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480°

What We Already Know of Microsoft’s Strategy Could Give it an Advantage in the Next Generation

Over a week has passed since Sony announced some of the technology that will ship with the PlayStation 5, and Microsoft has been mostly silent. Despite the beefy specs that will be found within the PS5, Microsoft should not feel threatened, as it has already expressed its intentions towards future hardware.

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Community2251d ago
Srhalo2252d ago (Edited 2252d ago )

What is Microsoft strategy? Get a bunch of websites to talk trash about PlayStation constantly?

I like Sony's strategy more. Just be PlayStation.

Jin_Sakai2251d ago (Edited 2251d ago )

Xbox One X was going to give them an advantage this generation also. We see how that went.

They still have no games that look good as Sony first party exclusives regardless of having the most powerful console on the market and have placed 3rd in hardware sales 11 months in a row.

I expect PlayStation 5 to be a repeat of what PS4 achieved this generation. Maybe even better.

Sophisticated_Chap2251d ago

In terms of actually playing games in 4K, it does have the advantage. Gamers play games, not sales numbers.

Silly Mammo2251d ago (Edited 2251d ago )

Also, Gamers play games, not pixel numbers.

Jin_Sakai2251d ago (Edited 2251d ago )

“In terms of actually playing games in 4K, it does have the advantage. Gamers play games, not sales numbers.“

I guess that’s why PS4 is fixing to hit 100 million in sales. The have the best games.

If a game is selling well it’s usually because it’s a great game and it helps fund the next iteration. So sales do in fact matter.

As for 4K, I’d rather play games such as God of War and The Last of Us: Part 2 over some extra pixels.

indysurfn2251d ago

And we know how websites make money, ads and payment for 'news articles' just like tv! 85% of all news is PAID for by a sponsor. Whether they list them or not.

343_Guilty_Spark2251d ago (Edited 2251d ago )

Don't remember them ever claiming it was going to give them a sales advantage...only that they wanted gamers to have the most powerful 4K console.

Al_Simmons2251d ago

@Sophisticated_Chap Bingo. Gamers play games. And Xbox doesn't have any. So, your comment was deliriously typed.

Godmars2902251d ago (Edited 2251d ago )

@Sophisticated_Chap:
How is that after all this time and a massive amount of examples is it hard if not impossible for some to grasp that graphics are not the end all be all of gaming?

Not only is it not the most singular element of gaming, it may actually be its least important. May compliment gameplay and story, frame rates, but all of those other factors need to be competently if not well done beforehand.

@343_Guilty_Spark:
Without 1st party games that take full advantage of that 4k consoles ability to deliver 4k. Unless there are 3rd party titles that don't look better on PC? What 1st party Xbox games have been complimented for their graphics or that matter?

Ju2251d ago (Edited 2251d ago )

You have to be MS to be able to blow the money. They sure have a long breath. While MS invested heavily to fix the XBO "problem" they had - under performing and not being actually cheaper as the PS4 at launch - they built a complete new machine which basically does the same thing - in 4k. And that not so great, when you see performance benchmarks where the PS4Pro - sure at lower res - constantly outperforms (higher fps?) your expensive flagship console.Sony was wicked smart in simply upgrading the GPU for cheap and catch the X mid flight - and taking the money where it actually matters and invest into the next gen instead. Looks like Sony yet again will be faster to market. So much so, that I feel they don't need to rush this out at all. The Pro cost Sony basically nothing compared to the X. MS basically spent money for 2 next gen consoles for no reason. The X at $500 did not fix the XBO problem, that is, the PS4 simply has the performance per $ advantage. What MS should have done is build a 1080p machine which simply outperforms the PS4 and reduce cost to sell for $200-$300 and replace the XBO instead. But probably rough, if you have an economy of scale but don't actually reach that goal which already cuts into your (forecast) margin. Just replacing the XBO would have thrown all that out of the window.

Now MS can boost all they want with "most powerful" console. It won't work. MS never understood the console market. Now they think they can tackle it on two fronts. A low end and high end. We'll see how that goes. Another huge selling point for consoles is it isn't fragmented and it is easy to understand for consumers. The rule is simple: One platform and all games run on that. Now splitting this into more will only lead to confusion. I do not believe there is a high price console market. It gets way to convoluted lately. Not even sure how this will go over with the PS5. Ideally. in my books, all games will run on both PS4 and PS5 - with the PS5 simply patching stuff in which doesn't work on the PS4 (or some "fat" version containing both). At least in the beginning. While MS's message is "the most powerful console" I am not even sure if they really believe in that. Otherwise why are they considering bringing an entry level 1080p console? Don't you feel betrayed? It will take 80% of the market if it will be cheap; same as the XBO probably is still outselling the X by a margin. Price is everything. Really depends how much the cheaper version will cost. I almost think it would be around $200. If Sony is able to push the PS5 out at $400, I would think those additional $100 over a $299 price tag would sway people to the much more powerful machine. If the PS5 will be $500...then Sony might have a problem, if there is a fast $299 entry level box. A PS4 Pro at $299 will not stand a chance against a Zen2/4TF machine at the same price. Well, its all at least a year away. Interesting to observe.

One other thing, though, in 2020, I wonder if there will be a 1080p market. If we are honest, it doesn't really matter. We are our own victims demanding ever higher resolution which really doesn't do anything for the games. 4Tf with a fast CPU can render 1080p better (with proper filters) than the current gen can do 4K, I suppose; for sure with framerates beyond 60fps. But that would be great today...in 2 years? Not so much.

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Saigon2251d ago

From reading through this I didn't read not one proposed strategy other than speculation. They pretty much took Sony proposed negatives and spun it in MS favor. For example the discussion of BC. They clearly love what MS implemented, and I must say it is cool they were able to do it but the article preaches as though it is fully BC with every game released on the Xbox infrastructure. The well intuned would state otherwise. MS has done a great job in implementing the majority of games released for BC but it is not the whole catalog from the first Xbox.

This article is well written, but the assumptions without clear evidence make the article lack. The 8k assumption is highly overrated. While, yes, Sony did claim it was capable of performing in 8k does not mean it will be something used right away. MS can't keep using Sony strategies to be successful. They need to come up with their own. I was disappointed in the article stating that MS should use Sony strategy for the PS4 for the next Xbox. Very disappointing to read that. I rather MS come up with their own method or plan similar to Sony, Nintendo and now Google.

kneon2251d ago

Microsoft could follow the Playstation model of success, just produce a steady stream of great exclusives. The problem is that building up studios that can consistently produce that level of quality can take decades. You can't just throw money at a team and have them produce gold. They very well might, but most likely it will take a few releases for them to really get going.

phoenixwing2251d ago

I think mark cerny was gloating in that interview about the ps5 and its ssd. Microsoft probably didn't account for them using that bit of tech at hand, expecting them to go cheaper. We'll see when next gen rolls around or at E3 what microsofts console has in store. If microsoft doesn't have an ssd that has near enough bandwidth then I'm pretty sure sony will make games and encourage others to make games that use it to its full potential making the nextbox look terrible in comparison.

fiveby92251d ago

I hope MS does well next generation. But regardless of how good their upcoming console is, I will still be buying a PS5. The question for me is will I also be buying another XB? That depends on their games lineup. Stadia? Don't know enough about it to give it serious consideration at this point.

gamer78042251d ago

Microsoft is trying to remedy their mistakes from the start of the generation. New leadership, New Studios, More BC, an Optional Cloud solution, and More power via the X.

I loved Sony's strategy at the start of the generation with focus on single player games. But they have become a bit arrogant and dropped over half the games from PS plus and even censoring games that show a little skin on their platform.

IMO they each have things they need to work on fixing.

derek2251d ago

If I get the same great games/vr games as I did from Sony this generation then sign me up for more "arogant" Sony lol. It is Microsoft, who thought they could coast an entire generation without a stable first party output, that showed themselves to be arrogant.

gamer78042251d ago

@derek so you would be against in addition to having more of the same great games as well as having 2 more psplus games a month and developers' freedom to create? It doesn't have to be one or the other.

ShadowWolf7122249d ago

DoA 6 came out unscathed. Senran Kagura still has teenagers being blasted naked.

But sure, they're going after anything showing a bit of skin.

Al_Simmons2251d ago

I feel like that's exactly what they're doing but just like Lauryn Hill said...... "It ain't workinnnnnnn'...... No. It ain't workin'." Lol

OB1Biker2250d ago

Only Single Player website were losing their minds for a multiplayer only Ms exclusive at the start of this gen. Looks like they ll be doing to same thing next gen.

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Spurg2252d ago

Microsoft will introduce the option of 2 consoles for next gen. One streaming only and one premium. The digital console along with Gamepass and the upcoming Xcloud is a match made in heaven.

RosweeSon2251d ago

Just need what they’ve lacked all Gen now then top quality exclusives they’ve got the hardware and the services down 15 years of practice will do that get smashing out games but up developers and do some deals if you have to as much as they suck but if they do next Gen with as little effort as they’ve done this Gen which was essentially cruise control then not remotely interested sorry haha

ThinkThink2251d ago

I disagree, plenty of games, but to your point, didn't MS invest in a bunch of studios to beef up their exclusive portfolio for next gen? It appears they are putting quite a bit of effort into setting themselves up for a better go around this time. I still hope MS comes in 2nd place next gen. I much prefer the hungry MS.

Immorals2251d ago

The leaks already pretty much confirmed this

Rimeskeem2251d ago

I dont want that heaven then

cabbitwithscissors2251d ago

Bad idea of segregating your customers with different system configurations. More work for the developers, class segmenting the players between high end and low end, and also differentiating between mid-end and high-end graphics. If they want to do this, just get a PC. Consoles are there for a reason, same base configuration for everyone. Now, I know you're going to say, the last gen was with different console variations, but that's more like testing of waters to me. Doesn't look good if you ask me.

ThinkThink2251d ago

More work for developers, more options for consumers which lead to more sales.
Also, I haven't heard devs complaining about it, have you?

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Thundercat772252d ago

Has any Microsoft strategy so far gave them an advantage over the competition? No.

Not even having the more powerful console worked for them. The only strategy they like to use is to hype lies and mislead people.

ziggurcat2252d ago

I'm not sure if focusing on a strategy that involves completely eliminating the need to purchase their hardware or (in some cases) software is something that could win anyone an advantage at any time.

Vasto2252d ago

What are you more excited to see at E3?

xX-oldboy-Xx2251d ago

Nothing - all the good stuff will be announced before or after.

TheColbertinator2251d ago

In LA near where E3 is held, I wanna hit up that Japanese restaurant near Sunset Blvd. they have that clam and chicken butter broth served with onions and cucumbers.

After I head out of E3 that is what excites me the most.

BrettAwesome2251d ago

I think I might just go for Taco Bell. It's been a while, and they beat El Pollo Loco by a mile

TheColbertinator2251d ago

@Brett

Taco Bell's gordita crunch snackers are my weakness. And a medium Mountain dew baja blast.

BrettAwesome2251d ago

@Colbertinator
Fuckin' A, dude!
I never been to Jack in the box. They any good?

TheColbertinator2251d ago

@Brettawesome

They are ok. Their tacos, sourdough bread burgers and deli trio sandwiches are pretty good. Breakfast and fish sandwiches there are horrid. Avoid those.

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MasterCornholio2251d ago

I’m really looking forward to Nintendo’s Direct. I really want to see more footage of that Pokémon game and Metroid is something I’m looking forward to as well.

2251d ago
indysurfn2251d ago

I'm excited to see if Square Enix messed up FFVII remake, into a bloody hack and slash.

bellome2251d ago

The usual marketing shitshow MS pulls out ever year. Can’t wait to see how ridiculous they will be this time around.

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110°

It Shouldn't Take Expedition 33's Success to Remind Square Enix That Turn-Based Still Sells

TNS: Expedition 33 was the wake-up call Square Enix needed, telling it turn-based RPGs are still popular, but that shouldn't have been the case.

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Community3h ago
Relientk773h ago

True, but if it does get it through their thick skulls, then that works.

Although, the Dragon Quest 1 + 2 HD remakes will be turn-based and (the worst kept secret) Final Fantasy IX remake should be turn-based I would imagine. Let's see if any newer games go turn-based too.

thorstein15m ago(Edited 14m ago)

DQIII HD Remake was turned based and very successful. Then there was a really obscure turn based game came Balder's Gate 3. I heard it might have done well.

DivineHand1253h ago

While it is true that Sqaure Enix has moved away from turn based games compared to how they were in the past, there is a good reason for it.

Older gamers will know this but during the ps2 era, we were flooded with turned based games from Japanese studios and this created a form of fatigue back then going into the next generation.

When Square released FF13, they received heavy criticism for making the game turned based like every other FF game and not doing enough to innovate. This is why they made FF15, FF7 Remake and FF16 have real time combat. It gave the series a fresh spin and has brought in new fans to the series.

I personally would be happy with either turned based FF or the real-time combat version we see today.

Shane Kim2h ago

Remake and Rebirth have "turn based" if you set it in the settings.

andy852h ago

Only need to look at their own game DQ 11 approaching 10 million to show there's a market. And that's not as big of a name as FF

Tacoboto2h ago

Another article about Expedition 33 and Square Enix and turn-based games? This is starting to sound like propaganda.

The game didn't sell because it's a turn-based game; it sold and is enjoyed because it's a really freaking good game that released completed at a good price without gamer drama attached to it. No Mtx, no wait-until-it's-patched, minimal bloat, a self-contained story, no multiplatform BS. Just a solid original game that absolutely nails what it intended to do.

Redemption-642h ago

I was just about to say the same thing.

anast1h ago

This comment should have a 100 upvotes, at least.

CrimsonWing692h ago

Maybe try actually listening to the fans who have supported the series for decades. This habit of ignoring your core audience just to chase people who were never interested in Final Fantasy in the first place makes no sense. And when that approach fails, doubling down on it is beyond baffling.

The battle system has never been the main reason non-FF or non-JRPG players stayed away. Gutting the series’ identity to chase a broader market doesn’t attract new players. It just alienates the loyal ones.

Keep going down this road and we’ll end up with Final Fantasy Fortnite abomination or a F2P Battle Royale game.. Oh wait…

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60°

Little Nightmares Enhanced Edition announced for Nintendo Switch 2

We have another announcement from the Little Nightmares universe as Little Nightmares Enhanced Edition was just announced for Nintendo Switch 2. It launches on October 10, 2025. According to today’s announcement, Little Nightmares Enhanced Edition will run at 4K and 60 frames per second.

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Terry_B1d 14h ago

..announced for every System including the Switch 2.

hiawa231d 5h ago

Definitely getting it for the Switch 2.

660°

Microsoft planning “major” Xbox layoffs next week

The cuts are expected to be announced next week.

Microsoft is also planning thousands of job cuts that will impact other parts of it businesses

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Obscure_Observer2d ago

MFs has been beating their chests over great quarterly results and big profits to shareholders while firing people by the thousands just like Sony.

I wonder if at the top of those rumored layoffs they´ll also cancel upcoming or unannounced games while shutting down more studios as well.

2d ago
pwnmaster30002d ago

Always got to throw shade at Sony smh.
Yes we get it,
MS good Sony bad
MS bad Sony is also bad lmao

2d ago
Obscure_Observer2d ago

F* them both!

Just for the record, I don´t care about your victim complex crap either. Find someone else who cares.

blacktiger2d ago

He was talking about both. Why you getting offended when he's using both names

pwnmaster30002d ago (Edited 2d ago )

@Blacktiger

Im not offended , that’s just his formula lol
He can’t help help himself, he needs to bring Sony down when the topic involves MS.
Whether is good news for MS or bad, it some how leads to Sony doing bad lmao.
It’s actually hilarious.

InUrFoxHole1d 19h ago

He's not wrong but im tracking what youre saying. In this case is should just be MS bad. Thats a lot of people fired

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Tacoboto2d ago

"just like Sony"

Gosh you're insufferable, not everything needs to be both-sides'd. Sony's had layoffs, but nothing like what Microsoft has been doing and is continuing to do.

CrimsonWing692d ago (Edited 2d ago )

I mean, no offense, but this is why you’re not some corporate business person running a major corporation. Big profits don’t mean jobs are safe. Do you understand why things like this happen:

Cutting jobs to maintain or increase profitability, especially in underperforming divisions like parts of Xbox like other gaming divisions.

Corporate restructuring and relocating resources for strategic stability in ever changing markets and consumer behaviors.

Investor expectations and optimizing operations to maintain investor confidence. Whatever boosts stock prices and improves future margins.

And there’s many other factors at play. It’s never as simple as business doing well, everyone’s safe. That’s just you not understanding at all how corporations work and have been working since the beginning. This isn’t something that’s specific to Xbox, you can bet your ass Sony and Nintendo do this and if it’s not clear by now, game development is not a stable job nor has it ever been for many. A lot of developers are contractors and guess what happens when a project is done?

Ganif2d ago

Nintendo said they have no plans for layoffs, and you can't seriously claim that the scale of Sony's layoffs most of which involved Bungie which is self managed as even close to the same scale as what Microsoft has done since they purchased Zenimax. And that significantly less layoffs would have happened if those publishers had stayed independent. Keep in mind that much of these layoffs have been due to redundancies specifically related to these buyouts.

CrimsonWing691d 23h ago (Edited 1d 23h ago )

@Ganif

Nintendo:

https://gamerant.com/ninten...

Sony:

https://gamerant.com/playst...

https://techxplore.com/news...

I don’t think it’s realistic to treat Sony’s layoffs as somehow outside the norm for the industry right now. Even if Bungie is self-managed, Sony’s cuts went far beyond that like Naughty Dog, Insomniac, London Studio being shut down completely, and multiple teams across the globe took hits. These weren’t just minor adjustments.

Nintendo, I had to look up and you’re right. They seem to be an outlier, but rest assured at some point it happens. And even then there’s been layoffs, albeit a smaller amount and contractors.

Would fewer layoffs have happened if studios from acquisitions stayed independent? Maybe. But even independents have been hit hard and look at what’s happened with Embracer’s fallout, or smaller devs like Digic, Roll7, or Volition. This isn’t just a “Microsoft problem” or strictly tied to acquisitions; it’s a broader correction happening across the whole industry, and unfortunately, layoffs are a big part of that process right now.

Ganif1d 23h ago

From your article:

"According to reports, Nintendo of America restructured its testing operations, leading to layoffs of about 120 contractors, part of a strategy for global integration.

Nintendo of America, publisher of iconic franchises like Mario and Zelda, is shifting some contractors to full-time roles for better development integration."

Contractors are not employees, and even if you want to count them as that, it's 120 people vs around 7500 since Microsoft purchased Zenimax.

In an era of game industry layoffs, Nintendo is hiring more people
https://automaton-media.com...

Nintendo Announces 10 Percent Pay Raise For Devs Despite Lower Profits
https://kotaku.com/nintendo...

Nintendo CEO’s refusal to layoff staff goes viral following industry-wide cuts
"Satoru Iwata took pay cuts to ensure staff didn’t have to be let go"
https://www.nme.com/news/ga...

And as for Sony you're comparing less than 1000 total jobs to an estimated7500

Has the industry faced layoffs, yes, but that still doesn't account for the mass layoffs due to redundancies that was easily predictable, or that fact that at least 1/3 of Microsoft's layoffs and studio closures happened before the industry downturn.

thorstein1d 22h ago (Edited 1d 22h ago )

Take the L, Crimson.

People hate Nintendo, but Ganif proved why they deserve support.

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-Foxtrot2d ago

It's like banging your head off a wall, he just can't help himself.

Microsoft can do no wrong, Sony sucks at everything and Nintendo is bigged up because it's less hassle than trying to defend Microsoft all the time

What's going to happen when Microsoft finally turn completely third party, then what?

anast2d ago

I enjoy Obscure. Obscure does good work.

crazyCoconuts2d ago

Did you know that the first n4g was designed to be a perfect human world? Where none suffered, where everyone would be happy. It was a disaster. No one would accept the program.

Tacoboto2d ago

I wouldn't be surprised at this point if anast and osbcure were both alts for the Admin.

We know how Obscure especially drums up additional comments and clicks with his spam-worthy remarks that somehow never get moderated

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LoveSpuds1d 21h ago Show
Profchaos1d 21h ago

Thats business present a strong front to your shareholders while your company burns around you.

Keep shareholders happy at all costs andnif not happy keep them numb to the reality of you organisation

Angyobangyo1d 12h ago

" Just for the record, I don´t care about your victim complex crap either. Find someone else who cares. "

Just for the record, you clearly you do if you have to vent this hard.

TheExecutioner1d 9h ago

Basically you think like kids when it come to choose between candy or chocolate.

Sonic18811d 8h ago (Edited 1d 8h ago )

Are you and Anast the same person?

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