300°

Why The Xbox One Seems To Be Failing And How Microsoft Can Fix It

One Angry Gamer "Even though recent reports indicate that the Xbox One is the more desirable console in 22 out of the 50 states in the U.S., of A, the sales aren’t really reflecting what some of the polls are saying.

In fact, sales would tell us a completely different story about the performance of Microsoft’s third-generation home console for the eighth generation of console gaming."

ifistbrowni4013d ago (Edited 4013d ago )

These articles... SMH.

It's not failing, it's just not doing as well as the competition (which happens to be the fastest selling console of all-time).

No doubt Microsoft is losing sells to the PS4, but it looks like Phil Spencer is trying to steer the Xbox One in a more "gamer-friendly" direction. Removing Kinect pissed me off, since I was an early adopter and Microsoft had me convince it was going to be a mandatory piece of equipment. I wasn't keen of the idea, but once i got hands on with kinect I began to like it and was looking forward to the future of if (a future that now is probably dim). But, I feel like removing Kinect was the right thing to do if they wanted to start moving consoles.

Games with Gold (xb1 and x360), Free usage of apps and removal of kinect were all decent moves by Microsoft. The Master Chief Collection will also move consoles since a lot of people are dying to play Halo 2 on console again.

NewMonday4013d ago (Edited 4013d ago )

even after fixing "everything" the XBone can't yet overcome the PS4 advantage in power and games

something big and underestimated is the seamless downloads and installations thanks to a dedicated chip and also better interface.

somethings MS cant fix without releasing another console.

this is why the $100 price cut is not working

gamer11384013d ago

Better interface is a matter of opinion. Seamless download, the X1 does this. System updates are now in the background. Installations is still a big problem. None of these are reasons people choose PS4 over xbox one. Those are things people find out after they've bought the system.

The main reasons are ones that will take years and lots of £££ to change.
1. Exclusive Games
2. Graphics power

They are the reasons people will choose between the two.

ifistbrowni4013d ago (Edited 4013d ago )

Agreed. Install time on Xbox One is atrocious if compared to ps4.

I was just on XB1 trying to remember how to redeem a code (from the free $5 code gamestop were giving out on their site earlier)... The UI was so bad that it took me awhile to find it. I tried "Xbox, Redeem Code" a few times, but i dont think that was the right command since my xbox was just chilling.

@gamer, good points. I dont think anyone was like, "ps4 installs faster, i'm buying it." Vice versa

admiralvic4013d ago

"even after fixing "everything" the XBone can't yet overcome the PS4 advantage in power and games... this is why the $100 price cut is not working"

You know there are plenty of logical reasons for this that have nothing to do with the PS4, right? The biggest and most likely the main reason for this is the constant reference to M$'s reversals. Since the Xbox One launched, we've seen M$ reveal a lot of things that were said to be integral, yet were ultimately removed (always online, DRM, Kinect, etc). While both things were quite logical, I wouldn't be shocked if people were worried M$ might revert back to the original plan down the road.

Sure, this might sound paranoid and extreme, but consumers don't always forget and many will hold grudges for years.

Darkstares4012d ago (Edited 4012d ago )

@NewMonday,
"even after fixing "everything" the XBone can't yet overcome the PS4 advantage in power and games"

Power is getting closer and games is all based on preference.

"something big and underestimated is the seamless downloads and installations thanks to a dedicated chip and also better interface."

The XB1 OS has its benefits too as does the whole online structure. You can also use a USB hard drive up to 16 Terabytees. Yes, that's 16 terabytes and the games load faster too.

"somethings MS cant fix without releasing another console."

They can't fix? They already are fixing many things.

"this is why the $100 price cut is not working"

The price drop happened merely weeks ago. Talk about over-dramatizing things. Your bias clearly shows where you stand and it sounds like no matter what the XB1 does you'll still be as negative about it as possible. Maybe you should just not worry about the system then and move on. Chances are you won't though which is odd.

UnHoly_One4012d ago

I think you are stretching a bit, NewMonday.

Seamless downloads and installations? Yeah, my Xbox One does all of that for me in the background, I never see it happen or have to wait for anything. The last time I had my PS4 on I had to do a system update first and wait for the install and reboot.

Better interface? Um. No. That's all personal preference, but I think the XB1 interface blows the PS4's out of the water. It's not even close. I always hated the PS3's UI as well, for what it's worth.

Pogmathoin4012d ago (Edited 4012d ago )

Another faceless attack on MS, courtesy, once again from NewMonday.... No matter what MS ever, ever does, he will still come here to complain.... even though he may never use an MS console, it still consumes him........ sad indeed....

@Admiral, your constant use of $, is it necessary? Makes your good comment look fanboy and bitter.... And I thought mods were cutting that out, much like the use of SDF.

NewMonday4012d ago

@Pogmathoin

actually have an XBone in the house, not mine but I can use it for QB/Halo5 in the future.

miyamoto4012d ago (Edited 4012d ago )

Told you guys Xbox One's problem is foremost a social problem not technical mumbo jumbo.

Having the guy who announced the $500 price to lead the Xbox One won't cut it. His face is still in the minds of the general public.

Trust is earned not bought.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 4012d ago
XXIII4012d ago

Microsofts vision of a Kinect mandatory console wasnt the problem, the price was. If MS just dropped the price and ate the lost to see there kinect vision perhaps unfold they would be better off then they are right now.

Im sure a 399.99 or even 449.99 console with Kinect would be much more appealing then 399.99 Kinectless console that is weaker then its counterpart. At least kinect was a differentiator!

I wonder if MS really thought this out....

jnemesh4012d ago

Don't kid yourself, it IS failing. They are struggling, even with the lower price, to sell more than 70,000 a week worldwide. They are even losing in their home territory in NA.

Perception is everything right now, and the general perception out there is that the Xbox One is an inferior console. That is being reinforced with every new multiplatform game release, and the inevitable story showing the PS4 versions running at higher resolution and/or frame rate.

Perception matters. And it's being reflected in sales.

Goku7814012d ago

The piles of new a and used Xbox Ones are a good indicator that even after the price cut it is. There's no denying that. It is what it is.

Hanuman4012d ago

I started playing consolegames with Halo on the first Xbox. Have had a Live account for six years, 40K gamerscore and a library of about 200 games. But TODAY I BOUGHT A PS4. I'm a one console guy and this generation it's Sony that has the better cards. I lost all my trust in MS. I found myself defending the Xone on several occasions but to be honest I'm sick of it. PS4 is the better selling console, Xone isn't coming out 'till september and I need my daily gaming juice. Playing GTA V everyday isn't cutting it anymore. Shadowfall, Black flag and a year of PS+ will for now. I love you MS but I've gotta go.. Lindenbaum NL out

dirkdady4011d ago

For the past two months NPD has show monthly sales have dipped below what the original Xbox has sold during the same month in the given life of that system and that system was considered a failure...so....

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 4011d ago
AngelicIceDiamond4013d ago (Edited 4013d ago )

Most of this article is focusing on last year.

Bad perception from the DRM is his main argument.

"Microsoft, alternatively, is still playing catch-up. Unfortunately, it looks like the company will keep playing catch-up until the bad taste of DRM, reversals, the NSA and inferior hardware are finally washed out of the minds of gamers."

Looks like someone written this in 2013 or early 2014. I'd say things are looking better. No gold for apps, Kinectless X1, GWG is great games focused E3's.

Looks 5x better now than last year and early this year.

KinjoTakemura4013d ago

I can't believe this guy cited an article that uses a facebook poll to judge the popularity of gaming consoles. I guess facts and actual data doesn't matter any more when writing stories.

admiralvic4013d ago

"I guess facts and actual data doesn't matter any more when writing stories."

Lamer sources have been used for more and gotten approved on N4G. Take this article ( http://n4g.com/news/1488377... ), which was based off their site poll asking if you would donate $500+ to support Shenmue III. What really surprises me is that more sites don't make their own polls for crazy articles, but in the end it is what it is.

Axios24013d ago

Check the revenue

More $$$ has been spent on X1, that's hardly a fail.

corvusmd4013d ago

What the..!?!? This blog...not even an article...doesn't really SAY anything. It's just someone rambling from a fanboy perspective saying that MS is screwed for things it did a year ago. Maybe the reason MS is having a slightly harder time in the US is that it was $100 more for 7 months...and therefore casual gamers (the same kinds that bought into the original Wii) bought it since it was cheaper.

I'm sure thing will even out more with this next holiday.

ifistbrowni4013d ago

I dont think the consoles have appealed to the "casual" market yet. I feel like everyone that has bought a console this soon had plans to play it every day... "Real gamers."

I suspect the casual market wont be buying their console til the 2014 holidays.

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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.

InUrFoxHole2d ago

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

VenomUK1d 18h 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 8h ago

But Microsoft forgot the games.

KwietStorm_BLM1d 13h ago

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

Ganif1d 11h 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 8h 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 8h 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 8h ago

But Microsoft forgot the games

Obscure_Observer1d 8h 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_BLM1d 4h 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_Observer8h ago(Edited 8h 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 8h 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

BeHunted2d ago (Edited 2d 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?

Lightning772d 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 13h 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 8h 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 8h 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.

21d ago
21d ago
lukasmain21d 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
23d ago
23d 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).

RaidenBlack22d ago (Edited 22d 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.

badz14922d 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?

Lightning7722d ago (Edited 22d 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?

RaidenBlack22d ago (Edited 22d 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 22d ago
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