All Channels
Popular
310°

Phil Spencer Needs to Learn from Sony's Strategy

Lex: "This may sound like it’s a rant, but no. It’s a fact. Microsoft’s Xbox Head needs to learn a thing or two from Sony. Guerrilla Games’ Horizon was one big example of a huge success"

Read Full Story >>
sirusgaming.info
IAmLoki3411d ago

All three companies have a lot to learn from eachother. MS and Sony are two different companies, of course both will do their own strategies differently. It's like MS and Apple, or Samsung and Apple.

THamm3411d ago

Sometimes it amazes me at who and how they hire these guys. Heck half of N4G could simply tell you what strategy to use to conquer a console war

aconnellan3411d ago

Not quite.

N4G could tell you the strategy of the winning player in the console war, but as far as I've seen, every piece of advice given to Microsoft is how they can be more like Sony, not how they can innovate or overtake them.

You don't beat your competitors by doing exactly what they're doing - Netflix doesn't do the same thing as Blockbuster; Samsung doesn't do the same thing as Apple; Apple doesn't do the same thing as Windows, etc.

NewMonday3411d ago

Sony for sure are learning from Microsoft

learning what NOT to do

Raiden3410d ago

I couldnt be bother to read this article, the moment the author reference HZD, this is why, the game was not in development for a year or 2 it was longer, the team was already working on it before the launch of the last KZ GAME, good game and outstanding graphic presentation takes time, MS do have something to learn it's call steady progress of new IP's and to have faith with dev's, I like HZD but I wont be happy with the game because has nothing for me to do once I have completed it and only single player which is boring.

ApocalypseShadow3411d ago

Having more exclusive titles is never a negative thing. Which is why as PS4 owners, we appreciate Sony. Even during their toughest times, even during a recession, continued to buy new studios, continued to create new engines, continued to split it's best teams to pump out more higher quality titles than the ones they released before.

Not because it's a numbers game of who has the most. But who other than the manufacturer of the console should represent their product other than themselves?

While individuals last gen were laughing and giggling about Sony losing third parties to multiplatform, (which only made sense during an economic recession and closing/consolidating of many studios), Sony was building for the future.

The result is a staggering amount of new IPs that not only rival Nintendo's best, but some even surpass Nintendo's best because there are so many genres covered. Now Sony's laughing all the way to the award shows.

Microsoft is doing better by listening to its base on what they want instead of telling its base what they think they should have. But they need to step up their offerings being that they have more money than Nintendo and Sony combined but offer less. That's not right. Companies with less are offering more? That shouldn't be. But then, Sony is showing that they aren't just a music company. Movie company. Insurance company. Electronics company.

Sony are showing gamers that they are a **GAME COMPANY**.

And Microsoft needs to learn that for the future and build studios now instead of revenue streams of buying Havok(physics), buying Simplygon(3D optimization) or tacking on more services to make money off of other developers. Even Minecraft wasn't bought because it was an excellent game. It was just another revenue stream to them. But they need to build now so that things don't look so lopsided in comparisons when it would help grow the console industry.

Godmars2903411d ago

And as long as they're singular focus seems to be online, because that's how they make a single sale game console that's a product into a service with ongoing payment systems, they'll never learn.

freshslicepizza3411d ago

i spent many hours playing forza horizon 3 offline, you dont have to play online.

3411d ago
freshslicepizza3411d ago (Edited 3411d ago )

yes i agree, they do need to invest more but there is no point in you guys requesting they invest more into gaming if you are unwilling to even talk about games they do have coming like sea of thieves, state of decay 2, halo wars 2 (which is out now), and crackdown 3. i also dont recall you guys talking much about the good games they had like forza horizon 3 and ori and the blind forest.

you either want them to do better or its just concern trolling, which is it?

Godmars2903411d ago

Notice, aside from my use of "They're" instead if "Their" - just ignore that s**t - that the focus on all the titles you brought up is *online* multi. I don't care about online multi games. and Ori I can get on PC.

donthate3411d ago (Edited 3411d ago )

mars:

Yes, we know. You derive value from others not being able to play games, and everyone has a PC. Looking forward to Nier Automata though on PC.

Godmars2903411d ago

@donthate:
Nothing I say, especially here, is stopping you or anyone else from playing games on whatever system you want to.

Thinking a game is going to sell far more than its likely to, that something a PR shill said Gospel when their company track record suggest otherwise, is another matter.

threefootwang3411d ago

Moldy,

No point in appeasing N4G/Sony fanboys. Try as you might, these people will never be satisfied. It's pretty clear that Xbox is making some vast changes in its gaming division and with E3 and Scorpio inbound, we're going to finally see some quality gaming return to Xbox. Phil's been pretty true to his word so far, and the changes which have clearly taken place in MS since he's been in charge are self explanatory. He said games are coming, so games are coming. Pure and simple.

Sony fans meanwhile just keep spewing the same garbage, "Xbox has no games" argument, while at the same time praising to the high heavens all the amazing Sony exclusives, which is pretty ironic in on itself. If there games are so awesome, why are they trolling in EVERY. SINGLE. XBOX article? You'd think they'd be playing said exclusives.

Anyways buckle up and enjoy the ride because this E3 is shaping up to be one of the best yet.

Disclaimer: No I don't hate Sony, I owned a PS2, PS3, and PS4, and yes I've enjoyed some of there games. However the rampant Sony fanboyism on this site is disgusting, which causes me to react in how I do. (And no, Xbox fans aren't innocent either, but on this site it's basically a 10:1 ratio of Sony to Xbox fans.)

freshslicepizza3411d ago

@threefootwang,

the thing is what exactly do they want? they claim to have a gaming pc and they claim to have a ps4. how much time do these people have where they are so concerned about the xbox? i only have a pc that i use for gaming and i already have a huge pile to play.

Godmars2903411d ago

@moldybread:
"the thing is what exactly do they want?"

Single player games. Something that engages rather than present or preaches to a player. Much less depend on "community" or a multiplayer aspect. A thing even the likes of the Uncharted series is guilty of. Nevermind overreaching crap like the Order - whatever year.

That enough? Forget that when I complain about Sony doing something wrong that gets ignored because I have to be as brand loyal as the likes of you.

WelkinCole3411d ago

Take your fanboy goggles off for a bit and listen to what he is saying as it is what many PS fans believe as well.

Froza?. How many bloody Froza do you guys need?. Sea of thieves?. How is that even remotely interesting?. Blind forest is a small game like Journey?. Yes that is great but what else?. Crackdown that was announced nearly 4 years ago?.

Do you even listen to your self?

Contrary to what you may believe many PS fans want MS to focus on what is more important like what Sony has been doing that has grown the industry to where it is today.

Think for a minute.

Who started to push pay to play online?. Who started to pay 3rd party to provide time exclusives and DLCs?

Who is still trying to push for a digital online pass for regular game purchases?.

Who is not willing to take risks in getting out new IP's or supporting game varieties even if it might not make much money?.

You see. If MS followed what Sony is doing the industry as a whole would be much better now. However MS as usual are not interested in that. Any industry that they go into they expect results instantly and buying to win in most cases.

MS strategy has always been about destroying the competition so that they can do whatever they want. That in a nutshell is my with problem with MS.

Sony invested in talent. Instead of spending loads of money on useless things they hire people, greenlight more games which helps the industry grow.

MS was only interested at least in the xbox,x360 years to handicap Sony by paying 3rd parties off instead of investing in the industry and the future by hiring and building more studios that would have yielded them results. Now as soon as they have problems with games they were planing to launch?. They cut them?

If MS cares half as much as Sony does about console gaming the console industry would be much better now.

I rather much see more real amazing IP's from MS pool that can match or best Sony's or Nins offerings than not. It makes the industry stronger and personally makes it easier to justify buying all 3 consoles cause right now it is pointless for MS to be in the console industry so either get better or get lost.

freshslicepizza3411d ago

@WelkinCole

if sony is proving you with everything you need then why do you care what microsoft offers? so to me it sounds like you guys are set so there is no point in suggesting anything because sony has you covered. amazing how much attention you guys give to something you apparently have no interest in.

_-EDMIX-_3411d ago

What are you talking about? There's still a point that we need to discuss that this company needs to purchase more teens and needed to produce more intellectual properties if the ones that they are working on suck in the first place.

What you're technically saying is look at a numerical number and then ignore their faults.

I'm sorry but the games you listed look like garbage and their unappealing compared to the competition.

That's like me telling you knock tear away the order 1886 no man sky or all sure-fire ways to purchase PlayStation 4 in for them to succeed ( then continues to name a series of bad games,)

What we are saying is they need to produce more so their chances of actually making great games realistically happens

what if Sony stopped making new intellectual properties at the Order 1886?

That means you would not see Horizon zero Dawn or Spider-Man or days gone or The Last Guardian or Detroit etc

Somebody I could name to you some bad decisions that Sony has made in regards to questionable games but you actually have to break some eggs to bake a damn cake the risk needs to happen Sony's had its fair share of failures but they only have their successes because they risk failing in the first place.

Did you seriously think all of Last Generation was just nothing but successes for Sony Computer Entertainment?

From lair to Heavenly sword to MAG Sony just had a whole lot of games that were just pretty terrible but at the end of the day they need to take that risk so you could end up getting something like Uncharted Infamous The Last of Us Little Big Planet MotorStorm etc

So Sony is looking to bake the cake so they accept cracking the egg while Microsoft is basically still crying over cracking the egg and deciding to just leave the cake on finished.

So what you're saying is screw trying? So one company understands the risk and openly continues to create new one Microsoft runs away scared II something doesn't go their way and decides to just keep throwing up the same garbage repeatedly?

Can you name one intellectual property that Microsoft released this generation that was brand-new that was marketed and budgeted and push more than Halo or Gears of War?

Godmars2903411d ago (Edited 3411d ago )

@moldybread:
You truly don't listen, do you.

Sony doesn't deliver 100%. Doubt they even hit 60% at this point. I've had issues with what's been going on with them since before the likes of White Knight Chronicles went from a damn promising initial concept trailer to a bigger disappointment than even FF13 was to me. Hell, I still pine for Eight Days to Vegas. Yet here you are trying to hold up racing titles and multiplayer arena shooters as if they mean something to someone with different gaming tastes.

Edit:
"funny too how everyone has a pc but never talk about forza horizon 3 either, on eof the most fun racing games ever made."

Maybe because no one give two s**ts about racing games other than you? The only reason I've brought up GT is that you go on and on about Forza as if its the only racing game ever made. That there aren't PC entries that blow both out of the water.

And guess what? NO ONE REALLY TALKS ABOUT THEM EITHER!

freshslicepizza3411d ago (Edited 3411d ago )

@_-EDMIX-_
"I'm sorry but the games you listed look like garbage and their unappealing compared to the competition."

and this is why the conversation never goes anywhere, you guys are not here to reason with.

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

you guys rave about games like days gone but this game looks like garbage?

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

this game could change multiplayer forever with what can be done with the physics. nothing has been done with this type of scale.

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

and this looks like garbage too?

there really is no point in talking any further, you guys are set in your ways and see microsoft as a whole and will not give anythign a chance. its like talking to ea haters and they just think every ea game is garbage because they dont like the company. same with ubisoft. you go on the stema forums and every ubisoft has haters that just go on and on about ubisoft and never give any game a chance.

funny too how everyone has a pc but never talk about forza horizon 3 either, on eof the most fun racing games ever made.

freshslicepizza3411d ago

nobody talks about gt? you learn something new every day around here.

ApocalypseShadow3411d ago

I actually have no problem with those games you mentioned. I see how good Forza horizon looks. How much fun it would be to ride the seas with buddies looking for treasure. The problem is the lack of investment to have more games like that. And update games that are just sitting there doing nothing that would be perfect for online like crimson skies, mechassault, brute force, perfect dark. And Microsoft made one of the best flight simulators around. But they won't even make that because they might not think it will sell millions on console. It doesn't have to.

As long as it sells well, makes the development dollars back and proves to the base that they are a console game company too. That's what matters.

It's the policies and detrimental ideas to the console game industry that I always had a problem with them. And, treating gamers like it was their fault about RROD until it was proven to be an endemic problem of bad hardware design that almost brought on lawsuits.

It's why I have an Xbox but couldn't buy their other systems. Or buying the tech for Kinect but then half @$$ing it by leaving tech out hurting its ability to function as advertised. Then tried to sell it using marketing dollars and actors and actresses on stage.

There's no excuse to see Sony pushing hard to make a variety of better games in all genre. And Microsoft, after 15 years, still has more money but less games produced internally.

You might consider that trolling. I just call it common sense of what they should be doing.

freshslicepizza3411d ago

@Apocalypse Shadow
"It's the policies and detrimental ideas to the console game industry that I always had a problem with them. And, treating gamers like it was their fault about RROD until it was proven to be an endemic problem of bad hardware design that almost brought on lawsuits."

they all look after themselves first. sony also settled out of court for the disk read error issues and never once said it was actually a problem. they also didn't come clean with the whole psn hack until weeks later. the whole RROD issue was a design flaw that microsoft didn't want to admit because they didn't test things fully. but again why are we talking about that now? all it looks like is a bunch of baggage you cant get rid of so you compund all these problems you have with the compnay and guess what happens? you end up with unrealistic expectations because they have so much to get you back as a customer because you can't forget the past. kinect is also no longer a worry for you either.

what i will agree with is yes, microsoft should do better and to be quite honest if they dont show some signs of commitment at e3 i think they are not really interested in being known as a game company like nintendo and sony are. if i dont see some new ip's on the aaa scale of things i think they are just going to ride things out and just become between what steam and apple are, where they provide the platform for game support but won't actually invest in it too much of their own.

Aenea3410d ago

"the thing is what exactly do they want? they claim to have a gaming pc and they claim to have a ps4. how much time do these people have where they are so concerned about the xbox? i only have a pc that i use for gaming and i already have a huge pile to play."

You're funny! You only have a PC but are all over every single Xbox and PS article! What's even funnier is that you are negative about anything Sony related and always defending anything MS related...

*shakes head*

+ Show (12) more repliesLast reply 3410d ago
FallenAngel19843411d ago

Why are you specifically calling out Phil Spencer instead of Microsoft as a whole

DragonDDark3411d ago

He's the head of Xbox. The gaming division of Microsoft.

XXanderXX3411d ago

Who still has to take orders from those up the line of command .

Bathyj3411d ago

God Im sick that excuse. It wasnt me, it was the one armed man.

Phil is the boss. If Xbox isnt working right, and lets face it, it isnt, then its his job to stop it. Stop blaming these mysterious higher ups for hamstringing him. Youve just invented a bogieman to pass the blame off onto.

I know Phil has bosses, but he is running the show. Or else go ahead and admit that Don Matrrick was not such a bad guy and he was just doing what the higher ups said. You all villianise him, and act like Phil is the messiah just because hes not Don, but hes caused as much destruction since hes been in the top job as Don did.

Ive heard a lot of talk, and very little follow through and you would have me believe its not his fault. Phil needs to $h*t or get off the pot.

Why o why3411d ago (Edited 3411d ago )

That's interesting bathyj because I believe in the ms bogieman higher ups influencing decisions. . It's how they are as an organisation. .

I don't think Phil is blameless though. . .no way as he was right in there during the botched reveal and surrounding period. Maybe he wanted to job so badly he assisted in don hanging himself. Either way he's talked a good talk but I just don't think he has the backing or sway to actually change as many things by himself. He's never going to snitch and tell the world his employers are resistant to change and lack the ambition to cultivate and grow more of their own. . . . .

I don't think any replacement can do what we expect. . They cannot just become Sony nor may they want to but whatever they want, it'll take more than just infinite cash. The culture or ethos needs to change and ms are a generation behind so they need to be better prepared for next gen if they want to be in the mix

StarElite3411d ago

Yeah but Microsoft provides the funds, if Microsoft gave the Xbox division larger funds we wouldn't be seeing slightly polished smaller budget titles like Recore, or Killer Instinct. We also wouldn't be seeing the cancellation of larger titles like the Phantom Dust remake, Shangheist, or Scalebound.

Bathyj3411d ago

Well if Phil had half as much passion and conviction when hes talking to his mysterious bosses as he does when hes on twitter everyday selling smoke and mirrors then Im sure they would listen to him at last a bit. I mean Xbox fans eat up everything he says and I have to think theyre as smart as the heads at Microsoft.

And thats another excuse I dont like. Theyre a generation behind. They started late. Sony started late behind Nintendo and Sega. Waaaaay late. They didnt let that stop them from dominating and growing the industry on their first try.

MS has unlimited resources, starting one gen behind Sony is no excuse. They should have been paying attention and reading what the market wants instead of always trying to shape it to what they want it to be. Ironically their first console was their best and they gave gamers what they wanted. Good hardware, with lots of games. But they didnt win and MS only likes it when they win. No scratch that, they only like it when they have a monopoly.

MS cant compete on a level playing field. Thats why theyre always trying to change the rules to suit only them. Thats why now they want the value of a console to be about renting old games. They dont want to sell games like Sony and Nintendo and Sega and Atari have done since the beginning of time. They want to sell subscriptions, hope that becomes a big thing like online gaming has, and the others will have to follow suit or wither and die. I'd always hoped I'd game until I was 80, but I shudder to think what they will turn gaming into if they are allowed to dictate the way they want to.

Why o why3410d ago (Edited 3410d ago )

Sorry, I wasn't clear about generation behind. . .what I mean is they're a generation behind Sony like 5 to 7 years of work to be done before they can compete, not that they came in half a gen after Sony so have an excuse.. . They have zero excuse because I feel the ps3 cycle was ahead of their current console.

It's true about the Xbox fans lapping it though. . .It's amusing to watch and I even believe what he's saying sometimes as he has done a few good things in his brief tenure. Despite that, their output reveals all. . They take less risks and have been riding off the back of Scorpio and backwards compatibility for a good portion of the gen.

Their fans reference the failings of the order and no man's sky when they should be looking at their own systems failings and rate of successes. Growing their own isn't something they're adept at. Cultivating studios is something they've had issues with. The quality of output is also an issue baring turn 10 and a couple others. It's not just about the amount of studios either. Look at the choices they made. . They looked to platinum games for scale bound and Sony, nier. . .bad luck or bad management has followed Microsoft. . . . They need to grow their own. . .

AngelicIceDiamond3410d ago (Edited 3410d ago )

@Bath "act like Phil is the messiah just because hes not Don, but hes caused as much destruction since hes been in the top job as Don did."

That simply isnt true. Weaker console than the competition, DRM, Can't play used games, 24 check ins, Forced Kinect, Casual Kinect games no new Ip's. Are 10X worst than what Phil did because those decisions can't take down an entire division.

Phil's no where near as bad as Don. One Boss tried to kill the Xbox division the other cancelled games to do possible reconstruction and changes. Can't compare them.

If you saw Phil's interview he said the reason why the cancellations was due to making changes to its 1st party and sadly that means cancellations and shut downs as a Sony fan you should understand when Sony sorts out its 1st party to keep things in line reasons why they shut down, lay off or cancel games last gen. Phil said they're doing the same thing because the currently formula of its 1st party isn't working (paraphrasing) Its funny how nobody submitted Phil Spencer actually addressing its first party and reasons behind the cancellations.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 3410d ago
FallenAngel19843411d ago

Then why not say "Phil Spencer needs to learn from Shuhei Yoshida?" Why compare one man to an entire company instead of to another man in a similar position? It's only logical to do either that or compare one company as a whole to another company.

No matter how you spin it the headline doesn't make sense.

OB1Biker3411d ago

I agree that title doesn't sound right to me. Either xbox needs to learn from Playstation, or Ms needs to learn from Sony (regarding gaming) or Phil needs to learn from Shu

discobastard3411d ago

Phil Spencer needs to be replaced

Godmars2903411d ago

With who? Especially considering that he was brought in - brought up? - to replace the last guy.

XXanderXX3411d ago

if Phil were to be replaced , I could see Seamus , Fries & Moore being brought back to helm the Division .

donthate3411d ago

Why would you replace God's gift to gaming?

That is ridiculous.

_-EDMIX-_3411d ago

I actually disagree

I don't think anything is wrong with Phil Spencer in the same respect I don't really think anything was wrong with Don mattrick at the end of the day these guys actually only have so much control

it is Microsoft that makes the final decisions regarding these properties.

If Microsoft The Wanted to fund a crapload of properties I actually believe they would have already made that decision literally last generation when they were planning Xbox one in the first place.

I'm sorry but no one could go and work for Microsoft and start telling them that they should look to spend a couple billion buying properties in building their first party if they're not going to do it in the first place so I believe the criticisms is actually irrelevant.

Show all comments (62)
60°

Take-Two CEO Once Again Side Steps Grand Theft Auto 6 Price Point

Strauss Zelnick says price of GTA 6 is being carefully considered and that Rockstar is focused on "making the most spectacular piece of entertainment on Earth."

Kuma70d ago

If GTA 6 abandons everything that made GTA 5 great, it will crash and burn right out of the gate. GTA 5 was funny and not at all PC. My worry is that they will cave to the PC crowd and ruin the vibes.

Eonjay70d ago

They got freaking BBLs twerking on the top of trucks for the gram, the freaking Flordia joker, and dude running down the stree in their undies and you are worried about it being 'too PC'? The internet has runied gamers. It doesn't matter how non-PC they make the game, you will all listen to the grifters telling you not to believe your lying eyes lol.

gigoran870d ago

"Rockstar Games’ co-founder and former VP of Development Jamie King said he envisions GTA 6 as a game that’s “maybe not quite as edgy or quite as funny” as its satirical predecessors."

oh yeah, totally internet grifters spreading rumors...

blacktiger70d ago

That's part of the plan, they destroyed you but they need to destroy the shareholders? Only 1 shre holder is the true elite that don't care

1nsomniac70d ago (Edited 70d ago )

Meh.., if it’s above £55 I ain’t buying it.

Rockstar are genuinely not half the company they used to be. I was a die hard GTA fan I’ve purchased every game and expansion and spin off day 1.

My opinion of GTA6 is that I can take it or leave it. Not bothered. They burnt too many bridges.

DaReapa70d ago (Edited 70d ago )

So they're actually leaving the door open for an L.A. Noire sequel? Nice!

VaNdAl70d ago (Edited 70d ago )

He should just come out and say it already it's getting stupid it's going to be a 100 bucks $200 for the special edition🤡🤡; 29315;🤣♿

Storm2370d ago

I won't be getting this game until I can get it for $70. SHoot, I could wait for it to be even lower. I don't need the game that badly as my backlog is still huge and I am enjoying playing other things.

Show all comments (13)
40°

Talking Aliens: The Video Games With Author Mike Diver

Skewed and Reviewed have posted an interview with Author Mike Diver about his pending book on Aliens video games.

70°

Xbox boss: Memory crisis could impact next-gen hardware pricing

Xbox boss Asha Sharma has discussed how component shortages will impact the company's plans for Project Helix.

Read Full Story >>
gamedeveloper.com
Eonjay71d ago

When does this end? Its killing everyone. Consoles and PC. And for what? AI? The benefits of AI are completely outweighed by the negatives. And the government should have never allowed one company to buy up all the RAM.

Lexreborn272d ago

This kind of proves this is an after thought product, most products like this are in r&d 5 years before they start mass producing. So they typically have the cost of components and things worked out long before assembly starts.

This is an assumption still, but I wouldn’t be surprised if project helix is similar to Scalebound,perfect dark and sod3. They had an idea but no actual execution other than concept stage. Being impacted by the ram shortage likely would also put this device 3-4 years out.

I’m not even sure MS has that endurance with Xbox yet

Fishy Fingers72d ago (Edited 72d ago )

I mean.... what?

We're at a point that Samsung wont even provide their own phone department ram because they can sell it at higher prices to 3rd parties (AI). Its more profitable to sell the ram than make their own devices with it.

You think because R&D starts 5 years ago the 3rd party component manufacturers will honour that price? They'll sell it to whomever is paying the most today, not some gentlemens agreement they made years ago. AI farms will buy more volume at higher prices than any console manufacturer will. It'll be the same for Playstation.

Lexreborn271d ago

Contractual agreements are not the same as “gentlemen” agreements. If you think that they work with their distributors a month before production then their entire business model is trash. They work with companies like nvidia constantly for building the graphics cards they need. They work with companies that build motherboards years in advance. This is what proper business planning does.

They are not buying components on a whim like a consumer. So again, considering the ram isn’t a singular module and is integrated into the motherboard I highly doubt they wouldn’t have a final schematic that they are supposed to be building around.

If they are delaying production another 3 years then it’s obvious again this is an after though project and is just trying to be responsive to their bad execution they had the last 14 years.

It also isn’t far fetched to use their failure to produce first party titles the last 7 years including the highly anticipated games I mentioned all being cancelled. That they would continue to you know… lie

Sitdown72d ago

You don't really know how this works huh?

Profchaos72d ago (Edited 72d ago )

Helix is going to be stupidly expensive

Instead of leaning into smarter upscaling techniques they're brute forcing hardware that will cost them dearly and it remains to be seen if it's genuinely going to provide a meaningful differential

I know in the oc.doace people like to brag about not using frame gen or dlss to get to high on a game but for the majority of players they happily use those technologies without a second thought

That's going to be ps6 vs Helix

Eonjay71d ago

Yeah with FSR 5 they should be able to offer a much cheaper version of Helix.

Eonjay71d ago

While this does seem to be the case, I am encouraged by the statement from Microsoft about wanting to provide affordable options. If this means a Series S style Helix, at least there will be something affordable being offered.

XBManiac71d ago

Series S is what has killed Xbox Series so... Will they dare?

blacktiger72d ago

It's called systematic inflationary. Yes we get it Microsoft, keep raising in the name ofall kinds of stuffs

pwnmaster300072d ago

Honestly if there was thing I learned from this generation is that new consoles arnt day one anymore.
I can wait 1-3 years.

DarXyde72d ago

Another important lesson from this generation: while Nintendo showed us that prices don't necessarily need to ever drop, we've now learned that waiting 1-3 years does carry some risk that prices increase. This generation is just bizarre in all the wrong ways.

LucasRuinedChildhood72d ago (Edited 72d ago )

The factors are largely external. Covid and Russia-Ukraine war causing inflation led to the first price increase in 2022.

Then we get Trump's tariffs increasing hardware prices, AI boom causing a RAM crisis, war on Iran causing a worldwide fuel crisis which impacts the cost of everything.

Gaming doesn't exist in a vacuum. The last few years have been a shitshow and lot of it was definitely avoidable.

DarXyde71d ago

LucasRuinedChildhood,

For sure. No disagreement on the external factors doing a lot of this. Where I have to gently push back however is on two fronts:

1. The pandemic definitely caused some issues: asynchronous development was a big issue and really complicated timelines and affected game quality. At the same time, when it comes to price hikes, it's really difficult to know what was genuine necessity and what was taking consumers for a ride. The pandemic brought about "stag-flation" which was increasing prices and stagnant wages, which was a problem caused by supply chain constraints. There was also "Greed-flation", where companies that were slightly affected or had no issues took advantage of the situation and squeezed everyone citing supply chain issues when there were none.

2. It's definitely true that the tariffs, AI boom, and RAM crisis were all things enabled by tech broligarchs throwing money at this caricature of a world leader, one of them being Satya Nadella. I don't think Sony and Nintendo have contributed much to this problem if at all, but Microsoft's Nadella I feel was instrumental in causing every one of those issues. Microsoft as a company contributed to both candidates (though they gave Harris 4x as much if I recall), but Nadella was all in on letting AI run wild. He paid for unregulated AI, and got a war that's not a war (even though Trump called it that at least five times on television) that screwed up helium access. So for me, I feel that one of the players in the gaming industry is a key architect of these issues, and for that reason I struggle a bit to think of it as "external".

Show all comments (28)