Boris Reznikov
Banned
Microsoft’s next gen strategy doesn’t look any different than their current strategy. Let me explain....
The current thinking now Is that a cheap 1080p Series X retailing at $299 will somehow win the console war for Microsoft due to price alone. First of all, there’s already on the market a cheap Xbox One S, yet it hasn’t outsold the more expensive Xbox One X nor has it done much to stop the PS4 juggernaut, so how will this be any different?
Clearly price isn’t the only deciding factor as we’ve seen from the cheap Switch Lite not outselling the more expensive Switch, nor did the 20gb 499 PS3 outsell the 599 60gb PS3. I can think of a lot of examples in tech where the more expensive product outsells it’s cheaper version. Value, and perception of it is just as, if not more important just price alone.
Another idea is that Gamepass will be a game changer next gen, especially if bundled with the cheap Series S but Gamepass is already a thing and has been for at least 3yrs, but somehow in November this 3yr product will suddenly become a hot service? Why? Are big third parties finally bringing their games on the service day one? Not likely.
Also this idea that we are in a recession and that gamers will become price conscious doesn’t hold weight. Video games have been booming in the last three months during big job losses and lockdowns and I can’t see that changing.
Apart from Xcloud which obviously will be a success but not in the near future, nothing about their next gen strategy is any different than the current one.
The current thinking now Is that a cheap 1080p Series X retailing at $299 will somehow win the console war for Microsoft due to price alone. First of all, there’s already on the market a cheap Xbox One S, yet it hasn’t outsold the more expensive Xbox One X nor has it done much to stop the PS4 juggernaut, so how will this be any different?
Clearly price isn’t the only deciding factor as we’ve seen from the cheap Switch Lite not outselling the more expensive Switch, nor did the 20gb 499 PS3 outsell the 599 60gb PS3. I can think of a lot of examples in tech where the more expensive product outsells it’s cheaper version. Value, and perception of it is just as, if not more important just price alone.
Another idea is that Gamepass will be a game changer next gen, especially if bundled with the cheap Series S but Gamepass is already a thing and has been for at least 3yrs, but somehow in November this 3yr product will suddenly become a hot service? Why? Are big third parties finally bringing their games on the service day one? Not likely.
Also this idea that we are in a recession and that gamers will become price conscious doesn’t hold weight. Video games have been booming in the last three months during big job losses and lockdowns and I can’t see that changing.
Apart from Xcloud which obviously will be a success but not in the near future, nothing about their next gen strategy is any different than the current one.
$15 for hundreds of games with a cheap console will be a no brainer!" but that can be done right now especially considering that the "hot game" that's supposed to be enticing will be available on current consoles. I know the retort will be "but soccer moms will get the latest toy for their child and a cheap box will be the better deal" but did this soccer mom not exist 4 years ago when the S came out? Game pass been out since 2017 so they had the "cheap console" out already that "had 4K/HDR" and the better console launching later that year.
