(Business Perspective) Does MS really need Xbox Hardware?

[the-pi-guy]

Azzanation said:

Sony have the marketing rights to CoD.

Marketing rights don't prevent MS from making money off CoD.  It just sways a chunk of the sales towards Sony. Probably not even as significantly as some people think, because PS owners are going to tend to buy CoD on their system in the first place.  

Azzanation said:

360 Lost MS $4b at the end of its life. Only reason they stayed in the industry was because of the subs. Something they don't need to rely on Hardware for anymore.

I would need to see a citation for that number, and what the scope was for that number. They lost a large amount on hardware, they made money off licensing and subs, and their own game publishing. I would need to know what factors that number included.

I doubt their subs would be as sustainable without Xbox hardware.