With Xbox Scarlett, Xbox Should be More Competitive Next Generation

Gamerheadquarters; "The Xbox One generation was certainly an interesting one for the brand, especially coming from the heights of the Xbox 360. The Xbox One started out with a fairly serious and competitive attitude behind it, but that has largely dwindled over the generation."

[TheHateTheyGive]

"Should" But leeching off 3rd parties is easy money.

[NarutoFox]

Why are you getting downvotes for stating facts?

[lxeasy]

he's getting down votes cause he's not stating facts. Xbox is investing heavily in 1st party not 3rd. 8 new 1st party studios in 12 months...

[NarutoFox]

@Ixeasy

Microsoft has been doing that for a while now. They just started investing in 1st party at the end of the generation.

[AK91]

They won't it'll just be more of the same of this gen.

[Obscure_Observer]

@AK91

"They won't it'll just be more of the same of this gen."

Xbox has now more first party studio than Sony.

Not to mention that Sony has lost many second party partners and first party studios.

From Software (Bloodborne, Demon Souls) = Multiplatform
Quantic Dream (Detroit, Heavy Rain, Beyond) = Multiplatform
Ready at Dawn (The Order) = Multiplatform
Supermassive (Until Dawn) = Multiplatform
Guerrilla Cambridge (RIGS) = Shut Down
Evolution (Driveclub) = Shut Down

More of the same? Somehow i doubt that. Lol.

[bluefox755]

Let's be honest, the best games are always on Playstation, it's always been that way, and it'll continue to be that way going forward. I don't know how you guys can still remain hopeful after being screwed for like a generation and a half at this point.

[UniqueGuy91]

Do you really think Sony is just going to sit idle? They already have made their intention clear that they are looking for potential studio acquisitions as well.

[mkis007]

Only a few of the new MS studios are even big enough to consider having AAA projects. Most of them like Ninja Theory, Double Fine, Compulsion Games, InXile, and Undead labs, are small Studios. The games these guys put out will not be AAA.They may very well be good or even great games, but they were acquired to pad the game pass library. The ones that are large enough to be considered to be AAA are still new and have not had a proven release under the banner, so to hold them up would be to get ahead of yourself.

Studios close all the time, Success keeps you open.

Success isn't guaranteed just because you wave your money wand.

[derek]

You can't lose 2nd party developers because they were never owned in the first place. There is nothing stopping FROM software from making another exclusive for Sony, just like Insomniac made sunset only to later make Spiderman exclusively for Sony.

[DJStotty]

@mkis

just because a studio is small, doesnt mean its not AAA. AAA refers to the budget allocated to a certain franchise, nothing to do with studio size or game quality

"AAA (pronounced and sometimes written Triple-A) is an informal classification used for video games produced and distributed by a mid-sized or major publisher, typically having higher development and marketing budgets. AAA is analogous to the film industry term "blockbuster"."

[Moe-Gunz]

Having more studios is different than having better studios. There is no question about the quality and talent Sony’s first party studios have. MS still haven’t proven themselves. Also the studios they acquired are known for small decent games.

You also have to take into consideration that majority of MS big games where flops and came out as low quality games. So to me you make no sense.

[Godmars290]

"Xbox has now more first party studio than Sony."

Still have to wait and see what Xbox does with those studios.

[ocelot07]

Yup more of the same Obsure. I have been hoping for a change from MS in the first party department for almost 10 years now. But they still rely on Halo and Gears and Forza. Sure they have a few new studio's big woop I still don't trust them to bring anything new and decent to the table.

I applaud them for trying something different with Recore. But it was still a bit crap.

[NarutoFox]

@Obscure_Observer

"Xbox has now more first party studio than Sony."

And you think that's going to help? These studios only made decent to mediocre games LOL

[mkis007]

DJ scotty

The teams that I refered to will not be given AAA game budgets. You will find no Halo, Gears, God of War, Horizon ZD sized games from them. They are all under 100 devs strong.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

Headlines: MS opens new AAA studio, MS hires GOW devs, MS buys PGG's and is working on a new AAA title, NT is divided into two teams, one on BE and the other AAA story driven game, Halo Infinite said to be the biggest Halo yet, Rare working on unannounced AAA game, Obsidian currently hiring for brand new AAA project.

"With Xbox Scarlett, Xbox Should be More Competitive Next Generation"

N4G fanboys: "Uuuuhh it'll be more of the same"

The rest of the world: ????? o_O

[TheSaint]

Probably because it will be more of the same, I own BOTH major consoles but I know that doesn't fit the Xbox fanboy rhetoric so go ahead and call me a liar.

[FGHFGHFGH]

You are listing titles that have 0 gameplay footage shown. Most of what you listed doesn't even have a title. "Rare unannounced AAA game" LOL

[DarXyde]

I think it's crazy for anyone to think Xbox wil not be more competitive next generation. Let me be clear: Xbox One set a very low bar. Outdoing themselves should be easy work. If Scarlett makes a dollar more and takes one customer away from the competition, that technically qualifies as being more competitive.

We should be asking how much more competitive will they be? Given the aggressive Game Pass push, xCloud, powerful hardware, and backwards compatibility, it's really hard to imagine a world where Microsoft is in the exact same position or LESS competitive.

So they'll do better, I'm sure. What we don't know is by what margin. But with Sony saying things like they're intending to cater to the hardcore gamer with PS5, it really sounds like they're intending to focus on a particular section of their market instead of the all- inclusive approach they've used up until now. I really don't know what Sony meant by their statement and I don't intend to speak for them, but their actions will make that clear later on, and if it is what I believe it is, I think it's an opportunity for Xbox to capitalize on. Whether they do or not is another issue entirely.

[Dragonscale]

Sony had exactly the same plan this gen though and it worked spectacularly.

[DarXyde]

Sony's plan this generation was "for the players." It's a broad statement that involved embracing independent developers, plenty of exclusives, and content for everyone.

That message doesn't seem the same now. We're hearing terms like "niche product" and "hardcore". They've not made these statements for PS4.

I think Sony making that distinction now signals some change in direction. Again, none of us know what that means, but I think it's an indication that change *is* coming, for better or worse.

I for one am very interested in knowing what it means. What makes this next Playstation different from its predecessors? How will they define their intended "hardcore" market? Time will tell.

[Sokol]

You are reading between lines. Sony doesn't need to be any different then the current PS4 strategy for the PS5 success.

[OB1Biker]

"niche product" and "hardcore". Is from the media misinformation (getting their source from WSJ fraud). Sony didn't say that about the ps4 in those term. Its was consoles are a niche market, if you will (and always was)

[sardinepacker41]

i doubt it ,when phil took over i was optimistic ,how wrong was i , ill be skipping xbox next gen ... ps5 and switch for me

[Sitdown]

Deciding to skip Xbox before anything really materializes, I think it just screams bias.

[Moe-Gunz]

So I’m most likely skipping too. It’s not blind bias it’s me learning that they’re not the company for me after buying every single one of their consoles so far.

[Sitdown]

No it is sort of blind, because anything can happen, so to declare you will not purchase a console that can have 7 year life span a year before it's released seems very presumptuous. The original Xbox wasn't necessary bad, the 360 had plenty of good games, and the one x suffered the typically 3rd console hiccup.

[MasterCornholio]

Some people prefer to wait until a system has content that they want to play before buying it. That's not being Bias that's just being smart with your purchase.

People who skip Xbox now doesn't mean they can't invest in Xbox in the future. As for me I'll invest in Xbox with my PC and use the PS5 for everything else.

[SoonDeadByOldAge]

Sitdown: It’s a bit weird to me that not more people are taking in to account that NextBox will be by far the cheapest to to play new Xbox exclusives. A lot of third party will also make early appearances on Game Pass. So taking the cost of playing the newest next gen games on NextBox compared to what the competition is offering I can really see a lot of casuals switching their main gaming platform to NextBox just for the insane value that is Game Pass.

I managed to buy two years of games with gold before I converted that to game pass ultimate and I already had a couple of moths so I’m set with a lot of next gen games til 09/30/2021 for really peanuts money.
Access to a lot of next gen games day one through Game Pass just made me sure I will get the scarlet day one. And I can really see casuals recognising the amazing value that is Game Pass and actually make the move or getting a scarlet as secondary machine .

[rainslacker]

Yeah. Buy bias borne from being disappointed with what they did this gen. For some of us, we aren't goldfish who just completely forget what happened 6 seconds ago.

Anything can happen, but doesn't mean we have to care if there is something else that provides for us without hs having to put much thought into it.

If I was buying a car, and my current car was a POS, I wouldn't be looking to buy a car from the same manufacturer just because they got their shit together. I spent 20 years not buying a Ford because their cars were crap in the 80s and 90s. They got good again after the bailout, and it still took another ten years and a lot if proof to convince me they were worth taking a look

[Sitdown]

My gosh, are you people not reading? The person did not say they were waiting to see, they said they are skipping it.

And please let's not compare a $400 or so console to a vehicle that I would hope costs significantly more, and should be used significantly more. That's a bad example all around, because guess what, if I'm just into Madden, Microsoft didn't nothing to prevent me from playing Madden.

[sprinterboy]

They said that with xbox one, oh sorry here's the S, (still no games) oh here's the X (still no games) you get the point

[LordJamar]

Jeez still spouting that no games crap grow up

[sprinterboy]

Says the Xbox fans who did nothing but spout out ps3 had no games for 3 years.
Ffs grow up.

[Sitdown]

How are they able to sell game pass when there are no games in it?

[sprinterboy]

I know I don't get it, oh wait your sheep.

[Stanjara]

Hardware isn't the problem ...this time.

[UltraNova]

Technically hardware isn't the problem for MS since the X launched, but still that wasn't enough was it?

[StormLegend]

I doubt it if the PS5 is rumored to be More powerful. We know it'll have games so what does that leave MS with? They can't brag about BC anymore and gamepass can only get you so far. Let's also not forget that any Xbox exclusive is on PC now.

[Silkside]

Are you Xbox fans sick of waiting until next e3, next gen etc?

How many times do they string you along until you wake up?

[LordJamar]

Therebjust game consoles basically toys not life or death not your husband or wife calm down kid you take theinconsole war way to seriously

[Eldyraen]

I still enjoy my games on Xbox... but due to release spacing and power difference I played on sony more this generation until the X.

Next gen I’ll probably stick with Xbox more (at least for some—not only) since at launch especially power differences should be minimal either way again. Likely much less than this generation no matter who’s stronger.

Because I like xbox, it’s controller, Game Pass, play anywhere (whenever I need a new gpu I can just play Xbox games even better basically—without waiting for new console hardware), etc. so it’s a solid option as someone who plays everywhere—or you just don’t like Sony games (love them myself).

I’d love for Ms to actually get their games on par with others though. Nintendo and PS both review much better this gen. Reviews aren’t end all, but as much as I’ve liked most of xbox’s Games there is no way most will be remembered as much as sony’s for me.

[bluefox755]

They should be, but they won't.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

What's your source?

[TheHateTheyGive]

Last 6 years of broken promises? Power of the cloud?? Console launch EXCLUSIVE??? I cant trust phile because he's proven to be a compulsive liar. In life you should never trust pathological liars.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

@Hate so last gen when Sony was cancelling projects and closing or downsizing studios at the end they still delivered on games. Even when everyone was saying just wait on the games constantly in which the games they did deliver weren't up to par or disappointing at first or allot of their games shown off at E3 never existed in the first place, PS3 running 120 frames, in 06 some 3D global map, every single game shown off was in game, but it wasn't. Those things don't matter now because Sony right their wrongs, but yet and its a theme here that MS can NEVER right any of its wrong's for whatever reason. So how is that fair? IF Sony rectified its issues, changed their messaging, marketing, through put, consumer stance and learn and move forward from their mistakes why can't MS. Again the theme here MS messed up and will forever mess up they can't learn. Which is total, total, total bs.

[LordJamar]

They never stopped being competitive they were just competitive in ways Sony could not touch like with gamepass and pc integration of Xbox live and play anywhere these things are very competitive Sony just has no answer to them the only thing Microsoft was really missing was more first party games and exclusives witch they kinda already fixed by buying many studios for next gen

[Phoenix76]

Really? Cause I could of sworn that PsNow (which was released first) has a larger share of market than GP. Could of sworn that PsNow was available on pc. Could of sworn Sony had remote play (ya know, play anywhere with a PS Vita) available last gen and into this gen.
Seems more like MS is trying to catch up with Sony.

[LordJamar]

Not gonna lie I don’t know about the market share of ps now so I’m take that with a grain of salt any way I think gamepass is more loved and used by people and also a better deal overall with literally brand new games launching on gamepass.

And yeah PS now is on pc which I don’t think is popular but that also means Sony exclusives on pc 🤭🤭

No one uses remote also rip vita 😵😵

Sony may have done some things first but Microsoft has done them better same will be with x cloud hell Microsoft has to help
Sony with severs lol

[MasterCornholio]

They haven't fixed anything until those studios deliver high quality games. We will just have to wait and see if that happens.

[mkis007]

Stop with the next year next gen talk for Xbox ....go silent until something you can hold in your hand proves the turn around.

[Italiano1234567]

Yeah there not going to be. The worlds most powerful console came out a year and a half ago and we see what that did for them.

[Destiny1080]

They made a tactical decision to skip this generation and its going to pay off big time

New Studios
New Games
New Halo
New Forza
New X-Cloud
New Generation

I see nothing but "New" for xbox going forward

[StormLegend]

None of that matters now since you'll be able to play those on PC with gamepass. The hardware will fail. Especially if the console is over $500 you can just buy a PC

[LordJamar]

None of that matters cause games will be on pc and gamepass? Dumb delusion fanboy

[Eldyraen]

As much as I agree... they started to give up near the end of last generation as well and it didn’t seem to help them any then either.

They definitely didn’t start picking up new studios 2 years before then however. Game Pass wasn’t a thing until mid generation either (day 1 libraries for new adopters now basically). Etc. So they “should” be in a much better position than this generation as long as they don’t have a disastrous reveal again.

But Sony will likely still be on top. Brand loyalty, existing digital libraries (think steam fans on pc—they don’t want split libraries either... but they don’t have that kind of market share even with 2:1 for Sony).

[rainslacker]

I think MS would have been in a much better position if it weren't for the DRM and deciding to sacrifice specs for kinect.

Two major missteps made a situation that would be really hard to recover from. The one thing they had to do to really recover to be relevant this gen they waited on, and decided to use for next gen.

I prefer not to support companies that dont care to support the current products I brought from them with the expectation of them doing something right by said product

[jjb1981]

Playstation just has better games and it will be that way until something memorable actually transpires from Microsofts newest 1st-party acquisitions. Gears has been mediocre for the past three releases. Halo 5 multiplayer was fun but the campaign was doo doo. Forza Horizon is better than Motorsport but it's a racing game that releases like Call of Doody every year. I own both consoles and I rarely turn on my One X and if I do it's for Metro Exodus and RDR2. I really want a Fable game from Microsoft but "allegedly" they are allowing the Forza dev to take on that task. I hope they are competitive and I'm curious as to how Gamepass will play a role in the next generation.

[LordJamar]

You don’t know anything about gears you sony fans don’t like or understand multiplayer any way

[jjb1981]

I'm not specifically a "fan" of Sony but if that helps you to stand firm in your argument then more power to you. I love Gears games but the last few games haven't been that great. Multiplayer has been plagued by too many players thinking they're elite so they quit games because their team is losing. Nothing worse than getting into horde mode and watching people leave at wave 15 and 17 and 25. They don't penalize players for that. It could be better but they wanna keep with that garbage story.

[Tross]

If MS is committed and their first party studios pump out exclusives consistently and not just to make a tantalizing launch lineup, then it's possible. They have their work cut out for them though and the advantage still lies with Sony even if the above proves true. Anything's possible but I'm expecting more of what we saw this gen.

[pinkcrocodile75]

I love the headline "Xbox must do better". I think the author is a complete cretin. Talk about stating the obvious!

[Imortus_san]

The downvotes from Sony fans are crazy.

[HighPlayer28]

Microsoft will have to really start making games that are unique and captivating next gen to compete with Sonys 1st party. They can not afford to have their new studios make ips that are not high quality AAA exclusives. Microsoft needs new ips that will make gamers from their competition excited to pick up an Xbox.