Why Microsoft is screwed next gen

Given that Xbox One and PS4 online services tie their game libraries to their accounts, convincing users to throw away their titles and jump ship won't be an easy tasks.

There is a 100% chance that the PS5 will be backwards compatible with PS4 given that they will be using the same architecture (x86).

What makes this situation different from the past is that usually when a new gen started, it was sort of like a clean slate.

In today's world, users have potentially hundreds of games and content tied to their profiles which makes them more likely to want to hang on to them since well, you know...they aren't free.

It's one of these reasons why Apple or Android users have a hard type swapping brands as well because all their content is tied to their account/services.

Even if Microsoft does actually make a good console this time around, the situation is different and Sony has cultivated a huge fanbase that will want to hang onto the content they bought.

Sony has built an ecosystem on the PS4 in which many peoples friends are and will probably stay due to the investments made on their profiles.

I remember you guys saying people want moar powaz, well the Xbox One X came out and didn't move the needle.

Microsoft spent this entire generation being irrelevant.

Microsoft will face the reality of ecosystem and gamer profile investment struggle with their next console, no matter what they do.

@brah4ever: didn't help xbox this gen, bc is nice, but not so nice people will stick with a platform.

Consoles aren't the same as phones either.

Its content such as games that are tied to your account that is more important.

If you can bring them over to the next console digitally and free, that's a huge advantage.

There has not been any details yet on the next Xbox. No one can possibly tell how it will do next gen. Historically speaking, it has been shown there is a good chance after a console under-performs that the next gen the company can redeem itself with greater success (i.e Wii U to Switch or PS3 to PS4).

Yes, but the situation is different this time around.

Back when those consoles were out, buying a new console was sort of like starting over.

It's not like that anymore in this account based online console world.

Also who's to say Microsoft is going the console route again next gen? I'm not saying they shouldn't, but it's plausible to speculate Microsoft might take a different route next time, more the subscription route. They did after all hype the Xbox One as the ONE Xbox you need. I know they can simply retread their product's mission and just do the next-gen Xbox, but something tells me it's possible Microsoft will be having different plans than what a lot of people expect.

Really? Then why are Playstation fanboys always trying to downplay the Xbox One's ability to already do that both digitally and physically and for free? Is this another case where Playstation fanboys are going to be hypocrites if Sony decides to do what Microsoft is already doing?

And I say "if" because you underestimate Sony's growing arrogance. It is not 100% certain that the PS5 will be backwards compatible with the PS4 as you said. In case you haven't noticed, Sony has been getting more and more arrogant and anti-consumer. I would not be surprised if they are arrogant enough not to offer free backwards compatibility thinking that they can get people to pay to rebuy their games.

So far, all we got is the nickname: Xbox Scarlet. I kinda like it, MS needs a new color theme at the very least, I'm all in for the red.

Let's hope MS learn from this gen, don't release a console without AAA IP new exclusive games cause that's the problem with Xbox One as of now. I think MS can pull it off in next-gen, they got to.

You're absolutely right OP and I agree.

I've been saying it for a while now. MS picked the wrong gen to screw up in.

This gen more than any gen in the past they needed to establish themselves. With people tied to accounts and ecosystems this gen Sony and MS have pretty much set the tone for coming gens. Consoles have become like cell phones where jumping ship is very hard. I'm tied to my iPhone not because I think it's that good but because I have too many apps and things on it that would be impossible or a bitch to abandon and move to another ecosystem.

The same thing will happen with my PS4 if I try to jump ship next gen, I have almost 200 games on my PS4 in addition to trophies and hundreds of online friends. It doesn't seem like much but these things make it hard for your average gamer to think of jumping ship. Sony would have to screw up extremely hard going into next gen to lose me as a customer. Everyone right now invested in the PS4 is a potential PS5 customer now more than any other gen in the past. Sony will make the PS5 BC and I believe it's the main reason they switched to the x86 architecture this gen. All they really need to do is announce PS5 backward compatibility with PS4 at E3 and it's all over. I don't think there's really much MS can do to the change the tide going forward.

Sony arrogance is bullshit made up by fanboys. They are releasing games left and right and catering to their customers. If anything it's MS that's being arrogant. MS is relying on their brand name and superior hardware to sell their consoles instead of actual games. The reason we buy consoles is for games and MS isn't delivering at all in that department. Crossplay, backward compatibility with old ass games, Phil Spencer being your friend on XBL, etc. none of that shit matters if MS isn't delivering new games for the gamer.

They are going into next gen with a HUGE ecosystem tied to them. It MAY not be a guarantee for success, but MS is scared of it. That's why there's the big push for crossplay, so Sony won't run anyway with the market. MS knows that console gaming is a zero sum game, because they're feeling the brunt of it, hard.

I think you're overthinking it.

They might be fine if the PS5 screws up like the PS3.

I've never had such an experience with them so I can say the opposite. I still maintain Sony arrogance is a myth this gen.

I only bought the PS4 for one thing and it's for games, and Sony is delivering beautifully there. MS is being arrogant and expecting me to spend money on their platform without giving me any reason to. Releasing broken and incomplete shitty games and expecting me to buy them because their logo is on the box. To me that is arrogance.

LOL lemmings prefer customer service to games.

Buying new studio's . check

Backwards compatible, check

Service's ie gamepass, digital refunds, cross-plantform. Early game preview and mods, check

Am sorry but what else does Microsoft need to do

Every gen has been a reset for me and I can’t see the next one being any different. If Sony can sort out decent controller I’ll be more than happy to dive in, similarly if someone like google released a console and it looked good I’d be happy to dive in there instead. It’s all about what tickles your plums the best. The idea of feeling tied into an ecosystem isn’t particularly appealing, a little like living in a corporate petri dish.

@brah4ever: Some interesting points, but you're of course not being level headed. Saying "MS didn't make a good console" is silly....they made the best one. Currently, PS4 owners can only play their PS3 games on their console with PsNow. That takes in a considerable sum for Sony, and allowing BC would finally bring Sony level with MS, but subscriptions to PSnow would inevitably suffer. I'd say BC is not 100% certain on ps5, especially given the amount of PS4 owners saying they don't care about BC, and nobody uses it.

MS will start next gen with full BC, in line with x1, but seeing as Gamepass offers launch titles it won't be affected .... It's already up and running and Sony need to match it with an equivalent.

Not saying X2 will outsell ps5, just saying that Sony actually have more challenges ahead than Ms. Xbox has a clear plan; Increase 1st party output (which saw ms buy 6 studios), produce a console capable of playing 4k 60fps at a lower price than Sony, launch first, improve and expand Gamepass, and support BC and Crossplay.

Sony have to start supporting BC and Crossplay, introduce a gamepass rival, produce more first party games than Ms, as well as match the other criteria. They also have to decide whether or not to continue to support VR which has hardly set the world on fire.

I agree, Sony has released a few stinkers over the years.

This gen though they've been pretty consistent outside the occasional flops like Driveclub and The Order 1886.

I disagree. Microsoft has spent this gen getting back on track after the 360 ended and Xbox One started with the focus being mainly on Kinect and media features. They've created an ecosystem that if done well, can be a great transition for them into next gen.

BC, Game pass, subscription offerings, and now a more concentrated focus on studios and first party content. If all this is on next Xbox day 1 they will have a great next gen.

@sealionact: LMAO!!! Borderline politician level of spin.

Gamepass and Crossplay haven't moved the needle at all for MS this gen. What makes you think Sony needs to support these features going forward into the next gen? Not saying these features aren't nice to have, they are good but the market has shown they generally do not give a crap. MS are the ones that need to prove a lot going into next gen. I don't know if you noticed but Halo and Gears aren't what they used to be, and those are MS' two biggest IPs.

MS bought 6 studios but some of them have already been working on MS games in the past, two of them released flops as a matter of fact. Playground Studios and Ninja Theory are the only guys there with proven hits this gen. The Initiative doesn't have a single game to their name and is just a logo at this point. Other than dealing with having to revitalize stagnant IPs like Halo and Gears, MS also has to establish new IPs going forward, and none of their new IPs this gen have been successful which is almost the complete opposite for Sony who seem to have the Midas touch this gen.

MS has to not only fix their first party games problem which is a tall order in itself, they have to also regain customer confidence that they lost in markets in Europe. They're doing well in the US to regain their footing but they've totally lost Europe to Sony and in Asia they might as well not exist. MS have a shit ton to prove next gen and it's not something that releasing new hardware or services can fix. They need games and tons of high quality games if they want to compete with Sony on a worldwide stage.

100% spot on.

I disagree, I think that Microsoft has been prepping for next gen quite well. New studio acquisitions, backwards compatibility, various subscription services for both software and now hardware. I expect them to jump out of the gate quite strongly when their next gen system launches.

That's a damn shame. They must have really screwed up badly. Luckily I've not had similar experience here in the US. The few times I've called them for a refund or help with my account they've been pretty nice.

To be fair, Xone wasn't bc day 1.

To be fair MS customer service is good (UK that is), until you have to send your Xbox off to Hungary.

Spiderman and Bloodborne.

Sea of Thieves isn't popular. It was popular the month it dropped and fell off the charts. PUBG is dying and doesn't even have a majority of its population on Xbox. The Xbox launch of PUBG has generally been a disaster since the port has been shitty. I don't have rose tinted Sony glasses, I'm seeing things clearly my friend.

I think brand recognition is a bigger problem...I am jumping ship next Gen not because I think playstation is the best thing in the world but because Xbox dissapointed me...My Xone has Zero Exclusives bought with my money(has 2 timed tough,rise of the tomb raider and PVZ Garden Warfare), and for me this is a sign of incompetence, i used my ps3 more than my Xbox this year lol(Persona 5 and KH 2.5) and the games I played on Xbox would be better one playstation(Nier:Automata and Monster hunter).

I admire that they are runnig for it buying studios and stuff but they need more to gain me back.

Next iteration of consoles is going to be more interesting specifically in the US with the Xbox All Access. Gamers can now jump onto the "next gen" bandwagon at the lowest cost of entry with Xbox All Access. That is going to be more of a variant than some anticipate. $35 vs $399 -499 day one.

@quadknight: Gamepass, BC and Crossplay didn't sway things in Xbox's favour. Agreed. Probably because they came too late...But we're talking about next gen, and while MS have those in place already, Sony has only psnow in place. Would Sony fans really be ok with a ps5 that didn't offer BC and Crossplay if X2 did? What would be the justification? What happens to PSnow if they do offer BC?

Diehard fans will buy their preferred consoles regardless of content, hardware or even price. The majority of customers are looking for the best deal...at $100 cheaper, with more powerful hardware and a clearer message, that was PS4 for the majority this gen.

However, if ms pull off an earlier launch, with all those features intact...next gen will be close.

Those studios that released for ms in the past were independents. Now, with the finances offered by ms, they're hiring more Devs and aiming higher. Point is, they know what they have to do to achieve parity, and are on their way to achieving it....

@sts106mat: If SOT is popular like you claim it would be on the top 20 Xbox games being played now....

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/most-played/games/xbox

It’s a multiplayer game released in March and it has completely disappeared of the the top 20 popular XBL games. There are two GamePass games on the list and Sea of Thieves isn’t one of them.

The Xbox is a service now with no exclusives. They even have a cable contract lol for two years. Streaming is their future and dumb Xbots will still worship them.

If streaming is the future then consoles don't matter. :)

People said this about Xbox after Xbox/PS2

People said this about PS after PS3/Xbox 360

Why not learn from history and wait until the systems and features are announced?

Streaming isn't the future, but Xbots will say it is.

If gamepass was so successful than SoT should be much higher than 20 LOL. Why do you fail to realize that simple logic? A game that is given away with a subscription should easily top the charts.

@sts106mat: There are only 2 Gamepass games on the top 20. The entire list is longer than 20 games. My Sony glasses are clear but your Xbox goggles are blurry ???.

If SoT is popular as you claim wouldn’t it be a lot higher on the list considering it’s pretty much being given away for peanuts with Gamepass?

But cows don't want BC to play old games, why would PS5 do that?

I hope PS5 has no BC just so i can see some of the reactions.

Since Sony actually has games, BC would be more relevant on PS5. What would you play on next gen Xbox, Sea of Thieves ? ROFL.

@MonsieurX: eh. It’s a little different. Emulating select 360 games vs full blown BC. My money is on full blown BC for ps5