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

[IkePoR]

HylianSwordsman said:

IkePoR said:

Sounds like the Surface Pro 2 with Windows 8.  I don't disagree with what you're talking about but I think MS will retire the Xbox brand.  Probably not immediatly, but in another generation or two.

I didn't want to say something so controversial as that! XD

But yes, if what I said comes true, then the Nextbox would be the last Xbox. If Microsoft were to create a seperate all-in-one device and make it successful, they could phase out the Xbox brand in a couple of generations. I see it going like Nintendo did with the Game Boy brand. They made the DS as a "third pillar" and said they'd continue the Game Boy line, but when DS exploded, and Game Boy stagnated, they got rid of Game Boy because it was no longer needed. I see something similar happening here with Microsoft. Their entertainment vision is an "all-in-one entertainment" device, and Xbox hasn't been accepted as that, and probably never will be, so I see them either pushing really hard to redefine the Xbox brand to become what they want, or creating two brands and phasing out the one they don't need.

Yeah it seems they really wanted to trade an all in one experince for the ability to bottleneck as much profit as possible with the DRM, always online, used games, etc, practices.  It has failed and I think MS - while gluttonus of a company as it is - won't take some money if it can't have all the money.  

And before anyone thinks I'm attacking/hating on Xbox, I'm mearly stating that when you have the market share in something by an incredible margian(Windows), there's no need to waste money in a project with diminishing returns like an Xbox.