Considering that they spent so much money on Kinect, and Microsoft stated themselves that there were "no plans for a new xbox", I believe this could be quite possible. I'm also one of those people who would prefer Microsoft to pull out, only for Sega to release another console, but who knows if they're even financially able to do so.

While I don't think it would affect gaming in general, I would prefer there to be a 3rd console in it's place. Whether it's Microsoft, Sega, or some currently unknown contender...3 is definitely the magic number.

Maybe the industry would have been able to have games like Uncharted 2 come from 3rd parties, but unfortunately they can't with the 360 around. Or wait...maybe those games are still in the works...on the system that is supposed to be easier to develop for and the only reason it's taking so long is because they can't figure out how to get a game like Uncharted 2 running on a PS3 =)

Honestly? Not really, not concerning IPs, nearly everything that was a third party exclusive has become multiplatform. It might make other console manufacturers lazy though.

As I've said before, I'm completely an advocate against Xbox Live, especially concerning Gold which charges for basic online play and how people think that MS paved the way for online gaming which is, simply laughable. Credit where credit is due though, digital downloads such as some of the great XBLA and PSN budget titles wouldn't of probably existed and Xbox Live Indie Games is actually a great service with quality of games picking up nearly every month.

Anyone who wants MS to pull out is a dumbass. There are so many shitty things that would happen if they did that would hurt the industry that you wouldn't even know about. Look at Sega for example, they released the Dreameye in 2000 that would have been used in games but the dreamcast soon died. Sony released there eyetoy 3 years later, so if Sega would have stayed in it would of had 3 years of experience with motion tech when Sony just started. That means that if Sega would have stayed in the console race and stuck with motion controls we could have had something very similar to the Playstation Move in 2007. That knowledge wouldn't have happened in a day, Nintendo would have watched Sega and take note. That means that If Sega would have released the Move in 2007, then Nintendo's Wii Motion Plus might have been built into the controller.

Another example is the Xbox 360. Imagine if Xbox would have been MS's only console, where do you think online gameplay would be now? I doubt we would have had Downloadable games for as long as we have had on both consoles, and I doubt that mic prices for online would be as low as they are now because of the demand for them. And how many games would have online?

Thirdly and my final argument is the price. If Nintendo would go casual again next gen then Sony could have a monoply of core gaming. Prices of everything from games to accessories would skyrocket, and why not? Sony wouldn't have any close competition, so if you want a core gaming experience you either buy from them or don't buy anything. I'm ignoring PC gaming now because a large number of people don't like PC gaming, but if you don't mind gaming on a PC/mac then that's probably where you'll be next gen if MS isn't there. But downloadable games could go up to $20-$30 per game, doubling in price and retail games could go up to $70-$80 per game.

There is alot of bad reprocussions that could happen if MS leaves, and the reason why you didn't see these when Sega left is because MS entered right when Sega left, keeping things balanced, and Nintendo was still going for the Core market with the gamecube. Next gen Sony would have practically no competition.

/rant

Remember what PS2 online was like?

Yeah. Argument over.

I like your Sega example and I don't like Xbox or Microsoft, but I don't think it really shows the scale of Microsoft stepping out of the gaming industry. The video game industry and gaming in general have been extremely influential and expansive before Microsoft came in, and of course it would continue to be if they happened to step out.

However, the big thing with Microsoft is that it's based in the US, which allows them many more advantages than Sony and Nintendo when it comes to marketing. It's also easier for them in the sense that they can design games and services for just one target audience and focus on it, rather than having to design it for two or more audiences and try to compromise in order to get good sales, which is clearly becoming a big problem for Japan in particular. This being said, I don't see Microsoft going anywhere without another US based company to take their place, though it does seems like Activision would be a suitable candidate.

Now, I don't really like what this has done to gaming, it's made developers lazy, uninspired and publishers much more focused on commercialization, marketing, and microtransactions. Business, not gaming. I suppose this isn't a problem if you like Call of Duty and spending 20$ on map packs, only to repeat the process again next year, but I'm interested in real games.

When it comes to it, you'd have to be pretty dense not to see how significant Microsoft has been to the gaming industry, but the changes they've brought about given their advantages aren't necessarily good for gamers. The real issue I'm worried about is that US marketing strategies are rubbing off on the Japanese, and when they get lazy and run out of good ideas and ways to make a fun game I'm not going to sit around and play shitty shooters on Xbox all day.

I'd be happy. Well, if they ditched the console wars. As Microsoft itself (not Microsoft Game Studios), I think I'd like to see them work on the PC and see how much they can push technology.

I know every fanboy will attack me for saying this but it would have been better off if Microsoft had stayed out of the console business. Sega could have stayed with the Dreamcast but the Xbox was a blight on the gaming world. It caused nothing but a gamer divide.Microsoft bulldozed it's way into gaming with no respect or consideration throwing money everywhere.There is nothing that Microsoft did with their gaming system that Nintendo, Sony or probably even Sega would have done eventually.Before it was about respect despite your console preference. Now it's a blood feud.If they left, good riddance. Sega made a better rival anyway.Dreamcast had so much potential. Now give me your disagrees, they only make me stronger.

Despite the lack of quality exclusives, due to ms policy and handling of studios.
And that they sort of move away from the hardcore market I dont think they are done with the xbox.
Xbox LIVE is probably their most profittable product until this date.
IMO LIVE is robbery, but as a social interface (features and the the network itself)
it Is SOLID, they could be more open like sony and the PSN and dont hold back on the dedicated servers and some other things.
The way players interact with eachother on xbox is a bit more intinuitive than other platforms and services. There is player profiles, invites, XGC, avatars and tiny profile related touches that are quite likeable.
So I think there is no reason for microsoft NOT to release a another platform "soon", considering the size of their active userbase.

And I also think xbox 3's games will be download only games because it works great on 360 and because it seems that Microsoft don't support Blu-ray.

If they left I guess it could damage the industry, atleast I prefer that there is competition to push things forward.

This whole "The game market will crash and prices will go up" nonsense is a bunch of bullshit. MS has brought nothing but nickel and dime gaming and overcharging for themes with a overpriced online service. You crazy fanboys really need to get a life and stop acting like MS is holding everything together. There is always going to be another company to take the place of a company that can not compete anymore. Your just telling yourselfs this nonsense so you feel better about your console not bringing the games like they used too.

All the deagrees and all the ignores is not going to make you right so you can keep on living in your fantasy world where MS holds your hand and tells you everything is going to be alright. Gaming will live on if this happens and someone else will take their place. The same can be said about Sony and Nintendo. I really wonder sometimes if most of you fanboys are just little kids trying to start fights and arguments just because you want everyone to like what you like.

If Microsoft left, it would only be Sony and Nintendo, in my book,.. I would definitely and unquestionably ignore a 3rd contender taking MS' spot. Not because I'm saying that nobody can replace them, I'm saying that the market kinda feels crowded anyway.. I can't buy equal amounts of games for all of my systems and I barely play one of them.. 3 is kind of much.

you wish they left,they are here to stay. They put a new ip this year so what do you mean? also one more upcoming too. they have unannounced games,saw this same thing in 08. if anyone is leaving it would be sony first,lost all the money ever made from ps1 and ps2 and more from ps3.

Like it or not, Microsoft MUST exist in the game industry, they are the non-japanese side of it, without it, gaming would be again an eastern bussiness and the mainstream aspirations would be broken; the world doesn't like to feel monopolized. They are not the best company (none of the three are) but they are neccessary, and they've done a lot for changing gaming public image (Thanks god, those PS3 ads made too much damage) and that's some credit we must give to them.

I have zero respect for MS as a console maker. All they do well is outspend everyone else. That's it. That's their legacy.

Would I miss them? Hell no!

@RevXM again it would just be easier to have physical copies so I don't have to use torrents and emulators....

I don't care to be honest I don't own a 360........so yeah idc.

My co-workers & I have plenty of free time while at work some days. These days, there is a 360 in the break room. At night (2nd shift) is when mostly everyone is under 30 & they play that 360 religiously. Yesterday, someone was bashing PS3, saying how there are no games on it. I'm like, wow.....dudes are still saying that? And if you were on NG4 summer 2007, you'll remember how Bloodmask, Mart, Bladestar & many others were trashing PS3 so much. why do folks hate a machine so passionately? I swear, I'm very intrigued by 360....had a core unit on launch day in 05, but sold it in a matter of hours due to it freezing up several times & my lack of an HDTV at that time. I plan on getting another 1 in the future, just waiting for the price to drop some more. On another note, I know plenty of people that switched over to PS3 from 360. I'm starting to believe the stereotypes of how older gamers who generally have better paying jobs & younger ones with nice jobs have no problem buying & supporting PS3. I can't even count the people who are too cheap &/or immature to pay for PS3. the ones who enjoy their chipped up 360 for which they buy pirated games for......let alone, those that replace it numerous times whether banned for piracy or hardware failures....I still have xbox 1 & enjoy Kotor 1 & 2, jade empire etc.....I just don't remember this war being this deep & nasty last gen...it's almost enough to make me not buy anymore consoles after this gen....between all the dumb stuff: timed exclusivity, timed dlc, dlc that's announced before the game is even released, devs claiming each version has to be equal...? be for real....selling us have done games, & then dlc us to death....just to release a goty version 12-18 months later....the hobby, I grew up on is almost not even fun anymore....everything centering around multiplayer....I'm just now getting around to Uncharted 2, I have to buy an additional multiplayer pack from Psn in order to play online....total bs in my opinion...I won't even mention that ultimate shady store Gamestop..lol..lol...I think many gamers are completely blinded by microsoft. They are really doing more to hurt this hobby than helping right now, the bribes & money being tossed around is bad business in the long run....just setting the table for us consumers to get screwed over more in the future.....Sony aren't angels either....but if I had to pick my poison, I'm choosing Sony

I dislike how MS makes things time exclusive. If your going to make something exclusive then keep onto it! Time exclusive stuff is the one worst things ever.

Confessions of a PS3 Fan-Boy

As a xbox fan I am very disappointed in my system. In fact the only reason why I still have one is simply because I like the way the controller feels. PlayStation controllers just don't feel right, just my personal opinion.

I think Kinect may surprise us in the future, right now its a novelty but the possibilities are sweet. But will Microsoft fully grasp it? I can only hope so, till then I may have to buy another system.

Xbox don't let us down! Anymore anyway. *cries* Why didn't you buy Bioware!!!

No, it'd be fine if MS left. The 360 is, basically, nothing more than a crossplat console. It's a great crossplat console (dare I say "the best crossplat console"?), but... easily replaced. If Sony or Nintendo left... that'd hurt gaming in general, it wouldn't just remove a console from the picture.

Another player would enter the picture if MS left... probably Apple. Who knows, maybe SEGA would come back.

I think it will suck if they do. We need microsoft so it keeps Nintendo and Sony on their toes as is the same with Sony and Nintendo keeping each other on their toes and Microsoft too. So that way we can get great games on all platforms.

Imagine if we only had 1 car company? their cars would suck because there is no competitors to push them to do better. Thats my opinion anyways. Keep on gaming brothas.

gweg

Tell me again how the multiplatform strategy was supposed to fix everything. Look at your results and compare them to Nintendo, which keeps thriving with exclusives. Your loyal fans are gone. And let’s not forget the pile of IPs you purchased only to let them rot.

The worst thing is this is down from last years numbers/expectations which was down from the previous years numbers/expectations. You think about how long “down” has been a consistent part of the communication and you realize those subscriptions are what’s holding that boat together. The price cut of gamespass is still a price raise in a string of price raises. They are trying to use players to offset the missing revenue. Now call of duty is out of gamespass, which is literally WHY they bought the company. To draw people to the subscription. They realized they missed a boatload of money and that wasn’t sustainable. Now you pay for it like you would have if they never bought the company… so why buy the company? Mind you those billions still need to be paid back. Yeah it gives you a chance to say we make the biggest FPS… but the internal conversations must be brutal at high level on topics that really matter. Like revenue. Profitability. And ROI for the shopping spree.

Is this like the 10th quarter in a row they're down 33% on hardware how is that even mathematically possible. You would think their mediocrity would Plateau