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[Tak3n]

Of course some of you may well say the war is already over, but I think only the most ardent MS fan would claim that they are selling more than PS4...

All evidence is now pointing to PS4 pulling away? is NPD reports are accurate, surely no company as big as MS would accept being outsold, I appreciate PS3 did but Sony never had the money to rectify the situation..

I am guessing Titanfall is the big one (I read a lot of people saying it wont make a bit of difference) but we don't know that, as no one can see into the future..

If as some predict Titanfall does not produce a comeback do they go aggressive and at least price match the PS4, as surely that would be a sensible move, as at least then consumers have a straight choice..

As the moment they are the same price, MS arguably would have a good shot, sure it may not be as powerful but then they 'claim' they have the multimedia extras.

So, in summary....when do they act, or could they do the unthinkable and accept being second and just do the spin they come out with each time NPD report

 

[Goldenroad]

I think all of these companies realize that this "console race" is a marathon not a sprint. Give it two or three years and if one is substantially behind or ahead you'll see some change in business strategy, but we are still in the early adopter phase and will be for the next 12 months for sure.

 

[BigDug13]

They've been reacting since Sony's E3 conference.

 

[Portugeezer]

They already did.

Xbox*

 

[Draft]

They will abandon home consoles. It's not a growth market and it's hard to make money. I don't think they were very keen on even doing the Xbone.

 

[Shaunboy97]

Wow you think they lost only a few months in? I know you're smarter than that!!

 

[quickwhips]

I don't think Microsoft will ever be in first this generation but to say they will lose is crazy. They will make money and all will be well in the world.

 

[Tak3n]

I think all of these companies realize that this "console race" is a marathon not a sprint. Give it two or three years and if one is substantially behind or ahead you'll see some change in business strategy, but we are still in the early adopter phase and will be for the next 12 months for sure.

indeed, but as Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester UTD Manager) once said. "You can not win the league in the first 12 games, but you can sure as hell lose it"

 

[Tobor]

The Kinectless SKU will be announced at E3.

 

[Dennis]

If they take a real beating I could see the One as the last MS console.

 

[Audible Phonetics]

They've been reacting since Sony's E3 conference.

This.

Every move MS has done since E3 has been in response to Sony.

 

[Cynn]

MS had two other generations of not being in first place as practice. They'll be fine. Really this is the best thing that could have happened to an Xbox fan. It sucks now but the next console will probably go back to the power before all mantra. It should hopefully inspire them to make more new IPs as well since Xbox exclusives can't look better on PS4. As happy as we all are with the PS4, it wouldn't exist as it does without the PS3 setting a bad example early on.

 

[Tak3n]

Wow you think they lost only a few months in? I know you're smarter than that!!

Potentially!

 

[Spider_Jerusalem]

They wouldn't necessarily mind "losing" the battle, as long as they think sales are ok. But surely they can already see potential for improvement if they'll lower the price to equal PS4, and I'm sure they'll do it sooner ol later based on the next months results. Surely no later than fall 2014.

 

[Adam182]

I don't think the console is selling that bad... When you compare it to the PS4 maybe not. But when you compare it to the 360 it has been selling better

 

[Devilgunman]

MS has been reacting in a typical PR: not address negativity but emphasize positive data.

 

[denshuu]

They aren't, because the Bone isn't selling poorly. It's just not outselling the PS4.

If they take a real beating I could see the One as the last MS console.

Why would you ever think this about Microsoft, of all companies?

 

[puffyshirt]

Of course some of you may well say the war is already over,

WHo on God's green earth is saying that after 3 months?

 

[watership]

Software changes everything. Talk to me in 5 years.

 

[bobbytkc]

It is not called the 180 for no reason.

I expect a revised OS to accompany a kinectless model in the coming months. Probably before fall. That is when the real competition starts. It was crazy of Microsoft to think they can compete at a higher price with less power under the hood. Removing Kinect will at least solve the price problem.

 

[Dirtbag]

Pricecut and marketing, assuming this thread isn't completely premature.

Remember how ps3 started?

 

[liquidtmd]

Wow you think they lost only a few months in? I know you're smarter than that!!

He didn't say lost, he said react to potentially losing - which is the impression of how its going at the moment in terms of sales, media and the quality of the multi-platform titles were seeing

 

[kornklown69]

The division will be sold off this year potentially to Amazon according to report... we shall see

 

[adamantypants]

I'm sure they're well aware of their weakness against Sony. But they'll never outwardly admit it. They're in the business of making money and you can't just tell everyone you think you're gonna lose.

 

[yankeehater]

MS lost last gen and the gen before it. They are in it to make money, if the XB1 is profitable who cares if it sells the most units. MS knows that they have no shot at ever winning a gen since they will never do well in Japan. Plus most of Europe is a no go for them. As long as they keep putting out great games people will keep buying their consoles and they will make money.

 

[orioto]

Well if the XBO struggling is already the result of Microsoft not being super invested in the console war to begin with (rumors of the bad people developing it, a part of Microsoft wanting to close this division etc..), it will make those people right, so..

 

[Grisby]

If they take a real beating I could see the One as the last MS console.

For some reason I could see this too. But then again, they could just keep iterating on the X1. Kind of like an IPhone. I imagine Sony might do the same.

 

[N.Domixis]

cant believe some of you think xbox still has a chance of winning. how will they do it when ps4 has more world wide appeal? they would have to absolutely dominate in NA.

 

[Skeff]

They will wait for titanfall and the sales after titanfall, most likely they will do their analysis in May, they will likely react publicly at E3 with...something....

 

[Banjo-Kazooie]

They've been reacting since Sony's E3 conference.

Pretty much this. Reacting isn't what they need, they need to be proactive, but Sony has beaten them to a lot of punches. Not sure what else they can do that is proactive, so until then, they are playing catch up/revision in order to try and minimalize the bleeding.

 

[StealthGoblin]

The PS4 has approximately sold 50% more worldwide and hasn't even launched in its 'we've already won' territory of Japan. Add into that Microsoft will likely lose most if not all of Europe to the PS4 if they don't launch in the remaining territories very quickly...I think Microsoft will do something in the coming weeks.

Titanfall won't be a multi-million console seller. I think it'll move a decent number of consoles but its available elsewhere.

I think the biggest problem Microsoft have is that the 'definitive' editions of games, either games that perform better/look better or have exclusive DLC are favouring the PS4.

Thief is 'linked' to PS4 with exclusive content.
Destiny will be marketed with PS4 heavily and has exclusive content.
Sony always co-market assassins creed.
Sony have a deal with Watchdogs.
Diablo III has exclusive PlayStation content.
Metal Gear Solid V looks/runs better on PS4.
Add in that Sony have a broader range of Indies launching in 2014 with big names like The Witness etc.

Could be a rough year for Microsoft if they don't do something about the price and launch in more territories. If they aren't in the rest of the EU by August then they'll never get Europe back.

 

[denshuu]

Well if the XBO struggling is already

It isn't. Which is why this thread is pretty silly.

 

[thelatestmodel]

indeed, but as Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester UTD Manager) once said. "You can not win the league in the first 12 games, but you can sure as hell lose it"

Indeed. It may sound like hyperbole, but Microsoft probably have too much catching up to do to come out on top at this point.

 

[Raide]

E3 will be very interesting for MS, Sony and Nintendo. Some are just getting started, some need to impress before they start fading. Either way, it should mean some great games getting announced, as well as their future plans.

Way to early to Count MS out, despite Sony having a small lead. Nintendo on the other hand really have to pull something out of the bag.

 

[Otakumegane]

Their dream of 10 years ago with the all-in one thing was realized, but by this point it was obsolete which streaming services like Hulu and Netflix. And other devices like Roku that do the same thing.

Once they realize that they can't push the Windows platform onto the console space any longer they might just drop/sell it, especially when the biggest threat to their Windows business isn't coming from other consoles like it was during the PS2 days when the threat of OpenGL was the reason to get into the business in the 1st place. They should honestly be more focused on trying to check the rising giant known as Valve and Linux.

It's not like it's a profitable venture anyways.

 

[Anticitizen One]

Wow you think they lost only a few months in? I know you're smarter than that!!

One of the big things that will hurt them this entire gen is the fact that their system is significantly underpowered compared to PS4. They can't change that now and people aren't going to forget. I think a major price drop, killer games, and a remessaging of the brand can help them but they're not going to be able to work a miracle here.

 

[Dylan]

It's two very different strategies. Sony is obviously playing to hardcore gamers' tastes so it isn't surprising that they would take the lead early.

Microsoft is hoping to promote a paradigm shift that will hit mainstream living rooms; something that might have longer legs if the "play games on a console" paradigm shifts, which it very well might before the end of this gen.

 

[plagiarize]

when they know for sure console sales are bad independently of however the PS4 is doing. they'd like to be doing better than Sony, obviously, but they'll be looking at their own sales in isolation, basically. that's what they'll react to, not the difference between their sales and Sony's.

 

[N.Domixis]

Pricecut and marketing, assuming this thread isn't completely premature.

Remember how ps3 started?

yes,but does the xbox have the rest of the world in the bag like ps3 did?

 

[Averon]

It isn't. Which is why this thread is pretty silly.

How can you say that after last Thursday?

 

[CoG]

I think they will come out swinging at E3. I think they will retain Kinect but eat the price and go $399 - $449 with Kinect. I expect the coffers to be opened and a lot of DLC and timed exclusive announcements.

If they "lose" this E3 stick a fork in them.

 

[Massa]

cant believe some of you think xbox still has a chance of winning. how will they do it when ps4 has more world wide appeal? they would have to absolutely dominate in NA.

This isn't a game you win or lose. Xbox just needs to remain competitive enough to get the games while keeping the division profitable.

Losing that Xbox Live revenue is going to hurt though.

 

[Principate]

I thought this was a basic assumption that they believed they would lose. There's no way they expected to be the best selling console with such strict DRM initially and $500 console. They were going for profit over market share all along, otherwise they wouldn't have even thought about implementing the DRM.

 

[highrider]

It's hard for me to ascertain the business plan they are operating under. I think the only big potential change is if the all in one living room entertainment hub marching orders become untenable. I used to think I understood Microsoft, but i don't really get them lately. I don't understand how they think a large number of people want that.

 

[The Faceless Master]

They've been reacting since Sony's E3 conference.

this.

they've been going almost a year now on reactions.

 

[Enchanted]

If they take a real beating I could see the One as the last MS console.

I hope for those who still have the Xbox One that MS do not pull an Xbox 1, I mean the real Xbox 1 and close shop early. Didn't they blame nVidia royalties for the Xbox 1's demise?

 

[Duxxy3]

I think you'll see the biggest reaction just before E3. They'll drop something out of the system to get it down to $399. Kinect is still the most likely.

 

[kadotsu]

As long as Bing still exists no one should worry about the XBOX brand. The only "bad" thing that'll happen is less 3rd party timed exclusives because MS won't be willing to pay the higher difference in opportunity cost to their partners.

 

[Krilekk]

If they take a real beating I could see the One as the last MS console.

What qualifies as a beating? They are selling the hardware for a profit.

 

[TheFurizzlyBear]

"Not leading" and "doing poorly" are separate things. Sony is definitely leading and that's not what MS wants but if you think they are doing poorly then I don't think anybody will convince you otherwise.