Was this gen unwinnable for Xbox?

[Pemalite]

curl-6 said:

Pemalite said:

Correct. We haven't seen data that determined if the Gamecube was profitable or not. That wasn't my argument.

My argument (And this applies to ALL platforms) and why the OG Xbox is regarded as a failure is due to profitability.

If a company doesn't make money from a product, then the product is a failure, doesn't matter if it sells 1 million units or 100 million units.

Now we can quantify "success or failure" in other aspects, like the Original Xbox was a success in enabling Microsoft to enter the console market, but it was still a  failure, they lost billions... And companies ultimately exist to make money.

Xbox I would say is arguable as while it did lose money, as you say it did also manage to open up a new market to MS. At the same time though, it did get crushed by the elephant in the room.

On the flipside, even if Xbox Series turns a profit, it could be argued as having failed as it has effectively killed Xbox's console business.

It hasn't killed the Xbox business though. Microsoft has made $80+ billion dollars since the Xbox series released.

It's sales are higher than other highly rated machines like the Atari 2600, Nintendo 64, Sega Genesis, Original Xbox, Gamecube, Dreamcast and more... And likely just to come up a bit short of the Super Nintendo.

...And as such, is enough for Microsoft to justify another Xbox generation... And also justify partnering with Asus and other OEM's to build a handheld ecosystem.

Is it going to outsell the Xbox One or Xbox 360? Not a chance in hell. But while it's profitable (And Microsoft is not chasing a $4 trillion market cap for nothing) Microsoft will keep pushing it.

Remember, companies exist to make a profit.