Machiavellian said:
Tulipanzo said:
This is easily proven false if you just look at each console presence at E3.
The Pro was mentioned in passing and shown in a slideshow at E3 2017, with God of War, arguably Sony's biggest game there, even being showcased on a base model.
The X featured heavily both as a reveal at E3 2016 and the star of the show at E3 2017.
This is ignoring the huge push in between these events as a "revolutionary leap forward", a "monster" etc.
Leaving aside the effect this will have on xboxx sales, this has left the xboxs looking like, pardon my French, the "tosser model", a look which current sales seem to reflect.
It isn't really surprsing: painting the X has the "ultimate model" means any other would feel like a waste of money.
The hurdle of being the less popular system this gen would always be an issue Sony wouldn't have to contend with, but the way it was handled clearly didn't help Microsoft.
I realize that seeing as this marketing push has undoubtedly hurt base model sals for XBox that you can do nothing but deny it happened, but that isn't going to help.
I would also dispute your claim that the X would help Microsoft at the start of the next generation.
People, by and large, seem to have a deep seated dislike for the kind of upgrade console cycle you're suggesting Microsoft should adopt.
As a consequence I struggle to imagine that people would give an eventual XBoxXX, which played the same games as the XBoxX, being given even a pssing glance in the face of a PlayStation 5 or a SwitchEroo (yes, that's what they'll call it.)
Power might have been a solution in 2014, but we're now hitting the fourth year of the console, and while Sony and Nintendo are getting widespread critical acclaim and the industry celebrates bigger and better things, Microsoft remains a footnote.
I suggest they fix that, before asking people to pay $500 for a beefed up version of the same thing.
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You are getting PR mixed up with the message. The message is still the same no matter how its marketed. Can you tell me where the message differs from the PS4 Pro and from the X1X. Since the message is that no new games, no exclusive X1X features,. MS has stated in many interviews that its a 4k machine that will have more of an impact for users on 4K displays. Even MS message during this E3 was 4K textures, 4K resolution etc. Nothing was promised, stated or implied that the X1X was a new console or new generation with new games or anything of the sort. They made sure to market the device for people who will be upgrading or have 4K displays.
You also forget the interviews with MS personal that pretty much stated this device is a 4K machine. As far as what is hurting the base machine is Sony still having the better system with the better games and not a 500 dollar console aimed at 4K displays.
I have no clue if people dislike MS approach or for that matter Sony. This is the first time that consoles has gone this route and we have no clue yet the reception until the next gen comes out and are compared to the mid gen consoles. No one knows what they like or do not like until options, prices, performance etc are put in front of them when making a purchase decision. If the next gen only provide 3 times more power than the current Mid gen and there is a huge price difference then I see more uptake on the cheaper consoles for the mass market.
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Since you've been shown thath the marketing has been different, now you move on to saying that "actually, the message was the same".
However, you this "message" (again, what you showed was more akin to a feature list) still has to be marketed to people, that's how it works.
Assuming, that the messaging was identical, which is disputable, Microsoft still showcased the xboxx way more prominently at its biggests events than Sony ever did with the Pro.
If you have a better explanation as to why S sales have gone down, then please show it.
At this stage you've essentially argued that since both the Pro and the X have similar features, that it wouldn't be possible to market them differently, which is plain silly.
As for your second point, you are basing your argument on what the next gen might end up costing compared to this refresh, something neither you nor I could have any way to know.
I'd argue that since the PlayStation and Nintendo brand are more valuable worldwide, and since every mid-gen upgrade (the Pro, the New 3DS) has sold at a lower rate than the base hardware, that it would stand to reason than a PS5 or a Switch 2 would immediately be more successful than the X.
I also find it odd how you say that the X is not a next-gen console at one point, to then move on to say that it's going to be.
It seems to me that you expect Microsoft to launch an xboxxx which plays better version of xboxx games vs. a PS5 which plays PS5 games, not better versions of Pro games.
I really don't see it happening, for the reasons stated above, but I'll add: consumers like clarity.
If Sony and Nintendo come out with a next-gen people are going to buy it over another xbox upgrade. That could change, but they really don't seem in the position to push for it.
Still, this is all speculation. As things stand, Microsoft has to make a killing on the X, because the S isn't cutting it.
