Prediction: Next-Gen XBox Will Be A PC-In-A-Box (Literally)

[vivster]

bigtakilla said:

vivster said:
Where is the difference to what they're doing now? X1 is nothing other than a PC with a custom UI. You can already do everything with an X1 that anyone who wants a box under the TV would want to do with it.
If people wanted a full fledged PC that they can use from their couch they would just use their PC from the couch.

True enough, but it would be a talking point. If it ran on windows and you could just click on an app to play games it may draw enough attention due to it's name (Xbox) to get people who want a gaming pc but don't want to have to hassle of trying to figure out the components to build one to jump on board. 

 

With the right marketing (another thing steambox and things like it don't have) it may build interest.

Again, there is no difference. I'm pretty sure that if MS wanted, you could install steam on an X1 and play all of the games. But they don't so you can't. It already is a full fledged PC that's gated by its customized OS.

If MS markets their new box as a PC they would still give it a custom UI and will still use DRM so you can only play approved games on it. That's the whole deal of a console. A simplified PC. So their next box would make literally no difference to the mainstream consumer.