220°

Would a “Switch” Style Console Benefit Sony/Microsoft?

The release of Nintendo’s newest gaming console, the Switch, has the electronic entertainment world in a frenzy. Stores are consistently selling out of the hybrid console almost as soon as th…

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Gemmol3213d ago

I wish they had one so they can stop being a tool, they go on every article from Nintendo talking how bad playing on the go is but those same people if you look at their past comments they own a ps vita, and PSP, so it shows the problem is nintendo name on the device.......because if you look at how excited they were to play on the Vita, some could not wait until they preorders came, that they preorder other places......but since Vita failed, and sony did not make a new one......they out of nowhere now hate handheld systems I shake my head at them in disgust.......theres a psychology term for these so called people.........cognitive dissonance

_-EDMIX-_3213d ago

Well quite frankly actually reply to the people who are saying that as opposed to generalizing an entire install base.

Look at it this way if the PlayStation Vita sold 14 million it is clear that there is a large majority that did not care for it enough to purchase it.

Even as somebody that owned the PSP and owns lots of games I found it very difficult to purchase the Vita and ended up getting the PlayStation TV instead.

Mind you I still like handhelds as I own every Nintendo handheld and still intend to purchase the Switch.

So you would technically have to find someone that stated before that they love all handhelds and now stated that they hate all handhelds for whatever purpose even then people are still free to change their minds.

So you would have to consider the problem has nothing to do with the Nintendo brand itself some of these people likely didn't care for portable gaming period. I own my 3DS for titles like Animal Crossing ,Luigi's Mansion ,Mario RPG paper jam, Link Between Worlds ,Bravely Default and shin Megami tensei 4 and I'm likely going to purchase the switch for literally any one of those games that appear.

So you have to consider that if those games appear it shows that there is a consistency with releases from one portable to the next or eyes when you look at the PSP lots of great games that appeared on that platform actually never got sequels on the PlayStation Vita.

So I have more reason to purchase switch because of what I like with the 3DS then I have to purchase a Vita from what I liked from the PSP.

I mean sure hypothetically speaking if you find those people that liked one hand held but suddenly hated another absolutely blast them in say what you will lol

Even then I just think it's based on preference.

I mean you would have to consider even as a person that purchase the PSP and the DS the 3DS is the only one that got my support as opposed to the PlayStation Vita.

The only thing I could say is seriously don't take it so personal.

Also Sony's failures in the portable Market is great reason why it's extremely unlikely they're going to jump back in.

The portable Market is 100% Nintendo Realm.

MeteorPanda3213d ago

No one says playing on the go is bad, they're saying nintendo is.

The 10th Rider3213d ago

I mean, it would.

The question should really be if it would benefit them over a traditional console, which is where things get complicated.

Obviously it would be beneficial to all companies to have both a home console and a portable console IF they could manage to support both, which is something both Nintendo and Sony have struggled with (Microsoft's never tried handhelds). Because of that a hybrid console would have to replace their home console. Right now, as a replacement for their home consoles, a hybrid wouldn't really work out. However, 5-10 years down the line it will be hypothetically possible to make a 4K 60FPS home version of a console and a 1080p 30FPS hybrid version of a console. It'd be like the PS4/PS4 Pro and the Xbox One/Scorpio except the weaker version of the console would be a hybrid. As long as the games don't use disk drives (which will be likely unless there's a breakthrough in disk tech) then games could be compatible with both. Companies could have both a handheld/hybrid and a home console without worrying about fracturing their game development between two platforms.

tl;dr: Right now it would be an awful idea for Sony or Microsoft, but 5-10 years down the line technology should be at a place where a hybrid could play games in 1080p 30fps (maybe lower graphics settings too) that are played on a home console in 4K 60FPS.

_-EDMIX-_3213d ago (Edited 3213d ago )

I understand what you're saying but I don't think you really fully recognized that all you're actually describing is the same technological advancement that's always happen with the portable.

So yes by the time in the next 5 to 10 years that we have 4K 60 frames on a portable ,so do you seriously think there will be 0 Advancement with PC and console gaming?

They're always going to be behind traditional console there's never going to be a concept that is simply just "good enough" for all gaming.

I mean simply look back in 2004 with the PSP , so yes you could play Persona 3 God of War Grand Theft Auto games in a whole bunch of console quality games for that period and time on the PSP it doesn't actually mean everybody's just going to stay behind for several Generations to play a portable..

Outside of the little world of the PSP it is clear that a PlayStation 3 will exist a 360 will exist a PlayStation 4 will come out exedra.

So when you're describing this 4K 60 frame handheld that's no different than describing the 1080p 60 frame handheld you're talking about right now those specs are not that interesting when you're looking at the PlayStation 4 Pro for Scorpio... Heck id argue those specs are not that interesting when you're simply just were guarding Wii U games..., Take this for consideration consider Wipeout HD was running that exact same thing almost 10 years ago on the PlayStation 3....

Yet when that magical 4K 60 frames per second handheld releases , you seriously don't think we're going to be having 8K or even 16k machines?

They're always going to be behind but what you have to understand is your still describing the exact same scenario that is always existed for Portables since they've come on the market.

Your amazement that the Gameboy Advance is playing a Super Nintendo game if not going to essentially erase that the PlayStation 1 and N64 exist...

It's always going to be that sort of loop.

So I would have to respectfully disagree with that it would actually be a bad time regardless for them to do something like that cuz what you're advising them to do is to make a dated machine and hold back the entire industry.

I mean for god sakes that's like telling them to basically make a 1080p 60 frames per second PlayStation 5...

No.

So you seriously think Sony's going to exit the Home console Market to make a damn portable that runs those stupid settings all while Microsoft capitalizes and comes out with a monster machine?

Lol

To think Sony's Just going to ask Microsoft to be kind and do the same thing? Because of what the Home console Market is I'm sorry but you're never going to see either of these companies exit that market to do such a concept especially if you factor they could already do both simply because what you're describing is just a portable....

you could simply just make your theory about another PSP....

So will they make a portable like a new PSP that does that and include the Cradle packaged in? I don't see why not they've already released the Cradle before anyway....

Sony has no reason to exit the Home console Market meaning that you're unlikely going to see them go hybrid only or anything like that as much as you're just go to see them add the attachment that they've already released for the PSP in 2009 with an upgraded version....

I mean for god sakes that's actually what you're describing 😂😂😂

The 10th Rider3213d ago (Edited 3213d ago )

@_-EDMIX-_,

"I understand what you're saying"

No, you don't.

I never said anything about a 4K 60fps hybrid and yet you go on to say "you're describing this 4K 60 frame handheld", which I am not talking about and never once mentioned. I also said nothing about anyone leaving the home console market. Nor did I say anything about a PS5. I said 5-10 years out. In ten years it's fairly likely the console generation after this one will have come and be on its way out the door.

And thus you continue your habit of replying to my comments and making up things I said, which seems to be a hobby of yours.

What I said is that it's conceivable that when a home console can run games in native 4K 60fps, a hybrid could be made that runs the exact same games in 1080p 30fps (which is a perfectly acceptable resolution for a screen that likely wouldn't even be 6"). Therefore, Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo could conceivably release a home console that plays games at 4K 60fps and simultaneously release a handheld that outs to the TV and runs the same games, but only at 1080p 30fps. The people that wanted the hybrid could buy the handheld console, those that want a home console with better specs could buy the home console, and someone that wants the portability and the better graphics could buy both and play the same games on either one.

The reason this wasn't possible in the past is because there's a significantly larger power jump required to go from 1080p to 4K than there was to go from 480p to 1080p. Right now you can spend less than $150 to get a GPU that runs games on ultra in 60fps, but to run the same games on ultra in 60fps in 4K requires a graphics card that costs almost $600, and even then you will often get lower FPS.

There's also the issue of getting the games to consumers. Currently a handheld can't use a disk drive and can't fit a hard drive large enough to download or install games. 5-10 years down the line we should either be able to fit enough storage on a handheld, or disks will no longer be used for games and cartridges will be cheap enough and fast enough to have replaced them.

Do I think gaming will go in that direction, with simultaneous a handheld release and home console release that play the same games at different resolutions and settings? Not necessarily, but it is certainly one direction gaming could go.

porkChop3213d ago

I would love to be able to play my PS4 games on the go.

CrimsonPheonix3213d ago

The switch is how I want all platforms to be. I want to play games on my terms.

Patriot4Life3213d ago

But at what sacrifice.

You can't have a beast of a console and expect it to be portable as well.

Nintendo is fine having a weak console with a gimmick...make MS and Sony have powerful consoles for gamers like me who want 4K gaming.

porkChop3213d ago

Nowhere did I say to replace their console business. But if in a couple years Sony released a PS4 Portable, I would buy it.

Gemmol3213d ago

bro you write weak like its ps1 graphics on the switch......games look great on it for a handheld.....you crazy to make it seem like its the worse looking handheld graphics

Goldby3212d ago

@Gremmol
"games look great on it for a handheld"
but Nintendo si marketing the Switch as a home console, and thats the issue. they are selling it as a hom console, those who own it see it as a handheld plus home, those who dont own it are seeing it as a weak ass home console. im not spending 500$ for a console with specs from 4 years ago

_-EDMIX-_3213d ago

So if Sony releases another PSP that plays PlayStation 4 quality games are you ready to purchase it?

I mean if so you are pretty much the target market for the PSP.

When PSP first released it was playing Grand Theft Auto God of War Kingdom Hearts and a whole slew of other games.

I just don't see them going that route though. I'm not even sure I see Sony ever release another portable that market is dominated by Nintendo and mobile phones.

Gemmol3213d ago

i would get it to go with my switch

Segata3213d ago

Even if Sony wanted to the tech just is not there yet and a long ways off for PS4 power in your pocket. Even if it was there..the price would not be affordable. It would be cool but you just have to settle for remote play for now.

_-EDMIX-_3213d ago

I would greatly disagree with that

Mind you you are correct that the price would clearly be not affordable but it clearly is feasible if you have laptops running games in 4k.

So I don't think it's an issue of the lack of technology I think it might have to do with price, but I also think it might have to do with the lack of market share you're also talking about a company that just had a handheld do 14 million units they just don't really have a position to reenter that market and I think it's wise they probably stay away.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3212d ago
ThatGuyDart3213d ago

I don't understand articles like this. The PS4 is Sony's fastest selling console of all time and is very likely to surpass the PS1 to be their second best selling console only behind the PS2 which is widely considered to be the greatest console of all time.

Yet somehow all that is not enough? Nah forget all that, Sony should follow Nintendo because the Switch is selling!

Nintendo stays in their lane which is fine and Sony should do the same especially as the dominant market leader. Hey Sony. Release the PlayStation 5 in 2019 maybe 2020, make it backwards compatible with PS4 games, have PS5 exclusives that you can only get on PS5, start a new generation and you'll be fine. What's that saying? "If it's not broken don't fix it".

_-EDMIX-_3213d ago

Absolutely agreed

I also love how they keep purposely avoiding just saying just make it the PSP apparently since Nintendo was forced to exit the Home console Market they're trying to suggest Sony should do the same and Sony owns more than half of the market share of that current market, it actually just makes more sense for them to do the exact same thing as the PSP in release both.

Nintendo's the one that needed to throw the Hail Mary and exit that market

Sony doesn't...

Release PlayStation 5 as a traditional powerful Home console.

AND

then release the next PSP3(lol Vita 2) as a powerful handheld in just add the Cradle attachment that they had for the previous versions..

Done.

Outside_ofthe_Box3213d ago (Edited 3213d ago )

* * * "then release the next PSP3(lol Vita 2) as a powerful handheld in just add the Cradle attachment" * * *

This.

Sony should release PS5 as a traditional home console. And then release a Vita successor that is a Switch style hybrid. ALL portable consoles should be hybrids going forward.

The 10th Rider3213d ago

@_-EDMIX-_,

There's a few issues with what you're saying.

You say that Nintendo is the ones that needed to throw a hail mary and exit the home console market because of their poor market share, yet then go on to say Sony should release a handheld device, which is an area where they hold a small portion of the market share. It doesn't make sense to say Nintendo should leave the home console market due to poor market share, but Sony should release a new handheld.

Other than that, I've heard you say plenty of times that Nintendo can't afford to announce another handheld because they need to focus their development on one platform. That's something I totally agree with. With games taking longer to develop it's becoming harder and harder to support two different consoles at the same time. I would like Sony to release another handheld to see what it would be like and to encourage competition, however at the same time I don't think it would be wise because it would require moving development studios away from the PS4 and eventual PS5. As it is, Sony utterly and completely stopped developing games for the Vita after 3 years. All studios working on Vita games were either closed, parted ways with Sony, or moved to PS4 projects. Considering games take time to develop that means they must have stopped starting new Vita projects after just a couple years. Now I don't particularly blame them as it's certainly helped with the success of the PS4, but I think it's an excellent example of the inability to support a handheld and a home console at the same time in today's industry. Nintendo ran into the same issue with the Wii U (along with plenty of other problems), but it was their home console that hit the chopping block rather than their handheld.

_-EDMIX-_3213d ago

@10-"You say that Nintendo is the ones that needed to throw a hail mary and exit the home console market because of their poor market share, yet then go on to say Sony should release a handheld device"

I'm actually simply responding to the article with a hypothetical , I'm actually not advising that they do that, I'm simply saying what they would likely do if they considered a portable.

This is just speculation.

I definitely want Nintendo to focus on one platform because I believe they're the most dominant in the portable market and they need to reaffirm that on the switch.

I actually think it's a good idea for Stony to stay away from the portable Market not after 14 million Vitas although I would like them to come back I understand it's on an extremely great risk.

Don't get me wrong I like the company they just don't have a lot of properties that translate well into a portable you have to consider that some of the best PSP games I would argue are not even Sonys with Grand Theft Auto Kingdom Hearts Metal Gear Solid Final Fantasy Crisis Core etc

I definitely 100% agree with your assessment of how Nintendo and Sony we're dealing with having two platforms they just do not have the ability to work on 2 markets well and I actually believe that the Switch is the best of both worlds for that company as it's best to have the option to play on the television for those Wii U hardcore with the primary base is likely going to be portable.

That's why I believe Nintendo could get away with having a portable that plays on a television more so than Sony can their base just could not really be portable in any respect (ie PS Vita sales) because of the limitation they're going to have against competition like Microsoft.

I think Nintendo could survive with just a portable that plays off the television simply because I believe the majority of their fans will not mind.

I just don't believe that the hardcore PlayStation fanbase would be able to survive as such a shift especially when you look at the Vita sales the just absolute majority are just Gamers looking for the top-of-the-line hardcore Home console.

StormLegend3213d ago

No I don't think things like that should change. I like Sony the way they've always been, no need to make a hybrid console. I don't see MS ever doing that either.

Show all comments (42)
50°

Hogwarts Legacy 2 Planned for No Earlier Than 2027, With More Major WB Games Releasing the Same Year

Hogwarts Legacy 2 will arrive no earlier than 2027, as Warner Bros plans major franchise returns between 2027 and 2028.

Retro19861d 1h ago

Thats ok ! Take Your time and make it gooood.
Playing the first one these days, and got a long way to go before finishing. Awesome game! Gonna 100% it.

repsahj8h ago

I got mine just 5$ for switch 1 version and 5$ for switch 2 upgrade! Very beautiful game.

scorpio_20496h ago

Man I hope they emphasize the school aspect and minimize the open world Ubisoft-ness of the first game. Open world is fine but it felt like every other game when I left the school.

120°

The Idea of Microsoft Sunsetting Xbox Is Absolute Nonsense, but It Exposes a Massive Problem

A few days ago, an interview with Seamus Blackley, designer of the original Xbox, sent shockwaves among the community.

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simulationdaily.com
Christopher2d ago

***This whole conspiracy theory (because that’s what this is) is basically entirely based on the idea that everyone involved is lying to us. ***

C'mon now. It's an opinion. Just like your opinion here. And it's from an industry professional who does have more knowledge than we do on how these things work and access to people inside the industry.

I'm not saying he's right, but you spend all this time arguing his stance and why his words are illogical, but then you go and make this sort of statement? Hypocritical.

SimulationDaily2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

It's from someone who has not worked at Microsoft or anywhere close to Microsoft or even in the gaming industry for over 20 years, and has worked at Microsoft for less than 4 years in total. He doesn't know a single one of the people involed and his experience of the topic is so diluted that he has no more authority than any rando on Reddit.

And almost none of the articles citing this silliness do the bare minimum due diligence to mention that essential context.

When you present a ludicrous hot take from someone who is nowhere near a position to know a thing about what Microsoft is doing today, if you think that readers aren't entitled to be made aware of that, we'll have to agree to disagree.

The truth is that a lot of the media outlets in this industry have chucked the bare minimum of professional reporting ethics into the recycle bin in the name of making a quick buck, and this is a pretty obvious example. This has been going on for years, it sucks, and it's only getting worse.

Misleading information for clicks may not offend you, and that's fine, but as someone who has dedicated the past 25 years of his life to informing people, it certainly offends me, and I see no reason not to express that position. Firmly.

Christopher2d ago

***Misleading information for clicks may not offend you, and that's fine***

You really need to stop with the logical fallacies. There's nothing there that says my opinion on the original matter other than calling out your hypocrisy of doing the same thing you complain they're doing. Not even a part of the conversation.

Also, he didn't do it for clicks, journalists turned it into clicks.

SimulationDaily2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

@Christopher: his opinion is not the problem, besides the fact that it's nonsensical and based on nothing.
The problem is that it has been presented as a take from someone with authority by professionally bankrupt media that fills up the fact that they have nothing relevant to say with fluff for clicks, regardless of the fact that such a presentation ends up misinforming people.

ABizzel11d 9h ago

Regardless of everyone’s opinion, one thing that’s never good is to be in the comments arguing with people on their opinion, about your opinion, especially in a place where you have no monetization.

1Victor1d 7h ago

@simulation
The way I see it you’re flipping the crumpet and assuming that because he hasn’t been a part of Microsoft for so long he don’t have contacts inside or he is exaggerating what we all can see in Xbox history of lies, deception and half truths since the 360 era.
Its very disingenuous of you to come and complain about his opinion when the patterns has been clear for way over a decade.
Microsoft is a corporation here if they don’t dominate they terminate the product you sound old enough to to remember Zune and windows phones you if not ask bing what happened to them.

ApocalypseShadow1d 6h ago

'Xbox Is Being Sunsetted' — Seamus Blackley, One of the Creators of Xbox, Thinks Recent Shakeup Spells the End for Microsoft's Gaming Business

It clearly says that Blackley THINKS...has an, OPINION, on the matter.

I think his opinion hurt you enough that you had to create an N4G article to try and discredit his OPNION. The fact that someone that hasn't been in the industry for years, carries more weight than someone that only has one comment on his video, yours. And, has less than 2 thousand subscribers. What makes your opinion better than his? He's someone that actually worked at Microsoft. What's your background besides MS Flight Simulator and FFXIV videos?

Here's the deal, Microsoft spent upwards of 100 Billion or more to try to beat Sony. They tried to buy industry pillars like Nintendo and Sega who said no. They pretty much created a service to devalue games to try and control the market and failed. They never won a generation. Most powerful system in the world or not. They couldn't do it by undercutting Sony with their Achilles heal of Series S. Nothing the 3 Trillion company could do but end up releasing their games on Nintendo and Sony's platforms. Their competitor's systems. The amount of coping in your defense of the current Microsoft heads is just hilarious. It is true that not having a gaming background means nothing if you can turn a business around. But there's nothing to turn. Outside hardened Xbox fans, there's no reason that any gamer needs an Xbox when the games are releasing on competitor's platforms. Nadella isn't stupid to try and go back to exclusives that Xbox fans don't buy enough of to keep the developers they bought afloat. Heads have to roll. Just like the Sega days of heading into a new direction.

Read the writing on the wall. Xbox as you know it is dying and dead. No game sales numbers. No console sales numbers. Nothing. Nothing will change their transition to third party other than an outright ban of Japanese game consoles. But the backlash would be so severe, that any new Xbox would be boycotted everywhere. If any new system is released, it would be in name only or the fans that are left. A PC with Microsoft's name on it like the Ally and the Quest headset. but nothing more than that. A platform that has never been profitable. A game service that has never been profitable. That was once almost canned by Nadella before.

Land that MS Flight Simulator plane and leave the clouds. It's over for them. She's there only to help their transition. No system they sell will bring them back when they never were leaders to begin with in the industry. I came out of N4G retirement just to say this. Your opinion carries no weight and is unsupported by the facts of where Microsoft's position is currently.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 1d 6h ago
lodossrage2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

@SimulationDaily

He may not be in the xbox loop anymore. But he'd surely have a better idea than any of us random people commenting would.

And how to WE know he doesn't know any single person involved? It's not like we can see the man's contact list or know his life personally. And all he did was give his opinion. He never said it was fact. An opinion is not misleading info. If he tried to pass off his opinion as FACT, then you'd have something. But that didn't happen.

We can't be mad about someone coming to the man for an interview answering a question he was asked

SimulationDaily2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

He's not in *any* loop, and he has not been for 2 decades.
How do we know? His responses tell us that. Unless you're unable to read between the lines, you can easily see that he's spitballing without any direct knowledge. The fact that he completely ignores the presence of Matt Booty tells us that he didn't even really read the news, let alone have any real knowledge about it.

Who in the world told you that an opinion can't be misleading information? Of course it can be, when it's wrongly presented as the view of someone with authority on a topic, without being contextualized, which is exactly what happened here.

If you don't know a thing about a situation and someone asks to interview you on it, you can say no.

lodossrage2d ago

His response doesn't tell us who he does/ doesn't know regardless of how long he was away from Microsoft. Again, we don't know this man's personal life or professional contacts to speak on such.

And who in the world told me an opinion can't be misleading info, living my life all these years tells me that. If you're presenting an opinion that should tell you it's not fact. No rational thinking person will sit here and misconstrue the two.

And again, he was asked a question. He never presented himself as an authority, he openly admits he hasn't been there in forever. What more context does he need when he already told us he hasn't been there in so long? Nor has he acted like is opinion is fact.

Now can he say "no" or "no comment" when asked a question? Sure he can, but he doesn't HAVE to. He can offer up his opinion the same way we all do here.

And how can you say he's doing this for clicks? He's the interviewee, not the interviewer or site owner. You have to realize with the video you made you can be accused of the same thing you wrongly pointed the finger at him for.

And for the record, since I know how this site is, I'll say this now. No, this isn't an attack on you. I actually like having convos like this that aren't troll based.

SimulationDaily2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

His response is incredibly vague and drifts into the factually incorrect, for example, when he says "It would have been shocking if they had somebody in there in a meaningful role who was passionate about games, passionate about the creator-driven business of games."
Matt Booty is the second-in-command, which is definitely a "meaningful role," and he's very obviously passionate about games and the creator-driver business of games. As a matter of fact, much more (and with much more relevance) than Blackley himself, who dropped the industry and went to do something else 25 years ago.

No one said HE did it for clicks, although all these "former X" usually do this kind of stuff to appear somewhat relevant when they have not been relevant for a long, long time.

The site that interviewed him and the sites/influencers who presented his opinion with no context as authoritative did it for clicks, because they had no access to any the people even remotely involved, and scraped the bottom of the barrel for something to fill the quota and generate some clicks, and they absolutely misled a ton of people into believing that what he says has some merit.

The "massive problem" isn't that he has an opinion. Opinions like his are a dime a dozen. Is that today's gaming press will fill the air with white noise with zero merit, disingenuously painting it as relevant, regardless of whether their readers are misled into believing something that does not exist.

blacktiger1d 9h ago

First of all I did not watch the video but as far as conspiracy theory goes. Here is my take.

The whole idea for everyone to lie to us is about not owning and be happy. But here is the thing why is it so important for everyone to not own and be happy. What does the elite gain whether we own or not. I understand we not owning cars rather rent is what they want.

But why mess around with video games? I tell you why.
Because they don't want to sell "GPU"
GPU is the main problem. GPU is everything! From 3d printing your house to Mining Bitcoin. Not to mention it's the future that can cripple future government.

Profchaos1d 3h ago (Edited 1d 3h ago )

Blackley is the father of Xbox if anyone wants to see it's success it's Blackley

Yet he doesn't think it's long for this world simple as that

I'm more inclined to believe we've been lied to because Xbox has a history of lies and half truths

Stopac23h ago

@SimulationDaily its not a good look for the author of an article to go to the comment section to argue commentors.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 23h ago
2d ago
Vits1d 20h ago

Look, I understand the indignation about how the media is talking about this interview. I completely agree on that front. That said, personally, I don’t think Blackley is wrong. Not because he’s a former Xbox executive, but because what he described is something we see time and time again in the corporate world.

If you’ve ever worked in this kind of environment, the sequence of a head leaving, obvious substitute leaving, and then a much younger, completely unrelated executive stepping in feels like déjà vu. Every time we see this pattern, it’s usually because the company is looking for a “shake-up” in a business unit, which often just means restructuring. And restructuring usually means layoffs and shutting things down.

That said, I don’t think Xbox as a brand is going to vanish. What I think is more likely is that the division will be significantly reduced and absorbed into another part of the company.

SimulationDaily1d 20h ago (Edited 1d 20h ago )

Glad you understand my view on the press. It's good that at least someone here does.
That being said, placing Matt Booty as Sharma's vice conflicts with that view. Hiring a young CEO with a background of success and supporting them with a veteran vice president is a completely different scenario then one you describe.
The sole idea that Microsoft would be willing to throw away circa 8% of its revenue because of AI is pretty ridiculous.
And if you listen to the reports, you'll know that Sarah Bond was far from the obvious substitute for Phil Spencer.

Vits1d 19h ago

It’s actually the opposite. If they weren’t planning to completely bulldoze the place, then Sharma would be completely alone with an entirely new leadership team, at their mission would be to turn that ship into something else, but keeping the unit itself. The fact that she got Booty as a second hand, instead of a completely new second hand, tells me that they need someone with "experience" to smooth things over while she bulldozes everything.

And honestly, people would be surprised by how often companies choose to “lose” revenue when they realize they can save the same amount or more by simply exiting or reshaping a business line. And that is before AI, that just promise to do anything and it's currently Microsoft focus.

But time will tell. Let’s revisit this in a couple of years and we will see what actually happened. Unfortunately, and I truly mean that, because I don’t want to be right about this, I’ve seen this pattern play out too many times not to believe I’ll end up being right in the end.

SimulationDaily1d 17h ago (Edited 1d 17h ago )

Absolutely, let's reconvene in a couple of years. I have absolutely zero doubt about being right. Xbox will still be there, likely bigger than it is now.

"Bulldozing" doesn't fit today's Microsoft's MO at all, nor that of 99% of companies. Companies may choose to lose revenue, but that happens on dead weight businesses, which gaming is not.

And even when they do, they don't park a very successful young executive with a spotless career like Asha Sharma on a business they want to drop. Not only is it massively counterproductive for the company, but she'd likely quit, because she has the resume to get a job anywhere that would give her a business she can lead to success, as she has done with literally everything she has touched in the past decade.

Would I rather see a gamer at the top? Sure, but there's zero doubt that Asha Sharma is an extremely capable exec. Her resume proves it, and you don't waste extremely capable executives doing the palliative care doctor thing.

gold_drake1d 19h ago (Edited 1d 19h ago )

i mean, the leadership was changed out rather swiftly, with someone who has no odea of the business the former had atleast some know-how.

i think they are slowly trying to find something else they can make money off of, and xbox might just be the thing thats costing them more than they think its worth.

that's business. unfortunately

SimulationDaily1d 17h ago

Leadership was changed to someone who has plenty of ideas (and plenty of success under her belt) about *business*, supported by someone who has one of the most extensive careers in the gaming industry.

You don't waste a very successful young executive (who Asha Sharma is; her career is spotless) to babysit a business you want to spin down. This is how business works.

ocelot0719h ago(Edited 19h ago)

Question - it's obvious the way the Xbox division hasn't performed well for Microsoft for a long time. The hardware sales has been abysmal compared to their only 2 competitors Sony PlayStation and Nintendo Switch.

I agree with you. You don't put someone like her into a position to babysit a business you want to spin down.

But is sunsetting Xbox hardware really spinning down the business? What if she transforms Microsoft Gaming into the number one game developers/publisher's? Bigger than EA and Ubisoft. Microsoft gaming make plenty games each year for every available console, PC, Handheld PC as well as mobile users via cloud.

GotGame8181d 9h ago

Yeah, not worried about it! Microsoft said it's going with PC Architecture next gen! Hopefully Steam ready! Also, hopping it is upgradable, like Sega and Nintendo were 3 decades ago.

No need for a Pro version. Upgrade memory, exchange/add a board. Buying a mid Gen console upgrade last Gen, you could instantly tell the difference. The majority of current gen games optimized for PRO are great, but they certainly don't make me want to Rush out and buy one. I am happy with my PS5.

It brings me to ask, why so many 5 Pro/Vs Switch 2 comparisons? Seems kinda strange.

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