Xbox's Shannon Loftis Defends Exclusives Lineup, Teases More Game Announcements

"I think our offering is good and it is solid," the Xbox GM says.

[RpgSama]

That's all they do, they always keep teasing more announcements that never come or when they do come it's a "WORLD EXCLUSIVE" (launch trailer), they lost so much ground in this generation on the software department against the 360, it's just crazy.

[chrisx]

Exactly. With all the money ms has the software presentation this gen is indefensible. they need major restructuring over there.

[UCForce]

The problem is that MS don't want to. They afraid to lose a lot of money. Sea of Thieves have cost a lot of money for MS. But Sea of Thieves is a GaaS game which will increase profitable to MS. Did you see why MS buy Minecraft in first place ? Because They want to be profitable. It will be the same thing with PUGB exclusive. And Microsoft will be just like Valve. When they will be no longer taking risk of making more new games.

[Relientk77]

But but you gotta wait until E3 when Microsoft shows off all these ridic "exclusives" it's only like 8 months away.

[UCForce]

MS focus is now Multiplayer and Coop. Single Player isn't MS priority anymore. That's just disappointing.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

They just had major restructuring.

How is Sea of Thieves GaAS. Do you have insider info @UCFORCE

[Jinger]

@UCForce

As of right now SoT isn't a GaaS game. Just because it has a focus of online co-op doesnt mean it's GaaS.

[TankCrossing]

Sea of Thieves is definitely GaaS. MS plan to support that game for many years.

You think they will just release it, then forget about it and move onto other projects? That'll only happen if t is a catastrophic failure (which i wouldn't rule out at all from what I've seen of it).

[bluefox755]

I have a feeling when they're not talking about AAA titles when they say "announcements".

[drunkenspy007]

They love saying exclusive when that game is also available on PC. PS4 and Switch are the only consoles with real exclusive games.

[DialgaMarine]

Their E3 announcer voice was a total laughing stick for that lol

[Gazondaily]

"I think our offering is good and it is solid. I definitely hear that gamers want more. Would we love to have two-dozen more super-strong, absolutely exclusives? You bet,"

Disagree there. Solid as far as the holiday season? Maybe but only because of PubG and the usual waiting for hols to release titles.

" I do not see how offering games on more platforms to more gamers is a bad thing necessarily, particularly in a multiplayer scenario"

Well the Xbox console's value proposition takes a MASSIVE hit when the titles are available on PC. I agree that the MP scenario has real benefits, assuming that can work well without compromising on balance. Games like Forza being on both with enhanced/shared player numbers is great.

Gamers have spoken and MS appear to acknowledge it but wouldn't it be great/refreshing for team Xbox to say something of the lines of "Yo, so we know we're suffering from a lack of exclusives currently. We recognise that and we are definitely working towards fixing that. Don't worry we hear you."

I guess they are trying to say that...but they have been saying that for a while. We need some results. Yes the early years weren't so bad but its at the latte part of the gen where the results truly matter. The 360 slumped massively in this regard at the end. Unless Xbox pull their pants up, the X1 is to continue that trend

[Death]

Value takes a hit when the games are on PC? I buy all my games digital now so I can play them on my Xbox and PC. How does that reduce value? Are you referring to all the people that hate Xbox and choose to play Xbox games on their uber PC instead?

The only thing Microsoft can do now is make more exclusive first party games and pay to keep games off other platforms. I would like to see them make more quality first party games.

[ApocalypseShadow]

Reducing value means even in the smallest way, they are giving consumers reason not to buy the console if they can play Microsoft games somewhere else.

Consoles have exclusives for a reason or there's no point in buying them. Not sure why you don't see that. If Sony and Nintendo had offered their games on PC in the past, there would have been a possibility of more sales from the first Nintendo and PlayStation 1 going forward. But **LESS** of a reason to buy their hardware because PC was always more powerful than consoles.

If Sony and Nintendo offered their games on Xbox, would there be a reason to buy a Nintendo Switch or PS4? No. If Netflix offered their original programming on Hulu, would there be a reason to subscribe to Netflix? No. There's a reason why some people go to particular restaurants. Because the Master Chef only makes food at that establishment only.

Exclusives matter when you want clientele or there's no point in competition or creating a place, exclusive features or product.

[Death]

I see reducing value as limiting where I can play my games and for how long. Play Anywhere and b/c have added value to my games. Locking games to a single platform generation and then reselling then over and over reduced value to me. SOC was just announced for PS4 which is the third console for the same game. Letting gamers use the PS2 or PS3 copy they already own on PS4 with free enhancements would add value. Allowing them to by it again, not so much.

We clearly define value differently.

As for making Microsoft Xbox games playable on Microsoft Windows 10 PC, I don’t see the difference between that and PS4 exclusives that also play on Vita or PSNow

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

"Value takes a hit when the games are on PC? I buy all my games digital now so I can play them on my Xbox and PC. How does that reduce value?"

It increases the value of each individual game because you can play it on two platforms, but at the same time the value of the Xbox One console does take a hit, it might not be a ginormous hit, but it's still a hit nonetheless. Previously, titles that were must have, you had to buy Xbox hardware to play it, now you have a choice to play it on Xbox or PC. The Xbox isn't absolutely necessary to play those games anymore. And it does make PC gaming more attractive. Those that were strictly console gamers before might dabble with PC to maximize their gaming.

Either way MS has to increase their output.

"As for making Microsoft Xbox games playable on Microsoft Windows 10 PC, I don’t see the difference between that and PS4 exclusives that also play on Vita or PSNow "

Well the XBox and PC games are the same game. With the Vita, usually you are getting a far inferior experience compared to the PS4 version. Some gameplay feature may omitted in the Vita version. For PSNow, it does reduce the value of the PS4 as well. There is a reason why Sony isn't releasing new exclusives right away on PSNow even though they can easily do it.

[rainslacker]

Think septic is saying the value proposition of the hardware is reduced. You seem to be referring to the value of the software. If so, it would seem more beneficial to want ms to make more games to have more value to both systems you own. However, if one has a pc, the value proposition for console hardware is diminished because it becomes redundant. Obviously there will be some that see value in having both, but the need to get one isn't as pressing if you already have the means to play said games elsewhere.

[Death]

@rain,

That assumes you are interested in all or at least a significant amount of the available exclusives. As a PS4 owner I don’t buy the majority of the exclusives available. How much value should I put into the games I don’t want?

I own a very competent gaming PC as well as an Xbox. I find more value in my Play Anywhere games that I buy once and have access to on both. I find more value in playing my “old games” I already paid for enhanced on a new system. Buying a game on my PS4 and knowing it has a shorter shelf life of usability doesn’t make me feel like I’m getting more value. I respect that people are out ther excited to pay for SoC for a third time, but I feel it’s gouging. It’s the opposite of adding value. I would rather see the game I already bought be worth something longer.

[Why o why]

Death... its obvious you either just don't get it or just dont want to understand.

Answer me this... why did you think ms stopped/blocked many of the xbox exclusives from being on pc last gen?

Why do you think they used the term 'exclusive' during their presser?

My point is the value of the hardware is lessened if the software can be played in its same capacity elswhere, in this case the pc but thats not the be all or end all as sony has shared many titles with pc too. Here's the thing though, sony know the value of usp's and true exclusive content is increases the value proposition. You may not like all there is to offer but you ultimately have more choice as do others. You may not like everybody's golf or persona 5 but others will. Multiply unique titles by 10 and theres more opportunities to attract and retain custom by casting a wider net.

Ms devalued the xb1 when they announced all of its software were going multi. Great for the devs and guys who owned a pc too but not so much for the xb hardware. Many pc guys were overjoyed when they heard ms's plan to share all titles...one less piece of hardware and a subscription to worry about. How can you not see how that affects the relevance of the x1. Its not a doom n gloom situation but it sure isn't helping that much.

[rainslacker]

OK. Well, before we proceed, I have to ask how play anywhere has added a lot of value to a lot of your game purchases if you don't buy many exclusives.

On top of that, there are only 25 games available now, with 11 coming in the future with Play Anywhere based on MS own provided list, and the only two big ones that aren't from MS are Shadow of War and Resident Evil.

https://www.xbox.com/en-US/...

It seems you're exaggerating the actual significance of the value you gain from this feature. Just like with Sony's cross buy, it's not a heavily implemented feature, and while there is value in those games which offer it, I can't see that it's that much of a consideration on the larger scale.

plus, I feel Septic was speaking generally, while you were speaking personally, and anecdotally. I can understand, and even relate to what you find of value in the X1X, and won't discourage you from seeing that or buying an X1X(which I assume you already did). I just think that you are taking Septics generalized statement, and trying to make your own views as applicable across the board.

[freshslicepizza]

I like the direction with Play Anywhere, Windows support. I also like the designs of the Xbox One S and XB1X, both are beautiful and amazing engineering. They also have very strong online support and cloud services around the globe.

But they need games, they need to create new studios. When they canceled Coalitions new project in favor of Gears of War I knew right there they still don't get it. The only sign I see of anything new is Sea of Thieves. Not one other game shows they are investing in the future.

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

I finally agree 100%

[Gazondaily]

Dont worry; won't be long till you're back to launching ad hominem attacks but let's enjoy this moment with a nice cup of tea ☕

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

If I launch ad hominem attacks, then you are most definitely guilty of it as well.

[Gazondaily]

Pretty sure you launch into those first but never mind. So is that a yes to tea?

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

☕🍵

[travestyj]

Did she take PR speaking lessons from Donald Trump?

[bluefox755]

Considering Trump won, I'd say no.

[Trez1234]

Well said.

[KillBill]

"Well the Xbox console's value proposition takes a MASSIVE hit when the titles are available on PC." - in saying that you are then surmising that games offered on PS4 and on PSP or PS Vita then PS4 console takes a MASSIVE hit. It does not. Offering a game that is playable across multiple platforms to play with a single purchase point actually buffs the worth of Xbox console. It is something that even Sony realizes they need to get invested in and are doing so in their own way with PS Now on PC. (though at a much weaker value point)

[-Foxtrot]

Bullshit. They've done this like 3 years in a row now if not longer...it's the same routine and some people still fall for it. It feels like they are literally just buying their time as long as they can, until next gen or something.

E3 comes and there's a lack of good announcements or first party content

People express their disappointment

Microsoft hype up future game announcements at every new up coming game event

They all pass and nothing

E3 comes...cycle repeats. Some years better then others but compared to their year round hype...it's not as good.

Maybe they should literally shut their mouths, seriously if there's no hype to an event where they announce games then even the most lackluster conference will look better then what it would be if they hyped the shit out of it as peoples expectations would be low. I mean you don't really see Sony or Nintendo hyping the hell out of events continuously do you...they show, not just tell.

[RpgSama]

I 100% agree, they've been doing this for the better part of this generation and people still fall for it, and when they do eventually show something, it's either a timed exclusive that they word in such a way that makes it seems like an actual exclusive, a game that will not be released for 4 or 5 years but they hype every year or a game that will never see the light of day because they cancel it (after hyping it for years)

[Death]

So you don’t want Microsoft to talk about more first party games. Interesting...

[UCForce]

I think MS need to let their first party Studios do their own thing. For me, I want to see 343 do a new IP like Sony let GG did with HZD.

[RpgSama]

We want them to talk more about first party games that actually exist and are actually released.

[-Foxtrot]

Eh? I said they shouldn't hype up their conferences if they aren't going to show anything to match their own hype. Where the hell did you get "don't ever talk about first party games" from...seriously, it's like you guys create your own counter points when you see someone criticizing them because there's nothing else you can counter point with.

All they have to do is just wait until the event, then show what you have...not hyping the shit out of a conference half a year before hand promising big things nearly every week until then only for people to watch the show then express their disappointment.

The difference between Microsoft and Nintendo/Sony is that Microsoft make their mouth go all the time even when it's quiet and nothing is happening while Nintendo/Sony wait until gaming events like E3/Paris Games Week or a launch for an exclusive game for their system. I'm not saying they never say a word in between but compared to Microsoft they seem quiet as a mouse because they know "there's a time and a place for everything"

Next time you'll hear Sony suits and the like going on about stuff will probably be in December a few days before and after PSX.

[bluefox755]

No. All they do is TALK. It's time for them to show, not tell, for once.

[rainslacker]

I'd love for them to. I'd love for them to show them, then talk about them. Instead, they talk about them, but we have no idea what they are, or if we should really be hyped for them, because again, we don't know what they are. Ultimately, I'd love for them to release them, particularly the one's they've been talking about for years now, all while they act like they are holding back announcing them until they are ready to release them so they can save face against all the people begging for them to show something new.

[freshslicepizza]

The big problem as well for Microsoft is they put so much emphasis on E3 that if it doesn't deliver then it becomes even more jarring than if Sony and Nintendo don't deliver at E3. Sony just had a Paris show and had new games, where is Microsoft showing new titles all year? Shannon is just another puppet whose job is to promote the Xbox and put the most positive spin. This comment speaks loudly about how out of touch they are,

"I think our offering is good and it is solid. I definitely hear that gamers want more. Would we love to have two-dozen more super-strong, absolutely exclusives? You bet,"
Loftis said. "We do have more coming; more that are in the works that we're not talking about now. But I feel good about what we have to offer for the launch [of Xbox One X]."

Would we love to have two dozen more strong exclusives? What kind of nonsense is that, they don't even have one dozen in the last few years all together. This year the only notable games are Forza 7 and Halo Wars 2 and maybe Cuphead, with PUBG to follow. Am I missing anything? That's not strong enough Shannon to dismiss concerns for exclusives.

[UCForce]

Cuphead isn't exclusive because it's on Steam.

[freshslicepizza]

@UCForce
"Cuphead isn't exclusive because it's on Steam."

So is No Mans Sky but that still didn't stop Sony from promoting it as a console exclusive. PUBG is also on Steam. Anything else you want to add?

[RpgSama]

The difference is that No Mans Sky it's just one of a LOT more games that actually are 100% exclusive to the system, Cuphead is one of 4 games that came out for the year on Xbox One that are "exclusive" and somewhat important, the other 3 being Halo Wars 2 (the only exclusive for the first 8 months of the year) Forza 7 and PUBG.

[ziggurcat]

@moldy:

"So is No Mans Sky but that still didn't stop Sony from promoting it as a console exclusive..."

... because it IS a console exclusive...........

[Gazondaily]

@zigg

"... because it IS a console exclusive..........."

And so is Cuphead. That is the point Moldy is making, countering what UCForce is saying about the game being available for Steam

[Death]

You see what you want to see.

[nix]

Or some people like you don't even want to see things from other perspective.

[Gwiz]

Yup

[Gh05t]

You make it sound like this is planned. You think they planned on not having Scalebound to talk about at this last E3? You think it was planned to have Sea of Thieves and Crackdown 3 not ready for the Xbox One X launch?

Its not good and everyone knows it but it is not like it is how MS expected things to go. they are doing what they can given the hand that was dealt. I dont really expect them to hang their heads and cry. It is their job to try to maintain confidence and build the brand. Next year will be shallow with the standard Halo and Forza announcements and I believe releases during holiday 2018. I dont expect anything new out of MS until 2019 holiday which sucks as an xbox owner but it is what it is.

[rainslacker]

We can always expect the unexpected to happen with any game production. Sh*t happens sometimes.

But when those cancellations and delays are exacerbating the lack of overall game output to epic proportions, then it's obvious that MS simply just doesn't have the content to back up their own console.

The hand MS was dealt is one of their own making. They decided not to invest more into their own games development or acquisition. They decided to hype up what they do have to a great degree without being sure they could deliver, and have done that on multiple occasions, to the point where it's only their big three games which actually seem to get released on time.

I understand it's their job to maintain confidence in the brand, but statements like this only serve to ignore, or at least not address the actual criticisms they are getting. It doesn't build confidence to keep saying they have stuff coming, when they've been saying that for years with not much to show for it. They've over-promised and under delivered for years now, and no one besides MS dealt them that hand.

[Relientk77]

Weak lineup especially this year.

[StormLegend]

"I think our offering is good and it is solid," the Xbox GM says."
Why TF you lying?

[DaGR8JIBRALTAR]

Lol..."Give the lil dude his ball back."

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Dang those lies aren't good

[Automatic79]

I dont think there wrong for not showing us the roadmap of exclusives with no dates. They have gone on record stating that as the games get closer to release we will see them. Everyone assumes MS has no games due to no road map. But so far there is not one year we have not received fantastic games. I will go on record and say 2017 they took an L due to many anticipated games getting pushed back.

[leemo19]

Does anyone in the Xbox division know what exclusive actually means, multi-platforms are not exclusive MS. Having a game on other platforms isn't a bad thing correct, due to it allows a dev to show their game to variety of gamers. The problem is you still need to show actually exclusives, so people who spent this amount of money on your console can justify their purchase. Most people buy a console because of the exclusive that come with it.
MS this gen havn't been doing good in that department.

[PhoenixUp]

For all the continuous teasing Microsoft has done over the years, they should be ashamed of their lacking first party output for this year.

The pulled first party support from Xbox 360 in its golden years to focus on Xbox One and they still somehow come up short in that department.

[Snez]

If a game is available on another system, it's not exclusive. The usage of terms such as "console exclusive" or "world exclusive" is quite frankly an insult. Exclusive means you cannot find it anywhere else - that's the bloody definition of it, and thanks to Play Anywhere you can play the Xbox library on PC. So Xbox has no exclusives, because they exist on other systems.

Xbone's "exclusive" lineup is honestly pathetic, they've made no effort this generation. In the original and 360 days, if you wanted their games you'd need their systems... And you know what? They actually made an effort to an extent.
Hell, even weeb gamers like me were treated with some gems like Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey and Infinite Undiscovery. They even tried with some multiplatform games, you had The Last Remnant (which did later release on PC) and even a Tales Of game appearing on the 360. There were excellent RPGs like Fable still being alive, and even though Nuts and Bolts wasn't that great the future for Banjo Kazooie wasn't bleak.

Now look at the Xbone, everything except for what, a Halo game and Sunset Overdrive is playable on PC? And nu-Halo is mediocre compared to its glory days thanks to an incompetent 343i, and Sunset Overdrive just sits as being an "okay" game. Sure Microsoft are willing to scream "most powerful console" but they've got nothing to show for it than a bunch of games you can already play on every other system in the planet. And when you point this out fans are quick to cry "cheaper than PC", despite having to pay monthly/yearly fees just to play online, their only modding opportunities being paid, and enjoying worse sales than the PC market - adding up to a more costly system in the long run.
When the WiiU and Vita had more quality exclusives released in two years than you have in an entire generation so far, you know that you're doing bad for exclusives.

[IRetrouk]

No point asking for more games if the ones they do invest in dont sell or get cancelled, forzas numbers are a crime, same goes for remedys game, insomniacs game, how did cuphead do on xbox? These games are all top quality games that should be selling but arnt, ms wont invest if the fanbase dont buy.

[RpgSama]

Forza has never sold a lot, and they're not helping the IP by releasing one every year (even if one it's Horizon and the other Motorsport), they get progressively better and sell with a bigger install base progressively worse, they milked it

[IRetrouk]

Isnt it usually around 4 or 5 mill that forza sells? Those are big numbers, i understand that the sales have been declining but its a crime, forza as a name may be milked but the games scream quality, but again, if noone is buying ms wont produce.

[RpgSama]

@IRetrouk

The Forza titles are super high quality, but if you're an early xbox one adopter and already have 3 or 4 Forza titles in your catalog of games maybe you will spend your money elsewhere, unless you're a real car aficionado. Forza titles should be an event, instead they might as well be the Forza 2017 title

[FloydianAndroid]

Look.......no one with a brain can say Sony doesn’t have more exclusives. The thing is though that Phil spencer has done everything he has said he would. 1. He fixed the hardware. (Sony didn’t even include a 4K blu Ray player and they own the patent) 2. He delivered on backwards compatibility. The third thing he said was that he would invest in software, that’s the next phase and I think he will deliver. He inherited a mess and he had to right the ship which he he has. The games are next. Also Sony pads their stats by announcing games 5 years before they drop.

[IRetrouk]

He said the games were coming looooong before he talked about the s or x, looong before backwards compatability too, nobody asked for the x, they asked for games, how come bc is so important now? Go back last gen, not one xbox fan thought it was important while sony had ps1 and two games able to run on the ps3, untill the 360 started allowing limited bc it wasnt seen as a plus, now its seems its more important than new games,

[FloydianAndroid]

I always wanted bc. Why wouldn’t anyone want that? Say what you want, but now that the hardware is strong the games will come and if they don’t I’ll still play third party titles on the Xbox one x. I’ve never had a lack of games to play. Maybe the 13 yr old Sony fanboys don’t get that, but I have 100s of games that I haven’t even got to yet on my Xbox. Yes Sony has more and better exclusives, but that doesn’t affect me. I have games to play anytime I want to. I’m not trying to win Sony fans for Microsoft I’m just saying that I’m more than happy with my Xbox.

[IRetrouk]

Bc is cool, always been a supporter of it, i just dont think its as necessary as new games. Why does it take a new console for them to make games?? The xbox one was fine as is, all they had to do was support it properly, there was no need for a new console, my only point was they said they had the games coming years ago, now they are repeating what they already told us they were doing, before the s, or x was even a thought to any of us.

[Goldby]

Sony doesn't own the patent but is a part of the Blu Ray disc association. Because of Sony. Blu ray is where it is today

[Trez1234]

When was sea of thieves announced ? What about crackdown? Go back just a year and remedy released a game that microsoft announced on the very first xbox one reveal. Then you have fable and scalebound that got cancelled and were also announced few years prior to the cancellations ( fable was one of the face of the so cold best line-up in history )etc...

They both " pads their stats " by announcing games but sony has been releasing more games and thats a fact.
If anything, sony has been pretty quick with their releases when you consider how long it took horizon, infamous, until dawn, the order, both knacks, uncharted 4 etc....those games released within 2/3 years of their announcements.

No point spinning it, xbox need more than what theyre doing when it comes to exclusives and hopefully with the x released, they could truly focus on that.

[Redemption-64]

This is one of the reasons people go after MS, this years has been one of the worst, if not the worst for them in regards to games. Why not just admit it and move on. Sony had no problem saying our lineup this year is sparse a few years ago. Honesty takes you a long way

[FloydianAndroid]

Ummm I opened my comment by saying Sony has more games. That’s not in question.

[corroios]

Keep going this path and your relevance will keep getting smaller and smaller.

[Atticus_finch]

A bunch of people just dropped $500, for a second time! and this lineup is what Microsoft thinks is good and solid. Smh

[Skuletor]

As solid as Casper the Friendly Ghost.

[DialgaMarine]

I don’t get this, what were they doing for the last 4 years? I know game development takes a lot longer now than it used to, but that’s why they’ve had 4 freakin years. But no. They suckered people into buying a Xbone earlier by offering a decent lineup before falling back on their few tired IP’s while continuing to hype up games they announced 3+ years ago. This is literally the 360 all over again; they’re gonna try to use false hype and empty promises to keep selling their console, while they move their current projects over to NextBox, assuming they even have one. This is pathetic.

[Max-Zorin]

Fire the whole Xbox division. Everybody gotta go.

[UltraAtomic]

I really hope they make good to what they said. I want to see rebooted original xbox titles. I want a conker! I want a rebooted Brute Force. I want rebooted fable, and buy ryse from crytec and make it your own. Hopefully they do this.

[WelkinCole]

He does not need to defend anything.

MS loyalist are doing a fine job of not wanting new exclusives

As long as this is the case MS has not incentive to get out new games

Until Xbox players revolt like they did at the start. MS will not budge.