess ms don't deserve credit for that success too since they are the only company in gaming making acquisitions

Forget the fact Sony paid 3.6 billion for bungie and MS 6.9 for zenimax. Which investment has turned out better

Destiny and marathon with a lot of controversy

While zenimax output is nothing short of amazing compared to what bungie has released

crazyCoconuts2h ago

Yeah it's tricky. "Xbox" has morphed to mean different things to different people.
Console, now Windows, GamePass, and the cross platform games. There's a mix of attitudes towards all those things individually, and maybe an overarching attitude towards MS. But can't argue that the game companies MS recently bought continue to flourish, and GamePass PC has been a great value over the last year.

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 2h ago
Lightning773h ago(Edited 3h ago)

They've had good output so far. So waiting for those games shouldn't be a problem.

Who cares if they're buy outs of companies or whatever excuse you want to make. They're games that are being distributed to other console. Play the games and enjoy it instead of fanboying or complaining.

ocelot075h ago

They going to be a he best and biggest publisher on Xbox, Playstation and PC next year. They not really said anything about Switch 2 though spite claiming to be big supporters.

quenomamen4h ago

If you call making one last Xbox before going full Sega, as Great. Then yea.

TheEroica3h ago

Doesn't feel like you're paying attention to what's happening.

RhinoGamer884h ago

It will be, his net work will hit 50 million and he plans to buy a new mansion in Cape Cod. Thanks everyone! #failup

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