Opinion: E3 2020 Is Either Going to Make or Break Microsoft

Microsoft has loaded the bases. Can Team Xbox knock it out of the park next year?

[StrengthInNumbers]

here comes another one of these *sigh* lol

[Kingthrash360]

I know right!
I feel like I just heard this a month ago.

It's time to hold them accountable. They've spent this whole generation telling people to wait. Why would anyone support them next gen?

[Obscure_Observer]

@Kingthrash360

"They've spent this whole generation telling people to wait. Why would anyone support them next gen?"

Because Phil Spencer created/acquired a LOT of new studios and actuall gamers (not the haters) has this notion that quality games aren´t made overnight.

[jukins]

@Obsure_Observer Phil has been head of software since 2009. Can you honestly tell me what hes done ? Since even becoming the head of xbox all hes done is buy studios which 90% percent of people here never played their games or even heard of them outside of ninja theory.

So you take these relatively obscure studios ,basically because your competitions in house devs were absolutely delivering, and combine them with Spencer who's basically rode the waves of halo gears and forza no new mainstay ips releasing games with original assets and calling it for the fans.

Then this e3 all trailer no gameplay and battletoads was MURDERED lol

[oasdada]

Playstation: greatness awaits

Xbox: wait till e3

[Godmars290]

Wait till *next* E3 you mean.

[FallenAngel1984]

Holy shit the entire generation has been “wait till E3” for the Xbox brand

[mandingo]

Buy an One X for multiplats and get ur ps4 for exclusives. Problem solved

[CaptainObvious878]

Or buy your multiplats for the PS4 too and support a company that actually cares about the industry.

[mandingo]

Oh boy someone is on the Sony wagon. Yea a company who barely started accepting cross play on their console cares about the industry.

[Godmars290]

@mandingo:
In that they make exclusives, don't only look at online multi, yeah.

[pwnmaster3000]

Lmaoo really reaching arnt we with that cross play. Says a lot about a company when you have to reach that far.

[NLink0714]

@mandingo

While a one X is nice, it’s a luxury that not everyone wants to plunk down on. The upgraded consoles are a small fraction of the users because most people honestly don’t care about either the x or pro (hence why the one X is always on sale - it’s not flying off the shelves).

And like I said in later comments: the Xbox one is a secondary system. It’s there to essentially to augment what isn’t on the PS4 (which isn’t much tbh). So if most people are buying the standard consoles anyway, why buy into the Xbox ecosystem at all? You’re not missing much if you don’t tbh. It’s far easier to argue for a PS4 and switch ownership because of how different, vast and essential they are (I/e their exclusives).

I also don’t see a lot of people begging for crossplay. Media sites really hammer it but most gamers rarely ever talk about it 🤷🏾‍♂️

[mandingo]

How is that a reach? That’s directly related to the gaming industry

[ApocalypseShadow]

Let's look at their record.

*They mislead gamers into thinking games we're running on Xbox hardware when it wasn't. Forza was a perfect example.

*They mislead gamers on what "exclusive" actually means. Launch exclusive? World premiere exclusive? Just...just 😄. How about "only on Xbox exclusive?" It's not that hard to figure out.

*They mislead gamers in thinking Hololens was a gaming platform pushing it with Minecraft. They lied about high fidelity vr.

*They failed to capitalize when they had the stage to themselves. Their competitor wasn't even there and made the top three most talked about companies at E3. Just wow. It's like Michael Jordan was the 3rd leading scorer in a game while sitting on the bench. Lol!

Seriously. We've all wanted to see Microsoft be more like a gaming company. And not a company that just wants to profit off of gamers. A change in strategy and leadership would do them well.

But I don't know what some gamers are expecting. They want more games like Sony first party but fail to push Microsoft to do it. When Microsoft HAS the money to do it. Since some gamers keep bringing up their trillion dollar market cap.

They want more Japanese games but it's within Microsoft's power to open up a Japanese studio or two. Why Keep looking for them to buy others? Japanese gamers aren't interested in buying their product because Microsoft is not interested in investing in them. They can tell. They're not stupid.

You shouldn't have to wait until E3. How about "next month?" Or the month after that?Or the month after that? Why should Gamers have to wait ANOTHER year? Xbox fans, if you want better, you should be already telling them that. Make or break should be every day. Not one day in June.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

Exclusive means not available to be played on PlayStation consoles

[Thundercat77]

Oh wow... A new bended definition. Have some self respect and dignity.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

Thundercat77 as a self-professed console gamer I'd think you'd know better but apparently you only have a jacked up powered up super PC Rig when it comes to Xbox games. Do you rent it from RENT A CENTER?

[Godmars290]

And, your point? Much of what MS showed at E3 will be playable on a Playstation. That's including Psychonauts and PSO2.

[TheSaint]

No, exclusive means what exclusive has ALWAYS meant, it's only MS that have tried, and failed, to change the meaning.

[Dragonscale]

Exclusive actually means not available anywhere else including pc fgs.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

Did you expect Microsoft to stop DoubleFine from launching Pyschonauts 2, which was already in development, for PS4?

If there is a third Psychonauts or a remaster of the first title I can guarantee that it won't be on a PlayStation console. But either way MS is making money.

And 99% of games playable on PlayStation will be on Xbox. You act as if there are hundreds of exclusives on PlayStation, when the numbers really aren't that large. Exclusives make up a very small portion of console games.

@TheSaint

Exclusive means what is listed in Webster.

adjective
1.
excluding or not admitting other things.
"my exclusive focus is on San Antonio issues"
synonyms: complete, full, entire, whole, total, absolute; to the exclusion of everything else
"his exclusive concern with himself"
2.
restricted or limited to the person, group, or area concerned.
"the couple had exclusive possession of the condo"
synonyms: sole, undivided, unshared, unique, only, individual, personal, private, single, especial; dedicated
"I have reserved a room for your exclusive use"
noun

Certain games are key word "restricted" from being played on a Sony Console. These games are limited to the Xbox console and Windows PCs. Maybe instead of Fanboying on N4G you should read a dictionary.

[DaDrunkenJester]

What do you mean "How about "next month?" Or the month after that? Or the month after that?" ?

It's not like Sony is pumping out massive exclusives every month either. Microsoft is still releasing 1st party games, still bolstering their services that their fanbase loves because they bring new relevant games to the service. Its not like they dont do anything. Plus, you can already tell the focus is on the games for their next console. Phil has already exclaimed that he hears us on that and that's why each e3 for the past 3 years all they have shown is games games and more games. Whether they are first party, second party, timed indies, or 3rd party. They have been focused on games for a while now, buying up multiple developers to help bolster themselves, spreading their brand to other platforms, and now opening up Xbox to streaming on numerous devices.

Just because they aren't a closed off exclusive platformer anymore, doesnt mean they aren't focused on games and providing Xbox fans and gamers things they want.

[jukins]

When was the last good exclsuive to xbox from 1st party? As far as "bolstering" services even psnow brings in more money than gamepass.

You say they're about games but the only gameplay we saw if any was 3rd party and yet again all xbox had exclusively was halo and gears . . . Again.

As for playstation massive exclusives (some relatively) have been pumping out because along with the regular triple a exclsuives a ton of great psvr games and content has come out. It's been a whole generation and there been no sticking new ips even the flagships have kinda stalled except forza horizon.

I mean think about it the gen is coming to a close xbox has videos of halo and gears and a bunch of 3rd party games and as I've commented before an absolutely horrendous battletoads reveal it felt like a corny Saturday morning cartoon generic rock music and all thats not battletoads. And Sony has 3 major exclsuives still to release. Theyve guaranteed psvr compatibility whereas Microsoft killed it supposed cant work without peripheral kinect. Closed off or not Phil Microsoft whoever hasnt shown they know what they're doing. The cloud took 5 years and was quickly forgotten. And all these studio acquisitions so quickly shows how desperate they are. They're hoping they can just pump money into them and get a great game.

All that said Sony could definitely fumble going into next gen if they dont have the content and halo being an xbox launch title but facts are facts Microsoft hasnt given any indication in the past 6 or so years that shows they're actually serious or just know what they're doing. Just look back at the ps3 launch and first few years it sucked to be honest but Sony stuck with it and eventually things came around.

[DaDrunkenJester]

@Jukins

Forza Horizon 4, SoT (may have started rocky, but has turned into a great game).

Are you sure PSNow brings in more money, I mean we do know that GamePass has a lot more subscribers. But you could be right. The difference there is one service has been around for 5 years, the other only a couple, yet one was first to offer native downloads and way more relevant new games. There is no question which services will end up on top unless Sony starts adding better titles and expands it to more devices.

And you're right, they didnt show much actual gameplay. Hell, E3 in total was a bit let down by that fact. And the exclusive thing is a bit dicey, but as far as games that wont be on PS4 or Nintendo was Battletoads, Blair Witch, Bleeding Edge, Gears 5, Halo Infinite, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Minecraft Dungeons, Ori and the Will of the Wisps.. plus DLC for various games like Forza Horizon 4, State of Decay 2, and SoT. Timed exclusives like CrossfireX and Phantasy Star Online.

But yeah all they showed was Halo and Gears. Shoot.

[jukins]

That's the thing Microsoft have included their flagship exclsuives in gamepass and still it trails behind psnow without as you say relevant games which is basically a selling point for me on psnow. A whole catalog of games I probably would never play. And I'm sure they'll enhance psnow with better titles and performance especially with the others going that route.

But as you listed Microsoft basically has tried and true franchises and indies most besides forza halo and gears have basically failed

[mandingo]

It’s not misleading if ur not an idiot. Do your research.

[italiangamer]

Then E3 2020 sucks and the xboners will say "b-bbut it's just the beginning of the generation, WaiT fOr nExT E3 to have the games up and running in full force!"

"The Neverending Story" - a deceiving book written by Phil fakegoodguy Spencer and the Xbawx apologetic fans.

[mandingo]

Get both. You get the best exclusives(ps) and the best looking games (Xbox)

[NLink0714]

I’m tired of waiting. As a console gamer I jumped headfirst into the PS4 this generation followed very quickly by the Xbox one as a gift I gave myself for graduating med school. And, despite a summer of fun with titanfall, I rarely recall fun experiences from Xbox that year (2014).

I was a self proclaimed 360 fanboy last gen up until 2010 (right after reach and Alan wake) After that, Microsoft seemed to forget about me. They stopped making killer gaming experiences. Everything was call of duty, fifa, Kinect cash grabs. There were a few moments of bliss like gears 3, halo 4 (very briefly) but the rest was forgettable. At the same time Sony was bringing out heavy hitters; hot off of uncharted 2 until the last of us. I got tired, in 2011 I switched to the PS3 and Sony as my preferred platform/ecosystem. And in the 8 years that have passed since then, NOTHING Xbox has done has caused me to change. The Xbox one x is awesome yet I’m rarely compelled to turn it on. Nearly everyone I know has or switched to the PS4. I have a library of 10+ terabytes of games and it would be even more should Sony decide to allow larger than 8tb external drives (maybe next firmware). Nearly every single cool game experience I’ve had has been on PS4.

The Xbox brand is a joke. Couldn’t care less that they bought studios until they show their goods. I remember what happened to Rare and I’m very hesitant about those studios’ futures E3 2020 may change that and I hope it does. But I’m tired of waiting.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

I play 6-7 top tier PS exclusives on my Pro and that's it. I don't invest in PSN or the community. Get my amazing cinematic experience from the Sony exclusives in 10-25 hrs, then it's back to Xbox for everything else. Switch for family time.

[NLink0714]

I see that. The one X is pretty great and has so much potential from a technical perspective in my opinion. I can't same the same for the One S but thats only because the standard PS4 has become the defacto development platform target.

I don't often hear of most people (and bear in mind most people aren't gamers like the ones here) having 3 or more game consoles. I think most will have one or 2. I think for most people, they're quite content with the stuff the PS4 provides alone. Or with a PS4 and switch. Maybe +/- PC. And the vast majority use the base models and not the X or Pro.

Because of that I think that the xbox one has become a secondary system to the PS4. I/e its a system that you have in addition to the PS4 and its one that people tend to buy now more as their second console rather than their first.. Sure they might be like you and spend more time on Xbox (that one X is pretty amazing), but for most gamers they're going to play and make their purchases on the system that has the games they and their friends want to play on. AND THAT BOTHERS ME because Xbox (especially early 360) can clearly rise to a level higher than that. But with the way microsoft has been pushing its platform, it hardly seems that they have any interest in bringing out rock solid gaming experiences. There isn't anything on xbox that is a true must own. It seems almost like Xbox lost its drive which really kills it for me.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

It's only secondary if you have a need for cinematic gaming experiences.

[NLink0714]

^

This

[343_Guilty_Spark]

Why TF would I as a grown ass man need to name anything for you? I got my own cash flow, not mommy's, so I can buy whatever I want whenever I want on any console I want.

[TheColbertinator]

I thought this E3 was the "E3 to end all E3s" for Microsoft O_o

[1-pwnsause-1]

isnt that what theyve been saying every year -_-

[SkatterBrain]

microsofts got the funds if they break to try again

[Thundercat77]

And this is exactly why there is no passion on Xbox. They don't care if they fail. For them is just another "try again".

This is why Xbox is loosing. For Sony and Nintendo, this is about passion for gaming and thus they are winning.

[Imortus_san]

"E3 2020 Is Either Going to Make or Break Microsoft" - break XBOX??? LOL they are fitly rich, nothing ever is going to break then.

[Thundercat77]

They are clearly taking about gaming. Not Microsoft as a whole.

[Imortus_san]

Microsoft as always made games for windows, that will never change, if they stop with Xbox they will keep making for PC, so nothing is ever going to breack then.

[King_Noctis]

Next year is when most of MS’s studios are most likely gonna be able to show off their new games. So I’d strongly agree with this article. If they couldn’t show any interesting new games from the like of Ninja Theory and Playground, then it will be even harder for them to recover.

[Chocoburger]

This is said *every* *single* *year* since 2014. This thought process doesn't work anymore.

[Vetgamer]

Didn't know they was struggling, yeah may be second this gen but I'm sure the cash has been rolling in. Gaming is in flux, it might not be the big 3, Google might shock and even nvida might throw somthin in the ring or even atari..

[Elda]

Heard it all before. Next.

[mandingo]

Are you sure it won’t be e3 2021 or 22 or 23 or 24 or... give it rest.

[zodiac909]

*correction* e3 2020 will either make or break E3...this year was mostly a let down.

[DaDrunkenJester]

I feel like we read the same exact headline for E3 2019...

[Godmars290]

When did this "loading of bases" happen?

If they botch the next Xbox's launch - again - I think they'll be done with the console. Push the Xbox service on PC and even the PS5 if they can.

[Father__Merrin]

The entire gen they have let people down their core userbase switched to playstation yet there are still those who hang onto a glimmer of hope

[Gaming4Life1981]

Honestly as a xbox fan ms holding back this e3 hurt them. It hurt them because of promises of a stellar show and no gameplay was shown. They should have shown CGI trailers to new games at least. Also where was all the games shown last e3 like last night? Ms has fallen into not only showing exclusives too early but also indie titles.

No doubt ms is changing the industry and making good moves but it feels like they screwed up this gen and said oh well.

[SethBrundlefly]

2014
New Xbox Boss Phil Spencer Says E3 2014 Will Have “The Best Lineup In A Long Time”
http://wegotthiscovered.com...

2015
Microsoft to have ‘greatest games lineup in Xbox history’ at E3
https://www.kitguru.net/gam...

2016
Xbox head Phil Spencer: E3 2016 could be 'one of our most special years ever'
https://www.windowscentral....

2017
Xbox in 2017: Phil Spencer promises “more exclusives games” than in 2016
https://stevivor.com/news/x...

2018
Xbox One games news: E3 2018 will be Microsoft's 'BIGGEST Xbox show ever'
https://www.dailystar.co.uk...

2019
Xbox to 'Be as Big at E3 as We've Ever Been' in Sony's Absence:
https://www.ign.com/article...

[lellkay]

I swear I read this every year. Then a month before Spencer starts bigging it up "it's gonna be our biggest show ever, its going to have the most games ever, it's our biggest first party line up ever!!!!"

[HighPlayer28]

Microsoft seems like they just want purposely piss off Xbox fans with some of their decisions right now. Just going by what Phil said about being excited for the games they did not want to show at E3 was stupid smdh. Why hold back games when you could have created more hype for next gen by showing those new ips for Xbox fans and the media.