After researching the Xbox conference to unveil the new system I took some time research and detail things that require some “reading between the lines”. I have spent hours now mulling over some of the realities of what is happening within our industries. I can strongly say that Microsoft is facing a different set of potential issues from the gaming community.
Here is what people are saying:
- It’s not for Gamers
- It’s not as powerful as the PlayStation 4
- It won’t let me play used games (without a fee)
- It won’t let me use it if it isn’t connected the first time I use a game
- Why does it have to be bundled with the Kinect (which is mandatory to use the system) it increases the price of this Box without a doubt
- The Indie Community is going to migrate to the PS4 because Sony has created a warm home for them to create
This is what the gaming community is worried about, and the biggest gripe of course is “where are the games?” It’s obvious that the bigger announcements are coming to E3 2013. Are the games going to be all kinds of goodness? Hell yeah, I don’t have doubts about what is coming to E3, but this is the very console I knew Microsoft was going to make. There are plenty of industry analysts that have made these same predictions (you know who you are). This new Xbox puts an end to the console war because they really aren’t competing with Sony or Nintendo in the same fashion anymore.
Combine the fact that TV is still a big deal, with the fact that the Xbox 360 has evolved into a Netflix box for millions, throw in a touch of uncertainty for the future of high end gaming consoles and you end up with the recipe behind the Xbox One. If the future doesn’t look bright for high-end gaming consoles, turning the Xbox into something much more than that will hopefully guarantee its presence in the living room. With all that in mind, everything about the this new console makes a lot of sense.
From my point of view, Microsoft is challenging Roku, DVR boxes and Smart TVs from Samsung and Bravia. As the year goes on, I strongly feel that all my predictions about how games will be purchased and distributed will come true, just like this particular announcement was right on the nose. This sales model does in fact jeopardize the used game business model in the very near future just like Cloud gaming does, so we must learn to adapt, or step aside. Cheers to you GameStop.
The real fear doesn’t come from the upcoming new games on new systems, it’s how fast production on the PS3 and Xbox360 will end. Last time around, it was just over a year after the release of the Xbox360 did production for original Xbox games come to a screaming halt. How long will it take this time?
Microsoft doesn’t have to answer to anyone when it comes to how they feel the system should work. None of these features have to be set in stone, but if they feel that this is what is needed to protect the integrity of the industry, or to protect the long term lifespan of digital entertainment… They will do what they must. After what I’ve learned today (from Publishers and a good friend in a very informative position) there will be some steep advantages to us as gamers when it comes to abandoning the dependence on used games for better prices.
Sony with Gaikai Cloud and Xbox with it’s new cloud integration; these two giants have the intention and the power to change how we do business. And even though they will take a great amount of criticism and projected financial losses… They will change this game.
– Andy Lunique
