340°

Steve Ballmer's Final Speech

In final shareholder speech, Ballmer defends Bing and Xbox as key parts of Microsoft

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geekwire.com
ZBlacktt4232d ago

"Ballmer defends Bing and Xbox"

Is that because of the rumor that the new boss is looking to dump the gaming division?

MightyNoX4232d ago

Probably. Seems like the rumor's gaining more and more traction.

ZBlacktt4232d ago

Yep, he is seeing the billions lost. Thus why so many over years have went under. Or out of the console side and more software support for them.

dedicatedtogamers4232d ago

"Ballmer defends Bing and Xbox"

Is that why he was asked to leave?

Keep in mind, he's done with the company. He's made his fortune. Now he simply wants to preserve his reputation and his legacy. Bing and Xbox were the two biggest projects on his watch (including a bunch of smaller, failed projects) and he doesn't want to go down in history as the man who brought financial ruin to Microsoft.

The clock is ticking for the Xbox brand. Xbox One is going to be their last "videogame console". The next Xbox will be an "entertainment hub" and won't be advertised towards gamers. X1 is the intermediate step.

Vojkan4232d ago

I hope they hire that guy that wanted to sell Xbox division

cleft54232d ago (Edited 4232d ago )

Balmer does make a lot of great points and it is clear that their are a lot of talented people working for Microsoft who are dedicated to video games and understands why it is such an important demographic. The problem is that the people in power at Microsoft doesn't have the focus dedicated on a vision needed to capitalize on this golden opportunity. Look at the Xbox division, Julie Larson Green takes over and rather than running that division being her main focus it is just one of the many things she is put in charge of for Microsoft.

All of the big statements coming out of that division was being said by Marc Whiddeon before Albert Penello took up the mantle of PR. The whole thing seems out of place when you have Sony and Nintendo key executives and heads of the company making direct statements to the public and making the big announcements.

It really does feel like if Microsoft's Xbox division is successful it will be in spite of Microsoft and because of the amazing momentum and groundwork laid down by the core Xbox 360 team before Microsoft got rid of them. The whole situation is just unstable, I just hope they figure it all out soon because Xbox One users deserve a unified company that understand what gamers want. Microsoft certainly isn't hurting in the area of talented people I just hope they listen to them.

OrangePowerz4232d ago

@Cleft

Many people who got the Xbox brand where it is left on their own ago around the time they started to shift the 360 away from gaming and towards TV apps and Kinect.

In the case of Larson Green, she shouldn`t oversee the Xbox division in any form. They need to get people on board that know games and gamers, not having those people there got them into the mess the Xbox one is being more designed as a multimedia hub for TV and multitasking rather than a games console.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4232d ago
iamnsuperman4232d ago (Edited 4232d ago )

Pretty much. Ballmer's is the guy who gave the Xbox another chance (as far as I am aware they were going to dump it after the first one except for the intervention of people, mainly Ballmer, who said they shouldn't). Also Bing was Ballmer's idea to try and take on Google (one of the dumbest moves he did as it took a lot of money and resources for very little gain. Some claim the rise of Apple is down to Microsoft focusing on the wrong company, I. E. Google, and reacting too late to Apple's rise)

These are basically Ballmer's babies

darthv724232d ago

Many of the products MS has released are reactionary as opposed to trend setting. And its funny how they get flak for trying to be competitive.

It like the main reason zune failed wasnt because it was MS. it failed because it wasnt an ipod. in fact, many companies that were trying to get a share of the portable media market suffered the same fate. sony, Archos, Creative labs all had products that exceeded the ipod but they werent....ipod so the majority of consumers that were in the market wanted what their friends had which was....an ipod.

bing, in respect to google, does the same job and rewards the searcher with points they can redeem towards products/services. i use bing all the time and have traded in several hundred points towards entries to win an XB1 as well as real $$ for my live account. i may not win the XB1 but hey....free points just for doing basic searches is not bad.

plus i have never gotten a bing redirect virus like i have the google redirect virus.

OrangePowerz4232d ago

How can one defend Bing? Their big feature is it has a changing picture on the main page. Finding what you want works a lot better with Google if you compare the search results for the same things on both.

Thatguy-3104232d ago

It is really important fpr the xbox one launch to go perfectly. If they screw it up the brand might end up being sold.

assdan4232d ago

I think it would be good if they sold it. Imagine if xbox was sold to a company that actually could make a good console.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4232d ago
True_Samurai4232d ago

I hope you have a happy retirement Ballmer

supraking9514232d ago

Bye Ballmer, good riddance Bing and...

Jeedai Infidel4232d ago

I hope not, I use Bing and trade the points I get for searches for one month of Xbox Live, every month. Plus, I prefer the speed and accuracy over Google

Hicken4232d ago

So you're pretty much bribed into using that awful search engine?

Omegasyde4232d ago

Microsoft misled facts saying people prefer Bing over Google.

Source: http://www.networkworld.com...

Jeedai Infidel4231d ago

Hicken, I was already using it when I found out about the points. What's awful about it? I switched because I got better results out of it, and it offers a better UI than Google. Also, I don't get spam/popups related to what I was recently searching on Bing like I was with Google.

daedra4232d ago

They aren't going to get rid of the division, they haven't even decided who's replacing him, stop spreading lies because your failure 4 sucks ass, Everything you said was lies, research a bit kids

IAmSovereign4232d ago

Actually, the old CEO of Nokia is the one who is talking about getting rid of the division, and getting rid of Bing. And it seems like he is a strong contender for the position. How about you do a little research before you run your mouth and automatically default to shitting on the PS4?

Sheikh Yerbouti4232d ago (Edited 4232d ago )

He never mentioned the PS4...?

Edit: Oh I see. He forgot the PS, not the 4. I thought he said you were a lame for not sucking ass.

hellvaguy4232d ago (Edited 4232d ago )

So much anger between these rabbit fanboys and bias links presented as "facts". Cant we all just get along?

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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_Observer2d 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.

InUrFoxHole1d 19h ago

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

VenomUK1d 12h 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.

Agent751d 2h ago

But Microsoft forgot the games.

KwietStorm_BLM1d 8h ago

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

Ganif1d 6h 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_Observer1d 2h 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.

Notellin1d 2h 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.

Agent751d 2h ago

But Microsoft forgot the games

Obscure_Observer1d 2h 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_BLM22h 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_Observer3h ago(Edited 3h 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 3h ago
Fishy Fingers2d ago (Edited 2d 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_Observer2d 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

BeHunted1d 20h ago (Edited 1d 20h 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...

HyperMoused2d ago

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

Christopher2d 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?

Lightning771d 19h 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.

Eonjay1d 7h 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_Observer1d 2h 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 1d 2h 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.

20d ago
20d ago
lukasmain20d ago

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

jjb198120d 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.

VenomUK19d 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?!

crazyCoconuts19d ago

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

VenomUK19d ago

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

20d 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
22d ago
22d ago
22d ago
shadowT22d ago

Is there really a market for handhelds next to mobile?

Vits22d 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).

RaidenBlack21d ago (Edited 21d 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.

ABizzel122d 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).

Kosic22d 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.

GamerRN21d 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

ABizzel121d 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 =.

TheEroica22d ago

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

badz14921d ago

@shadowT

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

Cacabunga21d ago

To run native games offline? Anytime

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 21d ago
CrashMania22d 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.

crazyCoconuts22d 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?

Lightning7722d ago

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

Outside_ofthe_Box22d ago

@Lighting77

So was the handheld until today...

Lightning7722d 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?

crazyCoconuts22d 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_Box22d ago (Edited 22d 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?

Lightning7721d ago (Edited 21d 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.

__y2jb21d 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 21d ago
BLow22d 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?

RaidenBlack21d ago (Edited 21d 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_Box22d 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...

22d ago
Outside_ofthe_Box22d ago (Edited 22d ago )

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

22d ago
1Victor22d 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.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 21d ago
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