How long before Xbox Division is no longer integral to MS long term vision?

[binary solo]

Machiavellian said:

binary solo said:

Machiavellian said:

binary solo said:
Shouldn't the question be how long before Xbox fans realise Xbox has never been integral to MS's long term vision?

So a billion dollar investment in the Xbox unit including opening new GAMING studios is not a long term vision.  People really need to get a reality check.  Just because the Xbox division is not a core component of MS which it never was, its still a unit which MS has and still is spending significant amount of money to improve and broaden the reach of the brand.

MS is closing down Xbox Entertainment because its not core to gamers.  Actually after Phil became top dog, it seems MS Xbox division focus has totally changed towards gaming and improving on those core components.  Instead of people worrying about the parent company core Units, you should probably concentrate on what is core to the Xbox division.  Apparently hiring more developers to fill out their gaming studions and also hiring people for the next iteration of the Xbox hardware should be a bigger clue as to the direction of the Xbox department.

You seem to be confused between long term vision for MS as a whole, and vision for Xbox. Xbox is not integral to MS, never has been, never will be. MS got into consoles as a rearguard action. And now consoles pretty much don't matter in the grand scheme of global electronics and computer domination. So MS's long term vision needs to be all about tablets and mobile. MS may continue to think that it's necessary to be present in the console space for as long as consoles are around. But consoles have never been vital to MS's ambitions.

What do you mean that the Xbox is not integral to MS.  Where are you basing this information from.  So are you telling me that MS does not want a console on the market with an established fanbase to still conbat their competitiors like Amazon, Google and probably Apple at some time.  So you are saying that MS still does not want to have a presense within the Home and have a footprint on the number one entertainment hardware which is the TV.

The reality is  who cares if the Xbox division is vital to MS business. MS sell a lot of products and spend billions on them that are not vital to their business.  As long as MS is willing to continue to fund development and growth within the department, that is all that is needed.  If MS is willing to fund 1 billion or better to keep the department running smooth so that Phil has the resources to continue to make a solid if not great product then where is the problem.  The confusion is most people posting here thinking that the Xbox division has to be vital to MS but instead, the Xbox unit needs to be revelant to MS and also stand on its own.  

Presence =/= integral. Plenty of companies have a presence in a product category as a defensive strategy which is not integral to the company's vision. Check what Xbox contributes to MS's profits and you will see how integral it is to them.

You think a presence in 84 million houses globally is a big thing? It's not, it's pathetic market penetration. So is being present in 150 million houses (PS2). If you want a product to be integral to the "ownership" of  the living room then history shows us consoles are not the way to do it.

Apparently PC is present in 900 million houses globally. Now that's a big thing. Better would be to find a strategy to put PC onto the TV screen..oh wait we already have it, TV with wifi capability.