your mother said:
Isn't the "Microsoft leaving the industry if Sony bails" reference from this thread? http://www.vgchartz.com/forum/thread.php?start=0&id=1423 It's a independent piece of journalism - an opinion, kind of like what we do posting here everyday, but without the respectability of Mr Malstrom!  Personally, I think MS won't leave if Sony bails out. Microsoft have stated the Xbox division will be profitable sometime next year, so if they do reach this milestone what purpose would they have then of leaving? I am of the opinion that Microsoft will leave the industry no matter what if by the third generation they do not manage to consistently be profitable - there is only so much that shareholders will be willing to put up with in terms of losses, and 15 years (3 generations) is plenty of time to let long-term visions and planning run its course. As to why MS won't leave just yet even if Sony does? Well, my bet is on their medium-term goals starting to unfold. Games for Windows, cross-platform gaming, Vista Ultimate which comes with the Media Center built-in, Zunes with Halo 3 shells, peripherals designed for your living room, IPTV, Xbox live HD downloads and the Elite - all these are MS's convergent weapons for living room dominance, but the proverbial chess pieces aren't in place yet for the checkmate. Not that I think they will succeed, but I just don't think they are quite there yet for the final assault, and long-term business strategies tend to run their course anyhow. | 
