For Xbox to Win, They Needed to Lose
The eighth console generation has not been particularly kind to Xbox. After stumbling out of the gate with a significantly rough launch of the Xbox One, Microsoft has been struggling to play catch up. Microsoft has consistently been in second place to Sony’s monster of a console, the PlayStation 4. Even worse, the Nintendo Switch is rapidly approaching the lapping of lifetime Xbox One sales. The eighth generation of consoles was properly unveiled at E3 2013. With this unveiling game two very different presentations. Microsoft came out of the gate with a lumbering disposition. Instead of using E3 to focus on the latest cutting edge video games, they chose to focus on the Xbox One as more of a multimedia device.
This current generation of consoles was properly unveiled at E3 2013. With this unveiling came two very different presentations. Microsoft came out of the gate with a presentation that could only be described as “lacking.” Instead of using E3 to focus on the latest cutting edge video games, they chose to focus on the Xbox One as more of a multimedia device. The event was notable in the sense that Microsoft opted to speak more about the Xbox One’s abilities to play live television and sports. While Microsoft did reveal some games, such as Halo 5 and Dead Rising 3, the entire event was categorized as a disaster due to the focus on everything but gaming. Worse yet, Microsoft intended to implement a rigid and poorly thought out used game policy on Xbox One.
Sony, on the other hand, had a console reveal for the ages. Sony opted to focus their presentation on the games themselves, therefore propping the PlayStation 4 up as the go-to console for true gamers. At their presentation, it was one big game reveal after another, coupled with a lower price point in comparison to the Xbox One that won the event. Even worse was the mockery Sony aimed towards Microsoft in regards to their used game policy.
So, to say that Microsoft stumbled out of the gate is putting it lightly. Soon after their E3 debacle, head of Xbox Don Mattrick left the company for Zynga after waves of criticism. After this, Phil Spencer took over as head of the Xbox brand and officially began to lead Xbox in a different direction.
In terms of console exclusive games, the Xbox brand can be classified as a failure for the eighth console generation. Unlike its rivals, Xbox has not produced exclusives that are critical successes, generated buzz on social media or increased revenue. Games such as ReCore Quantum Break or Gears of War 4 were not outright failures, yet failed to excite existing players, and did not attract new players.
With their backs to the wall, Microsoft decided to try a few new strategies for their Xbox brand. One of the first big moves Microsoft made was enabling backward compatibility on their console. Backward compatibility is always a heavily requested feature as big console manufacturers reveal their latest devices, and in this current generation, only Microsoft has been able to offer that experience. Xbox One can play Xbox 360 games either off the disc or by purchasing games from their storefront. More recently, select original Xbox titles were added to their backward compatibility program, further bolstering the library and pleasing longtime Xbox fans.
One of the most important developments made by Xbox this generation is the creation of the Adaptive Controller. Gamers with disabilities have been forgotten by many in the gaming masses. While gamers with disabilities often found ways to overcome and play games, these did not come without challenges. The Xbox Adaptive Controller took a look at the challenges that disabled gamers had and adapted the controller to work for all players. Microsoft developed this controller to be used with different peripherals and allows the use of it on other consoles. While having the Microsoft attachment to the controller is notable, the fact that it is compatible beyond Microsoft platforms makes it that much more important to the future of gaming.
Beyond accessibility and looking into the past, Microsoft and Xbox have excelled in this generation with the introduction of Xbox Game Pass. One of the first successful services of its kind, Xbox Game Pass allows players to pay a monthly fee to access a large and ever-growing library of games. Not only are there fan-favorite indies and triple-A classics, but new releases are also featured on the service. At the time of writing, Obsidian’s The Outer Worlds has just released for all major platforms and is available day one for Xbox Game Pass subscribers. The service is only just getting started, however, as new games are added weekly and first-party titles will continue to be added on their release days, such as the recently released Gears 5 and the forthcoming Halo Infinite for Xbox Scarlett.
The advances that Microsoft have made since revealing the Xbox One have been notable, and deserve some recognition. With these moves, along with the acquisitions of a few studios to bolster their first-party lineup, Xbox has been preparing for the forthcoming generation. While predictions can be fruitless, to doubt Microsoft this time around would be most unwise.
