150°

Is Microsoft Making a Stupid Mistake?

Microsoft is focusing only on blockbusters at the exact time it should be making diverse games.

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dispatches.cheatcc.com
DivineAssault 2968d ago

I think so.. They need to get different genres on their system.. A more robust lineup of games that cant be experienced anywhere else because that gives people incentive to buy their console..

poppinslops2968d ago (Edited 2968d ago )

I wouldn't be surprised if a bunch of Fable Legend's assets end-up being used in 'Fable 4'... obviously it would need to be developed by someone other than Lionhead, but I'm sure there's plenty of devs who'd be willing to take up the challenge.

I reckon Gearbox should do the same thing to 'Battleborn' - the idea of aliens fighting over the Universe's last star is conceptually brilliant, but they're telling it through a bloody MOBA... they'd be better-off scrapping it, repurposing the assets and turning it into 'Borderlands 3000 (the preboot)'.

nX2967d ago

I agree, Battleborn being a (full priced?) MOBA pretty much makes the game worthless to me. I think the mistake Microsoft made with Fable Legends is to not have released it at all, They should've given the game a chance instead of just closing the whole project and everyone working on it.

2968d ago
Fin_The_Human2967d ago

I see what MS is doing which is not a bad business move.

Playground games
Remedy
Iron Galaxy
Previously worked with the developers of Ori and Sunset Overdrive.

What do all these studios have in common... They are 3 rd party developers who have made awesome games for MS and it also comes out cheaper for them because the games are made under contract and MS does not need to worry about supporting the studio after the game is made.

Sure the downside is that those developers can choose not to work with MS when ever they are done or someone can buy them, take Bioware and Double Helix for example who had an excellent relationship with MS but unfortunately someon swoop them up.

But in the long run what's the point of having 1st party studios when they are not producing quality games.

Sure Lion Head made Fable but let's be honest here Fable 2 was OK and Fable 3 was mediocre at best.

Legends was Free to Play game that had some following but was never on anyone's must play list.

Sonyslave32968d ago (Edited 2968d ago )

Ms got pretty much have every genres beside horror cover.

Just face ps4 is the must have system this gen even tho Xbox one has the better games there nothing Ms can do about.

Overload2968d ago

"even tho Xbox one has the better games there nothing Ms can do about."

If you feel that way it's fine, but it's not factually correct.

http://i.imgur.com/NqWz5xG....

Jmanzare2968d ago

Neither is that chart it's all opinions. Those reviews are all other people's opinions as well.

ApocalypseShadow2968d ago

It's always been their Achilles heel. Only concentrating on profits of sure things and not taking risks. Just like it will be with vr. It's a "wait and see" approach or what they know makes them profits.

Like I said before, Microsoft only invests just enough to get by in the game industry. But doesn't go all out to grow their IPs. Rallisport? Nope. Crimson skies? Nope. Flight simulator? Nope. We could go down the line on things gamers liked like myself that they won't invest in because it doesn't make them extreme profits.

But they'll buy mojang not because they care about Minecraft. It's because it makes them tons of profits. Havok?profits.but ask Microsoft to create a studio to make RPGs in Japan to help Xbox one sell more? Nope.won't even try.create a variety of games to help sell their hardware worldwide? Nope. That's why their billions mean nothing if their not invested in being a game company.

Sony is a hardware company. Insurance company. But based on their actions from PS1 to now, you can claim Sony is a game company. Nintendo a card company. But you can claim they're a game company for families. You can't say the same for Microsoft. They pay other companies for exclusives or timed dlc. That's not a game company to me. That's a business that found a source for profits.

Downsizing instead of taking profits from successful games to support the creation of smaller titles like Sony does.giving variety.even if its a hit or miss. The least they could do is try.

Hoffmann2968d ago

Depends on their targets /goals.

At this point we don't know them for sure.

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290°

Microsoft’s Surface and Xbox hardware revenues take a big hit in Q3

Microsoft just posted the third quarter of its 2024 fiscal financial results. The software maker made $61.9 billion in revenue and a net income of $21.9 billion during Q3. Revenue is up 17 percent, and net income has increased by 20 percent.

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theverge.com
darthv721d 18h ago

Xbox content + services up 62% while hardware down 31%... seems about right with the way they tout you don't need the hardware to play. People can play on their phones or smart tv or other means. I don't hardly play on my consoles directly since getting devices like the logitech g-cloud and ps portal. Which is to also say I have been playing more digital than physical because of these devices.

solideagle1d 5h ago

you should apply in MS PR team buddy, I think you will do a great job in my humble opinion :)

Sonic18811d 2h ago

I thought darthv72 and Obscure_Observer already work for Microsoft 🤔

dveio1d 2h ago

MS: "Xbox services and content without AB up 1%, with AB up 62%. Hardware down 31%. In total a loss of 350 mill."

darthv72: "Seems about right."

MS: "Excuse m ..."

darthv72: "I don't hardly play on my consoles directly."

MS:

Lightning7721h ago

What he said was facts. How he plays games is no concern of you. Don't get too mad about it.

Cacabunga1d 4h ago

I can tell people like you are an absolute minority..

If service is up means their fans and fanboys accepted this model and subscribed to it. The near future you will see a big decline because the service is saturated.

darthv7214h ago

to you it may seem like the minority... but your bubble is shrinking because more and more are following suit. convenience is a hell of a drug and its also why physical sales only amount to 30% of overall game sales. times are changing, you either get with them or you get left behind.

neutralgamer19929h ago

Darth

30% physical sales: yet Phil and xbox division are in a rush go give up on that 30%. they don't have any right to give up any piece of the pie since the control such a little of the pie to begin with

also, the market is clearly speaking that the model Xbox is pushing isn't working right now the keyword being right now. you are right about freedom to play anywhere so i hope they put their games on steam

shinoff21831d 3h ago

But that's been ms for years. When things aren't going their way they try to change the way things are said. For instance console sales are down, they stop telling how many sold instead telling us how many hours spent in halo or headshots. So it makes sense console sales down just say people are playing on more devices then previous. What they won't say is how many xbox players jumped ship to ps5.

Cacabunga1d 2h ago

Hardware sales are so bad that Sony and Nintendo are blowing the sales off the water with their hardware.

If Xbox are losers, others aren’t..
Xbox already tried everything with Xbox live then subscriptions went down so much that they had to find something else. Their fans subscribed then reached saturation rather quickly.

Hardware and exclusive games is where it’s at! Keep gamers excited, announce decent software and people will support you

itsmebryan22h ago

@shin
Well keep it simple Sony 's operating income is down 26% and Microsoft's is up 32%. No MS spin there, just facts. 😉
Cheers

S2Killinit15h ago

MS is after diminishing consoles as a medium. They want to destroy this market because they couldnt win. MS’s vision is to dissolve console gaming.

romulus2321h ago

Odd that a company that touts you dont need the hardware to play is already touting another console in the works.

darthv7221h ago

They are not reliant on the HW but still want to maintain a presence (no matter how small) is a good thing. It shows commitment to the craft. It reminds me of SNK and how they made games for their own hardware (Neo Geo) while also making them for others because they knew there was a market to do so. They knew they would sell more to others but also sell to their own niche fan base.

TheEroica15h ago(Edited 15h ago)

Perfectly reasonable post down voted by insecure corporation friendly folk.... But not gamers. Real gamer want accessibility and ease of acquisition for all.... Company shills are the only ones still telling us that hardware locking people from games is good for us.

Chevalier9h ago

@Darth

You should stop parroting metrics like an idiot without context.

"Xbox content and services revenue grew 62% in Q3 from a year earlier, “driven by 61 points of net impact” from the purchase of the third-party video game giant, Microsoft said."

61 of the 62% was from their merger so net increase is ONLY 1%

https://www.mesaonline.org/...

itsmebryan1h ago

@chevalier

It looks like made a great purchase. Much better then Sony buying Bungie. 😉
Cheers

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 1h ago
purple1011d 7h ago

Xbox hardware revenue tanks to lowest point of Xbox Series generation

Profchaos1d 6h ago

I'm not surprised surface is struggling they aren't relevant anymore

DOMination-20h ago

In the last two years they've started exiting the consumer market altogether. All of the newest Surface products are business models only. They can't seem to work out what they want to do with it.

XBManiac1d 6h ago

Too expensive hardware when others offer the same or more for less? Good work, Green Team.

SimpleDad1d 5h ago (Edited 1d 5h ago )

"Despite some early successes for Xbox games on rival platforms, Xbox hardware is down by a massive 31 percent this quarter."
"Without Activision Blizzard, Microsoft’s overall gaming revenue would have actually declined this quarter."
"Xbox content and services would have only been up a single percent without Activision Blizzard..."
"It looks like next quarter is going to be a similar story for gaming at Microsoft, too."

That is crazy... so A/B/K is carrying the whole Xbox gaming.
Oh and Microsoft will be fine. Windows, Office and Cloud are growing with each pc purchase.

purple1011d 5h ago

Activision: "we gonna need a bigger rucksack/backpack please"

Microsoft: "why's that"

Activision: "to carry yo' weak ass'

Profchaos1d 5h ago (Edited 1d 5h ago )

Top brass have also wanted to start seeing returns on the 100 billion they have put into various Xbox related moves so seeing more multiplatform games is highly likely especially from abk

It's basically saying that PlayStation is the reason Xbox is afloat right now thinks to Ps5 versions of COD

Kornholic1d 3h ago

So basically PS and PC gamers' money is keeping Xbox on life support.

MrDead20h ago

The only growth MS will get out of the console industry is if it supports it's rivals platforms. Xbox is a pointless machine now. I can see them on a big push for live next, and they won't give up on trying to buy Steam.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 20h ago
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300°

Microsoft Seemingly Closes Bethesda France

As part of its plans to cut 1,900 jobs, Microsoft has reportedly shut down operations at Bethesda France, letting go roughly 15 people

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insider-gaming.com
Hereandthere2d ago

Microsoft should have left them stay 3rd party

GamerRN2d ago

If they are let go, they can be whatever they want. They ARE 3rd party now... 🤦

Barlos2d ago

Yeah, they're also jobless.

GamerRN2d ago

They can form a company if they want, they are just as jobless as if "Microsoft had left them as 3rd party".

peppeaccardo2d ago

"MIcrosoft leaves Bethesda do what they know how to do best" ... close! Oh the irony ....
(Citation from a week old article)

ChasterMies2d ago

I think Microsoft and other game publishers are letting people go because they think ai will replace them. Doesn’t matter how much profit they make. They were always going to be let go.

PassNextquestion2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Bethesda France was made up of roughly 15 people... they couldn't of being doing much

Bethesda France mainly did publishing and marketing within the region

blacktiger2d ago

that's a shame for you to say that, i'm sure Elite loves hearing what you just said.

Mr Logic1d 22h ago

What a stupid thing to say. The elites give 0 fucks what we say on an obscure website in the comments section.

Crows901d 21h ago

You can always reach out and give them jobs at your company man. Don't wait

blacktiger18h ago

You own nothing snd be happy. I'm sure you heard that

Profchaos2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Bethesda France focused on publishing and marketing in the region. And 15 people lost their jobs as part of the closure.

I wonder if this is part of Microsoft's strategy to abandoned physical media or possibly gamepass advertising makes their roles redundant you don't need to market a game as hard when the majority of players get the game as part of a sub which already promoted upcoming games

Tacoboto2d ago

It's France too, there's a high likelihood only 1-2 people on the team even had an Xbox.

Profchaos2d ago

Possibly guven all the leaks we know the Xbox brand is really struggling in the region.

Yi-Long2d ago

Well, if your consoles and games are barely found in any stores any more, of course you're gonna struggle finding consumers ...

XiNatsuDragnel2d ago

Tbh Microsoft I think Bethesda being 3rd party same with Activision would probably more competitive than thus scenario imo

Profchaos2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

I think it would have been better for all parties really especially gamers

TheColbertinator2d ago

The recently purchased Activision French offices might take over all the licensing and marketing for Microsoft in France from now on.

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70°

‘It’s been really painful’: Ex-Lionhead devs explain why they’ve announced, and shelved, a new game

An independent UK developer says it’s been forced to announce and postpone its game on the same day, and lay off more than half of its staff, due to the sharp downturn in investment in the games industry.

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videogameschronicle.com