What could Microsoft do to beat Sony in Japan next gen?

[Dodece]

There is no such thing as impossible, and this doesn't even qualify as improbable. I would like to answer the question rather then dismiss it out of hand as preposterous. What Microsoft needs to do is create some intellectual property synergy. They do this with Halo in the West, but in Japan they actually need to reverse the process. They need to acquire intellectual properties outright, buy publications, and buy animation studios. So that they can enter the main stream consciousness, and then use those intellectual properties as a hook for their console.

What Microsoft needs to do is create their own exclusive franchises, and if some of them end up being popular on paper, or on television. Then that might bring consumers over to their platform. I agree they cannot rely on negotiating exclusives from third parties. So it would also be imperative that Microsoft establish at least one large domestic studio, or a number of smaller studios. So that they could develop those franchises into games.

Think of it this way if Microsoft had a few major domestic franchises under their belt. That would result in games that would be exclusive to their platform. Then the fans who wanted to play games based on those franchises wouldn't have much choice in the matter. How would the 360 have fared if it was the only place to play Naruto or Bleach games. I would wager that the console would have performed two or three times better.

So it isn't impossible. Microsoft just needs to invest some cash in developing internal franchises. That they could exploit by making them exclusive to their platforms. At that point the only thing that matters is if their franchises are really good enough, and that is very much a coin toss situation. It might not work. They could end up churning out crap nobody likes, but at least there is a possibility there.