850°

Xbox Portable: why isn't Microsoft building it?

From the article: "there is much more room for Microsoft in the portable gaming domain because it only confronts two main rivals, Sony and Nintendo. Yes, those are powerful adversaries, with strong brands, huge install base and a lot more experience. But hell, they're only two, and their combined value doesn't even come close to Microsoft's ($276.88 billion), and it's not like the latter has no experience in gaming, right? Generally speaking, Microsoft owns the desktop (and laptop) market with the Windows platform, has a strong position in the fixed-console market, but obstinately refuses to come up with a portable gaming device, although it does have the money, the logistics and the people to invent it."

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playfuls.com
Mr PS35943d ago

Well quite simple really
They have'nt invented the small portable version of the RROD yet

ruibing5943d ago

I think that touches on the weakness of MS's hardware development team. Take the Zune (1st gen) for instance, I won it a career fair raffle recently and found that it only has about 5-6 hrs of battery life even with all features disabled. They would really need to beef up their hardware development standards if they want to make a portable game console that will stand up the well established DS and PSP.

The-Director5943d ago

i think people will have a hard time trusting Microsoft hardware again

if a console dies from heat "RROD" and dvd-rom failure , i think their portable system will crash just for pressing the buttons !!

MrFurious5943d ago

Indeed the lack of reliable products at Microsoft should not encourage innovative and sepcific market developments. Making handhelds with latest CPU tech will be possible only if it is built as a pc for M$. i.e. go and buy a Asus EEE PC, then you have your M$ mobile device, not as advanced as a home XBOX360 but enought to play Oblivion in low res or GTA San andreas in good conditions.

Capt CHAOS5943d ago

If MS decide to put two analogue controllers on it.

mikeslemonade5943d ago

Many of the exclusive developers for the 360 aren't used to making handheld games and Microsoft doesn't have that vast 1st party support so they would have to spend even more money trying to sign other developers. And a handheld would be a losing proposition because they would be starting off from scratch like xbox 1. This will not sell in Japan and likely not sell in Europe.

Chuck Norris5943d ago

I think they've finally grown a conscience. MS should just contend with ruining one console per generation.

sloth4urluv5942d ago

wtf happened to the gamer zone already?
I believe they created this seperate section so you can looks at a comment without reading
RROD
Play B3yond
Xbot
Fandroid
and waitstation.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 5942d ago
Skerj5943d ago

Handhelds are a hard market to break into, Nintendo has the stranglehold on it and that doesn't seem to be a trend that will ever change. I'm happy and surprised that Sony has had such success with the PSP because I do think it's the best handheld ever.

akaFullMetal5943d ago

i agree, with everything you can do, and now with skype, its pretty much a swiss knife of technology, and the games are awesome, cant wait for god of war, and ff7 cc

TheTwelve5943d ago

Agreed. As much as I love the PSP, I too am pleasantly surprised that it's managed to come so far against the DS.

But the article mentions that Microsoft opted not to buy Nintendo in 2000. Sheesh...imagine if they did...

Master Chief would be in Mario Kart...lol!

12

shotputking5943d ago

it's just too hard for microsoft to compete in this japanese dominated market... not only are they faced with japan only supporting their own products, but also americans who will buy japanese products simply because they are japanese. microsoft needs to focus on consoles and see how they are doing by the end of this generation before they decide to enter another tough to break into market.

mighty_douche5943d ago

Well they left it far to late now. The DS has the casuals on board and for the more adventurous theres the PSP with all its homebrew/custom firmware options.

M$ should stick to what there good at (not sure what that is) or if all else fails, buy a smaller successful company.

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210°

Price Reductions Available Now on the Digital Xbox 360 Store - Closing July 29, 2024

Xbox 360 launched 18 years ago and was a generation-defining console that invited many people to jump into gaming for the first time and connect with friends around the world. We’re thrilled people continue playing their favorite Xbox 360 games on Xbox 360, or on newer consoles via Backward Compatibility for supported titles.

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news.xbox.com
Einhander197210h ago

"we believe in game preservation"

Remember the media reaction when PlayStation wanted to shut down the PS3 store (but then kept it open)... where is that reaction here?

CrimsonWing699h ago

What are you asking? Like, if people got pissed at Sony for that? Because they did. We also got pissed at Nintendo when they did it.

You’re getting a chance to buy what you want before they close it. Moving forward digital stores should work like Steam. It’s just in this beginning they made it platform specific and closed off. A hindsight in their part and it sucks, but what is the percentage of people buying anything off these stores and what is the cost to keep the servers up?

I get it and yes making strives so this isn’t the case every gen we go into is absolutely a must. I mean PSN on PS3 is so convoluted to buy anything since you can’t use a credit card. Vita store is gone. It’s going to go away eventually.

Einhander19728h ago

"What are you asking? Like, if people got pissed at Sony for that? Because they did. We also got pissed at Nintendo when they did it."

My point is when PlayStation did this every website under the sun was writing articles talking about how "anti-consumer" it was yet I haven't seen anything like that happening when it's xbox doing it, in fact mostly what I see is praise from media when xbox makes obviously false claims about game preservation while they close down their store and xblig and push for digital only consoles streaming and subscriptions.

What I am asking is for everyone to be criticized or praised equally.

I mean look at the way the PS5 Slim's detachable disk drive was reported, it was super critical. Even though in reality they made it easier for people who initially buy a digital only console to move to physical, it was actually a step away from digital only. But did it get reported like that at all... no.

And you can still buy stuff on PlayStation you just need to add money to your account on the website or a PS4/5.

Tacoboto8h ago

That reaction isn't here because you can still play Xbox 360 discs of supported BC titles on Series and Xbox One, and you can still buy BC titles on the current Xbox Store.

It still sucks losing access to non-BC titles but don't act like it's the same situation. Let me know when PS5 actually supports my PS3 library.

Einhander19728h ago(Edited 8h ago)

How are you going to play those discs on your Series S (which 75% of xbox owners have) or your adorably all digital Series X?

And keep in mind that BC on xbox is an extremely limited selection of games, it's less than 25% of retail releases, and way less than the entire catalogue.

It's not a solution for the future, this isn't how "game preservation" looks, it's the fake PR that makes it that much worse.

Tacoboto8h ago

I'm not getting an all digital Series X so bark up someone else's tree, creep. I have my Series X for that disc support and functioning old hardware I still buy discs for (Bought Sudeki, Super Paper Mario, and 3D Dot Game Heroes a few months back - one for each old platform).

Fact is there's a mechanism that exists for Xbox OG and 360 BC physically and digitally. PS has none for PS1 or 2 or 3. If you're gonna bring PS into an Xbox article, at least know what you're talking about.

Einhander19727h ago

"Fact is there's a mechanism that exists for Xbox OG and 360 BC physically and digitally. PS has none for PS1 or 2 or 3. If you're gonna bring PS into an Xbox article, at least know what you're talking about."

I understand that, I'm making commentary on the fact that xbox is moving to digital only (and that the vast majority of current gen xbox owners do not have a disc based option) and not towards preservation as they claim.

And obviously people can play games on the original hardware for as long as that lasts, I have hundreds of games from "retro" consoles, I own nearly 200 PS3 discs alone.

Is there some reason, you feel the need to make personal insults in every comment, I reply to what you say without insulting you. But you know whatever, it says more about you than me...

And for the record "you" was being used colloquially I wasn't speaking you directly.

shinoff21835h ago

It won't as far as emulation. The os3 was built different.

I am in agreement though. I wish Sony would sell like an ultimate console. Have it where you have to order off their site and make it have real bc. Like the og ps3 had ps2 inside so to say.

Tacoboto4h ago

@Ein You're a creep because of your obsessive comment history making everything revolve around Sony or how awful Xbox is to a point that you're now just throwing irrelevant things in any way you can.

And don't try to make "you" colloquially now just because you're wrong about me and your feelings got hurt.

Einhander19721h ago

Whatever, keep insulting me, if you think that is going to make me change my opinions or what I say you couldn't be more far from the truth.

How you choose to treat other people only reflects poorly on you. (and this time it's not colloquially)

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 1h ago
darthv728h ago

The PS3 situation may have something to do with no forward way to play those games on newer hardware. Not to mention the PS3 store has been around far less than the 360 store. 360 store closing was expected and they did a pretty good job making many of its digital games forward compatible with XBO and subsequently the Series as well. Ones they could not come to an agreement with are going to be left behind, but here is your chance for last minute deals for you to continue playing on your 360.

Just because the 360 store closes doesnt make all of those games you have (digital/physical) stop working on real 360 hardware. If people have physical 360 games, chances are they also have the means to play them. Just like People with PS3 games having a PS3. It would be nice if all older games worked on newer hardware... but that is not for us to decide, that is for MS, Sony and Nintendo.

Asplundh6h ago

Difference being the 360 games will still be sold on series consoles, while the PS5 only preserved a selection of Ps3 games for premium subs. If the Xbox 360 store closes the games will still be available, if the Ps3 store closes then those games are gone.

How does this contradict what they said about game preservation?

Einhander19726h ago

As far as what I have read that is not accurate, except for a small selection of games that are available through BC.

And even when the PS3 and Vita stores were going to be shut down they still were still going to be available to download if you purchased them already.

rlow135m ago

So you’re asking for equal treatment? That’s not how the world works or don’t you know? Which I can can’t believe you’re that naive. Xbox gets attacked on this site all the time. You have to ask why that was a big deal amongst the PS3 fan base? Because it wasn’t Xbox fans that were throwing up a huge stink. It’s was PlayStation fans and look at the results, Sony gave in and kept it open. You should celebrate it, instead of worrying about who takes it on the chin more.

The one thing I’ve Learned, is these companies don’t need people to defend them. They have all done things worth criticizing, but it will never be equal.

darthv7212m ago

While the 360 store is closing and you will not be able to make any new purchases from a 360..... you can still download content you have previously purchased prior to the closure. The same can also be said about access to 360 games available on the XBO/Series. You will be able to make new purchases of titles that are available on the current store as well as download previously purchased content that is also compatible with the XBO/Series.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 12m ago
1Victor10h ago(Edited 9h ago)

RIP Xbox 360 digital store and all its games.
It really grinds my gears that they are waiting till 10 days before closing to give the best discounts and the list as of now is 100 or less titles from the massive 360 library

Phoenix769h ago(Edited 9h ago)

I should have enough points by the weekend to get £25 credit off MS, (hardly ever spend money on xb1), might look at a few of these.

DivineHand1259h ago

The Xbox 360 store was one of the only advantages the Xbox Series consoles had over the PS5. When I got my series X, I spent more playing Xbox 360 games vs current-gen Xbox games since that was the golden era for Xbox and several titles had enhancements such as 4k resolution and fps boost.

Closing this store will now only benefit the competition.

VersusDMC8h ago

The xbox360 store is closing on the xbox 360.

Xbox 360 games are unaffected on the xbox one and series consoles.

Einhander19728h ago

"Xbox will stop supporting the ability to purchase new games, DLC, and other entertainment content from the Xbox 360 Store on the console ->and the Xbox 360 Marketplace (marketplace.xbox.com).<-&q uot;

You will not be able to purchase any 360 games. You will only be able to play xbox discs if you have a console that support discs which doesn't look great for the future of xbox, if it has one.

VersusDMC7h ago

@Ein

Why are you repeating what i said?

You will not be able to buy digital 360 games to play on your 360.

You will still be able to buy 360 games on Xbone and Series consoles. Go to marketplace.xbox.com, that's the old browser store and not the new one.

Knightofelemia4h ago

Won't be long before Sony pulls the plug on the PS3.

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110°

7 Deserving Games That Never Got Backward Compatibility

Backward compatibility works for many games on newer consoles, but titles such as The Simpsons: Hit and Run have been left out.

90°

Microsoft Opening Xbox Mobile Game Store in July

The Xbox brand is expanding, as an Xbox mobile game store is opening this coming July where Microsoft will brings its "first-party portfolio."

Jin_Sakai5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

“Bond adds that they will start on the web”

This will go nowhere.

Nice knowing you Xbox. This is what happens when the house never gets cleaned.

MrDead5d ago

The only this MS is expanding is the amount of feculence it sprays on everyone who just want to enjoy gaming and make games.

The best thing MS can do for the gaming industry is leave and never return.

XiNatsuDragnel5d ago

Good luck with this even it might not succeed.

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