Microsoft is taking a deliberate approach where they pushed for sales at the end of last year, knew Sony would start the year well, forfeit it and then start pushing their new console in E3 and continueing that forward to the end of the year and all of 2018.

If people like or dislike the strategy thats their own desision but its not going to be a good month for Xbox anytime soon, all their exlcusives launch after E3 and all their announcements are being saved. And things like Gamepass and BC titles are nice but won't push sales.

And why should it be? This has got to be the worst drought period for Xbox One exclusives yet. Anyone who cares anymore is likely waiting on Scorpio, with the rest hungry for some E3 announcements and release dates for games. Sea of Thieves has to be close by now, right?

Good to see Horizon climb back up. You got to stay on top of that stock for your major relelases, Sony.

I can agree with this it isnt has big as other games Sony/MS has releassed but as for the story it sets up for Halo 6 big time especially when matched up with Halo 5s ending.

I agree with much of what you said. On the other hand, this plan may backfire on MS. The drought the 360 had prior to the XB1's reveal didn't do MS any favors either. While the DRM policies were the primary turnoff for most consumers, the XB1 reveal would still be bad without those policies.

Drought? They just had Halo wars 2, and Voodoo Vince is coming out soon, and Cupheads mid 2017. Its definitly not as bad as last year when theres was only QB first half. As for the low sales i think its the Scorpio effect.

We'll see.  But Halo MCC and Halo 5 do not inspire confidence in the current developer.  Halo's power is much less than it was once upon a time. 

Yeah after Halo 4 sales have been in decline but with Halo 5 its a lot more active than what 4 was so atleast they got the MP right. I hope 343I can get the Story right and MP right in Halo 6. They just need Halo 5s MP with new warzon modes/maps, full forge at launch, and add all the arena playlist but with more maps then build on Halo 5s ending and Halo Wars 2 and it could be a great game.

And no microtransactions please.

And the fact that Spencer went over to Japan to beg for Japanese ports, to me, really comes across as a little desperate.  Japan has never been a great market for Xbox, and this gen is even worse.  I think part of it is because even the more niche Japanese games are selling well and helping push HW sales a little.  But, I think the biggest part of it is that Xbox seems to be putting all of its eggs into the Scorpio basket and trying to make sure to have a few Japanese games for the launch.  Kinda makes me wonder if MS is giving the Xbox division one last chance to prove to the new CEO that it's worth it to keep all of them around to support their own HW, instead of letting some go and keeping the rest to support Windows gaming.

You just named three games, none being AAA, that are launching in the first 6-7 months of the year.  That's the exact definition of a drought.  That might be acceptable for the first couple and the last couple of years of a consoles life, but this is the mid point, when games should be being pumped out left and right.  And while it sucked QB was basically the only thing that came out last year for the 1st half, at least it was a big AAA exclusive game that brought interest to the XBO.  Not many people are going to be interested in Halo Wars and a remake of an OG Xbox game that didn't really sell much in the first place.  Cuphead does look really interesting.  Of course, not only is it available on PC, but considering MS doesn't own it, there's a good shot it hits the PS4, as well.

Well Halo Wars 2 generated way more hype and interest than QB did.