The Xbox One has been a system which falls between a determined success and failure. Unlike the PS4 or Wii U, Microsoft doesn't have a clear vision for what may or may not work.

They gain a generous amount of revenue from Xbox live, but recently they've been implementing a system which coexists on PC and Xbox. At this point, I keep myself the same question - where will Microsoft be focusing on at this point?

If it's PC, then will they allocate their resources towards a more developed ecosystem on PC? Will they focus on large markets such as China?

If it's Xbox, then is XBOX the gap between the XB1 and next gen Xbox? The Xbox and PS4 are already four years old. If they aren't planning already, how much time left do they have?

i think MS in gaming is a sad story of unmet potential and an extreme case of nearsightedness. They just went about so many things wrong.

To begin with, they already always had windows. If they took the initiative and were innovative, there is no reason why steam would exist today. Instead of a steam store for the PC it would have been a windows store. They would never have needed to get into consoles.

This reasoning is validated when you consider how much they are trying to get into the PC gaming space. Sad when you consider that they pretty much always owned that space to begin with.

Then when competing as a console manufacturer..... they just were stupid about it. Like they never quite got it. Games sells hardware. sold hardware Garner's more games. This is the most prominent rule in gaming. And somehow MS just never seemed to get it.

Three console generations on and they have just 3 major franchises or IPs under their belt. Once they had like 4 (if we include fable) but now it's just 3. it's almost sad when you think of it.

saddest part is that they lost the console gaming space at the worst possible time they could have lost it. at a time when digital distribution started taking a strong foothold. When BC in future consoles is almost a guarantee. I mean, just try telling someone that has like 50 digital  games either bought or downloaded via PS+ tied to their PSN account to not buy a PS5.

I feel MS will keep doing what they are doing now. focus as much as possible on both and reap their rewards from wherever they come.

So a system that is well on its way to outsell the snes isn't successful? Okkaayyy......

They don't need to beat PS to be successful, you know...

Here's what people don't understand: Microsoft is the most unnecessary component in the console development sphere. They simply aren't needed.

Some people look at that as a negative, a reason why Microsoft should exit the industry, but I see it more the opposite way. It doesn't matter if Microsoft does significantly well or not, they decide at the end of the day whether they want to pursue consoles or not. Unlike Sony or Nintendo Microsoft would not crumble without their gaming department. It's why they focus on subscriptions and software sales over consoles. So, if Microsoft decided to pull out that'd be no skin off my back and I'd just be happy with my excellent Windows service.

This freedom allows them to do some crazy things, but this gen they are more 'laxed. This is the least interesting version of Microsoft you could possibly have, but it is the safest for them. If they want to do somthing crazy and try to overtake PS i'd love to see their competitive nature, if they don't that's fine too.

What was the industry like back then? 

How dare you speak with so much sense..

https://youtu.be/y4usE2RePqo

Hope that answers your question.

Similar enough that selling 40M (and probably 50M) consoles is still successful.

Context is key. NES had to tackle an anti-gaming stigma and a market which was close to collapsing. Xbox One is in a prosperous state compared to it.

Tell me what valid reason he gave to label Xbox not successful.