It has become customary to sell new hardware at a break-even price or even at a loss to get out as much hardware as possible and then make up the losses with paid subscriptions and software sales.  This strategy has worked well in the past, especially when you have good exclusives.  This year seems a little bit dry with Xbox exclusives and with the Scorpio coming out later this year what is there that would entice me to purchase one?  The goal here is to move hardware and a ton of it, but without a shiney new 4K experience to go with it, well then what's the point.

I propose a different route.  Xbox does not need to sell the hardware at a loss, and they don't need to be worried about what Sony or Nintendo is or is not doing.  You're Xbox and remember what made you what you are (offering an experience that could not be had anywhere else).  The Xbox Scorpio should be sold to make a profit on the hardware and perhaps take a hit on older software bundled in (I believe this would result with smaller losses if any).  The Halo series has become synonymous with Xbox and though many have gave up on the series it is still selling well.  Halo and Gears have been their flagship and system mover and there is no reason why it still can't be. A large percentage of Xbox users are into FPS's, why not cater to it.  Xbox needs to keep fueling what is moving units but also needs to provide nourishment for their weaknesses to make them grow into contributors.

They should bundle in (for free) a 4K Halo game and make it online multiplayer only with no campaign mode to reduce development costs and to make sure it releases on time with the system.  The game could consist of the two best maps from each Halo Game (remastered for 4K (checkerboard upscaling rendering fine)) and 4 brand new native 4K maps. Resolution and framerate option settings is a must and should not be excluded.  And there should be no splitting up of the gaming community, so when new map content becomes available it should be provided at no additional cost.  And to avoid taking a huge hit on developing the new map content, in game purchases could and should be included (cosmetic only) as in custom armor, weapons, skins, ect.  There should absolutely be no pay to win, no XP boost either (unless it's a weekend or holiday thing for everyone).

Keep in mind the next Call of Duty will also be coming out around the same time, a possible native 4k CoD?  Most likely, so they will still make money on software sales.  A Halo 6 is probably still years away and they better not mess that one up.

I got burned out on the Halo series after Halo 4, but I am starting to feel the pull to want to return.  Give me a reason Xbox to get off the bench, or I will just continue to watch from the sidelines. Halo alone won't be enough for me long term so please conjure up the goods.

Now if Xbox has been just sitting on their thumbs and only been focusing on the hardware and not the software, then it's game over.

What would force you to purchase Scorpio?

One easy thing. Have a good enough exclusive game that would make me buy the console. But I doubt they will ever be able to acquire or create a big enough exclusive to convince me. It would have to be something like DQ 11.

They have the best racing series, I want to play them on console.
Xbox still has the best local-co op support, making me want the console.

Obv. I am already buying it but If the console uses new tech like the Vega chip or Ryzen CPU I will be able to convince a lot of friends to join me on the Scorpio hype.

Either way Microsoft is going to be ahead in hardware and software (apps, media player, UWP etc) but behind in games so they will need to adress this most of all in the upcoming years but I think its going to be a small succes.

I think they will stay behind ps4 in sales but the gap will be a lot smaller if they use the right chipsets and show off how 4k textures can look on 12gbś of ram or more (which is truely amazing)

A new law. Otherwise time and only time.

Even if Scorpio is a hw beast for a reasonable price with some compelling new or existing franchises, I won't consider buying it until PS5 is out. I'm sticking with PS4 until I can see what PS5 ends up offering. Once I have that info, then I can make a decision. Halo is my fav series, and I slightly prefer Gears and Forza compared to series like Uncharted and GT or anything PS offers right now. Otherwise the majority of my purchases are third party which are on both consoles anyway. If Scorpio ends up hitting the mark, and PS5 isn't all that superior in hw or games, then I could see myself grabbing a Scorpio at that time.

If XB1 was a dedicated $499 gaming rig, with the specs to back it up, minus the DRM, Kinect, etc, I would have purchased it instead.
With the specs it launched at, they should have charged $399, and made the media capabilities a paid software download for those that wanted to activate it as an add on. Kinect, also a hw add on. I very well might have purchased it with this launch config as well.