Phil Spencer: "Gaming Is Not a Race Between Two Consoles;" Explains Why Xbox Didn't Try Handhelds

Phil Spencer is going to Japan, but before boarding the flight, he had a few more words for the fans about competition and portable gaming.

[FallenAngel1984]

The closest the Xbox division of Microsoft came to developing a handheld was the Zune and that turned out to be a flop. Good luck even trying to find anybody who even remembers the Zune.

Safe to say they most likely would've flopped even harder with a dedicated handheld device.

[Nitrowolf2]

I think the Zune released at a bad time, as with Microsoft surface (idk if thats doing doo now?)

Both devices basically surfaced AFTER the success of apple hitting it with the ipod.

Releasing a handheld from them in todays market wouldnt exactly be DOA for them. I feel the handheld market is pretty open, despite being mostly Nintendo dominant.

[GtR35olution]

Thats why microsoft used to talk about whoever gets to 10 million first wins and used to talk about how they are selling more software and hardware than sony last gen.

[Phunkydiabetic1]

Microsoft can't even release a proper console and you're optimistic about them releasing a friggin handheld? What planet are you on?

[CapitalGamerNZ]

@Phunky:
Please explain what makes a console "proper"?

[PlayableGamez-]

@GtR35olution
In Phil's defense and I know he flip flops but if he never said things that previous executives said, it's hard to hold him accountable for said things.

[TheCommentator]

What are you talking about, GTR? Nitrowolf is talking about Zune, Surface, and handhelds, so how does, "...whoever gets to 10 million first wins..." relate to anything in his post? To Phil heading to Japan to visit 3rd party devs?

Nitro, I don't think handhelds are going to be around much longer because of the convenience of smart phones and tablets. UWP offers a good way of getting into the portable space though since devs can code a game that works on everything with a minimum of effort.

[S2Killinit]

When MS opens his mouth it make a sound like :
"FLIP -FLOP"

Joking aside, I've said it before, instead of lip service MS should spend its vast reservoirs of money on making games instead of PR.

[WombBat]

lol. I hate the new direction microsoft has gone with all this non-exclusives to the platforms.

Sold my Xbone not long ago because of it. Only wanted it for Halo anyways, and next one might come to PC for all we know.

[XanderZane]

@Phunkydiabetic1
I think the XBox 360 was pretty proper. Over 87+ million sold proves that. Maybe you didn't own one, so don't know.

[Dragonscale]

@thecommentator, because Spenser said its not a race between 2 consoles. So it actually relates to the article which makes a mockery of when they said first to 10 mill wins. All of a sudden its not a competition any more because it doesn't suit ms agenda. Lol.

[XanderZane]

@Dragonscale

That wasn't Phil Spencer who said "First to 10 million wins" That was Don Mattrick. He's not with Microsoft anymore. He was actually noting the history of consoles who usually reach 10 million first. Also, this was last gen, not this gen. Here is the statement below. I think Phil believes differently.

“This year will be the largest in the history of the video game industry, with Xbox 360 leading the charge in the U.S. and abroad,” said Don Mattrick, senior vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business in the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. “History has shown us that the first company to reach 10 million in console sales wins the generation battle. We are uniquely positioned to set a new benchmark for the industry.”

[bouzebbal]

Didn't this same clown scream it on every roof when X1 finished as best selling of the month ?

[343_Guilty_Spark]

Surface has surprisingly become a very successful product.

[darthv72]

The Zune was a very good media player. In comparison to the ipod at the time, the zune offered much easier plug and play with any machine where as the ipod was tethered to a particular machine and if you tried to plug into another it would ask if you want to erase your files in order to put someone elses on.

I know there were ways around that but the average person didn't. Like pretty much all other portable media players from the likes of sony, creative labs, archos... the zune was following their ease of use. but alas, people were more hooked on the name "ipod" than the fact they couldnt easily just add music wherever they wanted. I could plug in a zune (or any other non ipod player) into multiple machines and load music onto it. No hassle, no restrictions.

I think I still have the zune and the zune dock to plug it into the stereo. Now i need to go dig that out and see if it still works.

[chrisx]

Sometimes its like phil is an AI just programmed by ms for specific replies and repetitive statements. Smh

[-Foxtrot]

I hope people who have defended him as a messiah will start to see his cracks now showing.

A guy being told what to do by higher ups while trying to hold off things for whatever reason...maybe as part of a larger plan who knows.

[Godmars290]

Been saying for some time the man is only taking over for the mess Mattick left, yet still has his hands tied by the same upper execs who put Mattick there in the first place. And its only been showing more and more.

[DivoJones]

Phil merely feels like a relate-able corpo exec.. but the fact remains he is a corporate exec. And like every single one.. be it Shuhei, Reggie Fils-Aime/Satoru Iwata, Phil Spencer.. they'll always have great things to say about their own brand. You will NEVER see one say 'well you know, Sony is really crushing us in sales this generation", or "the WiiU was a failure" or that "Sony as an entity is being saved almost exclusively due to the success of playstation" .. even if all 3 are true.

[rainslacker]

An executive can only be as good as the policies and goals of the company. A lot depends on how much influence said executive has over said products and policies, but ultimately, what I see Phil say now sounds good, and honestly, I think he believes what he says, but there is that perpetual catch attached to everything from the MS top brass.

[AmUnRa]

In other words Spencer is just a talking head.

[Phill-Spencer]

@DivoJones

Well at least sony admitted when they had a sparse year in regards to exclusives.

Spencer is still talking about a great year 2016 and even a "epic" 2017, like
wtf? It seems that he is just a pr face put in place so xbox gamers can relate to, nothing more. If that's not the case he is simply doing a terrible job, maybe eben worse than mattrick.

[GorillaTact]

The paid shills and kiddies sound like programmed a.i. Any article like this they all come out to regurgitate their nonsense. A grown adult doesn't care about this console war. Middle school kids, and shills paid to post on sites like this do. The funny thing about the shills is that they have no loyalty like the kiddies do. They can take contracts from all companies, and political groups, and get paid. To the kiddies, grow up, this console war nonsense isn't important to your life. To the shills, people with half a brain know you are here.

[JasonKCK]

Just as bad as a fanbase that goes out of their way looking for cracks

[nX]

Well his bosses just read his statements, not the reactions online. Spencer always was an airhead just like the people around him. Xbox is being run by Microsoft puppets that would do anything to improve their career.

[_-EDMIX-_]

Lol
I own a 30 gigabyte Zone and in my personal opinion it was a very very solid and well-made MP3 player I think Microsoft probably Coulda did okay with it if they actually continue to support it.

But most Don't You Stand Alone MP3 players any longer.

[andrewsquall]

Even the people who owned them can't remember what they were called. :)

[badz149]

Ms didn't make any MP3 player called Zone though...

[_-EDMIX-_]

@and- LMFAO!

I was using my phone's speech-to-text and didn't notice that.

Funny.

I still think the Zune with a solid MP3 player.

[mcstorm]

@_-EDMIX-_ I'm with you on this. I still have a Zune and at the time Zune was way ahead of the Ipod in what it could do but Apple had the buzz and also the Zune only came out in the USA.

I have a Groove music pass which ive had since getting my Zune and for me the best music service ive used and ive tried others but limiting devices, songs can be added ect have kept me going back to Microsofts paid service for music but it is each to there own in this one.

[madforaday]

I use to work at Best Buy and the ones that sold the most were the Sony's MP3 player (because they were the cheapest and people knew Sony). When I use to show the people the Zune, the UI was literally the reason why people didn't get into it. I didn't blame them at all because it was awful. Of course, you can get use to it and it isn't a problem but when it comes to actually buying a product the UI is the first thing they get to see.

A fun little story, when I use to work at Best Buy, almost EVERYONE would come up and ask, Hey can I see the Ipods. I say of course, and show them the Ipods, then they are like, do you have any other cheaper Ipods? In the beginning I was confused, I am like no, these are it, and they go, (pointing at the Sony mp3) what about those over there? Those aren't Ipods, and they are like, that is what I meant the cheap ipods.....

Not a great story but a story nonetheless and you're welcome lol

[Muzikguy]

30GB is too small. I'm pissed that Apple doesn't make the iPod classic anymore. I need that 120GB player in my life again. I feel like I'm going backwards 30 years needing to burn discs to listen to music because standalone players are becoming harder to find. All for the sake of streaming...

[JLynn943]

I had (well, have, somewhere) the first Zune they released. I loved it. It's just a type of technology that time passed by though.

[thexmanone]

I still Have my Zune. Flop or not mine still works.

[rainslacker]

I got a zune second hand from someone, and I found it to be a great device. It still works fine, although I don't use it anymore due to having other options which are more convienant.

[XanderZane]

Right. The ones hating on it, are the ones who don't own one. Pretty much the same thing for the XB1. lol!!

[rainslacker]

Sad, because the Zune was actually really good. One of MS few really good hardware devices. They just flopped on the marketing big time compared to Apple.

[XanderZane]

I remember the Zune. I believe it was trying to be an IPod. Basically a MP3 player. It was on the market for 4 years.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...

Microsoft wasn't prepared to release a handheld game system. Nintendo's handheld devices were way to strong as Sony eventually realized.

[Universal 08]

Honestly even though it wasnt popular I loved my zune, it had radio which the ipod didnt. I just wish I kept my original instead of upgrading, That clear purple with green hinted in it was the coolest thing ever. I still use my Zune HD too for road trips.

[DarXyde]

I think Zune was criminally underrated. A much better device in terms of price, space, service, and headphone quality than ipod.

A handheld device wouldn't really suit Microsoft well. It's a market that requires more patience than the console market and I think they get a bit antsy when projects don't succeed out of the gate. The original Xbox being the only exception that comes to mind.

[thorstein]

I remember the Zune and thought it was a good product. Unfortunately, MS doesn't always go with the best advertisers. Consider how popular Apple products are. Sure, you can argue that they are quality, but that doesn't mean they have all the features the competitors have.

Apple made their products "cool" and therefore they sold well. MS appealed to people's knowledge rather than their ego and the Zune didn't do well.

Same goes with Windows Phone. Consider all the things that Droid users love, but you don't have to jailbreak the phone to do them.... ie Uninstall any apps you want. The problem became that WP doesn't do well because they don't have all the apps, though Xbox music is better than Google and One Drive works far better than iPhone's INability to connect to a PC and dload images/ video (whatever) without first installing crappy software that bogs down your PC.

So, it is kind of a fallacy to state that it would've flopped even harder, when in reality, MS needs better advertisers.

[TheBrit]

Your wrong - I remember it and I had one.

[Chano]

Is vita even a thing anymore?

[tyasia0]

"Gaming Is Not a Race Between Two Consoles" "Unless we're the ones winning then you can be sure it's a race and we'll talk about how we're the ones winning all the freaking time like last gen and that time we won a few months this gen."

This guy is so two faced it's sickening

[Neonridr]

says the person making up quotes to help defend their argument.. just sayin'

[tyasia0]

I don't speak for a major corporation. And my comments are not hypocritical, I never said I wouldn't talk about these things.

He repeatedly this gen has said sales aren't important then constantly talks about sales. You only have to look at their super salty comment from last months NPD to see they have no intention of not talking about sales or even remotely seeming honest about their belief that sales don't matter. Not to mention the whole "best selling console ad".

Last gen even though in aligned sales they were basically never ahead yet they constantly bragged about their sales. Nothing him or anyone says will ever make me believe that if they some how take the lead in the future that they won't go back to the old "sales matter rhetoric" in an instant.

[Neonridr]

I am not saying I don't agree with you. But you should always try to stay away from making stuff up if you want your point to be heard. Unless it's N4G, in which case you can just make up shit and everyone will believe you :P

Obviously MS is in a position where they can only brag about small victories here and there. I am sure it would be no different if the roles were reversed.

[tyasia0]

Are you seriously saying that you didn't understand I was being sarcastic? Did you honestly think I was trying to fool people into believing that was an honest Phil quote? If that's the case your pretty dense.

[Miss_Weeboo]

Just saying: making up quotes to defend your arguments is perfectly fine
"A fine quotation is a diamond in the hand of a man of wit and a pebble in the hand of a fool"
Joseph Roux (19th century writer)

[Sparta07]

@Neo, 🤣😂!!!!! That one went right over your head!! 😝
Take a moment before you defend the great Phil next time.

[yeahright2]

that was obvious satire

[Puertorock77]

The funny thing is Tuasia0 is not that far off. This is Phil Spencer's feeling about the console war when he first took over.

https://www.destructoid.com...
Quote "At some level, it is a competition, and I've said before I want to win," he explained.

He is only like this now cause he knows it's over. There is no console war. PS4 won this gen and he's moving on to a different strategy.

[Phill-Spencer]

Puertorock

Oh how i wish someone would confront him with this stuff during an interview to see how he responds to this. It would be priceless

[ZwVw]

He'd make for a great Harvey Dent in the DCEU.

[InTheLab]

This and the fact that they barely have enough games to populate the x1 let alone support a handheld

[Muzikguy]

No kidding. He's not fooling me with the "gaming is not a race between two consoles" nonsense. If they were ahead it would be the world's greatest achievement (for them) and we'd be hearing about it everywhere in the gaming world. Now it's just engagement hours, YOY sales, and bullets fired statistics

He keeps changing his story to try and appeal to everyone it seems like. He's lying and people just eat it up

[andrewsquall]

Bookmark this classic quote. Lets see the sales figures Phil is quoting for the first 2 weeks of Scorpios launch which will be their largest console sales in a LONG time (if they can keep up with the demand). This will be brought on by the the massively decreasing Xbone sales over the the next 8 months.

And how much you want to bet that 2 weeks of Xbox sales beating PS4 sales out of 52 weeks will still be seen as "Xbox won the year" by deluded fans. Hell even if it managed to outsell the PS4 the last 12 weeks of the year out of 52 weeks they will STILL see it as "Xbox sales beat PS4 forever" until they come off their high.

[LP-Eleven]

Well said.

[danny818]

he wasnt leading Xbox last gen and didnt even start with X1. Look how many upvotes you got lol N4G is a straight up joke

[stuna1]

Oh how the tune changes when you're in second place!!! Last generation that was all it was about! Microsoft used taglines like "The Best place to play". Every month it was about outselling the PS3 on NPD even though PS3 had the world on lockdown.

But it's not about competition? Phil why is it that certain fanatics of your fanbase are even now foaming at the mouth with just the mention of the word "Scorpio"!? Because you have done nothing but tout how it will the world's most powerful console. Isn't that promoting competition?

Just because Microsoft wasn't able to make a feasible handheld, it didn't stop them from making the Zune. Which was in fact a handheld.

Now watch the ones I mentioned above jump to defend what has come from the proverbial horse's mouth.....

[Bathyj]

Yeah it funny how it "nothing to do with Xbox’s market share". Market share was all I heard last gen and how Sony had lost it. When youre dominating like PS2 did, with a market share percentage that no console had ever done before and will ever do any, then naturally you are going to lose market share. But its not about that now.

And I agree. Its about games, and should always be about games. But theres not much to say about that either. Sonys releasing hit after hit, Phils on Twitter and going to Japan to port beg. Two different strategies from these companies. I know which one I like. I dont see how others can still defend MS's approach. I really loved them when they were the new kid on the block. But now they seem more lost than ever, and Im not talking about sales..

[trooper_]

Lol, it is funny.

[MoonConquistador]

It's called Karma lol

[343_Guilty_Spark]

The Scorpio buzz for me is nil now. Without the games it won't matter.

[PhoenixUp]

But Phil Spencer has been quoted saying "At some level, it is a competition, and I've said before I want to win... I'm not going to duck that. I want to win. I want to win this generation, but I want to win more than I want the other guy to lose."

https://www.gamespot.com/am...

Now "it's not a race?" What happened to "I'm not going to duck that?" What happened to wanting to win this generation?

Dear lord this guy is flip flopping on all his statements. It's stuff like this that really makes it hard to take him seriously and it makes him look like even more of a corporate shill.

[-Foxtrot]

And yet this is the man people want you to trust and criticise you when you call him out

Sorry that we see him for what he is.

[ninsigma]

For this whole gen, just whenever the man speaks, I know not to believe it or trust it. The way he words things and the way he speaks made me not trust him as a mouth piece. Im glad I'm not the only one to think that!

Edit: sounded like I do trust him in one sentence. Can't be having that!

[-Foxtrot]

Don Mattrick was like a sleazy car sales man and Phil Spencer is like a sly estate agent

"Beautiful, beautiful home, I can't wait to show the kitchen, it's absolutely perfect-althoughthepipeisleaki ng-and so is the garden-possiblesinkholesobewar e-it's fantastic.

[Trez1234]

I gave up when he said the cancellation of a game was " good" for xbox gamers. I mean...really?

[ItMatters]

It seems just you and the other PlayStation fans that see him that way.

[Tussin187]

So when the Scorpio drops then I don't want to hear anything from the fanboys. This is not a competition between two consoles.

Remember that and this comes from Phil's mouth. Follow the quote from the savior.

[BlackTar187]

well it will be a competition between 3 consoles PS4vXBOXvNinty

so all he did was say it's not a competition between 2 it's 3 so there is some wiggle room.

[rainslacker]

The thing about having a messiah, is that people like to repeat what that messiah preaches, but often don't practice what is preached.

[badz149]

@BlackTar187

LOL You would succeed as a lawyer. Or are you already one?

[kayoss]

@blacktar
Ninty already stated that they are not competing agains xbox or ps4. Even ninty fans said it themselves.

But of course we all know that they're back in the competition if the switch outsell the other two consoles.

[XanderZane]

It's called FLIP-FLOPPING. Every Corporate Executive does this, not just Microsoft's. Sony and Nintendo have done this in the past as well. I have to laugh because gamers act like this is the first time they've seen stuff like this happen from a business. I'm pretty sure I could dig up statements from Sony and Nintendo's executives who've filp-flopped on things as well. You can't trust any corporate executives words. I've learned that many, many years ago. You can only hope what they say will be true in the end. As a gamer, you do your research on the products and games and get what you know will entertain and benefit you.

The console race war is over, so of course Phil isn't going to be talking about winning anything. For Microsoft & Nintendo, it's no longer about 2 (or 3) consoles racing anymore. That's just the facts. Nintendo is about to start a new generation anyways. So maybe they will talk numbers now.

[Christopher]

Pretty much this, though I don't agree that the console race is over. They're just putting a massive pin in it until Scorpio is ready to be released.

[XanderZane]

@Christopher
Naahh.. it's pretty much over. The Scorpio will probably still sell well, but no where enough to catch the PS4 at this point. Same thing happened last gen as well. Not sure what the trolls are disagreeing with. The race is over. Yes, Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo have executives who all Flip-Flop. That's a fact.

[Featuring_Dante]

the mascot speaks... again...

[Darkfist_Flames]

LOL yea like when sales dont matter, then talk about holiday sales, then sales dont matter again xD, maybe you should keep up with the race and start making more games the fanboys start going crazy after seeing Horizon positive reviews.
https://www.youtube.com/wat...

[ninsigma]

It's just freaking sad that people actually go to that level. As bad as all fanboys get, I've never seen playstation or nintendo fanboys do that.

[Xavy]

That is why Xboners are the worst, jealousy is the air they breathe. Low lifes.

[BlackTar187]

They ruined Heavy Rain for me.

It was annoying

[Liqu1d]

They've gone to lower levels than spoiling Horizon. They got really upset over Spiderman.

[XanderZane]

I think we have a winner for "Joke of the Day". Your prize is waiting for you in Wonderland where all delusion fanboys live.

[trooper_]

Holy crap, lmfao.

[mynameisdon]

He is right... Gaming is not a race, it's about games ! And sony have both

[Gamist2dot0]

As expected. When Sony releases an exclusive title or reviews are out, tweets and articles about MS Scorpio will surface. :/

[Xavy]

Cuz they have nothing els to talk about lol

[badz149]

You knew it's gonna be bad when it's just January and they already talked about E3 and it's "the year of Scorpio" when the freakin thing comes out at the rear end of the year. SMH

[Yohshida]

Or they showed death stranding and it comes out 4 years later... Oh wait /s

[Chevalier]

@videolab

" Or they showed death stranding and it comes out 4 years later... Oh wait /s"

At least it will be released. Want to talk about years later? Did you forget Crackdown 3 and the power of the cloud? How about Scalebound and Phantomdust? Yeah at least we wait for something that will actually release. It could be worse we could just wait for the next Xbox cancelation.

[rainslacker]

I thought it was always a way to distract from whatever Sony was doing, but Spencer hasn't shut up for over a year now, regardless of if Sony has something going on at the time. Every week, he'll make a couple comments on twitter which get posted into articles. It's not that he's talking as much as the articles make it seem, as multiple articles are made for each tweet or tweet session, or interview in some cases, but the man just talks constantly, and rarely says anything of importance beyond some random positive comment about Xbox.

Some tweets are just annoying though. The Scalebound tweet in particular. Something like that requires more of a press statement than a casual tweet. Something that explains the situation. The followup insinuating it was somehow a good thing for Xbox gamers was rather insulting, because all context was left out, and everything was left up to people's assumptions.

I used to think it'd be great if execs spent more time engaging with the community, but the way Spencer does it specifically is just overkill, with very little substance half the time. I'd hate for him to stop his tweeting, I'd just rather those tweets meant something.

[Yohshida]

So he should be blocked on Twitter every month PlayStation gets a game out just to make you feel better? Like I told you guys before, he is doing this every week. Just look at his timeline. Some call it interaction with Fans, others are so paranoid to believe he only comes out to Talk down PlayStation.
Not his fault sites like this Pick up literally every Tweet and make a bs article about it.

[MatureGamer1000]

Phil spencer is a clown. Guy flip-flops like crazy

[Yohshida]

He said Gaming itself is bigger than 2 consoles. What is wrong with that?

[YEP414]

I don't believe spencer is going to Japan to get more Japan developers to make games for Xbox... He going to Japan to check on games that's already in development mark my word...

[Ashlen]

If your trying to imply that he has a secret group of Japanese games in development that he hasn't shared your going to be extremely disappointed.

[SmielmaN]

While I agree that Spencer likely doesn't have a few secret games being developed in Japan, he could be listening to games being pitched by developers that need funding?

MS might be scouting?

[Liqu1d]

I thought he was implying that they're going to money hat games in development.

[S2Killinit]

Either it's another PR thing or Spencer hasn't heard about phones yet.

[CaptainObvious878]

You forgot to add the /s

[rainslacker]

Could be both. But there is really no reason for him to go to Japan to check up on a games progress. Nowadays, such information is shared on a regular basis through online file sharing and conferencing.

It could just be a good will mission to try and get more Japanese developers interested. Kind of a tour of studios to see what they have to offer, and if MS can be involved in some way. Otherwise, just being there means a lot to a lot of people, as it's immediate, and you can get to know people on a more personal level.

He could also be going to see if there is a way to revamp Xbox in Japan, as it wouldn't be unheard of for an exec to see if they can make positive changes in another section of the company.

[notachance]

first they'll need to mend relationships with Level-5 and PlatinumGames, especially if rumours about past severance's lies in MS hands is true.

There are also the case of numerous japanese titles came to PS4 and PC but not XB1, like Tales series which at one point being Xbox exclusive in the past but somehow entirely skipped the platform for the rest of the game after that.

[yeahright2]

I agree, but they're already in development for the PS4.

[Pancit_Canton]

Would somebody put a PlayStation move on his mouth? The desperation from this guy is unbelievable. They already lost this gen and they just need to move on and accept it.

[ItMatters]

Seems like you're the one that can't move on. And what's this about you wanting to stick a penile shaped object in another mans mouth ?. What's wrong with you ?

[Sparta07]

He said a PlayStation move, your the one getting all perverted about it.
You a sick man. 😖

[ItMatters]

Yeah cause he didn't mean anything by saying a PlayStation move right ? He could've used any other object.

[dkp23]

Well they having issues getting games out on console. Handhelds least of their concerns

[Silly gameAr]

So, are we going to get a Phil Says section on N4G or what? I think we need one..

[KwietStorm_BLM]

I support this.

[badz149]

@Silly gamerAr

You win this comment section! I APPROVE!

[Yohshida]

Nice one

[travestyj]

Yeah okay Phil is that why you get Aaron Greenberg to tweet about sales everytime the Xbox starts to do a bit better? During the 4 months Xbox One outsold the PS4 in the U.S. he wouldn't shut up about it and made comments like "Xbox was the best selling console in the second half of 2016" and other nonsense at the end of the year after PS4 started selling better again.

This guy is like Donald Trump, just put the phone down and twitter away and do your job and get some games on Xbox.

[MoonConquistador]

If Donald Trump were to change his focus onto X box games, the world would be a safer, better place to live.

Let's make X Box great again!! Lol

[badz149]

And then he starts to build walls and suddenly the PS4 and Sony altogether is deported!

[YAO-BLING]

someone get some water to clear out the salt in phil's throat

[VsAssassin]

The console race might not be the Olympics, but it still is a competition. If it's not, why make a Scorpio? MS could make an Xbox similar to the Wii if this is their logic. Also, why drop the Kinect into oblivion? Yes, it's because they still want to be relevant in the console space. PR talk, ugh...

[Max-Zorin]

Microsoft, fire this man already. He made a bigger mess, Don mattrick can only dream of.

[ItMatters]

Why would they listen to a PS fanboy ? This man has done good things for Xbox, that is why you're so salty.

[trooper_]

Good things like what? Canceling games?

[ItMatters]

The creator of scale bound said he was stressed out and couldn't finish the game and apologized. Too much Dev support was given to nier and not enough to scalebound which Microsoft paid for in full. Do you expect him to just keep handing over money if they're not gonna finish the game ? I bet you don't own a business.

[Max-Zorin]

Dude, Phil canceled several games, and closed several studios.Hell, he barely push for brand new I.P.'s. I know people are tired of Halo, Gears, and Forza. Plus, he don't allow creative freedom. Look at their competition, they're allowed to make all kinds of games, and not be one dimensional. Phil Spencer gotta go. It seem like his salary revolve around talking on Twitter, praising Sony, and running the Xbox division to the ground. Every other company, would have booted him years ago.

[Sparta07]

@ itmatters, your part of the problem.
Link where platinum said it was all their fault!!! BS.
You eat up everything this man says.
You have no more exclusives,
He cancelled how many games!?
And all this for the good of the players😂
BS!!!

[trooper_]

@ It Matters

Microsoft should have took a risk. That's why they're getting hammered.

[Trez1234]

A simple Google search will prove to you that scalebound had problems from the beginning. And don't use nier automata as an excuse because the younger generation of platinum devs are the ones working on it and kamiya's team were working on scalebound.

You're literally making up stories because kamiya was apologising to his fans which is ridiculous. We don't know who's at fault but the bottom line is Microsoft cancelled the game and that's the only fact.

[MatureGamer1000]

He has done NOTHING. Guy is a clown

[Imalwaysright]

Hell no. Nothing is worst than having to login everyday just to use your console.

[Critic4l_Strik3]

At this point it isn't a race for the XB1 anymore...

[lodossrage]

Maybe he does feel that way, maybe he doesn't.

But I know other people in his company felt it was a race last generation no problem.

Didn't Greenberg say something along the lines of " first to 10 million wins"? Even worse, he said that when he knew the 360 had both a price advantage as well as a year to a year and a half (Europe) head start

[Tankbusta40]

Xbox needs a complete restructuring. Spencer looked like he had a clue when he took over but its just been more of the same.

[ColonelHugh]

They need to be made into a division rather than a subdivision. But that would be way too risky. They don't get enough budget cause they don't bring in a huge cash flow. They don't make enough money because Microsoft is investing less and less in them.

Xbox gets little wiggle room under the thumb of the Entertainment and Devices Division. Less money, less games.

Restructuring Xbox seems to me to be their only safe move.

[Segata]

Spencer is a tool. If it's not a race then why bother? This is Trump levels of excuses of them losing to Sony and Switch coming to take more away from it.

[Tankbusta40]

Is it possible for Trump not to be brought up by someone in every thing? I swear everyone who hates Trump must be a jobless millennial who has no holdings in the stock market or just doesn't invest in their own future. As far as I stand, Trump has made me money, I could care less about some of the things he says. A President is judged by the economy.

[MoonConquistador]

Are you a mascot for everything that's wrong with the world?

Pull your head out of your selfish greedy arse and try smelling the s*** you're shovelling (which by the sounds of it is from the same pile Trump's shovelling from).

When the whole world goes up in flames, the penny will finally drop that there are more important things in life than filling your own pockets.

[Tussin187]

I have a job and am not a millennial. So, Trump has made you money after 1 month? You didn't make any money before him? Oh I forgot, when the Dow was at 19000 under Obama the economy was bad. Now after a whole month its now over 20000 with all that Trump has done(which is what?) and now the economy is good.

With that said, I am glad that you're making money. That's all that counts I guess. Good luck to you in the future.

[Segata]

It's "I couldn't care less" and I am likely older than you.

[CaptainObvious878]

@ Segata and Moon

Who the fk do you think was going to start WWIII?

Take your own advice, moon, pull your head out of you ass and go read up on how the US was pressuring Russia.

While you're at it, educate yourself on Venezuela and Europe and see how there are actual flames there, you hateful ignorant millennial.

[MoonConquistador]

Pressuring Russia for what. I never said trump would be first to the button. I'm just discussing the selfish attitude that it's OK to have a lunatic in charge as long as my pockets are getting filled. I have a lunatic in charge in the UK who wasn't even voted in yet we try to lecture others on democracy.

So you've (incorrectly) labelled me as hateful and ignorant (and a millennial) for whatever stupid ignorant reason yet you're the one with the hateful attack.

Sounds like you have your head up someone else's ass you blind sheep like twat.

[CaptainObvious878]

@Moon

"Pressuring Russia for what..."

If you can actually say that you really have no idea what's going on.

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

It's a long video, but well worth the watch.

"have a lunatic in charge"

A useless, baseless, empty character assassination. Is the guy perfect? Def not. Has he said some really stupid stuff on twitter? Absolutely, but when it comes to policy and doing what he said he'd do, he's very reasoned.

[MagicBeanz]

Well this feels like ban bait. Good luck everybody.

[King_Lothric]

He says that because he is loosing. Watch them if they win just 3 consecutive months on NDP, they suddenly believe they are Kings of the world, start taking jabs at the competition and start twitting arrogant comments.

These guys are not to be trusted at all.

[TechnoGoat]

Another excuse from Uncle Phailure

[MoonConquistador]

Uncle Phailure lol. Classic

Better trademark that before MS get their hands on it.

[sullynathan]

Sony's handheld gaming division is dead, Nintendo is the only one still afloat because they put their all into handheld gaming. There is no point for anyone to get into Handheld gaming, the market has been taken over by mobile phones and the 3DS.

[badz149]

But even the 3DS is not selling as much as the DS. The PS4 is set to surpass it this year by the look of it. Mobile has really put a dent in the handheld market

[sullynathan]

the PS4 has nothing to do with the handheld division though.

[badz149]

I know the PS4 and 3DS are in different market section but just trying to show how weak the dedicated handheld market is getting nowadays.

[sullynathan]

I literally said the same thing to these n4g members hit disagree on my comment even though yours had nothing to do with mine

[badz149]

nah...just don't take the disagrees too seriously

[badz149]

be like MS, numbers don't matter

[Miss_Weeboo]

No. Selling consoles is. This war has been beneficial to Sony now, to Ms and Nintendo in the past

[ItMatters]

He's saying gaming is bigger than just two consoles, which it is. You guys need to lay off the internet for a while and contemplate why this man's words hurt you so bad.

[ShottyatLaw]

Had to scroll a long way to find someone with reading comprehension. Care if I hide out down here with you for a bit?

[Sparta07]

Lol, he's trying to make up excuses. That he's in last place.
Cause that was the question from the fan.
Maybe you and shotty should take a moment and lay down a little bit.
From all the spinning you guys are doing you must be dizzy.

[ShottyatLaw]

Nintendo doesn't exist! People playing games on PC is all a ruse! Fake news! So sad!!!!

[ItMatters]

Xbox is second.

[Yohshida]

Shhhh you cant tell the truth over here

[Chevalier]

That's what a loser would say. Pretty sure a bunch of people around here keep pointing out the billion of dollars MS has. Sure doesn't look like they have a budget.

[PlayableGamez-]

FEEL is starting to PHIL the pressure.

[Xavy]

lol says the loser =P. I want to puke every time i see his name.

[merciless]

When you're not winning the race is not important.
When you have no exclusives exclusives are not important.
When your brand is only relevant in two countries the global audience is not important.
When you gimped the XB1 console specs are not important.
When you lose NPD month after month NPD is not important and/or ALL your friends got it digitally.

[LP-Eleven]

Bingo.

[_-EDMIX-_]

Microsoft just doesn't have enough teams to support a handheld

even Sony and even to a degree Nintendo is struggling to do well in the handheld Market.

When Nintendo is selling 100 million less handhelds I think it's time to consider staying the hell away from portable if Microsoft ever had an idea to do a portable platform I think this would be the worst possible time to try to implement it.

They need to worry about their first party division in regards to console before worrying about another platform this would be a terrible idea for Xbox Gamers simply because they now have another platform that siphoning their games.

[hahaha]

But is not a race to the bottom either.

[medman]

LOL.

[medman]

Sure...it isn't about units sold....unless we're the one's selling the most units. Ol' Phil Spencer's brain is filled with diarrhea and his mouth full of Sony's sizeable genitalia.

[II__BONE__II]

Wasn't Pill DeSpencer the one who said MS was in it to "WIN" this generation's console war?

[Angel911]

He never said this.. Stop posting bs..post source to back it up.

[LP-Eleven]

His exact words:

"At some level, it is a competition, and I’ve said before I want to win" - https://www.onmsft.com/news...

Sounds like "in it to win it" to me. And tell us, if it is a competition, then why is he flip floppin' now? Why is it, suddenly, not a race between machines?

[RosweeSon]

Agreed it's not a race against 2 consoles it's not even a race... unless your a speed runner I like to take my time my backlog is ridiculous however I like to save the best to last.
One thing a games console is about and that is games, they got 3rd party stuff your yearly churns and your sports stuff covered just need some interesting original and overall pretty amazing games to make the console actually seem worthwhile compared to the others.
Scorpio gonna have to bring out some Big Guns and I don't think Blinx is up to it. Rare being massively underused still. Blast Corps 2 for modern days with online leaderboards etc. Banjo 3 surely Yooka Laylee made them go wow people want a classics platformer. Rare got some blinding IP's all of their own and they all just gathering dust.

[RosweeSon]

Last thing they need to do is make a handheld. Get your current business in shape first.

[Amongunz]

Without even reading 3 comments.. I noticed more PS4 fan boys race to a xbox article to comment... smh

[Angel911]

Yeah...If PS4 has so many games then why these ponies are not playing them instead of wasting time here on Xbox article?

[Chevalier]

Same could be said to you guys. There are a lot of you guys claiming there are enough games on Xbox yet your here posting as well?*

[XabiDaChosenOne]

Sony is going to create a gaming monopoly off of the strength of the fan service alone,the stupidity of the competition is just icing on the cake.

[LexHazard79]

I hope he comes back with good news from Japan.

[Silly gameAr]

It's so funny how he's interested in Japanese games all of a sudden. I wonder why that is?

[Angel911]

MS was working with lot of Japanese publishers for many years but sadly due to low install base in Japan many don't agree to make exclusives...Looks like he wants some japanese exclusive which will work in west as well like Souls games

[WickedLester]

Why is it every time this guy opens his mouth a new article must be written about it? You don't see 10 articles a day about something Shawn Layden says.

[Angel911]

Coz people love attacking Xbox by bashing Phill..He is just posting normal replies to xbox customers and fans about games and state of Xbox ..But these so called gaming news sites grabs it and makes it a headline by twisting headline for quick click bait...

[kayoss]

No, gaming is not a race between two consoles. But it is about making games for your console and for the fans. Which Xbox failed to do.

[thexmanone]

Thanks for your opinion. I don`t agree. I have more then enough to play on my Xbox. In fact there is not enough hours in the day to play all the games they offer.

[kayoss]

I respect your opinion, but can you name all the Xbox exclusives released in the last 6 months?

[thexmanone]

That' is true MS is not doing very well with there Xbox exclusives, but that does not bother me. There are more then enough multiplat games being released to keep me busy. I play where my friends play and that is Xbox..

[kayoss]

Fair enough. But youre doing yourself a disservice by playing on one console (of course if you cant afford both its a different story). I got the xbox one for gear of war series, but since then, nothing much on their system.

[StormLegend]

This guy needs to be fired and MS needs to wake up and start making "New" games. How can anyone still game on Xbox consoles? it lost exclusives, COD DLC, barley any 3rd party support and they do nothing but lie and brag about everything.

[Angel911]

This guy is the only guy in MS capable of handling Xbox right now. . X1 suffered coz of Don Mattrick and his policies that he implemented at launch..

X1 lost sales right at the beginning coz of which X1 started losing exclusive dlcs nd all as install base was weak...He improved the install base by bringing backwards compatibilty and new redesigned One S ..Matrick was pushing social gaming and Kinect..He pushed backwards compatibilty, cross-play and cross buy and core games...He was the one who convinced top management to fund Sunset Overdrive, K.I, Ori and the blind forest, Quantum break and Recore..Sadly not all games were successful but atleast they were different games than your regular Halo.Gears/Forza. Scorpio was his idea. He want cutting edge core gaming system and not underpowered machine like current X1. Exclusives will come once Scorpio is out.

It's coz of Phill, Rare is finally getting opportunity to make a proper game - Sea of thieves. Crackdown is coming back is coz of him. During Don Matrick days Rare was making Avatars and now Sea of thieves.

Sadly Scalebound went in development hell as Platinum failed to meet milestones of the game and MS refused to give them more money. He can't do much in this situation. He is not the Ceo of MS.

And wtf barely any 3rd party support? Almost all big publishers games are on X1.. Only support is lacking is niche Japanese games from Japanese publishers.

Use your head next time before posting garbage.

[Chevalier]

Stop spinning and maybe you would come to your senses. Phil has always been a part of Xbox team. How much longer are you going to wait? It has been over 3 years and where are the games? If they start development of new IPs now you won't see them till 2020. They need someone with some foresight to develop into the future. Every thing they are doing right now is in reaction to Sony, one step behind. Maybe your okay with the same Halo, Forza and Gears, but, some people want more than that.

[shaenoide]

Wait ?! What happened to "it's not a race it's a marathon"

http://www.hardcoregamer.co...

PR stunts are not timeproof ^^

[PhoenixUp]

That's a completely different Phil

[microgenius]

I remember the beginning of 7th gen when bill gates said: We have a Ferrari (360) and Sony has a Ferrari too (PS3) but our Ferrari has started the race earlier. they were so confident about winning their RACE against Sony although we all now what happened at the end of the day.
Now that XBONE is torn apart by PS4 its not a race anymore!!!!!!!!!!

[corroios]

Im waiting for another comercial saying that...

[Artemidorus]

Gaming became a race the moment you made the same games for different console/PC companies.

[C-H-E-F]

They didn't try handhelds because they know it would've failed. They have a barely surviving console now. They know that people wouldn't gravitate to it well. Sony's PSVita barely was able to survive in that realm because Nintendo has that market. That's why the Switch is the ultimate console for them. It's the best of both of their worlds. Sony should focus on console gaming and console game streaming. (playing games from IOT). Microsoft should to go back to Software and focus on the PC market or PC games, That's where they thrive best. However, we need them to compete with one another to give us better products soooo they don't need to go anywhere just stay where they are and continue doing what they do lOl

[fiveby9]

As both a PS4 and X1 owner I am hoping MS is more successful bringing a diversity to their game lineup than what I see now. I definitely find I spend more money on PS4 games than X1 this gen. Having multiple platforms with a variety of games always suits me as a consumer best. The last thing I want to see is the market shrink in competition.

[Angel911]

You guys must stop accusing Spencer for flip flopping or calling him two faced snake. He never once said bad thing about Sony or Ninitendo. It's people like Aaron Greenberg, Larry and Panello who take shots at Sony not Spencer..Lastgen Peter Moore and Don Matrick used to take shots at Sony but he never said anything bad about them.. Show me single comment where he said anything bad about Sony? You guys attack him just coz he holds a post of Head of Xbox.

I met him once at E3 and trust me he is a very nice down to earth guy with very deep knowledge of gaming.. You guys have to realize that he works for a corporation, he has to think 100 times before saying anything publicily on twitter coz that's how things work when you work for Corporation.

And He is the savior of XO1. X1 was train wreck at launch..He made lot of right decision to make Xbox a much better system with backwards compatibilty , new dashboard updates and new redesigned One S. He is also trying hard to bring games but that thing is not that easy ..Game development is costly and takes time and he also has to convince top MS management to fund new projects...So, it's not that simple. But iam confident he will push really hard once Scorpio is out...MS is not a company who gives up easily..They are losing search engine war to Google but still not giving up and constantly releasing new updates for MS Edge. There's no way they will back down to company like Sony who rely solely on PS brand success.

Also There's no one at MS better than Spencer to lead Xbox...If he is gone then you will see guys Yusuf Mehendi or Panello taking incharge and these guys will just complete kill Xbox trust me.

[DaGreatOne]

Ummm he criticize Sony about games with no release dates at e3, only to go on and cancel another anticipated game. #releasedatesmatter

[Angel911]

Show me proof...Can't trust Sony ponies one bit..

Also i like how my posts are downvoted my salty sony ponies. lol

[DaGreatOne]

Here's the whole quote where he made a jab about releases plus link.

“When I watch the other platforms, it’s not always clear to me when the games are shipping or how many of them are shipping this year. I mean these are a pretty diverse set of games from a great set of developers. And to say that the other consoles are doing a better job shipping more games for their customer… I don’t see that.”

http://www.playstationlifes...

[Chevalier]

So show us some games then. We're waiting.....

Updates and backwards compatibility as much as you claim are important are NOT games, they're features. You buy a game console to play games, not UI updates or stupid stuff like that. None of that has changed their fortunes. They are still losing in every category that matters.

[Angel911]

N4G comments section section full of dumb and ignorant fanboys. Sad :(

[LP-Eleven]

I'll let you figure the irony of your post.

[Tetsujin]

Of course "it's not a race" because MS isn't winning; had it been early last gen all MS did was brag, gloat, and inflate numbers. Now? "It's not a race, we're making new experiences." I call BS on MS, and their "connect anywhere" garbage. Soon as people get comfortable with Windows 10, then they will start to bring Windows 11 around, and force upgrade everyone to it like they did from Windows 7/8 to 10. All MS does is prove how two-faced they are, and the uneducated fall for their PR BS every time.

All MS has to do is fit the gamer needs of the majority, and their sales will rise; until then, enjoy 2nd/3rd place.

[Nucler100]

We need healthy competition.

[UncertainCategory]

He's not wrong. Gaming is a business, all they care about is growth year over year.

Though I suspect the messaging would be different if Xbox was on top.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

So then make mobile games, duh....

[PiperMCFierceson]

It's not a race unless you are in first lol

[Sm3000]

How convenient

[pyroxxx]

What would it be called Xbox hand granade?

[Germaximus]

The words of the saddest loser. =(

[ABBAJESUS]

Xbox is like a omega male.

[OhMyGandhi]

The problem I have with spencer's argument is that we are all not made of money. That's not to say it's IMPOSSIBLE to get all the consoles for everything they have, but people buy consoles because of games. I bought a PS4 because I believe it had the best games from the most talented developers in the world. That's not groupthink, that's not me being a loyal fanboy. That's me looking at the effort that Sony has put into showing us, the GAMERS, that a console should always be a GAME system first, and then a media center second. Microsoft was so slow to adopt this mentality.

What makes this all so upsetting is that I ADORED my Xbox 360. That was microsoft doing right by its fans. It has a booming online marketplace and actual premium gaming service with Xbox Live, which continued to improve their service, and add really amazing features like Cross Game Chat, something that I never thought I'd need until I had friends who would like to bounce around games and I'd do the same with them. They had xbox live arcade, and XNA, a development platform for indie development studios. 100 bucks and your game on was on the platform.

I honestly believe that when Bungie went third party, much of the allure of Xbox (at least to me) went away with it. Which is incredibly frusturating. It makes me wonder what the hell they were doing? PSN, in its early days was a sad affair. I bought a ps3 because my 360 red ringed for the 6th and final time, and I was tired of fixing it over and over again. I booted up the ps3 was taken back by how...primitive their online service was. They didn't have much content, and no cross game chat. They had folding at home, and Home as well. And that was about it.

Now look at PSN. It has changed and evolved rapidly. It's amazing to me.
The only way for me to change platforms back to microsoft is if they did ANYTHING remotely old school with RARE, or bought a few more studios to work on exclusives. But as of right now, there is nothing there for me.

PC+ PS4 is the ultimate combination.