How I Would Save Xbox

[AngelaHornung]

Note: I'm not an executive, nor a professional in the field, I work as a web developer and IT consultant, so please understand that there are likely large details that I have no knowledge of that are driving certain decisions. This is simply a list of things I would do if put in charge of the platform completely/things I think they should do that could save the platform.

 

It is no surprise to hear that Xbox even with its upcoming games and seeming "come back" is a failing platform in the traditional sense of console gaming. There are few exclusives, many of those are hopping multi-platform, PlayStation 5 has sold 4 to 1 for console sales last I checked and the Nintendo Switch is on a whole other planet. By all metrics the Xbox platform in a traditional sense is on its way out, but thats just it, in a traditional sense. I think if Xbox made some drastic changes and adhered more to its roots, we could see an Xbox which could dominate the gaming sphere of influence in all arenas. Here is what I think they should do.   

 

1. Third party app stores: let Steam and Epic Games onto the Xbox.
   1. Microsoft would likely need to take a 5% cut.
   2. GamePass would be Microsoft Store only to try and maintain some interest in that marketplace
   3. Microsoft Store & Xbox Store would completely integrate (they're so close already)
   4. Xbox already supports mouse & keyboard so some games which aren't controller designed could simply state so in their boot up
   5. Games like Hell Divers II are no longer exclusive to PlayStation as they're available on Steam
   6. This turns the Xbox into what it was always meant to be, the living room PC with a more game centric UI & lighter OS
2. Third party hardware: let Dell & Asus cook.
   1. License out the Xbox OS like you do Windows, perhaps start free to gain momentum then gradually charge
   2. Allow third parties to absorb the research & development cost freeing up finances for further game development
   3. You'd need a strict set of guidelines to reduce potential market confusion, saturation or damage to brand
   4. Once a fair few third parties are in the game Microsoft could increase their first party hardware costs to avoid selling at a loss, so those who still want the first party hardware from Microsoft can get it (don't want to piss off old fans) while offering lower cost alternatives or even higher cost more specific use case alternatives on the free market, all of which Microsoft doesn't have to spend money on for research and development
3. Game streaming: I know, I know, I know
   1. Any platform that can run the Xbox app can now stream Xbox games from the Microsoft store via a subscription
   2. Turn all these platforms into Xbox's when the user's want
   3. This would greatly change the playing field as traditionally install base meant hardware sales, now all of a sudden your "install base" is potentially infinite as even an iPhone could turn into an Xbox temporarily, this would help to entice more developers into the platform/eco-system
   4. This would not mean the end of physical media, whether a game is physical or digital only would be up to the developer and first party Microsoft hardware would have physical media capabilities so that those like myself who prefer it old school can do so all the while keeping many options open for other players who might have different preferences or feelings on the topic

 

I think if Microsoft were to do what I described above, the Xbox platform would become 1st to 2nd most dominate gaming platform. Such moves would undo a lot of the exclusives issue by allowing third party app stores, turn Xbox hardware into cheap capable gaming PCs, some of which are portable and others of which are standard boxes, would maintain traditional avenues of purchasing through 1st party hardware and discs to make sure you don't anger the fans you still have, remove Microsoft's financial losses in research and development/hardware sales by opening up the platform to third parties who could absorb those costs which would hopefully keep the board interested in the development of the platform as well as greatly increase the install base by letting any box with the app become an Xbox at a whim helping to maintain developer interest. 

 

Could this fail, yes. Particularly the third party hardware while I think it would be great could prove a Windows Phone situation if Microsoft we're to fail in offering the OS license for free or at a greatly reduced price at first to try and build momentum. That was one of the first primary failures of the Windows Phone platform. The allowing of third party app stores could also cut into existing revenue streams further reducing board interest in the platform, though perhaps a deal could be struck where third party stores can only sell games that aren't already on the Microsoft Store to maintain interest and usage from the board in the development of games for the platform but also from users in the usage of these platforms to ensure protection of those revenue streams. 

 

But if this were to succeed I think it could prove greatly beneficial to the consumers by bringing many more options and tearing down the walls of exclusivity on the Xbox platform and good for the company (at the end of the day it is a business) by greatly improving interest in the platform, the dropping or at least reduction in research and development/hardware sale losses and maintaining of old/current fans by maintaining some aspects of the traditional business. This is what I would do if I were put in charge of the platform. Of course the success of this would really depend on the will of Microsoft. Like so many things Microsoft would have to go all in to make this work and they're a company that is rarely all in on something. 

[thrasher_565]

if they just have there pc site they have a chance at making better looking games then ps but thow games cost alot and take alot of time to make and no garentys of making any moeny back. atm is a bad time for everyone. youi will see all 3 cut back. nintendo is skills doing good but $80 a game is alot... ya they hold there value and you can trade/ resell it but ya.

[venomtail]

Xbox roots just like Sony's and others was cultivating developers who took risks and from time to time crafted a Gem. Now Xbox/Microsoft lives for their franchises not their developer houses. 343 Doesn't exist because they make good games, 343 exists as a babysitter for Halo and Microsoft somehow hopes that'll have a good outcome.

 

No amount of cost cutting and hardware improvements will make people want to buy their games is nothing sparks their interest. 

 

For Xbox to make a comeback, they need to tend to their developer teams not put them under the guillotine even when a hit is made like of HiFi Rush. Sort of like a father putting the child first and giving them the world when it's their mother who brought them into this world who's neglected but only she can shape the game into the potential it can be.

[AngelaHornung]

3 minutes ago, thrasher_565 said:

if they just have there pc site they have a chance at making better looking games then ps but thow games cost alot and take alot of time to make and no garentys of making any moeny back. atm is a bad time for everyone. youi will see all 3 cut back. nintendo is skills doing good but $80 a game is alot... ya they hold there value and you can trade/ resell it but ya.

I guess my question is what exactly is the cause of the hard time for the industry? Call me crazy but I keep hearing of record sales and then record lay offs, honestly my perspective is that in many cases it's just greedy boards and executives. Though due note I could be wrong and am open to that possibility. 

 

I guess to summarize my thoughts I think the Xbox platform if it were to open up it could dominate the gaming sphere with maybe the exception of Nintendo. Love Nintendo, their story telling and styles seems to just create a cult with fantastic kool aid! Lol But like seriously mad respect for them, they're using much lower end hardware and delivering fantastic experiences. That kind of ingenuity to me is fantastic. 

[AngelaHornung]

Just now, venomtail said:

Xbox roots just like Sony's and others was cultivating developers who took risks and from time to time crafted a Gem. Now Xbox/Microsoft lives for their franchises not their developer houses. 343 Doesn't exist because they make good games, 343 exists as a babysitter for Halo and Microsoft somehow hopes that'll have a good outcome.

 

No amount of cost cutting and hardware improvements will make people want to buy their games is nothing sparks their interest. 

 

For Xbox to make a comeback, they need to tend to their developer teams not put them under the guillotine even when a hit is made like of HiFi Rush. Sort of like a father putting the child first and giving them the world when it's their mother who brought them into this world who's neglected but only she can shape the game into the potential it can be.

Interesting metaphor and I think you have a good point but ultimately I disagree. The reason the PC platform is so compelling for gaming is the freedom of it and the availability of multiple platforms allowing users to buy whatever game interests them from whatever store. While in a traditional sense I think you're right if Microsoft wants to keep the business traditional they need to focus on their developers. 

 

However I'm not convinced thats the direction they should take because I don't believe they can come back in a traditional console sense. The Xbox was always meant to be a living room PC with an easier gaming focused UI. If Microsoft were to allow third party app stores onto their platform, they'd effectively turn the Xbox into a cheap Gaming PC with an OS that while similar to Windows from a development stand point, runs much lighter on the hardware and tends to be easier to navigate. 

 

This allows for better performance with lesser specs, a much lower learning curve for the user and lower hardware costs for the user to get into the platform, ultimately culminating in a lower threshold for interested users. That is the direction I think they should take that I believe would give them dominance in the market. A cheap Gaming PC with an OS that allocates more hardware resources to the games themselves, aka less bloat because it doesn't need to do a lot of the things Windows has to do. 

 

Now should Microsoft take care of their developers, yes, I'm not advocating that they don't. But I don't think taking care of their developers now is enough to bring back the platform to dominance. 

[Stahlmann]

An Xbox is basically a PC with a different OS, so I say embrace the PC side of things. Just make it run a special Windows version with an Xbox skin on top and enable more PC functionality.

 

A console can't really exist without a good amount of desirable exclusives. And since Microsoft owns both Xbox and PC, sure they could make a game an Xbox exclusive to boost their numbers, but at the cost of losing the PC customers? I don't think so.

[Stahlmann]

24 minutes ago, AngelaHornung said:

I guess my question is what exactly is the cause of the hard time for the industry? Call me crazy but I keep hearing of record sales and then record lay offs, honestly my perspective is that in many cases it's just greedy boards and executives. Though due note I could be wrong and am open to that possibility.

It's not just gaming. I happens in many spaces atm. The economy is on a global downward trend and keeps falling, so greedy boards and executives look to make a quick buck and drop out before their owned stocks become worthless. And if that means running the company into the ground, or results in thousands of layoffs, so be it.

 

The same is happening to the company I work for atm and I can't really do anything about it but watch it crumble and look for a new job, or hope it can recover and keep my position. I don't owe them any loyalty, but I really like my job.

[AngelaHornung]

3 minutes ago, Stahlmann said:

An Xbox is basically a PC with a different OS, so I say embrace the PC side of things. Just make it run a special Windows version with an Xbox skin on top and enable more PC functionality.

 

A console can't really exist without a good amount of desirable exclusives. And since Microsoft owns both Xbox and PC, sure they could make a game an Xbox exclusive to boost their numbers, but at the cost of losing the PC customers? I don't think so.

I think you and I are on the same page.  Turn it into the living room PC and allow third party app stores so they don't need to worry as much about exclusives. I think a console could survive without exclusives IF it was an open platform like PC. Though I suppose PC does have exclusives. 

 

The Xbox OS from what I understand is already a Windows variant and I'd be concerned about assimilating it more to Windows 11 due to that OS's massive bloat issues. The OS is meant to be a much lighter version of Windows so more hardware resources can be allocated to the games themselves and cheaper to buy into. The whole reason it can do that is because it doesn't need to do everything Windows does.

[AngelaHornung]

1 minute ago, Stahlmann said:

It's not just gaming. I happens in many spaces atm. The economy is on a global downward trend and keeps falling, so greedy boards and executives look to make a quick buck and drop out before their owned stocks become worthless. And if that means running the company into the ground, or results in thousands of layoffs, so be it. The same is happening to the company I work for atm and I can't really do anything about it but watch it crumble and look for a new job, or hope it can recover and keep my position.

I'm really sorry to hear about your job. That really blows. I wish you the best of luck my friend!  

[thrasher_565]

10 hours ago, AngelaHornung said:

I guess my question is what exactly is the cause of the hard time for the industry? Call me crazy but I keep hearing of record sales and then record lay offs, honestly my perspective is that in many cases it's just greedy boards and executives. Though due note I could be wrong and am open to that possibility. 

 

I guess to summarize my thoughts I think the Xbox platform if it were to open up it could dominate the gaming sphere with maybe the exception of Nintendo. Love Nintendo, their story telling and styles seems to just create a cult with fantastic kool aid! Lol But like seriously mad respect for them, they're using much lower end hardware and delivering fantastic experiences. That kind of ingenuity to me is fantastic. 

well ceos just want to make mony and so do share holders they could care less what company it is so they pump and dump. they alwes get paied. ya they make it seem that if you pay $80 vs $60 the works get paid more but they dont...

 

i dont no what the answer is. inde games i guess but they often dont have enough starting moeny so they look to bigger one to get there foot in the door and if they do make it big like all the moeny gose to the big one so...some times they can branch off but most times cant. so many games have died this way. no man sky was an exspetion were it was all in or bust even thow they lied in marketing.

 

i dont no if you heard of wata games grading? well they were a place were you send in a game to see how good it is and how much its worth. well they faked selling smb for like 2 million anyway long story shrot the guy that ran it would buy something and keep listing it for more moany like cones, commics, and what not. then if something did sell it be like well if that one sold for that amount why cant i sell mine for that. and just keep inflating the price. like pokeymon kids cant play it as it cost like $150 each game to play + the console... (switch game suck nuts...) adults are the one that plays it...

 

i guess im off track but ya i really dont no what the answer is.

[Nat4Sail]

I don't think there's been enough time to let the studios acquired cook. We had covid & it threw a huge curve ball. In a few more years / next gen I would assume Xbox is in a far more alluring position. 
 

Between Obsidian & IDsoftware, they can get some huge titles released at decent speeds imo. Really looking forward to playing Avowed. 

 

Now that they own Activision/Blizzard/King, they pretty much have an endless inflow of cash imo. There's also Mojang going to town.