The Switch's Success Won't Undermine the Xbox One X

The Xbox One X had a reasonable launch period since its debut, the 4K powerhouse making a name for itself despite a lack of 1st party content for the console. But with a massive launch under its belt and a ton of Game of the Year contenders pushing it forward, there’s no doubt the Nintendo Switch has left Microsoft with a lot of questions it needs to answer quickly if it’s going to remain relevant in 2018.

[FallenAngel1984]

I’d be more concerned about Xbox One as a whole than the iterative console

“With the Xbox One X, there’s an opportunity to somewhat wipe the slate clean”

No it doesn’t. Microsoft’s issues are still evidently present and this premium console further highlights this. Rather than releasing new blockbuster first party titles, the thing people will remember the most notable thing that Microsoft did was release a mid gen refresh. For perspective, New 3DS & PS4 Pro weren’t the biggest headliner for their companies when they first released in 2014/2015 & 2016 respectively.

“With power at its side, the One X can claim the strongest console on the market moniker, and there’s some pulling power on store shelves so far based on early results.”

According to VGC, as soon as December began Xbox One sales fell behind Switch again. Even with the X on the market the console is still in 3rd place durin the holiday season.

“Sea of Thieves, meanwhile, could be the biggest title to aid the cause, standing out from the crowd with its color and humor. It’s Rare hopefully back at their best, and that’s the kind of studio Microsoft needs to back in much the same way Nintendo supports the likes of Retro Studios and the Pokemon Company.”

Even if SoT turns out great, I doubt it’ll be on par with the developers golden age performance during the SNES & N64.

Also Nintendo doesn’t own the Pokémon Company. Even if you meant Game Freak, Nintendo doesn’t own that developer either.

“Thankfully there’s also been some moves of late in the indie market, i.e. Cuphead, that reflect back on a time when the Xbox Live store was the place for big indie titles and creative new IP’s.”

The days where Microsoft’s console was the biggest bastion of indies are long gone.

[NewMonday]

It won't because MS undermined the Xbox themselves. been like that since the start of the generation.

The Xbox brand is so negative that Nintendo can launch a console several years into the generation and overtake them as the biggest competition to PlayStation. at this rate even Sega hardware can come back from the dead and launch a console.

[LgbtWarrior]

Exactly. They will never truly recover or get ahead from this generation competition. The next gen I hope they learned from their massive mistakes.

[Death]

@New Monday,

The Switch is outselling PS4 since release and breaking records on the way. Does a console have to sell better than PS4 to be considered a competitor? What in your mind isn’t preventing Xbox from being a competitor of PS4? It sounds like you have some pretty cool double standards going here. Using your logic, the PS4 isn’t good enough to be competition to the Switch.

[Chevalier]

@Death

" The Switch is outselling PS4 since release and breaking records on the way. Does a console have to sell better than PS4 to be considered a competitor? What in your mind isn’t preventing Xbox from being a competitor of PS4? It sounds like you have some pretty cool double standards going here. Using your logic, the PS4 isn’t good enough to be competition to the Switch."

No actually it didn't. The time the Switch did 10 million the PS4 sold the PS4 did 15.5 million. Last I checked 15.5 > 10. Math, please learn some.

[FallenAngel1984]

To give credit where credit is due, 36+ million sold isn’t a pitiful number to disregard.

Sega has no chance of reentering the hardware business. At 16+ years old, the Xbox brand has been relevant in the industry longer than Sega’s console brand has when it was a competitor in the industry.

Let’s not pretend that the Xbox brand is nonexistent. I’m just saying that it’s erroneous to place all of Microsoft’s hope for a massive comeback in an iterative console as that doesn’t solve all of their issues.

[Rude-ro]

First, that is an estimated number and in no way can be backed up. That is just a sample of how much an issue is with Xbox/Microsoft. And I notice the lot of you keep trying to push that number upward, but it is not going to change the fact that no one knows their sell through numbers.

[FallenAngel1984]

VGC has the Xbox One estimated to be 36 million by the end of the year.

Even if you choose not to believe that to be the real number, whatever the Xbox One has sold isn’t a pitiful number by industry standards.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

PUBG is the blockbuster. 3 million sales in 19 days.

The other new games are coming.

[Nyxus]

According to the logic of many Xbox fans here, that's a horrible attach rate. Over 90% of Xbox One users did not buy the game!

[Aenea]

3 million sales already? That's amazing!

Good thing the X1 doesn't have anything like Gamesharing or something like that huh?

[Death]

@Nyxus,

If 10% is a horrible attach rate, what does that say about the only important games on PS4 that sell in the 1-2% range. When exclusives on PS4 that struggle to hit 1 million sold are the main focus for PlayStation fans, it’s weird that those games appeal to less than 2% of the fan base but are considered to be the only games that matter to so many on this site.

Exclusives are great for giving a platform identity, but they aren’t the most important asset a platform has.

[Elda]

LOL!! & Smh.

[Nyxus]

@ Death: I was being sarcastic, that was my point. 3 million is a great success for PUBG, but every time a PS4 game sells a few million people will start talking about attach rate in an attempt to downplay the numbers.

[Goldby]

there hasb't been 3 million sales of PubG.
theres 3 million players, but that doesn't mean 3 million sales.

[xX-oldboy-Xx]

PUBG is a timed exclusive with massive hype and a huge streaming audience. Of it's going to sell well on a console that is devoid of new games.

I hope the money spent was worth it in the long run, invested and having faith in your own studios would probably been a better choice.

[TKCMuzzer]

Eh, I thought it was 3 millions players. That is NOT the same thing, you can have more than one user on a console. There is a reason they say 'players' and not copies.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

@Aenea

Even if we assume half of the the 3 million users share the game that’s still 1.5 million users in 19 days.

[The Wood]

Ha ha

death got triggered. You missed the point there bro. In other news this gen is has now become the battle of who comes second..... it'll be tricky to catch the x1 but with npd being it's best region it's safe to assume no other region comes close therefore it's a possibility Xbox could finish last to a console that come out past half gen. . . I think that would cause a big exodus from n4g . . . How could those who championed npd for years survive. . .

I wonder what is the most important reason the PlayStation is trouncing the Xbox if exclusives isn't it. . .

'Exclusives are great for giving a platform identity, but they aren’t the most important asset a platform has'

trying to frame the argument that ps fans say exclusives are the only reason doesn't detract from the fact they're still a major reason.

[tontontam0]

XBOX fanboys - "exclusives are not relevant, sony exclusives only sells 3-4 million out of 90 million ps4 users."

[3-4-5]

Microsoft would be smart to start focusing on next gen with some new IPs. They need to load the next Xbox's first two years with a ton of games....Like a record breaking amount of new and awesome IPs.

I wouldn't even put new games out for the XB1&XBX1, I'd just focus on next gen and make sure you get a good push and have a good showing right away.

Also take Halo away from 343....they are not good.

[showtimefolks]

fallen

doesn't Nintendo own like 50% of the pokemon IP or the company that makes pokemon?

for anyone to say xbox X will help or hinder ms we just need to see a longer track record. Almost every new device sells early on it's about having a long term vision/plan

[RadicalCannibal]

Aint got time to read all that waffle of negativity

[WilliamSheridan]

The Xbox outsold PS4 in America in November and December...

[davand114]

I believe Nintendo co-owns gamefreak.

[Thatguy-310]

The Xbox one X hype died down so quickly LMAO What happened to the idea of everybody flocking to the most powerful console in the market?? I'm more than positive for December NPD Xbox is going to be dead last again HAHAHA Switch undercut the Xbox brand and replaced it as a competitor to the ps4.

[Wikkid666]

PS4 got dead last.... but nice try.

[travestyj]

Yet beat it the month it released. People aren't buying the Xbox One X they're buying those dirt cheap Xbox One S's

It's embarrassing Xbox One couldn't win a single month all year in the U.S.

[bluefox755]

First in global sales, just like it is every month.

[Elda]

P$4 sold the most consoles in the states & globally in 2017,that's not dead last at all. They're #1!!

[Death]

More fans claiming a system has to beat PS4 to be a competitor...

Since no one is beating Switch, wouldn’t that mean the Switch has no competition? Your logic is flawed.

[Tazzy]

My local Walmart still has the same Xbox One X in the same spot locked up since Thanksgiving the Xbox brand is on its way out when it comes to consoles.

[TKCMuzzer]

Hold on Batman.......The video games industry is a world wide industry, the figures look very different when you take the whole planet earth in to account....

Just so your aware...there are countries outside of America.....don't believe everything your President tweets.

[Death]

@TKC,

If both consoles had the same worldwide appeal/market, worldwide numbers would be more relevant. We all know Sony is “winning” in worldwide sales, but it’s only important when you compare apples to apples. Microsoft is focusing on regions they actually sell their products. Regions where Sony shines and Microsoft is absent are irrelevant to them.

@Tazzy,

Is that a slam on Microsoft, Walmart or the town you live?

[Jide]

You need to rethink your positivity then. Xbox one was number 1 in December according to NPD. https://gamingbolt.com/aaro...

[Nyxus]

It was Switch.

[TKCMuzzer]

Wrong, facts are important, it's even more important to get them right.

[LgbtWarrior]

I know right? It sold well the first month then tanked. With pro you knew you were getting a checkerboard dynamic 4k machine. Xbox you were promised a true 4k then got shafted. Hardcore gamers knew what was up.

[welly300]

Child

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

Okay, when was this a concern, and who's the divisive console warrior trying to make it into one?
Can we not just be happy for all three doing good numbers going forward?

[TheColbertinator]

No one will be happy. I rather have all the N4G community fight fight fight.

[corroios]

It already did. The Switch terminated with any kind of hype with the X. Its having the sales that Microsoft dreamed for and the only news about the X are about better rez and AA then the PRO, in other words no impact whatsoever.

The Switch with 0.5 teraflops is crushing 6 teraflops machine sales wise, because exclusives games and new I.P will always win againts specs.

The only thing Microsoft can keep saying is that they have the most powerfull console.

[jznrpg]

Until PS5 comes out then they will have nothing

[Tazzy]

Thats not true I have a PS4 an Xbox One S and I plan on getting a Switch next Nintendo is expected to sell a tad under 17 million by April 2018. They're planning to ship 25-30 million this year along in 2019 that can be a total of 42-47 million total sales in 2 years so its capable of catching Sony in the console war.

[eagle21]

Excuse me but Switch sold 146,000 consoles in Japan last week while Xbox One X sold 9. Yes 9, as in 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9.....that 9 that comes before the number 10!

[Elda]

LOL!!

[LgbtWarrior]

Xbox one is a good 2nd or 3rd console to own. It lost this war bigtime. The new console was supposed to be “true” 4k but that never truly happened. What we are seeing is “dynamic 4k, 1440p and 1800p” which is what the pro has been doing for 100 cheaper. If Microsoft mandated 4K for all titles this could have been a TRUE game changer. The switch came to town and kicked butt. This gen belongs to Sony and Nintendo.

[jznrpg]

Agreed, MS has undermined themselves . Maybe in the future things will be different..

[Father__Merrin]

You shouldn't have the need to buy a £400 console just to feel things are ok

[bluefox755]

Xbox does plenty to undermine itself.

[Silly gameAr]

. Here they come to save the daaaaaaay. Some good old gaming blogs are so predictable.

[Antnee534]

I think it did :)

[Elda]

The XBO & X are in last place this gen.

[Xavy]

true that

[CBaoth]

which gen though? 8 or 9?

gen 8 totals: gen 9 totals:

PS4 - 74 mil Switch - 11 mil
XB1 - 36 mil PS5 - 0
WiiU - 14 mil Nxtbox - 0

As someone who bought the WiiU I'm certainly not giving Nintendo a free pass. They're already dead last this gen

[chiefJohn117]

Targeting two different audiences, one second, what's that glow in the distance? *Looks out window, sees a mob with pitch forks and touches* will y'all drop the npd results already? Why do y'all get so up in arms over sales? I just don't get it. Y'all dislike xbox yet stay on its articles.

[Tazzy]

Typical Johnny let me educate you once again console sales make or break a company some companies move on from things they put out failing Microsoft had the Zune competition for the Ipod it failed and its gone. They have the Windows Phone nobody hears anything about it because it set out to compete with Apple and Samsung and it failed and those things failed because people weren't buying Zune or Windows Phones. Xbox One X is out and isn't selling to well for a console said to be in demand you can buy them in stores and online its not in demand it being available shows its not Switch was in demand people couldn't get one Nintendo had to up production. Microsoft hasn't upped production of the Xbox One X when they do people can say its in demand I have an Xbox One S Xbox One X don't interest me I'm not running out to buy a console that just plays enhanced games that came out years ago and some over a decade and a half ago. With the Xbox One X not selling to well and the Xbox One only hitting supposedly 30 million sales which I didn't see anything they hit that number its up in the air if they did. Switch sales numbers have been covered by websites same with PS4 nothing on Xbox is official people talk about console sales because we're smart enough to know that sales like I said make or break a console Neo Geo, Atari Jaguar, 3DO, Dreamcast all consoles that came out in the 90s and all those console makers went bye bye because of..... bad sales.

[chiefJohn117]

But it's sells aren't bad and it just outsold PS4 in NA and you're mad about it. That's what I'm talking about. Why are you mad about one outselling the other especially when both are doing great? You make that long post about sales and products failing as if you want the Xbox to do great. So save that for someone that don't know you and for a convo about record low sells or something. Lol educate me? Homie you need to retire. The fact you even compared Xbox with Windows phones shows you're not educated.

You bring up some irrelevant crap that you don't even have facts on and throw your opinion in like everyone buys what you buy don't if you don't. For something not in demand they sure did a great job outselling the switch in November(by a lot too) and PS4 in December lol. Newsflashe have outsold all those systems you list by a lot. So no need to worry about Xbox going bye bye.(btw you've had XO at 30 million this entire year lol, it just sold around 3 million in the last two months in NA alone. I think it safe to say it's over 30 mill)
#Educated

[Tazzy]

Lmao you messaged me saying about people being uneducated its hilarious because you said this... "But it's sells aren't bad and it just outsold PS4 in NA and you're mad about it" <-UNEDUCATED HATERS see it should have been said like this.... BUT IT'S (SALES) AREN'T BAD AND IT JUST OUTSOLD PS4 IN NA YOU'RE MAD ABOUT IT. YOU'RE WELCOME FROM THE EDUCATION I JUST GAVE YOU NOW YOU KNOW HOW TO TYPE THE SENTENCE. :) And I'm not about Xbox beating PS4 however they don't state if it was Xbox One or the Xbox One X I'm guessing it was the original Xbox One because it was on sale the Xbox One X is still to this day sitting locked up at my local WALMART since THANKSGIVING #NOTINDEMAND. Xbox One isn't doing great again over 84 million Xbox 360s were sold in its lifespan of 9-10 years where the PS4 sold close to that in a little over 4 years see whos fans are still there?? Xbox lost over 54 million sales and the Xbox One won't sell like the Xbox 360 did nobody really cares for the Xbox brand but people like you eat and breathe it I like how you assume I want the Xbox brand to fail they're doing that all on their own I'm not running Microsoft. Why don't you diehard Xbox fans admit that the Xbox One is getting killed by an under powered console like the Switch with sales of their hardware and games whens the last time an Xbox game sold millions of copies?? Mario Odyssey in the millions Zelda in the millions Mario Kart 8 in the millions and don't get me going on PS4 game sales Xbox can have the most powerful console but lets be honest it don't do true 4k gaming because it does games with checkerboarding just like PS4PRO. And you say save things for someone that don't know me you don't know me nobody knows anyone on here I know you're a fanboy I know theres tons of those on here and I know for a fact I'm a hardcore gamer I like the big 3 like I said. I have facts about the Zune, NEO GEO, 3DO, Atari Jaguar, SEGA DREAMCAST use google the proof is out there it will guide you I'm comparing the Xbox brand to things that didn't sell well and those products are now extinct mean the Xbox brand can very well become extinct. Funny how you said Xbox outsold Switch in November wheres your proof just like the Xbox One X is demand to but the same one is in the same spot at my local Walmart and still hasn't sold since November. And I'm educating you again I did it in the beginning of my comment and I'm doing once again NEWSFLASH not NEWSFLASHE. Heres a NEWSFLASH for you Switch is going to be #2 in the console war while Xbox One X is #3 wheres your proof Xbox One has sold 30 million I haven't seen a link i seen links that say Switch sold over 10 million now in under a year and PS4 sold over 70 million. You can think you're educating me when in reality you're not you're just an Xbox fanboy that has to run and message people when things get to hot for you. :)

[chiefJohn117]

ROFL your funny, I like you tazzy but you need help. Xbox been over 30 million. Can you show me proof it hasn't? If you claimed it was at 30m months ago and it just sold 3m+ ilthat means it's still at 30m? Lol next year you're gonna have it at 30m still. XD haven't heard of typos I see but enjoy man. Ill be playing da X and ready for next gen while you continue spouting the same Xbox is done nonsense we've heard 2 gens back to back. #Educated

[Tazzy]

Jesus I got another message again before I came to educate your monkey ass again I wonder who it was from?? Oh yeah the guy that can't take the pressure I bring out here in the open comment section where EVERYONE can see what I'm saying to him that would be..... YOU. Zune was supposed to take off where is it chiefy Windows Phone was supposed to take off where is it that now chiefy??? I haven't heard anything about Zune from Microsoft because its extinct same with Windows Phone whens the last time you heard anything about that chiefy???? Gone bye bye don't think for one second Microsoft won't pull the plug on the Xbox brand because they will if they did it on the Zune that was out to take on ipods and failed and then released the Windows Phone and failed its living in a world right now where its losing to Sony and Nintendo. Xbox hasn't released any sales numbers for the Xbox One X over a 54 million loss of Xbox 360 owners is huge no idea where you get your knowledge from but you don't use it. Playstation 3 sold over 83 million in 8-10 years and at over 70 million sales it shows in 4 years that their fans are still out there Xbox 360 sold over 84 million and the Xbox One sold supposedly 30 million even if it did sell that 3+million that only shows 33+ million sales in 4 years compared to Sony see whos fan base went bye bye bye with a over 54 million sales gone??? The Xbox fan base is gone chiefy its gone and it shows plus Xbox One X was said to be in demand now comprehend this (well in your case TRY to) my local Walmart has had the same Xbox One X in the same spot since Thanksgiving sales and black Friday sales is that in demand to you?? Its not to me and when you can buy an Xbox One X online and if you're at a store that sells them they're in stock thats not in demand Switch was in demand sold out for months up until October of last year has Microsoft upped production of the Xbox One X?? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OO Enjoy your console that pretty much only has enhanced games like Fusion Frenzy hey maybe they'll release BRUTE FORCE for the Xbox One X and it will look better because its enhanced from the original Xbox version or enjoy Gears of War 3 because its enhanced from the 360 version. Heres a little educating for you and all the other diehard Xbox fans AN OLDER GAME WILL LOOK BETTER ON A NEW CONSOLE OR PC THATS MORE POWERFUL. IF NINTENDO ENHANCED DONKEY KONG COUNTRY FROM THE SNES OR SONY ENHANCED BLOODY ROAR FROM PS1 THOSE GAMES WILL LOOK BETTER BECAUSE OF THE NEW HARDWARE SWITCH/PS4 (YOU GET THAT RIGHT CHIEFY)? AND EDUCATED MY ASS DUDE "ROFL your funny, I like you tazzy but you need help." <-YOU TYPED THIS IT WOULD BE (YOU'RE FUNNY) YOU'RE WELCOME CHIEFY EDUCATED YOU ONCE AGAIN. :)

[chiefJohn117]

Lmao why do you keep bringing up failed Ms products that didn't even last a gen? How is that relevant? I get it..... you're not an Xbox hater but a MS hater in general. That explains it. I don't gaf about zune nor Windows phone. How does Dreamcast, etc relate to Xbox? Xbox is sitting around 36 million in 4 years. 360 lasted 10 years. 36m in 4 x 2= 72m in 8. PS4 lost 80mill worth of sales compared to the ps2 I guess it's failing (that's Tazzys logic xD) Shows you're slow in the brain cause you're comparing 8-10 years worth of sales to 4 years worth of another. ROFL my local Walmart is sold out of the X. So there goes your argument about local Walmarts xD. I didn't realize Forza 7, gear 4, Titanfall, etc were 10-20 year old games oh ya they're not. What do you know, you learn something every day I just taught you something. While you keep shouting Xbox failed and going out of business, we'll be playing Da X(bout to get that enhanced Witcher 3) and the next Xbox as you sit pouting about the same thing about each new Xbox hoping your wish for it's end to come true #educated #fasterthan360

[sampsonon]

sorry, couldn't click on the site because can't stop laughing at the headline hahaha

[RadicalCannibal]

Just got win win chicken dinners on all modes. All i need is PUBG, you can keep everything else

[Godmars290]

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

Only a ten hour loop of that video justifies my reaction.

[Cohagen420]

Nintendo and PlayStation are pretty much laughing at Microsoft, no one cares about the Xbox at this point.

[Markusb33]

It just did with the npd

[Einhander1971]

Since buying switch at launch, Xbox is irrelevant to me power means nothing without games. And having just bought a PSVR hmd, and experiencing games like Farpoint nothing on Xbox comes close to the immersion of VR.

[michellelynn0976]

Microsoft is doing a good job messing up themselves. Right now, the Switch and PS4 are the two consoles that are making gamers the happiest. If the X-Box keeps upsetting people, then their sales will go down. If Microsoft keeps messing up, then they will sink. Nintendo is really back in the game, and Sony right now is the sales king. I hope Microsoft turns it around, because more competition is good for the gaming industry.

[xsta1ker]

you people on n4g are so bias you make cnn look legit... if you think a company like Microsoft
is not going to succeed in the console market you are sadly mistaken...
Microsoft has the funds to buy sony and Nintendo out of the market
so you should slow your roll about xbox not being competitive in the future
you sound a Little dumb xbox will be on top next gen bank on it.

[Theyellowflash30]

It will in Japan. lol

[Artemidorus]

Xbox One X will defeat itself. Not because a better console is dominating but because they haven't got an identity once again.

Microsoft keep going down this path of providing games, a large gap then repeat.

[subtenko]

The Xbox Two X wont undermine the switch

xbox 3 x....you might get some serious attention with that one...