Is Microsoft in Trouble in the Coming Years?

[Slimebeast]

bouzane said:

Slimebeast said:
Haven't read the article yet but I am 100% positive that the casual strategy of MS will backfire in next gen. As a traditional gamer myself I switched from Xbox to PS3 because the lack of core games and because the casual strategy of MS is embarrassing.

The impression that I get is that by embracing the casual market Microsoft prolonged the life of the 360, increased its profitability and allowed their studious to focus on Trinity development in order to ensure a strong launch. Sure, the drought of core software isn't good but it's better than having to suffer through a barren launch period.

The casual strategy may have prolonged the life of the X360 but I believe you can trick your consumer only so much. Xbox has been able to keep respect because they built a hardcore repuation in last gen and early this gen, but I believe soon they have wasted that trust. Key thing here is that I believe the success of Kinect has made MS invest too heavily on motion controls/Kinect in next gen, and Xbox 720 will appear as a (too) casual console while PS4 will be seen as the gamer's number one choice.

The Wii phenomenon taught that you can attract the casuals quickly for the price of losing the hardcore but in a short period of time realize that you have lost both markets and have to start all over. I am afraid that MS doesn't understand that casuals is a risky bet that most likely will backfire in next gen but of course I hope they are smarter than that.

(I also believe Apple will steal a huge share of the casual market with Apple TV in next gen, and Apple are famous for innovation, so they will steal both the family audience as well as some Call of Duty guys when Activision puts out Call of Duty on Apple TV).