240°

Is Microsoft Placing Too Many Eggs In One Basket?

With the latest releases of two great exclusives in the form of Halo Reach and Fable III, also adding to the equation the new dashboard updates with Kinect just around the corner, prepped and ready to serve up 19 all-new titles for the highly anticipated peripheral and on the surface things are looking quite stellar as we end out 2010 for the Xbox 360.

However, looking ahead to 2011 does paint a different picture. Of course this is not your typical doom and gloom opinion piece pointing the finger at Microsoft’s future woo’s, but rather more of what seems to be an intentional direction taken by the manufacturing giant.

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game-insider.com
rroded5356d ago

their all out of baskets

now they're just throwing eggs right at people...

n ya kinect = the end of the ms gaming division.

Killed4Less5356d ago (Edited 5356d ago )

and you're all out of bubbles..

so now we complain that MS is doing too much?

People don't know about MS's announces for next year so they go doom and gloom. Silly.

NothingToGainButLove5356d ago (Edited 5356d ago )

Well they're releasing the Kinect this holiday which means it has to have some sort of prominence throughout the next year.

If it doesn't then what's the point of it anyway.

I basically think Microsoft is shifting it's consumer focus to casuals which isn't amazing for the hardcore gamers. Imagine all the 1st party games that could have been made.

kancerkid5356d ago

I hope Microsoft fleshes out some exlsuives and announces something by March, because we have Gears (not my type of game) definetely, but what about these?

Forza with Kinect (working title)
Haunt
Project Draco
Codename D
Release date unknown
Milo and Kate
Codename: Kingdoms

D4RkNIKON5356d ago

I read that the gap between PS3 and 360 console sales to date has just about closed. Kinect can do one of two things for the 360.. It can market to casuals and have a great response where it continues to sell well keeping the 360 in 2nd place this gen.. OR it backfires after the holidays and sales drop leaving the PS3 to steal 2nd place leaving 360 in 3rd. To be honest I am not sure what will happen because the casual market is much much larger than the core audience. That is why the wii is where it is today, and that is why the creators of Farmville are now worth more than EA. The fate of the 360 rests in the hands of the casual market.

Parapraxis5356d ago

"so now we complain that MS is doing too much? "
Too much for Kinect, too little for the core gamer. Yes.
That would be what is called "putting all your eggs in one basket" .....

HolyOrangeCows5355d ago

Don't forget that they're "counting their chickens before they hatch"

jony_dols5355d ago (Edited 5355d ago )

Reach is a great exclusive.

Fable 3 however is not.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 5355d ago
Christopher5356d ago

Too many? No, they have billions of eggs. Literally.

Now do I believe they're spending too much on Kinect? Personally, yeah. I think they're going to end up spending so much that they won't see any profit unless the product takes off faster than the Wii or the DS and maintains the momentum.

PHOSADRA5356d ago

Its true that companies like to keep things secret....
But we're talking about simple games...Not a new console

Its nice to have a surprise, but we haven't even heard much about anything big they may be working on...

If they had a new game...they could at least start a small hype base until its release
Anything that is revealed at next years E3 most likely won't be released until 2012 or later

Which makes us question their 2011 year

DelbertGrady5356d ago (Edited 5356d ago )

Do you also write these articles or are you just always the first to troll them?

The Kinect bashing on N4G is taking religious proportions. I tried creating an "Official Kinect Hate Thread" in the forums but it was locked instantly.
Imagine the time it could have saved the mods to have a place where the nutjobs could vent themselves instead of destroying the main page.

gtamike5356d ago

I feel sorry for the 360 hardcore gamers they got no games coming 2011 fact.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 5355d ago
deadreckoning6665356d ago (Edited 5356d ago )

"n ya kinect = the end of the ms gaming division."

Very ignorant thing you just said. Casual gamers throw more money at this industry than hardcore gamers. Kinect is the most marketed casual device since the Wii. If anything, Kinect will open Microsoft's games division to a new audience...thus making them more successful.

NothingToGainButLove5356d ago

The question is, are you willing to see SO much invested into a casual device that could have been used on its gamers at hand?

The fact of the matter is, the PS3 has so many more exclusives put out as compared to the 360.

Something tells me that you, and most people that currently own a 360 for that matter, would prefer more exclusive hardcore games than games aimed a casual crowd.

5356d ago
Parapraxis5356d ago (Edited 5356d ago )

"What makes you (and SO many others) think that MS is taking money away from hardcore games to put into Kinect?"
The 360's 2011 line-up for one, and it's holiday games slated for this year.

Tell me, which exclusives do you think the average core gamer has to look forward to on 360?

Godmars2905356d ago (Edited 5356d ago )

Still, its annoying that no one is asking - no one can ask apparently - what happens if Kinect does in fact bomb? What happens if MS goes to all this effort, spends all this money, and the casual gamer just doesn't bite?

Are we going to see another console within 1-2 years that wholly ignores Kinect?

PirateThom5356d ago

You won't see another XBox at all if Kinect bombs.

Microsoft's Entertainment Division doesn't make enough money to have yet another big loser like Zune.

Eu5355d ago (Edited 5355d ago )

as much as I see Kinect being just a very forcefull PR stunt to keep its gaming division alive, MS knows it will sell. HEck, we all know it will sell, at least in the very begining.

The target users of this will buy it because Ellen said its good, because Bieber said its good, God...OPHRA said it s good!!! See that! It'll simply sell because of those 500 million USD worth of advertisment.

For all we've seen its not worth, the tech is clumsy and doesnt have that many options to be innovative (and it makes the user an awful rag doll to boot...) but it will sell, and thats the worst thing about it. People will buy it because some company spend millions advertising the heck of it.

Great how the misinformed buyer mind works, right.....

ChozenWoan5355d ago (Edited 5355d ago )

The real question is how many units will be returned shortly there after.

From what I've seen, you need to have just the right environment for Kinect to work in. Setting up this environment is more work than most casuals will be willing and/or able to do. Once the casual gamers get frustrated with trying to get their Kinect working properly, they will return them in a timely manner.

Think about it, casual gamers had a hard enough time figuring out how to get the Wii bar in just the right place. Still the biggest complaint, even among casual gamers, is that the Wiimote is not accurate enough. With how great Kinect works in the vids I've seen, even with MS personally setting it up, Oh it's going to be interesting come Dec 26th.

I'm just saying. ;P

Chaostar5356d ago (Edited 5356d ago )

As worrying as it is for an Xbox owner to think about, that is a very good question. I'm not gonna answer it myself as, in all honesty, I just don't know. I'm hoping someone has an insight into Microsoft's 'Plan B' that would make an interesting article or blog.

alb18995356d ago

Windows 7 sells pass 250millions does that respond your question?

NothingToGainButLove5356d ago

I think we can all agree we were talking about the Xbox division here and their foothold in the gaming market

alb18995356d ago (Edited 5356d ago )

Even me agree with you, jeje sorry!

etownone5356d ago

Xbox is having a great year ... probably the best year since it's release as far as exclusives, redesigned Xbox, sales and now Kinect.

But .... the only thing I have to look forward to next year is Gears 3. Am I wrong?
Gears is by far one of favorite, if not, my favorite franchise ...... but just Gears??

Hears hoping MS is prepping up for the next gen Xbox!

Raoh5356d ago

why would you need a next gen xbox? what your asking for is more games..

so new console will bring new games? why not get more games with the current system?

that's why MS gets away with what they do, people are too eager to give MS their money

etownone5356d ago

I've had my Xbox since launch in 2005 .... that's five freakin years already with the same console.

I'm sorry if you don't agree but Im already looking forward to an announcement for the next Xbox. I'm hoping 2011, but most likely 2012.

I actually thought Gears 3 would have been release with the next Xbox showcasing the next Unreal engine.

Show all comments (42)
240°

‘I think Xbox hardware is dead’, says Microsoft gaming veteran

One of the founding members of the Xbox team has questioned Microsoft’s multiplatform gaming strategy, and said they believe the Xbox hardware business is effectively “dead"

Read Full Story >>
videogameschronicle.com
1d 19h ago Replies(3)
Goodguy011d 17h ago

Think that rumor that they'll still make a new console but at a profit at $1000 will be true though. The series consoles will remain their cheap alternative throughout next gen I would say. Keep in mind that game pass and pretty much going 3rd party is their main focus. They want to bring xbox everywhere.

1d 17h ago
GamerRN21h ago

If they don't maintain some kind of console presence, I think they will lose gamepass subscribers and just become a 3rd party publisher who eventually sells everything off

Cacabunga20h ago

Xbox games are releasing on all platforms. Who needs this hardware? PS or PC is all you need

Flewid63818h ago

I've never owned an Xbox in my life and I have GamePass.

thorstein17h ago

The only Xbox I owned was the 360. I have gamepass for my PC.

GamerRN12h ago

Majority of Gamepass users are currently on console...

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 12h ago
crazyCoconuts19h ago

Even if they could get it down to $800 for a box that can run with comparable performance to a PS6 (at, say $200 cheaper) the population of people willing to buy such a thing would be so limited.
It would be the worst of both worlds.

1d 15h ago
Futureshark1d 6h ago

A slow, painful and public death too.

Show all comments (66)
300°

Looming Xbox layoffs threaten Microsoft's reputation

Even as the company sets out to overhaul the very definition of Xbox, cuts at its studios risk creating a negative image reminiscent of EA's worst era

Read Full Story >>
gamesindustry.biz
Jingsing4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

I appreciate the article but this guy must be living in a delayed universe, The reputation was ruined 10+ years ago and hasn't recovered since. As such people have voted with their wallets and stopped buying Xbox products in large amounts.

YourMommySpoils2d ago

Their reputation was lost way before that. From the moment Microsoft said they entering the console business, we all knew it would be a downgrade.

Bathyj2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

That's not true at all the OG Xbox had drive and they had hunger and they wanted to accomplish something. It was a great console.

they didn't quite reach their goals and they gave up prematurely because they couldn't win. It was halfway through the Xbox 360 when kinect released and that was when they lost their way and we're a rudderless ship ever since

Agent751d 23h ago

In all fairness, Xbox had some great games with online play, Xbox 360 even better. Xbox consoles started to die with the Xbox One. Ditch consoles for the PC and PS.

YourMommySpoils1d 15h ago

@Bathyj hard to compute ay. Xbox was never better than a PC and that's all they ever were. A demo box. Doesn't get more true than that.

3d ago Replies(1)
isarai3d ago

What reputation is this threatening exactly? 😂

Lightning773d ago

Rumors of Turn 10 being either shut down or hit with massive lay offs is on the horizon.

The issue is MS will do something right only to do something very, very wrong. And they do this what seems calculative at this point. Doesn't matter what they do the Investors and leadership want more and more money an endless bottomless pit of purr insatiable greed. A company that acts like it's broke or hurting is what really, really infuriates me. They've surpassed apple again well over 3 trillion who acts like they're a million dollar company is fk stupid. Pivots and changes for no reason and can't do things for more than a year with out a pivot or changing their metrics.

Christopher2d ago

That would be really bad since Phil just hyped up next year as a big Forza year at Summer Game Fest.

1Victor2d ago

@christopher: “ That would be really bad since Phil just hyped up next year as a big Forza year at Summer Game Fest”
The key word big can be ether good or bad 🤷🏿only time can tell

DarXyde2d ago

First Forza being generated entirely via AI?

If any company would do it, it'd be them.

Nacho_Z2d ago

Isn't the point that it's irrelevant how profitable MS is, the suits have decided it's time that the Xbox division started making them money. Hence the layoffs, the pivots.

hennessey862d ago

That wouldn't surprise me, as motorsport has been heading down hill since the great number 4. Where as playground have consistently put out better games. I think the two studios will be merged under playground games banner.

2d ago Replies(2)
Show all comments (63)
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

Read Full Story >>
theverge.com
6d ago Replies(1)
6d ago Replies(1)
Obscure_Observer6d 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.

6d ago
pwnmaster30006d ago

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

6d ago
Obscure_Observer6d ago

F* them both!

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

blacktiger6d ago

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

pwnmaster30006d ago (Edited 6d 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.

InUrFoxHole6d 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

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 6d ago
Tacoboto6d 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.

CrimsonWing696d ago (Edited 6d 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?

Ganif6d 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.

CrimsonWing696d ago (Edited 6d 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.

Ganif6d 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.

thorstein6d ago (Edited 6d ago )

Take the L, Crimson.

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

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 6d ago
-Foxtrot6d 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?

anast6d ago

I enjoy Obscure. Obscure does good work.

crazyCoconuts6d 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.

Tacoboto6d 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

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 6d ago
Profchaos6d 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

Angyobangyo6d 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.

TheExecutioner6d ago

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

Sonic18816d ago (Edited 6d ago )

Are you and Anast the same person?

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 6d ago
6d ago
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