2018 is a Rebuilding Year for Xbox

Strap in Xbox fans, 2018 is a rebuilding year. To clarify, a rebuilding year is most commonly found in the world of sports. It references a team or club spending time and resources on building today for a championship tomorrow. While it’s maybe a crude apology, it’s clear that Microsoft has been in a rebuilding phase for a while now. The real question then is when will the Xbox be championship ready?

[bobsmith]

i hope crackdown 3 soon could be big like pubg and gta but futuristic and new halo at end of yr with a pubg fortnite mode too

[vuziwe]

My last paycheck was $2500 for working 12 hours a week online. My sisters friend has been averaging 8k for months now and she works about 30 hours a week. I can't believe how easy it was once I tried it out. The potential with this is endless. This is what I do >> http://www.fl-y.com/3qx0

[NXFather]

UhOh I found U. Netflix and chill girl.

[WOLFofWALLSTREET]

Ya I think GTA battle royal would be great as well.

[lxeasy]

Not really too excited for a new Halo maybe next year, however I am excited for Sea of Thieves and State of Decay 2

[Godmars290]

So long as their focus remains online multiplayer, 3rd party, any amount of rebuilding they do will be pointless.

[AspiringProGenji]

They’ve been rebuilding since Phil Spencer took over and still lagging behind and underperforming. The XboxX is yet another try but the PS4 momentum remains untouched. So much for 4K and 6TF...

[Kingthrash360]

What was 2017 to them?....vacation? Lol

[mark_parch]

@AspiringProGenji
The xbox doesn't need to beat ps4 to be a success it just needs more console exclusive games. sea of thieves, state of decay 2 and crackdown 3 is a good start but Microsoft really need to show more console exclusives at e3 ( not launch exclusives )

[Dragonscale]

@mark, shame ms don't see it that way.

[DJStotty]

But things are undeniably better since Phil took over. Kinect is gone. TV is gone. Now they need to build more games

[Cobra951]

Not a vacation. It was the year they dropped the ball, and even they can't pretend they didn't. That makes 2018 the year to pick the ball back up and run with it--if they're serious about staying in this business.

[TheCommentator]

Did you really believe that the One X would make Xbox outsell the PS4? If you did, then it's clear that you never paid attention to anything MS said (actually it's clear from every post you make). Besides, anyone who isn't blind can see MS isn't catching Sony this gen no matter what they do. Sony could stop selling PS4 for three years and MS probably wouldn't catch up.

Furthermore, you're talking about 2017 like the One X was there the entire year to compete against Sony, when in reality it released a few months before the holidays. Besides that, MS stated that over the last few years their main focus had been on releasing the XB1X, and with the design of the 1X out of the way they were turning more of their resources/focus towards acquiring exclusive games and new studios.

It's true, MS hasn't done enough with building a portfolio of new IP that reviewed well, but they have made some effort to get new games out to gamers. Cancellations and poor reviews aside, they made effort every year; just not as much as Sony. MS lost big time this gen but Nintendo also pushed themselves to the brink of failure with the N64 and Gamecube yet still managed to make a comeback. MS screwed up with the launch of the XB1, made a real mid-gen system with the release of One X while still attempting to create several new IP, and now wants to primarily focus on software and studios (which is what you guys are complaining about most of the time).

Also, you said Xbox is, "...still lagging behind AND underperforming." If you're trying to insinuate that the 1X is underperforming with, "...4K and 6TF", then why does every game that is Pro/1X enhanced look so much better on the 1X? Not just resolution, but filtering, LOD, lighting, and more.
A better question is, why did you come here for years talking about 180 lines of resolution, (the only difference) making XB1 a last gen console over PS4, and now that the Pro can't keep up (by a much wider margin) the 1X is underperforming? Sounds a bit hypocritical to me.

[Magnetar]

While I like single player games also, MS has always focused on multiplayer and co-op games and there’s nothing wrong with that.

[FallenAngel1984]

“There is no question that this initial impression of the Xbox One is the sole reason that, 7 years later, it is still being outsold 3-to-1 by the PlayStation 4.”

The PS4 is at 73.6 million while XO is at 36+ million. That’s not a 3-to-1 ratio.

Also lmao at this article for reminding me of that “Greatest Games Lineup in Xbox History” slogan.

[NecrumOddBoy]

7 years later?

[FallenAngel1984]

Yeah the author can’t do simple math

[neolego]

While I am perfectly capable of simple math, The 4 and 7 can sometimes be an issue on a 10 key. Guess maybe my fingers get ahead of me every now and then. Thanks for so politely pointing it out. That error has been updated.

[JackBNimble]

Didn't they teach you to proof read in school. I mean if you're going to write an article one would think that would be the first thing you do before posting.

[neolego]

@JackBNimble - You are absolutely right. I did learn to proofread in school. What they didn't teach me was how to be perfect and without error for my entire life. If you teach a class on that let me know where I can attend. I would love to never again burden someone with a typo that might ruin their entire life. Hit me up.

[Nyxus]

I wouldn't say that is the 'sole reason'. It's just that the PS4 is the better option. There are very few interesting games on XB1 that can't be played on PS4, and there are a lot the other way around.

[neolego]

To be fair, the whole article is opinion, but I would say it was the sole reason. I'm not saying that PlayStation wouldn't still be #1, but there would not be near the disparity there is now had both consoles launched at the same price with no confusion about digital rights management.

[CaptainObvious878]

We don't know what the xbone is at. The last official numbers ms gave were years ago.

So the ratio could very well be 3-1.

[SpaceRanger]

Another rebuilding year? Ok.

[neolego]

As I tried to point out, I honestly think they've been in a rebuilding phases since the Xbox One Reveal Event. Why I think 2018 is key has everything to do with The Xbox One X launching last year. For the first time since 2013, it feels like the Xbox finally has momentum. This leads me to believe that it will use that momentum in 2018 to try and finish this generation on a high note.

[Sitdown]

@MakoD
Since your are confident, give us an exact timeframe, if not, just stop.

[DarkSniper]

Microsoft has been on a downward spiral since the mid-point of last generation. The reason why 2018 WILL NOT be a rebuilding year for Xbox is due to the fact that Microsoft has been exposed for their incompetence about how the gaming industry actually works. Throughout the years we've seen them throw in the towel on several failed ventures to enhance their product (HD-DVD, numerous 1st party cancellations, Kinect, XB1X).

While Microsoft was wasting their R&D funding on making the Xbox One into a glorified cable box that can't play used games, Sony and other console manufacturers were busy ramping up their first party development to give us the great games we are enjoying today.

Simply put, the Xbox One is receiving one of the worst curbstompings that Dark Sniper has ever witnessed and deservingly so. It is highly likely that the Xbox One will be the last console that Microsoft produces before they wave the white flag to Sony Interactive Entertainment once again.

$niper

[neolego]

You make some solid arguments, but to think that Microsoft would be out of the console market after the One is a little unrealistic. Even though the PlayStation is far ahead in sales, the Xbox One is still out pacing the 360. By that logic, we would see another console from Microsoft in the future.

[TheMuffDiver]

As an xbox fan it all started at E3 2013 as we all know was epic failure! It was so bad that it changed my mind about what i wanted. The initial mistakes made damn near capsized the whole xbox branch! The console was 50% less powerful than the competition along with $100 more price tag! Greed can and will kill companies and as consumers we must force the big wigs to humble themselves....if thats even possible. All in all xbox is still recovering from E3 2013.

[Cobra951]

33% less powerful, MuffDiver. The PS4 is 50% more powerful. Percentages are tricky that way.

[mark_parch]

while I totally agree as a gamer xbox hasn't really delivered for the last 6 years. Microsoft and xbox as a company are a huge success. I haven't got any figures to back this up but I wouldn't be surprised if microsofts gaming division makes more money than sonys as the major money is made from digital sales and services.

[Dragonscale]

So PS4 has over 2:1 customer base and higher attach rate over xbox div but xbone makes more money? Really? LMFAO.

[MoonConquistador]

Maybe if you factor in all those years of charging for online play on the 360 and Sony didn't charge. That was Microsoft's time in the sun.

What I don't understand is how that benefits you or why it's relevant to the conversation.

If we are talking about current sales, you can't be serious. Even you don't believe that with more than double the user base that the PS4 is making less than the XBoxO

[mark_parch]

i'm talking about right now. neither microsoft or sony make money from hardware and i reckon microsoft make more money from xbox live, game pass, digital sales and their share of ea access than sony do from psplus and digital sales.

[NXFather]

I think so too. What would be the point in losing like this again? I guess it would depend on is the money coming in from Xbox Live worth it.

[Pantz]

PUBG selling 3 million copies during 3 weeks in December is a nice foundation to start with.
https://news.xbox.com/en-us...
How many more weeks till 10 million?

[Razzer]

3 million players. Not 3 million sold.

[Araragifeels]

If there 3 million players doesn't that mean that it sold 3 million?

[Razzer]

I’m just saying what it said in the link. No need to say sold when that is not what it says.

[mark_parch]

@Razzer come on razzer it's going to be pretty close to 3million if there's 3 million people playing it lol

[Razzer]

Then complain to MS. It is their words. I have no idea how many copies have been sold. They haven’t released sales numbers.

[TheMuffDiver]

Yes and for a reason! one of the funnest games i have ever put my hands on! Shitty graphics and buggy controls cant really even hinder the amount of fun you can have!

[UCForce]

I don’t want to say this, but MS playing cheap. MS think way too big for their ambitions without focus. MS really need to invest something focus and more consistent, not just mainstream and popular fad.

[NXFather]

Well hopefully that paperboat can make it back to shore.

[Espangerish]

New hardware to replace the underpowered Xbox one solves one major issue but until they address the lack of quality compelling exclusive games they will struggle to regain market share.

The one x is a great machine, it they now start announcing the exclusive games to take advantage of it then the future will be bright. If the don’t though...i can only see the gap to PS4 widening

[mark_parch]

totally agree. Microsoft seem to be concentrating on services and games as a service which obviously makes a shit load of money for Microsoft but I want them to also have a focus on AAA story driven games

[Lokii]

Too little too late

[chris235]

funny. i bet they are thinking they are going to succeed by hopping on the onlinecraze-bandwagon and more shooters.

[Belinker300]

At this point Microsoft should focus on PC not consoles

[Vasto]

2018 here we come!

Will games like Sea Of Thieves, Forza Horizon 4 and State Of Decay 2 be 60 FPS?

Will 4K TVs get Free Sync which the X supports?

Will we get a chance to see Fable 4 from Playground?

Get your popcorn ready!

[CBaoth]

Popcorn for that little bit of info? Sure ya just don't want a hershey's kiss?

[Vasto]

Yep, popcorn for just this little bit of info.

[mark_parch]

state of decay 2 is one of my most anticipated games with the last night ashen but I doubt it will be 60fps. fingers crossed though

[zb1ftw777]

Xbox has never been down though.

It should continue building on the existing success.

It doesn't need to rebuild though.

[Vasto]

They will.

[thisismyaccount]

"..we spared no expense!"...
https://www.youtube.com/wat...

[MrVux000]

Just like late-2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017...

[Pantz]

Looks like Xbox One outsold PS4 in December as well.

[Nyxus]

In the US you mean.

[Pantz]

I would expect similar results worldwide.

[Razzer]

“I would expect similar results worldwide.”

LOL

[snoopgg]

Not globally

[CrimsonWing69]

sure, i'll bite.

[Father__Merrin]

Rebuilding year? I thought everything was fine in 2017

[feraldrgn]

Building a wall to hide the Xbox One logo, bravo.

[Max-Zorin]

Fire the whole Xbox division and replace them.