After this week, what do you think the future of Xbox will be?
- Thread starter Typhon
- Start date
They're gonna become 3DO, and then if they're lucky they'll become SEGA. Yet a lot of what lead them to this point was their internal policies throwing a wrench in software development in addition to piss-poor management of their studios, so even that seems like a best case scenario.
The fact that more people don't talk about the asinine 18-month contractors policy is maddening when it's the main reason both Forza and Halo have suffered in recent years.
The fact that more people don't talk about the asinine 18-month contractors policy is maddening when it's the main reason both Forza and Halo have suffered in recent years.
Good. It's been talked about. Microsoft is providing plenty of new content.
3rd party...ish.
They will sell Xbox branded PC hardware at profit but it will target a very niche audience.
They will sell Xbox branded PC hardware at profit but it will target a very niche audience.
Halo Infinite is good, *now*. It took until Forge for it to really come into its own, years later.
A big ol third party publisher. It sounds like the CEO of Microsoft wants to go where the gamers are, and that is PC, PlayStation and Nintendo. Seems like it will get there.
Going third party, they will just turn in to a more incompetent Activision with some Bethesda jank on the side.
Wouldn't surprise me if the current consoles are their last. I bet they'll do at least one more, though.
Why gamble on new hardware when you own COD and Diablo and the like? It's not like it's gone well for them the past decade.
Why gamble on new hardware when you own COD and Diablo and the like? It's not like it's gone well for them the past decade.
Third party games is the most likely outcome, which is actually a bit bizarre when you look at Xbox as a whole.
Xbox makes good consoles, with a decent controller and good services.
The one thing they're bad at, and the main reason why they are not succesful is... making games.
Xbox makes good consoles, with a decent controller and good services.
The one thing they're bad at, and the main reason why they are not succesful is... making games.
Other than the obligatory- "they're headed straight for 3rd party publisher territory"…
I think their hardware will follow a similar trajectory to the surface line- will always be excellently built, but will never be widely adopted.
My guess is Phil genuinely is a good guy that has good intentions but he'll eventually move on (as opposed to being removed) and MS will never even attempt to be the "good guys" in gaming ever again.
They will eventually produce excellent "revival" type game releases for some of their most beloved IP but they will of course not have the impact they wouldve had if they'd released over the last 10 years.
And perhaps most controversial- the whole mantra/vision/strategy of "games for everyone, anywhere you wanna play, unified, consistent across every device ever" will never be fully realized. Which sucks for them but more so sucks for gamers cuz it'd be great. They will eventually settle into being just a regular third party publisher, albeit the biggest and most lucrative ever. Although there will be some signs of this philosophy over time, it'll never be meaningfully impactful or apparent in the way they'd hoped.
I think their hardware will follow a similar trajectory to the surface line- will always be excellently built, but will never be widely adopted.
My guess is Phil genuinely is a good guy that has good intentions but he'll eventually move on (as opposed to being removed) and MS will never even attempt to be the "good guys" in gaming ever again.
They will eventually produce excellent "revival" type game releases for some of their most beloved IP but they will of course not have the impact they wouldve had if they'd released over the last 10 years.
And perhaps most controversial- the whole mantra/vision/strategy of "games for everyone, anywhere you wanna play, unified, consistent across every device ever" will never be fully realized. Which sucks for them but more so sucks for gamers cuz it'd be great. They will eventually settle into being just a regular third party publisher, albeit the biggest and most lucrative ever. Although there will be some signs of this philosophy over time, it'll never be meaningfully impactful or apparent in the way they'd hoped.
I mean the topic of contractors is will trodden territory. They're providing plenty of new content for folks to talk about.
Unfortunately for them, it's not just "people on forums" mad at them.
The showcase will come out and everyone will let it slide/forget until they do it again in a year or so.
I think they've always been pretty open about their future.... They want game pass on every piece of hardware that can take it. They'll probably build xboxes like they build surface computers i.e. in low quantities because they don't sell much, almost like benchmark machines for others to follow. Maybe one day even create a gamepass OS and license it out to hardware makers. They'll want people playing their games everywhere. I think they've just realized their path to staying relevant in this competitive space is through games and services and not their own hardware.
A terrible evaluator of talent. Ghostwire and Hi-Fi, as well as Prey are three of maybe the best twenty games I've played in the last 10 years. Astoundingly shortsighted for a company that needs talent more than sheer numbers. Can't see myself buying another Microsoft console after owning every one so far, so hopefully they'll go 3rd party.
I don't think it's mad forum people that is the issue. It's a brand that followed up a struggling hardware sales generation with one trending even worse. A brand that almost doesn't exist in many markets.
They have a lot of money but I don't think a lot of power when it comes to moving hardware. Xbox just isn't competitive right now on that front.
I expect them to continue to have an incoherent strategy, but that strategy will certainly involve publishing more games on other platforms.
They will go third party. Xbox hardware still comes out but it's more akin to Steam Deck (hence the handheld rumours).
I think this will be the last Xbox traditional gen. Next gen I think Xbox will be an open platform where you'll be able to install Steam, Epic, etc... Basically a Windows mini PC.
All their games will be multi at launch, maybe some timed exclusive for the biggest games.
All their games will be multi at launch, maybe some timed exclusive for the biggest games.
I think they will stick to their ever changing plans, so have xbox hardware nextgen, and at the same time be a big 3rd party publisher.
The portable xbox doesn't sound very realistic given the soc needed for that doesn't exist, maybe in a few years.
But for current gen I dont see much changing for them, they will support the Series consoles till the very end. If sales do continue to decline I think it will accelerate their output as a 3rd party publisher.
The portable xbox doesn't sound very realistic given the soc needed for that doesn't exist, maybe in a few years.
But for current gen I dont see much changing for them, they will support the Series consoles till the very end. If sales do continue to decline I think it will accelerate their output as a 3rd party publisher.
Eventually they're going to transition into a massive third party publisher. They'll try and hold onto their hardware for as long as possible but I don't know how successful Xbox can be when their games are on much more successful hardware. And while I don't necessarily think it's a good thing I do eventually expect them to try and continue to acquire studios/pubs since that's the easiest path to growth.
Going full "multiplatform 3rd party publisher" on all platforms.
As a side-project they are going to create a $700 or $800 console for the few hardcore fans so they can keep saying they have "the most powerful hardware".
As a side-project they are going to create a $700 or $800 console for the few hardcore fans so they can keep saying they have "the most powerful hardware".
They have no reason to keep going for hardware.
If they want to start saving money, they will drop the most expensive part of the business.
If they want to start saving money, they will drop the most expensive part of the business.
seems like they're turning into just another publisher, with all that entails. (risk averse, creatively bankrupt etc)
Voted for nothing changes. I think it's wishful thinking that they exit the console-selling market and just serve the industry as a third party publisher but consider me not surprised at all when they formally announce their next gen console.