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makingmusic476 on 15 August 2011
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kowenicki said:
makingmusic476 said:
The money they invested in the Japanese market earlier this generation would've probably been much more effective had it been used to establish a better footing in mainland Europe. They spent a decent chunk of change pursuing Japanese exclusives and improving Xbox Live in the region, and I think investing that money solely in making Xbox Live more enticing to mainland European areas (or available at all, looking at parts of Eastern Europe) would've helped them considerably more longterm.

I think now they'll have a hard time battling Steam and PSN given how they've entrenched themselves in that market.


I was with you.... right up to the last sentence.

What's wrong with the last sentence?

XBL/PSN/Steam are services that span multiple platforms, and they will be crucial in locking users into the next Microsoft and Sony consoles (or keeping them on PC).

Xbox Live is the key reason the 360 is as successful as it is in the US and UK.  Almost everyone I know owns a 360, and it's primarily because all their friends game on 360.  If you want to get some multiplayer action going on, Live is where it's at.  I know people that pay for Live solely for this reason.   Achievements and games bought via XBLA will ensure that all the people that jumped on the XBL bandwagon will stick with Microsoft going into the next generation, barring any drastic changes in third party support.

Sony taking so long to cut price and get a decent online offering available in the US is arguably the biggest misstep they made this generation, because it has created a situation that will be VERY challenging to overcome for a generation or more.

The same applies to PSN and Steam, both of which are taking over mainland Europe.  It will be a challenge for Microsoft to pry gamers away from other services in the area.

Microsoft lead the pack in getting online gaming into the average gamer's home in the US/UK, and that is hands down their greatest achievement in entering the console market.  It was a brilliant move.  However, their inefficiency in fleshing out the service in non-English speaking territories (save Japan) is probably their greatest misstep.

Edit:

Or did you think I meant they'd have a hard time battling PSN/Steam in general?  I was referring specifically to the European market (sans UK) with that comment.  ^^