Is the Xbox Having an Identity Crisis?

The Xbox One doesn't have many exclusives because it doesn't have an identity. With no personality, there's no proper way to market it.

[ArchangelMike]

I thought it was for Kinect, ESPN, Hulu and Netlfix??? Huh?!? I must have been wrong then.

[skydragoonityx]

Phil Spencer was supposed to be the savior.. Now we know better. All talk no action

[AngelicIceDiamond]

@Nemesis These people don't understand don't even waste brain power on them. They think MS can pump out 5 new ips in a month, for whatever out of this world reason. I've already explained the 1st party situation twice no need to explain a third time, its not rocket science but to to the mass majority I guess it is.

[tyasia0]

"Things just don't happen over night"

Well how about 3 years? Is that enough time?

[Nu]

I also believed Obama was the antichrist /s

[TheCommentator]

How about MS has had unannounced games in development since before last E3, tyasia? That's time enough to have games ready for this holiday. You don't care though, any more than you care that Phil said that the attention given to making better services and hardware is now being focused on making games. If the statement is true, MS is not going to just show more games at E3, but will continue to bolster 1st party games and add devs to their 1st party teams going forwards as well.

BTW, MS has plenty of identity if they simply revisit their old IP's.

[tyasia0]

@TheCommentator

If they have all these unannounced games why are they only talking about the same 4 games and pretty obviously delaying them for the Scorpio launch later this year? If they have so many unannounced games wouldn't it be better to have some games spread out instead of getting spanked monthly by Sony and eating tons of bad press?

What your saying is what you want to believe and based on no factual evidence.

[ABizzel1]

Yes and No. I don't think it's just an identity crisis, I also think it's more of a lack of necessity in the eyes of most gamers.

The honest truth is if you have a PS4 and/or a gaming PC, there's little reason to own a XBO. PS4 shares about 95% of the same gaming library, so from there it just boils down to preference and exclusives. Globally the PS4 is the more preferred consoles, and it's pushing out wave after wave of quality and diverse exclusives, while Xbox releases one decent exclusive maybe every few of months, and stuffs their games in the holiday season where they can be overlooked from the crowded season and highest selling AAA games.

The PC at this point shares 99% of the XBO library, while also having it's own collection of exclusives and VR.

The Xbox brand needs to redefine itself once again starting next generation, because it's too little too late this gen. PlayStation redefined itself as a gaming console first and foremost that offers the best games for gamers, at a great price and it worked for them. The message was simple, direct, and easy to understand from day 1, and MS and Nintendo's fumbles did nothing but highlight that message even further.

Xbox currently doesn't have that same direct messaging. Their current message is play our games Xbox or PC (so the hardware becomes less necessary), our teams mainly focus on the same franchises you've known for 1 - 2 generations not aka 10+ years of the same core franchises and we don't have the dev support to make a big change to that just yet, and we don't have the 3rd party support we once had last generation to get timed exclusive games and content like we did. But this holiday we'll have a console that's more powerful than the competition, and hopefully that will get you to buy the console.

That's just terrible messaging, and unfortunately until they fix it with an "identity" for the brand, and the games to back it up, Xbox will always be a distant rival to PlayStation unless Sony fumbles like they did with the PS3.

[TheCommentator]

@ Tyasia

No facts, lol. Phil made the statement about having more games this year than last, about putting the same focus into 1st party that they put into OS and HW in the past, about possibly revealing Scorpio early to focus E3 on games....

Those are facts, at least if you can take the blinders off your pony and see the big picture. You'd think N4G was hosting an equestrian event or something with all this ridiculousness...

[Captain_Tom]

Honestly what can he do?

The head of MS wants XBOX dead, and they should have killed the brand years ago.

None of their consoles have ever been "Best Selling", the OG XBOX lost them ~7 Billion, the 360 broke even (Do to the RROD and other issues negating LIVE revenue), and again the XBOX One will probably break even.

Their heart just isn't in it, and so they should get out.

[ps360s]

I am not going to blame Phil...he is a true gamer and trying to turn things round but MS higher ups are the ones that is in full control and decides in the end (the people investors don't know much about gaming at MS) unlike Sony (the PlayStation division) and Nintendo

@AngelicIceDiamond...they can pump out 5 exclusives if they want to and if allow to

[uth11]

I've seen lots of change under Phil. Major games cancelled, every exclusive pushed to PC. MS used to dominate the gaming press alongside Sony. Now Nintendo does in their place. Maybe not the change we were looking for, but change nontheless

[AmUnRa]

Yes i do not understand why xbox fanboys praising Spencer to heaven and see him as the man that will turn things around.

He is just a PR talking head, and he must say and do what Microsoft tell him to say and to do. He is not the one to make decisions, that is Microsoft, the board of directors and the stockholders, but fore shure it isnt Phil Spencer.

[trooper_]

Lol @ nemesis.

Microsoft had plenty of time to show what they were capable of.

All talk, no show.

[UltraNova]

Lets face the facts here. Phil failed to save the xb1. The xb1 is a write off in MS's and non-MS fans. They must move on (diehards will follow). The Scorpio needs to focus and deliver on games, period. They must give the new console a laser cut identity and exclusive reasons to own one, not just a beefed up xb1 or else its going to be 2013-2017 days all over again. The time for self-inflicted illusions of grandeur are over, its time they delivered a gamer-centric console or get out all together.

[IGiveHugs2NakedWomen]

@nemesis-enforcer
*Things just dont happen over night and the changes he has made on his watch have been for the better.*

Well they came up with an Elite Controller, custom colors for controllers, Xbox Game Pass, and Xbox Scorpio. Microsoft did all that and they still haven't announced the one thing that people have been asking for:

SOME NEW GAMES THAT DON'T INVOLVE HALO, FORZA, OR GEARS

[Nu]

Dude I thought that chick was Xbox /s

[Kallisti]

If she was ex box, she'd be a man now ;)

@Nu Learn to read, Khalessi is a totally different word

[Nu]

@Kallisti go back to game of thrones your clearly drunk /s
lol I know

[Dragonscale]

@angel, all that money and ms struggle to release 5 games in a year let alone month.

[chrisx]

Yea the xbone has a real identity crisis thanks to ms who don't understand the basic concept of a video game console. Gamers just want to play great games, anything else should be an afterthought

[darthv72]

They definitely changed their tune from last gen. I had a feeling things were going to be different and they sure are. MS isnt opening up the checkbook like last gen and they are getting crap for it. then again they got crap for opening up the checkbook to begin with.

Despite this "identity crisis" it still manages to sell better than the 360 did with RRoD. Maybe it's selling better because people have figured it makes a better 360 than their 360 AND it plays xb1 games as well?

[tyasia0]

@darthv72

"Despite this "identity crisis" it still manages to sell better than the 360 did with RRoD."

This isn't really true anymore.

Gap change over last 12 months: 2,871,767 – X360

http://n4g.com/news/2030078...

By the time they post February's results 360 will have retaken the lead. And even if it doesn't in February by March it will have for sure.

[Liqu1d]

They got crap for their reasons for opening the checkbook last gen, no one would have a problem if they used their money to expand their 1st party studios rather than 3rd party exclusives and timed exclusives.

[meka2611]

Funny thing is, exclusives really don't sell systems. If you look at the top selling games for both ps4 and xbox one, they are multiplatform. And most people keep mentioning exclusives that are from japan, which is cool, but most japanese games just don't have the same production as western. Yes there are exceptions, but look at tales of besiria, great game, but looks like a damn ps2 game. I just don't get how much the sony fans hate on xbox; does it make you feel better about your purchase. You know who you don't see spouting that BS, people that can afford both.

[IGiveHugs2NakedWomen]

@meka2611
Let me explain to you why that assertion is ridiculous. Just use the miraculous transformation of certain fans on this site as an example, Xbox fanboys and PC Elitists in particular.

All of a sudden, some of them have miraculously made the transformation from Fanboy to neutral gamer

The most notable I can think of Septic and Gangsta Red. Both are well know for their vehement Xbox loyalty.
Why do you think they decided to buy a PS4? For the Controller?
--_--

I have been a long time fan of Playstation and I make no apologies for it and I'm certainly not going to pretend like I have any interest in Xbox because I HAVE NO INTEREST IN THEIR EXCLUSIVES, console or otherwise.

[2pacalypsenow]

I bought a 360 over a Ps3 at launch because of Gears Of War

[meka2611]

Lol at I give hugs. Man I have been neutral the whole time I've been here. I have both systems and am getting either a wii u or switch soon. I don't need to pick a console, but do me a favor look up best selling games for ps4 and xbox one. You'll see that exclusives are like fourth or fifth on the list of most sold.

[yarbie1000]

Enter the opposing console fans who forgot that their system was baren with games for years who now pretend it wasn't. Who was so obsessed with power, but now claim it doesn't mean that much. Talk about identity crisis

[Razzer]

And what of the now "barren" Xbox One and all the fans who are obsessed with Scorpio' s power, but previously said there was neglible difference between X1 and PS4.

I mean if you are going to generalize then you might as well generalize all the way around.

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

Generalizing all the way around is absolutely forbidden.

You may only generalize one side. This is rule This is true

[SpaceRanger]

What's up with you beating up on Wii U fans? Look if you don't want to deal with a barren year of waiting 9-10 months for a new exclusive AAA, just get a PS4.

Obsessed with power? All this gen Yarbie you've been saying that power doesn't matter. You're a joke if it actually matters to you now. It's always mattered. The BEAST will truly come with the PS5.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

Hyping and dreaming up a none existent that's still a few years out. A little strange but have fun.

[tyasia0]

@AngelicIceDiamond

"Hyping and dreaming up a none existent that's still a few years out. A little strange but have fun."

Isn't that a little like Microsoft announcing a console that was almost two years away....

[SpaceRanger]

@AngelicIceDiamond

"Hyping and dreaming up a none existent that's still a few years out. A little strange but have fun."

LMAO, So now you're realizing how ridiculous and idiotic you fanboys have sounded since last June. And that's cause you're still waiting another 8 months for Scorpio and actual games. Good on you 👍🏼

[AngelicIceDiamond]

I don't remember hyping up anything personally last summer so, easy with the word fanboy when directing towards me.

@Ty You mean like the leaks and rumors of both mid gen machines were happening at the same time? One just so happened to release before the other machine and one machine is releasing this year? Considering the Scorpion actually got announced it makes better sense (Common sense) to hype up something that's been announced with a release window. VS something that hasn't been announced, talked about, and won't talked about or announced in a while.

I broke it down so hopefully it makes sense. Probably not though....

[tyasia0]

Well even if that was true which it isn't we're in the present now and PS4 has had tons of highly rated games each month while Xbone has had one game since last year and it's not even very highly rated.

So uh... yea, whats your point?

[AngelicIceDiamond]

"Xbone has had one game since last year and it's not even very highly rated"

Are you saying they released one game last year? Because that's definitely not right.

[tyasia0]

"Are you saying they released one game last year? Because that's definitely not right."

No that wasn't what I said.

I said "Xbone has had one game SINCE last year and it's not even very highly rated", that game is Halo Wars 2.

The last exclusive they had was Gears of War 4 in October 2016 it's almost April 2017, so it's been almost 7 months and only one retail exclusive. And whats more they don't have a single upcoming retail exclusive that even has a release date.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

So wait..Recore? Forza Dead Rising (Timed)? Those games don't count? I'm lost now I don't know what half you ppl on this site talk about anymore you all give me head aches.

[tyasia0]

Uh, Recore and Forza came out in September that's before October according to my calendar.

And yes Dead Rising is a timed exclusive which is already on Steam. But if you want to count it that's still 5 months and only one retail release.

And if I was so poor at reading and understanding calendars this site would probably give me headaches too.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

MS has been releasing games since September Recore, Forza, Gears in Oct, Deadrising in Dec Halo Wars 2 in February there was nothing in January clearly,(whatever). You're just spinning and making excuses trying to say they have 1 game or whatever is you're trying to do. That's you giving me a headache you blatantly left out the other games.

Done with you ppl.

[JasonKCK]

yarbie1000 100% correct.

[UCForce]

No, 100% false.

[trooper_]

Not even close.

[trooper_]

PS4 barren with games? Is that why it's selling?

Oh...wait, didn't games such as Nioh, Yakuza0, Horizon Zero Dawn and now Persona 5 came out?

Oh, those aren't games?/s

[Eonjay]

Microsoft is smart... they know that by not releasing anything for the Xbox One, it will make the eventually Scorpio reveal look amazing when they finally announce something. They know how to use starvation tactics on their base and keeping them hungry will increase sales of Scorpio. Zelda is better than Microsoft's entire lineup combined this year and the Switch just came out.

[Ashlen]

How is that smart?

All they are doing is helping to sell PS4's as it's the only console with new games. And for PS4 owners their "starvation" tactic has zero effect. On top of that they look bad like they are not supporting their console which degrades consumer trust.

Plus the Slim will still be cheaper when all these games finally come out. So they are putting the consumer base they have in a situation where it's $500 console with 1 game or Slim (keep the console they already have) and buy 5 or 6 games for the same price.

I really don't see any way in which it's advantageous to pursue a strategy like that.

[QUIMICOMORTAL]

LOL ps4 had many 90+ scoring games years before x1...key word being gameS in plural! does the xbrick have a second 90+ game yet? or will yu have to wait another 3 years?

[XiNatsuDragnel]

I agree there's a identity issue

[PlayStation_5]

It's pretty sad when even the Wii U completely destroyed the Xbox One in Exclusives / Console Exclusives...

PlayStation 4 Exclusives / Console Exclusives = 490 + 46 PSVR Exclusives = 536
https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...

Wii U Exclusives / Console Exclusives = 425
https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...

Xbox One Exclusives / Console Exclusives = 154
https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...

[IAmLoki]

It plays video games.

[UCForce]

Well, Xbox doesn't have diversity of gaming. Which mean they need more than just a Dude bro shooters.

[PhoenixUp]

Xbox One has more of an identity than Wii U & Vita that's for sure

[Razzer]

Not exactly saying much there

[notachance]

that's kinda weak then isn't it

[Kaneki-Ken]

Vita identity is the abandon Indie/JRPG Handheld .

[PhoenixUp]

It is saying much when XO has already sold more hardware than Vita and Wii U in a shorter timeframe.

A console doesn't do that well and not have an identity

[81BX]

Rofl.... keep it coming boys!

[BIGBOSS08]

Of course it has an identity. It's the halo box.

[AmUnRa]

Yeah but more like the Halo-Gears-Forza box😜

[Artemidorus]

It's lost for the moment

[AmUnRa]

No its lost for 3 years now, not for the moment, its 3 years.

[Artemidorus]

For the moment has no time limit.

[KillBill]

Xbox One has 8 exclusive games in their respective Top 30 Sales. PS4 has 3 games in their respective top 30 Sales. And MS even sold Minecraft on PS4 which sold enough to get in PS4 Top 20. Tell me again about exclusive issues? The majority of PS4 player base does not buy exclusives by the sales data.

[Liqu1d]

Nice source.

[KillBill]

PS4 Top 30 Sales
1 Call of Duty: Black Ops 3
2 Grand Theft Auto V
3 FIFA 17
4 Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
5 FIFA 16
6 Star Wars Battlefront (2015)
7 Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
8 Fallout 4
9 Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
10 Battlefield 1
11 FIFA 15
12 Destiny
13 The Last of Us
14 Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection
15 Minecraft
16 Final Fantasy XV
17 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
18 Tom Clancy's The Division
19 Batman: Arkham Knight
20 Watch Dogs
21 Far Cry 4
22 Assassin's Creed: Unity
23 NBA 2K16
24 Call of Duty: Ghosts
25 Battlefield 4
26 Assassin's Creed Syndicate
27 Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
28 Madden NFL 16
29 FIFA 14
30 Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor

Xbox One Top 30 Sales
1 Call of Duty: Black Ops 3
2 Grand Theft Auto V
3 Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
4 Halo 5: Guardians
5 Battlefield 1
6 Fallout 4
7 Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
8 Star Wars Battlefront (2015)
9 FIFA 17
10 Minecraft
11 Assassin's Creed: Unity
12 Gears of War: Ultimate Edition
13 Destiny
14 Halo: The Master Chief Collection
15 FIFA 16
16 Titanfall
17 Call of Duty: Ghosts
18 Gears of War 4
19 Tom Clancy's The Division
20 Madden NFL 16
21 NBA 2K16
22 Forza Motorsport 5
23 Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
24 FIFA 15
25 Madden NFL 17
26 Forza Horizon 3
27 Battlefield 4
28 Forza Motorsport 6
29 NBA 2K15
30 Far Cry 4

[Liqu1d]

I don't think you know what a source is.

[KillBill]

Do you think the data is not accurate? Are you going to give an alternate source and say that these numbers are complete rubbish? The information was sourced from vgchartz. And this is where you say "VGCHARTZ, THEY DON"T HAVE REAL DATA!" and then not supply any other source that shows different data.

So unless you have a measured source that shows all the data in a different light than these are the best numbers we have of a collective sales figure. And if numbers are even slightly skewed to possibly bring one title above or below another, the data shows for itself that exclusives simply don't matter as much for either console. And PS4 has a huge lead over Xbox One not because of exclusives but because more likely of their media savvy and ability to dominate in Europe while Xbox One faltered in their marketing and failed to gain ground worldwide while losing some base in America.

[Platformgamer]

The switch is the one with identity crisis ahahah
the xbox scorpio is clearly the substitute for xone, a dead console since launch

[Liqu1d]

The Switch has an identity, it's a hybrid console.

[RAM0N]

It's a dust collector

[Relientk77]

Yea but even dust isn't exclusive either

[mochachino]

Yeah it went from the console you buy if you want the best exclusives to the console you buy for if you're favourite game is Call of Duty. Now, I don't know what it's known for.

Gears, Fable, Halo, Forza and Mass Effect were all xbox exclusives at one point and among the best games out there. How do you mess that up.

[taijutsu363]

Yes. What is the purpose of the Xbox one now? Yes a video game console, but now the PC has that identity as well for all its exclusives, so why do you really NEED an xbox one?

[RosweeSon]

I don't know about their identity so maybe that answers the question but there is definitely a crisis and Scorpio ain't gonna solve it... get some games out first Good ones that people who don't already own the console will go wow that's on Xbox and Only on Xbox count me in. They got nothing coming up currently and nothing worth shouting about since Forza Horizon 3... it's barren and the games just aren't coming I mean how long into this generation are we. 3/4 years but I know let's have more power. Resolution gate nearly killed us so let's get that sorted... brilliant now still waiting for games? Other than a constant stream of 360 BC games that I can still use as I still have my 360... Xb1 😩✌🏻

[QUIMICOMORTAL]

No exclusives? new hardware tha will play the same games? YES IT IS!

[Ju]

When I switch this thing on, it just doesn't "feel" like a deducted games console. It's MS Pc DNA which shows and they just can't overcome. Really. That's. MS's huge problem. They are a business-oriented corporation which they can't shake to become an entertainment company. They are just bad in making pure consumer electronics. Same with their phones. PCs, servers and business solutions work, the rest not so much