It’s Not Too Late For Microsoft To Start Investing In First Party, Says Michael Pachter

Pramath: "Phil Spencer recently admitted that Microsoft would work on its first party support and lineup for Xbox consoles going forward- a point that I felt was several years too late, because after spending this long in the market, Microsoft should have already had a sizeable slate of in house exclusive content to drive console sales."

[porkChop]

If they start building up studios and new exclusives, it would likely be for next gen.

[lxeasy]

Right it will take time do my guess is there will be more first party studios by next gen. But they are gone have to buy exclusives to get through the rest of this gen I think

[CaptainOmega]

Buy exclusives? Like Dead Rising 3 and Titanfall? Developers realize it's a mistake having Xbox buy exclusivity.

[The Wood]

Not a bad call. They would have to pay over the odds though. Their bargaining power isn't what it used to be. By hook or by crook they need more internals or it'll just be a repeat of this gen. . .

It's late but not too late. . They just need precision and be willing to take more risks. .

[UltraNova]

ΑAA games need anywhere from 2 to 5 years to make(2 for sequels and up to 5 for new IPs). Next gen is 2020 at the latest so MS has better been hard at work cause the usual trio (halo, gears, foza) wont cut it again.

[Eonjay]

If will be for next gen.

[dirkdady]

I think microsofts typical pattern has been near the end of their console cycle they start holding their first party releases back to try to launch heavy on the next gen console vs sonys approach has been to just release games as they become ready.

[DarkVoyager]

“It’s Not Too Late For Microsoft To Start Investing In First Party, Says Michael Pachter“

They invested $1 billion into first party in 2013 and it did nothing. They’re worse off now than ever before. What’s to say investing into first party again will change anything?

[Obscure_Observer]

@DarkVoyager

"They’re worse off now than ever before. What’s to say investing into first party again will change anything?"

Worse? Lol. Not according to Nadella´s latest financial report. Xbox brand saw a significant growth YoY making MS few more billions! Now according to him some of this money will go back to Xbox division to acquire/build new studios and invest in new IPs and AAA first party games.

If Xbox is doing fine "without games", imagine what they may accomplish with proper first party AAA games and studios support

[DarkVoyager]

“Worse? Lol. Not according to Nadella´s latest financial report”

I don’t give a crap about a financial report. I’m talking about games. The growth was mainly from 3rd party games. Xbox 360 had more and better exclusives. Period.

[Eonjay]

First, don't believe that about the 1 billion. It's just another PRstunt. There is no way the could have done that and come away so empty handed.

[Mystogan]

A lot of people with inside knowledge(Jez Corden,Rand and even Ryan Mcaffrey) are hinting that Microsoft pretty much raised the white flag for this gen and are starting to gear their focus towards next gen. Not that Xbox is not going to get any exclusives for the next 2-3 years but I believe that heavy hitters like Fable 4, Perfect Dark or whatever new IP they're rumored to be working on is going to appear in nextgen.

It makes sense to me because Phil's mission only started 3 or 4 years ago. Big games usually take at least 3 years to make and probably 4 or 5 for big new IP's.
And then you have to take in the fact that they don't even have the STUDIOS to actually build new IP's. They have to build studios, make sure they have the right people. This all takes a lot of time.

So how are they ever going to deliver these Big Budget new ip's that fans are asking for this gen? Truth is, it's impossible. It's not gonna happen this gen. Microsoft is building towards nextgen.

I assume they actually have acquired and build a couple of studios, I would be surprised if they didn't announce 1 or 2 new first party studios at E3. But whatever they're building will not be revealed. It will be teased at most.

So people expecting Xbox to suddenly come out with God of War tier AAA exclusives that will come out this year will be disappointed. It'd be a nice surprise if they did, but I seriously doubt it. We're gonna get a ton of fun games don't get me wrong(like we had with Sea of Thieves and will With State of Decay and Crackdown 3). But I doubt anything Big budget AAA unless it's Halo or Gears because they do have the studios for those.

But this all also makes it a very exciting E3 for Xbox this year. Because of the future aspects of it.

[Obscure_Observer]

@Mystogan

Playground Games already said that they´re working on a new IP! AAA Action Open World RPG! They hired big name industry veterans for their project and they will be using the Xbox One X as the base system!

https://www.gamesindustry.b...

https://www.dailystar.co.uk...

So yeah, we will be seeing a God of War (Horizon Zero Dawn more accurately) type/tier game this generation on Xbox One consoles!

[Xavi4K]

Sources???

[Mystogan]

@frescovivir

Sources for what? barring the first sentence(which includes the sources) the rest of it is just my speculation. I thought that was pretty clear.

[IGiveHugs2NakedWomen]

I doubt that they will invest in new studios not until they completely merge Xbox with Windows.

[SheenuTheLegend]

"I think they buy a PS4 because it’s a great device, and because they like PSN more than Xbox Live, and because it has a lot of cool content, third and first party. I think a major driver is the timed exclusive Call of Duty DLC content for the mainstream market… I think that’s helped." is this guy real? we buy it for games, its agreat device coz it got exclusive games .

[princejb134]

question is do you trust MS enough? I dont. 2 generations seen halo, gears, forza over and over again with not many new ips

[porkChop]

Hell no I don't, but we'll see.

[CaptainOmega]

This Gen First Party Xbox has had:
343: Halo 5, Halo MCC, Halo 6*
The Coalition: Gears 4
Turn 10: Forza 5,6,7
Rare:Sea of Thieves
Microsoft Studios: Zoo Tycoon
Collaborations: Killer Instinct, Halo Wars 2

Playstation:
Sucker Punch: Infamous Second Son (First Light), Ghost of Tsushima*
Guerrilla Games: Killzone Shadow Fall, Horizon Zero Dawn (Frozen Wilds),
Polyphony Digital: Gran Turismo Sport
Naughty Dog: Uncharted 4, Uncharted TLL, The Last of Us 2*
Sony Bend: Days gone*
Media Molecule: Little Big Planet 3, Dreams*
San Deigo Studio: MLB The Show 14-18
Santa Monica: God of War 3 remastered, God of War
Japan Studio: Knack 1 & 2, The Last Guardian. Gravity Rush 2
Pixelopus: Concrete Genie
Manchester: VR Games
London: VR Games
Evolution Studios (now disbanded): Driveclub
Collaborations: The Order 1886, Shadow of the Colossus, Unfinished Swan, Rain, Uncharted NDC, BloodBorne

I may have missed some studios from Playstation.. but you get the idea...

[PrinceOfAnger]

Bloodborne? Isn't FromSoftware a third party Dev?

[Chris092]

I think Sony Japan studio helped with Bloodborne.

[CaptainOmega]

It's in the Collaboration section...Japan Studio was part of it.

[UCForce]

Japan Studios was co developed with From Software. They are Sony First Party Studio.

[PrinceOfAnger]

https://i.imgur.com/3VYrdon...

[UCForce]

If you look the trailer of Bloodborne, you can see Japan Studio is Co developed with From Software. Here : https://youtu.be/2Crk_GpxGQ... People disagree with me about it. Remember Demon Souls ? That game was also made by From Software with Japan Studios involves. Yes, From Software is Third Party devs, but Japan Studios is Sony First Party. Both of them did share ideas and concepts of Bloodborne and Demon Souls.

[AmUnRa]

No in the case of Bloodborne From is second party.

[Obscure_Observer]

@TRU3_GAM3R

"Bloodborne? Isn't FromSoftware a third party Dev?"

Yes, but Sony owns Bloodborne IP

[Chevalier]

https://www.google.ca/amp/s...

Coproduction by Sony Japan and From Software. Notice they specifically say collaboration.

[ziggurcat]

@tru3_gam3r:

If you've played the game, you'd know that the Japan Studio logo also appears when you boot the game... which means they were involved in the development of the game as well. It is not solely a FromSoftware game.

[CaptainOmega]

to add.. Forza.Horizon 2 & 3 are collaborations of Playground and Turn 10.

[porkChop]

You're missing Quantum Break, Forza Horizon 2, 3, Ryse, Sunset Overdrive, Recore, as well as Ori and the Blind Forest. They were all published by Microsoft. And if you're including remasters, they also did the Gears Ultimate Edition, State of Decay: Year One Edition, Phantom Dust, and some others as well.

But yes, PlayStation kills Xbox in exclusives. Everybody knows that. Hopefully Xbox starts investing in new studios and new IP, but I won't hold my breath.

[CaptainOmega]

Hey Porkchop...

None of the games you mentioned besides Gears UE where first party studio games...
Horizon 2,3 were made by Playground, which is an independent studio.

The point is MS first party studio portfolio is severely lacking.

[Nitrowolf2]

@beardeddrachen

Yet you included "collaborations" for both systems......

FH is still an exclusive, even if its made by an indie dev. Yeah its not made by their own in house, buts regardless its their IP thats being used

[Prince_TFK]

There are still games like Cuphead and State of Decay 2 that he conveniently forget to mention. An exclusive is still an exclusive no matter which devs develops it. Plus, MS consider all games that are published by them as first party. If you gonna do a comparison at least try not to be so obviously biased.

[slavish0]

He is just trolling

[Araragifeels]

Media Molecule didn't make LP3. It was a third-party studio.

[CaptainOmega]

Thank you for the correct information.

[porkChop]

"None of the games you mentioned besides Gears UE where first party studio games"

I know that. But some of the games you listed, such as the Shadow of the Colossus remake and Uncharted: NDC weren't developed by Sony's first party studios either. So if those Sony games can be listed as collaborations, then why shouldn't all the other Xbox games be listed as well? If you're going to make a list, shouldn't it be accurate?

[ShadowWolf712]

Because there's a difference between actually putting in work and development time on at your own expense vs just publishing a game.

[CaptainOmega]

Porkchop, Read this very carefully

This article is about first party studios, not exclusive games. I threw the games in to make the list more interesting to look at. and I AGREE, there are some errors like LBP3 not being made by MM and Gears UE not being included with The Coalition, but that's besides the point.

"But some of the games you listed, such as the Shadow of the Colossus remake and Uncharted: NDC weren't developed by Sony's first party studios either".

-------I know that. That's why i put a collaborations section. Perhap That section included both 2nd party dev AND first party dev involvement as per Google sources. That's why I put Halo Wars 2 and Forza horizon 2/3 in collab because it was developed by 343 AND Creative Assembly, and The Order 1886 because it was made by Ready at Dawn AND Santa Montica.

Ryse was made by Crytek. Quantum Break by Remedy, Sunset by insomniac, Recore by Level 5-Comcept/Armature, Ori by Moon Studios, Cuphead by MDHR, as per google sources, they weren't co-developed with any other MS first party developer.

Your list of games doesn't match what I'm referring to..

[Dark_Knightmare2]

Dude just because Sony outsourced the remake/remaster duties for those games doesn’t mean they aren’t first party lol because those are Sony first party exclusive games

[Gameseeker_Frampt]

@ porkChop

"My point was that their list was really inaccurate. I brought up Microsoft because it was obvious that so many of their games were missing, whereas almost all Sony games were listed."

Except I just listed 7 Sony games missing from the list, and that is me being generous. I could list quite a few more games if we really wanted to be fully accurate. You want Ryse, ReCore, and Sunset Overdrive included when we both know no Microsoft Studio had any hand in developing them. This is supposed to be a list of first party games for Microsoft and Sony and while there are some mistakes and omissions in it, almost every single game you listed does not belong on this list. This isn't a list of games published by Microsoft and Sony. Either you don't understand that or you are intentionally trying to muddy the water. Which is it?

[Uglyday]

Subtract the games from MS I have on my PC to complement my PS4 and all you have left is the 4K movie player/app machine MS was so hyped about at the start of the gen. I did end up buying a S used for 4K and my backward compatible pile of arcade games.

[ShadowWolf712]

Well bear in mind, MS consideres games made by third parties but PUBLISHED by them to be First Party.

Real cute when a game company moves the goalpost themselves, ain't it?

[Z501]

Wasn't the first Mass Effect & Ninja Gaiden 2 published by MS?
Where did those end up?

[ShadowWolf712]

lol I love how people completely misunderstood this post

The point is, MS has redefined First Party to make themselves look less awful.

[porkChop]

"Ryse was made by Crytek. Quantum Break by Remedy, Sunset by insomniac, Recore by Level 5-Comcept/Armature, Ori by Moon Studios, Cuphead by MDHR, as per google sources, they weren't co-developed with any other MS first party developer.

Your list of games doesn't match what I'm referring to"

I understand what you're saying. I was trying to explain that you listed games that were not collaborations though. Uncharted: NDC was developed by Bluepoint. It was not a collaboration. The Shadow of the Colossus remake was, again, fully developed by Bluepoint. It was not a collaboration. Bluepoint are not first or second party, they work with multiple publishers. They're essentially a contractor. There is no difference between Bluepoint's Shadow of the Colossus and Remedy's Quantum Break, for example. Both were developed by third party devs, and published by a console manufacturer.

[CaptainOmega]

Again..It's Per google sources..

I'm TOTALLY Ok if I'm wrong....but nitpicking an error that might have made is a waste of time.

Can we agree that MS severely lacks first party studios??

[Gameseeker_Frampt]

You are really working to make that Sony list shorter, aren't you porkChop? Problem is, Naughty Dog DID work with Bluepoint on the Nathan Drake Collection.

"The team at Bluepoint Games is incomparable regarding their portfolio of achievements and remastered releases, and we’ve been working closely with them to bring over our engine to make Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection an exemplary game."
https://www.naughtydog.com/...

JAPAN Studio worked with Bluepoint Games on the Shadow of the Colossus remake.

"Developed by Bluepoint Games and JAPAN Studio, Shadow of the Colossus looks to be lovingly rebuilt for PS4"
https://blog.us.playstation...

[porkChop]

@Gameseeker

Don't you dare even try to make it out like I've got some anti-Sony agenda. I have a PS4. I don't have an Xbox. The system I play most is my PS4.

I just like accuracy and facts. And Naughty Dog acted as consultants with the remasters. They didn't do any active development.

As far as JAPAN Studio goes, that's the first I've heard of their involvement. But apparently they were involved, fair enough.

[Chevalier]

" I just like accuracy and facts. And Naughty Dog acted as consultants with the remasters. They didn't do any active development.

As far as JAPAN Studio goes, that's the first I've heard of their involvement. But apparently they were involved, fair enough."

Naughty Dog made the original games though. Hiring a 3rd party to remaster doesn't change that. FACT. Active development does not change that Naughty Dog made the games. Your reasoning for excluding SotC and Nathan Drake Collection is paper thin.

[yellowgerbil]

Pork chop
Would you say jrr Tolkien wasn't a contributer to the Lord of the rings. You can't adapt (remaster) without something there. Naughty dog MADE THE GAME BLUEPOINT JUST PORTED IT

[porkChop]

@yellowgerbil

Tolkien would be listed as a writer, which he was. But he wouldn't be listed as a director or producer, and he wouldn't be given credit for making the movies.

@Chevalier

Buddy, Naughty Dog developed the originals. No one is disputing that. They didn't, however, develop the remaster. That's why Bluepoint was listed as the developer.

[Gameseeker_Frampt]

@porkChop

"Don't you dare even try to make it out like I've got some anti-Sony agenda."

Kind of hard not to notice that you claim you want accuracy to the list but only bring up missing Microsoft games. You seem perfectly ok with The Last of Us Remastered, Gravity Rush Remastered, Tearaway Unfolded, Everybody's Golf, and Wipeout Omega Collection not being listed. You think games published by Microsoft should be included but make no mention of adding Ratchet and Clank or Until Dawn to to the Sony's list.

"And Naughty Dog acted as consultants with the remasters. They didn't do any active development."

Like Turn 10 with Forza Horizon 2 and 3?

[porkChop]

@Gameseeker

My point was that their list was really inaccurate. I brought up Microsoft because it was obvious that so many of their games were missing, whereas almost all Sony games were listed. I wasn't trying to list literally every game missing, I was simply making a point.

And I never claimed that Turn 10 had anything to do with the Horizon games. I had made a point that Sony games developed by third parties shouldn't be listed under collaborations. If they're going to be listed, then so should games like Forza Horizon.

[Chevalier]

Bluepoint didn't make the game though. Remastering the games does NOT change the facts. They didn't develop the game at all. The ground work is completely from Naughty Dog. So your telling me if a outside studio made an Xbox game into 4K that they're now a 'developer'?! You clearly have no idea what developing games entails. Its an absolutely idiotic argument. Next you'll tell me if Disney hired a company to make a 4K version of one of their movies that its no longer a Disney movie? Your reasoning is garbage.

[Sayai jin]

It's a well known fact that MS is lacking in 1st party games. You wrote this to do what exactly...

[CaptainOmega]

Just to give ppl a comparison as to just how much MS is lacking.

[porkChop]

"Can we agree that MS severely lacks first party studios??"

Absolutely. They need a lot more. It's ridiculous how little they have as a console manufacturer.

[ziggurcat]

I've been saying that for months, now...

[AspiringProGenji]

That’s a given. Talent and family of devs is not something you build in one gen. It takes many, many years. Also nowadays it’s become very expensive to make games and keep devs that one failure means closure. They should have started investing in the 6th-7th gen like Sony did where it was easier and less costly

For all the shit that sony got for making the PS3 so hard to develop for, it sure make their developers stronger and gave them a lot of coding skills. It is no wonde they make such marvelous games with any hardware regardless of power, while MS and their twisted priorities held back some of their devs like Rare. No wonder they couldn’t design an actual Kraken

[nowitzki2004]

Hey man, I dont think a great looking Kraken would help SOT.

[SpaceRanger]

Developing new devs doesn’t guarantee quality. You need both to make consumers actually care about the platform when it comes to exclusives.

[porkChop]

Of course it doesn't guarantee quality. No one claimed it did.

[SpaceRanger]

I’m not saying someone claimed it did. Im saying that it’s only one part of the solution.

These topics are only coming up because people finally realize, with GOW out, how MS has underperformed and under-delivered when it comes to exclusives.

[The Wood]

It's true. . Numbers aren't the defining factor. Quality of studios is. Also the management of said studios is also critical. MS have managed turn 10 well but have faltered on others. I wonder what would happen if turn 10 wanted to venture out of driving games. . Would ms allow that. . Ok. . maybe that's a bad example but so if coalition wanted to change genre similar to gorilla with did with zero dawn. . .would they have the freedom and talent and backing to do so?

[DeadSilence]

No matter what your life is, it's never too late to change, same applies to Microsoft and Xbox.

I'm a huge Playstation fan but I truly want Xbox to bring the goods to their customers.

Your call Phil Spencer.

[purple101]

I second this. Never too late. And massive ps fan. Now psn is rock solid. They've sold almost 79milion xbox has sold roughly 37 (less than half). They only sold so many last generation because loads of them blew up and ended up in a skip. Still Routing for them. But it's not even close. To add;

BRING BE,... GHOST OF TUSHIMA

[Obscure_Observer]

@DeadSilence

Well said! It´s a known fact that Xbox is lacking great first party AAA games and studios when compared to Playstation. And it´s good that we have gamers that regardless of the preffered platform, has a desire for a balanced market where all 3 companies has something of value to offer to their costumers.

[kneon]

It would take a huge cultural shift within Microsoft, and that's hard to do with large corporations. Not impossible, but it takes time. They need to stop micromanaging developers and be more open to wacky ideas. They are far too conservative in the games they choose to greenlight.

[aaronaton]

Well aren't the chickens coming home to roost!
Last gen we had the Xbox community were slating the early life of PS3 by saying 'where are the games?'
Whilst SONY were working hard on acquiring talented studios and working towards alot of 1st party content.
The xbox as a developing brand owes it all to 3rd party studios, COD alone managed to shift the Xbox.
Now the chicken are coming home to roost. SONY have had so many great 1st studios in the past that they could afford to close some of them:
Evolution Studios
Zipper interactive
Incognito Games
Just to name a few!
The Xbox brand and community deserve everything thats happened to them right now

[Prince_TFK]

“The Xbox brand and community deserve everything thats happened to them right now”

Why? Did they do anything to offend you guys?

[Chevalier]

So you're going to give MS a free pass? What were they doing while Sony were making games and developing their studios?! This isn't just year 5 of this gen its year 15 since the 360 era. How many more years do you want to give them? Is 15 years not enough time to develop studios and games? They puff out their chest and say they put out a billion dollars into games apparently. Where are the games?!

[DivineAssault]

Its not if they start right now so by the middle of next gen, they have attractive exclusives.. This is MS though.. If they do it, its going to be full of microtransactions and all MP.. I hope they prove me wrong because i liked having unique games back when the OG xbox was around.. Im not giving them a damn cent until they earn it now.. I was burned too many times by them.. I want controllers with built in rechargeable batteries. I dont want any paywalls.. I want them to focus on exclusive software that can ONLY be played on their console.. I dont want everything to be shooters/racers.. I want the console to last without any RROD and i dont want a power brick i need to connect.. I dont want to hear Phil Spencer running his mouth with PR BS. Show me the games or go home

[bluefox755]

It's not too late in the sense that they have enough money to keep failing indefinitely, but it takes years to cultivate and grow the relationships with studios that generate games like God of War.

[ShadowWolf712]

Anything they start NOW will be a next gen title.

[Vandamme21]

Of course not..pretty soon they going to announce Halo 5 ODLC and Halo 6. After that the Xbox fans are going to sing the Beyonce song, Halo Halo Halo.

[S2Killinit]

MS doesnt invest in First party because they only want to buy exclusives at the beginning of each generation, then once people buy into their console, they then rely on 3rd parties. Essentially if you want a geberation with less games, invest in xbox. They will give you exclusives that they paid to withold from everyone else instead of actually adding to gaming.

This generation they followed the same strategy but it backfired. Again they bought some “big” games at the beginning, although they misfired a bit, like Titanfall. But the strategy backfired this time because they fell behind in install base and it quickly became too expensive to buy exclusives. Thats why they are in the quagmire they are in now.

Question is, do we want a console maker with this sort of mentality when they think it will work for them, or do we want a console maker that believes in making games regardless.

[trooper_]

No, the ship sailed.

[Inzo]

They might not have a choice because their current direction does not seem as secure as it did two months ago, Netherlands is fining game companies for MT, Belgium is taking it further by banning MTs and threatening jail time and word is more countries are going to follow suit.

[Elda]

Too late this gen.

[Nodoze]

With a bare minimum of 18 months of development time...it is FAR too late to START investing for this generation. This should have been done from the get go, not now.

[Obscure_Observer]

@Nodoze

Xbox One X is on the market for only 6 months! It will take at very least another 4 years before a new Xbox console come out. You´ll see new Xbox One first party games released this generation! Mark my words!

[UCForce]

But they should have start from beginning. It has been like 5 years. Right now, MS have been pinned by Sony and Nintendo. I’m sorry, but you following Phil Spencer word too much. Phil Spencer need to do action than talk. Here another thing, Sony is building a new studio without talking.

[Obscure_Observer]

@UCForce

Dude, why you tripping so much? Who said anything about Sony? Sony has WON this generation hands down! There´s nothing the competition can do about it and only a fool would argue that both Microsoft AND Nintendo has a chance to beat them before the next generation comes!

We are talking about on how Microsoft could improve on their own and make Xbox One consoles more relevant than the 360 was.

Don´t know why you feel the need to bring Sony every time you read Xbox and i guess i´ll never know for sure. But i do have a guess.

[PhoenixUp]

More and more it looks like Microsoft’s $1 billion investment in exclusives for Xbox One turned out to be nothing but BS

https://www.polygon.com/pla...

It’s even more jarring when you consider they cut Xbox 360’s first party support short in its latter years in order to primarily focus on Xbox One.

[MasterCornholio]

Well that 1 billion could be true. There's other costs involved such as marketing for example. Plus if the developers are not very efficient development costs could be quite high.

[Obscure_Observer]

@PhoenixUp

In case you didn´t notice, Xbox is under new management. It takes only one person make or break things (Don Mattrick). Phil Spencer has all the power to make a difference now as VP and Nadella´s blessings.

If things don´t improve from now on giving that he has all the power in the world to make Xbox better, then Xbox will be better off without him.

[thisismyaccount]

https://www.gamespot.com/ar...

2014 ... 4 years ago they stated the same. 2016 or 2017 Phil repeated it ... wake up and realize, the Xbox is just an alternative to the PC for those that hate playing, fiddleing around with PC gfx settings/benchmark.

[FallenAngel1984]

I’m still surprised we haven’t heard about any follow up to Gears of War or Halo yet

[CaptainOmega]

Halo 6 is gonna be Xbox's biggest game this generation....343 needs to deliver or else Halo will be finally dead in the water in terms of relevance.

[MorpheusX]

@BearedDrachen

Consider this.

Is there going to be a Halo 6 this Gen? or just maybe the plan is for Halo 6 to be a Next Gen Launch title, like Halo was for OG Xbox.

There has very little if any info on Halo 6, I think I remember Phil Spencer mention that 343 is hard @ work, & things are looking fantastic, paraphrasing.

Considering Next Gen will most likely begin in the fall of 2020, if there is no info or showing of a Halo 6 @ E3 this year, that would lend even more credence that Microsoft plans to show Halo 6 @ E3 2019 b4 its release in the fall 2020.

I don't believe Phil Spencer or Microsoft truly plan to focus more on 1st party in the vain of Sony's PS4, & are mainly going to use there core 1st party exclusives like Halo, Gears of War, Fable, to ensure, entice & attract the core fanbase to stay on bored & purchase their Next Gen console.

Considering Microsoft has not focused on exclusives this Gen, & most of the 1st party exclusives that they did have were released early in this Gen's cycle(1st 2-3years in), as again , a way to keep, entice their core audience to invest & stay on board with the Xbox platform, I see Microsoft using a similar road map again for Next Gen.

Microsoft is simply trying to by time, what most game consumers(fanboys) don't understand is, Next Gen tech is going to be so sick (Ray Tracing, etc) & Online Services etc are to go to another level, 3rd party publishers will be utilizing tech that will exponentially enhance interest, user engagement with their games, it will further decrease Xbox platform users desire to need, or expect Microsoft to create 1st party exclusives on the level with Sony's PlayStation Platform.

This Gen has been a painful transition away from 1st party exclusives being the meat & potatoes, which is the old model, into a new era of gaming where Online, & Services are central, with some, or the occasional 1st party exclusives from Microsoft, a few here & there.

What Microsoft wants the Xbox platform to be is the platform the show cases the best experience with 3rd party partners, the platform where u get all the bells & whistles, ie: the platform to go with if you want to download Mods for your 3rd party published games.

Microsoft wants to be the central place to go for gaming entertainment, the Netflix for gaming, where u can rent games as a service, rent movies, download music, connect to your facebook , twitter etc etc

Im not saying any of that is important to me personally. Personally Im content with Games only, on disc, I'm old school. But this is the End game Microsoft is attempting to reach for.

Again consider this:

Next Gen Sony is going to release the PS5 with some big exclusives as Launch titles. If someone thinks Microsoft is going to be able to trick gamers into going through anther Gen of Big talk, empty promises right out the gate, there fooling themselves.

Microsoft at least right out the gate is going to have to come correct, with some Big Exclusives, if they don't, its going to be very very very bad for the platform, game consumers are not going to endure anther Gen like this one, we're talking essentially about Microsoft since the Gen b4 this 1, abandoning its core audience chasing Kinect $$$, & now an entire Gen chasing Services & Online $$$.

That will not work again, & will bury the platform, as Sony's PS5 will continue where PS4 left off & w/o at least an initial show of 1st party support from Microsoft, it would be really really bad for them. They need to gain back the trust of fans, only exclusives out the gate will do this for them.

[MWH]

I don't think it's a matter of being late or not, it's as if MS has lost the will and energy to even try and turn things around. it appears they are trying to remain relevant this generation until they start a new momentum in the next gen and this time maybe follow and improve on the 360 guidelines which was their best endeavor yet.

business is never forgiving, second chances are tell tales and MS entered this gen from the wrong door.

[TheColbertinator]

Microsoft is doing great

[MrSec84]

Yeah but Xbox isn't, they've lost half their install base this gen.

[Xavi4K]

Yet they still managed to make 2.5 billion dollar this quarter so even in their worst they still got greens.

[MrSec84]

They didn't make $2.5B, since they only generated $1.916B, in revenue, not profit.

There's no indication what costs have to be deducted to tell people what their actual profits or losses were.

CSNBC had an article in January of this year that shows Xbox has never been profitable.
Services like Gamepass aren't free for MS, they cost them, it's not clear how many people pay subs for the service.

Things don't look good for XBox.

[MorpheusX]

I don't believe Phil Spencer, I don't believe Microsoft.

They will say ANYTHING, to keep fans believing, while they continue to invest heavily in online & services.

There is no Xbox Division, it's become apart of the Windows division.

This Generation Microsoft has mainly been a continuous transition into Services, & Online , Digital services etc, for the Xbox platform.

While Sony has focused on AAA single player mainly, Microsoft has made Services & Online Central. Nintendo has spear headed handheld gaming.

Behind the curtain of Media spin, spin, ,spin, spin, everyone has a part to play in the Interactive Entertainment Industry aka Video Games.

And part of accomplishing this goal means the media must keep game consumers from understanding the end game.

Microsoft will continue what they've been doing , focusing on Services & Online.

[Xavi4K]

Then don’t

[jorellpogi]

We need MS to succeed to keep the healthy competition with Sony and Nintendo.

[Max-Zorin]

While they're at it, they need to revamp the entire management team.

[bumbleforce]

They should have been doing this since they started

[Bathyj]

"I’m not even sure first party support is why most people buy PlayStation consoles. I think they buy a PS4 because it’s a great device, and because they like PSN more than Xbox Live, and because it has a lot of cool content, third and first party. I think a major driver is the timed exclusive Call of Duty DLC content for the mainstream market… I think that’s helped."

Yes Phil. People aren't buying PlayStation for Uncharted, Horizon or God of war. They're buying it because they like PSN more than XBL and because of CoD DLC.

Jesus, do you ever listen to yourself, cos we sure don't. 80 million consoles says your wrong. The only thing you said that makes sense is " I'm not even sure."

[Bathyj]

Sorry, Michael, not Phil.

[georeo]

I say if they don't show any new game's this e3 its over for the xbox one for first party to say the least.

[SublimeStylee2]

Obviously it's never too late. They just have to do it! Patcher is absolutely useless, his predictions are common sense at best.

[Xavi4K]

Probably for next gen this gen already settled

[CarolRGwinn]

Thanks for sharing this.

[jairusmonillas]

Playstation focuses on global appeal while Xbox only focuses on NA appeal. Xbox will never lead anything if it's happy with just 1/3 part of the world.

[Emme]

Just started playing Ryse, and its very God of War-ish, they should have made a sequel to that.Pretty good exclusive, high production values.

[pyroxxx]

They haven't even done shaders for Minecraft,.. and that promise was like 3 years ago,..They are not into gaming at all.

[Saranya]

Hey Mrs.Phill, Do you know about "Xbox Hardware Exclusive"? Just make it.

[Dannylew]

it's not too late to "close" this division.

[OG_TK_Cole]

"First, don't believe that about the 1 billion. It's just another PRstunt. There is no way the could have done that and come away so empty handed."

@Eonjay sometimes you guys hate for Microsoft and or Sony allows you to say the dumbest things. You can look up their last Quarter earning online, and they didnt earn 1 Billion dollars they earned 2.25 Billion. Cooking the books as you implied would send every Executive in that company to jail. It wasnt a PR Stunt, they actually made that money

[Rhythmattic]

Its never too late to start..... My question is, have they started?

[zerocarnage]

Yeah but the fanboys and haters would dispute that on here..

Is amazing how many people on here become pros at what they're talking about all of a sudden, but one thing that seems the beat of all is how expert like the opposite side are when they are not invested in anyway towards the jibba jabba they are spitting..

All I can say is just wait and see how Microsoft go off next gen, as an Xbox owner I cant say I've been hugely disappointed just because Sony has double the exclusives Microsoft have.

I mean who the hell walks into a games shop and says ill buy that games console because of exclusives, there is so much that enters ones head before That, sure exclusives help but they are not gospel and Xbox would of been dead by now if it was gospel and it's far from that..

[pyroxxx]

It is dead Jim