Microsoft will be pretty strong in the next generation and I suspect that the way things will go down will play in their favour more than the current generation. The thing which matters most nowadays in these types of connected devices are networks and as the software company of the three Microsoft wghas already got the best console network with likely the most loyal online fans as well as significant momentum from Windows which is slowly being leveraged in their console as they move closer together.
Whilst Microsoft doesn't have a great first party this isn't a huge handicap, just as with the Sony PS1/PS2 third parties love to fill in a vacuum simply because it is human nature to take the easy route. In addition to this Sony's first party mantra of outspending and out creating the competition won't hold water with third parties able to sustain much higher production budgets which will in the end outshine any advantage their first parties have by their exclusive focus on the one system.
Whether or not you like the article, I still feel this is a conversation worth having.
Tease.
