Pretty sure those were controlled leaks, to somehow soften the blow once the announcements are actually made officially.Waiting for next week was probably the right move. Rushing to say something in the midst of all that chaos would have been pretty messy. Next week people will be calmer, and they would have had time presumably to polish their messaging, whatever it is.
Pretty sure those were controlled leaks, to somehow soften the blow once the announcements are actually made officially.
So yeah, the most hardcore fans and console warriors probably already exhausted themselves so now they will be calmer once things are official.
No, that wouldnt make any sense . But having the worstcase scenarios floating around, will make what is actually happening probably have less of a blowback than what some people were pushing.so do you think they will stop making consoles, delete the day1 first party offer from GamePass and develop all their games also for PlayStation5?
That's understandable and all butYou can't be in the console platform business unless you are fully commited to it because the hardware side is typically losing money (unless you are Nintendo) and you are competing with established players who are fully commited.
Announcing that some of your first-party games will be available to competing platforms send the worryingly message to the consumer base that other games in the future might be available outside your platform which will inevitably weaken the console hardware side.
The other side effect of employing strategies that choke your hardware business is that you create uncertainity over the future existence of your platform(s) which would make consumers think twice before investing into your console when there is a risk that your purchases won't be carried forward.
Why spend money on Xbox which is casting doubts over its (hardware) future when there are available safer options from Nintendo and PlayStation?
Microsoft might announce future hardware plan to counter the negative perception but I bet people won't be reassured about the long term sustainability of the hardware initiative when your actions suggest you are fine with strangling your hardware sales/mindshare.
You literally showed that it does not work for Xbox anymore. The quarter Starfield was released, Xbox was down YoY. Down in comparison to a year where they had like what? Pentiment? And they expect to sell like what? 1m consoles the next quarter? For Xbox something has to change because it is pretty clear that they are unable to move hardware despite even selling them with a huge loss. Like there were deals like 150$ for Xbox Series S and 300+ for Series X and they were able to achieve only +4% YoY. I would not be surprised if profit-wise, ABK alone is more profitable than the whole Xbox division due to low margins in console hardware.In the year when production capacity was restored in full (2023), thus the year for which expectations were that the previously unsatisfied demand would be finally met prompting big YoY gains, Xbox Series hardware sales experienced a double digits decline YoY in US.
The same happened in UK.
Without Microsoft subsiding fierce holidays deals for Xbox the situation would have been even worse.
I read that article (earlier) and it was fascinating, however the fall of Sega can be contributed to multiple factors and finances was one of those. Plus they lost the support of EA, causing to invest in 2k franchise.
We have seen the answer to this time and again. The PS3 was getting outsold in NPD when the last of us released, the wiiu was getting outsold when it had mario kart, smash, etc.Down in comparison to a year where they had like what? Pentiment? And they expect to sell like what? 1m consoles the next quarter? For Xbox something has to change because it is pretty clear that they are unable to move hardware despite even selling them with a huge loss.
Cuphead could probably fall in there too, iirc the devs said MS could've blocked the other console ports and didn't.I still struggle to see any difference than before, if THAT will be the only message next week
Me and my son have Ori and the Blind Forest, Ori and the Wisp ofnthe Will, Super Lucky Take, Minecraft, Minecraft Legend, Minecraft Dunegons on Switch..
I still struggle to see any difference than before, if THAT will be the only message next week
Me and my son have Ori and the Blind Forest, Ori and the Wisp ofnthe Will, Super Lucky Take, Minecraft, Minecraft Legend, Minecraft Dunegons on Switch..
Except PS3 was selling pretty good worldwide at that time. USA market was a special case though. And Wii U is not a good example...What these examples demonstrate is that it is not exclusive that sell consoles - otherwise Wii U would not flop.We have seen the answer to this time and again. The PS3 was getting outsold in NPD when the last of us released, the wiiu was getting outsold when it had mario kart, smash, etc.
PS4's success was basically due to being cheap and more powerful (also no DRM). It was basically Xbox 360 of that time without launching 1 year only and having all the multiplats. Xbox One line up was better though.As shown by the PS4 and Switch you need to focus on the transition to the next console by building up a good reputation and then executing on content in a consistent fashion.
The significant lack of compelling exclusives and the lack of a consistent release schedule of those exclusives were among the biggest reasons the Wii U flopped. Similarly the 3DS performed poorly out of the gate in big part because of a barren first year line up. The higher price might have been more acceptable for more people had there been more games.Except PS3 was selling pretty good worldwide at that time. And Wii U is not a good example...What these examples demonstrate is that it is not exclusive that sell consoles - otherwise Wii U would not flop.
The PS3 sold half of what the PS2 sold and to get their it needed to slash its price and of course start putting out compelling software.Except PS3 was selling pretty good worldwide at that time. USA market was a special case though. And Wii U is not a good example...What these examples demonstrate is that it is not exclusive that sell consoles - otherwise Wii U would not flop.
Personally I wonder if there were games still being released on DS when 3DS launchedSimilarly the 3DS performed poorly out of the gate in big part because of a barren first year line up
pokemon was a big onePersonally I wonder if there were games still being released on DS when 3DS launched
You can't be in the console platform business unless you are fully commited to it because the hardware side is typically losing money (unless you are Nintendo) and you are competing with established players who are fully commited.
Announcing that some of your first-party games will be available to competing platforms send the worryingly message to the consumer base that other games in the future might be available outside your platform which will inevitably weaken the console hardware side.
The other side effect of employing strategies that choke your hardware business is that you create uncertainity over the future existence of your platform(s) which would make consumers think twice before investing into your console when there is a risk that your purchases won't be carried forward.
Why spend money on Xbox which is casting doubts over its (hardware) future when there are available safer options from Nintendo and PlayStation?
Microsoft might announce future hardware plan to counter the negative perception but I bet people won't be reassured about the long term sustainability of the hardware initiative when your actions suggest you are fine with strangling your hardware sales/mindshare.
In the year when production capacity was restored in full (2023), thus the year for which expectations were that the previously unsatisfied demand would be finally met prompting big YoY gains, Xbox Series hardware sales experienced a double digits decline YoY in US.
The same happened in UK.
Without Microsoft subsiding fierce holidays deals for Xbox the situation would have been even worse.
No, that wouldnt make any sense . But having the worstcase scenarios floating around, will make what is actually happening probably have less of a blowback than what some people were pushing.
The thing is that I wonder if 3DS performance was essentially the case of transitioning from DS to 3DS.pokemon was a big one
Please join us for a special edition of the Official Xbox Podcast.Hear from Phil Spencer, Sarah Bond and Matt Booty as they share updates on the Xbox business.
Please join us for a special edition of the Official Xbox Podcast.Hear from Phil Spencer, Sarah Bond and Matt Booty as they share updates on the Xbox business.
Oh maybe it is big amount of nothing and podcast usually drops on Thursday anyway.The fact it's just a podcast suggests that the last week or so has been spent fighting and making last minute decisions on what their official direction is going to be. It's not like this is a big conference or well produced presentation that would have taken time.
Phil: "PSsux69 thanks for the $2, 'Phil don't you dare give them ponies our games we've held the line all these years and now you're going to betray us all we already lost Timdog'"
Pentiment and HFR at the Direct on Wednesday, then on Thursday Phil, Sarah and Booty can talk about it.Damn so no Nintendo Direct fir real this week?
Btw with "Xbox business update" as a tag surely isn't going to be just a reiteration of the ongoing strategy (that sees games on Switch, on a game-per-game basis)
Pentiment and HFR at the Direct on Wednesday, then on Thursday Phil, Sarah and Booty can talk about it.
its Thursday
MS will want their overall business to stay successful, so they don't want to make any news that relates to a strategy change that is severe, but not "giving up" too visible for the general public. A podcast is perfect to adress the issue towards enthusiast gamers while not directly impacting the mainstream conscience. Mind you, gaming websites will blow it up either way.I'm scratching my head... A podcast?? About future business of gaming in a company??
MS will want their overall business to stay successful, so they don't want to make any news that relates to a strategy change that is severe, but not "giving up" too visible for the general public. A podcast is perfect to adress the issue towards enthusiast gamers while not directly impacting the mainstream conscience. Mind you, gaming websites will blow it up either way.
I don't think Microsoft will mind one bit if the Nintendo Direct is indeed the same day and competes for news headlines.
Microsoft prepares to take Xbox everywhere
Some Xbox games are coming to PS5 and Switch.www.theverge.com
First two titles are Hi Fi Rush and Pentiment
"Launching Xbox games on PlayStation or Nintendo Switch is a seismic shift in strategy"
And yet I already have 6 MS games on my Switch
I think some of these outlets are underselling how many games will actually be going multiplatform
Lower profile releases so won't change much in terms of bottom line.Microsoft prepares to take Xbox everywhere
Some Xbox games are coming to PS5 and Switch.www.theverge.com
First two titles are Hi Fi Rush and Pentiment
If they are planning to release games on other platform, they need to go all in. A halfway effort might even be worse.
Regarding their hardcore fanbase: Announcing those 2 games and just leaving the door open for future titles without clearly outlaying the strategy, that might be a low blow to their trust and would actually make things worst with them.
They have to be clear, if it is Hi Fi Rush, Pentiment and SOT, then tell them that no other games would be ported or get ready for a PR nightmare from now on.
On PC SOT have still more player than halo infinite or even Forza Horizon 5.Lower profile releases so won't change much in terms of bottom line.
SoT could be more significant, coming this year, but it is still a game past its prime.