170°

Why Microsoft And The Xbox One Deserves Its Flak From Gamers

Recently, former Microsoft Exec and indie-dev Peter Molyneux stated that the backlash Microsoft got is unfair despite reversing policies for the Xbox One. While Molyneux continues on further to defend Microsoft’s vision of the future, my reason behind why the corporate giant deserves the flak that it is receiving because that Microsoft failed to focus on the core gamer audience that brought them up to where they are as well as the kind of message they sent out about the Xbox One and its gamer base. - Lazy Tech Guys

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lazytechguys.com
GarrusVakarian4329d ago (Edited 4329d ago )

"Microsoft failed to focus on the core gamer audience that brought them up to where they are"

Pretty much what i think too. Too much focus on non gaming related content, and the gaming related content is alot of the time kinect focused, so we feel left out sometimes.

LOGICWINS4329d ago

"Too much focus on non gaming related content"

Did your electricity go out during the Microsoft conference? The only thing I saw from them was game-related content. But I suppose some people will only see what they want to see.

GarrusVakarian4329d ago (Edited 4329d ago )

Did you not see the February conference? It was 10 percent games and 90 percent everything else.

Either way, the fact they opened a conference with tv tells you alot about a company that used to be so dedicated to the core gamer. Right out of the gate they should have showed a game, not tv.

I'll get an Xbox One, for one thing only...gaming.

Thatguy-3104329d ago

They finally show a lot of games in one conference and all of a sudden they change. Let's remember how dry they were when it came to games the past few years. Let's see if they blew out all their load at e3 or saved some for Gamescon too.

HappyTrigger4329d ago

Slick ninja editing Lukas. lol

But yes, their February conference was pretty awful.

DiRtY4329d ago

I won't get tired of repeating this:

Exclusive games MS announced at E3 (games we have not heard of before):

- Halo 5
- Sunset Overdrive
- Kinect Sports Rivals
- Dead Rising 3
- Project Spark
- Killer Instinct
- D4
- Below

Exclusive games Sony announced at E3 (games we have not heard of before):

- The Order 1886

HammadTheBeast4329d ago (Edited 4329d ago )

Exclusive games MS announced at their reveal that we've not heard of:

Forza 5(?)

Exclusive games Sony announced at their reveal that we've not heard of:

The Witness
Killzone Shadowfall
Knack
Infamous Second Son
Octodad
Mercenary Kings
Deep Down

In MS' case, you guys are impressed because your expectations were so low. With Sony, keep your standards high.

corvusmd4329d ago

There really isn't any reason to be mad at MS...these kids just have a HUGE false sense of entitlement and feel that MS should grovel at their feet and beg them to be customers...ironic cause Sony as a company has shown to be much more arrogant over the years...which is why they still charge 30% more for Tvs that aren't as good. Companies need to make money to stay in business, FACT...so if MS adjusts so they can do that...that's called a smart business decision. The TRUTH here is that articles like this keep popping up because PS Fanboys picked sides really really early on without getting all the facts, and now don't want to backpedal (or do a 180 as it were....side note, you can see what really bothers them, by the insults they throw out). It's all about saving their own "face" now, plain and simple...so the Anti-MS propaganda campaign is out in full force...but if you look at facts and details, and the business path that BOTH companies have taken..there really is NO reason for this EXCESSIVE anger towards MS. Just look at how "mad" they get at MS, it's obvious that there is something going on other than being mad at a system... how often do you not want to buy a product, then go out of your way to slam it all the time. How ridiculous would it look to say "damn you coke with your red can and stupid stripe, you're too sweet....Pepsi for the win, they have better ingredients and promotions"

corvusmd4329d ago

Hammad. Witness is not a PS4 exclusive, and all hints point at Deep Down not being exclusive either

n4rc4329d ago

Why wouldn't they start with the new stuff?

Its a fkn Xbox.. Think we all knew it would be based around gaming.. No need to state the obvious..

And as said.. If you want to talk games, Microsoft is leading the pack right now

DiRtY4329d ago

@Hammad

please don't make things up, it makes you look bad.

"Exclusive games MS announced at their reveal that we've not heard of:

Forza 5(?)"

No,

Forza 5
Quantum Break
Titanfall
Ryse

And the Witness is already confirmed to be on Xbox One as well. Sony just paid for timed exclusivity. Yeah, they do this, too!

Octodad is an indi game, that was released on PC 3 years ago.

Mercenary Kings is another PC indie game and an early version is up on steam if you want to play it today.

Deep Down might or might not be an exclusive.

Why don't you just accept the fact, that MS has more exclusive games coming up? is it so hard to accept?

Skips4329d ago (Edited 4329d ago )

LMFAO!!!! @ Dirty! XD

Sony got so much flak for showing a crap ton of indie/PSN games... lol And yet MS does the same thing. XD

Crimson Dragon = Indie/XBLA
Below = Timed exclusive/XBLA
D4 = Indie/XBLA
Lococycle = Indie/XBLA
Killer Instinct = F2P/XBLA
Project Spark = Indie/XBLA

So all that really leaves is Halo, DR3, Forza 5, Quantum Break, Sunset Overdrive, Ryse, and Titanfall (Also on PC and most likely timed)...

But don't forget, a few of those exclusives were scrapped 360 games meant to fluff up their next gen launch lineup because they probably didn't have much else. Pretty much explains why it's been a barren wasteland on the 360 for the past few years. lol

Retail PS3 exclusives for 2013:
- Sly 4
- GOW Ascension
- The Last Of Us (GOTY Condender)
- Beyond Two Souls
- Puppeteer
- Gran Turismo 6
- Until Dawn

Retail PS4 exclusives for 2013:
- Killzone SF
- Knack
- DriveClub

vs...

Retail Xbox 360 exclusives for 2013:
- GOW Judgement

Retail Xbox One exclusives for 2013:
- Ryse (Former Kinect 360 game)
- Dead Rising 3 (Former 360 game)
- Forza 5

Doesn't look so one sided when you look at how much support MS had to drop for the 360 now does it??? lol

http://www.gamepur.com/news...

^^^ But look here!!!

If all MS is gonna do at Gamescom is a short presentation and the rest of the time, hands on with what they already showed. That pretty much goes to show they blew almost their entire load at E3. lol

The_Con-Sept4329d ago

The only games that interest me out of every conference and outlet has been on PlayStation.

But when I first saw the Xbox one.... All I got from it is TV TV TV TV and football.

Then E3 comes around and it was shooter shooter shooter fighter shooter.

I'm in to shooters, but not that much. I wanted to see a game that didn't involve racing cars or shooting guns. Killer instinct isn't enough.

DiRtY4329d ago

@Skips,

I never mentioned some of the games you brought up. And you are still wrong:

- Killer Instinct is not free to play. There is one character you can play with for free. This is nothing more than a demo. It is not a typical XBLA game either.

- Project Spark is not indie. It is made by a MS first party studio. It is not a XBLA game either.

- LocoCycle is not indie. It is made by a MS first party studio.

Every game will be available for download day and date with the retail version... are those all XBLA games then?

Even if you exclude Killer Instinct and Project Spark for the bigger budget games and only care about those type of games, they still outnumber the PS4 exclusives.

- Ryse
- Forza
- Dead Rising 3
- Halo
- Sunset Overdrive
- Titanfall
- Quantum Break

vs

- Knack
- The Order
- Killzone
- Infamous
- MAYBE (and that is a big one) Deepdown
- (MAYBE Driveclub, but if you exclude Killer Instinct you have to exclude this one for the very same reasons)

So the Xbox One wins when it comes to blockbuster games. Period.

Nice try though.

HammadTheBeast4329d ago

Titanfall on PC, remove that, and Halo we have seen quite literally NOTHING of.

The trailer bit they showed had nothing to do with Halo 5 as confirmed by 343 themselves.

Or leave Titanfall and include Planet side, DCUO, blacklgh

ginsunuva4329d ago

They'll pretend like they care about core gamers for the first year then go back to casuals and kinect.

darthv724329d ago

I do agree that MS are to blame for their own flip flopping and deserve the criticism they are getting.

But, there is a point to where criticism takes a back seat and we are left with straight up mob mentality of people jumping on board for the ride not so much the cause.

Skips4329d ago (Edited 4329d ago )

-Dirty

Like I said, only because MS practically ABANDONED support for the 360 in favor of fluffing up their launch lineup...

*Cough Cough...

"But don't forget, a few of those exclusives were scrapped 360 games meant to fluff up their next gen launch lineup because they probably didn't have much else. Pretty much explains why it's been a barren wasteland on the 360 for the past few years. lol

Retail PS3 exclusives for 2013:
- Sly 4
- GOW Ascension
- The Last Of Us (GOTY Condender)
- Beyond Two Souls
- Puppeteer
- Gran Turismo 6
- Until Dawn

Retail PS4 exclusives for 2013:
- Killzone SF
- Knack
- DriveClub

vs...

Retail Xbox 360 exclusives for 2013:
- GOW Judgement

Retail Xbox One exclusives for 2013:
- Ryse (Former Kinect 360 game)
- Dead Rising 3 (Former 360 game)
- Forza 5

Doesn't look so one sided when you look at how much support MS had to drop for the 360 now does it??? lol"

^^^
Nice try a trying to keep that little tidbit out though... XD

And are you serious??? If Deep Down is a huge "MAYBE" then so it Titanfall. LMFAO!!!! And are you seriously comparing Driveclub to Killer Instinct??? That's just pathetic dude. Killer Instinct is a low budgeted small XBLA game through and through while Drivelub is an actual AAA Title being made available for PS+ because that's what Sony does for PS+. -___-

If Killzone SF was the game Sony chose for PS+, are you seriously saying that shouldn't be counted as AAA??? Talk about reaching.... lol!

Anyways, considering MS isn't even having a full conference! But a small "presentation" and the rest of the time devoted for hands on with what they've already shown. It's a no brainer they practically blew almost their entire load at E3...

Sony on the other hand... XD

WrAiTh Sp3cTr34328d ago

That conference in Feb was 35 minutes long lol. Try again.

+ Show (14) more repliesLast reply 4328d ago
Wikkid6664329d ago (Edited 4329d ago )

Sorry to hear that you missed E3... they showed a lot of games.

Do car companies tell you that you can drive a car from point A to B? Of course not, it's a car. They focus on all the bell and whistles... because that's what makes it different from all the other cars.

LOGICWINS4329d ago

I bubbled you up for intelligent.

XboxFun4329d ago

I bubbled you too Wiikid.

A lot of folks pretend just because MS showed the features of the Xbox One that somehow some way it meant that it would never play games.

I know deep down they know this is false and just use it as some sort of ammo for their own agenda.

But don't be surprised if I take your quote and apply it elsewhere.

Hicken4329d ago

Your standard car company would be more like PC: it can race(game), but it's really about the overall versatility.

Consoles are more like the luxury brands. They try to one-up each other on the things luxury car owners(gamers) want most: namely performance and build quality. BMW and Mercedes(Sony and Nintendo) reference their long histories of providing quality, while Lexus and Infinity(Microsoft) tries to appeal more to younger, newer audiences.

What MS is doing is trying to convince performance car enthusiasts that, after a few years of trying to cater to those who'd buy minivans, they're once again dedication to high-quality luxury driving machines.

XboxFun4329d ago

LOL@ Hicken, always making little to no sense.

Please elaborate on this fantastic world you live in filled cotton candy lakes and spongy chocolate fields.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4329d ago
Cmk01214329d ago

I mean but folks are cheering and applauding sony's new MS announcement of the pay tv deal with viacomm. So while im not saying some of it wasnt warranted because it was, its turned into an outright withchunt and EVIL EVIL MS schpeel that frankly is pathetic. People are living in some alternate reality where they think sony is this great company out to please all consumers and not make money. For example the headset thing, people reamed MS for not including a headset in the box originally and they did so citing its the more expensive system. How short are our memories because last gen sony did the exact same thing, the more expensive console and didnt include a headset. There a difference between giving flak and being a fanboy and most of the noise is from fanboys. im getting both so have no dog in the race but seeing folks so naive to reality has me shaking my head

Thatguy-3104329d ago

Sony was the under dog which everyone loves. They'll be back to the ps1,ps2 domination.

GarrusVakarian4329d ago

Bringing out boat loads of quality exclusives year after year makes you an underdog? Lol,ok.

Hercules1894329d ago

Did I see a different E3 than everyone else. Microsoft not only has sequels coming on launch but also has a bunch of new ips too, which are actually coming shortly after launch, unlike alot of games that might not come until 2015.

GarrusVakarian4329d ago

@Dirty

Its all good listing those games, but lets take this gen as an example, Sony hands down made the best exclusives, the fact that are still pumping exclusives out at the end of a generation (The Last Of Us and Beyond Two Souls) shows how gamer focused they are.

Lets face it, alot of those games you mentioned are garbage, you just listed those games to fill the list. Come this time at the end of next gen and i guarantee PS4 will have the better exclusives overall.

3-4-54329d ago

* Microsoft wouldn't have $500 million to invest in the XB1, if it wasn't for Xbox Original & Xbox 360 sales.

* Since 2007, they've gone away from core gaming and into casual and we the gamers have noticed this.

* Original Xbox had a ton of good games that you couldn't play anywhere else and had unique cool multiplayer styles:

* Blood Wake

* Deathrow

* Fusion Frenzy 1

* Crimson Skies

Some of the most fun I've ever had playing multiplayer games was playing those I just listed.

Nothing has come even close to these games in terms of creativeness and pure fun.

They've gone away from these unique type of games and gone more towards the casual games that people will play a lot for a month and drop.

Retroman4329d ago (Edited 4329d ago )

@ LUKAS
how did you get 10 disagrees is beyond me.

MS did fail to focus on gamers who put them where they are now "fact".
hell im not a xbox fanboy i know thats a fact.
SONY would not be where they are if not for hardcore games. FACT!!!!!

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 4328d ago
cl19834329d ago

Yes microsoft should of modified their check in so it didn't occur everyday, however microsoft should of stayed with the rest of their decisions. It would of left season passes and resale to game publishers, it wouldn't of stopped used game sale, but it would stop dev's and publishers claiming they were being robbed or short changed. This would then still allow the sharing of a digital library in a house hold instead of requiring people to carry games where ever they go.

IcicleTrepan4329d ago

the author deserves flak for writing incendiary crappy articles that are unnecessary.

negative4329d ago ShowReplies(2)
thrust4329d ago

It's like the in thing to do now, bash the xbox

theWB274329d ago

While I applaud the article for not going all out mental on the X1...I still find it funny how shortsighted the gaming community is. Why, in 2013 when most devices are more than their main target, do gamers expect consoles to do nothing but game. Why don't they look at this on the business side of things.

There is no way to make a gaming only console, and only appeal to gamers and expect to be successful. More time was spent watching movies on the PS3 than actually gaming. 46%(games)54%(movies) I wish we knew how many of those(54%) people only bought the console mainly for media and only played a few titles here and there.

Then people keep talking about the reveal. Did the internet only work for a select amount of people? They explicitly stated, before the May reveal, that they would have two events. The first was to introduce the CONSOLE and what it does. Then E3 show nothing but games. They did exactly that and people complained.

Exclusives. I maintain quality over quantity. Sony can release triple the exclusives as Microsoft...but if they aren't all up to snuff then what's the point? It's funny the Sony camp brags about the amount of exclusives, yet the Microsoft camp supports their few more. How is it that Xbox exclusives outsold Sony's this whole gen??

Anyway...I was supporting Xbox from day one. The system is only getting better...can't wait.

iamnsuperman4329d ago (Edited 4329d ago )

"do gamers expect consoles to do nothing but game"

It isn't about that though. Both these companies are catering to us at launch. We are the ones who will go out and buy it at launch. So everything should be focused on gaming. That doesn't mean don't have said features but don't make it the first thing you unveil. Rookie error. It sets a precedents to what a company feels is the most important thing.

"Exclusives. I maintain quality over quantity. Sony can release triple the exclusives as Microsoft...but if they aren't all up to snuff then what's the point? It's funny the Sony camp brags about the amount of exclusives, yet the Microsoft camp supports their few more. How is it that Xbox exclusives outsold Sony's this whole gen??"

I feel this doesn't need an answer. Just think about for more than two seconds.The answer will come to you

theWB274329d ago

The answer hasn't come to me. More consoles sold worldwide, more exclusives...less sales. What am I missing?

"It isn't about that though. Both these companies are catering to us at launch. We are the ones who will go out and buy it at launch. So everything should be focused on gaming. That doesn't mean don't have said features but don't make it the first thing you unveil. Rookie error. It sets a precedents to what a company feels is the most important thing."

This isn't a sprint. It's a marathon. I thought we learned that from this past gen. When you advertise a product...say what it does. They focused an entire E3 on nothing but games...how is that not a focus? Why is it so hard for people to comprehend when you reveal a product, you reveal what it does. They revealed the X1, and showed us what the entirety of it does and still got to see games games games.

LordNikon4329d ago

"The answer hasn't come to me. More consoles sold worldwide,
more exclusives...less sales. What am I missing?"

Sales doesn't tell you everything about a products quality. You can't seriously be this ignorant...

Also, quantity doesn't automatically mean that there's a loss in quality. And just because MS had less exclusives this gen, doesn't AUTOMATICALLY (again) mean that its a product of a quality. Whatever, this is all subjective anyway.

"This isn't a sprint. It's a marathon. I thought we learned that from
this past gen. When you advertise a product...say what it does.
They focused an entire E3 on nothing but games...how is that not
a focus? Why is it so hard for people to comprehend when you
reveal a product, you reveal what it does. They revealed the X1,
and showed us what the entirety of it does and still got to see
games games games."

And MS's opening into this marathon was a complete disastor. It hurt the Xbox one. That is the reality... no matter how you try to spin it.

iceman064329d ago

@theWB27...here let me help you. If there are not many games to buy, then generally you buy what is available. Hence, the games that are available sell better. Contrast this with availability of several games which leads to choices and sales being spread out amongst what is available.

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260°

AMD CEO Shares Vision Behind Xbox Partnership and Next-Gen Chip Roadmap

AMD CEO Lisa Su talks about the Xbox AMD partnership, next-gen Ryzen + Radeon chips, and AI rendering tech coming to all Xbox devices.

Read Full Story >>
clouddosage.com
Obscure_Observer4d ago

AMD is really building hype around their unique partnership with Microsoft to help and build an advanced and seamless Xbox ecosystem across all Xbox consoles and devices.

I wonder what she meant by "full roadmap of gaming optimized chips" though? Seems ambitious.

Next year´s Xbox Showcase already looks promising and exciting. Here´s hoping they deliver.

InUrFoxHole3d ago

They had best show 3yrs in a row. Heading for another

VenomUK3d ago

Obscure_Observer said “I wonder what she meant by "full roadmap of gaming optimised chips" though? Seems ambitious.” To me, I interpret this to mean rather than having a couple of X/S products for launch and a handheld there is a longer term plan to release new products with higher specs at timed intervals. I’m speculating of course, but this could mean a spec bump every year or two, so that even if the PS6 or Steam Deck Home is released a year after ‘Xbox’ Microsoft can release an updated model that has a higher spec.

Agent753d ago

But Microsoft forgot the games.

KwietStorm_BLM3d ago

It's X3D chips for console. Everyone knows this. And it's been rumored in the PS6 forever.

Ganif3d ago

Correct.

"Sony's PlayStation 6 reportedly will feature an AMD semi-custom APU with a Zen 5 CPU and UDNA GPU, capable of 4K 120FPS and 8K 60FPS gaming. The console will include X3D cache and advanced AI upscaling technology."

https://www.tweaktown.com/n...

Obscure_Observer3d ago

"It's X3D chips for console. Everyone knows this. And it's been rumored in the PS6 forever."

I doubt that AMD´s CEO would waste her time making this huge and important partnership announcement over a tech that will be 7 years old by the those next gen consoles will be released.

Notellin3d ago

You should have just lead this comment with the fact that you have zero understanding of technology in the consoles and instead have a Toms Hardware online forum level of education.

Obscure_Observer4h ago

"It's X3D chips for console. Everyone knows this. And it's been rumored in the PS6 forever"

I´d told you were on some bs

https://www.pcgamesn.com/wp...

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4h ago
Agent753d ago

But Microsoft forgot the games

Obscure_Observer3d ago

@VenomUK

"I’m speculating of course, but this could mean a spec bump every year or two, so that even if the PS6 or Steam Deck Home is released a year after ‘Xbox’ Microsoft can release an updated model that has a higher spec."

Very interesting theory. Still not sure how MS would actually make it work.

KwietStorm_BLM2d ago

"I doubt that AMD´s CEO would waste her time making this huge and important partnership announcement over a tech that will be 7 years old by the those next gen consoles will be released."

How old is the tech in consoles? It's not a huge announcement. It's marketing and you know it is.

Obscure_Observer2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

"How old is the tech in consoles? It's not a huge announcement. It's marketing and you know it is."

Dude, what I know for certain is that a tech as old as X3D chips which is actually *older* than both PS5 and Xbox Series consoles, is hardly the reason behind this new partnership between AMD and MS to build new *custom silicon* for next generation of consoles.

And yes it´s a huge announcement since AMD is working closely with MS to co-develop custom SoC which will allow backwards compatibility across all MS´s next gen devices allowing seamless integration between devices and full backwards compatibility across all generations of Xbox consoles.

I also know is that this announcement don´t have anything to do with Playstation and their strategy with AMD for the PS6, so stop comparing the two pretending that you know what´s going on, because you clearly don´t.

If Sony is working on something remotely similar, that´s remain to be seen.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4h ago
Fishy Fingers4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

Some odd, deliberate wording, no branding, not 'Xbox consoles, Xbox handhelds' specifically, feels and sounds like they're building towards hardware that anyone can be used or licensed to/by themselves and other manufacturers.

Multiplatform software and hardware 'Xbox/AMD APU'.

Obscure_Observer3d ago

I guess you missed Sarah Bond´s next generation Xbox announcement this week, were she clearly states:

"I´m thrilled to share that we´ve established a strategic multi-year partnership with AMD to co-engineer silicon across a portfolio of devices, including, *our* next generation *Xbox consoles*."

But hey, I don´t think you´re entirely wrong, maybe MS will build their own Xbox consoles while licencing other manufactures to build and sell their own Xbox branded consoles. Who knows

BeHunted3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

I think you watched the wrong video. It's below the description, or you can watch it directly on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/kprpRvsOua...

HyperMoused3d ago

Shares vision....we provide chips for money, this deal will sell many chips, we will make lots of money...good vision

Christopher3d ago

The marketing behind this is so heavy that I worry about the actual outcome. Why are they just not showing us the product, why all this talking in market speak?

Lightning773d ago

Probably because the next xbox isn't ready to release yet?

The marketing and rumors seem to be heavy out of no where. The rumor was a 27 release but it maybe it could be 26 new console launch instead.

Who knows.

Eonjay3d ago

There PR is alrways super heavy handed. No one is acutally buying an Xbox as is.
Also it is very early to be talking so much about a next gen console.

Obscure_Observer3d ago

There´s a lot of people interested on Xbox Next and its ability to run games from major stores like Steam.

We know that the PS6 is just around the corner as well, but so far, no news on what it might improve over the PS5 or PS5 Pro.

However, Sony already made public that their priority and actual focus is the PS6. So its not "very early" to talk about next gen when the very console manufactures are talking about it.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3d ago
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210°

Activision Forces Adverts into Call of Duty Black Ops 6 and Warzone Loadouts

With the launch of Call of Duty Season 4, Activision quietly put adverts inside loadouts for Black Ops 6 and Warzone, sparking a backlash in the process.

22d ago
22d ago
lukasmain22d ago

Putting Ads in a pay-to-play Premium title? Well done Microsoft. Well done /s This is really scummy.

jjb198122d ago

This game will never change because these sweatlords love buying up all the skins and bundles that become obsolete the following year. They're the ones perpetuating Activision's greed.

VenomUK21d ago

If Microsoft introduces adverts into its other games I hope it can do them without disrupting the immersion of the game world. So for example in the new Fable game it would look out of place if there was a billboard advertising Cadillacs.

A far better way to do it would be to have a wizard conjure a 'dream cloud' in front of your character and then in the cloud you can see the Cadillac car and see the text with price and availability and hear a booming sales voice promoting the car. That would work so well as it wouldn't be a billboard and completely, 100%, fit in with your character's adventuring in Albion. Doesn't that sound so much better?!

crazyCoconuts21d ago

@venom, or how about our of 100 farts in Albion, 1 of them has a Cadillac pop out

VenomUK21d ago

@crazyCoconuts That’s undeniably off-beat - but it could really work!

22d ago
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410°

Xbox's first-party handheld has been sidelined

Xbox's handheld ambitions continue unabated, but the focus is shifting towards improving Windows 11 for third-party handhelds — for now. The Xbox Series X 'Melrose' successor is safe, with development continuing at full pace.

Read Full Story >>
windowscentral.com
24d ago
24d ago
24d ago
shadowT24d ago

Is there really a market for handhelds next to mobile?

Vits24d ago

If they run the same games as the main home console, then yeah, sure.
But if they need specially tailored games just for them? Probably not, unless there isn't a home console for comparison (see Switch).

RaidenBlack23d ago (Edited 23d ago )

I am kinda low-key happy this happened.
Dont want another Series S situation (games to be designed from 4 to 12TF scale and not 10 to 12TF).
Hope PS follows suit as well. Tablet SKU sharing with console for 10th gen, will just continue the cross gen -esque development/design phase/nature.
Want a proper 20+ only TF rasterized next-gen plz (+ frame-gen and the lot).
If anybody wants to continue the cross-gen, the Series S|X, PS5 will remain for that. And Switch 2, if you gotta go even lower in the TF range.

ABizzel124d ago

Yes and No. All of the PC handhelds combined have struggled to sell 7 million units, which would be a flop for any “console”. So the market is extremely niche because of price and target market (the informed hardcore gamer / casuals aren’t picking these up).

These handheld PCs are $500 or more, and offer at best Xbox Series S performance levels, so it’s best for MS specifically to just partner with ASUS, instead of investing millions if not billions.

Sony can make their own with custom AMD hardware due to their partnership, and stronger global brand for hardware. But even then it brings the question, of being a lower resolution PS5, and what does that mean for PS6 cross-gen (likely another generation where the first 3 - 4 years are just upgraded last-gen games).

Kosic24d ago

Imagine a Wii U style console, where the tablet doesn't rely on the console it's self, you download the game on the console under the TV and play in 4k glory, then you can remote play, get some unique game features if using both console and handheld in tandem. Then you can download the games in 720-1080p to play on the go, continue your progress, and continue on the TV when you get back.

Sony could get away with this due to exclusives, and that would be a reason for sales. Look at the portal.

I can picture seeing new hardware having some sort of GPU dock, where the handheld runs 1080p, and the dock has additional hardware to bring in 4k/60 specs.

I do think handheld gaming is going to be a strong future, imagine Nintendo release a new upgraded GPU dock for the Switch 3, every 2 years. More frames, sharper graphics on the same game for an extra £150 for a dock with a built in GPU chip. Console cycles doesn't have to be renewed, just the hardware can be improved by them reselling docks to us again and again with small/yearly upgrades like mobile phones.

GamerRN23d ago

Did you just imply that Sony can make a better stronger handheld than Microsoft? You do realize we are talking about Microsoft, the tech giant, right? If Microsoft can't make one that's cost effective, Sony definitely can't...

Brand and market share means nothing when you are a trillion dollar company

ABizzel123d ago

@GamerRN

It has nothing to do with what company can do it, or what company can spend.

For anyone taking a basic business class there is a term called ROI, and Xbox home consoles are selling at an all time low, meaning their ROI on a handheld is a risk that doesn’t make sense, even if they can afford it. Businesses are there to make money and it doesn’t make sene for MS to invest in a handheld that’s a companion device when their current home consoles they’ve spent 20 years working on are at an all time-low, when they can invest with little risk with what ASUS already has to offer.

This is why Sony can build a better device, because they have less risk involved, meaning they can invest more in their own product, and they already have an exclusive partnership with AMD on creating features and hardware. So in this specific case, YES Sony can built a better handheld, due to custom hardware, customer tools, low level APIs, compared to an off the shelf product running Windows or a Window Xbox kernel =.

TheEroica24d ago

I play steam deck primarily... Don't play consoles or mobile. The deck covers it all.

badz14923d ago

@shadowT

The Switch is a handheld, so will the Switch 2. what are you on about?

Cacabunga23d ago

To run native games offline? Anytime

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 23d ago
CrashMania24d ago

Funny to see the alt already damage controlling and having a meltdown with multiple accounts in the comments already.

Sad for MS if true, a dedicated handheld would go down a lot better than a rog ally 2 with an Xbox sticker on it I think.

crazyCoconuts24d ago

It couldn't have succeeded for a number of reasons. Now they've retreated to the Windows front and trying to keep that relevant for gaming. How long before Windows Central realizes there won't be a real console successor to Series X either?

Lightning7724d ago

Except there is. That project is reportedly full speed ahead.

Outside_ofthe_Box24d ago

@Lighting77

So was the handheld until today...

Lightning7724d ago

@outside obviously not since they sidelined it and they wanna see how the Asus does. Are you saying they're gonna cancel the next console?

crazyCoconuts24d ago

@lightning - I'm admittedly trying to box you in here - Do you think the next Xbox console will have Steam on it?

Outside_ofthe_Box24d ago (Edited 24d ago )

@Lightning

Here we go with having to spell everything out.

If I told you yesterday that Xbox was going to sideline the handheld console what would your response have been? Probably something along the lines of "I doubt that since Phil has been talking about it for some time now"

My point is just because they are "full speed" ahead now does not mean that will not change in future. As we have seen with the handheld. Do you understand what I'm trying to say now?

Lightning7723d ago (Edited 23d ago )

Box me in? No you said the same thing you've always been saying for years now. Those are the rumors to have Steam integration.

What about it

If you told me they were gonna cancel it tomorrow it would nothing more than fanboy talking points. I only wait for credible sources not what someone else says.

Also this is the handheld not a full blown new console. The Asus is yet to release and they're waiting to see how that thing does. Critical thinking is my strong suit you should try it some time if you can. But Ok cool well you hang your hat on that I guess. Main New console is gonna get cancelled even though the handheld is a different marketing device than the main the console itself.

__y2jb23d ago

I think there is a 75% chance there will not be another Xbox. There is zero reason to buy one now. No way it can possibly sell more than 10m units after Xbox went third party.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 23d ago
BLow24d ago

That's what they do. Goalposts shift like the wind.

I'm really confused on why they are making a "first party" device and also have a Rog Ally with their sticker on it. Make this make sense. How is their own device going to be any different?

Your console doesn't sell and they expect a handheld to?

RaidenBlack23d ago (Edited 23d ago )

The Rog Ally one is gen agnostic ... as you deciphered, it was to be the updated Rog Ally but just with Xbox branding. PC handheld with some Xbox features.
The handheld Xbox is/was supposed to be sharing the same gen/ecosystem with the next-gen (10th gen) Xbox. Think Series S but handheld ... it'll run the Xbox OS or whatever the next Xbox will run.
...
As for anybody wondering/confused why MS is doing another Xbox console ... coz mainly its the 10th gen of home consoles next, which started wayy back in 1972 for the 1st gen. And MS wanna be part in it, in the 10th anniversary gen of consoles. If they gotta bow out, they can't do that at 9th i.e just before 10th. They wanna stick around till the 10th or the X-th gen and check what the fuss happens.

Outside_ofthe_Box24d ago

Curious as to what excuses the spam was saying. Because prior to this news, the Xbox handheld was used as proof that Xbox is still committed to the hardware space. This handheld being scraped is not a good sign...

24d ago
Outside_ofthe_Box24d ago (Edited 24d ago )

@Spam
You can replace scrapped with pushed back if you like. It's not a good sign either way.

24d ago
1Victor24d ago

asq3= obscured: “ What’s your source on the handheld being scrapped? “
Read the article from Microsoft own website and one of your favorite quotations site when it’s something bad about Sony.
Oh BTW good luck with your next SPAM account.

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