During the video for Project Scorpio, two minutes of puffery dedicated to Microsoft's bright Christmas 2017, there is a man who speaks with his mouth but betrays everything with his eyes. "This doesn't mean we're leaving the Xbox One behind," he says, but the truth is there to see as his eyes flick away from the camera. Microsoft began its E3 conference by revealing the redesigned Xbox One S - and then, it still amazes me now, closed the show by telling everyone they'd be fools to buy any kind of Xbox One.

E3 conferences are about a lot of different things, but for a platform-holder one goal is paramount: make your hardware desirable, at once keeping the owners happy and making the non-owners want to buy it. Microsoft offered up iterative fare like Gears of War 4 (very pretty) and Forza Horizon 3 (which looked amazing), alongside a look at more original hopes like ReCore and Scalebound (not a great showing, though I keep the faith). All of these games are now subject to the Xbox division's bizarre new interpretation of the word 'exclusive,' which now means cross-platform.

We were told at various points that Kinect was essential for the console to operate (untrue), that it was a fundamental part of the user experience (which was kind of true, even if it was only to turn the thing on), and that we could expect plenty of bespoke software (oops) and general functionality across games. The calls to get rid of Kinect were there from the Xbox One's announcement and, after a disastrous launch, barely six months later a Kinect-less Xbox One model was released at a lower price. And now the second iteration of the console requires an expensive extension lead to even connect - sorry - the thing up. It's amazing how much can change in two-and-a-half years. 

"No Scorpio exclusives." It's there, plain as day. Microsoft's message has since dithered in scenes reminiscent of those around the Xbox One's fluffed reveal: Phil Spencer, in an interview published yesterday, said those without 4K TVs wouldn't see the benefit of Scorpio, while elsewhere he stated developers will be free to use all that extra power for more than a bump in resolution. What to believe? 

Xbox is in an invidious position, not least because the goal is now to become a PC brand, and it has put itself in a dilemma that damages brands. Most famously, Sega, with various hardware iterations on the hugely-successful Mega Drive, moved focus from supporting the basic console before it should have, spread software teams over the various SKUs, and through this the true next-generation console's development and software support also suffered. PlayStation destroyed the Saturn, but Sega helped. This is not the Xbox situation, and Microsoft has deeper reserves than Sega ever dreamed of, but these things echo for a reason. 

You never wonder about why Nintendo is in the games business - but for Microsoft, it's always been more strategic. Xbox offered up lots of answers and predictions of the future at this E3. But it left me with one big question: why will anyone need an Xbox?

Source: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2016-06-16-microsofts-mixed-messages-at-e3-arent-pretty-for-xbox-one-owners

"Eurogamer: Microsoft's mixed messages at E3 aren't pretty for Xbox One owners"

Neither is your OP. 

I didn't read the whole thing but I get the idea. I do agree that MS' messaging was confusing. They have 100% risked cannibalising the sales of the Xbox One S.

Having said that, I think they had their hands tied. If they did not announce anything more powerful and then Sony announces the Neo, consumers will be under the impression that MS is going nowhere and Sony is already moving forward with more powerful devices.

Instead, MS made a preemptive strike which if it works, will have consumers think 'Scorpio looks better than Neo, maybe I'll wait and not get the Neo'. So, MS have cannibalised their Xbox One S sales but I think they have proactively done the same to Neo's. Only time will tell.

I mostly agree except i'd change "not pretty for Xbox owners" to "not pretty for Xbox"

Although some people won't like what they read he's got a point in about mixed messages, I'm a PC and X1 and the following quote also rings true.

"It's not a bad idea at all but, two-and-a-half years since the launch of Xbox One, for me it sticks in the craw - for the simple reason that I have a PC, and bought an Xbox for the kind of experiences which, historically, weren't available on PC."

Microsofts change of mind is so great that it became an essay. Lol. Original article shortened.

I think that's in reference to the part on Scorpio and the mixed message on whether the X1 will exist along side it.

Agree on Scorpio/Bone split, IMHO NEO can pull it off because the difference isn't as big, just Ultra settings/ higher/solid FPS on same games. But Scorpio's power seems to promise more... And yeah, that would kind of be wasted on simply running XBone games at native 4k but otherwise same FX/fps/etc.

But I'm kind of withdrawing further judgement just because neither MS nor Sony have now released much solid, and particularly Sony's lack of info, or even PR, seems to clash with expectations of holiday launch this year for NEO. If they were, doesn't NEO need to be publicized, likewise so they can publicize NEO game experiences for holiday? But hey, nothing doesn't necessarily mean anything , so let's give it a wait and see...

its certainly an interesting read, and i strongly agree with pretty much everything it said. the level of uncertainty people are having about xbox is completely understanable, the mixed messaging is just baffling, and it feels like MS's PR learned nothing from the original reveal of the XB1

they say it will have no exclusives, but then say it can have exclusives. they say it will just benefit people with 4k screens, but then say devs can use the power however they want.

i feel they are intentionally being unclear about the whole thing. they want to have their cake and eat it too. they want to appease to both sides, the side that doesnt have a 4k tv and wants to buy the XB1 S, and the side that wants to upgrade to the scorpio and wants devs to use its power besides an upgrade to resolution. there is no reason they just cant be clear about it. 

but going off of MS's history, they have no problem screwing over costumers who still have a older product from them, the prime example of this would be Windows. they are releasing their games exclusively on windows 10, and screwing over costumers who have windows 7/8. even though they have no real reason too, and nothing standing in their way, other than the desire to push win10.  

It's insane to me that they didn't have their story straight on Scorpio before they started answering questions.

I also don't see how they can make a 6 Tflop system worth it while having to make sure everything still runs on a 1.3 Tflop system.

Mind you that Sony could very well run into the same issues with Neo. But at least their messaging has been consistent.