200°

Microsoft aiming to launch Xbox in China

A senior executive with Microsoft Corporation said that the company is stepping up efforts to bring in its multi-purpose Xbox game console to the Chinese market as soon as possible, domestic news portal qq.com reported Sunday.

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globaltimes.cn
TomShoe3702d ago (Edited 3702d ago )

Interesting. China has always struck me as very PC-dominated, but it could be a potential source of sales. I feel like it'll be a waste of time for all involved, but let's see if Nintendo or Sony has an answer.

mhunterjr3702d ago

They are PC centric, partly because console sales were illegal. Now that China is making it easier for companies to release consoles in the country, there might be a chance to tap into the market.

Naga3702d ago

Judging by their past dealings, I don't think China would be afraid to offer some sort of national exclusivity deal to the highest bidder in the console wars.

And considering that Microsoft has extremely deep pockets and would love to get its hands on such an enormous (1 Billion +) demographic, I really wouldn't be surprised if something like that began to materialize. No doubt, Microsoft is pursuing it.

This has the potential to be HUGE.

Naga3702d ago

^^^
To clarify: I'm not saying I want it to happen; monopolies are bad for the industry. I'm just saying we should watch out for it. The whole China situation could turn into a very big deal that impacts a lot of gamers.

truefan13702d ago (Edited 3702d ago )

Looks like XB1 has its Japan. China likes American products like Apple, Microsift Office, and the NBA, so I don't doubt they will like the XB1 as well. I know these things because when studying finance in school that is by far the most popular major for Chinese international students, met some really cool people. China and Japan have kind of a didn't rivalry, the I'm better than you type. Don't think I'm saying USA and China are best buds, but each is dependent on the other China is a whole different beast of a market and I'm sure MSFT will do what needs to be done to be the #1 console in a fresh market. With Sony currently restructuring and trying to launch VR their hands might be full at the moment. I see Nintendo being succesful because they have handhelds on lock. All in all any boost will be a positive for MSFT and XB1 to build a relationship.

OrangePowerz3702d ago (Edited 3702d ago )

@Truefan

Japan also likes American stuff like Appel or McDonalds. They just don't like the Xbox for many different reasons the majority of them being that the consoles are very US centric and not appealing at all to the Japanese market. It needs to be seen if the X1 would be appealing to the Chinese market. The console isn't even that appealing to western countries outside of North America because everything is fully geared towards the US.

Gamers don't care if a device is made by an American or Japanese company. It's just an excuse people used when the Xbox tanked in Japan, blaming the "anti american attitude" of the Japanese population. In reality the device was not suitable for the market.

TomShoe3702d ago

Free explanation for everyone:

I don't think China will be as big of a deal as many people expect. The people actually making money in China for gaming develop MMOs and other games which are popular in internet/gaming cafes. Most consoles you can find in China already hacked and loaded with pirated games, and you can buy them at your local mall, they were just illegally imported. With that being said, I doubt many people are going to pay full price for consoles, or games. It's a completely different gaming culture that won't abide by the Western mentality of spending hundreds of dollars per console, on top of 60 for XBL and then 50-70+ dollars a pop per game. It just isn't happening.

scott1823702d ago (Edited 3702d ago )

@truefan1

Yeah, the US and China are best buds ever since Obama sided with the Dalai Lama in their growing tensions with China, despite China appealing strongly against it... Plus the US has a military alliance with Japan. Pretty sure Sony has an equal shot at China, and neither will be huge there.

kopicha3702d ago

not really. i have quite a bit of gamer friends from china which are console gamers as opposed to PC despite they do have a pretty beefy PC setup. Thou the country restrict gaming consoles in that region. But they do still import the consoles. Like many of those I know are all playing PS4 despite its not launch there yet. Besides I am not sure how would X1 do there. Because as far as I have spoken to most of those I know from china, almost none have any interest with it. asking if they would import 1, answer is no. What if it is officially launch? likely no... at least thats the kind of answers I get mostly. generally the playstation brand has always been more welcome in most asian region and that is nothing new

mhunterjr3702d ago

@kopicha

Are you suggesting that officially launching consoles won't have a positive effect on console sales on that country? Think about it? What type of person would go through the hassle of importing consoles and games that aren't even localized to support the language you speak? Only the hardest of the hardcore. If you want your average joe gamer to buy your consoles, it's going to have to have an official release. And that's who the majority of consoles are sold too.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 3702d ago
Magicite3702d ago

china might swallow it all

Sayai jin3702d ago

@TomShoe, why the mention of Sony or Ninty? China is PC centric, because consoles were pretty much banned.

On topic, if this works out that means that there we be more happy gamers. More gamers more dev support.

hello123702d ago

Sony is unlikely to do great in China. Tensions between Japan and China have soared in the last year. The peoples of China have begun to not buy Japanese goods. Microsoft may fair better it will have to be seen.

NihonjinChick3702d ago (Edited 3702d ago )

A little know fact about that issue is the US has vowed to side with Japan in the issue with China. I wouldn't jump the gun and say that Microsoft would fair better just because they are American.

dcbronco3702d ago

The advantage Microsoft has is their long standing relationship with the Chinese government. They have worked together in the past.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3702d ago
ArbitorChief3702d ago

Hmm, could be a huge boost in sales, but Chinese gamers are very PC orientated and mostly involved in MMOs, RTS and MOBAs. We'll have to wait and see how it does.

JBSleek3702d ago

How can you say they are PC oriented when consoles were illegal. It isn't much as PC oriented as they had no other choice.

ArbitorChief3702d ago

There are plenty of consoles there, you clearly never seen the fake Chinese consoles.

3702d ago
Nik_P7573702d ago

I think all consoles will launch in China at some point. It will be interesting to see how theses major consoles will be recieved in that country. One of those things that could be a success or a flop. Maybe roll out a small supply with heavy advertising and see what happens.

Sayai jin3702d ago

I think they all have the potential to launch there. It would be interesting to see!

MASTER_RAIDEN3702d ago

hm. i think the biggest hurdle for any of the 3 console makers shipping to china would be federal stipulations/restraints put on the import.

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70°

Activision team is opening a new game studio in Poland 'Elsewhere Entertainment' to build new AAA IP

Microsoft's Activision subsidiary announced today that it is opening a new game development studio to take advantage of the huge talent pool growing in Poland. It'll be the second Activision studio based in the region, joining Infinity Ward Krakow, although this studio is, in fact, not working on Call of Duty.

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windowscentral.com
Psychonaut852d ago

They’re not working on Call of Duty? Give it time.

380°

Microsoft's quest for short-term $$$ is doing long-term damage to Windows, Surface, Xbox, and beyond

Microsoft is pushing for no "red line" for what games could come to PlayStation, and it all revolves around Satya Nadella and CFO Amy Hood's plans to increase every department's margins.

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windowscentral.com
Brazz4d ago

"The plan to move Xbox games to other platforms is codenamed "Latitude" internally, and I know there's debate and unease at Microsoft about whether or not this is a good idea. More upcoming Microsoft-owned games slated for PlayStation are already being developed. At least for now, they're potentially obvious games you'd most likely expect. And yes, while it's true Microsoft is a prolific publisher on PlayStation already, it has typically revolved around specific franchises like Minecraft. From what I've heard, Microsoft is pushing for no "red line" for what games could come to PlayStation, and it all revolves around Satya Nadella and CFO Amy Hood's mandate to increase every department's margins. "

Yeah, they are going to kill Xbox hardware.

Xeofate4d ago

"Yeah, they are going to kill Xbox hardware."

It's for the best.

Quit stringing along xbox fans and screwing over PlayStation owners.

crazyCoconuts4d ago

Take good care of those Xboxes if you have 'em ...

outsider16244d ago

An Xbox game on a Playstation. Never in my years of gaming did i ever thought this was gonna happen.

jznrpg4d ago

It is dying anyway so doesn’t make much of a difference

VersusDMC4d ago

No way can they get rid of the hardware as probably 90% of game pass subscribers are hardware users.

Highly doubtful those users will move to PC or Cloud to subscribe there and the competition (Sony and Nin) will never have gamepass on their system.

If they want to keep the current subscribers, they need to keep releasing new hardware.

PSPSA3d ago

I'm not convinced, why then announce that they're actually working on the next-generation Xbox with “the largest technical leap”, and also looking into handhelds now?

Rols3d ago

Not like MS don’t drop things a hot potato if it is not performing. Look at MS history to see products or platforms discontinued. Xbox is not a charity for MS, it needs to make money and the ABK was the last roll of the dice for Xbox.

purple1013d ago

Xbox hardware team members have been incorporated into surface team

This perhaps shows they are not expecting big things from Xbox as a separate entity

Abear213d ago

Seems like they are planning to win next gen. All the acquisitions were this generation and nobody except Xbox fans expect games from the acquisitions any time soon.

I’m sure Microsoft can afford to lose money on the short term, pretty sure they do risk assessment when acquiring many companies and spending billions, they’ll be fine lol.

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gold_drake4d ago

i think it will kill off the xbox brand. windows will be fine.

but there is and would be a chance that xbox might be killed off in the future. if they fail to make the money they put in. imo.

S2Killinit4d ago

They wont kill it, but they will go fully PC while keeping xbox as a brand, and go multiplatform for the most part. They will also work tirelessly to diminish console gaming’s importance.

PRIMORDUS4d ago

It would be best if Xbox goes the way of Sega, just make and publish games. I know I myself will not support them at all with buying games from them, you all can. 🙃

ChasterMies4d ago

The Xbox brand will live for the games. I don’t expect Microsoft to entirely drop out of gaming hardware. They make Surface tablets and laptops. They’ll make Xbox branded hardware for those that want it.

shadowT4d ago

"Microsoft is pushing for no "red line" for what games could come to PlayStation"

Forza and Starfield next?

Skuletor4d ago

Starfield would be no surprise and there's the rumor that it will come to Playstation after the Shattered Space DLC, Forza (along with Halo and Gears of War) I find less likely but I wouldn't be surprised if they eventually end up on PlayStation too, especially if Xbox give up on hardware and go the Sega route.

shinoff21834d ago

Not to worried about forza. I'd rather see others like what inxile and obsidian are working on. Starfield sounds like it needs more time in the oven so let it cook first imo. If starfield and it's a small if does release on ps it'll be in the fall around the time for dlc or right at the dlc and come packaged with it.

-Foxtrot4d ago

In the words of Phil Spencer when he was talking about Nintendo last year

“It's just taking a long time for Microsoft to see that their future exists off of their own hardware"

S2Killinit4d ago

Yup. MS are a cancer to console gaming.

Aloymetal4d ago

100%!!
I wonder what happened to that dude that was always here posting those court articles with cartoons about MS spending all those billions in studios. He suddenly disappeared, I guess he doesn't like bad news when the green brand is in trouble. No new articles from him as of late...

PRIMORDUS4d ago

Yup, and it's only going to keep spreading.

Outside_ofthe_Box4d ago

Phil Spencer's words always comes back to bite him lol

4d ago Replies(7)
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130°

Microsoft's Absurd Antics Have Me Scared For Dishonored And Arkane Lyon's Future

With Arkane Austin no more and Lyon living for who knows how long, the superb Dishonored is in serious danger; Microsoft cannot be trusted.

Relientk776d ago

I love the Dishonored series so much and really want Dishonored 3. Microsoft better not screw this up.

JEECE6d ago

I mean, I think the fans will probably kill Arkane Lyon by cooking up reasons to hate whatever they do next without playing it. I've never seen a game so artificially disliked as Deathloop.

thesoftware7306d ago

Lol, why don't we just say, we are worried about all studios owned by MS now. They will keep closing studios until they have none left ...🙄

Skuletor5d ago

Just merge them all into a single studio, have it churn out a single Call of Duty every year and call it a day, lol.

Barlos5d ago

Don't be scared, you'll be fine.

Skuletor5d ago

It's exputer, fine is one word I would not associate with them.

Profchaos5d ago

I think it's becoming clear based on matt bootys comments there's no future for any IP that can't sell above 10 million within the launch window. But is also a small game that gives them prestige

/S it's beyond a joke right now

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