Phil Spencer Says It's Okay to Not Buy an Xbox

In a recent interview phil spencer was asked about the current change in Xbox exclusive games and why a PC gamer would want to buy an xbox one? Well in his opinion it's okay not to

"Let's say you're talking to an individual who is a PC gamer fully. They're exclusively a PC gamer, they love Steam, they have a sick rig. Why do I, if I'm that person, why do I buy an Xbox One? What's the reason for me to purchase an Xbox One?"

Spencer answered, "You might not. And I'm not trying to trick you into buying an Xbox One for what I'm doing."

He continued: "I was actually asked by somebody, 'Did you do Forza 6: Apex as a way of teasing the PC gamers with how good Forza is so they'll go buy an Xbox One?' No. That's not the plan.

"So they might not [buy an Xbox One]," Spencer said. "And I want that to be OK."

Spencer continued by commenting on the PC and Xbox gaming space and connecting the platforms

"we're gonna make the absolute best TV gaming console experience we possibly can, and if you decide that you want a PC gaming rig and to have an Xbox One, the fact that Microsoft has a presence in both of those places is gonna make your life better."

According to Spencer, Microsoft's unique position in both the PC and console markets affords the company opportunities to blur the line between the two platforms.

"This way," he said, "when you go and you buy [PC and Xbox One games], you're not gonna feel like you're dealing with disconnected islands that don't understand what games you own, or where you are in those games, or what your achievements are in those games and what you play with, but that instead [we] put you as the gamer at the center of our platform and build our platforms around you."

Though if they want that to happen, they need to get their shit together with the whole Win 10 store bullshit.

I look forward to more games on PC

The head of the Xbox division says he wants it to be ok for people not to buy an Xbox?

This clown never ceases to amaze.

They're appealing to both crowds, and that's great. If they get their shit together with the W10 store and the game releases, then i'm all for it. Less reason for me to personally own an Xbox, but that's only because i'll spend money on a decent rig.

Phil, it's this sort of thing that makes people think XBOX is dying.

More games on PC is a good thing, windows 10 app store (at present) is not.

If they can sort their shit out with the App store then they could be on to a winner. My advice to them would be let it go, just a little. Let PC gamers have all the options they're used to and they'll likely buy the games. EA does it without tagging on to Steam, quite successfully as well, so there's no reason why MS can't.

Well that's old, if this hasn't been posted yet then SW is getting really slow these days.

Anyways, Spencer, what if I have a PS4? Is it okay to not want an X1 then as well? :P

Too late for the xbox one for me but if this is their path and if there is a next xbox, I won't need to buy it.

They are in a unique position to blur the lines but they aren't going to cut the mustard If they'll keep on doing it in a half assed way.

I saw other bits of a similar interview. He knows most PC gamers are not going to buy a console, so the MS response is basically"fine, we will take your money there instead"

This really has no effect what so ever on people that prefer consoles that will never buy a gaming PC. But if you do, you're all set.

cut the mustard...where do you find your idioms?

RIP Xbone. Even Phil doesn't see the need for the console lol.

I don't care about any of this. None, non, nein, zero of my friends play on PC. So I'll play with them on Xbox and the one buddy who will play MP on PS.

How much more proof do lems need to realize Xbox hardware is being phased out?

As I thought back when they were moving a lot of their games to PC....MS is going to leave the console market sooner rather than later.

Their has to be something more going on here.

Phil seemed so committed to turning the Xbox brand around, after Don's awful treatment of it in his last few years, and his actions reflected that. His actions this year however, making the majority of announced Xbox exclusives multi-plat between Xbox and Win10, closing Lionhead and other studios, and now basically telling NOT to buy an Xbox, are the complete opposite.

Have to wonder if the higher ups have finally gotten sick of the fact that Xbox makes Microsoft no money at all. I mean there where rumors a few years ago that Microsoft might have been looking to sell off the Xbox brand, maybe theirs was more truth to it that we first thought, but now instead of selling it, they're just shifting focus to PC, because they feel they can compete better in the PC market.

My pity bought 3 Xflops from you, Phil. THREE!

Translation:

Xbox One is just an entry level PC with a crapload of restrictions including a fee for online multiplayer. Xbone offers nothing that is not available to the PC platform. - Phil Spencer

@LJS9502_basic: they're not leaving the console market no matter how much you want them to. Sorry to break it to you

Makes sense. Either you're going to buy an Xbox or PC, depending on your preference.

Most people here are gaming enthusiasts, so they'll spend the extra money and get a PC.

@spike6958 Never understood the fuss about Emma Watson but dat gif...

That's exactly what is going on, don't let people fool you into thinking it's something else, I can't believe the doomsday nonsense and vitriol some of these fangirls are throwing out. Some people game on PC and some game on consoles, they're trying to bridge the gap and appease their customers and users on both sides of the fringe with like minded experiences.

For the cross console/PC owner this allows them to break away from the console hardware if they so choose and purchase the games on PC, and for console gamers absolutely nothing has changed. I don't see how anyone is taking this as "don't buy an Xbox", that's just silly, all he's saying is if you don't want to buy one and still want to play our games, you can go the other route if you like, if a PC suits you better then play on PC.

In the end they're going to get money from you either way, and with this route they also get money from the straight PC crowd, the PlayStation/PC crowd and Nintendo/PC crowd which they would have previously not have gotten.

I wish he would have said this almost 2 years ago.

Things change, they probably reevaluated their position and found going this direction was the best for not only them but the community abroad.

If you want to sell your Xbox One it's not like you're out any money, you got two years of use out of it, you'll get a used value for it in place of the time you owned it.

Exactly... anybody who has half a brain can see that's what he meant. Unfortunately most of the fan girls on here don't have any brains.

PR genius right there along with calling your customers who wanted backwards compatibility backwards, telling people who have crappy internet connections to stick with their 360 and lying about exclusivity of Xbox One games then turning around and saying it's better for you even if the reason for buying said console was for the exclusive game.

What next?

Do people like you cry and whine every single time an obstacle gets in your way and you have to adapt or change? I can't even imagine working with an individual like yourself, if something changed at work you would likely just incessantly bitch while completely overlooking why things actually changed or understand it.

@naughtyottsel: "The head of the Xbox division says he wants it to be ok for people not to buy an Xbox?"

I almost at the point now that MSoft shouldn't release a successor to Xboxone.

Why?

@dynamitecop: I don't think they give a crap about the community. I'll put it this way, I don't think they were concerned with the communities well being when making the decision just their wallets.

Your right but I think the point is MS will loose share on the xbox hardware making it redundant for the people who own pc as he states. I think there this misconception that the console market is all made by pure console gamers. There is a big chunk of the % of console market that would have loved to know this sooner. Sure this might have been coming all along. Xbox hardware sales will or would have been effected by this if not already. Who knows the biggest benefactor could have been the wiiU actually. In the end as you say MS will recuperate that on win10 which might be a better venture for them any ways. They changed the windows market.

Here's the thing, they're a business, like any other business whether it be Nintendo or Sony their bottom line is the first and foremost important thing, they are in this to make money. Their consumer market and community are the second but tie completely into the first of equal importance, but they cannot sacrifice their bottom line for the community, they have to do what works financially.

What they've been doing has not been working so they have to amend and change things, them caring about the community is a non-factor, they have to appease the community to generate revenue, their only option to do so is with the direction they are currently heading. They appease a larger sector of the gaming market by eliminating exclusive restrictions, they're going to piss off a small sect of fan nerds but it will be beneficial for not only them but the community as well.

The community is their stream of revenue, they're doing the right thing, they're going to piss off a minority group in the community by doing so which we've already seen, but it's better for the community regardless. They're chasing revenue and looking at the bigger picture, this will grow the community and make people happier, it's a big circle.

They have to give a crap about the community, because their revenue is the community, a group of vocal idiots isn't going to change this being better for everyone.

This will hurt their Xbox hardware revenue to the tune of likely 10% to 20%, but it will grow their software revenue astronomically by opening the doors to PC, software makes more money and most console gamers do not have PC's.

They're going to take a small loss in one respect for a large gain in another.

Way to toss your brand into a dumpster. LMAO.

Please explain your logic and how they're tossing their brand into a dumpster, I am really trying to understand you people, I really am... If anything this will grow the brand and make it used by a broader audience.

Well for me personally that means I wont need to buy the next Xbox if all games are on PC. We'll see.

Could also say no need to buy a PS4 if you have a gaming PC.

@flyincloud1116: Why is not a good comment? They're trying to increase their revenue stream, as they are largely a software company. It may be premature, due to the state of the Windows store, but if they play this right, then it's a win-win.

Basically telling PC gamers to abandon the Xbox brand. We don't want to deal with the windows store, a proprietary software of gaming that's pretty much a closed platform for PC gamers.

They should bring Don Mattrick back.

Glad to see he is a reasonable person.

It's cool if they want to merge the PC and Xbox ecosystems, but I don't think PC gamers are going to drop Steam anytime soon. I can't imagine someone opting to buy a PC instead of an Xbone, and then buying games through the Windows store. Not without a bit of force.

@BigBadBully: You could but that depends on whether you like PlayStation exclusive games?

For Xbox it has no exclusives any more so it is pretty cut and dry. Not comparable at all.

Yup, SONY isn't abandoning exclusives to PCa t the alarming rate MS is.

Don't exactly see the problem. This kind of stuff IS good. More games for gamers and really it just comes down to preference. This isn't MS killing Xbox, it's them expanding their market to make more green.

There can be a coexistence between the two without killing the Xbox brand. Outside of super dedicated gamers many people don't own a console and a decent PC. If you prefer consoles, play these exclusive games on the Xbox. If you prefer PC, play these games on your PC. Either way they make software revenue.

They are multi plats now.

Advantage--PS4

Well PC gamers make up a small sector of the console market so that's not that big of a deal to begin with and for the other part I would say speak for yourself, if they execute it properly it will be a non-issue, it will be nothing more than proprietary digital distribution.

They're taking feedback right now from people to shape things, and I have no doubt they will listen during this phase of transition, if they get it wrong with PC gamers I am afraid it will have been their last opportunity and you have to believe they know this.

people still think he can save XBOX?

He aint no Kaz Hirai, no Jack Tretton.

As long as they put out great games people will purchase Windows 10 or an Xbox. What does it matter?

It doesn't, that's the point, only in a place like this would someone take being given the option of where to play their games as a negative.

Writing has been on the wall

http://www.gamespot.com/forums/system-wars-314159282/spencer-interview-that-point-to-ms-moving-away-fro-33000641/

Now this interview.."It's ok not to buy xbox one"

The only people trying to spin this are the ignorant shills who've been worshiping MS and bought into xbox one since this gen started and trying their best to make this horrible PR sound like something positive "expanding their brand" sure lol by leaving the console with nothing that justifies a purchase outside of fanboyism and ignorance.

Why must you people put on horse blinders, why must you stupidly act like everyone with consoles has gaming PC's or interest in them, they don't, that is a gross minority.

You're speaking of fanboyism and ignorance on the part of others yet your entire post is derived from both...