Microsoft has been keen to mention in recent interviews its intent to reach "two billion gamers," looking eastward beyond its Anglocentric home markets. But Microsoft fails at even the most basic attempts at localization.
Microsoft announced its financial results for Q3 of fiscal year 2026, including an update on its gaming Xbox business and more.
Not looking good. Hopefully Asha Sharma is able to turn Phil’s disaster around.
To me it's still quite remarkable how they can cash-in 5.3bn in revenue in a single quarter, since their hardware is basically dead.
The stock mark is what makes Microsoft remarkable, They have convinced every institutional and retail investor to just keep piling money into them. Like many big tech giants they are just a big growing pyramid scheme. As long as people keep dropping money into ETF's that cover the market Microsoft will always be liquid. At the same time it is completely stifling innovation and competition. People need to start being more discreet in how they invest their money as it's killing the system.
Riiiiight because people will just flock back to them for one or two games per year.
15+ years of bad performance is what they call irreparable in business. It is time for them to sell off the assets and get out of entertainment.
These declines are on the back of extra revenue received from releasing games like Forza horizon 5 on PlayStation. So I’m being sarcastic here when I said they should go back to exclusives. Killing off a revenue stream from Ps5 sales will only make things worse
Spiders: "We're going to cut straight to the chase so you're not left wondering: After a long period without clear answers, we have received confirmation that Spiders is being liquidated.
What does it mean? This means the company as a whole no longer exists. We'll cease our functions immediately. The planned DLC will release via Nacon, and then-- well, that's it.
We're sorry that it's come to this and would like to thank each and every one of you for your support over the years.
If you have any questions or run into issues with your games, please contact Nacon directly as we'll no longer be able to reply."
18 years and the Xbox brand still has a problem consistently appealing to markets outside of the US & UK. I don’t see how they could turn this around in the next 18 years.
There’s a reason why it remains the only current hardware manufacturer that has yet to produce a console that can pass the 100 million units sold milestone
Ms have a lot to do this upcoming gen, image, games, consistency, consumer trust, all have to be worked on, which I do believe they are doing, it's going to take some effort and time but atleast with gamepass and the studio buys they are actually putting their money where their mouth is this time instead of just talking about support and throwing out a big number without actually doing it, as always time will tell, I cant see them having a worse gen than this one. All they have to do is provide a console that is worth the price, good quality consistant games and cut out pr blurbs like power of the cloud, dx12 etc and the gamers will come.
If Microsoft wants to look East, all they need to do is allow Big China to dictate everything and comply with all their demands.
As far as localization support, certain that's based on profit potential. China and Korea will get the same localization support as the U.S. and UK as long as there's profit potential there. Microsoft will better support certain local markets as soon as those markets start spending more money.
Also, Anglocentric? Weird word choice considering American superiority in the market.
People outside the U.S and UK play video games ? - MS
Comes down to taking the risks, spending the money and leaving the bubble they're in. It's their mentality of "you like what we give you or go somewhere else." Like the always classic:
**we have a product for people who can't get online, it's called Xbox 360** (pertaining to Xbox one's always online fiasco.)
You can't reach 2 billion people that way. Look at all the development teams at Microsoft. Do you see a pattern? I'd say all of them are English speaking. And language localization is slow.
Gamers wonder why Xbox doesn't sell in Japan. Why those articles keep popping up. Do you see any Microsoft Japanese Studios? Korean Studios Chinese Studios? Do you see Microsoft building any? Do you see them nurturing any? They're basically saying "like our English product or get something else." Not even catering to the audience that likes a certain style of game in a foreign country. Japanese are saying, " If you're not investing in us, we're not buying your product or why should we?"
Now, look at Sony's Worldwide Studios. Covers multiple countries and games are localized to fit those areas. And Sony nurtures new companies and developers like the China Hero Project with individuals like Yang Bing, the Lost Soul Aside developer and VR developers. Sony didn't just enter China. They are preparing a future market that could provide games for China and the world.
In order to grow a market, you have to actually invest in it. 18 years and they still have to learn the hard way. 7 MR headsets with no games, Kinect with no memorable games and dropped. And, Xbox One with a good portion of the games are average or franchise fatigue sequels. Took a whole generation for them to do something that won't happen until potentially next gen. And the developers they bought are still English speaking. As if they didn't learn anything from their competitor all this time.