160°

After February 20, Where Does That Leave Microsoft?

Once Sony makes its February 20 announcement, Microsoft is last to present a console. What could be waiting for us?

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holygrenade.com
FrigidDARKNESS4528d ago

Microsoft dont have to do anything till march and showcase the next xbox atGDC 2013 which is going to smash and crush the faces of its competition.

majiebeast4528d ago (Edited 4528d ago )

With what more Halo and kinect 2.0 dont make me laugh. If Microsoft wants to make a impact they need new IP's not apps not exclusive deals for ESPN not exclusive timed dlc. But games and seeing as the last few of their E3's have been worse then the last i dont see that happening.

Mikefizzled4528d ago

Microsoft have a suprising number of exclusives yet to be announced. Some of which are definitely new IPs

PFFT4528d ago (Edited 4528d ago )

Youd have to be quite messed up in the head if you think MS has no new games planned. Ahhh fanboys.....you cant live with them nor can you get rid of them.......

Mikefizzled4528d ago (Edited 4528d ago )

Did you not see the recent post about Black Tusk Studios having 4 unannounced IPs in the works.
Lionheads potentially new IP/ Fable MMO. Rares super secret projects. Then a disappointingly large dollop of Kinect and Arcade games for good measure.

d0nT wOrrY4528d ago

We've heard that A LOT. New IP, surprising number of exclusives blah blah blah. Still nothing.

Highlife4528d ago

Mikefizzled - "Rares super secret projects"

Wait there are still people working at Rare.

DOMination-4528d ago (Edited 4528d ago )

Here is a list of what many people would call "Hardcore Projects" being developed by Microsoft First Party Studios:

* 343 Studios - Halo 5 and another [probably halo related] project (they have two teams)
* Connected Experiences - Unannounced large scale multiplayer title
* MS LA - Unannounced new IP "cinematic title"
* MS Redmond - Overseeing and Co-Developing "multiple projects"
* Platform Next Studios - Unannounced New IP
*Skybox Sports - Unannounced Sports title (New IP? Don't think MS have done a sports game before??)
* Turn 10 - Now a two team studio. One is Forza 5 and another unannounced title (PGR5?)
* Twisted Pixel - Unannounced title
* Lionhead - Unannounced new IP. Thought to be an MMO project.
* Lift London - "multiple unannounced cloud based games"
* Press Play - Unannounced Project
* Black Tusk - "multiple unannounced new IPs"
* MS Victoria - Unannounced Project

Now here are MS Casual/Family/Kinect Studios:

* BigPark - ???
* Xbox Live Productions - ???
* Playful Learning - "Next Generation Family Project"
* MS Soho - ???
* MS Mobile - ???
* Good Science Studio - ???
* Kids and Lifestyle Entertainment - "Next Generation fitness project"
* Rare - Allegedly now a 3 team studio

I can't be bothered to link because people would disagree and too naive to believe it anyway.

But anybody who thinks MS will have no games is in for a huge surprise.

kreate4527d ago

Ms doesn't need high budget exclusive titles. It will sell regardless. The 360 has proven this in America.

They don't have to change anything. Halo and gears is all they need.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 4527d ago
-Falaut-4528d ago (Edited 4528d ago )

Fo realz internet gangsta?

BuLLDoG9094528d ago

good one, you should be a standup comedian

user39158004528d ago

I only see MS reveal in march if ps4 is revealed in feb. I see both PS4 AND 720 a real close match with same cpu and similar ram, it will come down to preference and option with the system, I think MS will have more extra stuff included like illumiroom, better live, skype, windows8 os, better apps and a whole lot more internet advantage, but PS4 more likely to have more first party. Third party support will be equally distributed with minimal diference at best. PS4 and 720 will rock and wii-u will have the support of less casuals but lack of third party support again.

darx4528d ago

That is the thing with Windows 8. It will allow for more cross platform gaming for the developers who put forth the effort. It looks like that may be the way gaming is going, we'll see. Steambox to an extent and a lesser extent the OUYA also will allow for cross platform gaming.

GalacticEmpire4527d ago

The thing is, with win 8 taking up so much of 'nextbox' CPU (rumored 2 cores) and RAM (rumored 2GB) it may mean that apps run better but at a huge cost to game performance.

Personally, I'm agaisnt this.

bicfitness4527d ago

PS4 supposedly has a faster GPU and RAM. All the speculation on Neogaf so far (which has been startlingly correct) has the PS4 pegged as noticeably better, performance wise, than the Durango. MS is going for a large OS with multiple social features and Kinect support. That is their focus.

1upgamer994528d ago

I for one will not buying Nextbox, and just because it is going to be powerful does not make up for the fact that Sony and Nintendo have the IPs. The past 2 years Sony has been catching up to the Xbox in sales that is for sure. Halo has been done to death, Gears of War is pretty cool, but not going to make or break me if I don't have it. So I for one will be chillaxin playing Wii U online FREE and see what Sony has up is sleeve this E3.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4527d ago
MultiConsoleGamer4528d ago

I think it's pretty foolish to think that there are only two players in the market, and that one must always respond to the other.

LackTrue4K4528d ago

i have a question,
"what dose MS have this year, any games coming up???"
if nothing, i have no doubt, there gana announce there next console within this year.

1upgamer994528d ago

Uh, yeah they are announcing a new console this year.

rbailey4528d ago

Microsoft will be fine with whatever happens at this point. If you remember, they started a countdown to E3 on Major Nelson's blog only a few days into 2013. That got alot of people talking and likewise this will continue long after Sony makes their announcement. Obviously anyone can guess that new consoles will be further detailed at E3 2013. Microsoft has no exclusives aside from Halo and a handful of Xbox Live arcade titles so in my mind they def releasing the next xbox this year. As for PlayStation and that Feb 20th date, anything less then an actual PS4 reveal would singlehandedly be one of the worst moves Sony could ever make in the entire studio's history.

Cocozero4528d ago

Sony is foolish to announce the PS4 so early because we likely wont hear about it again till E3 and if MS announces the 720 the any PS4 new will be overshadowed

kneon4528d ago

Assuming the Feb 20th event is even about the PS4, which is not at all guaranteed, there is nothing foolish about it.

The last few E3's Sony has announced/leaked info for months before E3. That had the effect of having Sony constantly in the gaming news leading up to E3. And it seems to be working yet again given what the front page of N4G looks like most days lately.

It's a pretty good strategy. Just like at every other conference only the biggest announcements get noticed while everything else gets lost in the noise. This approach ensures they get more overall coverage in the press than if they just announced everything at E3.

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160°

‘I think Xbox hardware is dead’, says Microsoft gaming veteran

One of the founding members of the Xbox team has questioned Microsoft’s multiplatform gaming strategy, and said they believe the Xbox hardware business is effectively “dead"

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videogameschronicle.com
15h agoReplies(3)
Goodguy0113h ago

Think that rumor that they'll still make a new console but at a profit at $1000 will be true though. The series consoles will remain their cheap alternative throughout next gen I would say. Keep in mind that game pass and pretty much going 3rd party is their main focus. They want to bring xbox everywhere.

13h ago
Nfs1311h ago

It’s dead but they’re also making new hardware

Schrodingers Hardware 😂😂

Futureshark2h ago

A slow, painful and public death too.

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300°

Looming Xbox layoffs threaten Microsoft's reputation

Even as the company sets out to overhaul the very definition of Xbox, cuts at its studios risk creating a negative image reminiscent of EA's worst era

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gamesindustry.biz
Jingsing2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

I appreciate the article but this guy must be living in a delayed universe, The reputation was ruined 10+ years ago and hasn't recovered since. As such people have voted with their wallets and stopped buying Xbox products in large amounts.

YourMommySpoils1d 12h ago

Their reputation was lost way before that. From the moment Microsoft said they entering the console business, we all knew it would be a downgrade.

Bathyj22h ago(Edited 22h ago)

That's not true at all the OG Xbox had drive and they had hunger and they wanted to accomplish something. It was a great console.

they didn't quite reach their goals and they gave up prematurely because they couldn't win. It was halfway through the Xbox 360 when kinect released and that was when they lost their way and we're a rudderless ship ever since

Agent7519h ago

In all fairness, Xbox had some great games with online play, Xbox 360 even better. Xbox consoles started to die with the Xbox One. Ditch consoles for the PC and PS.

YourMommySpoils11h ago

@Bathyj hard to compute ay. Xbox was never better than a PC and that's all they ever were. A demo box. Doesn't get more true than that.

2d ago Replies(1)
isarai2d ago

What reputation is this threatening exactly? 😂

Lightning772d ago

Rumors of Turn 10 being either shut down or hit with massive lay offs is on the horizon.

The issue is MS will do something right only to do something very, very wrong. And they do this what seems calculative at this point. Doesn't matter what they do the Investors and leadership want more and more money an endless bottomless pit of purr insatiable greed. A company that acts like it's broke or hurting is what really, really infuriates me. They've surpassed apple again well over 3 trillion who acts like they're a million dollar company is fk stupid. Pivots and changes for no reason and can't do things for more than a year with out a pivot or changing their metrics.

Christopher1d 16h ago

That would be really bad since Phil just hyped up next year as a big Forza year at Summer Game Fest.

1Victor1d 15h ago

@christopher: “ That would be really bad since Phil just hyped up next year as a big Forza year at Summer Game Fest”
The key word big can be ether good or bad 🤷🏿only time can tell

DarXyde1d 14h ago

First Forza being generated entirely via AI?

If any company would do it, it'd be them.

Nacho_Z1d 3h ago

Isn't the point that it's irrelevant how profitable MS is, the suits have decided it's time that the Xbox division started making them money. Hence the layoffs, the pivots.

hennessey8622h ago

That wouldn't surprise me, as motorsport has been heading down hill since the great number 4. Where as playground have consistently put out better games. I think the two studios will be merged under playground games banner.

1d 17h ago Replies(2)
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660°

Microsoft planning “major” Xbox layoffs next week

The cuts are expected to be announced next week.

Microsoft is also planning thousands of job cuts that will impact other parts of it businesses

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theverge.com
5d ago Replies(1)
5d ago Replies(1)
Obscure_Observer5d ago

MFs has been beating their chests over great quarterly results and big profits to shareholders while firing people by the thousands just like Sony.

I wonder if at the top of those rumored layoffs they´ll also cancel upcoming or unannounced games while shutting down more studios as well.

5d ago
pwnmaster30005d ago

Always got to throw shade at Sony smh.
Yes we get it,
MS good Sony bad
MS bad Sony is also bad lmao

5d ago
Obscure_Observer5d ago

F* them both!

Just for the record, I don´t care about your victim complex crap either. Find someone else who cares.

blacktiger5d ago

He was talking about both. Why you getting offended when he's using both names

pwnmaster30005d ago (Edited 5d ago )

@Blacktiger

Im not offended , that’s just his formula lol
He can’t help help himself, he needs to bring Sony down when the topic involves MS.
Whether is good news for MS or bad, it some how leads to Sony doing bad lmao.
It’s actually hilarious.

InUrFoxHole5d ago

He's not wrong but im tracking what youre saying. In this case is should just be MS bad. Thats a lot of people fired

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 5d ago
Tacoboto5d ago

"just like Sony"

Gosh you're insufferable, not everything needs to be both-sides'd. Sony's had layoffs, but nothing like what Microsoft has been doing and is continuing to do.

CrimsonWing695d ago (Edited 5d ago )

I mean, no offense, but this is why you’re not some corporate business person running a major corporation. Big profits don’t mean jobs are safe. Do you understand why things like this happen:

Cutting jobs to maintain or increase profitability, especially in underperforming divisions like parts of Xbox like other gaming divisions.

Corporate restructuring and relocating resources for strategic stability in ever changing markets and consumer behaviors.

Investor expectations and optimizing operations to maintain investor confidence. Whatever boosts stock prices and improves future margins.

And there’s many other factors at play. It’s never as simple as business doing well, everyone’s safe. That’s just you not understanding at all how corporations work and have been working since the beginning. This isn’t something that’s specific to Xbox, you can bet your ass Sony and Nintendo do this and if it’s not clear by now, game development is not a stable job nor has it ever been for many. A lot of developers are contractors and guess what happens when a project is done?

Ganif5d ago

Nintendo said they have no plans for layoffs, and you can't seriously claim that the scale of Sony's layoffs most of which involved Bungie which is self managed as even close to the same scale as what Microsoft has done since they purchased Zenimax. And that significantly less layoffs would have happened if those publishers had stayed independent. Keep in mind that much of these layoffs have been due to redundancies specifically related to these buyouts.

CrimsonWing695d ago (Edited 5d ago )

@Ganif

Nintendo:

https://gamerant.com/ninten...

Sony:

https://gamerant.com/playst...

https://techxplore.com/news...

I don’t think it’s realistic to treat Sony’s layoffs as somehow outside the norm for the industry right now. Even if Bungie is self-managed, Sony’s cuts went far beyond that like Naughty Dog, Insomniac, London Studio being shut down completely, and multiple teams across the globe took hits. These weren’t just minor adjustments.

Nintendo, I had to look up and you’re right. They seem to be an outlier, but rest assured at some point it happens. And even then there’s been layoffs, albeit a smaller amount and contractors.

Would fewer layoffs have happened if studios from acquisitions stayed independent? Maybe. But even independents have been hit hard and look at what’s happened with Embracer’s fallout, or smaller devs like Digic, Roll7, or Volition. This isn’t just a “Microsoft problem” or strictly tied to acquisitions; it’s a broader correction happening across the whole industry, and unfortunately, layoffs are a big part of that process right now.

Ganif5d ago

From your article:

"According to reports, Nintendo of America restructured its testing operations, leading to layoffs of about 120 contractors, part of a strategy for global integration.

Nintendo of America, publisher of iconic franchises like Mario and Zelda, is shifting some contractors to full-time roles for better development integration."

Contractors are not employees, and even if you want to count them as that, it's 120 people vs around 7500 since Microsoft purchased Zenimax.

In an era of game industry layoffs, Nintendo is hiring more people
https://automaton-media.com...

Nintendo Announces 10 Percent Pay Raise For Devs Despite Lower Profits
https://kotaku.com/nintendo...

Nintendo CEO’s refusal to layoff staff goes viral following industry-wide cuts
"Satoru Iwata took pay cuts to ensure staff didn’t have to be let go"
https://www.nme.com/news/ga...

And as for Sony you're comparing less than 1000 total jobs to an estimated7500

Has the industry faced layoffs, yes, but that still doesn't account for the mass layoffs due to redundancies that was easily predictable, or that fact that at least 1/3 of Microsoft's layoffs and studio closures happened before the industry downturn.

thorstein5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

Take the L, Crimson.

People hate Nintendo, but Ganif proved why they deserve support.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 5d ago
-Foxtrot5d ago

It's like banging your head off a wall, he just can't help himself.

Microsoft can do no wrong, Sony sucks at everything and Nintendo is bigged up because it's less hassle than trying to defend Microsoft all the time

What's going to happen when Microsoft finally turn completely third party, then what?

anast5d ago

I enjoy Obscure. Obscure does good work.

crazyCoconuts5d ago

Did you know that the first n4g was designed to be a perfect human world? Where none suffered, where everyone would be happy. It was a disaster. No one would accept the program.

Tacoboto5d ago

I wouldn't be surprised at this point if anast and osbcure were both alts for the Admin.

We know how Obscure especially drums up additional comments and clicks with his spam-worthy remarks that somehow never get moderated

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 5d ago
Profchaos5d ago

Thats business present a strong front to your shareholders while your company burns around you.

Keep shareholders happy at all costs andnif not happy keep them numb to the reality of you organisation

Angyobangyo5d ago

" Just for the record, I don´t care about your victim complex crap either. Find someone else who cares. "

Just for the record, you clearly you do if you have to vent this hard.

TheExecutioner5d ago

Basically you think like kids when it come to choose between candy or chocolate.

Sonic18815d ago (Edited 5d ago )

Are you and Anast the same person?

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 5d ago
5d ago
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