The future of Microsoft's IP's

[Limeblossom 482]

http://www.pcgamesn.com/fable-legends/fable-legends-cancelled-lionhead-studios-in-discussions-to-close

 

And there goes one of Microsoft's IP's. They're really struggling to get it done with their IP's, like Project Spark and Killer Instinct. And they're not even selling good for AAA standard-wise.

 

But I get the feeling that gamers are finally done with Microsoft's shenanigans.

[Guest]

Microsoft has started porting a lot of their exclusives to PC. I know a lot of people don't want to think about this and will insist this won't happen, but Microsoft is buying an insurance policy. They are creating a market on PC so that if the Xbox One does go under, they will have a back up in software sales. The only problem is: it may be too late. Microsoft REALLY shot their reputation in the foot with the Xbox One and showed us that it only really takes one major mistake to mess you up in this industry.

[Megas 28,128]

When it comes to M$ IPs, your usually screwed when your name doesn't have the words "Halo", "Gears", or "Forza" in it.

 

Microsoft is in a really weird position right now, they damn near killed the Xbox One after its disastrous reveal and Don Mattrick pretty much kicking the brand in the crotch with the worst PR ever. They've done a admirable job at turning things around but its obvious they're still feeling the effects, and while the Xbox brand itself is still popular, talks of Microsoft selling/killing off the Xbox division makes me believe it's on borrowed time, and porting their franchises to the PC makes me believe that's gonna be where they're gonna do their future business soon

Edited March 7, 2016 by Megas

[Guest]

 

 

When it comes to M$ IPs, your usually screwed when your name doesn't have the words "Halo", "Gears", or "Forza" in it.

 

Ironically, Forza is getting a PC game, and Gears 4 may be coming to PC. 343 also stated they were interested in a PC port of The Master Chief Collection.

 

Yeah though, Phil Spencer has done amazing things for the Xbox One considering it was given to him on life support. I mean I give him a LOT of credit for taking the job with a dying system and giving it an honest go. And he has definitely done well in listening to fans a lot of the time (shy of a few slip ups) and I almost feel bad that it all isn't working out for him. If anything, if Xbox does die off, I hope Phil Spencer gets hired by another company because look at what this man has done for gamers:

 

1. Stands by the policy that gaming companies should be run by gamers and no longer run by crusty old men trying to collect a paycheck and actually proves his point by being a regular gamer. He has over 300 hours clocked into Destiny alone.
2. Talks to his fans on Twitter and even answers complaints.
3. Fans wanted backwards compatibility, he gave it to them with no strings attached (granted the downloading the games part is annoying, but still).
4. Has handled criticism relatively well.
5. SUPPORTS OTHER COMPANIES. I am sorry, but this is a huge thing to me. Microsoft has always been a company that to the public pretended they had no clue what their rivals were doing even so far as Bill Gates once saying he has never even seen an iPad in person and has no comment on it. Phil Spencer praises his competitors for doing something right and uses their success to make business decisions. You can't survive in this business if you don't even look at what your competitors are doing (Hello, Nintendo.)

[joanro 247]

I would be really disappointed if the Xbox brand died off because then that just leaves Sony and Nintendo...which really means it would only be Sony...unless Nintendo can prove it's still relevant and compete with Sony.

 

Until they officially announce the end of the Xbox brand, I'm not going to put on my burial shroud just yet.

[Limeblossom 482]

@@Key Sharkz: Xbone's failed launch damaged the brand hard. Spencer sure is trying to cover the wounds and restoring trust, but I doubt if that would still save the brand.

[Faze Five 61]

I really think that this is going to be the last generation of consoles, all the brands are doing their movements: Sony buying gaikai and developing their cloud gaming service PSNow, MS moving everything to PC, the next is Nintendo (and i think that they have done some stuff before with android). I supose that's time for the Master Race...

[Guest]

I really think that this is going to be the last generation of consoles, all the brands are doing their movements: Sony buying gaikai and developing their cloud gaming service PSNow, MS moving everything to PC, the next is Nintendo (and i think that they have done some stuff before with android). I supose that's time for the Master Race...

 

I actually disagree wholeheartedly. The demand for consoles is still there and it will remain because at the end of the day console gamers like buying a box that plays the games without having to think. PC is not the "master race" as there are still plenty of inherent flaws with the platform, the first being it's taking away simplicity. A lot of gamers do not care about specs or parts or knowing what parts are better than others. They want to buy a box that plays games and not have to think about the rest.

 

Sorry, but the evidence points to consoles continuing, as with the current trend, the PS4 will outsell the PS2 if it continues at this rate. The PS4 is already at 37.2M sales not even by year 3. That is already over 43% of the TOTAL sales of the PS3 in its 10 year lifespan. If we calculate the trend continuing that is 86% of PS3 sales by year 5-6 and surpassing the PS3 by year 7.

 

Yeah, the demand for consoles is still very high. While the PC numbers are on the rise, they are still not the majority.

 

Not to mention there are tons of flaws with the PC platform that make it less appealing to console gamers:

 

• Having to remain informed or pay for expensive pre-builts vs. just buying the new box in 7-10 years.
• Multiple distribution platforms, spreading your games and friends across different services, and thus achievements.
• DRM that is sometimes intrusive.
• Expensive start up costs (please do not attempt to try and explain why PC is cheaper, I've seen the argument at least 100 times and it's always leaving out crucial details that actually make it end up more expensive or about the same).
• Reliance on Windows which is known to be a very faulty OS that has many issues with varying builds.
• Elitism. Face it, a lot of people don't even want to look at PC gaming because this aura of "master race" it constantly exudes.

 

By the way, this is all coming from me: a PC gamer. As a PC gamer, I can definitely see the appeal of consoles and at the end of the day, there demand will be there for a while longer.