I think you are putting too much stock in launch titles. The best exclusive PS4 had was Killzone Shadowfall, a perfectly average game. Every gen is the same story where you don’t get the most out of the console until 2 years in anyway. And the graphics jump every gen isn’t as big. It’s just a matter of giving the Xbox One version less polys, lower resolution, lower draw distance, less FPS, etc.

Early adopters will buy it, and like I said all these games are not available on PlayStation so they are still potential system sellers.

Your whole argument hinges on people demanding the most out of the launch titles when Sony doesn’t even commit their best until at least a year into the gen. Unless you telling me Killzone is a gem that stood the test of time....neither did Forza 5 for Xbox One. 

And I’m sure we will see vast differences between the Xbox One and Series X versions of Halo Infinite and Forza Motorsport 8 

I agree that historically speaking, launch titles aren't great when you look back at them 7 years later. But that doesn't mean people don't want to see what a next gen console can do once they hit the market. I kinda enjoyed games like Shadowfall and SS back then and at least they felt truly next gen.

To me it just feels like MS always manages to mess things up, simply because they are a software company first and always seem to have some extra agenda with their consoles. With the X1 they didn't just want to launch a gaming console but a Kinect powered machine that would take over the living room with nonsense like interactive tv shows. Next gen it sounds like they want to be a software platform for a whole family of (underpowered) devices, instead of focusing on just making the best games possiblr. We will see, but I just feel it will bite them in the ass 

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I’d say you need a change of perspective. You could argue that the differences between the (base) Xbox One version of Halo Infinite will be vast compared to the Series X version that the average gamer will truly see the next gen appeal with something as easy as a YouTube comparison video. MS is showing people the difference...but isn’t screwing late adopters either who just aren’t ready to make the jump. 

Historically speaking, Zelda TP and Zelda BOTW are each cross gen titles. And they are both considered among the best in the series. In the end quality trumps generation power every time. But to say that Xbox developers aren’t also getting experience with the newest console is absurd. 

I can’t speak on the Xbox One generation but MS has clearly come a long way since. And who said underpowered? The rumours suggest that the Series X is a quarter beefier then PS5, with a rumoured underpowered console to simultaneously undercut the price point of PS5. So really, MS is being far more consumer friendly. 

To summarize, they are not alienating late adopters, they will show true next gen games by also showing just how inferior the base Xbox One versions look, they are introducing a more powerful console then the competition while also offering a cheaper alternative for gamers of a different lifestyle. Coupled with history that cross gen games can be beloved if they are simply great and Sony traditionally doesn’t commit their best at a console launch. 

And end of day...they are all system sellers because they are not available on its biggest competitor. So I think I addressed all of your points. Can’t blame MS for being more gamer friendly and offering more choices :)

Edit: Excuse the format, it’s hard doing this from a phone. 

I just pray to the gaming gods that the rumored 4TF Lockhart console is a bunch of BS. Because if it's not, we will not be just looking at 2 years of cross gen titles, we will be looking at seriously watered down experiences throughout this whole console cycle from MS. 

It's true that Sony's big AAA exclusives usually take a while before they hit their next gen console. Then again, it's only since this gen that they moved away from a platform that's intentionally hard to develop for and went with a more traditional pc like architecture. So, the next gen should be a much more natural fit for developers. We will see what they got at launch but if the rumors are true, they will start with a bang: Horizon Zero Dawn 2, GT 7, a new sci-fi game from ND, a new Resident Evil, Final Fantasy 16, a new ip from SM, Spiderman 2, and more. If only half of that list is true, it's already game over for MS. 

The only selling point MS has is to showcase the capabilities of their 12TFlops console compared to Sony's 9 Tflops. But they aren't going to do that by making all their games cross platform and shackle themselves to the limits of a 4Tflops Lockhart.  

Are you aware of PC games settings? Because that's exactly what is happening here, the new Xbox looks like a PC tower...MS isn't even trying anymore to hide what the Xbox is. Think of the Witcher 3 on lowest possible settings vs Ultra High settings. Or Hellblade on Switch vs Xbox X. You have a last gen and a next gen version. It isn't complicated and it still looks like MS will have the power advantage this gen, a nice surprise from last gen. The generation gaps will never be as big as they used to be. 

I haven't been here for a while, but it seems its still popular to call out fake lists for PlayStation, I apologize but it does come across as pretentious. Try not to list games that A. Aren't announced and B. Wont be out for literally years. GT is a shell of itself...cant even break the 80s on Metacritic anymore. What makes you think RE and FF wont be on Xbox as well? Unless you talking about the Japan sales boost they will provide then I agree. So far it looks like Xbox has more confirmed 1st party games then Sony with Halo and Hellblade 2, go figure.  

Finally, in regards to the "game over" comment, MS isn't playing the game you think they are. I wouldn't rule out their new studios, Ninja Theory, Obsidian, and Playground Games in particular. Halo Infinite will be marketed heavily and is a 5 year game, a record development cycle for any Halo title by far. Between Xbox One, Series X, XCloud, Game Pass, and MS pushing hard in the PC space...PS5 may very well sell more consoles but Xbox could have more total players. Not to mention Sony will pay MS untold millions to use their servers for any streaming services. 

Hey as long as MS gives me great exclusives from their 15 studios, Game Pass continues to be better then PSNow with day 1 exclusives, and the most powerful console, I could care less if Sony moves more boxes :)

We've already talked about the scaling thing. Yes some things can be scaled down like the Switch is doing, running Hellblade in 540p. It kinda works on a small screen but that's not gonna fly if people would be playing them on a 55 inch tv. Also, some things just can't be ported. Witcher 3 could be ported to the Switch, but apparently Cyberpunk 2077 can not.   

I know Sony's list sounds to good to be true, but we will see. If only half of them are real it's gonna be tough for MS. Hellblade sold like 1m copies so I don't see that helping them to be honest. And FF16 could very well be a ps5 exclusive, especially when FF7 is an exclusive and 80% of FF14 sales came from ps4 compared to 20% on the X1. 

I don't care if MS makes a lot of money by having their games available on a bunch of platform or if Sony pays them for using their servers, I care about having good games. It's just a shame that that doesn't seem to be MS's main focus.

You can be negative all you like but it looks like MS knows how to scale their games. And like I said, it only strengthens their next gen argument. Once people see how poor Halo Infinite is on base Xbox One vs Series X, that makes a damn good case to make the upgrade. 

Hellblade sold 2 million without a marketing budget. FF7 is a timed exclusive. And all FF games are coming to Game Pass, so try to separate your optimism with what’s real. 

Thank you for telling me your true colours with the “MS doesn’t care about making good games”. They went on a studio spending spree, they have 15 studios. Everwild, Grounded, and Hellblade 2 were announced in the last 3 months alone....where as Sony being very quiet. And rumours suggest they are on another buying spree which will announce at E3. You should at least pretend to know what the competition is doing...because I’m seeing Sony being complacent by comparison. 

I'm only speculating, of course. But after the whole Kinect fiasco this gen it just seems like MS is again going to drop the ball again by trying to have their games on as many platforms as possible, effectively nullifying the whole point of having the most powerful console. I think the problem with MS is that their main focus is too much on their software services and delivering great games comes second. With Sony it's the other way around. They are an entertainment company first and put a lot of resources into their games. That's why they totally destroyed MS with their exclusives.   

I mean Guerilla games just expanded their office and now has a staff of over 400 people. Meanwhile, MS has been talking about "the Initiative" like its some kind of Illuminati of the gaming world, with some of the most talented developers on board for years now. Look closer, though, and you'll see that it only has 30 people working there and it's all smoke an mirrors. For years we have been hearing about MS buying studios and that change will come. But the Xbox brand is now almost 20 years old and they still only managed to deliver 3 AAA exclusive ip's, Halo, Gears and Forza. So excuse me if I don't share your optimism.